Chapter 429: But you've come back!

Cheng Ming's words are extremely arrogant; if anyone else said them, they would provoke ridicule.

However, Cheng Ming saying this does not sound like a joke; he truly intends to achieve great deeds.

Several people have handled this matter to this extent; Empress Dowager Ning An and Emperor Longqing want to stir up trouble again but cannot.

Their faces darkened; Empress Dowager Ning An slowly closed her eyes, raised her hand, and waved at Cheng Ming and Lin Ru Jun before her: "Enough, step back for now; today's affair also serves as a warning—think twice before acting in the future."

As Empress Dowager Ning An's words fell, Cheng Ming pulled Lin Ru Jun and kowtowed heavily several times before her.

At this moment, both were dizzy from kowtowing; if they continued, they might die here.

Madam Lin hurriedly supported the swaying Lin Ru Jun; seeing the scene, she felt great pity, but before Empress Dowager Ning An she dared not show the slightest resentment.

Princess Consort Long kowtowed to Empress Dowager Ning An, saying: "Mother, please rest early; your child will no longer disturb you, we take our leave."

Empress Dowager Ning An wearily raised her hand, waved at the few people before her, letting them disappear from her sight.

Inside the Hall of Nourishing the Heart, everyone knelt, then paid respects to Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Ning An respectively before slowly withdrawing.

Outside, the Imperial Secret Guard tasked with capturing Cheng Ming saw these people retreat; their expressions showed no abnormality, having received orders from superiors, they stepped aside to clear a path, allowing these people to leave the palace city.

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Gu Jiu Ling slowly walked out, seeing the Imperial Secret Guard standing neatly all around.

Her heart skipped a beat; could it be that Lu Jinchuan's side has made some other arrangements?

Not expecting it, her brother lowered his voice, walked to Gu Jiu Ling's side, and whispered: "Did you notice?"

Gu Jiu Ling blinked in surprise; why would her brother suddenly ask such a question out of nowhere?

Gu Kang also said nothing more, pointing his chin at the guards on both sides.

Only then did Gu Jiu Ling follow Gu Kang's gesture to look at the nearby guards; upon seeing them, her heart gave a slight jump.

These Imperial Secret Guard not only had swords at their waists, but also carried crossbows on their backs.

Not the large kind, but a palm-sized, very agile one, each hidden in the cuffs; some hadn't had time to hide, and the palm-sized arrowheads were already exposed.

Seeing this, Gu Jiu Ling's mind stirred; she clutched the two children in her arms even tighter.

She understood Gu Kang's meaning; this was a warning that the imperial clan had prepared to act against the two children beside her, especially the Heir Apparent.

Gu Jiu Ling felt a faint chill in her heart and couldn't help but sneer.

This is bullying her and Xiao Yin.

These Imperial Secret Guard are not the same type as the previous batch; they hold crossbows, suited for long-range killing.

In other words, they are assassins hired by the imperial clan; they have suddenly appeared in large numbers here, even if it would be detrimental to her two children.

Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts stirred slightly, but before she could say anything to Gu Kang, the several old generals following her unintentionally gathered to her side.

Moreover, one old general deliberately lifted the Heir Apparent and held him tightly in his arms.

While chatting and laughing with Gu Jiu Ling and carrying the child, they had already exited the East Commander Gate.

As Gu Jiu Ling walked along, she could even hear the taut crossbows beside her creaking.

She understood these old generals were summoned by Xiao Yin to the Hall of Nourishing the Heart; without them, even if Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Ning An dared to defy heaven, they would have had the mother and son trio shot dead inside the palace city.

But now, with these old generals protecting them, those guards could perhaps handle one or two, but dealing with so many would be difficult.

Even if they could kill these old generals, it would still provoke a genuine disturbance in the army.

Xiao Yin undoubtedly still had another move, so Empress Dowager Ning An delayed acting, merely watching Gu Jiu Ling depart.

The killing intent in her eyes deepened further.

Arriving outside the East Commander Gate, Gu Jiu Ling saw the Rui Wangfu's carriage parked there, with even some blessing characters pasted on it.

The instant Gu Jiu Ling saw that carriage, her heart relaxed a little.

Several old generals bowed with clasped fists to Gu Jiu Ling; she returned the gesture with a respectful bow.

The old generals lowered their voices: "Princess Consort, take care; we take our leave."

"Thank you; another day I will host you, please come to my residence for a drink."

Upon hearing there was fine wine, the old generals' eyes brightened slightly, they smiled, agreed on a date, and each went their separate ways.

Only then did Gu Jiu Ling walk to the carriage, fling open the curtain, and meet Xiao Yin's handsome face inside.

Gu Jiu Ling, furious, lunged into the carriage and threw a punch at Xiao Ying's chest.

Inside the carriage came a muffled groan, followed by Xiao Yin's low, hoarse laugh.

Ling Feng and the others standing outside changed expression, each giving a wry smile; the Prince had, these past days, been struck by feelings from the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort really— the Prince actually had wounds, yet she struck without restraint; the entourage hurriedly surrounded the carriage and headed for the Rui Wangfu.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at the man seated beside her; this time he was bold enough to personally drive the carriage to the East Commander Gate to fetch her.

The carriage passed Chongwen Street; countless shadows flitted past on both sides, showing the whole street had been blocked off by Xiao Yin's people.

Thus, if there were any change in the palace, Xiao Yin would likely lead these men to fight Emperor Longqing directly—a battle to the death, where either you die or I die.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Ning An and Emperor Longqing ultimately allowed the mother and son trio to leave.

The matter concerning Miss Lin and Young Marquis Cheng Ming was also satisfactorily resolved.

Xiao Yin covered his chest, lifted his eyes full of smiles, and looked at his wife.

Just as Gu Jiu Ling was about to curse, he suddenly pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Really good, you have finally returned."

Gu Jiu Ling sneered: "If I don't come back again, do you really intend to scheme against everyone in the world?"

"Do you still have any conscience?"

"Miss Lin helped you so much; back then, at the entrance of Wuzhou Valley, no one in Shang Jing, high or low, was willing to step forward."

"Only the Lin family maiden, though a woman, followed behind me, risking death to rescue you from that chaotic place; you now actually use that maiden as a raft—your conscience is truly ruined."

"And Young Marquis Cheng Ming—you clearly know they are mutually devoted, yet you insist on inserting a barrier between them."

"As the saying goes, better to tear down ten temples than to destroy a marriage; you will surely reap retribution for this!"

Gu Jiu Ling's face flushed bright red, Xiao Yin tightly embraced her, leaning in to her ear, his voice hoarse, he whispered with a laugh: "But... but you've come back."

Gu Jiu Ling was instantly speechless.