Chapter 49: A Perfect Match, Deception Never Tires!

Gu Cheng had already drunk three cups of tea in Qian Ting when he finally saw Gu Jiu Ling arrive late, the anger in his chest almost uncontrollable. Just as he rose to his feet, he saw Xiao Yin following behind Gu Jiu Ling, his heart gave a slight jump—Xiao Yin often went mad, and he was somewhat afraid of him. Originally he had come as her brother-in-law just to catch up with his sister; why had Xiao Yin tagged along? Could it be that Gu Jiu Ling's status in Rui Wangfu was so high that even he, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy and her brother-in-law, had to humble himself to personally receive her? Earlier the Gu family thought Gu Jiu Ling had married into Rui Wangfu and was near death, hearing that Xiao Yin treated his former princess consorts poorly, discarding them to the rear courtyard to fend for themselves. Now Xiao Yin seemed different toward his sister? Gu Cheng hurriedly rose to salute Xiao Yin, who brought Gu Jiu Ling to sit slowly in the seat of honor, waving a hand and smiling: 'Sir Gu, no need for ceremony, please sit.'

Gu Cheng forced himself to sit down, his mind on Gu Nanxiang's affair, yet he dared not ask anything in Xiao Yin's presence. He couldn't guess Gu Jiu Ling's thoughts, not wanting her to speak first, she laughed: 'Elder Brother, what brings you here?'

Gu Cheng lifted his eyes to the smiling Gu Jiu Ling, hatred surging in his heart. Originally Gu Nanxiang and Su Wanrou of Rui Wangfu had conspired, without informing the Gu family; he had beaten to death one of Gu Nanxiang's maidservants, only then learning that the Second Miss and Su Wanrou had been meeting frequently, after which there was no further news. Gu Cheng realized this likely involved Gu Jiu Ling, and today he had come to take someone. He steadied himself and said: 'Jiu Ling, Elder Brother has come for you with a matter.'

'This matter is easy to say but hard to hear: earlier, when you went to offer incense on Wolong Mountain, did you not see Nanxiang?'

Gu Jiu Ling startled: 'Nanxiang? What happened to Nanxiang? What's the matter?'

'She...' Gu Cheng's gaze toward Gu Jiu Ling grew colder; her feigned ignorance truly disgusted him. 'Your sister has not returned yet.'

'What?'

Gu Jiu Ling clapped a hand over her mouth, her beautiful eyes widening in exaggeration: 'She has always been obedient; how could she do such a thing? Could she be meeting a man outside secretly?'

'Jiu Ling!'

Gu Cheng's face sank to the depths: 'How could you speak of your sister like that?'

Gu Jiu Ling snorted coldly—this wasn't a frame-up by Gu Nanxiang, was it? How could they pin it on her? Gu Cheng glanced at Xiao Yin, whose face had darkened, and dared not say anything harsh to Gu Jiu Ling, lowering his voice: 'Jiu Ling, the servants in the manor say Nanxiang has been staying with the manor's Wan girl lately; could we ask Wan girl…' 'No!'

Gu Cheng's face finally sank: 'Jiu Ling, I know you and Nanxiang haven't been on good terms, but you are still sisters; you should leave some room in your actions, after all, we still have our father's thin face to consider.'

'Yo! Playing the family card now?' 'Elder Brother, how can you say that about me?'

Gu Jiu Ling covered her mouth, eyes welling but no tears fell: 'My sister is so gentle and lovable, how could I bear to scheme against her?'

'It's just that Wan girl's health is poor; my lord the Prince sent her out of the manor to recuperate. If you don't believe me, you can ask my lord the Prince.'

Xiao Yin leaned back in his chair, coldly watching his Princess Consort perform, a hint of indulgence at the corner of his mouth; the Princess Consort's acting skills were solid—she could go perform at a hall gathering someday. His gaze toward Gu Cheng turned slightly cold; the Gu family really needed a lesson. Gu Jiu Ling had already told him the full story, yet he hadn't expected the Gu family's Second Miss to be such a venomous woman, her scheme quite toxic. She had also dragged his manor's people into it; he coldly regarded Gu Cheng and said: 'Sir Gu, Wan girl has indeed left my Prince's manor, but…'

Xiao Yin's peach-blossom eyes lifted slightly, a gentle smile touching his lips but not reaching his eyes, icy: 'Let me be frank, I know a little about your sister's whereabouts.'

Gu Cheng's expression froze, then he hurriedly rose and bowed to Xiao Yin: 'Please, Prince, tell us a thing or two; my parents have fallen ill from worry.'

'Easy, easy,' Xiao Yin affably waved at Gu Cheng: 'Please sit first, someone, bring fresh tea for Sir Gu.'

Gu Cheng was nearly driven mad—who would come to the Prince's manor just for tea? But seeing Xiao Yin like this, it seemed he was also involved in this matter, making it thorny. Xiao Yin took a sip of tea and said: 'This affair, you and I both know the truth; if you don't understand, you can simply ask your sister Gu Nanxiang what she actually did.'

Gu Cheng dared not reply; he still didn't know what had happened, but it seemed Gu Nanxiang, that fool, had ignored his advice, cooked up some scheme against Gu Jiu Ling, and ended up ensnared himself. 'Prince, what must I do for you to tell me my sister's whereabouts?'

Having come to this point, Gu Cheng felt there was no need for pretense any longer. Xiao Yin smiled faintly: 'Wan girl is a relative I have long kept in the manor; this time, because Gu Nanxiang suffered a fright and fell ill, I had to send her out of the Prince's manor to recuperate. Restoring her health requires a great deal of silver—these medical expenses…' Xiao Yin paused, his amiable smile fixed on Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng's heart skipped a beat—this was the start of extortion! Apart from this couple before him, no one in Shang Jing would stoop to such a disgraceful act. Yet it seemed Rui Wangfu had him trapped; he could not resist, for every moment of delay put his sister in greater danger. He drew a breath and said: 'If so, please, Prince, state the amount; I will soon send someone to fetch it from the Gu household.'

'Hehe! I am not that greedy,' he slowly raised a finger: 'One thousand taels!'

Gu Cheng drew a breath: 'All right!'

'Wait,' Xiao Yin mused, 'on Wolong Mountain, because of your sister's affair, my manor's servants beat a maid to death; if we were to buy another maid to bring into the manor, that would cost money as well.'

Gu Cheng's brows knotted: 'This wasn't your own order to have her beaten to death, was it?' 'All right! Prince, please give another figure!'

Xiao Yin laughed: 'Still one thousand!'

He sighed again: 'My Princess Consort also suffered a fright; let's do this—Princess Consort, you name an amount!'

Gu Jiu Ling paused, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and feigning a few sobs: 'I feel tightness in my chest and palpitations, terrified to death; even taking medicine and getting a prescription costs money—I also want one thousand, okay!'

'However…' Gu Jiu Ling rubbed her belly, 'the children in my womb are kicking wildly, perhaps the twins were frightened—one thousand taels each! Just consider it compensation for their mental anguish.'

And there's my maidservant, seeing I'm low in spirits, she attends me wholeheartedly; even Jiu Yue has lost a bit of weight!

On the side, Jiu Yue raised her round, chubby chin, looking incredulously at her master: 'Ah! Give her one thousand taels for snacks as well!'

'Oh dear! I just remembered, last night my heart was vexed, I felt awful, and I accidentally stepped on an ant…' 'Gu Jiu Ling!'

Gu Cheng shot to his feet, his face undergoing a drastic change.