Chapter 574: with translation of chapter title

Zhao Lang let out a sudden exclamation, his voice filled with all kinds of anger, he fiercely stared at Gu Jiu Ling: "Gu Jiu Ling, are you crazy?"

"Do you know what consequences will come after striking the Peace Drum?"

"Jinzhi's body is frail; how could she withstand the torture of rolling iron nails?"

"You……"

Jinzhi at the side hurriedly grabbed Zhao Lang's arm, gesturing urgently to him, apparently also preparing to appeal for her father's injustice, rolling iron nails, striking the Peace Drum.

Although she is frail, she is not afraid.

Zhao Lang's eyes instantly reddened; he seized Jinzhi's arm and shoved it behind him, feeling as if Gu Jiu Ling were about to send his beloved to the rolling iron nails.

"Gu Jiu Ling, I firmly disagree; if you want Jinzhi to do something so dangerous, you'll have to step over my corpse!"

Gu Jiu Ling rubbed her forehead, took a breath, and said: "General Zhao, may I finish my words?"

"The Prince said, let Jinzhi strike the Peace Drum, not the kind that involves rolling iron nails!"

"Before that may have been the case, but now the Prince's word is law in court; he said no rolling, so no rolling—just have Jinzhi beat the drum to create a great commotion and draw the people's attention."

"After all, what the Prince wants now is reputation, to restore the Azure Dragon Army's honor, not people's lives!"

Zhao Lang's face twitched slightly; Jinzhi at the side pinched his arm while laughing, and he then realized, his expression a bit embarrassed as he said: "Sorry, please forgive me, Princess Consort; I was flustered!"

Gu Jiu Ling said slowly: "After Jinzhi strikes the Peace Drum and presents the petition to the Crown Prince, the Prince will order the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments to re-examine the case of Qi Sha Gu from seven years ago."

"The petition need not be written by Jinzhi; the Prince will have the prepared document handed to her beforehand, and then she just needs to look it over, best if she can recite it from memory."

"Good! That's good!" Upon hearing there was no danger, Zhao Lang instantly became much happier.

Actually, he still didn't want his little wife to appear in public, but since Gu Jiu Ling wanted to treat Jinzhi's facial scar, he felt he couldn't outright refuse.

No wonder Gu Jiu Ling first offered to treat Jinzhi's facial scar, then brought up striking the Peace Drum—probably just to shut him up.

This woman calculates people's hearts to perfection; she's truly of the same ilk as Xiao Yin.

After Gu Jiu Ling conveyed Xiao Yin's message, she stood up and took her leave.

She rode in a carriage toward the Prince Rui's residence, handling some matters along the way; by then it was already late.

Gu Jiu Ling planned to start treating Jinzhi tomorrow; tonight she needed to prepare some instruments and medicinal herbs, and she had the coachman turn toward the medical clinic.

Just as she entered the clinic, she saw two people standing under a wind lantern in the courtyard; upon hearing her footsteps, they both turned to look at her.

"Tuo Ba Yu?" Gu Jiu Ling exclaimed softly, a flash of surprise crossing her face.

It had been several days since she last saw him.

Their last meeting was on an island in the East Sea; he tightly gripped her hand and asked, since she had severed ties with Xiao Yin, could she follow him?

Gu Jiu Ling had already made her feelings clear to him; even if Xiao Yin was the most scoundrelly scoundrel under heaven, she still loved that man.

Her heart is tiny, so small it can hold only Xiao Yin, that one man.

Gu Jiu Ling recalled Tuo Ba Yu's despairing expression at that moment, and a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

After all, when she first broke with Xiao Yin and escaped from his grasp, without Tuo Ba Yu's help it would have been utterly impossible.

Along the way, every danger they faced was resolved by Tuo Ba Yu stepping forward; in the end she forcibly drove him away, and thinking back, it was rather... something.

But Gu Jiu Ling has no regrets; in matters of the heart, she never drags things out, wasting others' feelings.

If Tuo Ba Yu ever falls into trouble in the future, she will surely spare no effort to save him; that's all she can do.

Tuo Ba Yu now wore a plain-colored robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, over which he draped a black fox-fur great cloak, setting off his jade-like face, outstanding and noble.

At the moment he saw Gu Jiu Ling, his pupil color flickered slightly.

Having stayed by Xiao Yin's side these days, Gu Jiu Ling became ever more radiant.

"Your Highness, when did you return to the capital?" Gu Jiu Ling approached with a smile and asked.

These days Southern Qi has fallen into chaos; internal conflicts remain unresolved, so naturally there's no basis for monitoring Tuo Ba Yu.

Tuo Ba Yu is now somewhat freer than before.

Tuo Ba Yu quickly smiled: "I just returned as well; feeling unwell, I came to your clinic for a look."

Gu Jiu Ling raised her brow; Tuo Ba Yu feeling unwell—could he have contracted some illness?

"Please sit, Your Highness, let me take your pulse," Gu Jiu Ling said, pointing to a stone stool nearby.

Zuo Feichen stood beside Gu Jiu Ling; he had just been about to take Tuo Ba Yu's pulse, but Gu Jiu Ling returned—this works out fine.

After all, Gu Jiu Ling's medical skill is superb, far surpassing his.

Tuo Ba Yu thanked her and sat down; Gu Jiu Ling raised her hand and pressed it to his wrist, and after a moment her brows furrowed as she glanced at him.

The other hand!

Tuo Ba Yu quickly switched to his other hand and placed it before her; his expression showed nothing unusual, everything as usual.

Gu Jiu Ling, however, grew grave, her brows knitting together.

Is it not good?

Tuo Ba Yu's voice was soft and slow.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze, steady on him, and said: "Where have you been lately? If I'm not mistaken, did you go to Bei Di to fight with your royal brother?"

His internal organs are severely damaged; if not properly tended, it will shorten his lifespan!

A smile touched Tuo Ba Yu's eye corner as he said: "Princess Consort, your medical skill is indeed formidable; those few days I went to Bei Di."

Tuo Ba Yu withdrew his hand and said no more.

Gu Jiu Ling did not press further; after all, the internal affairs of Bei Di were not her place to inquire.

However, Tuo Ba Yu's internal organs were nearly shattered from the shock, and Gu Jiu Ling felt puzzled in her heart.

Tuo Ba Yu could organize the Red Scorpion assassin group; though his martial arts fall short of Xiao Yin's, he is still top-notch.

What kind of person's strength could be so great as to injure him to this extent? Moreover, Gu Jiu Ling suspects that Tuo Ba Yu's return to Shang Jing of Southern Qi this time may also be to avoid the calamity of Bei Di.

This time, Emperor Longqing is imprisoned, the new Regent Prince has no relation to him, Xiao Yin is busy with the Qi Sha Gu affair, and Tuo Ba Yu could completely leave Southern Qi and go wherever he pleases.

Yet he still returned to Shang Jing of Southern Qi; only avoiding disaster can explain it.

I'll get you some medicine; for the next few days it's best not to practice swordplay and spearplay, or you'll easily injure your foundation!

Come back for a check-up in a few days!

Gu Jiu Ling rose, ordered the medicine attendant to fetch the medicines, brought them to Tuo Ba Yu's hand, and also explained how to take them.

Tuo Ba Yu agreed to everything, then suddenly lifted his gaze to Gu Jiu Ling and asked: "Princess Consort, how have you been lately? Has that scoundrel Xiao Yin not been giving you trouble any more?"

As soon as Tuo Ba Yu finished asking, Gu Jiu Ling froze on the spot.

Beside him, Zuo Feichen suddenly coughed violently, hastily turning his gaze elsewhere.

This guy is practically asking for death! How dare he ask such a lousy question!