Chapter 294

Gu Jiu Ling glanced lightly at Gu Cheng, who was slowly straightening up before her; indeed, the Gu family could no longer sit still.

Actually, Gu Shijie, that old phoenix man, had only the resources his father-in-law Old Master Du gave him in earlier years; his foundation wasn't deep at all.

In earlier years, Old Master Du had a good relationship with Emperor Longqing, and since the Du family were imperial merchants, they had a lovesick daughter, Du Qingning.

Du Qingning married Gu Shijie thinking she had married love, but in fact she had stepped one foot into hell.

Old Master Du was devoted in love; after his frail, sickly wife died, he never took another wife or concubine, leaving only this one daughter who was cherished beyond measure.

Unfortunately, the daughter was unworthy and insisted on liking a country-bred phoenix man, so the Du family had to lavishly support Gu Shijie.

They gradually lifted that commoner boy to the post of Prime Minister; all the great clans of Shang Jing lifted Gu Shijie out of respect for Old Master Du's face.

Later, Lady Du died in difficult childbirth, and Old Master Du passed away; if it weren't for Emperor Longqing's wariness of the aristocratic clans' power, the Prime Minister post would not have been left for the clans to meddle in, and they would have long cast Gu Shijie aside.

This time the Gu family's repeated mistakes are all those dirty affairs coming from the inner quarters, already arousing Emperor Longqing's displeasure.

Moreover, word has spread that Gu Cheng colluded with the servant Li Quan beside Gu Kang, framing Gu Kang at Nan Shan Shu Yuan and nearly killing Mr. Wen.

No one knows how this rumor started; even if the Gu family tried to suppress it, they couldn't.

Gu Cheng urgently needs his younger brother Gu Huai to pass the imperial examinations; then, in officialdom, the two brothers can help each other.

As a result, with the spring examinations imminent, they've caused such a big disturbance.

Most crucially, this matter also involves Mr. Wen; if it really is the younger brother Gu Huai's doing, the Gu family will never be able to hold their heads up again.

Even their father's Prime Minister position might be removed.

Gu Cheng thought of this, his eyes turning colder; this time he absolutely cannot let Gu Huai admit to this charge.

Even if Gu Huai did it, he cannot admit it, even if beaten to death he cannot admit.

Gu Huai also slowly knelt down to pay respects to the Crown Prince.

Xiao Ting coldly looked at Gu Huai, wearing a plain blue-green robe, his features clear and handsome, truly the air of an elegant young noble.

One must say the Gu family's sons are all good-looking and talented; it's a pity.

He composed his expression and coldly said, 'Bring Gu Kang!'

'Bring Gu Kang!!' the bailiff shouted, running toward the rear hall criminal prison.

Not long after, two bailiffs escorted in a tall young man.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze to her younger brother Gu Kang; his outer robe had been removed, leaving only his inner garment.

The inner garment was also torn to shreds, his leg had been splinted by Zuo Feichen, his face was as pale as paper, extremely fragile.

Especially that face, half of it was burned; evidently Zuo Feichen had applied burn ointment, yet it looked even more hideous.

Anyone who had previously seen Gu Kang knew that although his character wasn't great, he liked to flirt, yet he was truly a suave young noble.

This time, unexpectedly, his appearance was ruined; it's simply shocking.

He was dragged by two bailiffs before the Crown Prince and fell heavily to the ground.

That fall, not to mention someone as seriously injured as him, even a normal person could hardly bear it.

Suddenly, Gu Jiu Ling, seated to the side, spoke up; she lifted her gaze coldly at Sir Qian seated opposite: 'Sir Qian, he hasn't been convicted, why strip his robes?'

'He is a scholar; he deserves at least basic respect!'

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling opened her mouth, everyone looked at Sir Qian.

Sir Qian, the criminal ministry vice minister, was momentarily stunned; when the Crown Prince had sent this person to the criminal ministry, they had all presupposed that Gu Kang had killed someone.

Moreover, Gu Kang's reputation was poor, and he was a family-cast-out discard; nobody took him seriously.

As soon as he was dragged back to the criminal ministry, they directly stripped his clothes, giving this scholar no dignity at all.

They even dragged the leg-broken Gu Kang to the ground and beat him with a dozen planks; if he hadn't fainted, they worried that when the Crown Prince returned to interrogate, a dead person would be hard to judge—how could they let him lie comfortably in prison?

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin suddenly brought a doctor to treat Gu Kang's wounds, which made them more cautious toward him.

According to Southern Qi law, scholars are not to have their robes removed before conviction; now it's come to this, and being questioned by Gu Jiu Ling, Sir Qian's expression became somewhat displeased for a moment.

He is also a second-rank official of the high court; it's not fitting to be confronted face-to-face by an inner-quarters lady.

Sir Qian calmly said: 'In the court hall, no clamor; the trial is urgent.'

'Ha ha!' Suddenly Xiao Yin, who had been silent on the side, burst out laughing loudly.

'It turns out Sir Qian still observes propriety; the Southern Qi royal family's ancestral instruction is to treat scholars kindly.'

'Before conviction, even in the court hall one must not wantonly humiliate.'

'As a senior official of the Southern Qi criminal ministry, Sir Qian, you don't even know this rule?'

Sir Qian's face slightly changed; just now he had been focused on rebutting Gu Jiu Ling this woman, almost forgetting that there was still someone seated beside her.

Xiao Yin slowly rose, lightly patted his sleeve; his handsome peach-blossom eyes flickered with a mocking smile, his fine brows slightly raised.

He began to undo his belt; this action immediately startled Gu Jiu Ling beside him.

'Your Highness, you speak, you speak; why are you starting to act like a rascal, with so many people, whose clothes are you taking off?'

Now even the Crown Prince was dumbfounded; Xiao Ting's brows furrowed tightly.

Xiao Yin's waist belt had already been undone, hanging from his slender fingers; a light tug, and it fell to the ground.

The problem is that his public act of undoing his belt is also devilishly handsome, possessing a deadly allure.

Gu Jiu Ling wished she could drag it back, lest others see it.

'Is this guy crazy?'

'Is this an action that unrelated people can watch?'

'What is he trying to do, being so careless day after day?'

Xiao Yin curled the corner of his mouth into an extremely bewitching smile and lightly said: 'According to Sir Qian's meaning, this criminal ministry court hall is Sir Qian's turf; the rules should still be set by Sir Qian, right?'

'Gu Kang is originally a student of the Imperial Academy, a proper scholar; you haven't convicted him yet and you've stripped him down like this.'

'I am merely a military general by birth; having come to your turf, how could I not listen to you?'

'I too will remove my robes; let's all strip together!'

"Cough cough! Imperial Uncle!" Xiao Ting really couldn't bear to look, this is the court hall!

The Sir Qian at the side instantly went dumbfounded; he hurriedly got up and knelt before Xiao Yin.

"Prince, please calm your anger! I have misspoken just now!"

Xiao Yin, however, remained unmoved; he took off his outer robe and threw it onto the ground, then continued to take off another layer.

Now Xiao Ting couldn't stay seated either; he rose and walked up to Xiao Yin: "Imperial Uncle! If we keep causing a scene like this, nobody will look good!"

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow, looked at Gu Jiu Ling and curled his lips into a smile: "Princess Consort, do I look good?"

Ah! This old rascal!

Gu Jiu Ling really Xin Tou Bu Zhi Dao Shuo Shénme, but…… his acting like a rascal, she——likes it a lot!