Chapter 349: Take Away Together

It was very late at night when a group arrived outside the Zhao general's residence.

The Zhao family guards at the gate had not yet reacted when Xiao Yin forced the door open and led the way inside.

Seeing Xiao Yin arrive, the Zhao family dared not delay and hurriedly reported to the rear hall.

Not long after, Zhao Lao Ye came with his wife and daughter-in-law Jinzhi, all together, to the main hall.

But as they arrived at the main hall, they saw outside everywhere Prince Rui's retainers, a dense mass surrounding a large group, as if intending to surround and seize the Zhao residence.

Zhao Lao Ye's heart jumped; his son was already at the border, and he did not know why Xiao Yin had come at night with such a show of force.

They were merely a minor household that had just moved to Jing Cheng, relying on their son's military achievements, and only then managed to thrive in Shang Jing.

Compared in foundation, they fell far short of Prince Rui's residence, so they naturally dared not put on airs.

Zhao Lao Ye collected himself, stepped forward, bowed slightly to Xiao Yin, and said, "I do not know why Prince Rui has come to our residence at this late hour; what brings you here?"

Xiao Yin, however, lifted his gaze to Jinzhi standing to the side and beckoned her over.

"Jinzhi, come over."

Jinzhi froze for a moment, but since her sworn elder brother called her over, she had no reason to refuse; she hurriedly walked carefully to Xiao Yin's front.

She obediently gave a salute to Xiao Yin, who stared at her steadily, his gaze falling on her waist and abdomen; Jinzhi could not help but blush slightly.

Jinzhi's pregnancy was not announced publicly; only the Zhao family knew about it.

After all, her husband was not in Shang Jing, she was mute, and having just become pregnant, she dared not draw attention; she stayed in the residence with her mother-in-law, embroidering and painting, which was also peaceful.

Xiao Yin said lightly, "You're pregnant—why didn't you inform Prince Rui's manor? After all, as your uncle, I should be happy too."

Jinzhi hastily pulled out the small notebook from her side, wrote a few sentences, and held it out with both hands to Xiao Yin.

She had only just learned of her pregnancy and hadn't had a chance to say anything; moreover, now that Princess Consort of Rui had encountered such a major incident, she did not want to add any trouble for her elder brother.

She also thought that after a few more months she would go to Prince Rui's manor to announce the good news; she wrote out the whole cause-and-effect sequence clearly in the notebook.

After reading a few lines, Xiao Yin returned the notebook to Jinzhi, but looked at her with concern and said, "Earlier your sister-in-law treated you with special affection; now that you are pregnant and Zhao Lang is not in the manor, if anything were to happen, how could you face your sister-in-law?"

"He used to dote on you the most, entrusting me to look after you; now she has perished in Chongwen Tower, so the duty to care for you naturally falls on me as your elder brother."

As soon as Xiao Yin finished saying these words, the Zhao family members nearby also felt quite displeased.

Their wives had already been burned to death, yet they still thought of this sworn younger sister; hearing Xiao Yin's words, they felt a sigh of sorrow.

But later, listening to Xiao Yin's words, they began to feel something was off.

Xiao Yin sighed: "How about this—I'll take you to stay a few days in the annex of Prince Rui's manor."

"First, it will be convenient for you to nurture the pregnancy; second, it will also serve as an explanation to your sister-in-law."

"Attendants! Please help the young lady into the carriage."

No sooner had Xiao Yin's words fallen than the Zhao family erupted in an uproar.

What is this supposed to be? Although Xiao Yin is Jinzhi's elder brother, he just took her away like that?

Now Jinzhi is carrying the Zhao family's flesh and blood, yet she is being taken to Prince Rui's annex—what is this supposed to be?

Has Prince Rui gone mad?

"Impossible!" Madam Zhao exclaimed, stepping forward to block Jinzhi.

She lifted her head and stared fixedly at Xiao Yin, unafraid of whether he was Prince Rui or not.

Jinzhi and the child in her womb are the Zhao family's lifeblood; whoever harms her will make them furious.

"Prince, you are Jinzhi's sworn elder brother, but you cannot just take her away."

"Furthermore, this matter also needs my son's consent; now that my son is not in Jing Cheng, are you trying to bully us, the weak and elderly of the Zhao family?"

"Madam Zhao, you overstate it," Xiao Yin said with a light smile, "I am merely taking my own sister to the suburbs to protect her properly; there is no other intention. Attendants, take her away."

This time, Xiao Yin couldn't care less whether it was the Zhao family or not; he only wanted to keep Jinzhi under his control and make a big fuss about it.

He would not be Gu Jiu Ling if he didn't know.

Well, Gu Jiu Ling took Yun Duo with her when she left, took Jiu Yue, and even brought along Li Qiaoer, the outside contact.

Not to mention Zuo Feichen and Tuo Ba Yu, those two scoundrels.

But Gu Jiu Ling also had things she could not take, such as Jinzhi.

Gu Jiu Ling loved Jinzhi, but she also knew that Jinzhi had married into the Zhao family and was doing well; if she followed her in wandering displacement, it would actually be a disservice to Jinzhi.

Therefore, even if Gu Jiu Ling faked her death, she did not inform Jinzhi.

Master Nianyuan was right: as long as she had lived in this place, there would be someone she cared about.

Xiao Yin wanted to control everyone Gu Jiu Ling cared about, gripping them all in his hand.

He was waiting for her to panic, her thoughts to fray, to reveal a flaw; he was also waiting for that woman to make contact with this side of Shang Jing—this was his only chance to find her.

Jinzhi could not believe her ears, thinking she had misheard.

Is her sworn elder brother intending to confine her?

But standing before her was her brother, and behind her were the Zhao elders she loved; for a moment the two sides were drawn swords and bows, and Jinzhi found herself somewhat at a loss.

Seeing the Zhao family already reaching for weapons, the Prince Rui manor was brimming with killing intent.

Jinzhi hastily stepped in front of her mother-in-law, looking at Prince Rui's anxious gestures.

She would follow him, pleading that he not harm the Zhao family.

Although Zhao Lang had also achieved great military feats on the frontier, he was still far inferior to the former war god of Southern Qi.

Thus the Zhao family could not possibly withstand Xiao Yin's overbearing manner.

The pretext Xiao Yin found was noble and righteous, and for a moment the Zhao family were at a loss what to do.

In their panic, Zhao Lao Ye and Madam Zhao again stepped forward to shield Jinzhi.

Seeing Prince Rui about to use force on these two elders, Jinzhi hastily turned, pulled out her notebook, and wrote urgently.

She told the two elders that Xiao Yin would certainly not harm her; his coming to take her away this time must have been out of necessity.

Madam Zhao, feeling pity for her daughter-in-law, harshly shoved aside her old husband and coldly told Xiao Yin, "If you're going to take her, then take us both—if you take my daughter-in-law, you must also take this old hag of me."

I'd like to see how you, the Prince Rui's manor, still bully people with your influence.

Before Madame Zhao could finish speaking, Xiao Yin didn't bother to argue with her; he shoved both Madame Zhao and Jinzhi into the carriage and took them away together.

Now Madame Zhao was completely flustered, and she burst out cursing.

But before Madame Zhao could utter a few words, she was actually ordered by Xiao Yin to be stuffed into a hemp sack and taken away from the Zhao residence.

The Zhao family guards rushed forward to draw their swords, but were held back by Old Master Zhao.

This is Shang Jing; if you personally cross swords with Prince Rui, your son serving in the army will surely have a hard time.

Quick! Quick! Write a letter to Lang Ge'er! Quick!