Chapter 444: with translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling felt somewhat at a loss under Xiao Yin's gaze, and her heart actually started pounding wildly.

I… I that…

Gu Jiu Ling secretly sighed; now is not the time to lay everything out, after all, the two of them had already developed a rift before.

Like a shattered porcelain vase, even if repaired with the world's most exquisite craftsmanship, it ultimately bears a crack.

Moreover, Gu Jiu Ling's maternal grandfather and Xiao Yin's Azure Dragon Army are entangled over the matter of Qi Sha Gu; if she were to hand over her last bottom line now…

Thereafter, if Xiao Yin distances himself from her again as he did last time, she would have nowhere to bury herself.

She loves the man before her, yet this love is tinged with a measure of apprehension.

Gu Jiu Ling coughed, tugged at the Duan family army uniform she wore, tilted her head, and gave Xiao Yin a faint smile: "Look, I'm wearing the Duan family army's clothes, mingling among them."

"Back then everyone was in chaos, Xiao Wei also fell into a mental rut, assuming I would hide among those nobles. Little did he expect I had already joined their camp."

"As expected, they searched everywhere but found nothing, after all they instinctively searched for the other side, not themselves."

Xiao Yin thought Gu Jiu Ling's method extremely clever, but he is the most sinister and crafty Prince Rui in Jing Cheng; how could a few words possibly fool him?

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Xiao Yin stared at Gu Jiu Ling and slowly asked: "What about Lin Ru Jun?"

"That young lady is not easy to disguise; even if Lin Ru Jun could be disguised, what about Jinzhi?"

"Jinzhi is mute; even if she mingles in the Duan family army, wearing a mask and taking voice-altering pills, she still cannot speak, and will still draw attention from those around her."

"Moreover, I just saw that those two are obviously not wearing Duan family army uniforms..."

Xiao Yin's words gradually weakened a bit; he wondered if his tone was somewhat harsh.

Put that way, it actually carries the meaning of getting to the root of the matter.

Gu Jiu Ling's expression also shifted slightly, and she gave a light smile: "Your Highness, do you not trust me?"

"Your Highness, could it be that you no longer love me?"

"Your Highness asks such a question; does your heart not ache?"

Gu Jiu Ling covered her chest, furrowed her brows, and mimicked Zi Wei's expression to perfection.

Although somewhat playful, it also carried a willful, unreasoning entanglement.

Xiao Yin was instantly stumped by Gu Jiu Ling's series of questions, unable to utter a word.

Xiao Yin suddenly realized that communicating between a man and a woman is truly difficult; he was talking about how to hide, yet she directly brought it up to the level of love and lack thereof.

Having been pulled to such a height, Xiao Yin truly felt afraid.

Afraid of driving her away again, thinking of this, Xiao Yin's heart fluttered in turmoil; he could no longer bear to push Gu Jiu Ling away.

Having finally coaxed and tricked her into the Prince Rui's residence, if he were to anger her into leaving, that would not be easy to handle.

Isn't it just about hiding? No matter how she hides, ultimately this girl's skill at concealing people is high.

He also couldn't press further, but his heart still felt somewhat uneasy.

Gu Jiu Ling alone hiding two living people, Jinzhi and Lin Ru Jun, is absolutely impossible by herself!

In that situation, exposure would be certain; Xiao Wei is no fool.

Unless someone secretly aids her, with such strength throughout Shang Jing and able to handle these matters flawlessly, probably only Tuo Ba Yu's Red Scorpion gang could do it.

That bastard won't be secretly consorting with his princess consort again, will he?

He will surely make Tuo Ba Yu look good.

Xiao Yin made up his mind, hastily grabbed Gu Jiu Ling's hand, and said in a low, appeasing tone: "I'm not doubting you; I'm just curious."

"Don't be angry, okay?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about this unlucky matter and head back to the Prince Rui's residence; the Duan family is likely collapsed now, there's much to do, and you like money, don't you?"

"This time, as your husband, I'll help you split the loot, bringing back a huge pile of money—do you like it or not?"

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze to look at the smiling man beside her.

The Duan family is a piece of fat meat; once they fall this time, the territories they controlled and their wealth over the years will end up in others' hands.

Now, whether it's the emperor, other clans, or the newly risen upstarts, they all stare fixedly at that piece of fat meat that is the Duan family, waiting for the Duan family to be utterly crushed before they pounce.

During this period, the Prince Rui's residence will naturally not miss out on benefits.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "Yes, of course; who would still quarrel with money?"

The two laughed simultaneously, their smiles both sinister, making a perfect match.

On this side, Gu Kang arrived by carriage at the southern suburbs' Nan Shan Shu Yuan.

Since that previous disaster, Mr. Wen's health has greatly deteriorated.

These days, coupled with the scorching heat, Mr. Wen rarely comes to Shang Jing to stay in his disciple's courtyard; instead, he retreats to Nan Shan Shu Yuan to escape the heat.

The carriage soon stopped at the back gate of Nan Shan Shu Yuan; Gu Kang lowered his bamboo hat slightly, and under the guidance of a bookboy, he entered through the back gate.

Gu Kang's visits to Mr. Wen have been dwindling these days; he has now become a major favorite beside Emperor Longqing.

Fame brings trouble; more eyes are fixed on him, and a slight misstep could cause all their previous schemes to collapse entirely.

Gu Kang had long guessed that his maternal grandfather's death might be linked to Emperor Longqing; that night he could have handed over the emperor.

But weighing Emperor Longqing against the Duan family, he felt the emperor was not yet due to die.

Emperor Longqing is an excellent pawn to control, while the Duan family is merely the beginning.

Gu Kang hurried into Mr. Wen's room; just after rounding the screen, he smelled a strong medicinal odor.

Gu Kang's heart gave a slight tremor; Mr. Wen's body could barely hold up, he took a few steps into the inner hall and fell with a thump, kneeling before Mr. Wen.

Mr. Wen wore a cotton cloak, his frame had grown thinner another round, leaning on the bed while reading some state policy treatises.

He set down the books, grabbed Gu Kang's hand, and gently helped him up, letting Gu Kang sit beside him.

"Mr. Wen, are you feeling unwell lately? Why didn't you tell me? I'll have a medical officer sent right away," Gu Kang said urgently.

Mr. Wen gave a light smile: "No need to trouble yourself; I'm old, and it's about time my health declined."

We won this round.

A flash of brightness crossed Mr. Wen's eyes as he looked at his proud disciple before him, and a deeper worry welled up in his heart.

Kang'er, you also understand the principle that it's lonely at the top; you're too conspicuous now, and big trouble may come looking for you.

Jia Kang nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Master, but the Duan family members have been locked up now; I, the disciple, have come today to ask you, Master, whether the Duan family might have collapsed."

Unexpectedly, Mr. Wen slowly shook his head: "No, Duke Duan is still alive, other descendants of the Duan family are still alive, and Empress Dowager Ning'an is still alive; the Duan family truly cannot collapse."

Gu Kang looked up in disbelief at Mr. Wen: "Sir, the Duan family has already rebelled; at this point, shouldn't they have collapsed?"

Mr. Wen slowly shook his head: "You're just missing the right timing; you need to go to the Ministry of Justice and look into that case from seven years ago, the Qi Sha Gu case."

Qi Sha Gu? Gu Kang's heart skipped a beat; how could all the clues point to Qi Sha Gu?