Chapter 235

Gu Jiu Ling hurried forward and bowed to Xiao Yin.

Unexpectedly, just as she stood up, Xiao Yin's tall figure already loomed before her, immediately forcing her to sit back down in the chair.

Xiao Yin braced his arms on the chair's armrests, encircling Gu Jiu Ling in his embrace; his limpid peach-blossom eyes were tinged with anger and bewilderment, and a sense of oppression.

"Gu Jiu Ling, shouldn't you explain something to this prince?"

Gu Jiu Ling was forced to retreat a step by Xiao Yin's aura: "Actually... this matter is also Zuo Feichen meddling."

"I didn't expect that brat to pull such a stunt; it's really showy."

"I will definitely teach him a lesson so he knows his place; in front of the prince, I must not act so rashly again."

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered slightly, his brows slowly rising.

"Zuo Feichen, I will deal with him myself; I'm asking you about Tuo Ba Yu—what's going on?"

Gu Jiu Ling felt a surge of frustration; she truly didn't know how things had come to this.

"Tuo Ba Yu that brat is not right in the head, but just now he was also trying to save me, so this could be considered making up for his fault; that kid is sly, so from now on we should keep our distance from him."

Gu Jiu Ling used the affectionate 'we', which softened the hint of gloom in Xiao Yin's eyes a little.

Xiao Yin himself didn't know why he was so angry; he couldn't bear seeing the woman before him entangled with other men.

Furthermore, Gu Jiu Ling's words made Xiao Yin evidently feel her sincerity lacking; his face was so dark it could wring out water.

"Where is Princess Yanlan?"

The relentless questioning from Xiao Yin almost threw Gu Jiu Ling off her composure.

She couldn't help swallowing, then looked at Xiao Yin and said slowly: "She has already been hidden by my people in the Prince Rui's residence; Prince, rest assured, I will absolutely not implicate you."

"After a few days, when her health improves and she can walk, I will certainly hide her in a safer place, definitely not the Prince Rui's residence."

After Gu Jiu Ling's words left her mouth, Xiao Yin felt his chest ache more and more, a sense of suffocation rising.

Could it be that in Gu Jiu Ling's heart, Xiao Yin is just this petty?

Moreover, Princess Yanlan's involvement was his doing; it actually had little to do with Gu Jiu Ling, yet she ended up blaming herself entirely.

Instead, it made Xiao Yin seem somewhat unreasonable, yet he felt an inexplicable discomfort he couldn't articulate.

He always felt that this woman was not truly of one heart and mind with him, as if something was being hidden from him; besides, being meticulous, he didn't want to dig deep and appear narrow-minded, lest he hurt Gu Jiu Ling further.

Xiao Yin's brows knotted into a three‑line furrow as he stared fixedly at the woman before him.

He couldn't hit her, couldn't outshout her, didn't want to ignore her, yet he still missed her in his heart.

This is a rhythm that will literally suffocate him with frustration.

Xiao Yin stared fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling felt the strong pressure emanating from Xiao Yin; she suddenly realized her earlier explanation was indeed full of loopholes, yet she was reluctant to tell another person about her space.

Xiao Yin is unlike Zuo Feichen; she could handle Zuo Feichen, but this man Xiao Yin cannot be controlled by anyone in the world.

If she ever truly wanted to leave him, she feared Xiao Yin would cut off all her retreats, and this mysterious space would be Gu Jiu Ling's retreat and final trump card.

Moreover, even if Zuo Feichen stumbled upon her secret, it would merely be a magic show performed for him.

But Xiao Yin is different; he will surely investigate thoroughly. By then, if she isn't the real Gu Jiu Ling and has been deceiving him, should Xiao Yin learn the truth…?

Xiao Yin's expression was icy cold; being stared at by him made Gu Jiu Ling's scalp tingle, she could hardly bear it, so she slowly straightened her body, stretched her neck, and lightly kissed his cheek.

Xiao Yin's body stiffened there. Gu Jiu Ling's face showed a hint of grievance.

"Prince, I know tonight's matter has caused you great trouble; I, too, care about my reputation, and now that the gossip has spread, there's really nothing to be done about it."

"But there is one thing I can assure the Prince: in my heart there is no one else but you; even Tuo Ba Yu holds no place here."

"I am yours in life and your ghost in death; if you still doubt me, I will swear a deadly oath before you: if I ever fail you, may heaven strike me with thunder..."

Gu Jiu Ling's words were suddenly cut off as Xiao Yin leaned down and kissed her.

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes widened instantly; Xiao Yin, as if punishing her, deepened the kiss.

The maidservants standing at the door, seeing the scene, hurriedly laughed and retreated, lowering the curtains; the atmosphere in the warm chamber grew slightly heated.

Xiao Yin grew fierce, actually biting hard on Gu Jiu Ling's lips; then he rose, his slender fingers slowly caressing her bitten lips.

Gu Jiu Ling gasped, "Is this guy a dog or something?"

Xiao Yin said in a low voice: "Gu Jiu Ling, I'll keep this account; I'll settle it all later."

"Moreover, a poison oath isn't to be sworn lightly; don't go swearing at the drop of a hat, for sometimes an oath must be fulfilled."

Gu Jiu Ling dazed for a moment, then Ling Feng's voice came from outside.

"Prince, people from the palace have come; please go to the palace."

A flicker of disdain crossed Xiao Yin's face; "Wasn't it just that he stabbed the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with a sword earlier? I reckon Emperor Longqing has been looking for trouble these days."

Xiao Yin, however, wanted to see how long Emperor Longqing could tolerate this.

Xiao Yin slowly straightened up, coldly looking at Gu Jiu Ling: "These days, stay at home and rest for your pregnancy."

"The Princess Yanlan matter ends here; I will handle everything that follows, you need not be involved."

Xiao Yin turned and strode out of the Peach Blossom Pavilion; Gu Jiu Ling felt a burning pain on her lip, she silently cursed, not wanting to move, but moving tugged the wound and made it hurt even more.

Seeing that three days had passed since the assassination attempt, there was still not a clue.

On the contrary, the scandalous gossip emanating from the Princess Consort of Prince Rui's residence spread throughout Shang Jing, making Xiao Yin's temper somewhat irritable these days, causing his colleagues to avoid him.

Even the Imperial Guard and the commanders who got along well with Xiao Yin dared not joke with him anymore.

Because Xiao Yin wounded the vice-commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with his sword, Emperor Longqing summoned him to the palace, showered him with a head-to-toe dressing-down, then smashed an inkstone onto his face, fined him half a year's salary, and then let him go.

Seeing that nearly seven or eight days had passed, the Third Prince Xiao Wei, although rescued from the gates of the King of Hell, had undergone a drastic change in temperament, becoming irritable and now essentially a cripple.

At the same time, the wind vanes in the military also underwent changes.

Many generals severed ties with the Duan family and instead pledged allegiance to Xiao Yin.

Also, some people spotted the new military magnate Zhao Lang and flocked to his gate; who would have thought that the once greenhorn youthful general now had so many followers, poised to rival Xiao Yin.