Chapter 44: A Big Living Person for You

Xiao Yin didn't expect that he would still bring up that kind of place, his gaze turned cold. Gu Jiu Ling, ignoring the chill emanating from the man opposite, looked up at him and said: "These past few days Su Wanrou and my half‑sister Gu Nanxiang have been meeting privately and frequently."

"I kept a watchful eye, and after a brief check I found they were conspiring together to set a trap for me."

"The day was chosen as today, when the Empress Dowager brought everyone to Wolong Mountain to offer incense; Su Wanrou first had me accompany her and deliberately fall behind the crowd, then led me to a secluded spot, where people pre‑positioned ambushed me and drugged me with a soporific."

"Then they would hand me over to Gu Nanxiang for disposal; Gu Nanxiang would slash my face with a knife and order me thrown into a low‑grade brothel."

"I am pregnant; if I am violated, how could I survive the night?"

"Prince," Gu Jiu Ling stared steadily at Xiao Yin, "you previously married six Princess Consorts, all of whom died under strange circumstances; if you have any intention… please investigate carefully."

"I repeat the same words: my cooperation with the Prince is to spend silver to save my life, not to give my life to that girl in the Prince's Wangfu; that girl is playing with my fate."

Gu Jiu Ling finished saying everything she needed, turned and walked toward the door, but her steps halted at the entrance of the Warm Pavilion, each step punctuated as she said: "The last time I supplied Miss Su's medicine, but ask her what she put in the tea when she served me this morning?"

"Ha! Miss Su's method of poisoning is very skillful!"

"Prince, rest a bit earlier; I'm going to sleep in Princess Linghe's courtyard, safe!"

She added two heavy characters. Gu Jiu Ling just opened the door and walked out, the room sounded with cups shattering on the floor. Outside, Jiu Yue hurriedly followed the miss's steps; at the far side stood Ling Feng, this was his first time seeing the Prince and Princess Consort argue, the commotion was quite loud. He watched the Princess Consort's stubborn silhouette disappear into the night, really wanted to chase after her and say, tonight the Prince had taken too big a step for her, it couldn't be hidden any more. But he still dared not say anything, fearing the Prince would beat him with a board. The next morning, the great families on Wolong Mountain returned to the city. Gu Jiu Ling took Jiu Yue back to her Peach Blossom Pavilion; along the way she rode in a carriage, Xiao Yin rode a horse, the couple even after returning to the Wangfu had little interaction. Gu Jiu Ling had actually been uneasy, watching Xiao Yin plead before Empress Dowager Ning'an for Su Wanrou, fearing he valued Su Wanrou highly. She wondered if she had indirectly trapped Su Wanrou once, always fearing Xiao Yin's revenge. Unexpectedly, back at the Wangfu she didn't see any trace of Xiao Yin, and at dusk she heard Jiu Yue bring news. The Prince ordered Miss Wan to move to the manor to live; this morning he summoned a matchmaker from Shang Jing openly, and personally arranged Su Wanrou's marriage. Jiu Yue, this lively girl, is clever in dealing with people; after a few days at the Wangfu she already got familiar with the other maids in the courtyard. She whispered: "I heard from the Eastern Garden that previously the Prince asked Miss Wan to consider sons of the Jing Cheng aristocracy as husbands, but this time Miss Wan's fierce temperament made even those who had intentions not dare to marry her."

"Prince directly betrothed Miss Wan to the young master of the Zhao family; I hear he serves as a Thousand‑Man Commander in the army, of good character, high martial skill, very promising, and valued by the Prince."

"This matter seems settled; we will soon write the marriage contract and send the betrothal gifts."

Gu Jiu Ling nodded; this was what she was happy to see. Su Wanrou was too troublesome; if she could avoid her once, she would surely have other tricks later, and Gu Jiu Ling was also tired, not wanting to play these games with her. If she could get married, she would also breathe a sigh of relief. "You go prepare some things, any preparation will do; the bride's dowry is not our business, the Prince will decide it himself."

"When will she go to the manor?"

Gu Jiu Ling practiced calligraphy while asking. Jiu Yue, grinding ink for Gu Jiu Ling, said: "I heard she leaves tomorrow morning, and she's not allowed to run around; I think she's being placed under house arrest."

Gu Jiu Ling sneered, it was time to enforce some law. She said lightly: "In this world, not everyone can indulge her! And not everyone is her father!"

"A little trial by fire is fine."

"Prepare a medicine box for me; I'm going to Princess Linghe's residence tomorrow."

Jiu Yue quickly responded, suddenly footsteps sounded outside the door. This footstep, now familiar to Gu Jiu Ling, made her stand up quickly. Xiao Yin also lifted the curtain and walked in; outside the sky was gloomy, it was already the rainy season, the previous rain had stopped a few days ago, and now it darkened again. Gu Jiu Ling didn't expect Xiao Yin to come voluntarily; she thought the cold war between them still needed more time. Today he wore a bamboo‑green brocade robe, his hair untied, bound high with a jade‑colored silk ribbon, looking handsome like a neighbor's scholar. Xiao Yin entered, his face still sour, seeming to come to collect a debt. He ignored Gu Jiu Ling's startled expression, went to the chair and sat down, casually flipped through Gu Jiu Ling's writing and sneered: "So ugly!"

"Prince, blessings!" Gu Jiu Ling clenched her fist, but held back.

Gu Jiu Ling bowed and blessed. Xiao Yin didn't look at her, raised his eyes and glanced at Jiu Yue who was about to leave: "Ask your master, what dinner is being prepared tonight?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eye twitched, as if she were a dead person? She also smiled, looking at Jiu Yue: "Jiu Yue, ask your Prince what he wants to eat?"

"Jiu Yue, ask your Princess Consort whether the tofu I ate earlier still exists?"

Gu Jiu Ling's gaze flickered: "Jiu Yue, tell your Prince that that thing is gone, I'm in a bad mood and don't want to cook."

Xiao Yin slowly leaned back: "Jiu Yue, tell your Princess Consort there is no tofu; the king can use something else, that iron pot, that thing I want to eat."

Jiu Yue… Jiu Yue almost cried! She pitied Gu Jiu Ling, the two strong pressures in the Warm Pavilion pressed her so she could hardly breathe. Jiu Yue is indeed one of them, Gu Jiu Ling inhaled: "Jiu Yue, go prepare hot pot, have the kitchen maid prepare the base and vegetables, that's all, I'll cook myself."

Jiu Yue finally relaxed, gods fight, little devils suffer! A rumbling thunder rolled in, the sky pressed down, dark clouds like a pot lid covered the earth, the damp wind blew in, a bit chilly. Inside the room, however, it was hot; this time Gu Jiu Ling had modified the stove, placing it on the table with a rack underneath. Even while eating dinner, the two sat face‑to‑face without saying much. After a while, Xiao Yin spoke first: "Gu Jiu Ling, if you ever dare to hide these unlucky deeds from me again, be careful I might kill you!"

Gu Jiu Ling bit a meatball, let out a light snort, unconcerned. Xiao Yin was angry; he felt he had no authority in front of this woman? Then he snapped his fingers. Suddenly a person hung upside‑down from the window, dressed in a sleek black robe, wearing a mask that obscured the face, but looked very martial. Like Spider‑Man! Xiao Yin said calmly: "His name is Meng, he will be your secret guard from now on, protecting only you."

Gu Jiu Ling was stunned; Xiao Yin this time gave her a living person? That person flipped swiftly and vanished onto the eaves. Xiao Yin sneered: "Rare to see, many to marvel… He… ranks twelfth in the martial world."

Gu Jiu Ling's half‑eaten meatball fell into the bowl; just as she was about to speak, outside a maid from Tan Chun Yuan, Hong Yu, shouted: "Prince! Prince! My master has hanged herself!"

What? Su Wanrou hanged herself?