Chapter 550

Gu Jiu Ling didn't expect Bai Xiaosheng to directly accept all the accusations Xiao Ting made against him.

He was about to say something when suddenly his hand fell into a broad palm.

Xiao Yin stood beside her, lowered his voice and said: "Do not panic, I, as your husband, will handle this."

Gu Jiu Ling quickly responded, and somehow her heart felt a bit calmer; it seemed Bai Xiaosheng and Xiao Yin had already reached some agreement, keeping her completely in the dark.

After Xiao Yin said that, Gu Jiu Ling steadied her thoughts and remained silent.

Emperor Longqing's expression shifted slightly; he raised his brows and glanced at Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling.

Emperor Longqing's voice was hoarse, everywhere revealing a hint of ruthlessness as he asked: "What does the Prince Rui's manor want from you? What information did you ask for?"

Bai Xiaosheng kowtowed and said: "Before I left Mang Village, my mother had already died; I myself didn't know I was the emperor's son."

"Who would have thought I would later have such tremendous wealth and fortune? Back then I wandered the jianghu, never knowing where my next meal would come from—life was truly hard!"

Emperor Longqing couldn't help but stare for a moment, never expecting this kid to give him this line; his face darkened further: "Get to the point!"

Bai Xiaosheng collected himself, then somehow produced a handkerchief embroidered with pink peach blossoms, covered his nose and sobbed a few times.

"In reply to Your Majesty, back then I truly lived a life of nine deaths and one survival in the jianghu."

"After all, an infant who hasn't even shed his baby smell, wandering into such deep waters of the jianghu, can only survive longer by being shameless."

"I thought of selling information for a living—after all, in the jianghu, all kinds of people must make a living."

"This trade gets boring after a while; I met the Princess Consort of Rui, and we indeed had a few encounters."

Bai Xiaosheng's words instantly made Emperor Longqing feel a bit wary.

He stared fixedly at Bai Xiaosheng kneeling before him and said calmly: "Although you are a prince from the common folk, my time teaching you has been short, but you should understand that deceiving the sovereign is a grave crime; speak up quickly."

This remark of Emperor Longqing is full of temptation, clearly hoping Bai Xiaosheng will fully confess his collusion with the Prince Rui's manor.

Then he would have grounds to punish Xiao Yin.

Now the Crown Prince's little drama is also good, saving him the trouble of later finding excuses to deal with Xiao Yin.

As long as Bai Xiaosheng leaks even a bit of information unfavorable to the Prince Rui's manor, Emperor Longqing will immediately detain the Prince Rui and his consort in the palace; then whether they live or die will be up to him.

Even if Xiao Yin has some guards outside, his imperial Feathered Forest Guard and Imperial Secret Guard are not to be trifled with.

Gu Jiu Ling reached out and grabbed Xiao Yin's hand; Xiao Yin tightly squeezed her hand, signaling her to stay calm and not be afraid.

Although they are now in the palace and might encounter some trouble, relying on his martial skill to protect Gu Jiu Ling while leaving would still be no problem.

But if they step out of the palace today, they will surely break completely; then, whether they are called rebellious ministers and traitors or accused of deceiving the sovereign, Xiao Yin will accept it.

The only regret is that he wants to avenge the brothers of Qi Sha Gu, but this might instead bring infamy upon them.

If it weren't for considering the honor of the Azure Dragon Army, he would have already slain Emperor Longqing with a single sword.

But then the soldiers' deaths would be nameless and unhonored, and later historians might even label them as rebels.

This is also why Xiao Yin has hesitated to act; he only wants to clear the Azure Dragon Army's name.

In the initial battle at Qi Sha Gu, they were not cowardly rats clinging to life; they were upright great heroes.

But now that he has rebelled, there is no turning back.

Gu Jiu Ling stared fixedly at Bai Xiaosheng kneeling before Emperor Longqing; this brat surely isn't really brain‑damaged, ungrateful, and selling her and Xiao Yin out, is he?

Logically he is also someone with brains; if he really killed her and Xiao Yin, aside from a disreputable jianghu sect behind him, he would have nothing else to rely on, and the Crown Prince would then swallow him whole.

But if this brat protects them and the Prince Rui's manor, it would only confirm their collusion, and he would still fall out of favor with Emperor Longqing.

In short, the Crown Prince this time has moved in for the kill; no matter what Bai Xiaosheng says or does, the Prince Rui's manor will be doomed.

It seems the painkillers given to Emperor Longqing lately have been plenty, making this old fellow think he's perked up again.

"Speak!" Emperor Longqing's voice was icy, clearly already impatient.

Bai Xiaosheng slowly crawled on the ground, kowtowed to Emperor Longqing, sniffled, and said: "Father Emperor, this matter is still hard to bring up, but since you've asked, I cannot avoid speaking."

After speaking, Bai Xiaosheng turned and gave Gu Jiu Ling a somewhat meaningful glance; Gu Jiu Ling's eye twitched.

Bai Xiaosheng whispered: "Father Emperor, in the jianghu I was nothing more than a disreputable swindler, yet my reputation somehow spread."

"I don't know how the Princess Consort of Rui heard my name, but she personally came to me to buy information."

"During those days the Prince Rui treated her well, but then suddenly ignored her; she suspected the prince was fooling around outside with other women, so she asked me to find out where those women were."

Upon hearing Bai Xiaosheng's words, everyone's faces instantly lit up with interest, and the gossip fire blazed.

Bai Xiaosheng's words caused the guests in Qionghua Hall to immediately start whispering among themselves.

The Prince Rui's doting on his wife was well known, yet during their time together there were indeed rumors of quarrels, which is why the Princess Consort moved out of the manor.

At that time the Prince Rui was practically brimming with hostility—anyone who saw him would avoid him, and even cats and dogs would flee a zhang away; could this have happened during that period?

Bai Xiaosheng sighed and said: "Indeed, at that time the Imperial Uncle had several lovers outside."

"I couldn't withstand the Imperial Aunt's questioning, so I had to betray the Ninth Imperial Uncle cleanly; the Imperial Aunt also acted generously, dealing harshly with those women, and this still wasn't enough..."

"The Imperial Aunt also asked me what could make a man utterly loyal to her; this is truly hard to bring up..."

As Bai Xiaosheng spoke more and more outrageously, everyone being respectable folk, the mere thought of male‑female relations flushed their faces with embarrassment.

Some even pricked up their ears, wanting to hear what medicine in this world could make a man bow to a woman and remain devoted forever.

The unmarried women's cheeks flushed red at once; the married women lowered their heads, yet they listened attentively—by this point the palace banquet had practically become a farce.

With a thud, Emperor Longqing could no longer bear it; he slammed his wine cup hard onto the Dragon Desk, glaring fixedly at Bai Xiaosheng, who was obviously beginning to spout nonsense.

This kid must have long been colluding with the Prince Rui's manor; thinking of how he has been by his side day after day, Emperor Longqing felt his scalp go numb.

He drew a sharp breath and shouted: "As a prince, you spout nonsense and commit such lowly deeds! You truly disgrace the imperial family—seize him! Take him to the Imperial Clan Office and lock him up!"