Chapter 379: with translation of chapter title

Early the next morning, Gu Jiu Ling brought Yun Duo and Jiu Yue, holding the children, aboard the ship Xiao Yin had sent.

The islanders came to see them off, and by last night the residents already knew of Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin's relationship.

It turned out the couple had quarreled, and the wife, in a huff, took the children and ran away.

This is Prince Rui himself coming personally to chase after his wife.

The elderly woman at the front tightly grasped Gu Jiu Ling's hand, smiling affectionately as she urged: "Princess Consort, this old woman dares to say a few words."

"There's no married couple that doesn't argue, is there?"

"They quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot; calm down, for the children's sake, go back."

Xiao Yin, beside himself with satisfaction, ordered Ling Feng to reward the old lady with a hundred taels of gold.

Now it became lively, with the islanders chattering in advice.

Gu Jiu Ling truly felt weary; she thought it would have been better to toss these people into the sea to feed the fish—so lacking in ambition.

After bidding farewell to the islanders, she boarded the ship.

The two wet nurses from the island also went along; once Gu Jiu Ling was settled in Shang Jing, she would send people to return them.

Those two women were also willing, for who wouldn't want to go to the Rui Wangfu in Shang Jing?

Being able to serve as nursemaid to the young Heir Apparent and Commandery Princess is itself a great fortune—others might not have such an opportunity, so they are naturally willing beyond measure.

They first boarded a small boat, crossed this stretch of beach and whirlpool, and from afar could see a large sea‑ship about four stories high moored on the water.

Moreover, five or six of these ten‑thousand‑stone sea‑ships had arrived, and at this time there were still guards on the ships.

The people who had previously landed on the island, Gu Jiu Ling thought, were already numerous—about as many as could be.

Little did she expect that with Xiao Yin there was no limit to extravagance—only more extravagance.

To transfer from the small boat to the large sea‑ship, they had to set up a stable gangway between the vessels and walk across it.

The gangway was wide enough for three people to walk abreast without trouble; the only issue was the strong sea wind, requiring guards nearby to lend support.

Gu Jiu Ling was about to step onto the gangway holding Yun Duo's hand, but Xiao Yin swept her up in a horizontal hold and carried her straight onto the sea‑ship.

Before Gu Jiu Ling could react, Xiao Yin set her down opposite, turned, and immediately took his daughter and son, carrying them over as well.

He then placed the son in Gu Jiu Ling's arms; this little brat dared to give him a look, which annoyed him.

He then lowered his head, gazing affectionately at his daughter, who had just finished eating and stared steadily at the man holding her, without crying.

Xiao Yin laughed: "This little girl is quite lovely, no wonder she's mine…"

"Cough, cough!" Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold cough; she couldn't stand this man's smugness.

Xiao Yin quickly changed the subject, chuckling awkwardly: "No wonder it's your child—so adorable."

Gu Jiu Ling ignored him, turned, and carried the children into the prepared cabin.

Located in the middle of the sea‑ship, at the topmost level, the view was excellent.

Gu Jiu Ling entered, and Yun Duo and Jiu Yue followed in to attend her.

Xiao Yin knew that their relationship had reached this point; that Gu Jiu Ling was willing to return with him was already a great fortune, and he dared not press her too hard.

Xiao Yin also entered the cabin holding his daughter; the outer room was screened by a glass partition, the inner side held the sleeping berth, and the furnishings were quite elegant.

Everyone sat in the outer room, and Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue take the daughter Xiao Yin was holding in his arms.

No one else dared to snatch the daughter from Xiao Yin's hands; he glanced at the obstinate maid beside Gu Jiu Ling, had to relent, and handed the child to Jiu Yue.

Jiu Yue brought the child back to Gu Jiu Ling's side and placed the two little ones separately on the infant bed.

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head, leaning over the infant bed to play with the children, ignoring Xiao Yin; the message could not be clearer—he could leave now.

Xiao Yin had missed her for so long; now that he had finally found her, he was unwilling to let go.

He coughed once to try to draw Gu Jiu Ling's attention; at the very least he needed to exchange a few words.

When they had just married, they were utterly enamored; now, however, they had grown distant.

Wasn't it explained last night? Why is she still greeting him with a cold face?

He slowly rose and walked to the infant bed; Gu Jiu Ling was leaning over the son's side, so he bent to look at the daughter, raised his hand, and poked her soft cheek with his fingertip.

The little one suddenly grabbed his finger, clearly about to stuff it into her mouth to bite; Xiao Yin hastily withdrew, startled.

Although he had once been a great general of Southern Qi and had seen all kinds of peril, he was startled by a mere nursing infant.

Xiao Yin withdrew his finger, and suddenly heard Gu Jiu Ling, sitting opposite, burst out with a "puchi" laugh.

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't expected her daughter to be so fierce, grabbing her father's finger to bite; seeing Xiao Yin's flustered state, it was a stark contrast to his former ruthless, domineering self.

Gu Jiu Ling's smile sank into Xiao Yin's eyes; he involuntarily relaxed, looking at her and said: "By the way, have the children been named?"

Gu Jiu Ling, Yun Duo, and Jiu Yue, standing in the cabin, all stiffened at once, then a complex expression flitted across their faces.

Xiao Yin blinked: "What? You haven't given them names?"

Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold snort: "Naturally we have—how could my children go unnamed? Prince, you worry too much."

Xiao Yin also didn't know why, seeing Gu Jiu Ling's demeanor, a faint sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

This woman simply can't come up with names; that Jinzhi name before was…

He was about to interject to stop her, but in the end he couldn't halt Gu Jiu Ling's train of thought.

Gu Jiu Ling focused on the two infants and said: "The son is called Gu Yi; he takes his father's surname, making him the elder brother."

"The daughter is called Gu Er; she is the younger sister."

Xiao Yin exploded, stepping forward: "Gu Jiu Ling, that's irresponsible—how can a girl be called 'Two'?"

Besides, this is my child—how can she bear the surname Gu?

It should be the state surname!

Gu Jiu Ling slammed the table, rose slowly, and fixed Xiao Yin with a steady gaze: "Who says a child must take the father's surname?"

"You are the Princess Consort of Rui!" Xiao Yin flared up—hadn't Gu Jiu Ling agreed to return with him to Shang Jing? Why does she seem to mean something else now!

"The Princess Consort of Rui was burned to death in the Chongwen Tower long ago; the one standing before you now is Gu Jiu Ling!"

"What... what do you mean?" Xiao Yin was completely flustered—this wasn't the result he wanted!

He stared fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling: "Gu Jiu Ling, I won't hold your maternal grandfather's actions against you; you're you, he's he! Come back with me—we're still husband and wife, and the child will have a proper status."

"Xiao Yin, I will hold it against you," Gu Jiu Ling said, each word deliberate, looking at Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin froze on the spot.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at him and said: "Our relationship is too tangled; back then, why did your maternal grandfather try to harm you? You know now, but I still don't."

"I need to get to the bottom of this! Otherwise it's like a thorn that occasionally pricks us—I can't bear it; I want to pull it out completely. Before then, I think I'd better not go back to the Rui Wangfu."

Xiao Yin's expression changed instantly.