Chapter 40: Rumors and Gossip

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves; instantly the Lan Yue Courtyard exploded in an uproar, with voices of discussion everywhere. "Speak the truth! What on earth is going on?"

Empress Dowager Ning'an's brows knit tightly, yet her eyes shone bright. Xiao Yin was not her biological son, but among the late emperor's surviving children, this youngest prince stood out, whether in civil governance or martial skill. Fortunately, he had been raised under her name, never disloyal, and even became a major aid to Emperor Longqing. Yet he was too formidable; seven years ago his brilliance was too dazzling. Now, after finally suppressing him, it turned out that Gu Jiu Ling was pregnant with his child—yet at this critical juncture, Gu Jiu Ling has gone missing. Deep down she even felt a secret pleasure, hoping something would go wrong. Su Wanrou hurriedly said: "In reply to the Empress Dowager, earlier I was moon‑watching with the Princess Consort on the road; I did not expect her maid to hand her a letter. After reading it, the Princess Consort told me to come first to the Empress Dowager, but I do not know where she went."

"I had thought the Princess Consort would arrive shortly, but… but… I really dare not keep this from you any longer, sob… What are we to do?"

Suddenly, gasps echoed all around. In the pitch‑black night, a letter—tonight here everything is so chaotic. Perhaps… Empress Dowager Ning'an said coldly: "Bring the maid who delivered the letter here."

"Eunuch Wang, go announce Prince Rui!"

Eunuch Wang, having received the order, hurried to find Xiao Yin to report. After Empress Dowager Ning'an had done all this, the one thing she had not done was immediately order the Imperial Forest Guard to seal off all entrances and exits of Huangjue Si; if the Princess Consort of Rui had truly met with villains, it was obvious she did not wish to save her. Princess Fuqing's expression shifted slightly as she was about to speak, but Consort Ling from behind grabbed her and shook her head. At present it was not their place as mother and daughter to speak up for Gu Jiu Ling; they lacked the standing. Soon a little maid in a green dress was brought before Consort Ning'an—this was the rough‑service maid attending Gu Jiu Ling, named Dujuan. Dujuan knelt in panic, never having seen such a grand scene. Consort Ning'an asked: "Was it you who delivered the letter to your mistress? Whose letter was it?"

Dujuan trembled all over, lying flat on the icy ground, her voice quivering: "In reply to the Empress Dowager, I do not know that person; the masters wanted to moon‑watch, I had just come out carrying a snack box when that person shoved a letter into my hands, saying to pass it to the Princess Consort."

"I dare not ask further… that person… that person…" She caught her breath, glanced instinctively at the kneeling Su Wanrou beside her, inhaled, and said: "That person looked about twenty, rather handsome."

With a sudden snort, Princess Changping seated beside the Empress Dowager covered her mouth and gave a cold laugh: "Empress Grandmother, it's not that I'm meddling, but a young man for no reason sending a letter to my imperial aunt… hehe… surely there must be some shameful secret behind it?"

Instantly the surroundings buzzed with talk—could the Princess Consort of Rui be carrying on an affair? Suddenly hurried footsteps sounded at the gate of Lan Yue Courtyard; Xiao Yin strode in, clad in a plain silver‑white robe, his face so dark it seemed water could be wrung from it. His fearsome reputation preceded him; as soon as he entered the Zheng Ting hall, everyone fell silent, afraid to speak. Only Princess Changping provocatively lifted her chin, her face full of mockery: "Look, just married a few days and already wearing a green hat?" Xiao Yin stood before Su Wanrou and the little maid Dujuan, his peach‑blossom eyes frosted over, sharp as a blade. Even Su Wanrou found it hard to withstand his gaze, but after tonight that woman will surely die, and then even if Xiao Yin blames her, the fault cannot be laid on her head. "What happened?"

Xiao Yin's voice grew colder, like ice lightly floating in a cold pond. Su Wanrou felt chills wash over her head, her heart brimming with jealousy and hatred. In just a few days, has the Prince come to love Gu Jiu Ling so deeply? She steadied herself, lifted her eyes to Xiao Yin and burst into tears: "Prince, sob… it's all my fault; I should have advised the Princess Consort, for it is improper to be out this late with an outsider man." Xiao Yin's brows knotted tightly; he turned his face away and glanced coldly at the trembling Dujuan beside him: "Who told you to deliver the letter to the Princess Consort?"

At that moment Dujuan felt Xiao Yin's gaze like a sharp sword, one thrust after another piercing her back, flesh and blood blurred. She nearly fainted, gritting her teeth as she cried: "In reply to the Prince, I do not know that person; he sprang out from behind a banana plant and suddenly demanded I pass the letter to the Princess Consort."

Xiao Yin's face darkened: "Ling Feng! Take men and seal the roads!"

No sooner had his words fallen than Consort Ning'an seated in the upper seat changed color drastically. Xiao Yin had only a hundred‑odd guards with him, and this time he had not brought them all to Huangjue Si; to block every road around the temple would require hundreds or thousands—where would he get such numbers? Empress Dowager Ning'an's eyes flickered uncertainly, her grip tightening inch by inch on the chair arm: "Ninth Brother, is it proper to make such a grand show?"

Princess Changping sneered: "Exactly! Gu Jiu Ling has always had a terrible reputation in Shang Jing, attracting bees and butterflies; who knows where she's indulging herself this time… ah!"

Suddenly the cup before Princess Changping was shattered by a stone chip, scalding hot soup splashing onto her face and leaving a red mark. She covered her face, shrieked, and rose to her feet: "Ninth Brother!"

Empress Dowager Ning'an issued a low rebuke, yet she actually raised her hand against her. Consort Duan at her side also rose, shielding her daughter behind her, and coldly regarded Xiao Yin: "Imperial Uncle, to bully a child before so many people—what justification is there?"

At that moment Xiao Yin's chest boiled with fire; he did not believe Gu Jiu Ling was secretly communicating with other men, for that clever woman would not place herself in danger—something must have truly happened to him. He did not know why, but he felt an intense panic, the first such feeling in seven years, unfamiliar and making him lose his composure. He slowly knelt before Empress Dowager Ning'an, knocked his head in apology, then rose and coldly regarded Consort Duan: "Princess Changping is already seventeen, isn't she? Having come of age, she is no longer a child."

"The former dynasty's Princess Changlong, at that age, already bore two princes for the Xirong royal family! If she continues to go mad like this, marrying off to another state will lose not only face but life!"

Consort Duan's heart jolted—lately relations between Bei Di and Southern Qi have worsened, Emperor Longqing has entertained the idea of a marriage alliance, and the only princess in the entire harem who has come of age is the one she bore. Upon hearing Xiao Yin's words, she swallowed her reply, afraid to speak further. Although Xiao Yin is now crippled, his prestige in the army remains high; could it be that the frontier war is going poorly and he has received some news? Consort Duan was filled with doubt. Xiao Yin gazed coldly at Consort Ning'an and said: "Mother Empress, I am now a madman; I hope you will bear with me."

Empress Dowager Ning'an's chest ached with anger—"If you won't indulge me, will you even kill me, your widow?" Xiao Yin ordered a chair brought and sat at the gate of Lan Yue Pavilion; all the ladies of the pavilion were frightened mad. Could it be that, failing to find the Princess Consort of Rui tonight, you also forbid them from descending the mountain to return home? Yet Xiao Yin has sealed the mountain road, so they truly cannot leave. For a woman of no standing, he dares to imprison all the noble ladies of Shang Jing, offending every aristocratic clan—surely he is the one who is truly mad?