Chapter 433

Gu Jiu Ling rode in a carriage holding two children, and drove straight into Rui Wang Fu.

She got off the carriage, lifted her head to look at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery all around, and secretly sighed.

After all the twists and turns, she still ended up in this guy's palm; she originally didn't want to move back, after all the connection between her maternal grandfather and the Qi Sha Gu tragedy hasn't been clarified, and now living with Xiao Yin always feels a bit awkward.

This time the Wangfu inside and out is on lockdown, with layers of protection so tight not even a fly can get in; with the gates shut, the whole Wangfu is like an iron barrel, airtight.

Xiao Yin walked carefully beside Gu Jiu Ling, smiling softly: "The courtyard you used to live in collapsed after the rain a few days ago; it's no longer habitable, so I've prepared the rooms over at the East Garden for you."

"The middle rooms are for us two, and the left and right sides are each for one of the two children."

"I've ordered the courtyard to be repaired, and over there you see there's also a side courtyard; I've moved all your previous belongings there."

"Collapsed?" Gu Jiu Ling turned her head in disbelief to look at Xiao Yin, wondering how long it had been since she left the Wangfu before her solitary courtyard collapsed.

Xiao Yin showed no trace of guilt on his face, nodding: "Yes, it collapsed; you see, you can only move into the East Garden."

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but sneer; she realized she had been plainly arranged by this old man Xiao Yin.

What does "collapsed" even mean? It's likely Xiao Yin had her previous residence demolished just to force her to live with him.

Gu Jiu Ling steadied herself and gave a cold laugh: "Then I'll stay in the courtyard where Su Wanrou used to live; that place has quite lovely scenery."

"No, that place is said to be haunted; that woman was restless in life and unsettled in death, associating with her brings misfortune—you're now the mother of two children, you ought to behave properly!"

Xiao Yin spoke nonsense with a straight face; in Gu Jiu Ling's eyes he really deserved a whipping.

Gu Jiu Ling knew that no matter what she said, it would be Xiao Yin's reasoning.

She walked toward the East Garden, with Yun Duo and Jiu Yue carrying the two little ones following Gu Jiu Ling into the main hall.

When Gu Jiu Ling left in a hurry earlier, most of her belongings weren't taken with her and remained in Rui Wang Fu.

This time Xiao Yin ordered people to move Gu Jiu Ling's belongings back in, making them convenient to use.

Xiao Yin's words were many, obviously he was excited.

He showed no sign of poisoning this time; his whole person seemed as if he had just picked up money.

"Princess Consort, we haven't had that hot pot in a long time; today I've also prepared plenty of ingredients—how about we gather together again?"

Xiao Yin followed behind Gu Jiu Ling, constantly trying to find something to say.

Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold snort; she still felt dissatisfied with Xiao Yin's actions to this day.

Xiao Yin just wanted to force her back to Rui Wang Fu, but he absolutely shouldn't have used an unrelated person as a raft, especially the Lin maiden who saved his life.

Thinking of this, Gu Jiu Ling didn't want to deal with him.

Seeing Gu Jiu Ling still wearing a cold face, Xiao Yin felt a slight urgency in his heart.

The person was coaxed back by him, yet she kept a stern face; to cheer her up again would require some effort.

Although Gu Jiu Ling was annoyed with him, she also personally prepared those ingredients; she planned to make a hot pot soon and invited Ling Feng and Jiu Yue to sit down together.

After all, those two had already been engaged, but the wedding kept being delayed.

Earlier, because of her, things were almost delayed; now that we're gathered, the matters that need settling still must be settled.

Xiao Yin turned his gaze again to Yun Duo and Jiu Yue, who were holding the children, and hurriedly laughed: "Let the prince hold the children; you two go help the Princess Consort prepare."

Yun Duo and Jiu Yue handed the two children they were holding to Xiao Yin's arms, then helped Gu Jiu Ling prepare dinner together.

Xiao Yin's long arms tightly embraced his son and daughter, kissing one then the other, then he looked at Gu Jiu Ling with a careful smile: "There's something I'd like to discuss with you; I wonder if it's appropriate?"

Gu Jiu Ling kept her head down while chopping vegetables, not looking up at him as she said calmly: "Speak quickly if you have something to say!"

Xiao Yin smiled: "Princess Consort, see, you've already returned to Rui Wang Fu; these two children should also have a ceremony to recognize their ancestors and return to the clan."

Gu Jiu Ling's hand holding the knife froze; she actually was extremely unwilling for these two children to follow Xiao Yin.

After all, the royal family is full of troubles, and Xiao Yin himself is already a tangled mess that can't be sorted out.

Once his two children are registered under the royal name after recognizing their ancestors, their status will naturally differ from before.

Once it reaches that point, not only Xiao Yin, but even her pair of children will become a thorn in the eyes and a splinter in the flesh of some people.

However, since things have come to this, we should make the best of it.

The identities of these two children will eventually be exposed in public; for now we can only be extra careful about everything.

Gu Jiu Ling sighed, then lifted her head to look at Xiao Yin holding the children before her: "They are inherently the Prince's bloodline; the Prince is their father, and whatever the Prince does is for the good of these two children—I'll follow your lead."

Xiao Yin froze on the spot; he had thought Gu Jiu Ling would never speak to him again, but hearing her say this reignited hope in his heart.

He then shifted a bit toward Gu Jiu Ling's direction, looking at her: "Let's also pick a day to take the children to worship at the Heavenly Altar and Earthly Altar to pray for their blessings."

"Since we're praying for blessings, should the children's names be changed?"

"After all, the children are of royal blood; they can't keep the surname Gu forever."

Gu Jiu Ling was stunned for a moment.

Xiao Yin thought he had misspoken, upsetting Gu Jiu Ling, and hastily said: "No, no, no, I'm not saying the Princess Consort's name was poorly chosen."

"The name the Princess Consort gave the children is concise and vigorous, full of grand momentum; if anyone in this world didn't seek the Princess Consort to name a child, that would be a great loss for them."

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but laugh; Xiao Yin's remarks practically made her want to find a crack in the ground to hide.

If Xiao Yin praised some other talent of hers, that would be fine, but all her life the one thing she can't be praised for is naming; her own cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She really couldn't hold back; she lifted her head to look at Xiao Yin and said: "Prince, just say what you have to say all at once, no need to beat around the bush; regarding the children's names, you can have them change them—call them Xiao One and Xiao Two."

The words "Xiao One, Xiao Two" coming from Gu Jiu Ling's mouth almost made Xiao Yin's defenses crumble; there's no such way to name a child—it's practically ruining the kids.

"Forget it, the matter of the children's names will be discussed later; first let's enter the children into the ancestral temple and set up the clan genealogy (Gu Zu Pu), we'll talk about the rest later."

Not long after, Ling Feng was also summoned by Xiao Yin; at first Ling Feng and Jiu Yue were unwilling to sit, but after Xiao Yin changed his expression, they dared to sit down cautiously.

Yun Duo was also pressed into a seat by Gu Jiu Ling; the whole family enjoyed the hot pot with great enthusiasm, the atmosphere reaching its peak.

Gu Jiu Ling, in front of Ling Feng, brought up the engagement between him and Jiu Yue; at that moment both sides agreed to arrange their wedding for the beginning of next month.

While the family was happily chatting and laughing, the guards outside hurriedly rushed into the warm pavilion.