Chapter 278: We Must Keep Them All Safe

Gu Jiu Ling's hand-held scroll slipped with a soft thud onto the floor, and she hurriedly sat up.

She had just sent Yun Duo on a trip to Nan Shan Shu Yuan to deliver something; how could trouble arise the moment Yun Duo left?

Gu Jiu Ling felt an involuntary jolt in her heart, always sensing that something was off.

Moreover, if something happened at Nan Shan Shu Yuan, why would they come to report to Rui Wangfu? If one insists on linking Rui Wangfu and Nan Shan Shu Yuan, isn't it just her brother Gu Kang?

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly sat up, not expecting Xiao Yin beside her to raise a hand, gently press her arm, and whisper: "Don't panic!"

The single phrase "don't panic" instantly calmed Gu Jiu Ling's restless thoughts.

Xiao Yin looked at Ling Feng standing before them, still steady, and said: "Explain in detail!"

Ling Feng glanced at Gu Jiu Ling, a hint of anxiety flashing across their face, and said: "People from Nan Shan Shu Yuan say that Gu Second Master stole Mr. Wen's silver, was discovered by Mr. Wen, and then set fire to the Cang Shu Ge, intending to burn Mr. Wen to death to destroy the corpse and erase traces."

"Who would have thought Mr. Wen wanted to escape, but Gu Second Master rushed into the Cang Shu Ge, pushed Mr. Wen out the window, and accidentally fell out as well."

"Now the matter has alarmed the emperor, for Mr. Wen is the imperial tutor, so the Crown Prince himself has gone to Nan Shan Shu Yuan and apprehended Gu Second Master."

"What?" Xiao Yin also rose to their feet, finding this whole affair most suspicious.

A flash of sharpness passed through Gu Jiu Ling's eyes; if this had happened before, her brother Gu Kang would be capable of anything.

But now Gu Jiu Ling does not want to believe this is something Gu Kang would do; there must be something fishy about it.

After great effort, that child has become an upright person; now someone wants to turn him into a ghost—let's see if Gu Jiu Ling will allow it.

Her brother—she, as his sister, may beat him, scold him, discipline him, but if anyone else wishes to do anything to her brother, dream on!

"How is Mr. Wen now?" Gu Jiu Ling asked while ordering Jiu Yue to help her change clothes.

"Princess Consort?" Xiao Yin hastily grabbed her arm and glanced at her swollen belly.

Xiao Yin was worried whether her body could withstand it.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled at Xiao Yin, pulling her wrist free from their grasp.

Ling Feng quickly said: "Mr. Wen is elderly and frail; how could they endure such torment?"

"Having fallen from a third-floor window, they have now fallen into a coma."

Gu Jiu Ling's expression tightened slightly, her look not looking good.

If it is a coma, that would be troublesome—could it be intracranial bleeding?

"Where is the person? Where are they?" Gu Jiu Ling felt somewhat anxious.

"The person is still at Nan Shan Shu Yuan; it's said they are fading fast, and many students from Shang Jing have been going to Nan Shan Shu Yuan one after another to visit Mr. Wen."

"Those people have been submitting petitions urging the Crown Prince to punish Gu Second Master severely! Gu Second Master has already been apprehended by the Crown Prince, and it's said their injuries are not light either—burned all over, especially the face, and the leg broken from the fall, having been carried away by order of the Crown Prince."

"Now Gu Second Master is locked up in the Ministry of Justice prison!"

Gu Jiu Ling had already dressed fully, the hand holding the hood ready to put on froze in place.

If Gu Kang intended to kill Mr. Wen to silence them, Mr. Wen merely fainted from the fall, whereas Gu Kang suffered burns over the entire body and also broke a leg.

The elderly one did not have a broken leg, but the alleged murderer-silencer did.

There is only one possibility: Gu Kang did not push Mr. Wen down, but instead jumped together with them, even sacrificing themselves to shield Mr. Wen.

This thought flashed through Gu Jiu Ling's mind, further solidifying her prior speculation.

Poor Gu Kang seems to have been framed once again.

Gu Jiu Ling already has a constitution that attracts misfortune, and she does not want Gu Kang's situation to be worse than hers.

She turned to face Xiao Yin: "Your Highness, I beg you for one favor."

Xiao Yin's brows knotted tightly at this moment, a flash of anguish crossing their eyes.

Even an ordinary pregnant woman would not encounter such successive mishaps, finding no peace.

Yet, as the woman of Xiao Yin, even a pregnancy brings no tranquility.

Xiao Yin drew a breath and said: "Very well, I understand you won't be at ease if you don't go this time. Ling Feng, prepare the carriage; I will accompany the Princess Consort on this trip."

"No, Your Highness," Gu Jiu Ling said, stopping Xiao Yin, gazing steadily at them: "Nan Shan Shu Yuan—I will go alone; Your Highness, help me make a trip to the Ministry of Justice, and I must spend tonight in the Ministry of Justice prison."

No one must be allowed near Gu Kang; I will have Zuo Feichen accompany you, and have Zuo Feichen help treat Gu Kang's injuries.

Xiao Yin's brows instantly knotted tight, they gritted their teeth and said: "Gu Jiu Ling, are you seeking death?"

"Do you know how terrifying those scholars can be if they refuse to reason with you?"

"Do you realize how many Shang Jing scholars have gone to Nan Shan Shu Yuan? You are Gu Kang's sister; although you and they have severed ties on the surface, those pedantic scholars may be useless in other ways, but their memories are excellent."

"If you dare to appear at Nan Shan Shu Yuan, those people, because of Gu Kang, could tear you apart alive—do you believe it or not?"

"I'll go with you!"

"I will arrange for someone to look after things at the Ministry of Justice; that kid won't die."

"Your Highness, it's not the same," Gu Jiu Ling said, seizing Xiao Yin's hand, raising their head with a pleading expression and looking at them.

"This time the trouble my brother has stirred up is too great; the Crown Prince is personally conducting the interrogation, and under these circumstances ordinary people cannot protect him."

"Those people are certainly not saints; at least allow my brother to receive treatment first, to preserve his life."

"My brother's injuries may be severe; if they do not receive timely treatment, they are likely to die in prison, leaving no evidence of their death."

"What kind of virtue do those Shang Jing officials have? You know as well as I do that most are just muddying the waters, hoping my brother dies so they can close this case."

"Poor my brother, even if they die, will bear a thousand-year infamy, spat upon forever by countless students."

"This is a deliberate frame-up against them; the person who framed them harbors malicious intent, actually using such an extreme and cruel method to destroy them!"

"Since that person has taken action, they will surely leave no escape route for Gu Kang; moreover, Mr. Wen's side is also in danger now, so I must go to check Mr. Wen's injuries."

"The mastermind behind this has calculated that Mr. Wen certainly cannot survive this incident; if the case is to be overturned, it hinges on whether Mr. Wen can live."

"Both sides are deadly traps, Your Highness; I beg you to help me this once!"

Xiao Yin's eyes gradually narrowed, fixed firmly on the woman before them.

She appears dazed, like a lazy, cute cat, harmless to humans and beasts.

Yet at such critical moments, she always erupts with courage and strength beyond the ordinary.

He felt a slight dull pain in his chest, but his gaze turned unprecedentedly stern and cold, staring fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling, each word deliberate: "How did you manage to withdraw completely from Nan Shan Shu Yuan? If those students can't be subdued, what then?"

What if Mr. Wen can't be saved?

Tell me, how did you do it, how did you survive?