Chapter 677: Father Has Arrived

Here Gu Kang watched Princess Fuqing turn and walk away, a hint of meaning flashing in his eyes, and the attendant behind him followed, smiling, "Sir, the Empress asks you to go over there."

"Hmm!" Gu Kang replied, then asked lightly, "I hear Princess Fuqing has not yet chosen a Prince Consort?"

The attendant beside him was slightly stunned; Shangshu Gu never cared about the marriages of such youths, so why bring it up now?

He hurriedly laughed, "The Empress just issued an edict to select a Prince Consort for Her Highness the Princess; she is beautiful and talented, which lad could claim such luck?"

Gu Kang's lips curled into a faint smile; the topic did not continue.

Soon he and the attendant entered Fengyi Palace; Gu Jiu Ling was seated on the phoenix couch, chatting with Jiu Yue, when a court lady entered to report, "Madam, Gu Sir has arrived."

Gu Jiu Ling adjusted her expression and smiled, "Please let him in."

Gu Kang passed the twelve‑panel glass screen, entered, lifted his robe hem, and knelt before Gu Jiu Ling to salute.

"I, your servant, pay my respects to the Empress!"

Gu Jiu Ling felt somewhat uneasy; being knelt to every day seemed to shorten her life.

"You may stand and speak."

Earlier Gu Kang had sent a messenger with news that someone had business for her.

Gu Kang handles great affairs; ordinary chatter would not be brought to her.

"Please be seated!" Gu Jiu Ling said.

After thanking her, Gu Kang sat on a chair brought over by a palace maid, sitting properly there.

"What business do you have with me?" Gu Jiu Ling personally placed a tea cup before him.

This youngster is becoming harder to underestimate; the last time she slipped into Yingzhou City and pulled off such a scheme, the map Gu Kang gave her played a crucial role.

Either he wouldn't seek her, or he must have a matter of great magnitude, which made Gu Jiu Ling a little nervous.

Therefore she did not put on airs before him, and asked directly the purpose of his visit to Fengyi Palace.

Gu Kang looked left and right; Gu Jiu Ling gestured to Jiu Yue, who hurriedly led the palace maid out.

"What is it?" Gu Jiu Ling looked at Gu Kang.

Gu Jiu Ling knew the tricks Gu Kang kept in his hand, one after another; why was he so eager to see her—what had happened?

"Father has returned to the capital!"

Gu Kang stared steadily at Gu Jiu Ling, then added, "Now you are the Empress, I am the Prime Minister; Father is proclaiming everywhere that he is the current Duke, clamoring to enter the palace to see you."

"I know you dislike him; people have already locked him up in a manor on the outskirts, but since he is our father, how to deal with him cannot be decided by me alone."

Gu Jiu Ling did not expect Gu Kang to have locked Gu Shijie up, and silently gave him a thumbs‑up.

The kid truly is ruthless, even sparing not his own father.

But imprisoning him is definitely the most appropriate solution.

Gu Shijie was always a petty man; back then he favored a concubine, killed his wife, betrayed his father‑in‑law, and caused his mother's death.

He treated her and Gu Kang like monkeys, previously malignantly suppressing them; now he has tangled himself with both of them—ha, what a dream!

If Gu Shijie were not Gu Kang's father, he would probably have killed him long ago.

Leaving him a breath now is a huge mercy, and unexpectedly he intends to return to the capital.

These days she and Gu Kang have been wavering between life and death, and she forgot there was such a person.

Gu Kang stared steadily at Gu Jiu Ling: "Elder sister, give me a word, and I will act according to your wishes."

When Gu Kang speaks of Gu Shijie now, his heart is filled with disappointment.

Back then Gu Shijie, for his elder brother and third brother, tried to put his own son to death; he cared not for father‑son bonds, and now shouts that the daughter is Empress and the son is Prime Minister—truly disgusting.

"Elder sister, you also know that man; if he truly gains power, chaos will ensue."

"If I'm not mistaken, he must have a master behind him guiding him, just adding to your trouble."

"If I had no eyes in the capital, I would have detected Gu Shijie's movements early; he might already have reached the palace gates and beaten the peace drum."

"He would label us as disloyal and unfilial. I fear he could smear our reputation in ways we cannot foresee."

Gu Jiu Ling said slowly, "Take me to see him."

"Very well," Gu Kang said, and suddenly footsteps sounded from outside, then Jiu Yue and the others all knelt together in salute.

Xiao Yin, having finished affairs of the previous dynasty, arrived at Fengyi Palace and listened attentively to the siblings' words.

No one outside could dare block the mightiest emperor of Southern Qi.

Gu Jiu Ling was unguarded, quickly rose and, together with Gu Kang, saluted Xiao Yin; Xiao Yin seized her wrist and pressed her onto a chair, his expression slightly grim.

"Others may behave however before me, but what rules do you follow? How did you act in Prince Rui's Residence, and how now?"

Standing aside, Gu Kang watched the couple's affectionate demeanor, a hint of awkwardness crossing his face.

"Father‑in‑law has returned?" Xiao Yin placed the tea and sat beside Gu Jiu Ling, asking slowly.

Mentioning that cheap old man gave Gu Jiu Ling a throbbing headache.

Previously Gu Shijie had committed countless heinous acts, especially causing her mother's death, framing her, and nearly killing her and her brother as well.

Yet this man is the father of the siblings; they could not simply have him torn apart.

Now making her stand before Gu Shijie and pretend deep father‑daughter affection would be impossible.

Not to mention her, even Gu Kang feels very little affection for this father.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled at Xiao Yin, "I plan to go to the outskirts of the capital with my brother later, to see what he still intends to do."

"I'll go with you," Xiao Yin said, setting down the tea cup.

Gu Jiu Ling did not expect Xiao Yin also wanted to see Gu Shijie, and she was startled.

Xiao Yin rubbed her hair, smiled lightly, "Father‑in‑law has traveled thousands of miles to the capital; how could I not go to pay my respects personally?"

At dusk, the setting sun looked like blood; the three of them, without prior arrangement, quietly disguised themselves as ordinary young men and women.

Soon the three rode a carriage to the manor on the outskirts of the capital; Gu Jiu Ling was led by Xiao Yin into the carriage, and Gu Kang, riding behind on a horse, also dismounted slowly.

The leading guards stationed at the manor stepped forward toward Gu Kang.

They are the dark guards cultivated by Gu Kang; although they appear highly skilled in martial arts, ultimately their spirit has deficiencies, and they are also somewhat fragile.

The leader stepped forward, sharing the same vital nature as Gu Kang.

"Sir!"

Gu Keng stepped forward, looking at him, and said: "How is that man?"

A complex shade passed through the dark guard's eyes, even tinged with a hint of bitterness: "In reply to your words, that old gentleman always feels somewhat not quite normal."

Gu Kang was slightly dazed, then immediately took Gu Qiu Lin and Xiao Ying toward the main gate of the separate villa, and also ordered people to first prepare some of the ingredients he had brought; they would then dine at the table.

Gu Jiu Ling Shui Xian walked ahead; after only a few steps, she stopped in a nearby courtyard, from which a few hoarse voices drifted down from upstairs, along with some other pleasant sounds.

"How dare you meddle with me? Can you even eat? Who are you to be satisfied? I was originally alone, but my daughter is now the empress; even that former place would have to call me father-in-law. What are you? Quickly serve me. Otherwise I'll have my daughter bless you with happiness."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qiu Lin did not go in; his anger faded and he strode away without entering.