Chapter 260: Guilty Conscience

"What are you envious of?" Xiao Yin looked at Gu Jiu Ling, his expression carrying a hint of something unfathomable.

Gu Jiu Ling hastily closed her mouth; this person's jealousy seemed to flare up again.

Xiao Yin raised his hand and tightly grasped Gu Jiu Ling's hand: "Speak, what do you want? I, the Prince, will give you anything."

"But remember this: don't envy others; in this world, I, the Prince, will give you the best."

Gu Jiu Ling secretly chuckled; she had just said it offhandedly, yet he took it seriously.

But Xiao Yin was somewhat insistent, demanding that Gu Jiu Ling say what she wanted so he could fetch it for her.

Gu Jiu Ling steadied her thoughts; she actually wanted ingots of gold.

However, talking about money hurting feelings is rather vulgar; Gu Jiu Ling pondered for a while, then her heart stirred slightly.

Since she married into the Prince Rui's mansion, her food, clothing, and daily necessities have been the best.

Although she herself is quite adept at making money, Xiao Yin has never shortchanged her in food and clothing.

In this mansion, she has no mother-in-law or elders to attend to morning and night; even Xiao Yin himself is easy to feed—a hot pot satisfies him.

Thinking it over, Gu Jiu Ling actually couldn't think of anything else she needed.

She lifted her gaze to the man before her, decided to try some rustic love talk, and laughed: "If what I most want is you, Prince, will you give me to me? Having you guard me is enough."

Xiao Yin's brows rose slightly; looking at Gu Jiu Ling, he let out a laugh: "How come your words sound a bit guilty? Do you really like me, the Prince?"

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "How could I not like the Prince? He's handsome, wealthy, kind-hearted; marrying him is a blessing I cultivated over three lifetimes."

Xiao Yin's face froze for a moment, a deep glint flickering in his eyes as he tightly gripped Gu Jiu Ling's hand: "If that's the case, then move over to my place and live together."

"Anyway, since you like me so much, waking up each morning to see my face wouldn't be bad, would it?"

Gu Jiu Ling was momentarily speechless, liking Xiao Yin and wanting to live with him as a true married couple.

There is, however, a gap between them.

She currently still has two children.

Gu Jiu Ling's expression stiffened slightly; seeing this, Xiao Yin's fervent gaze gradually dimmed.

He gave a light chuckle and released Gu Jiu Ling's hand.

The more he saw Gu Jiu Ling like this, the more a sense of frustration welled up in his chest.

As long as Tuo Ba Yu's grandson doesn't die, this hurdle is probably insurmountable.

But if he really killed that scoundrel Tuo Ba Yu, the obstacle would be even harder to overcome.

He even feels some resentment toward himself: why didn't he meet Gu Jiu Ling sooner?

If he had met this woman a day earlier, those scoundrels would have had no chance at all.

He would surely shelter this woman under his wings, protecting her; let anyone dare to harm her even a bit.

Xiao Yin slowly rose, picked up the cloak draped over the back of a chair, and firmly draped it over Gu Jiu Ling.

"Let's go; it's been a while since we've taken a leisurely stroll together."

"Today, as your husband, I happen to have nothing at court, so I'll accompany you for a walk around the streets."

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head, glanced at her protruding belly; she also hadn't gone out for a while.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin actually wanted to take her out for a stroll; her heart leapt with excitement.

Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling rode a carriage to the banks of the Imperial River; at that moment, the riverside was bustling.

By evening, the flower boats were lined up one after another, a sea of brilliant lights.

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't been out in a long time; seeing the bustling prosperity of the Imperial River banks, she couldn't help but let a smile curl at her lips.

Xiao Yin helped Gu Jiu Ling down from the carriage, took the hood from her cloak, and placed it over her head.

Afterwards, his large hand tightly wrapped around her small hand, leading her along the Imperial River bank to admire the lights on the water.

The mansion's guards drove the carriage, following closely behind with careful caution.

Suddenly, clamor rose from the riverboats, accompanied by the recitations of scholars and poets.

In a few days, after the New Year, it will be the time of the spring examinations, when scholars from all under heaven seek to earn official rank.

Streams of scholars from all over the country have already poured into Shang Jing; the inns along the Imperial River set aside for temporary lodging of scholars are completely filled.

These scholars who have come from afar first present gifts to call on Shang Jing's high officials and eminent scholars, just to get their faces known.

Then they visit each other's relatives and friends, making acquaintances with other scholars.

In their leisure, they also charter flower boats to drink, recite poetry, and exchange couplets; often on these small boats, golden lines flow freely.

If they can gain others' appreciation, their poems and verses spreading throughout Shang Jing also become a great boost to reputation, which will greatly help them in achieving official rank.

To win over these scholars, even several princes from the palace personally come aboard the boats to sit with these talents and discuss poetry, lyrics, songs, and rhapsodies.

These actions expand the princes' influence and also make it easier for them to find capable strategists among the new cohort of scholars.

Thereafter, once they pass the examinations and enter court as officials, they can be employed by those princes.

Xiao Yin is a military commander and has no interest in civil officials' affairs.

Gu Jiu Ling naturally finds these pretentious refinements not particularly appealing; but just as the two were about to leave, a man stepped out from a flower boat moored at the bank.

A cold, aloof figure; Gu Jiu Ling's gaze swept over his build, and her heart gave a slight jolt, her steps stopping there.

This flower boat is very close to the shore; even standing on land, one can clearly see the appearance and demeanor of those on board, and even hear their poetry recitations clearly.

However, the atmosphere on the boat at this moment is a bit off.

About a dozen young scholars jointly chartered this boat and hired two singers.

Everyone had drunk quite a lot, relaxed a lot, talked a lot, and naturally, much talk leads to mistakes.

At this moment, those dozen or so richly dressed young nobles surrounded a man wearing a dark asphalt-colored cotton long robe.

On the other side stood a youth in noble attire of moon-white with embroidered cloud patterns.

His features were extremely handsome, his bearing naturally endowed with a touch of aristocracy; at that moment he stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the impoverished youth with a look that carried some hostility, but mostly contempt and disregard.

This drew concern from the others.

Yo, isn't that Second Master Gu? What's he doing on the boat?

What Second Master Gu? This brat wasn't expelled from the Gu family for killing someone.

Heh, her sister is now the Princess Consort of Rui, the most noble person under heaven; by talking like that about her, where do you put our Second Master's face?

What sister? What Princess Consort of Rui? Back then this brat killed a maid of the Bei Di princess, and it was only for his sister's sake that he was let off with a dog's life.

Now the Gu family doesn't want him, and his sister hasn't helped him out to this day; if his sister had helped him, how could he be living in such poverty, needing to sell paintings and calligraphy on the street to earn a few fees?

Have you heard? This young master is also going to take the spring imperial examination this time.

Laughter burst out all around, and they all pointed at the thin youth in the field and laughed loudly.

What? Gu Kang is going to take the spring exam— that's just laughable.

Gu Kang, why don't you tell us how many characters you know now? The surroundings burst into even louder laughter.

Gu Jiu Ling's face darkened instantly; no one knew she was secretly helping her good-for-nothing younger brother Gu Kang.

She had previously given Gu Kang a choice of path, and he chose the hardest one.

After that, he never saw that younger brother again; he felt he had done all he could for Gu Kang, and as for how Gu Kang would develop, that was up to him.