Chapter 479: I Have an Idea

Xiao Yin's official boat chased Gu Jiu Ling's merchant ship, flowing straight southward along the imperial river.

At this moment the thin mist over the river thinned considerably, and a splendid merchant ship behind also pursued the direction of Xiao Yin's official boat.

The ship carried countless attendants and innumerable beauties; even several famous boat maidens from the Shang Jing flower boats were invited onto this vessel, where song and dance flourished in lively merriment.

In the most lavish private suite on the second deck, Cao Maolin, the eldest son of the Cao Clan and Jiangnan's foremost salt merchant, reclined on a plush Persian velvet couch.

Several dancing maidens before him twisted their waists like water snakes, but Cao Maolin found the display somewhat tiresome.

Sitting beside him, Gu Nanxiang was also dressed in an alluring, seductive style.

She no longer wore the former opulent finery of the Prince Rui's mansion, but instead wore a dancer's attire.

Her skin was fair, makeup delicate, eyes tenderly expressive, and it was this charm that made Cao Maolin unable to look away.

"Young master, you seem to have something on your mind?"

Gu Nanxiang lifted a bowl of washed grapes, plucked one, and brought it to Cao Maolin's lips.

Cao Maolin bit into the grape, chewed a few bites, and a flash of malice crossed his brows.

He gave Gu Nanxiang a cold glance: "Didn't you say the Princess Consort of Rui is your elder sister? That line doesn't work; your elder sister clearly hates you to the core."

Cao Maolin had previously favored Gu Nanxiang, not only because her gentle attentions captured his thoughts, but also because she disclosed that she and the Princess Consort of Rui were blood sisters.

The Jiangnan salt merchants have sensed the situation tightening; the Duke of Duan and his household were dragged to the execution platform, and after their heads were cut off, the Cao family could no longer remain idle— the Duan family would inevitably be replaced by their Cao family.

Their eight great houses have become the emperor's eyesore, and Emperor Longqing will surely relish killing them.

After all, Jiangnan's salt merchants control nearly half the realm's wealth, and Imperial Concubine Cao holds sway in the palace.

If the Duan family collapses, the Cao family will become the foremost house in all of Shang Jing.

However, they also realized that Emperor Longqing will never allow the Cao family to continue basking in glory.

The Cao family has reaped decades of profit from Jiangnan's salt trade, and now that bounty is being snatched away—who could endure such humiliation?

"Hmph, I thought relying on your connection would let me curry favor with Prince Rui."

"If Prince Rui stands with us, jointly supporting Sixth Prince's ascension, our Cao family would be secure. Yet you have such a terrible relationship with the Prince Rui mansion; you certainly deceived me back then, didn't you?"

Gu Nanxiang felt a slight panic; indeed, there was suspicion that she had deceived that fat pig back then.

At that time Gu Nanxiang desperately tried to secure a foothold in the Cao family, naturally exaggerating her background.

Even though all her close brothers were dead, the Princess Consort of Rui and her brother remain top‑tier figures in Shang Jing.

Now faced with confrontation, the lie could no longer be spun; Gu Nanxiang's eyes reddened, and she covered her mouth with a handkerchief, crying, "Young master, I had no choice either."

"I originally thought that seeing the two of them would reunite brother and sister harmoniously, but it turns out those high‑born people look down on me, their younger sister."

"Their disdain for me is really disdain for the Cao family. Though my status is low, I am still of the Cao clan; this humiliation is nothing but them ignoring the Cao family, isn't it?"

"In the first place, how are they insulting me? They are eyeing your Cao family's wealth and status."

"Now you have seen that Gu Kang and Prince Rui have both been appointed Imperial Envoy by the emperor, and are heading straight to Jiangnan to investigate the salt merchants. What does this indicate? It shows that these people have long ceased to regard the Cao family, and have already harbored murderous intent toward them."

Whoosh!

Cao Maolin erupted in fury, smashing his wine cup onto the table and flinging the dishes onto the floor.

The music of strings and bamboo abruptly stopped, and the dancing maidens, who had been leaping excitedly, knelt down.

Cao Maolin, now a bit stout, flushed a deeper red from his anger; grinding his teeth, he said coldly, "Heh, if they intend to go to Yangzhou to investigate our Cao family, let's see whether they have that life left..."

Gu Nanxiang's mind sparked; this time, using the Cao family's power, she could eliminate Gu Kang and Xiao Yin.

Without Gu Jiu Ling's protection, she would surely be executed by Emperor Longqing; the emperor is narrow‑minded and cannot tolerate her two children.

If that so‑called worthless Imperial Envoy cannot return to Shang Jing, Emperor Longqing will have no recourse against them.

Emperor Longqing wishes to campaign, but with the Bei Di and Western Rong eyeing him, he lacks the troops to descend to Jiangnan.

Later she will form her own faction, a nation within a nation; let us see what fate befalls Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Nanxiang's smile grew even more coquettish; she placed the grape on the table, lifted her hand and gently patted Cao Maolin's arm and leg, whispering with a soft laugh, "Young master, no need to be angry; I am of the Gu family, so I naturally understand Gu Kang's intentions."

"I do have a scheme that will guarantee Gu Kang and Xiao Yin's lives are not spared."

Cao Maolin's eyes flickered; this clever concubine of his was resourceful, and even the plans she devised within the secluded manor were quite good.

His expression softened slightly, and he scooped Gu Nanxiang into his arms, planting a fierce kiss: "I knew you were clever; what scheme do you propose?"

Seizing the moment, Gu Nanxiang lifted her ivory‑like arm, clasped Cao Maolin's neck, and pressed down.

Cao Maolin obediently leaned onto her; Gu Nanxiang rose and leaned close to his ear, whispering a few words.

Cao Maolin's complexion shifted slightly, and his brows knit tightly.

Then Gu Nanxiang whispered again into his ear, saying a few more words; Cao Maolin's expression shifted from surprise to stunned, and he even hugged Gu Nanxiang, planting a fierce kiss, then laughed loudly, "Excellent idea, truly an excellent idea. Xiang'er, tell me any reward you desire."

Gu Nanxiang smiled gently, "If I can relieve the young master's worries, I would gladly face death."

"I seek no titles; I only wish my young master to be safe, and hope to see the Cao family prosper evermore, nothing else beyond that."

Cao Maolin's expression flickered, a hint of warmth in his eyes, and holding Gu Nanxiang tightly, he whispered, "Then, as you wish, I shall grant you a child."

"If you can bear a child and become a proper wife, how does that sound?"

Gu Nanxiang let out a tinkling laugh, her cheeks flushed bright red, and hurriedly buried her face in Cao Maolin's generous embrace.

Over here, Xiao Yin also saw Gu Jiu Ling's ship docked ahead, at a small town in Yuzhou.

They traveled down the canal, passing Yuzhou and a few more checkpoints before reaching Yangzhou.

Yuzhou, being the mandatory route to Yangzhou, is relatively bustling, though its small size makes the bustle feel cramped.

Xiao Yin, from afar, spotted a merchant ship under repair at the riverbank; before the official boat could dock, he lifted his robe's hem and leapt onto the shore, sprinting toward the merchant ship.