Chapter 585: Mourning

Gu Jiu Ling's newly devised move had been used for less than a day, and the Imperial Academy students gathered at East Sima Gate demanding punishment for the Regent King had no face to stay here any longer, and they all slunk away in disgrace.

On the contrary, the common folk of Shang Jing this time feasted on gossip to their fill, and the accompanying melon seeds, snacks, and tea were enjoyed with extra delight.

Gu Jiu Ling's whole spectacle was costly; the tea was premium tender Maojian buds, and the flavor was naturally delightful.

That night, Gu Jiu Ling followed Xiao Yin back to Rui Wang Fu; just after stepping out of the carriage, she saw a crowd of officials pressing at the gate of the Rui Wang Fu.

This time they were not as arrogant; upon seeing Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling approach, they all bowed in unison.

The Imperial Academy students wore indigo cotton robes, and each bowing in turn gave a rather spectacular sight.

Gu Jiu Ling slightly raised an eyebrow and had to halt, following Xiao Yin's steps.

The leading student, whom Gu Jiu Ling found quite familiar, was Zhang Erlang, the one who had led the worst smashing of her clinic.

Zhang Erlang stepped forward, bowed, and stood before Xiao Yin, daring not to speak, his face showing a mixture of sincere fear and trembling.

"Prince! Princess Consort, blessings!"

Xiao Yin gave not even a glance, and walked straight into the Wangfu.

"Prince, please stay!" Zhang Erlang couldn't help shouting low.

Zhang Erlang, eager to speak to Xiao Yin, rushed forward to block her, but was kicked away by Xiao Yin in a single blow.

That kick from Xiao Yin was lethal; Zhang Erlang collapsed on the ground, lifted his head without speaking, and blood was already seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Erlang gasped, his face pallid, and said, "Prince, what must I do to be spared?"

"Now my father-in-law is urging my wife to divorce me, and I ask the Prince not to let the troupe continue performing."

Xiao Yin sneered coldly, "Go back, pee on yourself to see what a damn mess you are, you even dare to block my way. Now you make so many demands—do you think I'm familiar with you? Get out!"

The surrounding Imperial Academy students, who had wanted to plead, saw Zhang Erlang's miserable state and none dared approach Xiao Yin's bad luck any longer.

They all stepped back.

Xiao Yin led Gu Jiu Ling in large strides into the Wangfu, then ordered Ling Feng to slam the gate of Rui Wang Fu shut.

The Imperial Academy students were locked outside, at a loss.

Gu Jiu Ling followed Xiao Yin's steps into the East Garden study, and said slowly to Xiao Yin, "Prince, the performance is almost over; shouldn't we ease the relationship with these civil officials?"

Xiao Yin sneered coldly, "Relations? Hmph! They are utterly unworthy!"

"This time they crossed my line, even smashed your clinic; if I were to let it slide, they'd think I'm easy to manipulate. The scholars of the world are not just Imperial Academy students."

"Now we recruit talent; the world is full of people. A handful of Imperial Academy scholars daring to overturn Southern Qi's heavens is utterly laughable."

"Tomorrow I will have Bai Xiaosheng issue a decree, place a bronze drum before the palace gate to recruit talents; anyone willing to submit to my command under Xiao Yin, to serve as officials, if truly gifted, I will not suppress them but support them, far better than those fame‑chasing opportunists."

Gu Jiu Ling fully understood Xiao Yin's meaning; this time these scholars had sufficiently displeased Xiao Yin, and Xiao Yin intended to renew the court with fresh blood.

So be it; the Imperial Academy students, relying on their status, could vandalize her clinic, proving they are a bunch of fools unable to discern right from wrong.

Gu Jiu Ling thought of another matter, looked at Xiao Yin and said, "Prince, if we cannot give an account of Chen Zhuo's case, I'm afraid your appeal to recruit talent across the world will lack influence."

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow at Gu Jiu Ling, who replied slowly, "Chen Zhuo may not match Master Wen's sway in Southern Qi, but he is a once‑in‑a‑generation great scholar, whose status among literati is extraordinary."

"If the Prince does not handle this matter properly, we may force the Imperial Academy students to retreat with extraordinary measures, but the people's hearts cannot be placated by any such means."

Xiao Yin's brows furrowed heavily; if it's difficult, it's difficult here.

No one expected that old scoundrel Chen Zhuo would actually die, which caught Xiao Yin off guard.

He stared steadily at Gu Jiu Ling, "Princess Consort, do you have a way?"

Gu Jiu Ling inhaled, looked at Xiao Yin and said, "Prince, we must find a way to obtain Chen Zhuo's corpse; do you have a method?"

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow, looked at Gu Jiu Ling, recalled something and said slowly, "The Chen family has set up a mourning hall today; shall we go pay our respects?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes lit up, whispering, "Go there wearing masks?"

Xiao Yin vigorously rubbed Gu Jiu Ling's hair knot, "Chen Zhuo may be a troublesome old fool, but his death is somehow linked to me; I shouldn't let him die without clarity."

Night deepened, and at the entrance of Chen Fu hung plain white soul‑calling banners; even at the hour of lighting lamps, people still came to mourn.

Chen Zhuo had served as the head instructor of the Imperial Academy for several years, with many disciples from all corners of the realm.

Some distant relatives and friends, as well as his former students, arrived in Jing Cheng by evening.

Both inside and outside the mourning hall were packed with people; those kneeling to burn paper were queued beyond the second gate.

Soon, two ordinary‑looking men in plain cotton robes, one tall and one short, slowly walked toward the main gate of Chen Fu.

"May I ask who you two are..." the steward of Chen Fu at the entrance, bowing, asked Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling with a smile.

Gu Jiu Ling felt somewhat guilty, lowered her head, and a trace of sorrow crossed her face.

Xiao Yin, with a calm expression, said slowly, "Mei Cheng Sanlang, specially here to offer incense to Mr. Chen."

The steward was slightly startled; Mei Cheng? He had never heard that place name, but the visitor's dignified elegance suggested he was not an ordinary person—perhaps an old acquaintance of the master?

In recent days, so many came to mourn that the steward could not continue questioning and hurriedly stepped aside to invite Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling inside.

Gu Jiu Ling looked incredulously at the slowly walking Xiao Yin beside her, not expecting entry to be so easy?

She whispered, "Prince, where is Mei Cheng? That name sounds lovely."

"Made up!" Xiao Yin replied lightly.

Gu Jiu Ling was at a loss for words, quickly gave Xiao Yin a thumbs‑up.

Many came to mourn at the Chen family; even the household servants, counting those they ushered in, amounted to three or four waves.

Xiao Yin watched the hurried, solemn crowd, hearing the cries emanating from the Qian Ting mourning hall, and his expression grew increasingly grave.

Gu Jiu Ling beside him also guessed Xiao Yin's thoughts; their generals disregard civil officials, yet now they see it's merely the people's hearts that matter.

Xiao Yin felt a heavy weight in his mind; he can conquer the world from horseback but cannot govern it from horseback—if Chen Zhuo's matter remains unresolved, it truly becomes a great trouble for him.