Chapter 319

Night fell, and the area around Peach Blossom Pavilion was thick with people.

Outside Peach Blossom Pavilion, the guards of Rui Wang Fu were three times as many as usual.

Even the spots on Peach Blossom Pavilion's wall, in the tree shade, were already packed solid; those dark guards couldn't help but complain bitterly.

The dark guard chief coldly looked at Ling Feng lying beside him and whispered, "What exactly does the Prince mean? Now I completely obey the Princess Consort, yet the Prince has sent so many people this time—should I fight or not?"

Ling Feng's face was slightly weary; today, all day long, Jiu Yue hadn't spoken a word to him.

He had tried to find Jiu Yue to explain, but he didn't want to be stepped on hard by Jiu Yue on the top of his foot; now his foot still ached faintly, and that girl wished she could trample his foot to a pulp.

Ling Feng snapped, "Just guard as you're told—why say all that nonsense?"

"What can we say or do about the Prince and Princess Consort's affair?"

"If these two aren't meant to be together, they shouldn't have been forced together; even when busy they won't let go, literally trapping people here—we can only watch and wait."

Gu Jiu Ling's face froze slightly, and she didn't know what to say.

She snorted coldly, turned her gaze to the courtyard, and had already spotted the tall figure standing there.

Gu Jiu Ling sat by the window, practicing calligraphy.

His mood was somewhat complicated, extremely vexed; only when he picked up the brush to practice calligraphy did he feel a little better.

Gu Jiu Ling had long seen Xiao Yin standing in the courtyard, but she deliberately didn't speak to him, keeping her head down as she wrote something.

Separated by a carved lattice window, they were utterly cold toward each other.

After all, Xiao Yin couldn't hold back any longer; he stepped forward slowly, then another step, giving the impression he was about to break through the window.

He finally stopped at the window's edge; Gu Jiu Ling's voice came out through the yellow lamplight, enticing, and even that sound made Xiao Yin's heart race wildly.

"I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

Xiao Yin's voice gained a certain texture, feeling like a naive child who had done something remarkable and run to his parents seeking praise.

Gu Jiu Ling's hand, gripping the dagger, froze there, yet she continued to write, swish swish swish, without lifting her head.

Xiao Yin opposite found it boring, and said slowly, "Your younger brother Gu Kang entered the palace today; the emperor took notice of his essay and awarded him top place."

With a clatter, Gu Jiu Ling rose to her feet, the chair she had been sitting on lifted with her and slammed straight into the table.

Gu Jiu Ling hurried toward the door, but then her steps stopped there; she realized she was now confined by Xiao Yin.

At this moment she was shocked and dismayed, feeling as if she were dreaming—how could this be? She knew her brother's abilities well.

She had previously told Gu Kang that, aside from taking a risky approach with the sword, there was no chance of winning this exam.

Others competed with literary talent, but he relied on his attitude and determination toward gas reform.

Who would have thought that this hastily prepared move by the siblings would actually win, and moreover it was a nationally renowned university.

At this moment Gu Jiu Ling's heart was in turmoil, feeling both shocked and incredulous.

She always felt that something was hidden in all this, but she couldn't grasp the crucial link.

Gu Jiu Ling at this moment neither could think of it nor could she understand it.

Gu Jiu Ling finally managed to collect herself, steadied her racing heart, turned and walked to the table by the window, sat down, and continued holding her brush to practice calligraphy.

Xiao Yin, standing outside, again spoke softly: "Tomorrow the emperor himself will host a Deer Cry Banquet, specially bestowing a feast on your brother Gu Kang, with the second- and third-place laureates accompanying him."

"We nobles all have to attend; get ready, I'll take you into the palace tomorrow at noon, after all you are Gu Kang's blood sister—you simply cannot miss this."

Gu Jiu Ling was forced to this point; she couldn't stay silent, her heart felt as if it had been roasted over fire back and forth, and she only replied with a single syllable: "En."

Xiao Yin felt a surge of frustration; he had taken the initiative to come to the courtyard to talk to her, yet she brushed him off with just an "en"?

He really wanted to rush in and ask Gu Jiu Ling, laying everything out plainly, but he faintly sensed that Gu Jiu Ling might also have some feelings for him.

Between them lay a chasm that was fundamentally impossible to cross.

If Gu Jiu Ling liked him, and knew that his maternal grandfather had set a trap that killed tens of thousands of his brothers, how should she conduct herself?

One must know that Old Master Du holds a very important place in Gu Jiu Ling's heart.

If he were to reveal that Gu Jiu Ling's maternal grandfather was actually a traitor to the nation who framed loyal men, would she not feel terrible?

Thinking of Xiao Yin, he no longer had the courage to step forward; he silently sighed, slowly turned around, and walked toward the gate.

Even if there is pain, he bears all of it alone, and he only wishes for Gu Jiu Ling to pass these days easily.

After all, a woman about to give birth cannot endure too much stimulation; everything can wait until she delivers the child and recovers her health—there's no rush.

This pregnancy is with twins, which is inherently extremely perilous.

Before leaving, Xiao Yin ordered the attendants on both sides to take good care of Gu Jiu Ling, and if anything went wrong with the provisions, he wanted them to bring him heads.

Now Xiao Yin does not want to affect Gu Jiu Ling's emotions, causing too great a fluctuation; he only wishes for her to give birth to the child in her womb safely and peacefully.

Meanwhile, he was still giving those brothers an explanation: if it weren't for his mediation these past days, those brothers who had lost their relatives would likely have already come to cause trouble for Gu Jiu Ling.

Xiao Yin's steps paused for a moment, yet he still walked out of the gate; some things, as a man, he must bear alone.

Gu Jiu Ling heard Xiao Yin's footsteps receding farther and farther, and her heart instantly filled with mixed feelings.

What exactly does Xiao Yin intend to do this time?

To lock her up here, yet not explain things clearly to her face.

Gu Jiu Ling always felt that the matter wasn't that simple, sensing that Xiao Yin seemed to have become a different person.

She set down her brush, stood up, and shoved the window open in one motion—Xiao Yin's figure had long since vanished without a trace.

Gu Jiu Ling turned and walked toward the gate; just as she pushed open the courtyard gate, the guards sent by Xiao Yin outside raised a hand to stop her, bowing and saying: "Princess Consort, the Prince has ordered that you please remain in the courtyard and rest properly."

Gu Jiu Ling let out a cold laugh, then turned and returned to the warm pavilion.

Although it was time for bathing and changing clothes, Gu Jiu Ling's mind was in a tangled mess, and she didn't know what had gone wrong.

Sure enough the next morning, Jiu Yue brought a hair-combing maid over.

Every time they entered the palace, Xiao Yin would request from the palace an old maid he trusted to come personally to the Wangfu to help Gu Jiu Ling with her hair.

Not long after, Gu Jiu Ling finished tidying up, taking Yun Duo and Jiu Yue with her to the front courtyard.

In the distance she saw Xiao Yin's tall figure standing at the gate, as if waiting for her.