Chapter 36: Afraid of Thunder

In the evening, Xiao Yin returned, finished his official duties, and then went to Gu Jiu Ling's Peach Blossom Pavilion. When the rainy season arrived, the morning was still clear skies, but by afternoon the clouds gathered densely, and by evening the rain fell even harder. Outside, the thunder rumbled loudly, almost rolling along the eaves. Although the imperial guards helped Xiao Yin hold an umbrella, when he entered the warm pavilion he was still soaked in a large area. His complexion turned pale from the rain, and his expression grew noticeably stern. "Your Highness?"

Gu Jiu Ling was squatting in the warm pavilion, cooking a small hot pot with Jiu Yue. Gu Jiu Ling had specially asked the outside blacksmith to forge a custom three-legged small stove, on which a small iron pot could be placed. She added seasonings, cooked hand-sliced mutton, greens, tofu, and various meatballs made by the cook. The contents of the pot had just come to a boil when Xiao Yin walked in. Gu Jiu Ling didn't expect him to come in such heavy rain? She stepped forward to help Xiao Yin take off his outer cloak; his inner clothes were also wet, so he took them all off, leaving only a middle garment, its collar slightly open to reveal his firm, tight chest. He glanced at the pot on the ground, slightly stunned, and Jiu Yue hurriedly placed two small wooden stools on either side of the pot. "Your Highness, have you had dinner yet?"

Xiao Yin had actually already eaten at an outside tavern with his aides, but for some unknown reason, as the cold rain fell, he walked and walked until he arrived at the Peach Blossom Pavilion. He felt it was warm inside, with the lively atmosphere he liked, and he didn't feel cold. "No," Xiao Yin prepared to mooch a meal. Gu Jiu Ling quickly ordered Jiu Yue to go to the back kitchen to add a few more dishes, prepare more broth, and brought over a jug of clear liquor. Xiao Yin was tall; sitting on the small round stool, he loomed like a mountain. He focused his gaze on the bubbling iron pot, raised his eyebrows, and said: "Princess Consort, your food is quite unique, isn't it?"

"Your Highness, try this little hot pot," Gu Jiu Ling said, carefully attending to him, preparing a sesame sauce dip for him. Xiao Yin took a bite, a smile spreading at the corners of his mouth: "Not bad!"

"Your Highness, eat more!"

Gu Jiu Ling arranged the dishes for Xiao Yin, then poured him a cup of wine and handed it to him: "A little drink pleases the spirit, too much harms the body; Your Highness, you have an internal ailment, so just drink a little each day."

Xiao Yin took the jade cup from Gu Jiu Ling's hand, ate the hot pot, took a sip of the small wine, and suddenly felt completely at ease. He gazed at Gu Jiu Ling's face, flushed red by the rising heat, wearing a simple jade-colored dress, her hair tied up in a fluffy bun, without makeup or ornaments, yet she looked astonishingly beautiful amid the steaming mist. His eyes flickered; he averted his gaze without a word, realizing he had been devoting quite a bit of thought to this woman lately. He looked at the pot and said slowly: "If you open my belly to examine the illness, what are the chances of success?"

Gu Jiu Ling was holding a bowl and eating vegetables; hearing this, she almost dropped her bowl. She lifted her eyes to look at Xiao Yin, wondering if he had agreed. "Your Highness, do you want to hear the truth or..." Xiao Yin gave a light laugh: "You're about to cut open my belly—do you really think lying won't invite divine retribution?"

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head and coughed once, then lifted her gaze to him, her eyes growing more serious. "Your Highness, this ailment is indeed strange; unlike ordinary poisons that linger in the meridians, your poison is concentrated in the abdominal cavity and has formed a mass; without opening it up to look, there is no way to treat it."

"However, even a minor procedure counts as surgery, and surgery always carries risk; I dare not guarantee I can cure you completely."

Xiao Yin froze slightly, his peach-blossom eyes full of emotion gazing at Gu Jiu Ling; being stared at made her scalp tingle a little, but facing someone like him, it was better to speak the truth. A silence fell between them; after a long while, Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh: "I must say you have a lot of nerve—back on the street you stopped me, claiming you could cure poison; are you trying to trick me into marriage?"

"I dare not!"

Shen Nuo hurriedly rose to her feet: "It can be treated, but the treatment is somewhat troublesome; I also cannot deceive Your Highness, and there is indeed risk."

Xiao Yin lowered his gaze to the bowl in his hand; the poison those people gave him seven years ago was truly vicious, and he had been tormented for seven full years. This time he had encountered an opportunity, but the treatment method made him somewhat unwilling to accept it. The warm pavilion fell silent all at once, with only the sound of the broth in the iron pot bubbling and gurgling. After a long while, Xiao Yin drew a breath and said, "Please sit down," and Gu Jiu Ling sat down, still feeling a bit restrained in his presence. Not long after they finished eating, Jiu Yue brought people in to tidy the room, then left. Gu Jiu Ling had already prepared to retire, but seeing that Xiao Yin showed no sign of leaving, she silently sighed and ordered the servant maid to heat water. After Xiao Yin bathed, he lay down on Gu Jiu Ling's bed; outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. He leaned calmly against the bedpost, then began to feel Gu Jiu Ling's pillow, only to pull out a few books on women's conduct and the like. He gave a light laugh, gave her a meaningful glance, and Gu Jiu Ling giggled as she picked up the books on women's conduct and placed them on the desk. "Princess Consort, read whatever you like; tomorrow I will have all those books from the bureau bought back for you."

"No, no, thank you for your consideration, Your Highness," Gu Jiu Ling said; although she was not thin-skinned, she had not yet reached the point of letting her husband wholesale pornographic books for her. Xiao Yin made space on the inner side, and Gu Jiu Ling lay down there; this time she was not as tense as before, and the distance between them was not too great. Although they were a temporary couple, after all they were husband and wife, and Gu Jiu Ling had no right to kick him off the bed. The thunder outside was loud; Xiao Yin slowly closed his eyes, when suddenly he heard Gu Jiu Ling's amused voice: "Your Highness, you're actually afraid of thunder?"

Xiao Yin jolted awake; yes, he was afraid of thunder. He had feared it since childhood; the shouts of slaughter in Qi Sha Gu sounded like the rolling thunder approaching, making him anxious. Rainy days were his most miserable; he had a mental block he could not overcome. He did not want to appear overly weak in front of this woman, so he drew a breath, gritted his teeth, turned his face away, and looked at her harmless, lovely face. "Princess Consort, you talk too much."

Gu Jiu Ling slowly retreated into her own blanket. Xiao Yin felt vexed and lay down; suddenly, from the other side of the blanket, a soft, warm little hand reached out, cautiously touching his big hand, then gradually gripping it. "Your Highness, don't be afraid; I am by your side."

Xiao Yin's chest felt as if struck heavily, leaving him numb and tingling; he turned his large hand over and firmly clasped her hand. The thunder outside grew louder, and he fell into a deep sleep. In his ears came the dying cries of his brothers, the crackle of burning oil, and then a clear, lovely voice sounded: "Don't be afraid; I am here."

He instantly calmed and fell into deep sleep. The next morning, as soon as Gu Jiu Ling woke up, she met Xiao Yin's gaze as he looked down at her, his eyes shimmering like peach blossoms. She snapped awake, feeling a little flustered—this was the first time Xiao Yin had stayed the whole night, and she felt things were slipping beyond her control. Xiao Yin averted his gaze, rose slowly, and smiled: "Rest assured, I have not yet sunk so low as to lay hands on a pregnant woman out of sheer desperation."

Gu Jiu Ling's cheeks flushed slightly, but she dared not speak, and rose as well. The maidservants entered to attend, their eyes all smiling. "The prince finally shows concern for his master," they chuckled, "we'll rise with him." This time the princess consort brought in is treated worlds apart from the previous six. "Your Highness, aren't you going to attend morning court?"

Gu Jiu Ling helped Xiao Yin lay out the dishes while asking. Xiao Yin sat at the side table waiting for Gu Jiu Ling to feed him; his mood seemed fine, the rain had finally stopped, and the air carried the scent of earth. He said lightly: "I only hold the title of prince; I have no official duties, so whether I go or not makes no difference."

After they finished eating, Xiao Yin ordered Ling Feng to have people move several crates inside. Gu Jiu Ling stared for a moment: "What is this?"

Xiao Yin smiled: "It's a gift for you."

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes lit up—delivering gifts so early in the morning? And so many crates? She waddled over to the crates, Xiao Yin's lips curling with a warm smile; she found the unwrapping quite entertaining. "Hmm, send more from now on! Just looking at it is a feast for the eyes."