Chapter 509: with translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling sighed, looking at her brother Gu Kang: "Forget it; though she is truly awful to me, for you there remains a shred of false affection."

"Do as you wish, according to your nature."

Gu Kang nodded, picked up the box full of ashes and boarded the boat.

Gu Jiu Ling didn't press further, but Gu Kang drew near, gazing at the surging river, and said softly: "I went to see—it was horrific, the corpse had been hacked into pieces."

"'Blood soaked the ground; when I stepped in I nearly slipped.'"

"'Some pieces were too small to collect; I placed her bones in a white cloth bag, dragged them to the woods outside, and burned them—still difficult to burn.'"

"'One 【part】 was hard to burn, and it reached Gu Jiu Ling's ears; she couldn't help but wryly smile: 'It's also hard on you—that scene is truly unimaginable.'"

"'She treated me decently when we were young, although later I realized Lin Qingxue's children were all sucking my blood.'"

"'But after all, when we were young she also took me out to play and bought me the frost sugar I liked.'"

"'I lost a tooth; she wrapped it in a handkerchief and hung it on a branch, saying it would make teeth grow faster.'"

"'Sometimes when I recall, I can't tell which of her traits were genuine and which were fake, but in the end she acted as a good older sister for a few days.'"

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Gu Jiu Ling said nothing, raised her hand and patted Gu Kang's shoulder: "You needn't explain to me; doing this shows you're still human—good."

Gu Kang lowered his head, steadied himself, and said: "Leaves return to their roots; she died in Yangzhou, which is really too far—I will carry her back and bury her in the outskirts of the capital."

Gu Jiu Ling was about to speak when suddenly the sound of horse hooves on stone came from the shore; the pleasure boat had just left the shore and hadn't gone far.

Gu Jiu Ling looked up quickly, and it turned out to be someone from Xiao Yin's entourage.

Xiao Yin quickly ordered the boat back to shore; shortly after, that person boarded and approached him.

Gu Jiu Ling rose and went to Xiao Yin's side; the dark guard half-kneeling before him loudly reported: "My lord, Miss Zheng actually set herself on fire and burned to death in the rear courtyard."

"'We were preparing to receive Miss Zheng and leave together, but unexpectedly she locked the warm pavilion door from inside, poured lamp oil on the bedding, lit a fire, and burned everything to ashes.'"

"'My lord, how should this matter be handled?'"

Gu Jiu Ling's expression shifted slightly; she hadn't expected Zheng Yan to self-immolate and die.

She had originally pitied this girl and arranged for her to be brought along as well.

They were the first boat; another followed. To protect Zheng Yan's safety, Xiao Yin separately dispatched a boat to fetch her to the capital as well.

"'Unexpectedly, before they even left Yangzhou, she self-immolated; in an instant the Zheng line truly had no heir.'"

The guard produced from his bosom a sheet of paper stained with blood and handed it to Xiao Yin.

The characters on it were crooked and twisted, but one could barely make out a few.

If it weren't for these days that Xiao Yin often had Zheng Yan hold a brush in her mouth to practice writing, one couldn't tell what was written here.

Gu Jiu Ling quickly lifted her gaze and leaned in; above was written only one line.

"'Deep affection brings no longevity; in the next life there will be no worries.'"

Gu Jiu Ling sighed.

Xiao Yin's expression also shifted slightly; this woman and Cao Maolin were childhood sweethearts, later became a pair of resentful lovers, tormenting herself into this state.

"'What a case of deep affection bringing no longevity, what a case of no worries in the next life; forget it, I hope she finds peace and happiness in her next life.'"

Xiao Yin raised his hand, took the paper Zheng Yan left behind, lit it with a tinderbox, and scattered the ashes on the river.

"'Issue the order: bury Miss Zheng's remains properly.'"

"'Seek out any surviving heirs of the Zheng family; if none, gather all the deceased Zheng family's remains from the potter's field, select a scenic spot outside Yangzhou city, and give them a proper burial.'"

"'Yes, my lord!'"

Gu Jiu Ling, after this incident, couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"'What twists and turns must one endure in this life to attain peace and happiness?'"

"'Some people spend their whole lives trapped in that most painful moment; better to die, which is also a kind of release.'"

Xiao Yin took off his own cloak and draped it over Gu Jiu Ling's shoulders, gently patted and said: "No need to overthink; some things must be faced; let's go, back to the capital."

Xiao Yin, along the way, changed several sailboats; even midway he relied on the shore and walked overland, then immediately continued by water, finally reaching the dock of Shang Jing after twenty days.

Accompanying Xiao Yin were also the criminals brought from Yangzhou.

The Cao family's steward, the Cao clansmen involved in private salt trade, the whole family were strung together and sent to Shang Jing.

At the same time, the Duke of Cao also arrived in Shang Jing, old and frail, personally carrying thorns to apologize; it is said that Imperial Concubine Cao knelt before the Hall of Nurturing Heart for three days and nights until she fainted.

The Cao family's account books previously examined were of little importance; the Zheng family's account books played a decisive role.

Of course, the last page of the account books concerned the matter of Qi Sha Gu; Xiao Yin tore it off and presented the rest to Emperor Longqing.

The emperor's countenance flared with anger; what a Jiangnan Cao clan—nothing but deceiving the court, smuggling private salt, and even monopolizing transport on the eight major water systems of Jiangnan, so that the whole Yangzhou city bore the Cao surname.

They even killed so many imperial envoys; the various pieces of evidence Gu Kang organized were meticulous, befitting a Minister of Justice, an iron-faced Yama.

After another month or so passed, the Cao family members were either imprisoned or had their property confiscated; subsequently new officials were sent to Jiangnan to take over the salt merchants' taxation.

Xiao Yin, however, hid in his own mansion, counting money with Gu Jiu Ling.

This time, the account books and financial leads brought back from Yangzhou saw seventy percent fall into Xiao Yin's own hands.

Now Xiao Yin has also placed his own people in Yangzhou; thus half of Yangzhou belongs to him, something Emperor Longqing does not know.

He kept the accounts; Gu Jiu Ling invented a rather unique bookkeeping method—just ten simple digits—making his accounts crystal clear.

Xiao Yin raised his eyebrows at Gu Jiu Ling and couldn't help but chuckle softly: "My consort never ceases to amaze; what talent do I not know of?"

"'I feel that marrying you is like marrying a treasure.'"

Xiao Yin, while praising, picked up a fan to give Gu Jiu Ling a gentle breeze, placed her favorite snacks before her, and attended to her diligently.

The maidservants and old women all pursed their lips and smirked; the lord had no temper in front of his consort.

Gu Jiu Ling pushed away his face that was too close, smiling and scolding softly: "Don't get too close, it interferes with my performance; by the way, when will we bring our son back?"

Xiao Yin blinked slightly: "Wait a bit longer and see."

Gu Jiu Ling understood his meaning; now Xiao Yin not only didn't die in Yangzhou, but lively and vigorous has returned before Emperor Longqing, and likely the emperor won't let him off.

Gu Jiu Ling was about to say something when the steward outside hurried in.

The steward bowed and saluted, saying: "Prince, Princess Consort."

"Oh no! In the Hall of Nurturing Heart, Second Master Gu provoked the Emperor's wrath, was stripped of office and investigated, and thrown into the death prison."

"What?" Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly stood up.