Chapter 67

For several days in a row, Xiao Yin kept coming over to Gu Jiu Ling's place to mooch meals; Gu Jiu Ling, grateful for his life-saving favor last time, prepared various broth-heavy dishes in different ways, but Xiao Yin's favorite was still hot pot.

Seeing that both of them had gained quite a bit of weight, Xiao Yin had just finished eating and was about to recline on Gu Jiu Ling's bed for a moment to look at her storybook when Ling Feng entered the courtyard of the Peach Blossom Pavilion, standing at the gate to report: "Prince! The palace's Eunuch Wang has come; please, Prince, go to the palace."

Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin both stared for a moment; the chief eunuch Wang, a trusted attendant of Emperor Longqing, had actually come personally to summon Xiao Yin into the palace—what had happened?

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered; he slowly rose to return to the East Court to change clothes. As he reached the door, he steadied himself and looked at Gu Jiu Ling: "I have moved all your dowry to the villa in the suburbs. If anything happens to me, take people and go to that villa—someone will naturally protect you."

"Otherwise, go find Master Nianyuan—that old monk is still relatively reliable!"

Gu Jiu Ling's heart skipped a beat; Xiao Yin had always been an idle prince—others worked set hours, he worked only when he felt like it, and Emperor Longqing was glad he stayed that idle.

It was as if the Southern Qi treasury fed him snacks like a worthless pet; he achieved nothing in court, and the only memorial he ever submitted was the one Gu Jiu Ling mentioned about the Official Ditch being blocked, fearing floods would kill people.

As a result, no one paid him any heed, and later something still happened.

This time, out of the blue, an imperial summon to the palace came—Gu Jiu Ling's heart leapt into her throat, she was nervous and anxious.

"Prince! Please wait!" Gu Jiu Ling walked up to Xiao Yin, pulled two small needles of anesthetic from her bosom, and pressed them into his hand.

"Use them if necessary! No matter who, one jab and they won't be able to move!"

"Prince, stab them to death!"

Xiao Yin raised his eyebrows, looking at the two thumb‑size slender tubes in his palm; a flicker of warmth crossed his eyes, he put them away, raised his hand to ruffle Gu Jiu Ling's hair, then turned and walked out.

Gu Jiu Ling felt wistful; the prince was perfect in every way—if only he'd stop the habit of rubbing people's heads.

After Xiao Yin left, Gu Jiu Ling couldn't calm her heart; lying on the bed, she counted on her fingers, wondering what Xiao Yin had recently done to attract the emperor's attention.

Could it be that the emperor had seen through that scoundrel's rebellious thoughts?

Gu Jiu Ling's heart jumped; unable to stay lying down, she got up, sat at the desk by the window to practice calligraphy, when Jiu Yue hurried in.

"My lady! The imperial edict has arrived!"

Gu Jiu Ling's pen dropped from her hand onto the desk; she hurriedly rose and walked toward the front courtyard.

Along the way she ordered servants to set up an incense table, and brought everyone from the Rui Wangfu, young and old, to kneel in unison.

The one delivering the edict was the chief eunuch Wang; his well‑maintained pale face showed no thought, he merely smiled and unfolded the edict.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"

"Princess Consort of Rui, Lady Gu, during this epidemic did good deeds and gave generously, gathered medicinal herbs, presented effective prescriptions, kept the people healthy and the Southern Qi realm stable—great merit; she is granted a second‑rank imperial decree, awarded ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of silver, and additionally one hundred bolts of Shu brocade tribute silk—so ordered!"

Gu Jiu Ling's face instantly lit up with joy; whether it was an imperial decree or not didn't matter—the key was the generous silver reward, and she was nearly moved to tears.

She felt Emperor Longqing's stature in her eyes had risen considerably; otherwise she ought to advise her own prince not to rebel, for it would be better if everyone bore the surname Xiao, since one stroke of the brush couldn't write two Xiao characters.

Fighting and killing harm physical and mental health and are detrimental to world peace!

She hurriedly led everyone to kowtow northward in thanks, then rose and carefully received the edict from the chief eunuch Wang's hands.

Wang Gonggong waved his hand; the eunuchs behind him carried the emperor's gifts into the Zheng Ting of the Rui Wangfu.

Gu Jiu Ling gave Jiu Yue a look; Jiu Yue hurriedly handed a money pouch to the chief eunuch Wang, who weighed it, found it heavy, grinning slipped it into his sleeve, and became a bit more talkative.

"Congratulations, Princess Consort!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Chief Eunuch Wang—thank you, thank you—I don't know about my lord the prince..." Gu Jiu Ling quickly asked with a smile.

The chief eunuch Wang shoved the money pouch in his sleeve and said: "The prince is now the commander of the Imperial Guard; the emperor has left him here to speak!"

Gu Jiu Ling stood there, stunned: Xiao Yin had become commander of the Imperial Guard?

Nowadays the Southern Qi Imperial Guard is nowhere near as formidable as the former Divine Martial; it consists mostly of official and wealthy heirs in the capital, either relying on ancestral privileges or whose fathers donated money to the court just to hold a nominal post in the Guard.

These people drift into the Imperial Guard to eat and drink, draw a little stipend, and are rarely sent to the frontiers—border areas have their own troops; the Imperial Guard merely assists the Five City Military Command in catching thieves and handling minor affairs in the capital.

Even so, such a motley crew is still an army, and the emperor actually appointing Xiao Yin to command the Imperial Guard counts as beginning to employ him.

The chief eunuch Wang smiled at her and said: "We still need to return to report to the emperor; I'll take my leave now."

"Take care!" Gu Jiu Ling laughed as she saw the chief eunuch Wang out of the manor.

The entire Rui Wangfu was filled with joy; the prince had finally taken office—after seven years, he no longer needed to be looked down upon.

Gu Jiu Ling, however, sat on the bed in the warm pavilion, and even the silver in her hands felt less fragrant.

Xiao Yin had actually joined the Imperial Guard; this was probably only the beginning.

The path of rebellion grows more perilous the further one goes; a slight misstep means eternal ruin—must she really accompany him to the end of that road?

Gu Jiu Ling hesitated a little; not until lamp‑light time did Xiao Yin return to the manor, and he did not come to the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

Gu Jiu Ling indeed had something on her mind; she led people out with lanterns toward the East Court, but as soon as she passed the covered corridor, her steps stopped there.

Outside the East Court study at that moment a group approached, led by the Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng, followed by about a dozen aides, who strode into Xiao Yin's study.

Gu Jiu Ling suddenly understood; no wonder Xiao Yin could so quickly become commander of the Imperial Guard—he was likely relying on the Sixth Prince's influence.

The Sixth Prince enjoys high prestige among the civil officials, and with the Cao Clan's wealth, money can sometimes move mountains!

This time Xiao Yin was probably pushed up by Xiao Zheng!

It seems the contest between the Sixth Prince and the Third Prince has begun; Xiao Yin has become a pawn in the Sixth Prince's hand, yet who is the pawn and who holds the piece remains uncertain.

Jiu Yue, standing behind, also looked dazed; the Rui Wangfu had always been quiet, but lately it had become lively, and she was still unaccustomed to it.

"Let's go back!" Gu Jiu Ling took Jiu Yue and returned to the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

"Jiu Yue, tomorrow have Li Qiao'er bring people over to deposit the emperor's awarded silver into the money house."

"Yes!" Jiu Yue replied hastily.

Gu Jiu Ling focused on the ledgers on the table, thinking to herself that the people she could rely on were truly too few; she still needed to recruit more trusted aides.

In fact, she did not really want to bind herself completely to Xiao Yin.

After all, in this world it's better to rely on oneself than on others!