Chapter 520: Setting His Sights on You

Xiao Ting was finally pulled back onto the right track by Lin Jingyuan; his mind wasn't so muddled anymore.

However, the atmosphere in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was tense to the extreme, making it hard to breathe.

Xiao Yin coldly laughed and said, "Since Minister Lin is discussing disaster relief, I will not interfere in court affairs; I take my leave!"

Xiao Yin gave Xiao Ting no face at all, turned and strode toward the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, not even regarding the Regent Prince seated in the place of honor.

Xiao Ting's expression was also unpleasant; although he now held the Regent's Jade Seal, he didn't expect Xiao Yin to be so arrogant—it seemed this fellow's military authority should be taken back early, otherwise there would be plenty of trouble later.

He coldly stared at that tall figure disappearing at the Hall of Mental Cultivation's door, the hand hidden in his sleeve unconsciously clenching into a fist.

Lin Jingyuan on the side watched, secretly shocked and anxious; the plan had been to proceed slowly, so how did it suddenly become tense and ready to draw swords?

He was about to say something more when the sleeve was quietly tugged by Li Hechen standing beside him.

At the initial spring examination, the top scorer was unexpectedly taken by the usually unlearned Gu Kang, with him and Lin Jingyuan respectively becoming the second and third place winners.

The Li and Lin families both pursued the civil official path, naturally having no connection with the military side.

The Li family are maternal relatives of the Crown Prince, naturally wishing to support the Crown Prince's ascent to the throne and establish a new dynasty; as scholars they could also cultivate themselves, regulate their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.

Li Hechen understood that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; although the Crown Prince now relies on these civil officials for assistance, in terms of kinship he is still the Crown Prince's cousin, and Lin Jingyuan's mother is still the Crown Prince's maternal aunt.

However close they may be, the ruler is ruler, the subject is subject.

Although Xiao Ting indeed acted somewhat improperly in the Hall of Mental Cultivation today, at this moment Xiao Yin gave the Regent Prince no face at all, making the situation quite awkward.

Under these circumstances, the Crown Prince was already angry; if Lin Jingyuan said anything more, he would truly not give the Crown Prince face.

He is the heir apparent, the Crown Prince—not just anyone can point out what he should do in court.

Lin Jingyuan meant well, fearing he would cause trouble; Li Hechen tightly gripped Lin Jingyuan's sleeve, and Lin Jingyuan moved his lips but finally said nothing more.

Xiao Yin left the palace and, riding in a carriage, directly returned to the Rui Wangfu.

Gu Jiu Ling had long been waiting in the main hall of the Rui Wangfu, having already finished a pot of tea at hand, before Xiao Yin returned from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The news had long spread throughout Shang Jing: Emperor Longqing was gravely ill and unable to attend court to govern, so Crown Prince Xiao Ting became Regent Prince, controlling all affairs.

Gu Jiu Ling sighed inwardly, never expecting that after all the princes' struggles, it would ultimately benefit Xiao Ting.

She took particular dislike to Xiao Ting, after all the original owner had indirectly died at his hands.

If it weren't for Xiao Ting and Gu Nanxiang scheming together against the original owner, the original owner wouldn't have died so miserably, nor would have been driven to utter ruin by those heartless people of the Gu family; that is how she, a modern person, got the chance to transmigrate here.

Seeing Xiao Yin enter the warm pavilion with a grim expression, Gu Jiu Ling secretly thought something must have happened in the Hall of Mental Cultivation; she quickly rose and walked over to him.

"Prince, you're back?"

Upon seeing Gu Jiu Ling, Xiao Yin's expression eased somewhat; he nodded and sat down in the chair.

Gu Jiu Ling noticed Xiao Yin's unhappiness, ordered the attendants to withdraw, leaving only her and Xiao Yin in the warm pavilion.

Gu Jiu Ling picked up the teacup, filled it for Xiao Yin, pushed it toward him, and asked, "What happened?"

Xiao Yin lifted the teacup and drained it in one gulp; the cup slammed onto the table with a bang as he snapped angrily, "That dog of a Xiao Ting must be tired of living."

"'Prince, please calm down—what exactly happened?' Gu Jiu Ling wondered inwardly; although Xiao Yin's temper wasn't great, this was the first time he had lost composure in front of her to such an extent."

She also didn't know what the worthless Crown Prince Xiao Ting had done to make Xiao Yin so furious.

Xiao Yin drew a hard breath and then said, "Just now Xiao Ting seized my military authority by force in the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"'I have operated in the military for so many years; if I could be easily manipulated by a brat like him, I might as well not bother—better to die.'"

"'I was going to let him taste a bit of success, but that brat actually wants to confine me to a manor in the suburbs—what a shameless, despicable thing.'"

Gu Jiu Ling frowned slightly, thinking that Xiao Ting had such gall; if it had been a few years earlier, before Xiao Yin had developed his power, Xiao Ting's move against him might still have had some effect.

After all these events, Xiao Yin's influence in court and in the military had initially been established.

At this point, trying to confine Xiao Yin is nothing short of a delusional fantasy.

He always felt Xiao Ting must be lacking in brains—or perhaps kicked by a donkey.

But Gu Jiu Ling wondered; even if one wanted to sideline him from military control, there was no need to use the words "shameless and despicable" to describe it.

"'Prince, please calm down—if you ruin your health from anger, it will only benefit others; what other tricks does Xiao Ting have up his sleeve?'"

Xiao Yin stared blankly for a moment before lifting his head, giving Gu Jiu Ling a look full of meaning.

"'Prince, is there something on my face? Why do you stare at me like that?'"

Xiao Yin added angrily and coldly, "These days keep your distance from that brat; he probably wants to die, setting his sights on you."

Gu Jiu Ling stared in disbelief; having transmigrated into this world and inherited the original owner's loves and hates, she felt not the slightest affection for Xiao Ting—indeed she disliked him everywhere—and now he spoke of aiming his designs at her?

Xiao Yin didn't want to say more on this matter; he seized Gu Jiu Ling's hand and said, "That dog of a brat has no business aiming his designs at you—this time he has truly provoked me."

Gu Jiu Ling inhaled and looked at Xiao Yin: "Originally it was Xiao Ting who schemed against me; no matter what he thinks now, I, Gu Jiu Ling, cannot coexist with him under the same sky, and I also ask the Prince to rest assured."

This is the kind of woman Xiao Yin takes a liking to; although she had previously been engaged to Xiao Ting and loved him to death, once she came to her senses she would absolutely not repeat the same mistake.

Xiao Yin's expression improved somewhat: "Go pack some belongings; we cannot remain in Shang Jing for the time being."

"If Xiao Ting intends to confine us to the Imperial Estate, he probably won't even look our way. We won't go to the Imperial Estate; instead we'll stay at a manor for a few days, lay low, and see how he carries on this farce."

Just as Xiao Yin's words finished, the steward suddenly hurried in: "Prince, the Crown Prince approaches."

Crown Prince Xiao Ting personally came to the residence, whereupon Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling's faces darkened slightly as they looked at each other.

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed into a shape like the Chinese character for 'river'; he took his personal sword from the wall, hung it at his waist, and sat down in his seat.

Soon after, amidst a retinue of many, Xiao Ting slowly entered the Rui Wangfu.