Chapter 50

Gu Cheng trembled with anger, how could there be such a shameless person in this world?

Gu Jiu Ling leaned against Xiao Yin's side, whimpering: "Prince, I'm so scared!"

Xiao Yin soothingly patted her shoulder, then gave Gu Shuo a cold glance, that look carrying a chilling frost.

Gu Cheng's heart jumped, he slowly sat down, eased his tone: "Prince, Jiu Ling, this time it's Gu Nanxiang's fault; I beg you to save her, she's a young lady, if delayed a few more days her life may be in danger."

"Jiu Ling, you can't write two Gu characters with one stroke; if she meets any mishap, the one whose face is ruined will be yours!"

Gu Cheng used both soft and hard tactics; Gu Jiu Ling understood his meaning—if Gu Nanxiang really encounters any mishap, the Gu manor would likely tear all ties with her.

She couldn't help but sneer: "Now that I'm married, my reputation comes from the Prince, not from the Gu family!"

"Enough! Since elder brother has put it this way, let's send someone to get the silver from Lady Lin!"

Gu Cheng clenched the hand hidden in his sleeve, took a breath, and ordered the servant to return to the Gu manor to get silver from Madam Lin.

Although Father stripped his mother's lady title, the household authority still lies in Lady Lin's hands—there's no doubt about that.

After an hour, Gu Jiu Ling had someone see Gu Cheng off, telling him only: if you want to find Gu Nanxiang again, send people to investigate the low-class brothels in the southern city.

Gu Cheng rushed out of the Rui Wang Fu in panic.

These past few days Xiao Yin had nothing to do, so he accompanied Gu Jiu Ling to the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

These past few days the weather was unusually fine, the moonlight clear, enveloping the two of them.

It was late spring, peach blossoms in full bloom, a faint fragrance riding the evening breeze—a rare tranquil scene.

Xiao Yin also wanted to stroll, staying by Gu Jiu Ling's side, he turned his face to look at the woman beside him happily counting banknotes, a hint of amusement curling his lips.

Gu Jiu Ling split the banknotes in half and pushed them toward Xiao Yin: "Prince, this is yours, as we agreed on a fifty-fifty split."

Xiao Yin refused to take them, smiling lightly: "You keep them."

Gu Jiu Ling stared, this was totally unlike Xiao Yin's previous image; she was about to speak when he looked at her and said: "I haven't yet sunk to the point of living off a woman's support; after what you've been through—nine deaths and one life— the Gu family ought to compensate you."

"By the way, this is for you!"

Xiao Yin produced a dagger and placed it in Gu Jiu Ling's hand; its style didn't look like a Central Plains product, small and delicate, quite suitable for a woman, the gems set in its sheath gleaming.

Gu Jiu Ling could tell at once it was valuable; although at first this person seemed after her money, now it feels as if he's returning things to her bit by bit.

"Prince," Gu Jiu Ling stopped walking, after these days together she felt the outside world had misunderstood him; in truth he is quite gentle.

But why did his six previous Princess Consorts die so strangely? Even if Su Wanrou harmed those innocent women, without Xiao Yin's tacit approval she couldn't have killed six consorts—it's just nonsense.

She finally couldn't hold back, laughing as she looked at Xiao Yin: "Prince, why are you so good to me?"

"Those older sisters before..."

"They were given to me in marriage by Empress Dowager Ning'an, and you..." Xiao Yin slowly raised his hand, stroking her cheek—skin smooth as jade, he chuckled softly, "while some people shamelessly throw themselves at me, how could they be the same?"

Gu Jiu Ling stood there stunned; Xiao Yin looked at her dazed, cute expression, gave a soft laugh, and walked ahead.

It took Gu Jiu Ling a good while to react; she only felt her face, where Xiao Yin had touched, burning hot, and she sucked in a breath.

I never realized this old man was so skilled at flirting!

Three days later, an ordinary blue-canopied carriage burst out of the muddy alley in the southern city and raced toward the Gu manor.

At the same time, rumors spread through every circle in Shang Jing; everyone knew the Gu family's second daughter had vanished for five or six days, found in a secret door in the southern city.

Moreover, some rough men laughed low and crude: "You... you don't know..."

"Originally I thought it was just some girl from nowhere, but the secret door actually held such a pretty lass—it turned out to be..."

"You'd better keep quiet, or the Gu family will take revenge!"

"Back then I was there, I heard that Gu family miss tear off the face powder, crying she was the Gu manor's daughter, and even got slapped by the madam—how could an official's daughter willingly debase herself to come here to serve clients?"

"Hey! How does it taste?"

"Shh..."

The carriage entered the Gu manor through the southern gate, to avoid attention.

Veiled and wrapped in a cloak, Gu Nanxiang was carried back to her own warm chamber, her whole body faint; Lady Lin stepped forward and embraced her daughter, wailing loudly.

This matter, to this day, we still dare not tell Father.

Lady Lin has now been reduced to a concubine's status; if the affair of the second daughter were spoken again, she fears she could be beaten to death by Father.

Gu Cheng stood at the doorway, face ashen and cold, while Lady Lin cried so hard she could barely catch her breath.

"Mother!!" Gu Nanxiang's complexion withered; in just a few days she'd been tortured to skin-and-bone, yet her cheeks were flushed, like a vengeful ghost.

She raised her hand and clutched Lady Lin's arm fiercely, her eyes almost bulging; she no longer had her former lively beauty, instead her visage was hateful—even her own mother, Lady Lin, was frightened by this demonic expression and could not speak for a moment.

"Mother! Kill Gu Jiu Ling! Kill Gu Jiu Ling! I want to kill her! Kill her!!"

Gu Nanxiang's hoarse shouts terrified the maidservants outside the warm chamber until their faces turned ashen.

Gu family patriarch Gu Cheng stood at the gate, slowly closed his eyes, then summoned his attendant.

"Order the dark guards to go to the southern city; seize anyone who has seen the second daughter, no matter who..."

Gu Cheng raised his hand in a slashing gesture, grim and ruthless.

"Go deliver a letter to the Nanlu Academy— the sooner the better!"

For several days running the weather has been bright and clear; today is the day of the annual Shang Jing poetry gathering.

The Southern Qi Shang Jing poetry gathering's convening, though a civilian affair, carries great momentum and a massive scale.

Each time it is organized by the great clans in rotation; nevertheless the poetry gathering's prizes are all manner of strange and wonderful, contributed wholeheartedly by jianghu folk to express their allegiance and submission to the Imperial Court.

The best part is that each year's prize differs, yet they are all worldly treasures of considerable weight—for example this year's prize happens to be a volume from the Du family.

Just days ago when the prize was announced, Shang Jing scholars erupted in an uproar; previously it had been either an inkstone without water or a lustrous pearl, or some other treasure—this time it's actually a booklet.

But the Du family's booklet is just the same; it is heard that over a decade ago the Du family withdrew from the jianghu and court, and the whole clan was slaughtered by the Bei Di barbarian troops.

At some point a rumor spread that the Du family's wealth was never taken by the Bei Di, but hidden somewhere.

The treasure map is inside this very volume!

Now it's gotten lively—this year's prize is weighty indeed, after all the Du family used to be the richest in Southern Qi!

If the Du family's treasure vault truly exists, wouldn't it be rich enough to rival a nation?

Apart from the prize, every year the poetry gathering sees the emergence of talented heroes renowned throughout the world; consequently many scions of aristocratic families participate, and the royal clan in the palace even more so comes to join the bustle.

After all, using the poetry gathering's name to gather talents from all under heaven, or to spread one's fame far and wide and gain the favor of those in power, is an excellent opportunity to showcase oneself.

Gu Jiu Ling was dragged awake early by Xiao Yin; the poetry gathering is held at Furong Garden, which is, frankly, a fairly large imperial villa.

Moreover, according to past custom, the poetry gathering imposes no gender or age restrictions, so everyone can come participate.

Everyone has to get up early, after all, with so many people, just securing a spot is already somewhat chaotic.

Gu Jiu Ling was nodding off even in the carriage, rising at four in the morning; even the nonchalant Xiao Yin attaches great importance to this poetry gathering, which is also a salon for scholars from all under heaven—perhaps they could find that strategist, and more importantly, there is money.

Gu Jiu Ling applied cooling oil to her forehead, and also dabbed a bit on Xiao Yin; he had grown accustomed to the strange little medicine bottles she produced.

"Beloved consort! Wake up! Whether we can retrieve your maternal grandfather's belongings rests on this very moment!"