Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Mutually Beneficial Matters

Xianzong’s decree didn’t say much except to summon Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang to the palace after the morning court session tomorrow. After accepting the decree, Yu Xiaoxiao rose and asked the eunuch, “What does my imperial father want me for?”

The eunuch shook his head. “Your Royal Highness, this servant dare not ask questions about His Majesty’s matters.”

Wang momo stepped forward and stuffed a bag full of money into the eunuch’s hands before staring at him wordlessly. The eunuch weighed the bag and saw that it was quite heavy, then replied, “Tomorrow morning, Eldest Prince Jing will enter the palace. This servant believes it’s to do with the matter of the imperial princes.”

Everyone knew what he meant with a hint. The palace wanted the princess and Royal Son-in-Law to discuss sending His Seventh Highness to Zhuri. Immediately Gu Xinglang decided to leave first thing tomorrow with Yu Ziyi. Yu Xiaoxiao only stared at the bag of money in the eunuch’s hands. Could Fengtian’s royal court be any good with some blatant bribery running rampant?

The eunuch knew that he had nothing but bad news for Princess Linglong and the rest of the family. After paying respects to the royal couple, he left promptly without a word. Yu Xiaoxiao watched him leave with everyone else at the gates before saying, “Let’s all go to bed.”

“Princess, what do you think about tomorrow’s matters?” Gu Chen asked.

“Let’s talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. As long as the world wasn’t ending, nothing was that important in her eyes.

“You go rest,” Gu Xinglang looked down at her. “I’ll go to the bedroom later.”

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t doubt his words. After all, her stomach was full, so she couldn’t think of anything else to do besides sleep. She brought the lost and helpless Wang momo back with her to their rooms. Meanwhile, Gu Chen had told the Old Madam and wives to go to bed too before bringing his three grandsons back to his study. This time, Gu Xinglang was carried in by his two brothers.

As soon as they were inside, old patriarch Gu declared, “Xinglang has to accompany the princess into the palace tomorrow. Xingyan, you take His Seventh Highness out of the city. No need to head anywhere in particular, just go northwest where Wuzhou is. That’s the home of the Jiang Clan as well as the garrison post for their troops. They should be able to protect His Seventh Highness.”

Hearing this, Gu Xingyan nodded without hesitation. “Alright, I’ll take His Seventh Highness.”

Gu Xinglang grew anxious. He didn’t want to sadden Yu Xiaoxiao, but neither was he willing to implicate his family members. Guessing his thoughts, Gu Xingnuo said, “Don’t say things like implicating the family. The princess not only did you a kindness, but all of us. It’s only natural for me and second brother to do something for His Seventh Highness.”

Gu Xingyan said, “Third, don’t be a fool. Even if you didn’t get involved with all this, the court has plenty to pick fault with for our clan. We’re not a family that fears others.”

“Then it’s set,” Gu Chen didn’t allow Gu Xinglang to speak up either. “Tomorrow morning, Xingyan will leave with His Seventh Highness to Wuzhou on the pretext of seeking a cure for Xinglang. Eldest, second, take little third back to his rooms.”

Gu Xingnuo and Gu Xingyan picked up Gu Xinglang’s sling chair and carried him away. Once the grandsons were gone, their grandfather settled into his seat with a long sigh. He was only gambling on the chance that Xianzong wouldn’t kill them because they were Princess Linglong’s in-laws. As for making enemies with a random imperial concubine, the old man with tens of thousands of battle experience beneath his belt had no fear.

Outside the study, the two older brothers set down their youngest’s sling chair. Gu Xinglang immediately spoke up. “Second brother, as long as I say I’m not feeling well, I won’t have to enter the palace tomorrow. Let me take His Seventh Highness instead.”

“Third,” Gu Xingyan replied, “If you travel abroad with His Seventh Highness like this, who’s supposed to protect whom if you run into trouble? Don’t fuss.”

Gu Xingnuo half crouched and looked at Gu Xinglang. “Third brother, even if you bring His Seventh Highness away, you’re our Gu Clan’s third young master. How could we just sit by and watch?”

Gu Xinglang had been thinking wholeheartedly of his wife, so he hadn’t considered the problem from all angles. Gu Xingnuo’s words gave him a guilty conscience once again. Gu Xingnuo knew his youngest brother liked to think too much, so he patted Gu Xinglang’s hand and murmured, “Silly lad, don’t think so much. We’re a family, so we’ll face triumphs and disasters together. If His Seventh Highness becomes a great man one day, won’t we’ll benefit just the same?”

Gu Xingyan grew dissatisfied. “Big brother, your words are so vulgar. Help someone for its own sake! You still want rewards?”

Gu Xingnuo glanced at his brothers with a wry grin. “I only wanted to say that everything in this world can be mutually beneficial. The princess saved us and gained a good husband by it. We help His Seventh Highness and might gain more status and wealth in the future. That’s why, Xinglang, you don’t have to think so deeply. Go with the princess to the palace tomorrow, don’t let the people there and Jing Mo catch anything amiss.”

“That’s right, ah,” Gu Xingyan chimed in, “Hurry up and consummate your wedding with the princess so you can spend your life with her properly.”

Gu Xingnuo glared at his blabbering brother. “What kind of nonsense are you spewing now?”

Gu Xingyan grinned. “Can you still count as husband and wife unless you sleep together? Xinglang might be be able to move, but the princess can, ah. Hey Third, the book I gave you should have that position in it, right?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gu Xinglang was blushing bright red. “Eldest brother, you take me back.”

“Shut up,” Gu Xingnuo shook his head at Gu Xingyan. “Let’s take Xinglang back.”

In the bedroom, Yu Xiaoxiao was already asleep. Because she was so short, she made the expansive bed look rather empty. Gu Xinglang was delivered to his doorstep, where two strong momo carried him into bed. Hearing movement next to her, Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyelids flickered open to see Gu Xinglang, then slid shut again.

Gu Xinglang waved to dismiss the momo and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Yu Xiaoxiao. Gu Xingyan’s boorish words still rang in his head. Seeing the sight of his wife’s flushed, sleeping face made his lower body hot, so he subconsciously reached out to stroke her cheek. The smooth skin beneath his fingers only seemed to make him warm and restless.

Awakened by the motion, Yu Xiaoxiao asked him with eyes closed, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Xinglang was still a virgin, so he was feeling rather guilty about touching his wife’s voice. Her voice made his hand burn as he quickly withdrew his fingers.

Yu Xiaoxiao opened her eyes and met gazes with him.

“It’s fine,” Gu Xinglang fumbled, “You should sleep.”

Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes swept downwards. In the no morals world of the apocalypse, Drillmaster Yu had seen her share of copulating couples even if she never tasted flesh herself. She stuck her hand into Gu Xinglang’s pants and helped him stroke a few times, before remarking, “Are you uncomfortable from being pent up so long? Since we can’t roll in the sheets, I’ll help you rub it first.”

Translator’s Note: I went (o _ o) at that last part. Two things to remember is that 1) yes, they did marry quite young in ancient times in all cultures and 2) Yu Xiaoxiao is acting her mental age now no matter how young she is physically. Oh my goodness, do I need to put a special warning here now….