Chapter 221

As soon as An Chenggui finished speaking, not only was Gu Jiu Ling secretly delighted, but Xiao Yin was also somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected the An family to re‑acknowledge Jinzhi as their child; if that were the case, it would truly be wonderful.

Before, he had wanted the An family to acknowledge the child, but after all, because of this matter, the relationship between the An family father and son had already been broken.

Although Jinzhi was adopted under his name, her status and position were awkward; if she could be re‑acknowledged by the An family, then in Shang Jing she would be the legitimate eldest daughter of the An family, proper and proper.

From now on, discussing the marriage will be the best help!

Speaking of this, Xiao Yin couldn't help but sigh, recalling that bright, handsome young general—what a fine lad—this time he had actually become utterly estranged from the Rui Wangfu.

That brat still looks at him without giving him a proper glance, and Xiao Yin doesn't hold it against him, after all, he had almost stuffed that thing Su Wanrou into the Zhao family as the mistress of the house.

If it had really been shoved in, the Zhao family would probably have to bury several lives; just thinking about it makes one shudder.

Nevertheless, he had offended him; Zhao Lang didn't openly oppose him, but he bore a grudge in his heart.

Xiao Yin couldn't help but sigh; he truly admired that young man—well, perhaps they simply lacked affinity.

Jinzhi's face and the wounds on her body are being slowly treated by Gu Jiu Ling; she will surely become a lovely maiden, and with her gentle nature, only this muteness is hard to cure, so she will inevitably have some flaw.

Therefore, Jinzhi's marriage prospects are hard to say; but if the An family now re‑accepts Jinzhi, then it will be easily settled.

As for the scions of the great nobles in Shang Jing, forget them; but ordinary idle nobles, living peacefully, are not bad either.

He slowly looked, after all, the offspring raised by idle nobles lack ambition; it's rare to find ones with better character, and they're no match for the military.

Now he is actually unwilling to betroth Jinzhi to those coarse men; this girl is too compliant, and he worries she will suffer.

Better to find an idle noble youth from Shang Jing; then he can keep an eye on her under his and Gu Jiu Ling's watch, without having to follow her husband around for official postings, and just live a peaceful life—also fine.

Jinzhi looked at her second and third uncles before her, and for a moment she felt at a loss; to her, the An family were still somewhat strangers.

She still followed Gu Jiu Ling's hint, quickly stepped forward and knelt before her second and third uncles, kowtowing in salute.

An Chenggui quickly raised his hand to lift his niece, laughing: 'No need for much ceremony; the An family has no daughters, only half‑grown boys, and their noise really gives me a headache.'

"When you come over to recognize kin, you are their eldest sister; be sure to discipline them well."

"For these few days you will first stay at the Rui Wangfu; after a few days, once Third Uncle has people tidy up the courtyard where your father lived before his death, you can move over."

"Ay ay…" Gu Jiu Ling quickly grabbed Jinzhi's arm, laughing: 'Why, while we're talking, are we still snatching people from our Rui Wangfu?'

"Stay at the Rui Wangfu for now; after the New Year you can go to your place! I've just recognized this warm‑hearted little sister, and we haven't even properly gotten along—how can you lot just steal her away?"

The two An brothers burst into laughter and tears; An Chenggui quickly laughed: 'Princess Consort, she is after all the An family's eldest daughter; it's good for her to stay at the An family—there are many children, it's lively.'

"The Rui Wangfu is lively too—don't think you can snatch people from me!"

"The An family has fun things!"

"The Rui Wangfu has tasty things!"

Xiao Yin looked indulgently at his own wife, who, with a big belly, was arguing with a middle‑aged man, and he couldn't help laughing.

The sorrow in Jinzhi's eyes was also diluted considerably by the scene before her.

The sister‑in‑law is right; she is not a jinx, she will not bring misfortune to others again, she must live well, after all so many people like her, and she must live for them.

At this moment night fell, and the cups, plates, bowls and utensils in the flower hall had already been smashed to the floor by Xiao Yin in a fit of venting.

The servants of the Third Wangfu all knelt on the icy floor, not daring to breathe.

The Third Prince flew into a rage—this was a matter of life and death.

Originally it was a scheme to make Xiao Yin lose face, but instead his own face was completely lost; thereafter he would likely become a laughingstock in Shang Jing.

He beat to death the servant attending Su Wanrou beside her; because Hongyu was an important witness, she escaped death, but was also locked up together in the Imperial Court of Justice.

The whole flower hall was permeated with a thick smell of blood, making one feel utterly oppressed.

After venting, Xiao Wei panted heavily, his eyes blood‑red, feeling an indescribable sense of suffocation and distress.

He suddenly remembered something, turned and walked toward the door, with the little attendant hurrying after him.

"Prepare the horse!"

"Yes!" the attendant hastily replied.

Immediately Xiao Yin's steps paused slightly, and he added: 'Go deliver a letter to Miss Qiu Shui at the Fragrant Herb Pavilion; I am setting a banquet at the Phoenix Tower, waiting for her appointment.'

"Report back quickly!"

"Yes!" the attendant received the order, turned and hurried out.

Yunxiang Pavilion became extraordinarily lively after producing the top courtesan Miss Qiu Shui last time; not to mention Miss Qiu Shui herself, even the other girls in the whole brothel saw their prices rise with the tide.

Just as the lanterns were first lit, batches upon batches of carriages stopped outside the brothel; for a moment its fame almost caught up with that of Shang Jing's largest brothel, Yi Hong Yuan.

At that moment, an elegantly decorated carriage emerged from the side door of Yunxiang Pavilion; the madam of Yunxiang Pavilion personally saw the carriage off, raising her arm to hold the carriage's curtain and whispering with a smile, "Congratulations, miss, congratulations!"

"The Phoenix Pavilion is the Third Prince's own property; not just any girl can casually enter to serve the Prince."

"I heard today is still the Third Prince's big happy day; who would have thought that Su Wanrou is actually a fake, tsk tsk... Miss Qiu Shui, you must seize this opportunity!"

"If you become Xiao Wei's sweetheart, his dearest, then don't forget me, your mother, in the future!"

"That... is natural!" Princess Ya Lan said with a light smile.

Tonight she painted a very unique makeup, which is the distinctive makeup of Fu Yu Guo women; her hair ornaments also carry the playfulness of Fu Yu Guo women.

Even the skirt she wears is embroidered with the Fu Yu Guo royal totem: a fire phoenix soaring through the clouds, burning away all impurity, its scorching, intense color as if soaked in fresh blood.

She slightly lifted her skirt's hem; the metal bracelet on her wrist lightly tapped, producing a clear sound.

Princess Ya Lan slowly stroked the phoenix-flower pattern on the bracelet; with a click, the bracelet emitted a barely audible sound and transformed into a palm-sized sharp dagger.

She focused her gaze on the chilling blade; her finger lightly touched it, a bead of blood slid down—the blade was very sharp, and she liked it.

She reinstalled the bracelet properly, and it turned back into an ordinary pair of pure gold bracelets.

Immediately she lifted the carriage's curtain and looked out at the riverside scenery.

The Phoenix Pavilion was built by the riverside, in the best scenic spot, dedicated as Xiao Wei's personal money-sinking den; tonight it is also his place of ecstatic indulgence.