Chapter 231: and translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling didn't expect Tuo Ba Yu to actually come.

She was just about to say something when outside came Tuo Ba Yu's low laughter.

"Princess Consort, come out."

"Princess Consort, didn't you invite me here for a drink? Why are there so many people? Did you not only invite me but also invite the Brocade Guard brothers?"

"The letter that the Princess Consort and I sent, I have also kept it safe, but I don't understand why the Princess Consort is causing such a commotion—what is this for?"

Gu Jiu Ling muttered a curse, when did she write a letter to Tuo Ba Yu/

Moreover, in the dead of night, she, a married woman, invites a single man here for a drink—this isn't just adultery?

Immediately Gu Jiu Ling guessed what? Tuo Ba Yu had come to rescue her.

To save her, they had to turn the matter into a male-female affair; once anything becomes a scandal of that sort, the punishment seems lighter.

Gu Jiu Ling nodded at Zuo Feichen, who instantly understood her meaning and slowly retreated, knife in hand.

Gu Jiu Ling composed herself, lifted the curtain of the black-canopied boat, and slowly stepped out.

All around, seeing the woman step out of the black-canopied boat, they all gasped—wasn't that the Princess Consort of Rui?

The commander secretly rejoiced, indeed having caught a handle on the Prince Rui's mansion.

Gu Jiu Ling's boat wasn't just docked here; it appeared at such a sensitive moment—who knows what's hidden inside? Perhaps the assassin they've been wanting to produce these days is on this boat.

He turned his face to signal his few subordinates, and they all moved to block the black-canopied boat, nearly water-tight.

Tuo Ba Yu had some matters to attend to; passing by the Imperial River, he saw the commander hurrying over with people, and along the way he heard talk of the Princess Consort of Rui, which he kept in mind.

Indeed, it was Gu Jiu Ling trapped here; he immediately thought of the recent assassination attempt on the Third Prince, and thought of Xiao Yin—who must repay a flaw.

Earlier, the Third Prince had nearly killed him in Wuzhou; this grudge should be repaid, but he didn't expect it to be repaid so quickly and fiercely. Now, with multiple parties in contact, he fears Gu Jiu Ling may be linked to this case, so he hurried over with his men.

At this point, as long as Gu Jiu Ling is rescued, Tuo Ba Yu doesn't care about anything else.

Gu Jiu Ling stood at the boat's prow, glanced at Tuo Ba Yu, and the expression on her face gradually grew wistful.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"

"Since Your Highness treats me so ruthlessly in public, I too will speak my piece before all these people."

"Your Highness, you once pestered me repeatedly; now I am the Princess Consort of Rui, naturally we are no longer on the same path, yet you say you don't despise me for being a married woman."

"Naturally I wanted to find a chance to speak plainly with Your Highness, so I waited here for you; I never expected so many people to show up. When Your Highness asked why I was here, I instead turned the question back on you—what do you mean?"

The onlookers around instantly had their gazes turn ambiguous.

Good heavens, listening to their conversation, it's as if the Miss Gu, before marrying Xiao Yin, had an illicit affair with the Bei Di hostage.

This brief exchange is surprisingly explosive; many people's thoughts are no longer on the black-canopied boat.

The world seems to shuttle back and forth between Gu Jiu Ling and Tuo Ba Yu, fearing to miss any detail.

Tuo Ba Yu gave a cold chuckle: "Inviting me here was the Princess Consort's letter to me."

"Now the Princess Consort is turning around and biting back—if so, Princess Consort, please come aboard with me; I need to speak clearly with you."

Having said that, Tuo Ba Yu ordered his men to bring his large ship slowly alongside the black-canopied boat and lower the dinghy from the deck.

He only hoped Gu Jiu Ling would board his ship quickly; even if she turned against the Brocade Guard onshore, once on his ship, the Red Scorpion brothers aboard could hold those people off.

But Gu Jiu Ling couldn't just abandon Zuo Feichen; if he ended up on that ship, some things would become unclear, and since they're unclear, letting them get even more tangled might be the way to win.

Gu Jiu Ling's expression flickered: "Your Highness, those words sound reproachful—clearly it was you who first pestered me, and now it's turned into me clinging to you and refusing to leave; fine, I'll just take my own boat and go."

Tuo Ba Yu's brow twitched slightly—how could she say that? Does this woman not see that he's trying to save her?

Moreover, Gu Jiu Ling is usually sharp; could there be some unspeakable difficulty now? Could that black-canopied boat be hiding someone else?

He too, in desperation, came up with this scoundrel's trick, hoping to get Gu Jiu Ling onto his ship.

He didn't expect Gu Jiu Ling to pull this move; at this moment Tuo Ba Yu was at a loss, about to say something more when the commander onshore raised his hand to block their exchange, gave a cold chuckle, and said: "Your Highness, please wait."

The commander pointed at the black-canopied boat: "The recent assassination attempt on the Third Prince—you surely know about it. Now we, acting on orders, are to detain any suspicious persons; this is the emperor's command."

"Regardless of whatever relationship exists between Your Highness and the Princess Consort, we must board and search thoroughly."

After the commander finished speaking, he gestured toward the black-canopied boat; a few guards walked over, and Gu Jiu Ling stepped forward a step, giving a chilly smile: "You want to take my boat?"

"Under what pretext would you seize my boat? Even if you were the first on the scene, does your saying my boat is suspicious make it so?"

What if I don't let you take it?.

The commander's eyes darkened slightly, and he laughed loudly: "Princess Consort, you are mistaken."

"If the Princess Consort's boat has nothing suspicious, why not let us escort it? Could it be that her boat hides something unsavory?"

Gu Jiu Ling was about to speak when suddenly a hurried hoofbeat came from the shore; he looked up, and by the torchlight the man on horseback appeared exceptionally tall.

It was Xiao Yin rushing over; now the atmosphere on site became even more ambiguous.

The Brocade Guard, even Tuo Ba Yu's men, and the slowly approaching Five City Military Command—all together the small riverside was nearly surrounded by a thousand people.

Everyone here is just to witness this bizarre spectacle of the Prince Rui's mansion.

The news about Tuo Ba Yu's recent actions has already spread throughout the surroundings: the Princess Consort of Rui, behind her husband's back, meeting another man privately, was caught by the Brocade Guard—this news is indeed explosive.

At this point, the matter between Gu Jiu Ling and Tuo Ba Yu is still unclear, and unexpectedly the master himself, Prince Rui, has also arrived.

The commander could still argue a point or two against Tuo Ba Yu, but seeing Xiao Yin leap down from his horse and walk slowly up to him, his legs instinctively gave way—yet having already offended the prince, he might as well go all the way.

If he really finds something on this riverbank, his future rise to prominence is just a matter of time.