Chapter 383: So Heartless

Gu Jiu Ling knew that after returning to the capital she would definitely face such a scene.

She feared that, in the eyes of Xiao Yin's trusted aides, her status was nothing but a bewitching woman who brought disaster upon their lord.

One could tell from the looks of the few people before her.

She didn't know why, but seeing Yinggu and the others' expressions as if they had seen a ghost actually made her feel a bit more delighted.

She originally didn't want to provoke his wrath, after all the evidence now showed that her maternal family, the Du clan, had committed atrocities.

She should have kept a low profile, but this time she subconsciously wanted to watch a good show.

Leaving aside whether her principal wife is dead or not, even if she were dead, the period of mourning hasn't ended yet.

You, a young lady who hasn't left her chambers, may be as bold as any wandering martial artist, and women of the jianghu may ignore those rules, but there's no justification for throwing yourself at a man like that, right?

Have you not seen a man in this life or the previous one?

Are you fated to lack men?

Ling Feng was stunned by Xiao Yin's shout.

It wasn't him who let people in, and besides, part of this manor is managed by the Li family, so they naturally wouldn't stop the Li family members.

Wasn't this something the Prince had always tacitly allowed before?

He still steeled himself, stepped forward, bowed, and said: "Your Highness, perhaps the secret guards watching the manor were momentarily negligent."

Xiao Yin said slowly: "Pass the order down—tonight, every secret guard on outer perimeter duty will receive thirty military strokes and be immediately relieved."

Xiao Yin's words were clearly meant to give the Li family a show of force, since those assigned to outer perimeter defense were all arranged by the Li family.

Beating these people isn't that just a harsh slap to the Li family's face?

Tell the Li family that ranks must be observed; without a summons, they may not see Prince Rui.

Before, Xiao Yin had lived at the Li manor for half a year, gotten along well with the Li family, and become close friends who could talk about anything.

This time, Li Cheng experienced for the first time in front of Xiao Yin what it means for a superior to be cold-hearted and ruthless.

It was only because his daughter desperately wanted to see him that he rushed in impulsively, dragging along so many people to be beaten; how could his daughter ever hold her head up before the Li family afterward?

But he knew this wasn't the time to speak; he could only swallow his frustration.

The outer guards usually got along well with Li Fusheng; hearing this, Li Fusheng flared up and hurried to plead for mercy from Xiao Yin, but Li Cheng grabbed his arm tightly and dragged him behind.

He hadn't meant to stop his son, yet he couldn't stop his daughter.

Li Yinggu stepped forward, looked at Xiao Yin, her eyes slightly reddened with a hint of tears.

"Your Highness, it's all Yinggu's fault; seeing your procession made her heart leap with joy, so she insisted on rushing in to take a look."

"If Your Highness wishes to punish, punish me alone—I, Yinggu, will bear responsibility for my own actions! I must not implicate my brothers!"

Gu Jiu Ling watching from the side was simply eye-opening.

She had heard before of a kind of green tea called "manly tea" that looks bold and unconstrained, enjoyable for both men and women, easy to get along with, but in practice it's actually rather disgusting.

She had barged in by misusing her father's authority, now causing all this trouble, yet she began to put on an act of righteous indignation.

It's just that Xiao Yin owes the Li family a life, so even if she says this, he really can't punish her.

Gu Jiu Ling let out a snort of laughter, which rang out especially clear and jarring in the night.

Xiao Yin looked at Gu Jiu Ling, and seeing the woman's radiant smile, he seemed to drift off— the familiar Gu Jiu Ling of old had returned.

Gu Jiu Ling coughed, gathered her thoughts; as a member of the Du family, she really shouldn't be speaking here.

But Yinggu was somewhat angry, momentarily forgetting all about rank and propriety; she turned and coldly said to Gu Jiu Ling: "Princess Consort, do you find this funny? Are you relying on the favor bestowed upon you to bully people like this?"

"No no no..." Gu Jiu Ling laughed while waving her hands.

I had thought she was some high-ranking expert, but she's just a hotheaded novice.

She looked at the indignant Yinggu and lightly said: "First, this is the Prince's domain; no one may enter without his summons, yet you, miss, are jumping about happily."

"Those who know the inside story even think this manor isn't the Prince's but belongs to your Li family!"

"Princess Consort, you overstate it!" Li Cheng immediately bowed, his complexion shifting slightly as he furrowed his brows tightly.

Gu Jiu Ling gave a light laugh: "Second, as a woman of my ilk, I'm certainly not some jianghu-spirited troublemaker who would dare to throw my weight around."

"And third, the Prince has given me all this gold, silver, and jewels—I'm delighted! Overjoyed! What's wrong with laughing a little? Does it bother you, miss? Am I not allowed to laugh?"

"You..." Yinggu flushed with anger, not really understanding her words but feeling that the "spirited troublemaker" remark was aimed at her.

"Gu Jiu Ling! Don't think you don't know what your maternal grandfather did to the Prince; just see how long you can stay smug—"

"Shut up!"

"Enough!"

Xiao Yin and Li Cheng shouted in unison, sternly rebuking.

Li Cheng's forehead broke out in a fine sweat as he stepped forward and slapped his daughter hard across the face.

With a crack! The slap rang out especially loud.

Yinggu had always been pampered by the Li family; this was the first time her father had struck her, and she looked at him in disbelief.

Xiao Yin's brows also furrowed tightly; if he still couldn't see what was going on, his eyes would truly be blind.

If today's troublemaker were anyone else, he would have already flayed them alive—but this is the Li family.

Back when he was nearly exterminated, the Li family sacrificed over a hundred lives to send him back to the capital.

He suppressed his inner displeasure, staring fixedly at Yinggu, who covered her face with flushed cheeks.

The young lady has grown up, yet she truly doesn't understand things.

He said slowly: "If I'm not mistaken, Yinggu underwent her coming-of-age ceremony last year, right?"

Li Cheng's body trembled slightly as he hurriedly bowed: "Your Highness remembers correctly; last year you even had someone send a precious gift to this lass."

Yinggu, overwhelmed by shock and pain, held back the urge to burst into tears.

Not wanting Xiao Yin to bring up her coming-of-age ceremony, she must still feel some affection.

She gazed at Xiao Yin pleadingly, not even knowing herself what kind of answer she wanted.

Xiao Yin didn't even look at her, not granting her a single pitying glance; he stared at Li Cheng and said, word by word, "Since you've completed the coming-of-age ceremony, it's time to talk about marriage. I, the Prince, have always succeeded in making good matches as a matchmaker—let me act as matchmaker for the Li family another day, how about that?"

Ying Gu's eyes widened instantly, and a profound despair flickered in the depths of her gaze.

An intense feeling of suffocation washed over her, and her vision kept going dark.

Li Cheng gave the trembling Ying Gu a fierce glare, then slowly bowed his head in thanks.

Xiao Yin waved his hand at them, and Li Cheng hurriedly led his son and daughter away in a humble retreat.

Ying Gu kept turning her head to look at that tall, imposing man—his ruthlessness knew no bounds; in this world, no one else could be so heartless!