Chapter 45: Feigning Dizziness

Xiao Yin hurried to his feet and headed toward the outside of the Warm Pavilion, and before leaving he glared at Gu Jiu Ling: "Come with me!"

Gu Jiu Ling hadn't wanted to get involved in any trouble, preferring to stay quietly as a bystander, but she still ended up being taken by Xiao Yin to Tan Chun Garden, where Su Wanrou lives. At that moment, hurried servants were coming and going in the garden, each pale with fear, and a faint sob could be heard from within the Warm Pavilion. Xiao Yin's face darkened severely, and he kicked the pavilion door open and strode inside. Gu Jiu Ling had no choice but to swallow her fear and follow. The interior of the Warm Pavilion was lavishly decorated; although the whole Rui Wangfu looked shabby, every piece of furniture here was costly. Following Xiao Yin, Gu Jiu Ling arrived at the bedside, where a footstool had already been overturned on the floor, and a white silk banner hung across the beam, still unremoved, fluttering lightly in the wind. Outside the pavilion, a group of maids knelt on the ground, trembling. Su Yiran lay on the couch, eyes tightly shut, face ashen, exuding a fragile beauty. "Let her see!"

Xiao Yin's voice also tightened a bit. Gu Jiu Ling lifted a hand to test Su Yiran's breath; she wasn't dead, just fainted. She sneered inwardly, noting that the timing was perfect—she should be waking up now, yet still pretending. She ordered Jiu Yue to bring in the medicine box, took out three silver needles, and inserted them into acupuncture points on Su Yiran's neck. Su Yiran suddenly opened her eyes, her brows knit, almost crying out in pain, her expression as if she wanted to devour Gu Jiu Ling. It hurt! Did this woman intend to kill her? A flash of amusement crossed Gu Jiu Ling's eyes; needling that point wouldn't kill anyone, only cause nerve pain. Su Yiran sat up abruptly, like a corpse, then threw herself into Xiao Yin's arms, wailing. "Prince! Prince, don't drive me away!"

"I don't want to go to Zhuangzi Shang! I also don't want to marry that brute from the Zhao family!"

"Prince! I only want to stay with you… I beg you! Please don't drive me away!"

Su Yiran this time actually seemed to be crying genuinely; the back of her collar had loosened considerably, revealing a plum‑blossom tattoo. Gu Jiu Ling's gaze unintentionally fell on the tattoo, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes—this woman had a tattoo? It looked like it had been inked, quite beautiful. Xiao Yin's eyes darkened, and without a word he pushed Su Yiran aside, saying, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"The young master of the Zhao family has an excellent reputation in the army, is upright in character, and his future is boundless. Yet you want to marry a noble scion; you didn't marry before, and now so many troubles have arisen."

"You behaved improperly twice in front of the hall; so many noble families were watching. How could anyone marry you again?"

"Tomorrow morning you'll go to Zhuangzi Shang to stay; once this marriage arrangement is settled, I, the Prince, will personally escort you to marriage!"

Xiao Yin felt a choking anger; the Zhao young master was a friend he had introduced from the army, and that youth would not return to the capital for a few more days, unaware of the schemes Su Wanrou was pulling. He had indeed set a trap for that youth, but he could not let Su Wanrou marry poorly, lest he betray his brother's entrusted orphan. General Zhao and his wife were stationed at the border pass and were kind‑hearted; the Zhao family had only that one son, making family relations simple, and she would become the lady of the house if she married there. Now the Bei Di threat is pressing, the emperor wishes to support a new military clan, and the Zhao family is the top candidate; the young man's future is boundless, and Su Wanrou will surely become a consort of honor. The marriage face is already set; how could she despise that brute? He worried that if the Zhao family learned of her situation in a few days, it would ruin the engagement; he was helping her fake a marriage! Does she understand? Xiao Yin's complexion turned ashen; if he later raised a daughter who was so clueless, he would definitely have to kill her! Unfortunately this woman is neither his daughter nor his sister; every time Su Wanrou's anger flared, he wished he had died in the Seven‑Assassins Valley, to avoid such heavy obligations. He lifted his gaze coldly at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Dead woman, don't even speak a word; what use is marrying you?" Gu Jiu Ling coughed, lowered her head to avoid Xiao Yin's resentful stare. "Your pot you must bear the tears yourself, Prince!" Su Wanrou did not expect Xiao Yin to be so ruthless; it must be Gu Jiu Ling, that scum! Her expression crumbled bit by bit, eyes filled with desperate resignation, biting her lip, she collapsed onto the couch. Xiao Yin saw she was not seriously injured, turned and coldly looked at the kneeling maids and old women outside: "Watch your master well; if any more mishaps occur, bring your heads to me!"

The surroundings fell silent at once; they knew the Prince's methods, and each was trembling with fear—there was no room for Su Wanrou's mischief. Early the next morning, Gu Jiu Ling packed everything, took Jiu Yue with her, lifted the medicine box, and left the Rui Wangfu. She rode a carriage toward Princess Linghe's residence; upon arrival, Jiu Yue handed over a name plaque, and the housekeeper promptly ushered Gu Jiu Ling inside. Gu Jiu Ling looked at the décor of the princess's residence—pavilions, towers, layers of emerald tiles and azure eaves, even a small training ground for martial arts built by the lake. It combined aristocratic elegance with a general's grandeur. Princess Linghe had already been waiting in the Main Hall; when she saw Gu Jiu Ling enter, she rose with a smile and greeted her. Gu Jiu Ling quickly bowed deeply to the princess, her demeanor extremely respectful. "Jiu Ling, there's no need for so much ceremony; we're now family, so let's set aside those formalities!"

"Sit quickly, I just received new tea here, have a taste."

Princess Linghe hurriedly ordered tea to be served: top‑grade Mishan Silver Needle, the broth clear and bright, fragrance strong. Gu Jiu Ling took a sip, truly good tea. She set down the cup and smiled, "Sister, our young Prince… I want to see his condition."

After General Wu Wei fell in battle, he was posthumously granted a princely title, and Cheng Ming inherited his father's rank. Yet even though he became a young Prince early, he could not live openly; he was treated like a monster, despised and ostracized by everyone in the capital. Gu Jiu Ling had previously spoken with Xiao Yin; she did not oppose treating the young Prince Cheng Ming of the princess's residence, but she was not very supportive, since he was not an ordinary commoner—if he recovered it would be fine, if not it would offend the princess's household. Gu Jiu Ling observed that Princess Linghe had a good temperament, not the meddlesome type, and thus resolved to come and see. Unexpectedly, Princess Linghe's expression showed a slight hesitation; she sighed and said, "Jiu Ling, you know he has been ill for a long time."

"Since the illness was discovered, we've consulted countless doctors; even the people of our princess's residence can't count them all."

"Each time we see one, we're disappointed; he's also very irritable, doesn't want to come, this…" Gu Jiu Ling's mind suddenly understood; they wanted her, a doctor, to accommodate the patient. She quickly rose, smiling, "A physician's compassion knows no bounds; no matter who's been ill for long, they become restless. I'll go take a look."

Princess Linghe's eyes brightened, a hint of gratitude flashing across them, and she quickly ordered someone to lead the way. Gu Jiu Ling, with Jiu Yue following the servants, headed toward the lakeside training ground. Outside, a dense bamboo grove enclosed the area; walking along the narrow path felt as if trapped between two towering, dark‑green walls, the atmosphere oppressive. She stepped in and stopped, hearing the clatter of sword practice; not far away stood a young man in a dark, sturdy outfit. From his back, he was exceptionally tall and broad‑shouldered, gripping a heavy sword; his sword technique was decent, though his strength lagged, and after a while he was panting heavily. Hearing footsteps behind her, he suddenly swung a blade backward, thrusting straight toward Gu Jiu Ling's face.