Chapter 283

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking, the scholars blocking her front showed a brief startled expression, and a flicker of doubt passed through everyone's mind.

Though the Princess Consort of Rui was mischievous and unorthodox, the words she spoke actually had some reason.

Now, from Mr. Wen's incident in the fire to being harmed by his disciple Gu Kang, all the information is hearsay.

They have not seen the concrete events; even though the Crown Prince has been in Nan Shan Shu Yuan for so long, no definite news has emerged.

Only because earlier these people demanded the Imperial Court heavily punish Gu Kang did the Crown Prince send someone to pacify, saying that if it is proven Gu Kang did it, he will be lingchi‑executed, severely sentenced, and no leniency will be shown.

At this moment, the Princess Consort of Rui cut to the heart, pinpointing the crux of the issue; the people surrounding Gu Jiu Ling showed signs of wavering.

The sharp‑mouthed, monkey‑faced scholar sneered, "Of course you'd say that, after all Gu Kang is your younger brother."

"It was because you intervened that the maid of the Princess of Bei Di was pulled into the dispute with Gu Kang; now are you going to reuse the same old scheme?"

"Who doesn't know Gu Jiu Ling is the Princess Consort of Rui? Are you trying to overturn the case?"

"Your mother's bullshit!"

Gu Jiu Ling was in a bad mood and didn't want to continue dealing with these murderous scholars; politely put, they were unworthy.

"Wasn't the previous case of the Bei Di maid's murder already resolved? Many commoners were watching outside the Ministry of Justice, weren't they?"

"Could those evidences be false? Could the current Emperor's decree be false?"

"You have such nerve, daring to interfere with a case already settled. Who do you think you are, a spring onion? Are you perhaps a spy sent by Bei Di?"

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking, the sharp‑mouthed, monkey‑faced man showed a flash of panic on his face and instinctively backed away.

He tried to slip into the crowd, but the two guards dispatched by Gu Jiu Ling seized him, and he panicked.

He shouted loudly, "What? Still trying to crush others with authority?"

Gu Jiu Ling sneered, "Pressing with authority—you know quite a bit about it. Bring him! Take him down!"

"Princess Consort today will wield authority, just to see if you are indeed a Bei Di spy."

"The case concerning Bei Di happened long ago, yet you still bring it up publicly and stir trouble."

The man panicked, shouting loudly; he hadn't expected that Gu Jiu Ling would simply label him a Bei Di spy to create a spectacle, following the Gu family's business principle.

The surrounding scholars, contemptuous of a Bei Di spy, were half‑believing, half‑doubting, when the Rui Wang Fu guards seized the man.

They then took out a hemp gag and shoved it into his mouth.

The man whined and struggled, but the Rui Wang Fu guards shoved him into a carriage, disappearing without a trace.

The surroundings fell silent; faintly, a few people slowly retreated, then vanished into the crowd.

Gu Jiu Ling's gaze swept over those who stepped back.

The Wangfu guards, trained meticulously by Xiao Yin, were swift.

Gu Jiu Ling's guards knew what to do; they slipped into the crowd, heading straight for the few who tried to flee.

Usually no one causes a ruckus in a crowd, but everyone stared blankly at Gu Jiu Ling; after all they were scholars, and they didn't expect Gu Jiu Ling to act so forcefully right away.

Gu Jiu Ling inwardly sneered, "Slander? Who's slandering my brother? I'll just call you a Bei Di barbarian and settle it."

Gu Jiu Ling coldly looked at the people before her; some time had already passed.

This gathering of many students, truly a mix of tall and short; everything about Mr. Wen will be discussed after he awakens.

Gu Jiu Ling turned, taking Yun Duo, and walked toward the crowd; perhaps those people had already stubbornly assumed that Gu Kang killed their mentor.

This time Gu Jiu Ling contemplated how to charge forward, and everyone instinctively blocked her path.

Although they no longer cursed Gu Jiu Ling as before, they still made no way; the crowd was so dense, not just one or two.

Even the Rui Wang Fu guards, who are often deployed, could not seize the thousands‑worth scholars before them; that would truly cause a huge uproar.

"Yun Duo! Bring the Longquan Sword!"

Yun Duo was already standing before Gu Jiu Ling, cradling Xiao Yin's Longquan Sword.

Hearing her master's command, she drew the sword with a swish, and the Longquan Sword's light burst forth instantly.

The people didn't expect Gu Jiu Ling to appear with the Prince Rui's Longquan Sword; everyone knows the Prince's fondness for that sword, never leaving his side.

This also showed how much Prince Rui valued his Princess Consort.

The scholars, who usually wield pens, now faced the Longquan Sword that had slain countless foes; the sudden killing aura terrified them.

Gu Jiu Ling seized the chance as they stepped back, taking a step forward and slowly closing in.

Each time Gu Jiu Ling advanced a step, the scholars were forced to step back.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed coldly, "Studying isn't about memorizing dead texts, nor stuffing books into a dog's belly; everyone must critique rationally."

"All funerary matters must not be followed blindly; otherwise it's superstition. Without one's own unique insight, what kind of scholar are you but a bunch of fools!"

Gu Jiu Ling stepped forward and shouted a curse.

The scholars could not retort; the Princess Consort's harsh words left their faces gray‑eyed and they kept retreating.

"All of you know that Gu Jiu Ling can bear the title of the Imperial Capital's Divine Physician."

"Since Mr. Wen is not yet dead, I have come to treat his wounds; if you block me again, his chance of survival diminishes by a fraction."

"You all claim to respect Mr. Wen, yet you block my path, as if fearing his continued life; if Mr. Wen dies, my Prince has said that each of you present…"

Gu Jiu Ling slightly altered Xiao Yin's words, the implication being that if the matter she raised were true, each person present would be counted one by one…

She signaled Yun Duo; Yun Duo, holding the Longquan Sword, shouted, "This sword was bestowed by the late Emperor upon my Prince. My Prince wielded it on the battlefield, gaining fame and slaying countless invaders of our border."

"Now this Longquan Sword can cut down Yama and also slay little demons."

"If any of you wish to try, feel free to charge. Today I, Gu Jiu Ling, set this condition: each one of you, if you block me from saving Mr. Wen, I will cut off your head with this sword. I am a Princess Consort; I keep my word!"

"Yun Duo! Cut!"

Yun Duo's martial arts have improved these days, and now, holding the famed Longquan Sword, she was already extremely excited.

Hearing her master's command, the blade sprang from its scabbard and swung forward, causing the scholars to scramble and flee, daring not to block any longer.

Dying under this Longquan Sword tonight would be a futile death.

Jiu Yue supported Gu Jiu Ling as the guards of Rui Wang Fu surrounded them, and they slowly walked to the gate of Nan Shan Shu Yuan.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze coldly, staring at the guard beside the Crown Prince before her, and said, word by word: "I want to see the Crown Prince!"