Chapter 654: with translation of chapter title

A peaceful night finally fell upon Yingzhou City again.

Although it was already lamp‑lighting time, the streets were still bustling with people—those collecting corpses, those washing the streets, silently piecing together the destroyed Yingzhou City bit by bit.

The master of the city's government office had long since been replaced by Prince Rui, and the surrounding defenses were all the Prince Rui's Azure Dragon Army's personal guards.

Three layers inside and three layers outside, impervious to wind, not a drop could leak.

The victory banquet was being held tonight; the Azure Dragon Army had finally swept away the eight great clans, avenging the sworn brothers who perished in Qi Sha Gu nine years ago.

Everyone was excited, having drunk plenty, yet even the outer perimeter's security remained tight as ever, showing the strict discipline of the Azure Dragon Army.

Gu Jiu Ling, after a tumble through the underground passage, had sustained some injuries; she merely accompanied Xiao Yin in a toast, then withdrew to the inner courtyard, letting the officers in the front yard carouse on their own.

She slowly walked to the guest courtyard; before she even stepped inside, fierce voices came from within, and several people sounded quite agitated.

"Uncle Zhang, do you really not know that over these days, the brat who's been joking around beside you… that young master is actually the Princess Consort of Rui?"

"How? How could it possibly be the Princess Consort of Rui?"

"Otherwise, why would the two of us be here?" Li Gongzi's voice was the most agitated, even cracking a bit.

"You two need not argue; those days the Princess Consort indeed faced many inconveniences and concealed her identity from you."

"Now the Princess Consort has ordered me to set up a banquet in the guest courtyard to entertain you all."

After all, you two have also expended considerable effort for the Princess Consort; meeting is fate—soon the Princess Consort will come to see you, and tomorrow morning I will send people to send you home; but this matter has some things that cannot be said, and you both know that.

Zuo Feichen's voice was gentle and refined, yet his words carried a sharp edge, making him not to be underestimated.

Gu Jiu Ling's steps paused for a moment, then she walked into the courtyard.

The serving maids and matrons, seeing the Princess Consort approach, all bowed in salute.

Gu Jiu Ling waved at them and strode into the inner hall.

Just as she entered, she saw a table set in the main hall, laden with delicious dishes.

The reason these few were not invited to the front is that the front was full of Azure Dragon Army soldiers; we move in different circles, and mixing would inevitably be awkward.

However, judging from the dishes on the table and the company seated, the standard was not low either; Gu Jiu Ling herself came to keep them company.

Earlier, the grain merchant Zhang Lao Ye from Yanan Pass, and Li Gongzi who had fled together with Gu Jiu Ling, heard footsteps at the door, hastily put down their chopsticks, turned their faces, and looked over.

They did not expect to see a tall, stunningly beautiful woman in splendid attire walking slowly in.

Li Gongzi's chopsticks, clenched in his hand, clattered to the floor with a 'bah‑da' sound.

Zhang Lao Ye, Li Gongzi, and Zuo Feichen, who was standing nearby, all rose to their feet in unison.

Zuo Feichen stepped forward, clasped his hands in salute to Gu Jiu Ling, and said, "May the Princess Consort enjoy ten thousand blessings."

Li Gongzi and Zhang Lao Ye beside him were already stunned into silence.

Initially, Gu Jiu Ling, disguised as a man and mingling with them, in both appearance and speech, resembled a ruffian troublemaker from the marketplace.

Who would have thought this person was actually the noble Princess Consort of Rui; they were momentarily speechless.

Still, Li Gongzi was the first to come to his senses, tugged at Zhang Lao Ye's sleeve, stepped forward, and was about to kneel before Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling raised her hand to steady them, then laughed loudly: "You two need not stand on ceremony; I have troubled you all along this journey, dragging you into fear and anxiety—my fault. Come, let me offer you a cup as compensation."

"I dare not, I dare not…" Zhang Lao Ye hastily held up Gu Jiu Ling's wine cup with utmost respect.

How could he dare let the exalted Princess Consort give a commoner like him a toast?

Gu Jiu Ling smiled: "This is what you deserve, Master Zhang; from now on, the trade routes of Yanan Pass and this Yingzhou region will be placed under your charge."

Zhang Lao Ye's eyes instantly lit up.

After this turmoil, the Zhang family had lost considerable silver, yet they never expected to gain these two trade routes—a steady stream of silver.

Gu Jiu Ling then turned to Li Gongzi: "You are young and talented, but lingering in this Longxi region is not quite suitable for you."

"I see you as a capable person, Li Gongzi; I have some maritime trade routes under my name that are not yet opened—would you undertake a survey for me?"

Li Gongzi, overwhelmed with surprise, stood there dazed.

This is a maritime trade route to be opened in cooperation with the Princess Consort, bringing overseas treasures to the Central Plains and transporting Central Plains silks and porcelain abroad—nothing short of immense wealth.

He felt as if a heavenly gold ingot had struck him, dazed; it took a while before he reacted, thudding to his knees before Gu Jiu Ling and kowtowing three times, whereupon Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly helped him up.

Zhang Lao Ye also repeatedly gave thanks, never expecting the Princess Consort, so young, to possess such breadth of mind and wisdom.

Her arrangements are also steady and sound—he, being older, will guard the nearby land routes, while Li Gongzi, being young, is just right to develop the sea lanes, thus clearly assigning them both.

He was overwhelmed with gratitude, not knowing what to say.

Gu Jiu Ling invited the two to sit; then footsteps sounded at the door, and the Southern Qi Prime Minister, Gu Kang, slowly entered.

Everyone rose again, and Gu Kang first clasped his hands in salute to Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled: "We are family, no need for formalities—please sit. This time, too, I owe much to you for being able to exterminate the eight great clans."

Gu Jiu Ling, smiling, poured a cup of wine for Gu Kang.

Gu Kang's mood was also somewhat elevated; he appeared to be in good spirits.

Mr. Wen said the eight great clans were a malignant tumor of Southern Qi; this time we have finally excised that tumor root and branch.

He had initially provided the underground city defense map of Yingzhou to his elder sister, intending to conspire with his older sister to set this trap, uproot the eight great clans completely; now Mr. Wen can rest easy.

"It is really the elder sister's ingenuity and hard work—thank you, thank you."

Several people drank and chatted, the atmosphere lively.

Unexpectedly, Ling Feng strode in quickly, leaned to Gu Jiu Ling's ear and whispered a few words; Gu Jiu Ling promptly rose, instructed Gu Kang to attend to the guests well, and then took her leave.

She left this guest courtyard and walked toward the garden behind the government office.

In the garden stood a few plum trees and a grove of bamboo; the spring plum blossoms had passed, leaving the ground littered with faded red petals, lending a somewhat desolate air.

Behind Gu Jiu Ling rose the excited, clamorous voices of the Azure Dragon Army soldiers—the release of their long‑suppressed feelings.

Yet ahead in this garden, everywhere exuded a death‑like desolation.

Gu Jiu Ling walked forward a few steps, recalling Ling Feng's earlier words: the Prince had gone drunk to the rear garden alone, and had not allowed anyone to follow.

Ling Feng knew that, at this point, only the Princess Consort could possibly console the Prince.