Chapter 478

A thin layer of mist had already risen beside the Imperial River.

The official ship drifted in the mist on the river surface; Xiao Yin frowned tightly, already growing impatient.

He had Ling Feng go to the shore to take a look—just what trick is Gu Kang up to? Why hasn't he come yet?

Unexpectedly, as soon as Ling Feng stepped onto the shore, he saw a carriage slowly approaching not far away, and the carriage stopped at the riverside.

The coachman lifted the carriage curtain, and a tall youth in a blue cotton robe stepped down slowly.

This was precisely the Imperial Envoy Gu Kang, sent to Jiangnan to regulate the salt merchants; behind Gu Kang followed a pageboy holding a sandalwood box that contained the Imperial Sword.

Ling Feng instantly saw two waist plaques hanging from Gu Kang's belt, both items bestowed by the imperial household.

His mind stirred slightly; he stepped forward and bowed to Gu Kang: 'Sir Gu!'

Gu Kang nodded: 'Where is the Prince?'

Ling Feng hurriedly replied: 'Reporting to Sir Gu, the Prince is in the cabin; we can set off as soon as you board.'

Gu Kang smiled: 'I have kept the Prince waiting.'

Having said that, he stepped aboard with the pageboy.

Xiao Yin slowly lifted his gaze to look at Gu Kang walking toward him.

Having experienced so much, he had seen all kinds of people, but this brother-in-law of disaster before him—he had completely misjudged him.

Gu Kang stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Yin, his posture proper, without a hint of arrogance.

He held the Imperial Sword, with Longqing Emperor's jade tablet fastened at his waist.

Actually, judging solely by his post as Imperial Envoy for this trip to Jiangnan, his rank far exceeds Xiao Yin's.

Yet facing Xiao Yin now, he showed no affectation whatsoever; instead, he became ever more respectful.

'Your Highness, I, the subordinate, have arrived late; please forgive me, Your Highness.'

Xiao Yin waved a hand: 'The Emperor summoned you to the palace; there must be important matters to discuss.'

'It's no problem for me to wait a bit longer here; now that Sir Gu has arrived, we ought to set out, after all, the Jiangnan salt affairs are a matter of utmost importance to the state—if anything goes wrong, neither of us can bear the responsibility.'

'Yes, Your Highness's admonition is correct.'

Their exchange of official rhetoric was flawless, not leaking a drop.

Xiao Yin immediately ordered the punt's boatman to pull the ship away from the shore, but who would have thought that after the official ship had barely moved a short distance, a splendid merchant vessel suddenly appeared on the river, nearly sailing abreast of Xiao Yin's official ship.

No one knew where this ship had come from; it had two decks, and even refined string and bamboo music could be heard from within.

Yet there was not too much clamor, indicating that few had chartered the merchant ship.

The merchant ship clung tightly to Xiao Yin's official ship, and Xiao Yin's brows furrowed deeply.

Could it be the Jiangnan salt merchants?

Have they set their sights on us just after leaving the harbor?

He betrayed no emotion, slowly rose, and walked toward the deck.

On the other side, Gu Kang, who had been seated, also noticed the strangeness of that ship, rose, and followed behind Xiao Yin.

Neither had expected to be watched before even leaving Shang Jing.

This matter must be clarified, after all, several previous Imperial Envoys have died, been injured, or gone mad; the two of them certainly do not wish to follow in their footsteps.

Xiao Yin's hand had already gripped the sword at his waist; if the salt merchants were really staging this before even leaving the capital, his Dragon Spring Sword would show no mercy.

Xiao Yin made up his mind: let that bunch of rascals dare to harass him—he would kill them one by one!

Unexpectedly, just as Xiao Yin's killing intent arose, he looked toward the opposite ship and his face suddenly changed; he strode forward a few steps, nearly falling into the water, when Gu Kang grabbed his arm.

'Your Highness, be careful!'

We haven't even left the capital yet—could the Prince be intending to jump into the water to kill himself?

He hurriedly followed Xiao Yin's gaze to look at the opposing merchant ship; upon seeing it, he instantly let out a low cry.

Ling Feng behind them felt utterly astonished—what divine being could be on that merchant ship to cause both their own Prince and the usually steady Gu Kang to undergo such a drastic change in expression?

He hurriedly walked a few steps, also stepped onto the deck, and followed the gaze of his two masters toward the opposite bank—this sight made him exclaim in surprise.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling stood on the upper deck of the merchant ship with Yun Duo, blowing in the wind; Yun Duo held a sword in her arms.

Gu Jiu Ling's hair was tied up high, and she wore a well-fitted martial outfit.

She did not look like a lady from the prince's manor, but rather like a woman who roams the martial world.

She also saw Xiao Yin and Gu Kang standing on the deck of the opposing official ship; then she raised her hand and gave Xiao Yin a light wave, the corner of her lips curling into a bright smile.

Xiao Yin was about to jump down when his face darkened instantly, and he shouted loudly: 'Gu Jiu Ling, what do you mean? I've just left the city and you're already running off—come here!'

Gu Jiu Ling watched the furious Xiao Yin on the deck, her smile growing even more radiant, and then had Yun Duo prepare an arrow.

She hastily wrote a few lines on a silk scrap, tied it to the arrowhead, and had Yun Duo shoot it onto the crossbeam of the opposing official ship.

At this point, Xiao Yin's mind was completely thrown into disarray.

He knew that when this woman went mad, she was even crazier than he; he had not expected that, just as he had set out, Gu Jiu Ling would follow close behind on a merchant ship.

Could she also intend to accompany him down to Jiangnan? Does she not know how perilous this journey will be!

Xiao Yin pulled off the arrowhead, unfolded the silk scrap tied to it, and his face turned even paler with rage.

Gu Jiu Ling had already hidden their pair of children and sent them to that island riddled with mechanisms.

Gu Jiu Ling said that this time the Longqing Emperor had sent him to Jiangnan with ill intent; if Xiao Yin were to die in Jiangnan, she and her three children remaining in Shang Jing would surely die without doubt.

Rather than sit and await death, it's better to stake everything on one throw.

The children have already set out for Quanzhou.

Moreover, the attendants are all her longtime retainers; Jiu Yue personally holds the child, while Zuo Feichen and Princess Yalan each bring part of Zhao Lang's guard to personally escort the child away.

Having settled the children, Gu Jiu Ling follows him down to Jiangnan to face wind and rain.

'Indeed… indeed a madman, this mad woman!'

Xiao Yin gritted his teeth, tore the silk scrap to pieces, and threw it into the river.

Come! Lay the gangplank, this king wants to go over to that ship.

Xiao Yin had just ordered the official ship to steer toward the merchant vessel, but who would have thought that merchant ship nimbly dodged.

Although the official ship was more stable, Gu Jiu Ling's merchant vessel was even more nimble and very fast.

Seeing Xiao Yin about to pull alongside to settle scores with her, Gu Jiu Ling ordered the merchant ship's sailors to sail as fast as flying, rushing forward, giving Xiao Yin no chance to board and berate her.

Xiao Yin flared up: "Gu Jiu Ling, get back here, this king! Do you have any idea how perilous this is? What are you doing? I don't need your help—get lost back here! Get lost!"

While Xiao Yin was still shouting, Gu Jiu Ling's ship had already vanished on the river not far away.

Xiao Yin, swearing profusely, ordered the boatmen to speed up; he was determined to intercept that crazy woman.

This is intolerable, she's becoming ever more disobedient.

Gu Kang, standing behind Xiao Yin, showed not only astonishment but also a bit more complexity on his face.

If the elder sister stood beside Xiao Yin, the two of them appearing together would surely turn Jiangnan upside down.

If he wants to accomplish Emperor Longqing's mission, it will be even more difficult.