Chapter 664: Are you willing for me to be emperor?

As Xiao Yin's words fell, Bai Xiaosheng's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Immediately, Bai Xiaosheng subconsciously shifted back a bit, raised his eyes to look at the towering Ninth Imperial Uncle before him, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Imperial Uncle. These past days, whenever I think of you fighting at the front in the palace, my heart feels as if it's being fried in oil, worrying about your safety."

Xiao Yin coldly laughed: "Heh, if you truly cared about my safety, why, when I was lacking water and grain outside Hengzhou City, were the rations that should have been distributed not delivered?"

"Or is the silver I previously gave you not enough?"

When Xiao Yin said this, his voice suddenly rose a few degrees, and the civil and military officials all around changed their faces in unison.

Now Emperor Longqing's imperial lineage is thin; several capable princes have died, and the rest are mere insignificant nobodies.

Now the only one who can inherit Emperor Longqing's legitimate line is the Crown Prince before us, who came from the common folk.

Who would have thought that the Crown Prince, whom Xiao Yin himself had helped rise, would now have such a deep rift with him?

Having just returned to Shang Jing, Xiao Yin hasn't even gone back to his own Rui Wangfu, and now he's going to strike at the Crown Prince?

They have already experienced Xiao Yin's thunderous methods; even if they sense a bloody storm about to rise, they still dare not say anything to him.

Although the court claims Emperor Longqing and Bai Xiaosheng are the legitimate line, it has in fact long become Prince Rui's pocket.

The surrounding pressure suddenly dropped a few degrees; everyone felt endangered, and no one dared to speak up.

Xiao Yin stared fixedly at the timid Bai Xiaosheng before him, and said word by word: "I am merely curious—when I led troops to Yingzhou to suppress the rebels, my greatest worry was the grain and fodder."

"If I remember correctly, before I left I filled your entire Hall of Nurturing Heart with silver."

"Let alone feeding one Azure Dragon Army; even ten would be enough."

"When I was fighting desperately outside Hengzhou City, where was the Crown Prince?"

Xiao Yin pressed forward aggressively; Bai Xiaosheng had been backed into a corner with nowhere to retreat, nearly kneeling before him.

He hurriedly bowed and said: "Actually, I was also deceived by a few villains earlier; I had already procured the grain, but who knew those corrupt insects would embezzle it."

"The rations were intercepted midway and turned into someone's private stash, not delivered in time to Imperial Uncle."

"But I have captured and killed those people; I'll send their heads to Rui Wangfu to let Imperial Uncle vent his anger—how about that?"

Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh; these were temporary scapegoats he'd found, and he suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Bai Xiaosheng's collar.

This move instantly shocked everyone; Bai Xiaosheng was almost lifted entirely off the ground by Xiao Yin.

He let out an involuntary scream, and only with great difficulty managed to steady his mind.

Just like a chick having its neck choked, that scream revealed his panicked inner state.

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered slightly, he was momentarily stunned, fixed his gaze on Bai Xiaosheng who had just barely regained composure, and then released his collar.

Bai Xiaosheng had just lost his composure in that instant—where was the bearing of a foreign crown prince?

Having been publicly humiliated by Xiao Yin, his face turned somewhat pale; he gritted his teeth and hurriedly stepped back.

"Imperial Uncle, mercy should be shown where possible; I have been meticulous in my rear‑side logistics as well."

"Just because of the grain issue, why must Imperial Uncle press so aggressively?"

Xiao Yin suddenly smiled: "Forget it, I was abrupt; please forgive me, Your Highness."

Having said that, Xiao Yin turned and strode down from the high platform; the officials around felt their hearts rise to their throats.

Just now they had once thought that Prince Rui might assassinate the sovereign and seize power before everyone's eyes.

Now upon looking, it seems he has stepped back a little, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, if the Crown Prince were really killed by Prince Rui, the whole court would likely plunge into another bloody storm—when the nest is overturned, no egg stays intact, and nobody's days would be easy.

The entry ceremony ultimately ended amid this little incident.

Xiao Yin took Gu Jiu Ling's hand and stepped into the carriage of Rui Wangfu.

As soon as he sat in the carriage, Gu Jiu Ling lowered the curtain and then stared fixedly at Xiao Yin.

"Your Highness, is something wrong?"

Xiao Yin furrowed his brows tightly, picked up a handkerchief, and gently wiped his long, slender, knuckle‑distinct fingers.

He felt as if he had just touched something dirty, filling him with extreme disgust.

Xiao Yin rubbed his fingers until they were red, then tossed the handkerchief aside and looked at Gu Jiu Ling: "Bai Xiaosheng, something's off."

Gu Jiu Ling blinked: "Naturally it's off; that kid clearly intends to kill you."

"His calculations are sound; if he helps the Eight Great Clans kill you, your head would be his token of allegiance to them."

"If he can use the Eight Great Clans to kill you, he too would profit; after all, as long as you live, he will forever live in your shadow, and anyone would seize this chance to get rid of you."

"Although this kid was somewhat sly in business before, that's forgivable; but to joke so wildly on a matter of state and family—this person cannot be allowed to stay."

Gu Jiu Ling said slowly: "I know, Your Highness, the moment to confront him publicly hasn't come yet; after all, the legitimate line of Southern Qi is Emperor Longqing."

"Actually, if you heed my words, Your Highness, fame and such don't matter; just be happy."

"It would be better to rebel right now; everyone with sense knows who caused the Qi Sha Gu massacre. Instead, use this ordinary injustice as an opportunity to force Emperor Longqing to issue a self‑blaming edict, compel him to abdicate in your favor—a natural course of events."

"Gu Jiu Ling…" Xiao Yin stared fixedly at the woman who had been giving him counsel.

He has made it this far; Gu Jiu Ling is his most formidable strategist by his side.

Her plan is entirely feasible, yet he still raised his head, gazed steadily at the woman, and said slowly: "Gu Jiu Ling, are you willing for me to become emperor?"

As soon as the question left his mouth, Gu Jiu Ling froze in place.

He looked at Xiao Yin, whose eyes burned intensely, as if truly awaiting a long‑awaited answer.

Gu Jiu Ling didn't know what to say for a moment.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin voiced everything he had been thinking.

"A woman as clever and lively as you, if I were to imprison you in the imperial palace for one year, two years, ten years, twenty years…"

"that endless court life would gradually wear away your spirit."

"If I were to become emperor, would you be willing to be my empress?"

Upon hearing the two words 'empress,' Gu Jiu Ling felt a sudden rise of resistance in her heart.

She understood that the word empress meant bearing too much responsibility.

Yes, Xiao Yin loves her as his own life, the Imperial Harem might leave only her, but Gu Jiu Ling really dare not gamble!

She and Xiao Yin's marital bond is deep, but can it withstand the vicissitudes of time? Can she withstand other newly risen clans?

As long as there is an Imperial Harem, it is a martial world, and Xiao Yin, being in it, must balance all sides' forces.

She might even vie for favor with many women.

【66> Upon thinking of the word vying for favor, Gu Jiu Ling feels disgust from the bottom of her heart.

Gu Jiu Ling felt a deep disgust whenever she thought of the word "competing for favor."