Chapter 37: Read Less of

Gu Jiu Ling didn't know what gift Xiao Yin had sent her early that morning, and they had moved everything into five or six large rattan boxes. She walked to one of the boxes, opened it, and was instantly stunned. Inside were neatly packed storybooks, their cover titles unusually elegant: "Cui San Niang Asks Liu," "Elegant Young Master and Pretty Lady," "General Hua's Night Visit to Yi Hong Courtyard," … Gu Jiu Ling's face froze, and she looked in disbelief at Xiao Yin, who was holding a tea cup on the chair. Xiao Yin gave her a faint smile and said, "Princess Consort is, after all, pregnant; read less Yiqing, read more harmful things, take care!"

Gu Jiu Ling ground her molars, wondering if Prince Rui was teasing her in a fancy way. She clenched her teeth and forced a smile: "Thank you for the Prince's gift, truly not bad."

Xiao Yin didn't know why looking at her made him find it amusing, and his mood was good. He set down the tea cup, rose slowly, flicked his sleeve, and said, "Seven days later is the Ghost Festival. The Empress Dowager will pay respects to the Buddha, and all noble families must follow her to Huangjue Si on Wolong Mountain to burn incense. At that time we will conduct a salvation ceremony for the fallen soldiers of past years, and members of the imperial clan must also pray for the fortunes of Southern Qi. You should get ready."

Gu Jiu Ling nodded. For this activity at Huangjue Si on Wolong Mountain, the people of Rui Wang Fu would certainly go; Xiao Yin every year conducts salvation rites for the brothers of Qi Sha Gu. Even though his reputation in Shang Jing is terrible, this matter must be done; it is his obsession. Husband follows wife, so Gu Jiu Ling naturally will go with him. After Xiao Yin left, she ordered Jiu Yue to prepare the items needed for the trip to Wolong Mountain seven days later. Although Wolong Mountain is a bit closer than the imperial hunting grounds, they still couldn't return that day, so she had the old women pack some daily necessities. The servants were busy when a matron outside brought Li Qiao Er in to report. This time Li Qiao Er appeared as if reborn, wearing a sky‑blue dress, her hair tied into a neat bun, still wearing heavy mourning attire, with only a white velvet flower pinned on the bun. Her once‑delicate expression now showed some firmness, and she handled matters more efficiently. "Mistress!"

After Li Qiao Er entered, she kowtowed to Gu Jiu Ling; Gu Jiu Ling quickly told her to stand. Jiu Yue led the maids and old women from the warm pavilion out. Li Qiao Er bowed and said, "Reporting, Mistress, I have found the person who makes masks, but he says making a human‑skin mask is no small matter and he must meet you in person."

"I have already raised the silver to five thousand taels; Gui Shou Qi still insists on meeting you personally before we discuss further."

Gu Jiu Ling frowned. She sent Li Qiao Er to the ghost market in the south of the city to inquire about Gui Shou Qi, the mask maker, not expecting him to be a mere front. Yet the only person in Southern Qi capable of crafting such indistinguishable masks is him; now he happens to be in Shang Jing, and she urgently needs one, otherwise she wouldn't have entangled herself with such odd martial‑world figures. Li Qiao Er didn't know how to handle it, so she just relayed the message. Gu Jiu Ling inhaled: "We will set a table at noon in Jiang Xian Lou; ask him to come."

Jiang Xian Lou, tucked beside the imperial river in Shang Jing, is a tavern second only to Tianxiang Lou, bustling with people; in front of so many eyes, it's unlikely anyone would dare cause trouble, making a private meeting relatively safe. At noon, Gu Jiu Ling arrived with Jiu Yue, veiled and modestly dressed; Li Qiao Er waited downstairs and, upon seeing her, hurried up. "The guests have arrived, only two of them, plus a young master wearing a mask that radiates evil," Li Qiao Er whispered. "Hmm," Gu Jiu Ling said, heading toward the three‑story private room. Most people in the martial world exude evil, few are normal, and she hadn't expected a helper this time—now the world seems to travel in groups. Li Qiao Er had stationed guards outside the room, thinking ahead. She pulled back the curtain and invited Gu Jiu Ling in. As she stepped inside, she saw two men at the table: a gaunt middle‑aged man in a dark brocade robe, thin and small, yet his hand gripping a tea cup was enormous—about twice the size of an adult's palm, fingers long as bamboo, a bit frightening. She guessed this was Gui Shou Qi. Her gaze shifted from him to the person beside him, and her body froze. The young man in white beside Gui Shou Qi slowly removed the fierce bird mask from his face, revealing dazzling violet eyes that lit up the whole room with a radiant smile. "Zi—" Gu Jiu Ling's instinctive exclamation was swallowed back. She stared in disbelief at the Northern Di prince Tuo Ba Yu before her; in her memory he was always low‑key and restrained, like a little turtle curled in his own world. If not for the previous incident at the royal hunting grounds, she probably would never have crossed paths with him. Tuo Ba Yu rose with Gui Shou Qi, clasped his fists, and bowed to Gu Jiu Ling in full martial‑world courtesy. Gu Jiu Ling was uncertain but felt indebted to Tuo Ba Yu, believing he wouldn't repay kindness with malice, and there was no conflict of interest. Seeing Gui Shou Qi fear Tuo Ba Yu, she realized Tuo Ba Yu also had his own influence—indeed, Shang Jing is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and no one is harmless. After the greetings, Li Qiao Er led her companions to the adjacent room for a private talk, leaving only Gu Jiu Ling and Tuo Ba Yu inside. In fact, the one truly wanting to see her was probably Tuo Ba Yu. Gu Jiu Ling took the central seat, lifted the tea cup to pour wine for Tuo Ba Yu, who thanked her briskly. He had rosy lips, white teeth, a jade‑like elegance, refined and handsome, speaking with a hint of shyness; his gaze at Gu Jiu Ling held an extra, hidden heat that she could not read. Gu Jiu Ling set down the teapot, focused on him, and asked, "Is the wound better now?"

"Thank you for the Princess Consort's kindness; I'm much better now," Tuo Ba Yu smiled at Gu Jiu Ling, his eyes slightly upturned, his handsome face almost too perfect. Gu Jiu Ling let out a light laugh, lifted the tea cup and took a sip: "Your Highness hides a lot!"

The atmosphere instantly grew cold. Tuo Ba Yu realized Gu Jiu Ling had doubts about him and gave a faint smile: "I have been forward with the Princess Consort."

"To be frank, Gui Shou Qi is one of my people; it's been a long time since anyone asked him to make a mask."

"I once instructed my men that when taking on business they cannot accept every job; they must report to me."

Gu Jiu Ling gave a faint smile: "Your Highness is short of money?"

Tuo Ba Yu laughed: "Yes! I do odd jobs that can't be displayed, earn a few silver coins to live; after all, the Bei Di side doesn't care about me, and Southern Qi also wants to get rid of this useless person."

"Gui Shou Qi said the businesswoman is Miss Li, so I thought of you, Princess Consort; I came today to see, and indeed it's you!"

Gu Jiu Ling understood this as an explanation, but being stared at felt uncomfortable. She inhaled and said to Tuo Ba Yu: "In that case, name your price!"