Chapter 9

Gu Jiu Ling's heart pounded wildly, feeling like a drumbeat, a fine layer of sweat seeping from her forehead.

She didn't know how deeply a woman could love this man; even after death, her body could still react so intensely, making it seem as if Gu Jiu Ling still had old feelings for him.

Gu Jiu Ling forced herself to turn slowly with Xiao Yin, and upon doing so, she met that clear-wind, bright-moon face.

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but stare; sure enough, it was the Crown Prince with dragon-pattern and phoenix-bearing appearance, his looks remarkably outstanding.

If Xiao Yin were the strange, circulating ice spring in a steep, deep ravine,

then the Crown Prince Xiao Ting before her would be the bright wind and clear moon, the scorching sun above the nine heavens, dazzling and radiant.

Crown Prince Xiao Ting was born of Empress Li, his maternal family being the scholarly Li clan of Jiangling.

After Empress Li died in difficult childbirth bearing Xiao Ting, Emperor Longqing, to remember his childhood sweetheart Empress Li, appointed his eldest son Xiao Ting as Crown Prince.

It's a pity that the easiest thing to wear away in this world is the word "love".

Later, Emperor Longqing's favored consorts multiplied, the most favored being Noble Consort Duan, whose Duan clan controlled a million wolf troops of Eastern Territory, so even the emperor had to give them some courtesy.

Beside Noble Consort Duan, the Third Prince Xiao Wei was a military prodigy, following his maternal uncle in training in Eastern Territory, already an excellent young general.

Moreover, Consort Shu Cao, though the Cao family lacked the literary atmosphere of the Li clan, were skilled at scheming and even secretly controlled multiple wealth channels of Southern Qi.

After Old Master Du passed away, the Du family gradually declined, while the Cao clan faintly showed the posture of Southern Qi's richest.

With wealth and connections, most officials in the court came from the Cao clan's doorstep, and the Sixth Prince Xiao Zheng, born of Imperial Concubine Cao, saw his status rise rapidly.

Yet now the Crown Prince's position is precarious, for relying solely on the emperor's fond remembrance of the empress cannot let him endure to the end.

As the Crown Prince now, with many eyes upon him, he appears ever more steady and flawless, leaving no fault to be found.

Xiao Ting bowed to Xiao Yin, who nodded in return; anyway, he wasn't close with this nephew.

No, perhaps they are acquainted now.

Xiao Yin glanced at the woman beside him, her cheeks slightly flushed, her body tense, and inwardly snorted.

How fitting for lovers to meet, their faces flushing all the more!

Xiao Ting also noticed Gu Jiu Ling's gaze, a flicker of disgust crossing his brows and eyes.

Gu Jiu Ling wanted to chuckle lightly, to give that scheming scoundrel man the utmost contempt and disdain, but her body seemed out of sync with her soul.

Instead, she blushed and her neck thickened with excitement; Gu Jiu Ling felt so embarrassed she wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide.

Gu Jiu Ling's expression instantly drew others' attention, as they cast scornful glances her way.

Gu Jiu Ling, in pursuit of her fiancé Xiao Ting, had left no stone unturned; now she had become Princess Consort of Rui—who was that expression meant to disgust?

Gu Jiu Ling was about to struggle to grab Xiao Yin's arm and hurry away, to keep some distance from the Crown Prince, when a sharp voice rang out.

"Gu Jiu Ling! Do you still have any shame?"

"This princess has never seen someone so brazen and shameless!"

An uproar erupted all around, followed by several lavishly dressed women walking over; the leader, extraordinarily beautiful, was beautiful yet her sharp, sour expression dulled her beauty.

This was none other than Princess Changping, the most favored consort of Emperor Longqing of Southern Qi; because of her favor she grew arrogant, naturally looking down on anyone.

Princess Changping was born of Noble Consort Duan, with strong backing and ample confidence, a figure who strutted through the circle of noble ladies in Jing Cheng.

Gu Jiu Ling frowned slightly; she seemed not to have offended her, then saw Gu Nanxiang standing behind Princess Changping.

I don't know what medicine she used, but the wound on her face had healed so completely it was invisible; this time, looking at her, a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes.

Gu Jiu Ling realized this was finding external support.

Gu Nanxiang usually fawned and flattered, naturally winning Princess Changping's favor; this was her coming forward to help her.

Moreover, there was a more important reason: Princess Changping liked Gu Cheng, the eldest son of the Gu family; seeing the talented, handsome young scholar-official, she naturally took a liking to him.

Otherwise, with Gu Nanxiang's status, how could she win over this young master?

After all, this is the Imperial Manor; with today's grand scene, if Gu Jiu Ling were slapped in the face here, she'd never dare lift her head again among Jing Cheng's noble ladies—she'd have to crawl away.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at Princess Changping and immediately showed a kind smile: "Changping! I don't understand what you're saying."

"Furthermore..." Gu Jiu Ling glanced at the murderous deity beside her; Xiao Yin slightly lifted his head, gazing indifferently at Princess Changping before him, feeling like an elder looking at an unreasonable junior.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "Changping, I am now your princess-aunt; as a junior, you're a bit overbearing—this isn't good; you should still cultivate your temperament."

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling said that, those around let out low laughs.

Princess Changping also froze there; usually that lowly person would see her and flee in fear, and they had often teased and bullied her.

Now she suddenly acted as an elder, giving her the title of some aunt.

"You lowly wretch! Do you not want to live?"

"You swallowed your own sister's dowry, still flaunting your might here; back then in the palace you openly indulged in licentiousness in broad daylight, and even the Crown Prince broke off his engagement with you!"

"Come here! Slap her! I want to see how many cheap bones of yours, Gu Jiu Ling, itch so much that you dare to wag your tongue before this palace!"

The grannies beside Princess Changping were about to step forward to slap her, not yet reaching Gu Jiu Ling's body, when Xiao Yin lifted his leg and kicked the foremost palace-attired granny flying.

With a miserable scream, everyone around was stunned, turning their gazes to Xiao Yin.

Gu Jiu Ling slowly put the poison needle she had pinched into her space; actually, even without Xiao Yin's kick, she could make that eyesore before her wish for death.

"You……" Princess Changping never expected Xiao Yin to lose his temper; the Imperial Uncle has always seemed like a sickly person on the brink of death, and rumor has it he can't even perform as a man.

Not to mention the capable figures in Jing Cheng, even these juniors look down on this sickly weakling, but now this sickly weakling has erupted in public.

This outbreak is different from the previous one at the Gu household; this time it's at a palace banquet. Xiao Yin, who has been silent for so long, erupts again—it's terrifying.

With that kick, people finally realized that the man before them was none other than Southern Qi's former Invincible War God, the fiercest fighter ever!

"Princess Changping!" Xiao Yin lightly flicked his cuff, his romantic peach-blossom eyes half-lowered, then slowly lifted— in that instant he was peerlessly elegant.

Princess Changping didn't know why she felt a little afraid of this Imperial Uncle now.

Xiao Yin chuckled softly: "Princess Changping, if it weren't for Imperial Uncle previously helping you hold off Bei Di, you'd probably have already been sent off in a marriage alliance, right?"

Princess Changping's face turned pale at once; Bei Di has always eyed Southern Qi hungrily, and if it weren't for that time Xiao Yin fought to the death, Bei Di would have swept straight in.

If it were a marriage alliance, an ordinary princess wouldn't be worthy; it would have to be her, Princess Changping, the Grand Princess!

Her heart tightened slightly, and Xiao Yin let out a derisive chuckle: "What? Now you think Uncle I'm no good, and you won't even give me face?"

A sudden pressure burst from his body; even Crown Prince Xiao Ting could hardly withstand the killing intent that seeped out from him, and he lowered his head.