Chapter 547: Is He Also Leaving?

The Origin Festival soon arrived; although Shang Jing seemed stable and peaceful, the sensitive could already faintly smell the scent of blood.

Therefore, even on this day of family reunion, Gu Jiu Ling did not dare to bring her two children back, after all, the business she does is like licking blood on a knife edge.

The two children are now on a small island, well protected, and the letter that arrived says the little ones can walk now.

Gu Jiu Ling clenched the paper in her hand, feeling a sour, uneasy ache in her heart.

The court's power struggle has become a life‑or‑death battle; she dares not risk her children, especially since the fewer soft spots she and Xiao Yin have around them, the better.

Gu Jiu Ling is to enter the palace for the banquet; her hair is styled in an elaborate updo adorned with jewels, which press on her enough to give her a slight headache.

The curtain rose, and Xiao Yin strode in, looking at Gu Jiu Ling.

He had already seen the message delivered by carrier pigeon, knowing that Gu Jiu Ling missed her two children—what father isn't?

Now he is only a step away from that position; the more so, Xiao Yin understands that he must be cautious in every move to endure.

After the Qi Sha Gu incident, Xiao Yin now plans everything before acting, never rushing.

Xiao Yin lifted his hand and drew Gu Jiu Ling into his own arms.

Gu Jiu Ling quickly brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes and laughed, "Look at me during this grand New Year, how could I not control myself?"

Xiao Yin frowned, pulled her into his arms, and Gu Jiu Ling, while laughing, began to cry.

Xiao Yin gently massaged Gu Jiu Ling's soft hair bun, "I promise you, I won't keep you waiting much longer."

Gu Jiu Ling inhaled, nodded, and this time truly cast aside every fallback, ready to accompany him through fire and sword.

"Let's go; it wouldn't be good to be late for the palace banquet," Xiao Yin said, gently holding Gu Jiu Ling's hand.

He clasped her hand in his broad palm, and the couple boarded the carriage sent from the palace.

Emperor Longqing had been ill for so long that this was the first banquet in recent times, so officials of all ranks from Shang Jing gathered.

Those of official rank had to bring their families into the palace.

For a moment, the road to the palace city was a massive procession, a spectacular sight.

Xiao Yin now wields overwhelming power in Southern Qi; his seat in the Qionghua Hall is near the front, even ahead of several princes, his rank second only to the Crown Prince.

Gu Jiu Ling looked up, glanced at the civil officials below, and finally spotted her younger brother Gu Kang in a corner at the end.

She hadn't seen that fellow for some days; now he seemed a few pounds heavier, looking well‑nourished, and she wondered what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd.

Just as Gu Jiu Ling lowered her gaze, she felt a cold, menacing stare shoot down from above, as if it would lift the skin off her scalp.

Instinctively, Gu Jiu Ling looked forward and met the piercing eyes of Xiao Ting.

In just a few days, Xiao Ting's situation grew increasingly awkward.

Now Emperor Longqing, tormented by illness for a long time, can only be pleased by anything that temporarily eases his pain.

That is not something the Crown Prince Xiao Ting can do, and although Emperor Longqing is somewhat suspicious of the inexplicably acquired son Bai Xiaosheng, the pain‑relieving medicines Gu Jiu Ling provides are like an addictive toxin to him.

If he skips a day, the pain tears his heart and lungs apart.

His condition worsens daily, his whole body riddled with tumors.

As long as it spares him pain, he would even kneel and call the other 'grandfather', which is why Gu Jiu Ling set up this scheme with Bai Xiaosheng.

Even Emperor Longqing believes it's his son's blood used as a medicinal catalyst that lets him recover.

He feels an extra pang of guilt toward Bai Xiaosheng, and this favor becomes unparalleled.

Bai Xiaosheng is the most mischievous person in the world; Xiao Ting has been bullied by him for so long that he can't keep a good face at the banquet.

"Where are you looking? Turn it toward me," Xiao Yin's magnetic voice whispered in her ear.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled wryly to herself; the jealous king was getting jealous again, so she hurriedly shifted her gaze from Xiao Ting to the men beside her.

"You drink so much vinegar every day, don't you feel sour?"

Xiao Yin snorted coldly, "In such a grand setting, you have to give the king a little face."

"Is the king not good looking? Or lacking charm? You come in and stare at every other man, why not look at the king?"

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but laugh, turning her face to stare intently at Xiao Yin.

He looked rather cute; a smile tugged at Xiao Yin's lip corner as he vigorously ruffled Gu Jiu Ling's soft hair, murmuring, "That'll do; the Princess Consort truly is infuriating."

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The Chief of Ceremonies eunuch at the gate of Qionghua Hall shouted loudly, his voice resonant.

Inside Qionghua Hall, the previously chaotic ministers straightened their expressions and rose to kneel one by one.

Gu Jiu Ling knelt behind Xiao Yin, lifted her head and furtively glanced at Emperor Longqing.

Although Emperor Longqing entered at this moment accompanied by Empress Dowager Ning An and several Imperial Harem consorts, his demeanor seemed fine, yet his cheeks had completely collapsed.

His eye sockets were sunken, making him look like a walking corpse.

Like a skeleton strolling in daylight, he evoked dread in onlookers.

Gu Jiu Ling silently calculated that Emperor Longqing had at most half a year left.

Following Emperor Longqing this time was also Bai Xiaosheng, dressed in a dark brocade robe.

Princes usually wear purple, yet Bai Xiaosheng chose all black; without any embellishment, the black would be gloomy and oppressive, clashing with the festive atmosphere of the Origin Festival.

So he embroidered large plum blossoms on the cuffs and collar, instantly igniting color and giving an impression of grand, burgeoning vigor.

The officials' women around glanced at Bai Xiaosheng, their eyes brightening; the man was simply stunning.

His features were even more delicate than a woman's, hard to tell his gender.

Yet an aura of superiority enveloped him, easily surpassing the Crown Prince on that side.

Now the Crown Prince no longer has the right to follow Emperor Longqing; Xiao Ting's gaze at Bai Xiaosheng was almost poisonous.

"All ministers, rise!" Emperor Longqing smiled, turned slowly, and took the main seat, with the Empress Dowager beside him.

At this moment, only a few lower‑rank Imperial Concubines stood beside Emperor Longqing.

The once‑exalted Empress Li, who enjoyed endless favor, died in childbirth.

The dazzling Consort Duan also died without a burial place, and even the gentle Imperial Concubine Cao, who was kind, was cast into the cold palace after a confiscation case.

Emperor Longqing looked at the people left beside him, and was actually somewhat dazed.

All the familiar people who should leave have gone; could it be that he also has to leave?