Chapter 219: Su Ling Protects His Wife (2)

Protecting Gu Yun behind him, Su Ling said coldly, "Why does the Empress want to tie her up?"

"Those men in black are targeting her. If she isn't handed over, they will continue to commit crimes. The most urgent task is naturally to save Lord Gao first." The person lying dead not far away was her relative, and her uncle was still in the mansion. Xin Yuening couldn't care about so much now and shouted at the guards who were standing still, "Still not moving!"

Su Ling blocked in front of Gu Yun. The guards looked at the Emperor's expression, which was gloomy, yet he didn't speak. What were they supposed to do?

At a time like this, instead of thinking about how to save people, they wanted to use another person's life to exchange? How unreasonable! Zhuo Qing couldn't watch anymore and said angrily, "How can you exchange? Is the life of the Gao family a life, but Qing Mo's life is not?"

The bloody scene just now had been quite a shock to Xin Yuening. Her emotions were clearly unstable, and she replied with a hurried tone, "Lord Gao is a dignified third-rank official of this dynasty, working wholeheartedly for the imperial court. Qing Mo is merely a gift sent by Haoyue. Is the life of a pillar of the nation who serves the country more important, or is the life of a mere foreign woman more important!" Qing Ling was lucky to have Lou Xiyan's deep love, otherwise, where would she have a say here!

Human lives were actually divided into different ranks! She wanted to touch Yun; that was simply not happening! Zhuo Qing still wanted to speak, but Lou Xiyan gave her a look, signaling her to look at Su Ling beside Gu Yun. Zhuo Qing looked up and saw Su Ling's tall figure almost completely shielding Gu Yun. His already cold and hard expression was even more chilling because of Xin Yuening's words just now.

Zhuo Qing understood and closed her mouth. At a time like this, it should be Su Ling standing up for Yun.

The guards didn't dare to move Su Ling, so Xin Yuening turned to beg Yan Hongtian, "Your Majesty! Lord Gao is my own uncle! You must make the decision for me! Su Ling acting like this is simply coercing the monarch and defying his superior!"

Yan Hongtian's cold eyes narrowed, staring at Su Ling, and the corners of his mouth actually raised an arc, replying, "What the Empress said also makes some sense." His General Su didn't like women, did he? Yet today he wanted to be a hero saving a beauty? It was truly interesting!

Thinking she had gained the Emperor's support, Xin Yuening was overjoyed and was about to call for people to step forward and grab her again when Su Ling's cold voice sounded once more, "Is the Empress trying to compare whose life is more important?"

"Alright!" Su Ling turned to the side, took Gu Yun's hand, pulled her to his side, and said loudly, "Qing Mo is my, Su Ling's, wife, the mistress of the General's Mansion, and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Su family. Is her life more important, or is the life of a mere third-rank official more important!"

Her hand was tightly held by Su Ling. Gu Yun was slightly stunned. She had been thinking about how to use the surrounding terrain to storm and save people, and she hadn't even listened to what they were arguing about. Su Ling's sudden declaration made her originally clear mind go blank instantly.

Not only was Gu Yun stunned, but everyone else was so shocked by Su Ling's words that they forgot to react. Xin Yuening, however, didn't believe Su Ling's words at all. "General Su, do not act on impulse. There are so many beauties in the world; even if you dote on a woman, you cannot casually decide the choice of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Su family. Qing Mo is, after all, of a foreign race, and her appearance is damaged, and she is not a descendant of a famous family. She is simply unworthy of the Su family. The elders of the Su family will surely not agree to General Su's own wish." Did Su Ling think he could save that woman by spouting a few words?

"The Su family's affairs do not need the Empress to worry about. The clan leader came to the General's Mansion a few days ago, was very satisfied with Qing Mo, and has already gifted her the Ice-Refining Treasure Sword, which represents the mistress of the Su family."

The long sword that Gu Yun was holding in her other hand was indeed pure white throughout. The world knew that the Su family had a pair of ancient divine swords—Red Blood and Ice-Refining. Su Ling carried Red Blood by his side year-round, but Ice-Refining was rarely seen. Xin Yuening snorted coldly, not believing it. "Who can prove that it is Ice-Refining!"

Everyone's eyes were cast on Gu Yun. Gu Yun didn't know how to prove it was Ice-Refining either. People clearly didn't believe her; it was useless for her to say "yes." At this moment, Su Ling drew the Red Blood from his waist and inserted it into the mud in front of him. The next moment, the Ice-Refining in Gu Yun's hand actually flew out of its sheath and stood side by side with Red Blood. The two swords stood proudly before everyone's eyes, one red and one white, with the words "Red Blood" and "Ice-Refining" engraved on the blades respectively. Anyone with a discerning eye knew at a glance—they were absolutely a pair.

What was even more peculiar was that people standing on the side of Red Blood instantly felt a wave of heat, while those standing on the side of Ice-Refining were already shivering from the cold.

"Whoever touches her today is an enemy of me and the Su family."

In her ears was Su Ling's flamboyant declaration, but Gu Yun froze there, not knowing how to react for a moment. Her hand was tightly held in his large, calloused hand, and her heart felt the throbbing of the waves in her heart at this moment.

Zhuo Qing laughed three times in her heart; Su Ling was truly too cool! He was worthy of being a tough guy! She really hadn't misjudged him; only such a man was worthy of Yun! Zhuo Qing turned her head to look at Lou Xiyan, who was smiling without a word; he was still the more composed one. In fact, Lou Xiyan was also incredibly shocked in his heart. Who said the General didn't know how to cherish a beauty? Now it seemed he was the one who truly flew into a rage for a beauty.

Dan Yulan frowned secretly. He had guessed that General Su probably wouldn't let anything happen to Qing Mo, but he hadn't expected that he would openly confront the Empress for her sake, and even mobilize the Su family. For thousands of years, the Su family had assisted wise monarchs and advocated martial virtue. How many generals and martial artists in the world had studied under the Su family? No martial general in the Six Kingdoms did not respect the Su family. Even if they were on opposing sides on the battlefield, they all held respect for Su Ling and the Su family in private. Today, Su Ling had made such a declaration; let alone the Empress, even the Emperor would not dare to move against Qing Mo rashly.

Xin Yuening glared at Gu Yun as if her gaze were steeped in poison. In the palace, there was Qingfeng, who had hooked the Emperor's soul and left him distracted, and outside the palace, there were Qing Ling and Qing Mo, who had bewitched Lou Xiyan and Su Ling until they were dizzy and disoriented. Could it be that all the sisters of the Qing family were fox spirits?

She didn't believe it! With bright eyes brimming with tears, Xin Yuening looked at Yan Hongtian, who had been silent beside her, and wept in a low voice, "Your Majesty! Lord Gao is my own uncle! You must make the decision for me! Su Ling acting like this is simply coercing the monarch and defying his superior!"

Yan Hongtian still didn't speak, but his eyes looking at Su Ling were somewhat different. There were no less than a hundred people standing around, and no one dared to breathe loudly; the atmosphere was clearly somewhat stiff. Gu Yun finally came back to her senses, coughed lightly, and asked in a calm, cold voice, "Can I interrupt for a moment? Are you going to continue discussing whose life is more important here, or is it more important to deploy a rescue plan? After all, one hour is not long." And she didn't want to watch the life of a little girl pass away before her eyes again.

Yan Hongtian's cold eyes darkened, and his gaze finally fell on this thin and short woman. She didn't have Qing Ling's tall, elegant, and refined figure; nor did she have Qingfeng's exquisite features and arrogant, cold nature. The only thing that could be considered outstanding, her cute little face, had also been ruined by her, losing its appeal. He didn't understand why Su Ling was so fond of her, but facing these calm and firm eyes, he could be sure that she was indeed a member of the Qing family, just as unafraid of death as her sisters.

Yan Hongtian walked slowly to Gu Yun. Su Ling's hand holding Gu Yun's tightened slightly. Feeling the strength coming from his palm, Gu Yun also squeezed back slightly to reassure Su Ling.

"So, you have thought of a way to save people?" The deep male voice didn't sound severe, but Gu Yun expressed her admiration for Qingfeng in her heart once again. A sentence that was neither light nor heavy had already made people almost unable to breathe. That kind of oppressive feeling was really not something everyone could bear. Perhaps this was the so-called aura of a king?

Gu Yun remained calm on the surface and replied coolly, "I do have an idea. We can discuss it together. Why don't we go back to the tent and talk?" She had been comparing the characteristics of the two topographical maps in her mind, and she believed there was still a chance for a strong attack.

The corners of Yan Hongtian's slightly deep mouth suddenly raised a faint arc, and he laughed loudly, "Alright. Today's matter can be considered to have been sparked by you. If you can save Lord Gao, I will grant you a marriage to Minister Su and confer upon you the title of First Rank Noble Lady. If you cannot save him, I will have to punish you for the crime of failing the rescue."

Yan Hongtian was making things difficult for her. Su Ling was about to speak, but Gu Yun asked first, "Does that mean that from now on, the Ministry of Justice and the Su Family Army will listen to my deployment?" For her sake, Su Ling had already openly confronted the Empress. Yan Hongtian was clearly looking for trouble for her. She couldn't let Su Ling confront Yan Hongtian again for her sake, and the consequences of angering Yan Hongtian were absolutely much more serious.

Gu Yun's straightforwardness was not within Yan Hongtian's expectations. He found it quite interesting and smiled, "Granted!"

Letting Qing Mo save people, how could she possibly do it? Hearing the Emperor say he would punish her, Xin Yuening was secretly happy at first, but if the Ministry of Justice and the Su Family Army were to listen to her deployment, wouldn't her uncle be unsavable! Xin Yuening hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty! Absolutely not! How can you believe the plan of a yellow-haired girl? Your Majesty, please think twice!"

No one could change Yan Hongtian's decision, not even the Empress. Xin Yuening's chatter had already caused Yan Hongtian's slowly improving expression to begin to darken. Gu Yun could understand her eagerness to save her family and explained in a low voice, "Empress, even if I am handed over, they will not release the hostages. Did you see their skilled methods of killing? They will not let anyone go, because they know that even if they don't kill Gao Hongjian, the Ministry of Justice will not let them go. Handing me over will only make your relatives die faster."

"Shut your mouth!" Yan Hongtian's indifference and Su Ling's protection of her were already enough to make Xin Yuening angry. At this time, whatever Gu Yun said would only make her even angrier.

Gu Yun shrugged and closed her mouth. Good intentions indeed didn't necessarily lead to good rewards. If she wanted to make a scene, let her make a scene.

"Your Majesty—" Xin Yuening had just opened her mouth, but Yan Hongtian had already started walking toward the tent, "Qing Mo, come into the tent and talk about your rescue method." A faint sentence had already determined that the leader of this rescue was Gu Yun!

The group crowded around Yan Hongtian and left. Zhuo Qing threw a "you handle it" look at Gu Yun, because Su Ling's expression was truly too ugly.

The crowd moved further and further away. Su Ling had a dark face and said with slight anger, "You shouldn't have agreed!" If this matter were the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, even if they couldn't save Gao Hongjian, it wouldn't be blamed on her. Now that she had agreed, if she couldn't save him, the Emperor and Empress would both make things difficult for her!

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 220 =====