Chapter 75: Nameless Jealousy

In the front courtyard, Gu Jiu Ling just stepped into Zheng Ting and saw Tuo Ba Yu sitting on the guest seat drinking tea, with the butler standing beside him.

Two of Tuo Ba Yu's attendants, holding a box, stood outside the hall waiting, and Gu Jiu Ling steadied herself and walked toward Tuo Ba Yu.

"Your Highness!" Gu Jiu Ling and Tuo Ba Yu exchanged bows.

Tuo Ba Yu hurriedly rose, respectfully returned the salute, and as he lifted his eyes to look at Gu Jiu Ling, his gaze carried a hint of inquiry and concern.

The Princess Consort of Rui's daring fight against two big tigers at the Third Prince's residence has already spread throughout Shang Jing, and now people speak of her as if she were a deity.

He, however, heard it with dread; as the second prince of Bei Di, his status was special, and princes of Southern Qi generally refused to deal with him.

Therefore most banquets in Jing Cheng would not invite him, and he enjoyed the quiet; after all, he had been harshly tempered by these people since childhood, and he truly feared that one day he might be unable to bear it and kill those beasts.

That day he did not attend the Third Prince's banquet, but merely hearing his attendants talk about it made his heart race with dread.

He could no longer bear it, caring not about propriety, he brought a gift and headed to Rui Wang Fu.

Tuo Ba Yu looked at Gu Jiu Ling's complexion; aside from a slight pallor, there was no other serious issue, and he instantly felt relieved, and to Gu Jiu Ling he bowed and replied: "I am especially grateful for the Princess Consort's life‑saving favor earlier; I have never had a chance to pay respects to the Princess Consort, so today I specially came to visit."

Gu Jiu Ling quickly smiled, offered a seat, and ordered someone to serve tea.

Original posting URL htt

After all, the last time during the scheme at Wolong Mountain, the mask that Tuo Ba Yu had painstakingly crafted for her was a great help.

This time, although she felt Tuo Ba Yu's visit was somewhat abrupt, she still could not refuse to receive him.

Tuo Ba Yu focused his gaze on Gu Jiu Ling and smiled: "I heard the Princess Consort was in danger yesterday at the beast garden of the Third Prince's residence; rumors outside described it as extremely perilous, so I came specially today to take a look."

Gu Jiu Ling was startled, and a few warm feelings rose in her heart.

She had traveled to this era, encountering many vexing matters and few chances of kindness; this time, however, she felt a budding fondness for the refined and elegant young man before her.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. I'm fine, thank you!"

Tuo Ba Yu exhaled, ordered the attendant standing outside to bring in the gift box; when opened, it was filled with a box of costly old ginseng.

"These are offered as a token of respect; Princess Consort, please take them to restore your health," Tuo Ba Yu lifted his eyes, smiling at Gu Jiu Ling, his smile now tinged with tenderness.

Gu Jiu Ling was about to speak when a dark silhouette suddenly entered, and she was instantly taken aback.

She saw Xiao Yin's expression turn extremely grim, and his steps became somewhat restless.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at his demeanor and was instantly startled; wasn't he supposed to go out?

Moreover, Xiao Yin had been unusually busy these days; why hadn't he left today? He had even come straight into Zheng Ting.

The expression on his face seemed to imply something—how did it feel as if he were about to catch someone in the act right then?

The problem was that she also didn't know Tuo Ba Yu was coming; she was openly having the butler accompany and receive an outside male, yet his face was inexplicably twisted.

Upon seeing Xiao Yin, Tuo Ba Yu was slightly startled, rose, and bowed to Xiao Yin with a clasped‑fist salute.

"Prince, are you well!"

"Hmm!" Xiao Yin replied blandly, collapsing onto the chair next to Gu Jiu Ling's seat; even that collapse radiated a touch of regal dominance.

Gu Jiu Ling's eyebrows twitched slightly; what kind of madness was this now?

He seemed to think that someone bringing gifts to visit her, the patient, was as if he wanted to eat Tuo Ba Yu, and he never considered that Tuo Ba Yu, that child, is so frail he can be blown over by a mild breeze.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled at Xiao Yin: "Prince, aren't you supposed to go out today?"

"I had matters before, now I have none, I'm bored to death!" Xiao Yin twisted his neck, his joints cracking, like a lion king patrolling his domain, his body tinged with a chill frost.

Even Gu Jiu Ling felt a cold shiver, yet Tuo Ba Yu remained motionless, still smiling at Gu Jiu Ling: "Princess Consort fell ill a few days ago, and was startled again yesterday; I brought some calming, sleep‑fixing incense cups for the Princess Consort, please try them."

Gu Jiu Ling had not spoken when Xiao Yin let out a cold snort.

"Yo! You've investigated the matter so clearly! You even know whether my woman can sleep at night?"

Gu Jiu Ling's complexion changed; this fellow must be ill.

How can an ordinary matter become so indecent when it comes out of his mouth?

She forced a strained smile, inhaled and said: "Prince, you're joking; the Prince Consort is also well‑intentioned."

"Ha ha!" Xiao Yin gave a dry laugh a few times, leaning back against the chair back.

Gu Jiu Ling clenched her teeth; in front of the guests it was improper to argue with him, and she thought this person still had such a childish side.

But with his so sarcastic, back‑and‑forth tone, he seemed to think Gu Jiu Ling was what kind of person?

She, a pure and upright woman, being regarded that way by him in front of the guests, instantly grew angry, puffed up her cheeks and fell silent.

Tuo Ba Yu's eyes flickered slightly, he slowly rose, bowed to Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin with a clasped‑fist salute, and said with a smile: "Prince Rui, Princess Consort of Rui, I have other matters, I must take my leave."

"The Princess Consort and I share a life‑saving debt; Prince, you need not overthink!"

He smiled brightly and added a sentence; Xiao Yin's eyes flickered slightly, his cold peach‑blossom gaze fixed on Tuo Ba Yu for a long while, then said: "Prince Consort, when you come to see my Princess Consort in the future, you need not come personally; just inform me."

"I am not dead yet! She is not a widow! There is a man between us!"

"Prince!" Gu Jiu Ling stood up.

Xiao Yin's eyebrows furrowed even further; for this frail sickly one, a pretty face, embroidered pillow, cracked porcelain jar, she got angry with him?

She is not even his Princess Consort; is she truly hoping for his death so she can remarry?

Enraged, Xiao Yin imagined countless palace intrigue dramas in his mind, growing angrier the more he thought.

Tuo Ba Yu, seeing the situation about to be ruined here, quickly smiled, turned and left with his attendants.

Gu Jiu Ling turned, stared intently at Xiao Yin: "Prince, have you taken the wrong medicine today?"

"What's that, after I married you I can't even say a word to another man?"

"Wasn't the original rescue of Tuo Ba Yu actually to save you? If, Prince, you are narrow‑minded, then simply expel every male butler, male guard, male errand boy in this courtyard, the little male dog you keep, the male sparrows on your eaves, all of them! And also the male ants at the doorway of your study—douse them with boiling water and consider them dead!"

"Gu—Jiu—Ling!" Xiao Yin slowly rose from the chair, "You have the nerve to say that again!"

Everything's turned upside down!

How dare he not go through me, entertain an outside man himself, and be so self‑righteous?

Gu Jiu Ling felt a little fear in her heart; she had seen this kind of madness before.

She didn't want to deal with him, turned and walked out of Zheng Ting toward the back courtyard.

At the junction between the front and rear courtyards, a row of flowering trees was planted; Gu Jiu Ling had just entered the grove when suddenly hurried footsteps sounded from behind.

Xiao Yin had actually chased after her and seized her arm.

"What are you doing?" Gu Jiu Ling thought this morning's sudden anger was utterly inexplicable.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin's jaw muscles were tensed, his face already dark; he suddenly shoved her against the tree trunk behind her, her back flared with pain, and just as she was about to shout, he bent down and kissed her lips, making her eyes widen instantly.