Chapter 88: with translation of chapter title

Gu Jiu Ling rushed to Emperor Longqing, knelt down, and performed the salute and greeting; Emperor Longqing stared at her fixedly, without saying a word.

Gu Jiu Ling felt as if Emperor Longqing's stare would bore holes in her back; she drew a deep breath and bent her body even lower.

After a long while, Emperor Longqing slowly said, "The Dingbei Marquis is the pillar of Southern Qi; rescuing the young marquis from the princess's mansion is a great merit."

Gu Jiu Ling startled, instinctively glanced at Xiao Yin standing aside, very curious about what Xiao Yin had done earlier, for Emperor Longqing to praise him right away.

"However..." Emperor Longqing's voice turned stern and cold: "Since you entered the Imperial Clan Office, how dare you escape from it?"

"You have no regard for state law and ethics; what propriety is this?"

Gu Jiu Ling's heart jolted; what does this mean, this up-and-down, are they trying to scare someone to death?

Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Yin beside her said lightly, "Changping, although your royal aunt is clueless, you have been raised with court etiquette since childhood, and Consort Duan gave you the finest upbringing; how could you bring your royal sister-in-law to cause such a ruckus?"

"How can state law and ethics be trampled upon at your whim?"

Changping lay on the icy floor, her eyes filled with hatred that seemed to bleed.

Emperor Longqing's face darkened further, but this time it was his daughter who had released Gu Jiu Ling from the Imperial Clan Office; even if he wanted to punish her, he would first have to heavily penalize his own princess, which would be a slap to his own face.

Today Xiao Yin truly gave him a show of force; with both human and material evidence before him, what could he do?

Emperor Longqing closed his eyes, then looked at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Forget it; considering you are a woman of proper conduct, I sentence you to house arrest and to copy the Women's Rules and Admonitions."

"Yes! Your servant receives the edict with gratitude!" Gu Jiu Ling kowtowed, her heart nearly laughing; she found this verdict completely acceptable.

As for the copying, lately Xiao Yin has supervised her handwriting practice, and she has been copying books like the Women's Rules and Admonitions.

When the time comes, she will simply turn in what she has already written.

Emperor Longqing coldly addressed the remaining kneeling people below: "Take them! Drag out the Chen clan and behead them! The rest of the Chen family are to be exiled to the barbaric wilds, never to be pardoned!"

Madame Chen collapsed on the spot, and the palace guards forcibly dragged her out.

She never imagined that wealth and status are a matter of fate, not something obtainable merely by greed.

"Minister Gu has failed in educating his sons; deduct one year's salary! Gu Cheng's official rank is demoted by one grade; Gu Kang slandered his elder sister, to be punished with thirty blows of the cane!"

"Princess Changping is to be confined in the palace; Consort Duan failed in raising her daughter, her monthly palace allowance is halted for six months so she may reflect properly."

Consort Duan and the others hurriedly kowtowed in thanks, but she harbored a deadly hatred toward Xiao Yin, who had turned the tables on her.

However, he had returned to the capital without authorization from the Chen Prefecture anti-bandit battlefield; heh, trouble will surely follow him.

Indeed, Emperor Longqing finally fixed his gaze on Xiao Yin, his pupils narrowing slightly: "Ninth Brother, do you know your crime?"

Xiao Yin startled, turned and knelt before Emperor Longqing: "Please, elder brother, make it clear."

Emperor Longqing couldn't help but laugh angrily, then said lightly: "As a commander who suppressed bandits and quelled rebellions, you deserted in the face of the enemy; tell me, according to our Southern Qi statutes, what should be done?"

As soon as Emperor Longqing spoke, everyone sucked in a breath; although Xiao Yin today is both human and material evidence, seeming to have vented his anger, today likely cannot end peacefully.

Although Consort Duan also received punishment, it was merely symbolic, but Xiao Yin's offense likely cannot escape the death penalty.

Even if he does not die, he will surely suffer greatly.

In the Hall of Nurturing Heart, the atmosphere instantly became oppressive to the extreme.

Xiao Yin composed himself, kowtowed to Emperor Longqing, and said slowly: "Your subject, the crime I have committed today, if judged by Southern Qi military law… should be death on the spot!"

Gu Jiu Ling almost shouted out, incredulously looking at Xiao Yin kneeling beside her, thinking to herself, "Are you an idiot?"

Even Emperor Longqing was somewhat surprised; he never expected Xiao Yin to utter such words.

He thought Xiao Yin would beg for mercy, then he could charge him with a death penalty that would be hard to avoid, and send him to stay in the Imperial Clan Office.

Once inside that place, tormenting him would be as easy as turning one's hand.

But now Xiao Yin, with just his words, is essentially demanding his own life; this caught him off guard.

This time, Emperor Longqing does not know how to deal with this scoundrel next!

Just kill him outright, but fearing objections from those in the army, now the Bei Di are growing increasingly arrogant; we still need to rely on these troops and cannot lose their loyalty.

Or spare him and imprison him in the Imperial Clan Office; then he would have no way to continue.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin regained his spirit, lifted his head to look at his imperial brother, and said: "Please, elder brother, order my execution to serve as a warning!"

The Hall of Nurturing Heart fell into utter silence.

A frost settled over Emperor Longqing's brows and eyes; just as he was about to speak, Eunuch Wang hurried in, knelt before him, and said, "Your Majesty, a military report from Chen Prefecture!"

Emperor Longqing startled; at this critical juncture, an urgent message has arrived from Chen Prefecture?

"Announce it!"

The palace guards entered the Hall of Nurturing Heart bearing the military report, knelt and kowtowed, saying: "Report to Your Majesty! The Crown Prince has been captured by the bandits! We request the court dispatch troops for reinforcement!"

"Ah?"

Everyone exclaimed in shock!

Gu Cheng nearly jumped to his feet, his face turning pale, then he fixed his stare on Xiao Yin's back.

This campaign against the Chen Prefecture remnants, Emperor Longqing didn't take it seriously; he merely wanted to give his sons a safe and easy way to earn some military merit.

Moreover, they are just starving commoners; what threat could they pose? Yet they have actually seized the Crown Prince—what is this?

His expression changed drastically, then his gaze fell on Xiao Yin, now laced with killing intent.

Emperor Longqing drew a deep breath, looked at Xiao Yin, and said: "Ninth Brother, although you have indeed gone overboard this time, it does not warrant immediate execution."

"Now the Crown Prince is in peril; return to Chen Prefecture and assist the Sixth Prince in rescuing him—this will count as merit to atone for your fault!"

Xiao Yin bowed deeply and kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Not long after, Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin entered the carriage of Prince Rui's mansion; as soon as Gu Jiu Ling sat down, she exhaled in relief and quickly turned to look at Xiao Yin.

"Did the Prince bind the Crown Prince?"

"En!"

"Prince, you are the one!" Gu Jiu Ling gave Xiao Yin a thumbs-up, then her heart pounded with nervous excitement.

This fellow is now leaping about, probing the edge of life and death.

Xiao Yin, however, leaned wearily against Gu Jiu Ling's shoulder and said: "Good! Let this prince rest a while; this prince has gone several days without…"

Xiao Yin had fallen silent; Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly checked his face, only to find he had already fallen asleep, even emitting a light snore.

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but sigh, shifted her body, and let him simply rest his head on her leg for greater comfort.

Soon the carriage arrived at Rui Wangfu; Ling Feng jumped down and waited for the prince and princess consort to alight, only to find the interior utterly silent.

He was startled, and without worrying about anything else he flung open the carriage curtain, thinking something must have happened inside.

He did not expect to see the princess consort gently holding the prince, who lay asleep like a small child with his head on her lap.

His tall stature meant the princess consort could only clasp his neck.

The princess consort shook her head at him; Ling Feng carefully lowered the carriage curtain, and upon turning away he was already tear‑streaked.

The prince had returned from Qi Sha Gu, and it had been seven years since he last relaxed so completely.