Chapter 392: with translation of chapter title

The palace banquet to welcome Princess Yuanqing was still held in the Qionghua Hall on the west side of the imperial garden.

Xiao Yin's carriage arrived late, and when the tall, broad-shouldered Xiao Yin, dressed in a dark purple court robe, slowly entered Qionghua Hall, the previously boisterous main hall fell instantly silent.

Everyone stood frozen there, ever since the Princess Consort of Rui, together with the fetus in her womb, was burned to death in Chongwen Tower.

First, Prince Rui went mad for a few days, doing a series of bizarre things, then he left the capital and never appeared again.

That is, just a few days ago, someone saw Prince Rui return to the capital, yet he refused to see visitors, going out each day to the suburbs to clear his mind.

In short, this person seems to have reverted to the state he was in when he first returned from Qi Sha Gu seven years ago—he's nothing but a good-for-nothing.

Looking at Xiao Yin's solemn, coldly handsome face this time, I noticed he had become quite gaunt.

This fragmented, broken beauty is not something Xiao Yin is putting on.

These days, Xiao Yin has truly suffered greatly in his search for his wife and children—how could he not be gaunt?

The extreme grief and joy have taken half his life!

Xiao Yin arrived too late tonight; Emperor Longqing and Imperial Concubine Cao were already seated in the places of honor, and Princess Yuanqing from Bei Di had also taken her seat.

Several people saw his complexion shift slightly, and Emperor Longqing's eyes flickered with scrutiny.

He doesn't look like he's feigning illness; his complexion is truly awful—hmph!

I thought he had some ability, but just the death of a consort has driven him to this state of despair.

I also don't know what the late emperor saw in him back then.

A chill flickered in his gaze, his face showing a hint of reproach as he coldly stared at Xiao Yin slowly approaching.

Xiao Yin stepped forward and kowtowed to Emperor Longqing, saying, 'Your subject pays his respects to the Emperor; long live the Emperor, long live, long long live.'

Emperor Longqing slowly raised his hand: 'Rise; these days you've truly been out of line.'

'Even if a lady of the house has recently died, there's no need to ruin yourself to this extent; you can't even handle the Imperial Guard's affairs properly—what good are you?'

As soon as Emperor Longqing's words fell, the officials seated below were instantly startled.

He came straight out talking about military authority—tonight might be Prince Rui's execution banquet.

The Sixth Prince, Xiao Zheng, his complexion slightly shifted; these days his third brother Xiao Wei has gotten into so much trouble that the father emperor has already taken a dislike to him.

Now the one keeping company beside the father emperor has become his mother consort, Imperial Concubine Cao, and his heart has long been restless.

He had previously relied on Xiao Yin, hoping to use Xiao Yin's military prestige to secure his own position.

Now things are getting worse and worse; it's just over a woman that he's become so despondent, and his feelings toward Xiao Yin have grown a touch more hateful.

Upon hearing the father emperor say this, he grew even more worried; it seems the people he cooperates with need to be changed.

This is utterly disgraceful!

He had instead set his sights on a deputy general of the Duan family army; seeing the Duan family about to collapse, he could then absorb their White Tiger troops into his own hands.

Hearing Emperor Longqing's meaning, Xiao Yin showed no concern at all, his expression as usual as he bowed and said, 'Elder brother, please calm your anger!'

Xiao Yin saying that, Emperor Longqing was momentarily stunned; he had never seen his brother so obedient, and for a moment he felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Princess Yuanqing, seated nearby, also saw Xiao Yin's gaunt appearance, and her heart sank heavily.

Is it just because Consort Gu Jiu Ling was burned to death that he's become so dispirited?

Back then, Xiao Yin was full of vigor and heroic spirit on the battlefield—where has it all gone?

He looks as if his bones have been sucked out.

Thinking this, Princess Yuanqing cursed Gu Jiu Ling again in her heart; even if she had to die, she needn't have made such a fuss—why couldn't she have chosen a quiet place to die, instead of being burned alive and affecting Xiao Yin?

Looking at Xiao Yin's state, her jealousy toward Gu Jiu Ling grew to the point of madness.

However…

Princess Yuanqing thought: no matter how talented Gu Jiu Ling was, able to catch Xiao Yin's eye and enter his heart, isn't she dead now?

As long as Gu Jiu Ling dies, she has a chance.

Now her royal brother has sent her to Southern Qi; she naturally understands and will surely be willing to marry Xiao Yin to cement the good relations between the two states.

She herself is a female general on the battlefield, so she and Xiao Yin naturally share some common ground.

Then, with gentleness and affection, the longer she stays by Xiao Yin's side, she will not let him recall even the slightest detail of that woman.

She intends to completely erase Gu Jiu Ling from Xiao Yin's heart.

The man Princess Yuanqing has taken a liking to must be won.

Seeing his younger brother Xiao Yin so despondent, Emperor Longqing felt a bit lighter in heart, even taking a little pleasure in his misfortune.

Since he looks half-dead, half-alive, Emperor Longqing doesn't want to say more; the urgent task is to quickly settle the marriage alliance between him and Princess Yuanqing.

Let Xiao Yin have no place to hide in the military, completely detach him from the army—then it will be his only road to death.

Emperor Longqing ordered Xiao Yin to sit back in his place; seeing him sit down, the others felt the tense atmosphere ease a bit.

The Crown Prince, Xiao Ting, slightly lifted his brows and gave Xiao Yin across from him a cold glance, though he felt a pang of pity for Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling had once risked life and death for this man, even disregarding her own life; who would have thought that less than half a year after her death, Xiao Yin would be remarrying, forgetting her completely?

Earlier, hearing that Princess Yuanqing was to marry into their Southern Qi for an alliance, Xiao Ting felt a pang of panic.

However, Princess Yuanqing is a widow; matching her with an unmarried member of their royal family might not be appropriate.

After all, Southern Qi's rites are strict.

Now Xiao Yin has stepped forward to take the blame for them, which is not bad.

For a moment, glasses clinked and the banquet's atmosphere reached its peak of liveliness.

Princess Yuanqing then slowly rose, lifted her wine cup, and walked over to Xiao Yin.

Emperor Longqing's gaze swept over Princess Yuanqing, his eyes flickering slightly; at this moment announcing the imperial marriage would be most fitting.

After Princess Yuanqing offered this cup of wine, the atmosphere was also set to that point, and the matter of their marriage alliance naturally followed.

Beside him, Imperial Concubine Cao peeled another fruit for him and brought it to his lips.

Emperor Longqing ate it, his heart feeling sweet as well, and he lightly patted the back of Imperial Concubine Cao's hand.

Princess Yuan Qing stood before Xiao Yin, lifted her wine cup and gave a faint smile.

"Prince, these days such a great incident occurred; I, far in Bei Di, heard the news and felt sorrow in my heart."

"After all, the Princess Consort of Rui is also pitiful, carrying two children in her womb."

"But the Princess Consort is too careless, even at the time of labor she still runs around."

Xiao Yin had already stood up to receive her wine, but Princess Yuan Qing, before the listeners, reproached Gu Jiu Ling in front of him.

His eyes darkened.

"The dead are paramount; Princess Yuan Qing, choose your words carefully."

A simple sentence instantly shut down Princess Yuan Qing's words.

Princess Yuan Qing's expression turned a bit awkward, then she smiled, lifted her wine cup toward Xiao Yin: "Prince, my condolences; I toast to you."

Xiao Yin nodded, took Princess Yuan Qing's wine, and drank it in one gulp.

He lifted the cup, about to speak, when he suddenly staggered forward, and the wine cup in his hand fell to the ground.

Then blood seeped out from Xiao Yin's corner of the mouth.

The surrounding guests instantly fell into chaos, shouting in alarm.