Chapter 234: Swords Drawn and Bows Bent

Wangfu kept stepping back, covering one eye, while the other eye stared in terror at Xiao Yin standing opposite.

Blood seeped out between his fingers, and the scene became horrifying for a moment.

Xiao Yin coldly looked at Wangfu: "Just now you said there were assassins hidden in this black‑canopy boat? Now there's nothing—are you blind? If you're blind, replace that eye!"

The Brocade Guard all around pointed their swords at Xiao Yin, but they didn't expect him to be so arrogant and domineering; in an instant he stabbed and blinded one of their deputy commanders' eyes.

The scene instantly became tense, with swords drawn and bows strung; Xiao Yin's attendants also drew their swords, and the two sides were on the verge of battle.

Tuo Ba Yu gently shook his folding fan, standing on the bow of the large boat, the corner of his mouth hooked in a smile as he looked at the scene before him, though his gaze was slightly cold—Xiao Yin probably could no longer endure.

Xiao Yin barely managed to stand there, coldly gazing at the Brocade Guard surrounding him.

"Come one by one, or all at once?"

"Ling Feng! Recite our Southern Qi's laws—what punishment should one who offends the royal family receive?"

Ling Feng stepped forward and said loudly: "Your Prince, according to Southern Qi law, those who offend the Southern Qi royal family, if the circumstances are serious, shall be beheaded!"

Xiao Yin chuckled softly: "How could the princess consort of my Rui Wang Fu be offended by the likes of you?"

"If my princess consort were to suffer a disturbance to her qi and harm the imperial offspring, could you lot of beasts possibly afford to compensate?"

"Since it's come to this, Xiao Yin will fight you to the death today; afterward I'll go before the emperor to ask for an explanation."

"Does Southern Qi still have any rules at all? A mere petty officer of the Brocade Guard dares to exterminate my Rui Wang Fu? If this gets out, let the whole world judge."

The tip of Xiao Yin's sword had just blinded the deputy commander's eye; blood droplets trickled down, casting a gloomy, blood‑tinged hue over him, and that killing intent forced the crowd back a little.

The Brocade Guard dared not move recklessly; at that moment a figure stepped out from among them—it was the Brocade Guard commander, Yu Hong.

Yu Hong bowed slightly to Xiao Yin, raised his head and smiled: "What the Prince says is not right; today it's my Brocade Guard's lackey who doesn't understand, offending the Prince."

"Please, Your Highness, don't hold a grudge against this petty man; let him go. If this matter really reaches the emperor..."

Yu Hong gave a meaningful glance at the bowed Gu Jiu Ling and lightly smiled: "Is this matter easy to talk about or hard to hear? The princess consort also has wide connections."

"What wide connections? As soon as those words were spoken, everyone around secretly laughed—this was clearly putting a huge green hat on Xiao Yin, yet the Brocade Guard commander had already put it that way; let's see how the Prince of Rui will respond."

Xiao Yin gave a cold snort: "Forget it; since you say so, I, Xiao Yin, am not the type to cling to a grudge."

"This matter ends here; you continue your duties and investigate your cases."

"However… if any Brocade Guard member offends my gate again in the future, this prince will no longer be polite—farewell!"

"Your Prince, please!"

Yu Hong laughed, stepped aside, and the Brocade Guard retreated, clearing a path for Xiao Yin; Xiao Yin took Gu Jiu Ling and walked toward the outside of the woods.

Here Tuo Ba Yu ordered people to drag away the black‑canopy boat together with its chaotic medical equipment on board, as well as the utterly ambiguous Zuo Feichen.

The farce finally came to an end; Gu Jiu Ling got into the carriage, and Xiao Yin's tall figure sat beside her.

Gu Jiu Ling's heart was uneasy at this moment; she didn't know how to explain her spatial secret to Xiao Yin.

But if she were to reveal the entirety of her spatial secret to Xiao Yin now, she wouldn't be the true Gu Jiu Ling, and she didn't know how Xiao Yin would react.

Just now she saw Xiao Yin's sword pierce Wangfu's eye, that bloody scene made Gu Jiu Ling ultimately still dare not speak.

Gu Jiu Ling's spatial secret—she is unwilling to let too many people know.

Just now Zuo Feichen happened upon her secret; that too was an accidental event born of utter helplessness.

Gu Jiu Ling has still not prepared herself to be a true princess consort of Rui.

She knows Xiao Yin is no ordinary pond‑dweller; one day he will reach the highest peak, and if that time comes, what should she do?

If Xiao Yin ultimately becomes emperor, would she be locked by him in the deep palace to compete for favor among many women?

This is not the life Gu Jiu Ling wants.

She took a deep breath, yet still suppressed the matter of her space; she knows Zuo Feichen won't divulge it, after all she also holds Zuo Feichen's secret.

At this moment Xiao Yin's aura was as cold as ice; Gu Jiu Ling steadied herself and whispered, "Your Prince?"

"First return to the Wangfu."

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows tightly.

Gu Jiu Ling hastily closed her mouth; not long after, the carriage returned to the Rui Wang Fu.

Jiu Yue and the others had already come out to meet them, helping Gu Jiu Ling down from the carriage.

"Go wash up and change first; you don't need to come to the East Garden to find me—I'll go to the Peach Blossom Pavilion to see you later."

Even though Xiao Yin's heart was burning with anger at this moment, he felt pity for Gu Jiu Ling's pregnancy and didn't want her to run back and forth.

Just now his altercation with the Brocade Guard had reached that point; some matters needed further arrangement, so he let Gu Jiu Ling first return to the Warm Pavilion to rest, while he himself went back to the East Garden to handle the follow‑up.

Gu Jiu Ling returned to the Peach Blossom Pavilion, had Jiu Yue tidy up a secret room there, then entered herself, ordering everyone to leave—even Jiu Yue and Yun Duo were not allowed to approach.

Gu Jiu Ling had no time to tidy herself; she faintly felt her mind boiling in waves.

A person was hidden in her space, which still greatly affected her; she felt her head heavy, her spirit barely able to hold up, so the urgent task was to get Princess Yalan out of her space first.

Fortunately Princess Yalan had remained unconscious, unaware that in this short time she herself had endured so many upheavals; Gu Jiu Ling settled Princess Yalan on the bed.

Afterwards she called for Jiu Yue to come in; Jiu Yue stepped into the rear chamber and was instantly startled.

Just now this place was empty, but now a girl covered in wounds lay here; however, she didn't dare ask about the master's affairs—only the Wangfu's defenses are so tight, she wondered how the master managed to bring someone in.

If the master had brought someone into the Peach Blossom Pavilion, he would surely have consulted them; yet they still don't know how this person entered—could it be that the master has another force at his command?

Jiu Yue thought of this and dared not think further; they are merely servants who do the master's bidding—how could these lowly servants presume to guess?

She hurriedly set up an IV drip for Princess Yalan; having previously assisted the master in treating patients, she knew these thin tubes, when inserted into the skin, could actually revive a person and gradually restore them.

Jiu Yue didn't know that this procedure, in another space, is called an IV drip.

Gu Jiu Ling and Jiu Yue were attending to Princess Yalan in the rear chamber; she herself returned to the Warm Pavilion, having just washed, bathed, and changed, but the sash of her inner garment hadn't been fastened yet when a grim‑faced Xiao Yin strode in.