Chapter 622: with translation of chapter title

The atmosphere in the study was somewhat oppressive; no matter how Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin tried to skirt around it, they could not avoid this fact.

I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me.

Although it was originally the Cao clan who tampered, swapping the grain the Du family was transporting for poisoned grain, did the elder Du at that time realize that the Longqing Emperor was the true mastermind behind the scenes who condoned it? If he discovered it, why didn't he stop it in time? Or was he kept in the dark until the end?

Some things cannot be made clear; the Du family is innocent, yet they are also the most crucial point in this Qi Sha Gu case.

Although they did not strike the blow, a charge of dereliction of duty is something they cannot escape.

As for what the elder Du actually thought, after all these years, Gu Jiu Ling is even less able to know.

Thus the Du family's position in this case is rather awkward; given Xiao Yin's nature of repaying grudges and avenging wrongs, he will certainly not let anyone who committed wickedness in Qi Sha Gu go unpunished.

Gu Jiu Ling stared fixedly at Xiao Yin; she had no authority to decide.

The one who was tortured for nine full years is him, not her, this solitary soul who crossed over from another world.

Xiao Yin slowly rose, walked to Gu Jiu Ling's side, then bent down and tightly embraced her in his arms, whispering: 'After the Qi Sha Gu case is settled, let us go together to Mang Shan.'

'My heart-knot is untied, but yours is not—how is that fair?'

Moreover, since you cannot untie your heart-knot, we will ultimately never be able to share a bed and pillow, which is truly unbearable!

Gu Jiu Ling felt a sigh of relief in her heart; Xiao Yin was preparing to let the Du family off in the Qi Sha Gu case, after all, out of consideration for her.

Even if her face were not considered, there are two little treasures playing with their bottom curtains on Dong Island; if we speak of blood relation, his son and daughter also carry a trace of Du family blood.

Gu Jiu Ling had guessed that Xiao Yin would say this, but after all, in Qi Sha Gu he had lost so many brothers; the reputation he prided himself on, the honor he relied on for survival, and the land he depended on were all wiped clean in Qi Sha Gu.

Such a deep-seated hatred, no one would let it go.

Thus Gu Jiu Ling does not know how Xiao Yin will ultimately treat her maternal grandfather.

She cannot make a hasty judgment, feeling that Xiao Yin will certainly let the Du family go.

Now Xiao Yin tightly holds her in his arms; this already gives her an answer.

Gu Jiu Ling's face is buried in Xiao Yin's embrace, her voice muffled.

'I'm sorry, Prince.'

This apology spoken from Gu Jiu Ling's mouth made Xiao Yin's body tense even more.

Xiao Yin let out a soft laugh, raised his hand to ruffle Gu Jiu Ling's hair: 'You're such a silly girl; the one who should apologize is not you.'

'I actually find that what your brother is doing is acceptable; since your brother has pointed his spear at the Eight Great Clans, I will lend him a hand.'

Gu Jiu Ling slowly said: 'Your Highness, are you really just going to let off that person in the palace?'

Xiao Yin's peach-blossom eyes, glistening, slowly narrowed: 'It's been more than nine years; a year or two more makes no difference.'

'The pain he inflicted on me back then—how could I, Xiao Yin, not repay it?'

'I will make him suffer a hundredfold, a thousandfold; I want him alive, I want him to watch, eyes wide open, as the things he cares about are destroyed bit by bit.'

Although the Longqing Emperor and he cannot coexist under the same sky, Xiao Yin merely rendered the Longqing Emperor speechless, still keeping him supported in the palace, without killing him with a single blade.

Now he understands that Xiao Yin intends to keep the Longqing Emperor alive to slowly torment him, which will bring relief.

Early the next morning, a sudden clatter of urgent hooves came from Chongwen Street.

The Jinwu Guard inside the palace, holding a notice inlaid with golden dragon patterns, rushed out from the palace gate.

Such notices were posted all over the street, and the surrounding crowds gathered around them.

Upon seeing it, a piece of news spread like wildfire, and everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.

The notice was jointly issued by the Ministry of Punishments, the Dali Temple, and the current Crown Prince.

It concerns the false case of the Azure Dragon Army in Qi Sha Gu being burned to death by Bei Di cavalry.

That battle originally caused a great uproar, because the Azure Dragon Army in Qi Sha Gu could not withstand the Bei Di incursion.

After the Bei Di cavalry captured Qi Sha Gu, they slaughtered the city to its south cleanly.

Within a thousand li, hardly a soul survived; after the atrocity, from the emperor down to the common folk, the Azure Dragon Army was condemned in speech and writing.

Now the people, seeing the notice posted on the wall, instantly understood the truth.

'What? It turns out the Eight Great Clans, to conceal their own seizure of civilian fields, deliberately poisoned the Azure Dragon Army's soldiers to fabricate a massacre of the city?'

'Truly wicked; the Eight Great Clans usually grind the people, and indeed they are no good birds.'

'Back then, our Prince Rui was a renowned hero; after the battle at Qi Sha Gu his vitality was greatly wounded, thereafter he ceased to concern himself with military affairs and became a good-for-nothing—turns out he hid such a shocking secret during that period.'

'Truly sinful; so many people have died!'

'They were all poisoned to death; these people colluded with foreign enemies and harmed their own troops—utterly devoid of conscience, they deserve severe punishment.'

'Yes, yes; I always thought Prince Rui was wise and martial—how could he possibly have suffered such a crushing defeat at Qi Sha Gu? Indeed, this truth is shocking.'

Amid the clamor of the surrounding populace discussing it, the officials of the Five City Military Command led a team to encircle the residences of the Eight Great Families.

The Eight Great Clans not only have their own territories and manors in various places.

In the capital they also built pavilions, terraces, towers, and luxurious mansions, enjoying the prosperity of Jing Cheng.

Although the onlookers' moods had changed greatly, nevertheless no one dared to join in such a lively scene.

Watching one detachment after another of troops rush to the gates of the Eight Great Clans' mansions, for a moment the sounds of clashing weapons, wailing cries, and objects falling to the ground echoed through the heavens.

Compared to the tumult of the Eight Great Clans, the Prince Rui's residence was very quiet.

These days Xiao Yin, to avoid suspicion, has already refused to see guests.

He and Gu Jiu Ling either admire snow or plum blossoms; amid this crisis-ridden situation, they actually lead a carefree and comfortable life.

Ling Feng, holding an urgent order, entered the bamboo grove behind the Prince Rui's residence; usually this grove is where Xiao Yin practices swordplay, but now it was billowing with thick smoke.

Amid the smoke there mingled a faint fragrance, and Ling Feng's steps involuntarily halted.

Ling Feng walked into the garden; at its center stood a bamboo hut, beneath which a earthen pit had been dug and lit, making the warmth inside the bamboo hut like spring.

Under the eaves of the bamboo hut lay a row of special iron racks forged by the blacksmith.

Ling Feng saw his own princess consort threading meat onto skewers, placing them on the rack, with many bottles and jars arrayed before her.

When his gaze shifted to his own prince's hand, his expression froze on the spot.

Yet he saw Xiao Yin using the Dragon Spring Sword to cut a piece of meat into small pieces, and then thread them onto skewers.

His eyes aren't playing tricks, the Prince actually used the Dragon Spring Sword for such a trivial matter.