Chapter 236

In a secluded corner of the rear garden of Rui Wang Fu, a small courtyard was built, surrounded by plum trees; at this season they are blooming lively, and red plum blossom petals have fallen in a layer in the courtyard.

From the outside the courtyard looks ordinary, with nothing special, but unexpectedly the interior décor is quite extravagant.

Gu Jiu Ling, supported by Jiu Yue, carrying a medicine box, walked slowly along the small path between the plum trees and entered.

In the warm chamber, a strong medicinal scent pervaded; on the couch, Princess Yalan leaned against the bolster, sitting on the bed in a daze.

The IV tube on her arm had been removed, some medical tape still stuck to the back of her hand, and the area around the puncture site was somewhat bruised.

Jiu Yue lifted the curtain, Gu Jiu Ling walked in, and Princess Yalan, startled, hurriedly propped herself on the bedside trying to sit up.

"Don't get up, be careful of your wound; your wound has just healed," Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly stepped forward and held Princess Yalan's hand.

Princess Yalan hastily paid her respects to Gu Jiu Ling: "Princess Consort, may you be well and safe."

She truly felt grateful to Gu Jiu Ling; she had gone to Feng Lou with a resolve to die, fighting Xiao Wei to the death, never imagining she could survive.

As a result, Gu Jiu Ling snatched her life back from the hands of the King of Hell, and she herself found it unbelievable.

Initially, Xiao Wei's stab nearly pierced her heart.

Jiu Yue moved a stool to the bedside, Gu Jiu Ling sat beside Princess Yalan, raised her hand to take her pulse, and then used a strange device to examine her body thoroughly.

"Hmm, not bad; the wound is healing well. After a few more days of rest you'll be able to get up and move around, but since your vital energy has been injured, you must take care of your health from now on—avoid strenuous exercise and keep your diet light."

"Thank you, Princess Consort, for saving my life," Princess Yalan hastily tried to get down to kowtow to Gu Jiu Ling, but Gu Jiu Ling pressed down her arm.

"We've come to this point; we can consider ourselves friends who have shared life-and-death experiences, so you don't need to be so formal."

"I'm just asking you, what are your plans?"

A flicker of bewilderment crossed Princess Yalan's eyes; then she gritted her teeth and whispered, "I only regret underestimating that beast and failing to kill him."

Gu Jiu Ling sighed, gently patted her shoulder and advised, "You've already done well enough; moreover, living like Xiao Wei is worse than death."

"By making his every day henceforth a hell, you have also avenged your clan and yourself."

"From now on, things will surely improve; let go, Princess. You've done much already, and it's time to give yourself a way to live, to plan for your own future."

Princess Yalan lifted her gaze and fixed it on the gentle-smiling woman before her; for some reason, a faint stir rose in her heart.

She had endured endless hardship and displacement along the way, suffering beyond words.

For the first time, someone told her to let go, to plan for herself, to live for herself, not to live for hatred.

Overcome with grief, she suddenly flung herself into Gu Jiu Ling's arms and burst into tears.

Gu Jiu Ling sighed, gently patting the thin, weak back of this girl; in her era, the seventeen-year-old Princess Yalan was merely a sophomore in high school.

Who would have thought that at such a young age she would have to endure so much.

"Your Highness, do you have any plans?"

Princess Yalan lowered her head, her voice muffled: "I don't know, I really don't know; my home is gone, my country is gone, I don't know where I can go."

Gu Jiu Ling took a breath and said, "Staying at Rui Wang Fu is only a makeshift measure; now Xiao Wei is watching Rui Wang Fu closely, so some oversight is bound to happen, and if you fall into his hands it will be troublesome."

Gu Jiu Ling paused, looked at Princess Yalan, and said, "If you truly have nowhere to go, would you be willing to follow me?"

Princess Yalan hastily lifted her eyes to Gu Jiu Ling; a faint light shone in her eyes.

She never imagined that, having reached the end of her rope, the Princess Consort of Rui would be willing to take her in; instantly her eyes reddened and her voice trembled.

"I... am now a broken wreck; if the Princess Consort can take me in, she is my benefactor reborn; this life of mine is given by the Princess Consort, and to be able to serve her as an ox or horse would be my good fortune."

"Princess, why do you say such things? You're speaking self‑disparagingly; you are a little princess of the noble lineage of Fu Yu Guo, and you must not belittle yourself."

A hint of bitterness crossed Princess Yalan's heart; she no longer felt like that noble little princess.

Now a fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken; she also knows her own worth.

"Everything is up to the Princess Consort to decide!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded: "Since you have agreed, I will make it clear to you—you are following me, not Rui Wang Fu."

"Do you understand?"

Princess Yalan blinked slightly, secretly wondering, "Could it be that the Princess Consort of Rui and Prince Rui are separate from each other?"

Or perhaps the Princess Consort of Rui, behind her husband the Prince, commands her own force?

She didn't fail to grasp Gu Jiu Ling's meaning: to follow her means to follow her alone, with no connection whatsoever to Prince Rui in future actions.

She didn't dwell on it further; after all, this life of hers was given by Gu Jiu Ling, a woman of feeling and righteousness—what did it matter to go through fire and water for her?

Princess Yalan nodded to Gu Jiu Ling, who smiled: "All right! Rest your body; tomorrow I will send you out of the Wangfu, either way via the Imperial River—don't be afraid, someone will meet you."

Princess Yalan obediently nodded.

Early the next morning, before dawn, it was the darkest part of the pre‑dawn hours.

Gu Jiu Ling sent her trusted maid Yun Duo to escort Princess Yalan out of the manor.

Princess Yalan rode in a blue‑canopied carriage to the dense woods beside the Imperial River.

A black‑covered boat was moored at the shore; though the surrounding woods appeared tranquil, occasional clashes of weapons could be heard.

No one knows how many people helped clear this path of survival for her, and moreover the boat was docked in the same spot.

As the Princess Consort would say, the more dangerous the place, the safer it is.

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard would not have imagined that they once captured Gu Jiu Ling and her lovers here.

This time, the true assassin they wish to capture is still departing from here.

"Warfare is the way of deception!"

Jiu Yue supported Princess Yalan to the black‑covered boat, then handed her a bundle.

"Your Highness, this contains the medicine you need; the Princess Consort wrote a note detailing daily dosage and usage, all written on it."

"There are also some handkerchiefs; Miss Jinzhi embroidered them for you, the two here are embroidered by me, and the dagger is a gift from Miss Yun Duo."

"These banknotes are from your lord; these banknotes and the jewelry are from Miss Jinzhi."

"Miss Jinzhi says that once you are settled on the island in the East Sea Area, we will come together to see you."

"She also said that you owe her a favor; in this lifetime, if you encounter any difficulty, she will certainly help if she can, even if it means spending all her wealth and risking her life."

Princess Yalan instantly felt the bundle in her arms become heavy, so heavy she could barely hold it.

She took a deep breath, her eyes reddening involuntarily, and repeatedly thanked.

Princess Yalan, holding the bundle, walked into the black-covered boat; as she stepped into the cabin, she instantly froze.