Chapter 461: Collapsed

Not long after, Ling Feng brought in a man wearing night clothes, a black cloak, and a hood.

Several guards followed behind, already having drawn their waist swords.

It seemed like Xiao Yin's subordinates had escorted this man to Xiao Yin's presence, but Ling Feng's expression was slightly odd.

Ling Feng stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Yin, and said: "Your Highness, Lord Gu has arrived."

Gu Kang slowly lifted his head, removed the hood, revealing those compassionate eyes and an eerily strange face.

Earlier, Gu Jiu Ling also wanted to help Gu Kang heal his facial wound, but she never expected him to refuse.

He said keeping this half-destroyed face would constantly remind him of past events and keep him clear-headed.

After all, with his current appearance, no one dares to approach him, leaving him in peace instead.

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't override Gu Kang; besides, healing requires the patient's cooperation—if he won't cooperate, she can't forcibly replace her brother's face.

The matter thus dropped; at this moment, Gu Kang's half-face was already flushed with extreme tension.

"Elder sister, brother-in-law."

Gu Kang paid respects to Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin; although Gu Kang and Gu Jiu Ling are now on opposing sides, when they meet privately they still address each other as siblings, which feels warmer.

"Sorry to disturb you so late, elder sister; I just wanted to ask…" His words trailed off.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled: "Miss Ruoxi is doing well; although she suffered greatly, at least she saved her life."

"However, her body is now too frail for heavy or exhausting work, she must not overtax her mind or energy, and even her emotions must not be too agitated."

Gu Kang nodded slowly.

Things have changed; the setting is no longer the same.

The woman lying in the main house—even if he wanted to care for her attentively, he no longer had the standing or courage.

Gu Kang took a deep breath, looked at Gu Jiu Ling, and said: "Elder sister, I want to take Miss Ruoxi away—may I?"

As soon as Gu Kang's words fell, Gu Jiu Ling's face changed slightly, her brows furrowed.

"What? Are you really trying to keep a beauty locked away?"

Gu Jiu Ling looked at him and smiled.

"In Shang Jing, how many women want to marry you? If you like, sister, I'll help you pick a few—surely we can find a woman perfectly suited for you two as a couple."

"Now Miss Ruoxi is already a married woman; your fate has run its course—no need to dwell on what you've been through."

Gu Kang's hand slowly clenched into a fist; he understood his sister's meaning, yet his heart refused to accept it.

"Elder sister, I don't intend to keep a beauty locked away; I just want to take her to Yunzhou for a while. Some things must be clarified with her."

"Please grant this, elder sister."

Gu Jiu Ling furrowed her brows, entrusting the gravely ill, comatose Li Ruoxi to her younger brother; she felt somewhat uneasy.

This brother is no longer the former Gu Kang; now he is steady and scheming, with endless tricks.

Previously, Gu Kang had been schemed against by Li Ruoxi and her allies, who dealt him a heavy blow.

Although what they did also helped Gu Kang see the situation and quickly become a normal person, after all, the pain and setbacks he once suffered were inflicted by the two of them.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling worried that Gu Kang would take revenge on Li Ruoxi.

Seeing Gu Jiu Ling in a difficult position, Xiao Yin stepped forward to block Gu Kang.

"Lord Gu, since my princess consort says you can't take her, please leave—do you still want to fight me?"

"I dare not," Gu Kang bowed deeply, and dared not mention what Li Ruoxi had given him.

Gu Kang nodded again, then, dragging his heavy steps, turned and walked outward.

Unexpectedly, after just a few steps, Xiao Yin called out to stop him.

Xiao Yin calmly looked at his brother-in-law: "In your sister's house, you must not use any underhanded tactics; if I find out, don't blame me for being impolite."

"Your elder sister dotes on you and lets you do as you please, but don't put it on my head—I indulge no one, not even the heavenly king himself!"

Gu Kang's lips curled with bitterness: "I overthought it—Miss Ruoxi is merely an old acquaintance of mine."

"I naturally care more for Miss Ruoxi; then I will tell her."

Gu Jiu Ling sighed: "You may go in to see her, but be careful—he just finished surgery, so his body may still be weak."

Gu Kang's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected his elder sister to grant him such a favor, and he then stepped cautiously toward the main house.

Gu Kang stood outside the house, his steps paused, then he gathered courage and pushed the door open.

Xiao Yin watched Gu Kang's despondent back, approached Gu Jiu Ling, and whispered: "Should I have someone accompany him? In case he does something to Miss Ruoxi…"

Gu Jiu Ling slowly shook her head, giving a bitter smile: "How could he bear to kill her?"

The room still smelled of pungent disinfectant, mixed with a faint trace of blood.

Li Ruoxi lay on the bed, naturally frail; now covered with a blanket, her complexion was no longer pallid but waxen yellow. So delicate, like a cicada's wing, a light poke would make it vanish.

Gu Kang shuffled to the window, raised his hand to touch Li Ruoxi's face, but hesitated and let it fall.

He stared at the wan Li Ruoxi, involuntarily sighing softly, his voice low and hoarse: "Take good care of yourself; in a few days I'll send you a great gift."

Three days later, Emperor Longqing personally ordered a thorough investigation of the Yunzhou case.

Soon, other wrongful cases in Yunzhou surfaced one after another; the investigated situation was even more severe than what Li Ruoxi had conveyed.

Moreover, it wasn't just Yongzhou; the Duan family had also infiltrated other places, and half of the mineral resources in the Southern Border region were under their control.

Once this was exposed, Emperor Longqing could no longer tolerate the Duan family.

Even his mother, Empress Dowager Ning'an, almost personally begged for mercy, to no avail.

Emperor Longqing compiled the Duan family's crimes into volumes, filling over twenty boxes.

Emperor Longqing moved all those boxes into Empress Dowager Ning'an's bedchamber.

Empress Dowager Ning'an fell silent; she understood that if she pleaded further, the affection between mother and son would be exhausted.

She had said, although she was a woman who married out of the Duan family, Longqing Emperor is her biological son—what matters more, Empress Dowager Ning'an knows clearly.

After the Double Ninth Festival, the Duan family members were sent to the execution platform.

The identity of Duke Duan was special; he was not also subjected to lingchi, and he went up to the execution ground together with the Third Prince Xiao Wei.

The once mighty Duan family has collapsed.