Chapter 80: The Emperor

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly pinched the pigeon's leg, took off the bamboo tube tied to it, opened the tube and took out a slender strip of paper.

On the paper, Xiao Yin's flamboyant, dragon‑and‑phoenix‑like script rushed at her, bearing his characteristic domineering arrogance.

"All goes smoothly, greetings!"

After turning it over repeatedly without saying another word, Gu Jiu Ling, though she saw little information, felt much more reassured.

She tossed the paper into the charcoal basin to burn, sent Jiu Yue to fetch water and rice; the pigeon, looking famished, pecked with its head down, not giving Gu Jiu Ling a glance.

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but laugh; actually Xiao Yin was rather cute in his own way, and his pigeon was cute too.

For several days Gu Jiu Ling kept waiting for news from the princess's residence; she also wanted to repay Princess Linghe, but the concerns on that side were understandable.

Half a month passed, and just when Gu Jiu Ling thought the princess's residence had abandoned the operation, a carriage from the princess's house stopped at the gate of Rui Wangfu.

Princess Linghe came personally to request assistance; Gu Jiu Ling followed her onto the carriage, and Jiu Yue brought a few young servants from Rui Wangfu to load the surgical instruments onto the carriage.

The atmosphere at the princess's residence was solemn today; Cheng Ming, dressed in a white robe, waited at the doorway of Zheng Ting.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at him and asked, "Decided?"

Cheng Ming replied slowly, "Decided!"

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, turned to Jiu Yue and said, "Jiu Yue, prepare, start disinfecting."

Cheng Ming raised an eyebrow, then obediently followed Gu Jiu Ling into the room where Chen Cuihua had stayed; the furnishings were untouched, and the lanterns Gu Jiu Ling had ordered were unchanged.

Gu Jiu Ling, with someone's help, retrieved alcohol and a UV sterilizer from the storage, disinfected every corner of the room, and Jiu Yue helped her put on the surgical gown.

She saw Princess Linghe standing at the doorway, smiled at her and said, "Imperial elder sister, rest assured, the previous surgery was a success; this time will be fine as well."

Princess Linghe's expression softened slightly, Jiu Yue closed the door, and the room fell into silence.

Gu Jiu Ling took out the anesthetic tube and looked at Cheng Ming, who lay on the special surgical bed, and asked, "You haven't eaten or drunk anything since last night, have you?"

"No!" Cheng Ming's handsome brow twitched slightly, showing a hint of impatience.

"Do you have any last words?" Gu Jiu Ling lightly flicked the tube.

"You—" Cheng Ming erupted in anger, his face paling slightly, as Gu Jiu Ling's anesthetic needle had already plunged forcefully into his vein.

Cheng Ming tilted his head and fell asleep.

"Oxygen!" Gu Jiu Ling ripped open Cheng Ming's collar and disinfected his abdomen.

Jiu Yue was now familiar with the procedure; whatever Gu Jiu Ling said, she could execute promptly and skillfully.

Gu Jiu Ling produced the scalpel; she didn't know why her eyelids kept flickering today, steadied herself, and let the blade descend.

The operation proceeded smoothly, but Cheng Ming was male, unlike Chen Cuihua's female anatomy, making the surgery slightly more difficult.

Gu Jiu Ling had to give Cheng Ming a bit more anesthetic, then removed the blood tumor from his abdomen and finally sutured the wound.

She, being pregnant, had stood for a long time and was very tired; Jiu Yue compassionately used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Just as someone was about to speak to Gu Jiu Ling, a rapid footstep sounded outside, followed by a sharp voice that seemed to pierce the eardrum.

"Gu Jiu Ling! You money‑grabbing, life‑destroying villain! Get out here at once!"

Gu Jiu Ling froze in surprise, looked bewildered at Jiu Yue beside her, and pointed at herself.

Me? Money‑grabbing, life‑destroying?

Immediately after, Princess Linghe's voice rang out from outside: "Princess Changping! What do you mean?"

"Imperial aunt! Don't be fooled by that swindler Gu Jiu Ling!"

"She spreads deceitful words, harms the innocent; anyone with eyes can see it clearly!"

"Men! Seize her!!"

"Hold on!" Princess Linghe's face darkened; she knew Princess Changping and the Princess Consort of Rui were at odds, but with her son at a life‑or‑death critical moment, she could not let these people cause trouble.

"Princess Changping! The Princess Consort of Rui is your senior; she is still treating my son, so she has no time to see you. Moreover, you, a mere princess, have what right to detain a principal consort of a princely residence?"

"She has no right; do I have any?" A middle‑aged beautiful woman in dark‑red peony‑patterned palace attire walked slowly through the crowd.

Princess Linghe, seeing Noble Consort Duan approaching gracefully, was startled; no wonder those reckless dogs dared to storm her princess's residence—it was Noble Consort Duan herself!

"Princess Changping, do not be presumptuous! Step back!" Noble Consort Duan said slowly.

Princess Changping snorted, retreated behind Noble Consort Duan, and cast a smug glance at the tightly shut door.

Today we'll see how Gu Jiu Ling handles this; she'll probably be trapped with no way out!

Princess Linghe had to steel herself and step forward, bowing to Noble Consort Duan: "Noble Consort, why are you…."

Noble Consort Duan sat on the chair brought by a servant and smiled faintly: "I, of course…"

The door was pushed open from inside by Gu Jiu Ling, and everyone turned to look at her.

Gu Jiu Ling had just taken off her surgical gown, yet a faint scent of blood still lingered on her.

She inhaled and, bowing to Noble Consort Duan, said, "Your servant…"

Noble Consort Duan's lips curled slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes as she said lightly, "The Princess Consort of Rui has such nerve…"

Gu Jiu Ling's brow furrowed; today these people even denied Princess Linghe any face, coming here to cause trouble—did they perhaps hold some leverage over her?

This time at the Third Prince's residence, she had disrupted Xiao Wei's scheme, and clearly the Duan family harbored deep hatred for her.

Yet she truly could not think of any leverage she still possessed in their hands that would make them strike while Xiao Yin was absent.

Gu Jiu Ling smiled, "Noble Consort, I, your servant, do not know what…"

Princess Linghe furrowed her brows, hurriedly ordered someone to go in and tend to her son; the young servant reported that the master was still in a faint sleep, which was not a serious problem, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet her son was now at a critical juncture and needed Gu Jiu Ling's watchful presence; if Gu Jiu Ling were taken away, what could she do?

She stepped forward instinctively and blocked Gu Jiu Ling, smiling, "Imperial sister‑in‑law!"

She meant to calm the situation by calling her "imperial sister‑in‑law"; after the late emperor of Southern Qi, Longqing, lost his empress, no empress has been appointed, so Noble Consort Duan is not a principal wife.

"Imperial sister‑in‑law, please give Old Nine…"

"She is still pregnant; even if she committed a grave mistake, shouldn't we wait until Old Nine returns from suppressing the rebels before judging?"

Noble Consort Duan's eyes flashed coldly, "Using Xiao Yin against her? What kind of person is Xiao Yin?"

She slowly raised her hand to look at the gorgeous nail guard stained with balsam on her hand: "The emperor's oral decree, even I, the palace, dare not disobey!"

As soon as the four words "the emperor's oral decree" left her mouth, Gu Jiu Ling's heart sank instantly.

Sure enough… it was still Xiao Yin's pot, making her bear the blame.

Today, Emperor Longqing wants her dead!

No! He must want the child in her womb dead! After all, to outsiders, this is Xiao Yin's offspring!