Chapter 472: with translation of chapter title

In Gu Jiu Ling's view, the scene in the rear garden was nothing short of a disaster scene; she rubbed her hands, then, with disgust, flicked them and looked at Xiao Yin, smiling, "Prince, peace!"

She walked up to Xiao Yin and smiled like a virtuous wife and good mother; Xiao Yin's gaze toward Gu Jiu Ling softened considerably.

Xiao Ting's face turned slightly pale; he also didn't know what he had come here today to say to Gu Jiu Ling.

To apologize to her, and to feel guilty about his previous actions.

Or ask her whether she still has a place for him in her heart?

That girl from years ago, with her double buns, who boldly gave him a red envelope—does she still exist now?

He always felt that Gu Jiu Ling had changed; she was no longer the woman who either loved or hated him before.

At the very least, that woman used to have him in her eyes, but now Gu Jiu Ling's eyes and heart are filled only with Xiao Yin.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling directly flung his hand away, still with that same disgust, finally breaking through his defenses.

"Gu Jiu Ling, I am to be married early next month; do you really have nothing to say?"

Xiao Ting truly threw caution to the wind today; after maintaining his dignity for over twenty years, he finally acted willfully.

Usually there was no chance to meet Gu Jiu Ling; nowadays she is no longer the eldest daughter of the Gu family but the principal consort of the Prince Rui's mansion, and she is the aunt of his dear son.

In terms of seniority, she is an elder he can never surpass.

Moreover, Xiao Yin harbors some dissatisfaction toward him, never having invited him to the Prince Rui's mansion; as a junior, he cannot privately meet Gu Jiu Ling, and this time it truly drove him to desperation.

As soon as Xiao Ting uttered those words, the people following Xiao Yin all changed expression in surprise, their gazes toward Xiao Yin tinged with mockery.

Especially Cheng Ming gave a harsh cough, chuckled softly, and then said nothing more; the atmosphere built to this point, harshly slapping Xiao Yin's face.

Xiao Yin's face darkened completely; just as he was about to speak, Gu Jiu Ling laughed lightly and said, "What does the Crown Prince mean by that?"

"As an elder, I naturally hope you will marry and have children to expand our royal line; that is your duty as Crown Prince."

Gu Jiu Ling's few calm words stabbed sharply into the Crown Prince's ears, and Xiao Ting's face instantly turned ashen.

He mustered the courage for the first time to lay his dignity completely at Gu Jiu Ling's feet, not wanting her to trample him utterly.

Only then did Xiao Ting realize that the woman who once loved him to the bone no longer cared for him at all.

Perhaps Xiao Ting had drunk too much today and acted improperly; he hurriedly turned and rushed out of the rear garden, not even bidding farewell to Xiao Yin and the others.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at the people around her and smiled, saying, "Everyone, by rights a woman of the inner quarters ought not to show herself in public."

"But today I am happy; I happen to have a jar of century-old aged brew, and I will share a cup with everyone, thanking you for coming to support the event."

Gu Jiu Ling's remark gave her husband a way out, and the surrounding guests dared not say more.

Cheng Ming was about to sneer quietly when Zhao Lang harshly tugged at his sleeve; this brat must be tired of living, not seeing Prince Rui's face already black as a pot bottom?

The group symbolically walked around the garden's ice sculptures, but the spectacle caused by the Crown Prince and the Princess Consort of Rui was far more entertaining than the ice carvings—definitely worth the trip.

Everyone then returned to the pavilion; the banquet was drawing to a close, they had drunk enough, and a little more would see them disperse.

But unexpectedly, the steward rushed in from the gate and announced loudly, "Report to the Prince, the Sixth Prince together with the eldest son of the Cao clan of Jiangnan has come to present congratulatory gifts, celebrating the birthday feast of our young heir and young commandery princess."

As soon as the steward finished speaking, the faces of Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin changed in unison.

These days, the Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng has also harbored some wariness toward Xiao Yin, not as close as before.

Everyone is a member of the imperial family, all intelligent; who could fail to see that Xiao Yin has already begun to command military authority?

Furthermore, given Xiao Yin's imperial lineage, this time he is unlikely to serve as his backing.

When a person holds military power, how could he possibly be willing to remain subordinate?

Xiao Zheng now feels considerable regret; he should never have supported that scoundrel.

But Xiao Yin truly knows how to act; he even deceived him, quietly building his own power to this extent.

At this moment, Xiao Zheng's aides already have no place for Xiao Yin.

Xiao Zheng and the Ninth Imperial Uncle haven't seen each other for days, while Xiao Yin doesn't care.

He already harbors thoughts of seizing the throne; his nephews, each one, will live if they follow his wishes, otherwise they will be killed.

Xiao Yin, coming from a military background, excels at decisive slaughter; since Xiao Zheng is alienated from him, he does not actively seek to curry favor.

Who would have expected that on the day his son and daughter turned one, Xiao Zheng would actually appear out of the blue—this is hardly something one would say.

Xiao Yin slowly rose to his feet and, in the distance, saw a young man dressed in a plain white robe with embroidered bamboo patterns, accompanied by several people, walking over.

The people following Xiao Zheng were known to several of those present; although this person had never appeared at court, he was rich enough to rival a nation.

He controls the grain transport of Jiangnan's eighteen water gates; his grandfather oversees the provincial administration, and his momentum is unmatched.

The reason the Cao clan could send a daughter into the palace to become Consort Cao is that they have money; otherwise, as merchants, how could Cao Shufen enjoy such glory today?

Back when Emperor Longqing waged war in all directions, the money and grain he needed came partly from the Du clan and partly from the Cao clan.

The Du clan vanished mysteriously over a decade ago, the whole family fell into decline, while today the Cao clan is the richest in the world, the foremost imperial merchant.

The young man following Xiao Zheng is the eldest son of the Cao clan, Cao Mao Lin; although he appears somewhat plump and unremarkable in looks, his eyes betray extraordinary shrewdness.

Moreover, he is the future helm of the Cao clan, having planned Jiangnan's affairs for many years, an unstoppable force.

At this moment, beside Cao Mao Lin walks a slender, delicate woman; just looking at her figure stirs the imagination, though her face is veiled with a thin gauze.

Xiao Zheng stepped forward, paid his respects to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling, and laughed loudly, "Imperial Uncle, nephew has arrived late; a few days ago I was handling affairs for Father Emperor in Jiangnan, and I have only just returned."

"I heard that the Prince Rui's mansion is holding a birthday banquet; in the rush I prepared no gift, but this pair of jade ruyi—please accept it, Imperial Uncle, as my token of affection as a cousin to the junior pair."

The jade ruyi looks pure white throughout, fine mutton-fat jade, valuable indeed; moreover, giving a jade ruyi to a child carries excellent symbolism.

Xiao Zheng's sincerity compelled Xiao Yin to give him face, so he had Xiao Zheng sit to the side.

At this moment, Cao Mao Lin also stepped forward with the woman beside him, and then actually presented a box to Xiao Yin.

When the box was opened, everyone around gasped—it was a box full of rare southern pearls, each the size of a baby's fist, plus half a box of rubies.

Cao Mao Lin bowed to Xiao Yin and said, "Prince, Princess Consort, peace."

"These pearls are for the young heir, to be made into headwear later."

"These rubies are for the young commandery princess, to be used as hair ornaments."

"They are merely commonplace items; please accept them with a smile."

Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts at this moment were not on that; she stared fixedly at the slender woman standing beside Cao Mao Lin.

The woman wore light gauze, moved gracefully like an immortal, and had an excellent bearing.

The woman slowly stepped forward, lifted her veil, and bowed to Gu Jiu Ling, smiling: "Elder sister, Nan Xiang sends her respects to elder sister and brother-in-law."

Gu Jiu Ling stared fixedly at Gu Nan Xiang, who had appeared once again in Shang Jing, and her heart sank to the bottom.