Chapter 112: Like a Human Drinking Water
What was the significance of the Gu Estate changing to the Defender General’s Estate? A woman like Consort Zhao only needed to think for a second before understanding everything.
“W-what did the eldest princess do?” Consort Zhao blurted out. Is Yu Linglong really that powerful? Even the empress wasn’t able to absolve the Gu Clan of their crimes, but this damned girl did it?
Junior Master Fenglin glanced at the doors, which had been shut again, then muttered, “Esteemed consort, it’s isn’t important what the eldest princess did. What’s most important now is what you’re going to do?”
Outside Morning Skies Palace, Xianzong was standing in front of his carriage with his hands behind his back, leveling Gu Xinglang with a long stare. Gu Xinglang was a man of the battlefield and didn’t fear Xianzong’s gaze. However, his heart was filled with uncertainty over His Majesty’s state. He hadn’t heard any sounds of violence from the princess at Morning Skies Palace, ah.
Xianzong stared at Gu Xinglang and wanted to talk, but kept reorganizing his thoughts. In the end, he swallowed his words.
Gu Xinglang asked, “Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?”
Xianzong said, “Zhen knows the personalities of you martial arts types.”
Gu Xinglang couldn’t figure out if he was being praised or lectured, so he cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty is right. This subject is a military man who practices martial arts.”
“Zhen’s daughter married you,” Xianzong continued, “Although she’s your wife, you cannot lead her astray!”
Gu Xinglang understood now that his father-in-law was cursing him out.
“Linglong is a princess,” Xianzong added, “You can’t treat her the same as soldiers in the army. She’s still young and will definitely go astray if she learns the wrong thing!”
Although Gu Xinglang didn’t think there was anything wrong with the princess now, he still listened quietly to the lecture without interrupting. He was injured now anyways, so His Majesty couldn’t beat him up.
After venting at Gu Xinglang for a bit, Xianzong only felt his temper get worse. Finally, he blurted out, “Don’t go on hoping that Zhen will take Linglong back!”
“…..”
“………..”
Everyone fell silent. Jing Zhong and Gu Xinglang were enemies, but even he felt sorry for Third Young Master Gu now. When it came to shamelessness, their Emperor Xianzong was truly thick-skinned to say things like no matter how good or bad my daughter is, you have to take it without divorcing her, and without expecting me to take her back.
Your Majesty, don’t you feel guilty at all for raising Her Royal Highness to be like this in the first place?
“Say something for Zhen,” Xianzong said while glaring at his son-in-law. “Have you remembered Zhen’s words?”
Gu Xinglang murmured, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, this subject’s heart delights in the princess. This subject and the princess will definitely treat each other with the courtesy and consideration between husband and wife.”
Gu Xinglang’s words added another layer of salt to the wound in Xianzong’s heart. He had so many women, but none of them treated him with the consideration and respect of a normal husband and wife relationship. Why does this fellow have it so good? “Hmph!” Xianzong snorted and stepped closer. “In the future, don’t take the princess for street strolls so often. What a scandal!”
“This subject accepts the decree,” Gu Xinglang replied.
“And don’t just go to the palace all the time without reason,” Xianzong added, “She’s already married, so you have to act like a proper husband!”
Jing Zhong’s group was alright this time, but the four shadow guards protecting Xianzong from the shadows couldn’t help but sympathize with the Royal Son-in-Law. How is Royal Son-in-Law supposed to act like a husband when the princess is like that?
“Go in and keep Linglong company,” Xianzong told Gu Xinglang. “Don’t let her cause anymore trouble.”
Gu Xinglang found himself in a tough spot. “Your Majesty, these are Esteemed Consort Zhao’s quarters.”
“Did Zhen tell you to see Consort Zhao?” Xianzong asked, cold-faced. “Go take a look at Linglong. Junior Master Fenglin is there as well. Make sure she doesn’t say nonsense to him.”
“This subject accepts the decree,” Gu Xinglang finally accepted.
Xianzong walked off in a huff.
“Your Majesty, be careful underfoot,” Jing Zhong called as he ran after him with a team of eunuchs. To let Gu Xinglang enter Morning Skies Place meant that His Majesty 1) feared Her Royal Highness speaking nonsense to Junior Master Fenglin and 2) had completely given up on Consort Zhao. Otherwise, how could an outsider male enter the palace of a beloved consort? This could only meant that Xianzong didn’t care about Consort Zhao’s reputation anymore because she had fallen out of his heart.
Xianzong left Morning Skies Palace some distance behind him, his back to Jing Zhong as he spoke. “What kind of person do you think Consort Zhao is?”
Jing Zhong could only reply, “Your Majesty, Consort Zhao is a master.”1
Xianzong shook his head with a sigh. “She’s served Zhen for so many years, but Zhen’s never seen through her.”
A burst of autumn wind sent the plants and flowers in the palace rustling like a surging river in their ears. Xianzong didn’t say another word as he made his way to the imperial study. Currently, his heart was filled with nothing but sadness and depression. The experience was something Xianzong only himself understood, like a person drinking water.2
Gu Xinglang was carried into Morning Skies Palace by two eunuchs. There, Yu Xiaoxiao, Xiao Zhuang, and Xiao Wei were listening closely to events happening in the bedroom. Gu Xinglang saw that the trio still didn’t react when he drew near and opened his mouth to say, “Princess.”
Xiao Wei was the first to react and ran to Gu Xinglang’s side, dismissing the two eunuchs who carried him inside. Yu Xiaoxiao stood up and flickered to Gu Xinglang’s side in a flash. “Why did you come too?”
His Majesty wanted me to make sure you weren’t causing a fuss. Gu Xinglang couldn’t very well say that, so he replied, “His Majesty told me to accompany the princess.”
Yu Xiaoxiao pointed at the bedroom door and told Gu Xinglang, “The people inside aren’t talking.”
Gu Xinglang looked at the well-lit palace and said, “Is princess waiting for Junior Master Fenglin to come out?”
Yu Xiaoxiao said, “I think he and Consort Zhao are having an affair.”
“W-what?” Gu Xinglang looked at Xiao Wei questioningly, hoping that this reliable young man could give him a more accurate answer. He had just been waiting for awhile, but Consort Zhao was already engaging in adultery with Junior Master Fenglin?
Xiao Wei said, “Royal Son-in-Law, these aren’t things we can interfere with.”
So is there or isn’t there an affair? Gu Xinglang stared at Xiao Wei.
Xiao Wei said, “Royal Son-in-Law, it’s getting late. Aren’t you feeling a bit cold?”
Gu Xinglang shook his head. He was wearing thick robes and didn’t feel chilly at all. Yu Xiaoxiao reached out to touch Gu Xinglang’s face. Under the influence of the night wind, his skin was cold as ice. “Let’s go home,” Yu Xiaoxiao told Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei. “We can talk about love affairs another time.”
Xiao Wei quickly shot Xiao Zhuang a look before the duo ran to pick up Gu Xinglang’s sling chair. They’d rather die than gossip about the Eternal Life Temple junior master’s love affairs.
Gu Xinglang said, “Princess isn’t going to say goodbye to His Majesty?”
Xiao Wei quickly told Third Young Master Gu, “Royal Son-in-Law, it’s better to prevent His Majesty from seeing the princess right now.” Their emperor wasn’t strong at all, so if the princess kept hurting him, Xiao Wei was worried His Majesty’s life would be in danger.
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