Chapter 811: 377 Mother’s kindness and filial piety (second watch) Chapter 811: 377 Mother’s kindness and filial piety (second watch) Gu Jiao was not good at dealing with emotional issues, but she rembered that her great-aunt was quite fond of Xue Ningxiang. She wondered if she still rembered Xue Ningxiang after having her brain struck once.
“Miss Gu has arrived!”
The palace maids from Renshou Palace paid their respects to Gu Jiao.
“Is the Empress Dowager in?” Gu Jiao asked.
“Yes, she just returned from court,” the palace maid added. “His Highness Prince Ning is also here.”
Hm?
Prince Ning returned to the Imperial Palace?
Since Gu Jiao began frequenting the Imperial Palace, she didn’t need to inquire deliberately to hear so of the movents at court. Prince Ning had recently taken Tang Yueshan to the north to suppress bandits.
Though it was said to be suppression, it was actually an excuse to investigate the military intelligence at the border pass—Chen Kingdom had grown restless again, quietly stationing a significant number of troops near the border.
Since it was a matter of politics, Gu Jiao did not go to disturb them. She went directly to the swing set to bask in the sun.
She was not afraid of getting tanned, although it seed that this body could not tan easily anyway.
While she swung, she pondered secretly when she might find a good opportunity to address the wrongs done by Concubine Jing. That woman had hard her great-aunt for so many years, and even if she couldn’t dethrone her imdiately, she owed so sort of interest.
Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a voice behind her, not quite certain, calling out: “Aunt?”
“Hmm?” As Gu Jiao’s swing ca back to the ground, she pointed her toes and brought the swing to a halt.
Then she turned around, looking towards the elegant young man who was walking through Chuihua Gate, “Prince Ning?”
Prince Ning appeared to be in a daze for a mont, let out an “Ah,” then ca back to his senses with a slight apologetic smile. “Sorry, I mistook you for soone else.”
His gaze lingered on Gu Jiao back and forth. “You really do resemble her quite a bit.”
Gu Jiao looked down at her attire—it was not the green clothes she usually wore, but a lake-blue tunic with water sleeves and a gathered waist that she had taken from her great-aunt’s place after getting her clothes dirty last ti.
Was it because of these clothes that he mistook her? Or—
Gu Jiao had never asked her great-aunt why there were so many young won’s clothes in her Sleeping Palace. She thought they were prepared for her.
But now, it seed not.
Indeed, it should not be.
The styles were clearly different.
Unless it involved her missions, Gu Jiao was not one to care about the details of her clothing.
The Yao family usually guessed her preferences and made clothes for her, but in truth, she was not picky about her wardrobe, just like soone who likes at wouldn’t refuse to eat if only vegetables were served.
She wore whatever she grabbed from the wardrobe, and it was fine as long as it fit. Today, she just happened to wear this set.
Prince Ning had once saved Gu Jiao during an attack on the wife of Prince Rui. They weren’t very familiar at the ti, and now he seed to approach Gu Jiao on his own initiative, perhaps because he had heard of her relationship with the Empress Dowager, or perhaps her attire seed familiar to him.
“Has anyone ever told you that you resemble Aunt Ning An?” he asked.
“Princess Ning An?” Gu Jiao shook her head. “No.”
Prince Ning smiled and said, “When I was very young, my aunt married far off to the north beyond the border, and I never saw her again after that. However, my aunt was very kind to and I have always rembered her.”
Gu Jiao responded with an “Oh,” and asked, “Do we look very much alike?”
If they did, she would have to start doubting her own origins.
“No, you don’t look alike…” Prince Ning said, his gaze falling on the birthmark on the left side of her face, “but there, she had an injury and was left with a small scar, always covered with a cinnabar-drawn begonia.”
Gu Jiao touched her own birthmark.
Prince Ning could not help but look at Gu Jiao a few more tis: “I was too busy catching assassins last ti to notice the resemblance, but seeing you today…”
For Prince Ning to persistently associate her with Ning An in conversation, it seed she indeed shared so traits with Princess Ning An beyond her appearance.
Most would be pleased to be compared to a princess, as it implied a likeness in aura and deanor, a high form of praise.
However, Gu Jiao remained calm.
She was neither pleased nor displeased.
Prince Ning continued, “I’ve heard all about the Empress Dowager’s situation, and I haven’t thanked you and your family yet for caring for her. If there’s anything you need, feel free to co to my residence anyti.”
Whether Prince Ning had drawn his sword to help last ti due to the wife of Prince Rui or out of a prince’s duty, the fact that Gu Jiao was spared a disaster because of him was indisputable.
Gu Jiao nodded: “Alright.”
Prince Ning seed very pleased, smiling broadly: “Then it’s settled. By the way, I heard from the Empress Dowager that you have good dical skills. Would you mind coming to my residence for a consultation?”
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