Zhang Dequan ca today to inquire about Shangguan Yun’s condition.
According to the plan, Xiao Hen told Zhang Dequan that Shangguan Yun woke up for a while during the day and then fell asleep again in the afternoon.
Zhang Dequan was overjoyed to hear this and hurried back to the palace to report the good news about Shangguan Yun to the king.
anwhile, the five concubines in the palace panicked when they heard that Shangguan Yun had awakened.
If they originally harbored a trace of luck, thinking that Shangguan Yun was just trying to scare them and wouldn’t really go down with them, then Shangguan Yun’s awakening had undoubtedly sounded the final alarm for them.
They must quickly find sothing that could sway Shangguan Yun’s heart to redeem the leverage they had fallen into Shangguan Yun’s hands!
Night fell.
Little Jingkong, after being forcibly bathed by his naughty brother-in-law, climbed into bed, bounced twice in dissatisfaction, and fell asleep.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen had discussed it; now that Little Jingkong was his little follower, it was best for him to stay with him. When Shangguan Yun "recovered" enough to return to the palace, he would find an excuse to take Little Jingkong to stay at the Duke Residence.
"I’ll just say I’m going to my cousin’s house for a few days."
Anyway, the Crown Prince didn’t have many months left to live, and the king would fulfill all his "dying wishes".
Gu Jiao found it feasible.
After discussing, the two went to visit their grandaunt.
Gu Jiao was planning to pack for grandaunt, but saw grandaunt sitting in a chair, crossing her legs and eating sunflower seeds, while the old chief scholar had a bundle slung over his shoulder: "Everything is packed, let’s go!"
Gu Jiao’s mouth twitched; you sure are quick to settle in as a grandaunt...
The Han Family even set their sights on her South Teacher and the "Miss Gu" from the Academy of Won in Canglan was no longer safe.
Gu Jiao called for Gu Chengfeng and took a carriage to the Duke Residence.
The Duke usually slept early, but tonight he forced himself to stay awake to wait for the two elders.
Regarding her identity, Gu Jiao didn’t explain much, only saying her real na was Gu Jiao, and she was from Zhan Country. She didn’t ntion anything about being a marquis’s daughter or a county’s protector princess.
As for Empress Dowager Zhuang and the old chief scholar, she only said they were her grandaunt and granduncle.
The Duke was originally a noble in Shang Country, but since he cared about Gu Jiao, he also respected her elders.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of Feng Courtyard.
The Duke’s gaze remained fixed on the carriage, and when Gu Jiao jumped off it, the whole night seed to light up with his eyes.
It was a look of relief and joy as if he had finally seen his own child.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him and was helped off the carriage by Gu Jiao.
The old chief scholar got off by himself.
Empress Dowager Zhuang: You thick-skinned old thing, walk by yourself!
The caretaker, Zheng, smiling broadly, pushed the Duke toward the two elders: "Hello Elder Huo, hello Madam Huo."
The Duke wrote on the armrest: "I couldn’t personally welco you; please forgive ."
Gu Jiao said to her grandaunt, "The Duke says he welcos you very much."
Empress Dowager Zhuang cast a sidelong glance at her: "I don’t need your translation."
The little girl clearly has her heart elsewhere.
Gu Jiao said to the Duke, "My grandaunt is very pleased with you!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang’s mouth twitched, where do you see that I’m pleased? You’re turning your elbow out a bit too fast!
"Humph!" Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted and entered the courtyard with full aura.
Gu Jiao took the bundle from the old chief scholar and escorted her grandaunt to the prepared room: "Grandaunt, what do you think of the Duke?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang said expressionlessly, "You didn’t ask before, what about Liu Lang?"
Gu Jiao blinked, "The lon is cut, I’ll go fetch it!"
She disappeared out of the room in a second.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was both amused and annoyed, muttering carelessly, "He does seem better than your father from the Marquis Residence."
"Grandaunt! Granduncle!"
It was Gu Yan shouting excitedly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang had just sneaked a candied fruit, her hand trembled in shock, almost dropping it.
Gu Yan, you’ve changed.
You weren’t this noisy before!
After more than three months, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun finally saw their grandaunt and granduncle again, and both were very happy.
But slling the unmistakable scent of golden sore dicine and trauma wine on the two elders, their eyes dimd again.
"Are you injured?" Gu Yan asked.
Empress Dowager Zhuang waved dismissively, "I fell when it was raining that day, it’s nothing."
At such an old age and still falling, it must have been very painful.
Gu Yan’s eyes reddened slightly.
Gu Xiaoshun lowered his head and wiped the corners of his eyes.
"Alright, alright, aren’t I fine now?" Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn’t bear seeing the two children sad, and she tugged at Gu Yan’s hem, "Let see your wound."
"I don’t have a wound," Gu Yan said, lifting his chin.
Indeed, Empress Dowager Zhuang did not see any wound on his chest. She frowned and asked, "Didn’t you undergo surgery? Was it all just a ruse?"
Gu Yan’s eyes flickered. Exaggeratingly, he collapsed into Empress Dowager Zhuang’s arms, "Yes, I haven’t had the surgery yet. I’m so weak. Ah, my heart hurts. My heart condition is flaring up again—"
Empress Dowager Zhuang slapped him on the forehead.
Confird, this kid was indeed alive.
"It’s here." Gu Xiaoshun exposed him in a second, pulling up Gu Yan’s right arm, "The wound was made under the armpit, this small."
He gestured with his fingertips, "After applying the Scar Ointnt, it’s almost invisible."
The Empress Dowager Zhuang also wanted to see it.
Gu Jiao and Duke An were sitting under the veranda, cooling off. Although Duke An couldn’t turn his head, he could sense the genuine joy from the commotion inside just by listening.
Since losing Xuanyuan Zu and Yinyin, the East Residence hadn’t been this lively for a long ti.
Second Master Jing and the Second Madam often brought their children to accompany him, but that kind of liveliness did not belong to him.
He had been lonely for so long, so long that his heart was almost numb, so long that he had beco a living dead, unwilling to wake up again.
Countless tis, he wished to die in the endless darkness, but that clumsy brother of his had invited countless renowned doctors to extend his life.
Now, he was very grateful to that brother who never gave up on him.
Gu Jiao looked and asked, "Are you thinking about sothing?"
"Yes," Duke An wrote.
"What are you thinking about?" Gu Jiao asked.
Duke An hesitated for a mont and then wrote honestly, "I was thinking, with you by my side, it’s like having Yinyin here too."
That kind of heartfelt touch was the sa.
"Oh." Gu Jiao lowered her eyes.
Duke An hurriedly wrote, "Don’t misunderstand, I’m not taking you as a substitute for Yinyin."
"It’s okay," Gu Jiao said.
I can’t tell you the truth now.
Because, I don’t yet know where my fate lies.
When everything settles, I will surely tell you honestly.
It was late at night. Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, the two young lads, were still wide awake, while the aunt and the granduncle were being driven mad by the noise.
Especially Gu Yan.
After his heart condition was healed, his liveliness rivaled that of Little Jingkong. Due to not seeing them for so long, he had a lot stored up, chattering even more than Little Jingkong.
The aunt lay limp on the chair, feeling lifeless.
The once cold and reticent Little Yanyan, she had really misjudged him...
Duke An needed to rest. He bid farewell to everyone, and Gu Jiao pushed him back to his courtyard.
Gu Jiao pushed the Duke along the quiet path, followed by Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun’s laughter. The night breeze was gentle, and her mood was very pleasant.
When they reached the entrance of Duke An’s courtyard, Steward Zheng was conversing with a guard. Steward Zheng nodded to the guard, "Got it, I’ll inform the Duke. You may go."
"Yes," the guard cupped his fists and withdrew.
Steward Zheng paced for a bit at the entrance and was about to head to Feng Courtyard when he looked up to see Duke An had returned.
He quickly walked up, "My Lord."
The Duke inquired with his eyes, what’s the matter?
Steward Zheng didn’t hold back because of Gu Jiao’s presence. He said truthfully, "The guard escorting Miao Ruoxin has returned. Here’s Miao Ruoxin’s personal letter, please have a look."
Gu Jiao took the letter and opened it on Duke An’s armrest.
Steward Zheng quickly ran into the courtyard and fetched a lantern to illuminate it.
The letter stated that Miao Ruoxin intended to return to her country. She had stayed long enough and did not want to trouble the Duke Residence any further.
It was written very politely, but sending her off like that was not easy to explain to the Duke.
In case anything happened to Miao Ruoxin, people would bla the Duke Residence for not treating her well, leading to her being hard on the street.
Therefore, the guard followed her for so distance to ensure she was safe before returning to report.
Unexpectedly, they tracked her to the Han Family.
"She went inside?" Gu Jiao asked.
Steward Zheng looked at Gu Jiao and replied, "Yes, Young Master, she did. Our guard said she stayed at the Han Family for nearly an hour before returning to the inn to pack her belongings. She took her maid and entered the Han Family again, and hasn’t co out since!"
Gu Jiao calmly said, "It seems she found a new backer."
Steward Zheng nodded, "I think so too! I heard Han Shizi’s leg was crippled. She might be there as his doctor!"
"Let her be," Gu Jiao said.
With her dical skills, whether she cures or harms Han Ye is really uncertain.
Duke An didn’t care much about Miao Ruoxin’s whereabouts either. He wrote, "Keep an eye out, so people might co to the residence to inquire soon."
Steward Zheng, being quick-witted, imdiately understood the Duke’s implication, "You think Miao Ruoxin will inform the Han Family about Young Master’s relatives staying at our residence? Rest assured! Even if she sohow guessed it, I have ways to handle it!"
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