Chapter 66

At nightfall, Xiao Yin sat alone at the desk in the study; on the desk lay a letter stained with blotches of blood, and on it was a list of names.

Even after so many years, looking at the letter still reveals the shocking scene of that time.

The characters on the list are crooked and bloody, written by the list's owner after biting open his finger and using his own blood.

"Prince! Those who harmed us are the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, Consort Duan, Consort Cao, and the noble families behind them—Prince, avenge us!"

Xiao Yin stared fixedly at the names on the list; he had investigated the background of each name clearly, except for the one written last, whose blood‑smeared characters were illegible.

Xiao Yin's icy peach‑blossom eyes narrowed slowly; no matter who it was, whoever had orchestrated the Qi Sha Gu massacre, whoever had stabbed them in the back while they fought bloody battles against the Bei Di—

He, Xiao Yin, would let none of them off; they all must die!

"Prince, the Princess Consort has arrived!" Ling Feng reported, and Gu Jiu Ling entered carrying a food box.

Her body was still weak, and she needed Jiu Yue to support her as she walked.

However, her complexion looked decent; at least she could walk to see people.

Xiao Yin put away the things on the desk, rose to greet her personally, and helped Gu Jiu Ling steady herself.

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Jiu Yue hurriedly stepped out of the doorway and waited outside, where she met Ling Feng's gaze.

The two exchanged an awkward smile; Jiu Yue had only just accompanied the Princess Consort into the Rui Wangfu a few days ago, so she wasn't familiar with the household staff, but she had run into Ling Feng more often.

"Elder Brother Ling, are you on duty today?" Jiu Yue, ever warm and outgoing, took the initiative to greet him.

Ling Feng, somewhat reserved in nature, nodded slightly and said no more.

Jiu Yue didn't ask anything else; this youth was always aloof, and the maids in the courtyard said he was the Prince's confidant, with eyes that seemed to grow on his forehead.

His unpleasant personality wasted such a handsome appearance.

In the warm chamber, Xiao Yin helped Gu Jiu Ling sit on the bed and said, "If there's anything, just have a maid come and report it; there's no need for you to come in person."

Gu Jiu Ling took a few steps, panting from exhaustion; the epidemic had nearly killed her, but fortunately the fetus in her womb showed no abnormality, and she felt its vitality surprisingly strong! She didn't know which beast's genes could be so domineering!

Although she loathed the man in the palace who took advantage of her, she had gradually developed some affection for these two children.

She smiled at Xiao Yin and said, "I came today to express my gratitude; the Prince saved my life, and this thanks cannot be left to a maid."

Xiao Yin was startled, then sat beside her; he didn't know why, but her calm and steady demeanor suited his taste.

His gaze fell on Gu Jiu Ling's abdomen as he asked, "Is the child all right?"

"It's fine," Gu Jiu Ling said, pointing to the food box on the table, "I had the kitchen make some extra soup according to my own dietary recipe, thinking the Prince might need a late‑night snack, so I brought it over for you."

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow, opened the soup bowl in the box, and as soon as he lifted the lid a fragrant aroma wafted out.

Fried tofu and meatballs, fine crystal‑clear vermicelli, boiling broth with a bit of greens added—though the ingredients aren't complicated, it's delicious.

Xiao Yin then sat at the table, spoon in hand, eating while steaming heat curled around his handsome brows and eyes; Gu Jiu Ling leaned against the bedpost, secretly watching, and realized how truly good‑looking he was.

"Not bad; copy this recipe for me another day and have a maid bring it to me—I'll have the rear kitchen make a batch as well."

Gu Jiu Ling quickly laughed, "Prince, you're being too courteous; the Rui Wangfu has only the two of us—if you want to eat, just come to my place, saving you the trouble of lighting another stove."

Xiao Yin's chopsticks paused slightly, then he rose and walked to Gu Jiu Ling's front, slowly bending down to gaze intently at her.

Gu Jiu Ling's heart skipped; she instinctively tried to dodge, but couldn't escape as Xiao Yin lifted his arm to brace against the bedpost, enveloping her in his embrace.

He stared at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Consort, how's the search for the father of your child going?"

Gu Jiu Ling froze at once, feeling that his thoughts leapt too wildly, leaving her struggling to keep up.

"Um..." Gu Jiu Ling shifted uncomfortably, "I can't find him, I have no leads, it's so annoying."

"Prince, I actually have a favor to ask," Gu Jiu Ling said, her expression turning serious, "Could you help me look up a list of those who had the authority to enter the vacant rooms of the inner palace to rest during that banquet? Who might they be?"

"I imagine that those who could attend the palace banquet, get drunk or fall ill, and then sober up in an idle chamber of the inner palace would be few; most would be members of the imperial clan."

"If we exclude those, there's no one left—surely the palace eunuchs couldn't have gotten me pregnant?"

Xiao Yin raised his brow and chuckled lightly: "Who knows? Perhaps there's a fake eunuch."

Gu Jiu Ling was momentarily speechless, then gave an embarrassed laugh: "I... I didn't mean to imply anything about the Prince; please don't take it the wrong way."

Xiao Yin's peach‑blossom eyes glimmered with a hint of teasing as he slowly leaned in toward her face.

His tall stature loomed over her, casting a dark, heavy shadow as he pressed close.

Gu Jiu Ling's heart raced; Xiao Yin whispered, "Leave this matter to me—I'll have that person found within half a year."

"But..."

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly replied, "Any amount of money is fine!"

Xiao Yin collected himself, secretly amused at the thought that in her eyes he might be such a money‑grubbing miser.

He chuckled softly: "No money needed, but you'll have to give your life!"

"Once I find him I'll kill him—consider the fee paid. I'll acknowledge the child in your womb, but you must bear me two more!"

Gu Jiu Ling was simply……

"Treating her like a sow! Ten babies at once?"

She hastily rose, slipped from under Xiao Yin's arm, staggered to the door, and gave an embarrassed laugh: "I'll still give you compensation, Prince! Good night—I'm leaving!"

Xiao Yin straightened up and looked toward Gu Jiu Ling—she had already fled his warm chamber.

A flash of light broke the ice in his eyes, then his brows knotted tight as he wondered which bastard had gotten her pregnant, the more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.

Gu Jiu Ling returned to the Peach Blossom Pavilion, only to find a fine sheen of sweat on her back—she couldn't tell whether it was from her body still weak after the illness, making it hard to walk a few steps, or from being frightened by Xiao Yin.

"My lady, are you feeling unwell?" Jiu Yue saw her mistress staring blankly at the candlelight and couldn't help but startle.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at Jiu Yue and said, "Jiu Yue, if… I mean if you were a man, would you like a pregnant woman carrying a child?"

Jiu Yue blinked, wondering what the question was, then quickly replied, "If the feelings are lasting, I suppose one would come to like her."

"However… that pregnant woman must be a widow whose husband is dead; otherwise I wouldn't want to raise her child for free! Even if I did, her child couldn't have any ties to her former man."

"But I still prefer a pure, clean girl whose child would be mine—that would be best!"

Gu Jiu Ling's eye twitched as she pointed to the door: "Turn left when you go out! No need to see me off!"

Miss, you're so frank, does your mother know?