Chapter 85: She Is My Kin

"What nonsense are you saying?" Princess Linghe's face turned ashen as she shouted at Xiao Yin in a sharp voice.

Xiao Yin was also furious tonight; he had left Jing Cheng only a few days ago when those people began to attack Gu Jiu Ling, as if they completely disregarded Xiao Yin.

He slowly drew the Longquan sword at his waist, its blade emitting a faint hum, still stained with blood.

He stared coldly at Princess Linghe and said, "Imperial sister! Does your princess residence truly intend to test my sword?"

"Prince!" Gu Jiu Ling hurried to her feet, her calf bruised—no bone broken, but it hurt.

She limped to Xiao Yin's side, raised her hand and tightly grasped his arm, forcing him to sheath the Longquan sword.

She lifted her gaze to Princess Linghe and said, "Imperial sister, though our bond is not deep, I think you differ from Consort Duan and her people."

"At least you can discern right from wrong and would not betray the loyal; after all, the late Marquis could become your Prince Consort because you valued Lord Dingbei, General Cheng's character—he is among the top in all Southern Qi."

"Imperial sister, think carefully: if I intended to harm our young Marquis, what motive would I have?"

"Consort Duan claims I seek the reputation of a divine physician—ha! I am now Princess Consort of Rui; the man I married is the greatest hero under heaven. My fame, once poor, is now at its peak. What use is the title of divine physician? To eat or to drink?"

Princess Linghe's expression softened slightly.

Xiao Yin, standing nearby, glanced at his wife and felt an inexplicable happiness, as if he had just been praised.

Gu Jiu Ling exhaled and said, "I'm not afraid of imperial sister's mockery; my younger brother has never been close to me since childhood, perhaps..."

She lowered her head slowly: "Perhaps my mother died early; Aunt Lin raised her herself, so she is closer to my older brother and the others."

Princess Linghe instantly understood, a complex look flashing in her eyes; she inhaled and said, "Sister-in-law, please come in and look after Cheng Ming!"

"If I offend this time, once he gets past this hurdle, I will personally make amends to you!"

Though she spoke of atonement, her tone was sharp—meaning, if he cannot be cured, you may as well die!

Gu Jiu Ling waited for her to finish, then hurried toward the warm pavilion's doorway, but stopped: "Where is the maid I brought?"

Princess Linghe was startled; a flash of panic in her eyes as she ordered someone to bring Jiu Yue out of the Chai Fang locked in the rear courtyard.

"Mistress! Mistress, are you alright?" Jiu Yue hurried toward Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling steadied her arm; just as she was about to speak, she noticed the maid's arm tremble slightly.

She hardened her expression, ripped open Jiu Yue's sleeve, and found a whip scar.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her gaze, gave Princess Linghe a cool glance, which sent a chill to the dignified princess's heart; she too had been frantic then.

The son suddenly coughed up blood and fell unconscious; until then only Gu Jiu Ling and Jiu Yue had been tending him in the room, and the other maid Gu had brought had already left, leaving no one else inside.

She, in a moment, wanted to get to the bottom of it, so she brought Jiu Yue in for questioning, only to find the maid hard‑hearted, clamping her teeth shut; irritated, Gu Jiu Ling resorted to torture.

Gu Jiu Ling said coldly, "Imperial sister, I cannot guarantee whether Cheng Ming can cure him; let's give it a try!"

"Stop!" Princess Linghe panicked briefly, then softened, "Sister-in-law, please save my son; I have only this one child, and she's just a maid. Bring someone! Reward Miss Jiu Yue a thousand taels..."

"Imperial sister, you still don't understand!" Gu Jiu Ling's gaze turned icy; whether you're a living Buddha from Shang Jing or a great saint, anyone who provokes her, this matter is not so easily resolved.

She said slowly, "Jiu Yue is my kin, not a common servant; even if she were, we must see who her master is."

"You…" Princess Linghe hurriedly looked at Xiao Yin, "Brother Xiao, speak up—could it be that this palace cannot compare to a mere maid?"

Xiao Yin coughed and stepped before Gu Jiu Ling; Gu felt a slight heaviness—was Xiao Yin urging her to concede?

Xiao Yin whispered, "You and my imperial sister keep tugging here; if we pull until dawn, we might end up feasting at Cheng Ming's funeral—then make sure I get an extra bowl!"

"My people are all by your side; if you dare drive them away again and bear it alone, I, the king, will show no mercy to you!"

He raised his hand and pinched Gu Jiu Ling's cheek; the gesture resembled teasing affection more than a scold.

Princess Linghe's face turned as white as ash; what did Xiao Yin mean?

All because of a maid, she is being forced like this?

"Mistress! I'm fine! I really am fine!" Jiu Yue only wanted her mistress to pass this calamity safely; she didn't want to cause extra trouble because of herself.

It must be known that the only way to prove the mistress's innocence now is to cure the young Marquis swiftly.

"Don't be afraid!" Gu Jiu Ling suddenly turned and sat back down, staring steadily at Princess Linghe.

By now Xiao Yin had already left; Princess Linghe had no mediator, and watching Gu Jiu Ling leisurely sip tea, she dared not delay any further.

She inhaled and said to Jiu Yue, "Miss Jiu Yue, it is my fault, I am sorry!"

Jiu Yue, panicked, tried to kowtow; as a mere servant she dared not accept the princess's apology, but Gu Jiu Ling rose, grabbed her hand and prevented her from kneeling.

Gu Jiu Ling said slowly, "Go! Enter and save the young Marquis's life!"

Princess Linghe finally exhaled, her whole body nearly collapsing, and she fell into a chair.

These past two days truly threatened her life—anxiety, anger, suspicion...

She slowly lifted her sleeve to cover her face and wept silently.

The maids outside dared not speak, withdrew from the side hall, and closed the door from the outside.

Gu Jiu Ling led Jiu Yue into Cheng Ming's room; upon entering, a thick scent of blood assaulted them. Earlier, the princess residence had sent word for the helpless physicians inside to leave.

Those physicians could not determine the cause and saw Cheng Ming's wound gaping; the man was undoubtedly on the brink of death.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jiu Ling returned from the Imperial Clan Office at this moment; they were stunned as she, with Jiu Yue, approached the strange apparatuses and began tinkering.

Several of them were left dumbfounded.

"Princess Consort of Rui, what are you doing?"

"The young Marquis has already gone into shock; shouldn't a silver needle revive him?"

"His blood is all black; could it be that you previously poisoned the young Marquis?"

"Y‑you‑you… why are you opening that wound?"

"What is that tube for?"

"Ling Feng!" Gu Jiu Ling raised her head, weary, and closed her eyes; these two days had truly exhausted her.

"Princess Consort!" Ling Feng stood at the doorway, a mass of dark figures—Rui Wang Fu's secret guards—behind him.

Gu Jiu Ling gestured at the chattering physicians, "Throw them out!"

Ling Feng replied, brought the guards in, and flung the physicians out, arms crossed, clearing the room considerably.

Cheng Ming's condition was very poor; those quacks had tortured him until he only had a breath left—if she comes again tomorrow, this child will surely be dead.

She gave Cheng Ming an injection of adrenaline, put him on a ventilator to give oxygen, inserted an IV line into his arm for a drip, and administered anti-inflammatory and coagulant drugs.

Only then did she carefully open Cheng Ming's abdominal cavity, when she suddenly gasped.

"Master!" Jiu Yue saw that Gu Jiu Ling's complexion was off.

Gu Jiu Ling furrowed her brows tightly: "Something bad has happened!"