Chapter 623

Ling Feng was dazed when Gu Jiu Ling spotted his figure; she waved at him, signaling him to come over.

Ling Feng hurriedly quickened his pace toward Gu Jiu Ling, who grabbed a handful of meat skewers and shoved them into his hand, laughing, "Try some!"

At that moment, Ling Feng panicked, almost dropping the meat skewers Gu Jiu Ling had shoved into his hand—how could he dare eat the skewers grilled by his lord and lady?

He didn't have the nerve to let his lord and lady wait on him; moreover, thinking that these skewers had been sliced with the Prince's Dragon Spring Sword made his legs feel weak.

"I dare not!" Ling Feng hurriedly knelt down.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed, "What are you afraid of? It's just a grilled skewer. I'll later give some to Jiu Yue and Yun Duo to try—it's been days since we've had skewers, and I don't even know if my skill is still good. Hurry up, take it and eat."

Ling Feng timidly glanced at the Prince seated nearby; Xiao Yin laughed and scolded, "After following me for so long in training, you're still so petty! The Princess Consort gave this to you—hurry up and take it!"

"Yes!" Ling Feng then carefully took the skewer Gu Jiu Ling handed him, took a bite, and his eyes instantly lit up.

He also didn't know what method the Princess Consort used in cooking, what seasonings she added—there was always a peculiar fragrance.

Ling Feng still had duties; he dared not really stand there eating. He carefully wrapped up the skewer and handed it to the attendant behind him, wiped his hands, took out the secret letter, and delivered it into Xiao Yin's hands.

"Prince! Commander Zhou led people to ransack the eight great clans, but aside from some worthless trinkets and jewels, they found nothing of substantive value."

"Even the land deeds and documents had been moved, and there was nothing to gain in the outer courtyard's accounting office."

"The masters of the households aren't there; only some insignificant stewards and distant relatives were caught—no real masters, presumably they all fled."

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered slightly; beside him, Gu Jiu Ling also stopped what she was doing and looked toward him.

In fact, this was something they both had anticipated; since the previous Spring Sacrifice, the eight great clans had already drawn their swords against Xiao Yin, and having failed then, they must have already calculated an escape route.

Xiao Yin drew a breath and said, "Go tell Zhang Cheng to settle the accounts of the eight great clans' landholdings throughout Southern Qi."

"Also, issue several notices encouraging rural commoners to report the eight great clans' crime of seizing land, with heavy rewards."

"Distribute all the land seized by the eight great clans to the landless locals, free the serfs who had become their dependents and grant them land, so the people may live in peace and prosperity, lightening taxes and allowing the populace to rest."

With each point Xiao Yin made, Gu Jiu Ling's admiration grew a little.

Actually, Xiao Yin is the true exemplar of a wise ruler!

Compared to Xiao Yin, that trinket in the palace is at best a sneaky rat unfit for the table.

However, Xiao Yin's move left the eight great clans nowhere to hide; she drew a breath and had to interject, "Your Highness, I…"

Xiao Yin looked at her and smiled, "Say whatever you have to say; between us there's no need for restraint."

Gu Jiu Ling said, "Your Highness, although I am not at court and don't understand its twists and turns, I have also heard that the eight great clans each maintain their own private troops."

"With this move of yours, Your Highness, they're likely as hated as street‑rats, everyone shouting to beat them; I just fear they'll be cornered and rebel."

Xiao Yin nodded, his peach‑blossom eyes slowly narrowing as he coldly smiled, "I'd actually welcome them rebelling."

His thumb slowly traced the edge of the Dragon Spring Sword, which still had some meat flecks on it.

He lightly flicked the blade, producing a humming sound, then lowered his head and smiled faintly, "You'd better not disappoint me too much."

Within a few days, the news of settling accounts with the eight great clans spread instantly throughout Southern Qi; the long‑delayed Land Clarification Order, postponed for nine whole years, was issued once more from the Council of State and spread across the realm.

For a moment, the rural villages were utterly gratified—these years the eight great clans had been bleeding the people dry, already arousing universal anger, and public outrage ran high.

Now that the Land Clarification Order has just been issued, everyone wants to step on the eight great clans, and reporters stream in endlessly from every local government office.

The members of the eight great clans were like street‑rats—wherever they went, their whereabouts were exposed; in no time, some were arrested, some were killed.

The clans that once dominated Southern Qi now have dwindling populations, teetering on the brink.

Xiao Yin's crackdown this time was extremely severe; Gu Kang also added fuel to the fire.

From top to bottom, the eight great clans were nearly wiped out.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling sat in the warm pavilion, imitating Jiu Yue's manner as she made tiger‑head shoes for her babies.

She knew the harsh winter was about to pass, and the day she would reunite with her two children was approaching.

As long as the eight great clans are overthrown, no one in Shang Jing will be able to oppose Xiao Yin; then she will bring the children back from the island.

Gu Jiu Ling had just finished embroidering a rough outline of the little tiger on the shoe when Yun Duo hurried in.

"My lady, Second Master has arrived."

Although the Gu family has already collapsed, the maidservants who came from the Gu Minister's residence still call Gu Kang "Second Master," following the old way of addressing their former lord.

Gu Jiu Ling set down the shoe pattern she was holding and saw her brother already standing at the doorway.

Jiu Yue hurried forward to lift the curtain, bowing to Gu Kang: "Second Master, may you be blessed and safe; it's been some days since you last came to see the master."

Gu Kang nodded, his usually stern expression finally softening a little; he picked up the oil‑paper bundle in his hand and stepped inside.

He placed the bundle before Gu Jiu Ling; steam still rose from its wrapping, and from afar a sweet fragrance could be smelled.

Gu Kang lifted his robe's hem, sat beside Gu Jiu Ling, and smiled faintly: "Just now I passed a pastry stall, saw freshly made lotus‑leaf cakes, and bought some to bring for my elder sister to try."

Gu Jiu Ling tore open the package, revealing the crispy fried lotus‑leaf cakes; she broke off a piece and handed it to Gu Kang, then began eating another piece herself.

Gu Jiu Ling has always loved sweets, and Gu Kang buys her favorite sweet cakes whenever he comes here.

The siblings shared the hot oil tea, and ended up eating quite a lot of the cakes.

Jiu Yue led the little maidservants from the warm pavilion out.

Now that Second Master is the Prime Minister, busy as he is, he still made time to come see his master; he surely has much to say.

Gu Kang lifted his teacup, took a few sips to cut the grease, then looked at his elder sister: "Where has your husband gone?"

Gu Jiu Ling raised her hand, forming a knife‑hand gesture, wiped her throat, and said, "He's gone to investigate the eight great clans—after all, there are many evildoers, and we need to kill a batch."

Gu Kang drew a breath and said slowly, "I fear your husband will be setting out on campaign in a few days."

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze to Gu Kang: "What do you mean?"

Gu Kang reached into his bosom, pulled out a bamboo tube, and pushed it toward Gu Jiu Ling: "The information I've gathered is that the eight great clans have rebelled in Yingzhou."