Chapter 696

Mr. Wen's face sank heavily, he stared fixedly at the young man kneeling before him; after a long while he sighed, bent down, and helped him up from the icy ground.

Gu Kang this time was somewhat at a loss, Xin Tou Bu Zhi Dao Shuo Shénme well.

Mr. Wen took a breath and said, "Back then, if your elder sister hadn't married Xiao Yin, I wouldn't have chosen you."

Gu Kang's body trembled slightly, then he gave a bitter smile: "Yeah, back when she first showed her talent and became renowned in Shang Jing, I was nothing but a worthless snack."

"But if your elder sister hadn't chosen Xiao Yin back then, she probably wouldn't even have a whole corpse left; the Lin mother and daughter, along with my wolf-like brothers, wouldn't let her off."

"You're wrong," Mr. Wen said slowly, "Even if she had chosen Xiao Yin, it wouldn't matter, but she shouldn't have developed feelings for the Xiao family."

Gu Kang lifted his eyes to look at Mr. Wen sitting on the bed, and actually didn't know what to say.

Just because his elder sister fell for someone from the Xiao royal family, he became the most suitable one?

Mr. Wen said, "You also have to thank your elder sister back then for using Li Ruoxi to give you a potent drug, which pulled you back onto the right path in life; from then on you were no longer a waste, you became the youngest Prime Minister of Southern Qi! Renowned under heaven!"

Gu Kang's expression flickered with surprise, then he gave a wry smile: "Actually, sometimes living freely isn't so bad."

"Hehe!" Mr. Wen snorted coldly, "Freely? You used to live in the dust, anyone could pinch you to death—what use is your freedom?"

"You were born a kun-peng, destined to soar above the nine heavens—who could look down on you even a little?"

"Now, step by step you've come this far; even someone like Xiao Yin would have to value you seventy percent."

"I know you don't want to be enemies with your elder sister and brother-in-law, but this is originally your destiny—can you break free?"

At that moment Gu Kang's body hunched a little; he knew he had no choice, having come this far step by step, he could not even be a playboy.

Gu Kang had tasted the flavor of power over others; being cast back into the mire was not his wish.

"Xiao Yin isn't that easy to deal with!"

Mr. Wen smiled lightly: "Man proposes, heaven disposes—just a few months ago you also said the eight great clans were hard to eradicate, yet weren't they burned to ashes by your single fire?"

He closed his eyes, then opened his murky, aged eyes; his gaze already carried a hint of killing intent.

"Now that you've become a prince consort, that's fine too—it lets you temporarily avoid the spotlight; you're smart, so just stay well in the princess's residence."

Gu Kang furrowed his brows, looked at Mr. Wen, and said, "Disciple still has one matter to ask for your permission."

Mr. Wen's brows rose slightly; Gu Kang boldly said, "Fuk Qing is utterly innocent; please don't harm her. Although she also bears the Xiao surname, she has no connection whatsoever to the former dynasty's grudges."

Mr. Wen chuckled lightly: "Blood ties are entanglements; remember a bit—don't be like your elder sister, deeply emotionally attached to the Xiao family, or I will intervene."

Mr. Wen then slowly closed his eyes, seeming tired, and said in a low voice, "Master is tired; you may withdraw."

Gu Kang moved his lips, turned and walked toward the door; just as he was about to push it open, he heard Mr. Wen's low voice from behind.

"Don't let her bear your child; remember this—blood ties are also bonds, and it's for her own good."

Gu Kang's body stiffened, he opened the door and went out.

One month later, Gu Jiu Ling summoned Princess Fuk Qing in the Fengyi Palace; the girl before her had put aside her maiden shyness, gaining a few degrees of the maturity and steadiness of a newlywed wife, and she also breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Xiao Yin had said that Gu Kang wasn't the type willing to give up power, so she had her ask indirectly about Gu Kang's recent situation.

Although the couple could sometimes be petty, they had not sunk so low as to plant an inside spy in Princess Fuk Qing's residence.

Xiao Yin might have wanted to, but Gu Jiu Ling felt Princess Fuk Qing was a rare clear stream in the filthy former imperial palace, and she couldn't bear to defile this friendship.

"'What has that Gu Kang boy been busy with in the princess's residence lately? Hasn't he done anything wrong to you?' Gu Jiu Ling asked with a smile, 'He used to be unruly; now that he's not in court, he's probably idle and started playing around again.'"

"'Replying to Your Highness, he's fine, his work is steady,' Fuk Qing hurriedly said, 'Usually he accompanies me in drawing and practicing calligraphy; Mr. Wen gave me a copybook he personally compiled, which I really like.'"

Then he goes to the library to find some ancient texts, or to the Hanlin Academy to collate articles with those editors; Mr. Wen wants to compile a comprehensive work covering literature, history, and craftsmanship—this is the old man's wish, and the prince consort has been busy with it.

Gu Jiu Ling was taken aback—could that boy really settle down to compile a book?

She had actually underestimated Gu Kang's character; Fuk Qing isn't someone who casually lies, and from her eager protective gaze one could see this young couple's relationship is quite good.

Thinking of this, Gu Jiu Ling's mind again recalled Li Ruoxi's cold, beautiful face; back then Gu Kang had lived and died for that woman, yet now he could also fall for someone else.

This love, if called precious, is precious; if called cheap, it is cheap.

Having received the news, she soon prepared to tell Xiao Yin.

Gu Jiu Ling then looked at Fuk Qing and smiled, "That's fine too; if he can keep you company more, it's also your blessing. In a few days there might be good news; I have some medicinal food recipes to send you, for fertility—take a look yourself."

Fuk Qing's cheeks instantly flushed slightly, she looked embarrassed, yet she still pursed her lips, smiled, and took it, holding it firmly.

Gu Jiu Ling did not give her the medicinal food, after all it involves offspring and is an internal royal matter; it's better to be cautious.

Hand over the recipe to her, and let her verify it herself.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at Princess Fuk Qing and smiled, "When you give birth to a qilin child, he can also keep company with my little ones; the Gu clan's population is declining, and the children also need a playmate."

Gu Jiu Ling's words could not be clearer; in the future her child can enter the palace to grow up alongside the princes and princesses—this favor is not something ordinary great clans can possess.

When her child enters the palace as a reading companion to the prince, thereafter, with each emperor and his ministers, the child's future will also be secured.

Fuk Qing hastily rose, performed the bow, gave thanks, then smiled and asked, "I don't know when the young masters will return."

"'My husband and I have prepared many small gifts; my husband even found a wandering performer skilled in illusionary arts, ready to present them to the young masters when they return, for some amusement in the palace.'"

Mentioning her own two children, Gu Jiu Ling's eyes also held a smile.

Xiao Yin's confidant had already sent word; the people he dispatched and those brought by Yun Duo have met up, and in seven days they will reach Yunzhou City.

Upon reaching Yunzhou City, it's only three days' journey to Shang Jing; Gu Jiu Ling has no patience to wait, so tomorrow she will set out personally to Yunzhou to meet, and after seeing her child they will return to the capital together.

To keep it secret, neither Gu Jiu Ling nor Xiao Yin spoke of it; they even sent others to create confusion.

Although Xiao Yin has become emperor, one must still guard against people.