Chapter 387

Gu Jiu Ling was dazed by Xiao Yin's words, not knowing if Xiao Yin had gone crazy.

Previously they had said things were fine; after returning to Shang Jing, they each would not interfere with the other.

How come? Only a few hours have passed and he's already changed his mind—this is Xiao Yin's three changes.

Gu Jiu Ling looked up at him: "Your Highness, what do you mean? In the middle of the night, are you trying to kidnap someone?"

At this point Xiao Yin's mind was already in turmoil; if the Bei Di people sent a challenge to fight him, he would be overjoyed.

But what he dislikes most is this kind of male-female emotional matter.

Especially since some princesses had previously clung to him tightly, he now feels extreme disgust toward that woman.

Now, if the emperor issues an order binding him to that woman for life, Xiao Yin would be suffering terrible luck for eight lifetimes.

But there is another most important reason: Xiao Yin's wife is not dead; isn't she living well now?

To take a concubine while his wife is still alive—isn't that a joke?

Xiao Yin clenched his teeth, gazing at Gu Jiu Ling's luminous peach-blossom eyes, which now had a hint of red.

Gu Jiu Ling almost felt that Xiao Yin this time seemed about to burst into tears.

"Xiao Yin, if you have something to say, say it properly; why put on such a pitiful appearance?"

"Jiu Yue! Serve tea to the Prince!"

"Yun Duo, you and the wet nurse stay by the children's side."

Gu Jiu Ling worried about Xiao Yin, rose and strode out of the warm pavilion; after glancing back, Xiao Yin hurriedly followed, and the two walked one after the other into the study.

Jiu Yue brought hot tea, placed it in Xiao Yin's hand, then withdrew from the warm pavilion.

I don't know why the Prince of Rui barged in here in the middle of the night—what urgent matter could it be?

Knowing they had only parted in the morning and met again at night, the Prince wanting to lower his stature to seek reconciliation would likely be difficult for his own master.

Xiao Yin drank a few sips of hot tea on Gu Jiu Ling's side; amid the rising steam, he looked at the opposite cold yet beautiful face, feeling a wave of frustration—if she were to go back with him to the Prince Rui's manor, where would there be all this chaotic mess before his eyes?

"I have something to say to you."

Gu Jiu Ling looked at his slightly sulky demeanor and couldn't help feeling amused inwardly.

"Speak quickly if you have something to say."

Xiao Yin paused, then said: "This time, if you don't save me, I'm done; let's see whether you will save me or not."

Gu Jiu Ling found it bewildering, lifted her teacup and took a light sip, then looked at Xiao Yin and said: "Your Highness, such a formidable person—there's no room for me to decide whether to save you or not."

"Your Highness, speak plainly if you have something to say; I truly don't know why you came here in the middle of the night—what exactly do you intend to do?"

Xiao Yin drew a breath, lifted his head, and coldly stared at Gu Jiu Ling before him: "Do you know what happened to Princess Changping, and that your cheap elder brother Gu Cheng was beaten to death alive by the Third Prince?"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded.

Xiao Yin let out a cold laugh: "Now the Western Rong are growing strong, while Bei Di internally is trapped in several princes' struggle for the throne; our Southern Qi also gains nothing, and the whole country has been hollowed out by several great clans."

"Under these circumstances, forced by pressure from the Western Rong, Bei Di and Southern Qi must inevitably form an alliance."

"Generally, when states ally, the best method is a marriage alliance; after the marriage, it becomes a bond of kinship, and the children born to both sides share blood ties, making the pact more credible."

Gu Jiu Ling's brows furrowed slightly, as if she had guessed something.

Xiao Yin gave a cold snort: "Looking at the present, in the entire Southern Qi imperial palace, only Princess Fuqing and Princess Changping are eligible for a marriage alliance; the rest are merely infants a few months old."

"Now Princess Fuqing has contracted leprosy, her whole body covered in red lumps, her appearance ruined—how could she bear the burden of a marriage alliance?"

"Originally there was still Princess Changping, but who would have thought that Gu Cheng, that bastard, ruined her body; now Princess Changping has been sent to the suburban Peach Blossom Hermitage, certainly no longer eligible for a marriage alliance."

"I never expected that bunch of scoundrels would turn their sights on me, saying that although I haven't yet finished the mourning period for my deceased consort, for the sake of the state I should make a sacrifice."

"If I marry Princess Yuanqing and bring her in as my consort, Ling Feng has received the news that Princess Yuanqing has already set out from Bei Di."

"Gu Jiu Ling! The matter is exactly this; you handle it! Whether this Prince can seize you depends on your ability."

Gu Jiu Ling looked in disbelief at the agitated Xiao Yin before her.

If she hadn't misheard, this time he actually used the word "seize."

This fellow always acts aloof and proud before her; hearing this, Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold laugh.

"Congratulations, Your Highness; congratulations, Your Highness."

"Princess Yuanqing—that is the status of the eldest princess of Bei Di."

"Her status is noble, she is also beautiful; although she is a widow, the Prince has killed off so many consorts, yet the two of you are actually quite a match."

"Gu Jiu Ling!" Xiao Yin's face darkened a few degrees, and he trembled with anger throughout his body.

"Gu Jiu Ling! In your heart, am I just this kind of thing to you?"

Xiao Yin suddenly flew into a rage, rose and strode quickly to Gu Jiu Ling's front, bent over and leaned in, enclosing her entirely in the chair, staring fixedly at her.

Gu Jiu Ling showed no trace of fear, lifted her head and looked at Xiao Yin before her: "Your Highness, we had agreed that after returning to Shang Jing, you would follow your way and I would follow mine, with no interference; yet it hasn't even been a day and you're already coming at me aggressively?"

Xiao Yin felt stifled: "Do you think I want this? Seeing that I am about to become a sacrifice for the marriage alliance, don't you even consider my situation?"

"If you now return to the Prince Rui's manor and continue as his consort, let me see which woman would dare come over to seek death."

The more Xiao Yin spoke, the angrier he became, staring fixedly at Gu Jiu Ling: "Could it be that you truly watch me walking with other women and yet remain completely unmoved?"

After Xiao Yin posed this question, it carried a hint of shame and indignation, and Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flickered slightly.

Originally feeling a bit reluctant, she still smiled and said: "Your Highness is such a stunningly talented and handsome man; Princess Yuanqing is Bei Di's most noble princess; my maternal grandfather is a merchant, my father is a scoundrel—our family background and status, whichever you take, are unworthy of the Prince; therefore the Prince marrying Princess Yuanqing..."

The word "good" that Gu Jiu Ling had about to utter hadn't even left her mouth when Xiao Yin suddenly kissed her back.

Xiao Yin's kiss was domineering yet just enough, the force as if venting anger.

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't expected that this damned man, once he went mad, would come over to bite her a few times; moreover, she raised her hand to slap him, but Xiao Yin seized her wrist in one grip.

Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold laugh: "Whether the Prince proceeds with or without the marriage alliance, and whether it is with Princess Yuanqing or another princess, these are matters for you to consider, not for me."

Xiao Yin laughed in anger: "Gu Jiu Ling! You're ruthless!"