Chapter 23

No one expected Princess Fuqing to take the initiative to show goodwill; everyone's eyes shifted slightly, and they all turned to look at Princess Changping.

Princess Changping's face darkened severely.

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly patted the spot beside her and ordered Jiu Yue to bring a cushion.

Princess Fuqing, please sit. Jiu Yue, go boil another pot of sweet tea.

She saw that Princess Fuqing looked about fourteen or fifteen, not yet having undergone the coming-of-age ceremony; the little maids all liked sweet things, so she also had Jiu Yue bring some desserts.

Princess Fuqing broke the ice, and the noble ladies who usually disliked Princess Changping's arrogant and overbearing manner cautiously took their seats.

"Imperial Uncle, I've brought fine wine for you to try," said the Sixth Prince, Xiao Zheng, holding the wine as he leaned beside Xiao Yin. Xiao Yin gazed at his suave and debonair nephew, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile.

This kid knows how to go with the flow; now the Third Prince, Xiao Wei, has suffered at his hands, so the Sixth Prince is eager to pay his respects.

He sat up, patted Xiao Zheng's shoulder, and laughed, "Filial child, Imperial Uncle appreciates it—today we won't leave until we're drunk."

"Imperial Uncle, you have such refined tastes; I'll join you for a drink!" Suddenly a tall figure appeared before Xiao Yin.

Gu Jiu Ling's face flushed again slightly; she took a deep breath before looking toward Crown Prince Xiao Ting.

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered, his thoughts turned, and he smiled, saying, "Crown Prince, please make yourself at home."

Xiao Ting sat upright, glanced at Gu Jiu Ling, then looked away.

Soon after, Xiao Yin's guards came galloping from afar on fast horses; then two guards took down the specially made food boxes hanging from the horses' backs.

These food boxes differed from ordinary ones; each compartment was tightly sealed, and the plates holding the food were also specially made.

"Prince! The appetizers have arrived! Fu-character melon-braised pork tenderloin, Wan-character spicy tripe strips, Nian-character mushroom and hair vegetable!"

Shortly thereafter, another sound of horse hooves arrived.

"Report to the Prince! The fried dough sticks have arrived! Imperial kitchen sesame soybean rolls, golden date paste cake, soybean-flour fried dough sticks with milk filling, golden-thread crisp pastry swallow rolls!"

"Main courses served! Eight-treasure wild duck with Buddha's hand, golden rolls stir-fried with squid strings, roasted mountain chicken from the hanging oven, raw-roasted deer meat, mountain delicacy sprout dragon shoots, lotus-seed tofu, embroidered-ball dried scallop stir-fried with pearl chicken, milk sauce fish slices…"

"Prince! The congee has arrived! Red bean nutritious congee!"

This time they hunted at the imperial estate, but Empress Dowager Ning'an prepared some vegetarian meals that nobody enjoyed; midway, the unfortunate incident of the Bei Di prince being assassinated occurred, so the hunt ended in disarray and they returned hastily.

All the way through barren wilderness, there were no restaurants or taverns; even Princess Changping, despite her status, could only offer some fruit pastries to entertain guests.

At this moment, Xiao Yin's people sped back with whip and spur, somehow having procured all these exquisite dishes; the key was that everyone was starving, yet they loudly announced the dish names.

Princess Changping's entourage immediately felt their pastries lose their fragrance, and several of their expressions turned rather lackluster.

Xiao Yin lifted his hand and placed each dish into Gu Jiu Ling's bowl, carefully removing the fish bones as well.

Gu Jiu Ling felt her ears burning; flustered, she knocked over her bowl. Xiao Yin's lips twitched slightly, and he ordered a new one brought.

He took out a handkerchief, seized Gu Jiu Ling's hand, and meticulously wiped each of her slender, jade-like fingers dry, utterly indifferent to the onlookers staring in astonishment.

"Thank you, Prince," Gu Jiu Ling said, feeling unaccustomed to displaying affection publicly; she carefully withdrew her hand from his large palm.

Xiao Yin chuckled softly, "Look, you've got food on your face. Since you're pregnant, eat a bit more."

Xiao Yin picked up a clean handkerchief, lifted his hand to lift Gu Jiu Ling's chin, studied her face seriously, wiped the rice grains from the corner of her mouth with the cloth, examined her left and right, then let go.

Princess Fuqing pressed her lips and smiled, though she felt a twinge of envy inside.

Seeing her own coming-of-age ceremony approaching, she thought that if her future prince consort possessed even half of the Imperial Uncle's virtues, it would be her good fortune.

Crown Prince Xiao Ting's face darkened slightly; he seized his wine cup and drank it down.

This meal was truly eventful; Princess Fuqing returned to her carriage, and as she just stepped inside, Consort Ling tightly grabbed her arm.

"Are you mad?" Consort Ling said, her cheeks hollow; though she wore rouge, her face was as white as a ghost.

Her status was low; even when the emperor led the harem away first, they didn't take her, so she had to return to the city with the princes and princesses.

Fuqing slowly adjusted her collar, looked at her mother, her face no longer showing its former fragility but instead gaining some composure.

"Mother Consort, we mother and daughter have kept to ourselves for over a decade; have you ever seen the father emperor show us even a trace of pity or affection?"

"In the father emperor's eyes there is only Changping and a few brothers; we are forever his disgrace."

"But... but your Ninth Imperial Uncle offended your third brother; how could there be any good outcome?" Consort Ling spoke haltingly; she only wanted to stay low-key, not wishing for her daughter to publicly embarrass Changping today by actively showing favor to the Xiao Yin couple, and now she was so frightened her heart felt like it would leap out.

Princess Fuqing's face froze slightly, then she gave a light laugh.

"Mother Consort, Ninth Imperial Uncle has shown kindness to us mother and daughter; moreover... why do you assume Ninth Imperial Uncle is the one being schemed against? Let's wait and see!"

Consort Ling was momentarily speechless; she knew her daughter was clever.

For sixteen years she had feigned deafness and dumbness in the harem; no one expected that the perpetually meek and mediocre Princess Fuqing was actually well-versed in literature, her talent shining brightly.

When the carriage of Rui Wang Fu returned to the Wangfu, it was already lamp-lighting time.

The mansion's steward, Zhuang Bo, hurried out to greet them, moving everything from the carriage to the rear.

Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue take a few servant maids to move the box containing medical equipment to the rear courtyard; Xiao Yin had specially set aside a courtyard for her—the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

The courtyard was very secluded, surrounded by peach trees; at this moment the blossoms were in full bloom, and from afar one could already smell their rich fragrance.

Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin were married in name only; no matter how affectionate they pretended to be outside, upon returning to the mansion she still understood this boundary.

This time at the imperial hunting grounds she realized that Xiao Yin likely harbored great ambition; she would focus on doing her own duties and try to avoid involvement in his affairs as much as possible.

Once she had gathered enough silver to secure her livelihood, cured Xiao Yin's illness, and uncovered that adulterer, she would take the child and leave.

Now her astronomical dowry is almost entirely in Xiao Yin's hands; in this world, without money you can't move an inch, and having money without influence is also insufficient.

In short, the task is heavy and the road long.

She ordered Jiu Yue to guard the door of the warm pavilion, then she opened the box and stored the emergency instruments in her space, meanwhile charging them.

Just as she finished tidying up, a loud greeting from Jiu Yue came from beside the door, seemingly reminding her.

She hurriedly closed the box inside the partition, turned, and went out to meet them.

Xiao Yin had already entered; he had changed into a simple plain white silk robe that set off his tall, upright figure, adding a touch of suave elegance.

"Prince, are you well?" Gu Jiu Ling bowed to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin focused his gaze on Gu Jiu Ling; having just bathed, his hair still clung with a bit of moisture, setting off her jade-white face, making it appear even more lovely.

He grunted, took a seat at the carved table, and Gu Jiu Ling sensed from his posture that he had something to say to her.

She actually also had something to say to him.

She poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of Xiao Yin, then sat down opposite him.

"I have something to tell you!"

"I have something to tell the Prince!"

The two actually spoke at the same time, then both were slightly stunned for a moment.

"You go first!"

"You go first!"

Another moment of stunned silence, then Gu Jiu Ling let out a soft laugh, and a hint of warmth appeared in Xiao Yin's eyes.

He usually gives off an air of being somewhat wicked and occasionally bloody, but in private he is also quite gentle.

"Please speak, Prince!" Gu Jiu Ling smiled and made a gesturing invitation toward him.

Xiao Yin pondered for a moment and said: "There is something I need to tell you, concerning your maternal grandfather, the Du family."

Gu Jiu Ling furrowed her brows.