Chapter 490

Cao Maolin launched a torrent of abuse at Gu Nanxiang.

"Vile wretch! Your brilliant idea! Not only did you fail to kill those imperial envoys, they escaped instead."

"That aside, why was one of the assassins captured and now in Xiao Yin's hands?"

"Xiao Yin must have pried his mouth open; now we have both human and material evidence—plotting to murder an imperial envoy warrants extermination of nine clans!"

"You wretch, are you satisfied now?"

Gu Nanxiang covered her mouth with a handkerchief and burst into tears, crawling a few steps before clutching Cao Maolin's leg.

Cao Maolin kicked her away; Gu Nanxiang cried, "My lord, please calm your anger—if you rage and harm your health, I would be devastated."

Gu Nanxiang crawled slowly to his side: "The plague is inherently incurable; I also don't know how Gu Jiu Ling managed to cure it."

"But Gu Jiu Ling is indeed a skilled physician, possessing some remedies; she even cured a strange ailment for the Eldest Princess's son in Shang Jing..."

"'Shut up!' Cao Maolin's face darkened. 'What's the use of saying this now? Xiao Yin and Gu Kang will be in Yangzhou any moment.'"

"If they uncover anything else, the imperial court will send troops to suppress us—what then shall we do?"

Gu Nanxiang hurriedly edged close, gently patting his leg and whispering, "My father was the Prime Minister of Southern Qi; though I am an inner-chamber lady, I still know some court etiquette."

"'When you went to the capital before, you showered them with gold and silver; having eaten Cao's food, they ought to hold Cao's bowl steady.'"

"If they really investigate, every official up and down will be scrutinized, plus all the salt merchants of Yangzhou—can Xiao Yin possibly handle that?"

"Gu Kang says he wants to audit accounts; ten years' books are still books, and even a century's worth could be brought for him to examine."

"If they find nothing, how could they condemn my lord?"

The ferocity in Cao Maolin's brows eased somewhat; he seized Gu Nanxiang's chin, lifted it gently, and smiled: "You are indeed a clever heart; your schemes come one after another—pity you're a woman, otherwise a man like you could be put to good use."

Gu Nanxiang's face flashed a fawning smile, and her leg‑patting grew ever more diligent.

She bowed her head slightly, appearing shy and timid, yet a flicker of mockery crossed her lowered eyes.

"It's merely that you, Cao sir, were born well—a male."

"I, Gu Nanxiang, was born poorly, conceived in a concubine's womb; though I wear fine clothes and eat jade‑like food, my status is naturally inferior."

"Heaven is just this unfair!"

"Given her temperament and ability, yet she must cling to a useless fool—her gloom is easy to imagine."

"But to contend with Gu Jiu Ling and seek wealth and honor, this road is hard, yet Gu Nanxiang will tread it."

Cao Maolin slammed the table, summoning a dozen or so of the Cao clan's accountants, and had the servants bring in some matured old accounts.

"Tomorrow the imperial envoy reaches Yangzhou; you must be utmost careful, allowing no mishap!"

"Bring all those matured old bad accounts in, so the envoy can examine them at leisure."

The dozen or so accountants are all trusted Cao kin; they naturally understood the eldest son's intent and nodded in agreement.

Just as Cao Maolin was about to give further orders, the steward's hurried, frightened voice came from outside, accompanied by chaotic footsteps farther out.

Cao Maolin and Gu Nanxiang both turned toward the door.

Soon a group hurriedly arrived at the front hall.

Cao Maolin hastily led Gu Nanxiang out, striding through the corridor to the front hall of the second courtyard, where he saw Xiao Yin and company already seated at the table drinking tea.

Gu Nanxiang followed closely; her steps halted, she lifted her head and glared fiercely at the few people seated in the main hall.

Xiao Yin sat in the very center, wearing a light‑purple brocade robe.

To one side, Gu Kang sat in an indigo‑blue cotton robe, at Xiao Yin's left.

Gu Jiu Ling, dressed alluringly, sat shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Xiao Yin; her gaze held a hint of smile, yet her charming laugh concealed mockery.

Gu Nanxiang felt her heart seized violently, hatred welling up like blood.

Because her scheme failed to trap Gu Jiu Ling, allowing them to escape alive, she received a hard slap from Cao Maolin and was kicked several times.

She was utterly disheveled; the red mark from the slap on her face had not faded.

Now Gu Jiu Ling is cherished by Xiao Yin like a treasure in his palm; even when she ventures out as a covert imperial envoy, her bearing is impeccably proper.

Xiao Yin even lets Gu Jiu Ling sit as his equal, occupying the seat of honor.

The Princess Consort's aura, now fully displayed, stung Gu Nanxiang's eyes.

She also did not understand how things had come to this point.

Clearly that foolish Gu Jiu Ling, once firmly under her control in the Gu household, after being dealt with together by the Eastern Palace's Crown Prince and herself, became notorious and pregnant out of wedlock.

She had thought that wretch was cast into hell, yet instead she climbed step by step to heaven.

At this moment, seeing Gu Jiu Ling's bright, smug face, Gu Nanxiang felt a surge of panic.

She felt this was not Gu Jiu Ling at all, certainly not the foolish girl she had known since childhood.

Cao Maolin's expression also turned slightly cold; seeing Xiao Yin, he stepped forward and bowed: "I did not know the Prince had come from afar; my failure to greet you properly is my fault."

"'It is truly an honor for my humble abode that the Prince arrives so late.'"

"'Why didn't you give notice earlier? I would have prepared a banquet to welcome and cleanse you! Someone—set out the feast at Wangjiang Pavilion…'"

"'Hold on!' Xiao Yin's face darkened; he coldly regarded Cao Maolin before him."

"'Why do you not kneel upon seeing me, your Prince?'"

Cao Maolin stared dumbfounded; he was accustomed to acting as a local emperor in Yangzhou.

The lowly salt merchants, to survive under him, would kneel when they saw him.

It had always been others kneeling to him, never him kneeling to others; now Xiao Yin's words left him stunned.

"What pretensions can a powerless, foppish prince put on before him?"

Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh: "You've stood too long, forgotten you're a dog—can't you kneel?"

"'Ling Feng!'"

Ling Feng suddenly strode over to Cao Maolin and kicked his knee hard.

Cao Maolin never expected Xiao Yin to really show up at his door—this person's audacity is too great!

This is Yangzhou, the Cao Clan's domain!

He couldn't keep his balance, and with a plop he fell to his knees on the ground, hitting hard there, his tears flung out.

He lifted his head, could no longer maintain his previous composure, and stared fixedly at Xiao Yin before him.

The Cao Clan guards all around drew their waist swords in unison, encircling Xiao Yin and company.

The sword blades were poisoned; unexpectedly, the first night in Yangzhou turned into a tense, deadly standoff.