Chapter 612: with translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "Ha, what a shameless claim— the Dragon Spring Sword follows our Prince, galloping a thousand li, protecting myriad commoners. What right do you have to inspect it?"

"Do you even deserve it? To put it bluntly, even bowing before the Dragon Spring Sword would disgrace it."

Those few officials never expected the Princess Consort of Rui to be so sharp‑tongued; for a moment they were left speechless by her retort.

Then the reckless and stubborn shouted loudly: "All of Shang Jing knows Prince Rui has been exterminating us officials; Lord Lin previously fell out with Prince Rui over Minister Chen's affair."

"Prince Rui has been going after Lord Lin; anyone can guess Lord Lin will surely die at Prince Rui's hands."

"With so many watching, shouldn't Prince Rui give an explanation? The best way is to have him hand over the Dragon Spring Sword for us to inspect."

"Inspect your mother's head!" Gu Jiu Ling burst out laughing: "It's you lot who want to dig up the coffin and examine the corpse, and you're the ones whining."

"Back in Shang Jing, Minister Chen was already stricken with an incurable illness, yet he still wickedly set a trap to harm our Prince; even the man who made him bleed to death was his dear disciple Lin Jingyuan."

"I'd say Lin Jingyuan got what he deserved; why should our Prince take the blame?"

Xiao Yin stepped forward slowly and drew the Dragon Spring Sword from his waist.

With a soft swish, the sword leapt from its sheath, emitting a resonant hum; the surrounding civilians and observing officials all stepped back a pace, for this single blade alone exerted immense pressure.

Xiao Yin slowly lifted his gaze, swept it around, and raised the Dragon Spring Sword: "Fine, if you want to inspect my property, come take it—today we'll see if you can walk away with it!"

Xiao Yin violently swung the Dragon Spring Sword in his hand, cleanly cutting the nearby tree in half at the trunk.

The treetop crashed down, raising a cloud of dust; the crowd gasped, and the officials fled backward, faces paling.

He Manshan stepped forward, gritting his teeth: "Your Highness, what do you mean by this? Since you have nothing to do with Lord Lin, what harm is there in letting us take a look at your Dragon Spring Sword?"

"Or could it be that Your Highness harbors guilt?"

"Although I am merely a commoner, my ancestors once assisted the late emperor in solving a major wrongful case."

"Even though Little Old Two is now a corpse in the ground, we cannot simply stand by and watch things happen without acting."

"Today is the Crown Prince's Spring Sacrifice; may the late emperor discern right from wrong and redress injustices on this occasion, and I implore the Crown Prince to decide!"

Bai Xiaosheng's face showed a hint of embarrassment; he turned sideways, glanced cautiously at Xiao Yin, and whispered: "Uncle, why not let them have a look at the Dragon Spring Sword to clear your name?"

Xiao Yin snorted in amusement: "How so? Everyone wants to take my Dragon Spring Sword?"

"You like my Dragon Spring Sword that much? Then why not try it on your own necks?"

Xiao Yin didn't even give Bai Xiaosheng face, retorting sharply.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Bai Xiaosheng's eyes; he blinked, about to speak, but Gu Jiu Ling interjected: "Our Prince never parts with the Dragon Spring Sword; now you all demand to take it—are you trying to harm him under the guise of inspection?"

"After all, without the Dragon Spring Sword's aid, our Prince's martial prowess would diminish somewhat."

I don't know whether Gu Jiu Ling's nonsense hit the mark for some, but He Manshan's eyes flashed cold, then he laughed.

He Manshan said: "Indeed, the Princess Consort of Rui is a lively soul who loves to spin tales."

"We powerless commoners—even if the Prince's Dragon Spring Sword were in our hands, what could we do?"

The remaining officials also rose, saying: "Indeed, could it be that the Prince, guilty‑conscience, truly killed Lord Lin?"

In the midst of the clamor, Gu Jiu Ling eyed the demons and monsters before her coldly, sensing the situation was not simple; she gripped Xiao Yin's arm and whispered: "Your Highness, we should leave at once—after all, we have few attendants, and I feel something is off."

"Don't worry, I am here!" Xiao Yin gently squeezed Gu Jiu Ling's hand, gazing at the onlookers, a hint of killing intent flickering in his eyes.

Suddenly, urgent hoofbeats sounded not far away.

A lavishly decorated carriage, escorted by dozens of guards, hurried over.

Just by looking at the carriage's insignia—a special mark of the Princess's Manor—it turned out to be people from the Commandery Princess's Manor.

Gu Jiu Ling's brows knitted tightly.

The old matriarch of the Lin family and Lady Li, unable to bear the grief of losing their son, had already moved the whole household to the Jiangnan region.

Thus, the Rui Prince's Manor, the Lin family, and the Princess's Manor had completely severed ties.

Especially Lin Ruojun; Gu Jiu Ling felt that Lin Ruojun probably harbored murderous intent toward her.

Fortunately, over these many days Lin Ruojun had not come to the Rui Prince's Manor to cause trouble; this time, however, she arrived here by carriage.

Moreover, choosing this moment, Gu Jiu Ling's heart sank instantly.

She had already noticed something amiss here; among the surrounding crowds were faces that did not look like farmers.

Even those who had just carried the coffin over seemed to Gu Jiu Ling to walk with brisk, decisive steps, like martial practitioners.

Although He Manshan had once entered an escort bureau and later fled it, could it really be that all these people are escort guards?

Now they are employing every trick in the book to seize the Dragon Spring Sword from Xiao Yin's hand.

This only heightened Gu Jiu Ling's suspicions; she wanted to advise Xiao Yin that a wise man does not suffer present loss—better to leave this place.

The Princess's Manor guards came rushing over again, and Gu Jiu Ling's heart skipped a beat; if these were the ones, an inside‑outside collusion could stir up trouble in these outskirts.

Although Xiao Yin's martial arts are superb, one fist cannot withstand four hands; Gu Jiu Ling could not guarantee he wouldn't be entrapped again by these people.

The carriage halted before Bai Xiaosheng; then its curtain was lifted, revealing Cheng Ming, the young marquis, leaping down first.

Immediately after, he raised his hand and gently helped the woman inside the carriage down.

That woman was none other than the Princess's Manor's young mistress, Lin Ruojun—the younger sister of the deceased Lin Jingyuan.

Lin Ruojun stepped down from the carriage; the lantern lights flickered over her pallid face, making her seem like a ghost wandering in the dark night.

Gu Jiu Ling had not expected that after not seeing her for days, Lin Ruojun would be so wan.

At this moment, Lin Ruojun slowly walked toward them.

Even as a woman, she bore the imposing aura of an army pressing the border.