Chapter 610 Divine Assistance (Second Update)

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), Xiao Jingkong returned home from the Imperial College.

"Jiaojiao!"

The first thing he did upon entering the room was to throw down his schoolbag and flutter his little arms, searching everywhere for Gu Jiao.

With many patients at home recently, Gu Jiao has been staying at home most of the time, except for house calls for critically ill patients.

Xiao Jingkong couldn't find Gu Jiao in the courtyard, so he went to Gu Jiao's east room.

The east room was also empty. Little Jingkong, unwilling to give up, came in and searched everywhere, even under the bed. He squatted down and scratched his little head in confusion: "Huh? Where's Jiaojiao? Where did Jiaojiao go?"

Xiao Jingkong decided to continue searching in other rooms, but just as he got up, he unexpectedly saw a small creature lying on the ground.

It's blue, and it looks somewhat familiar.

Xiao Jingkong picked up the soft little blue bottle: "Wow! It tastes good!"

Gu Jiao tried everything she could to help Xiao Jingkong grow taller, such as giving him oral calcium supplements.

However, I only drank it for half a month, and then it stopped.

Xiao Jingkong really misses that sweet and sour taste.

"Slurp~" Xiao Jingkong swallowed.

Jiaojiao only lets him drink one bottle at a time. There are two bottles here. Hmm, he's going to hide them!

Xiao Jingkong quietly slipped the two small bottles into his pocket.

His little tricks for hiding things were exactly the same as Empress Dowager Zhuang's method of hiding candied fruit.

After hiding his treasure, he put his little hands behind his back, tilted his head back, and walked out nonchalantly with the same gait as his great-aunt: "Old Zhao! Let's play cards!"

As the family grew, there wasn't enough room in this house, so fortunately, we connected it with the house next door, making the most of the neighbor's house and yard.

The reason Xiao Jingkong couldn't find Gu Jiao was because Gu Jiao went to the backyard next door to build a rehabilitation area for Huangfu Xian.

Xiao Jingkong heard the tinkling sound and his eyes lit up: "Jiaojiao!"

He quickly ran to the backyard, which was now connected to the backyard of the two houses, making it very convenient to come and go.

Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun were busy working in a lumberyard when they saw him rushing over. Gu Jiao quickly said, "Jingkong, don't come any closer! There are nails all over the ground!"

"Oh." Xiao Jingkong stopped in disappointment, and stood on tiptoe to look at Jiaojiao through a pile of wood.

Gu Jiao said to him, "Go do your homework first. By the time you're done, I'll be done here too."

Xiao Jingkong sighed: "Fine."

Xiao Jingkong returned to the front yard, where Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu were gnawing and pecking at his book bag. The dog and the eagle still hadn't gotten rid of their habit of destroying things.

Xiao Jingkong picked up the book bag he had thrown on the ground, drooped his little head, and dragged the book bag to the west room.

Today's questions were a bit difficult; he didn't know how to do one of them.

He thought for a moment, then jumped off the chair and went to the study to find his wicked brother-in-law.

The door was half-open.

He pushed open the door, and sure enough, someone was in the study.

But it wasn't the bad brother-in-law, but rather his mother, Princess Xinyang.

"Princess?" Xiao Jingkong stepped forward and greeted her politely.

Princess Xinyang was standing in front of a row of bookshelves, with her back to the door.

Upon hearing this, she raised her hand, wiped her eyes, turned around, and said gently, "Oh, it's Jingkong. What brings you here, Jingkong? Are you looking for your brother-in-law?"

Xiao Jingkong looked at her and nodded honestly: "Yes, there's a question I can't answer."

Princess Xinyang extended her hand and said gently, "Your brother-in-law isn't here, let me take a look for you."

"Okay." Xiao Jingkong handed her the test paper.

Princess Xinyang took it, examined it carefully, and said, "This is a line from the Book of Songs. You haven't learned this passage yet, have you?"

Xiao Jingkong nodded again: "Mm!"

“Come, I’ll teach you.” Princess Xinyang reached out her hand to him.

Little Jingkong came to Princess Xinyang's side, climbed onto the chair and sat down. Princess Xinyang recited sentences to him, and he stared straight at her.

Princess Xinyang noticed his gaze: "What's wrong?"

"Have you cried?" Xiao Jingkong asked.

"No," Princess Xinyang denied instinctively.

"Oh." Children are easily trusting in some ways, especially the highly reputable Princess Xinyang. Little Jingkong thought for a moment and then said, "You don't look very happy. Is something bothering you?"

Princess Xinyang paused for a moment and then said, "There's nothing too worrying about."

Xiao Jingkong said, "So you have a little worry. Are you worried about your bad brother-in-law? Sigh, relax. Although your bad brother-in-law is a bit clumsy, his cooking is terrible, and he's not very smart, always getting the lowest score, he still managed to get an official position! Look at Grandpa Zhao's grandson next door, he's about the same age as your bad brother-in-law, and he idles away his days. It's really making him worry so much!"

He spoke earnestly, which amused Princess Xinyang.

Why does a five-year-old seem to be worrying about things that are fifty years old?

Despite his constant complaints about Xiao Heng, Xiao Jingkong treats Xiao Heng's mother with the utmost respect, just as he respects Gu Jiao's mother.

He thought for a moment, then reluctantly pulled a small bottle from his pocket: "Princess, this is for you." After thinking for a moment, he pulled out another one as well, "Never mind, you can have them both."

"What is it?" Princess Xinyang asked.

Xiao Jingkong said, "It's a very delicious drink, even adults can drink it. I saw Jiaojiao give it to her great-aunt last time."

Princess Xinyang looked at the small blue bottle in her hand and asked, "Is it medicine?"

Xiao Jingkong said seriously, "Hmm, I don't know. My aunt had a leg cramp last time, and Jiaojiao gave her the drink, but I didn't have a cramp, and Jiaojiao gave me the drink too."

Princess Xinyang replied to him, "Then you can keep it for yourself."

Xiao Jingkong stuffed the little blue bottle back in: "No need, I'm not sad."

Princess Xinyang was indeed saddened.

But it wasn't because she was worried about Xiao Heng. Xiao Heng had grown up and was capable of standing on his own, so she no longer needed to worry about him day and night. It was because the child she saw today reminded her of Xiao Qing, who had died young.

Clutching the small bottle in her hand, she suppressed the pain in her heart and asked, "Will drinking this really make me feel better?"

Xiao Jingkong nodded vigorously: "Really, really! I'm always so happy after drinking it!"

Princess Xinyang smiled through her tears: "Then I'll accept it, thank you."

Xiao Jingkong took the questions he had just asked back to the west room to continue doing his homework.

Princess Xinyang went next door to greet Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng before returning to Zhuque Street.

At dinner, Yu Jin was limping, and Princess Xinyang asked curiously, "What's wrong with your leg?"

Yu Jin said in pain, "I just had a cramp."

"Let me see," said Princess Xinyang.

Yu Jin smiled and said, "No need, it's nothing serious, it'll be fine tomorrow."

Princess Xinyang was silent for a moment, then took out two small bottles from her purse and handed them to her: "Take these and drink them, they can cure leg cramps."

...

On the other side, Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun worked hard all afternoon and finally completed the construction of the entire set of rehabilitation facilities. Starting tomorrow, Huangfuxian will be able to begin systematic rehabilitation training.

This will be a long and painful process, requiring Huangfuxian to have strong resilience and willpower.

Walking was not as easy as he had imagined. After discarding his crutches, every step he took was like being pierced by a thousand arrows.

"Are you scared?" Gu Jiao asked Huangfu Xian.

"If you're afraid, is there any medicine that will relieve the pain?" Huangfu asked in return.

“No,” Gu Jiao said.

Painkillers all have side effects, so it's best to avoid using them if possible.

Huangfu Xian took a deep breath: "Then I'm not afraid." He had no choice but to be unafraid.

Gu Jiao handed him the cane: "Try to get used to it yourself first."

"Okay." Huangfu Xian took the crutch and slowly stood up with Gu Xiaoshun's help. Half of his weight was on the crutch and the other half on Gu Xiaoshun's arm that was supporting him from behind. Even so, he could already feel the pain in his stump.

I can't imagine what it would be like to actually lose my cane.

Gu Jiao began cleaning the yard.

Yu Ya'er suddenly walked over with an unwashed bowl: "Young Miss!"

"What's wrong?" Gu Jiao asked.

Yu Ya'er didn't speak, but looked awkwardly towards the front gate of her own courtyard.

Gu Jiao had just heard the sound of the carriage, but she didn't pay much attention to it. However, judging from Yu Ya'er's movements, it seemed that some uninvited guest had arrived.

"Okay, I'll go take a look." Gu Jiao put down the broom.

Yu Ya'er said, "I'll sweep in a bit, I'm almost done washing!"

Gu Jiao nodded and went to her own main room, where she saw Gu Jinyu, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

Gu Jinyu had been staying at home awaiting her marriage for some time and had hardly left the house.

Not long ago, the Zhuang family's property was confiscated. In addition to the exile of Prince An's entire clan, Gu Jinyu's marriage to Prince An was also affected.

"Are you here to see Zhuang Yuheng?" Gu Jiao asked.

“Zhuang…” Gu Jinyu was surprised by Gu Jiao’s address to Prince An, but she didn’t say anything in the end. She said in a low voice, “I’m here to see my sister.”

She looked much more haggard, and her cheeks had thinned out.

It's not surprising, considering the dishonorable nature of this marriage. Afterwards, the Zhao Kingdom was plagued by frequent wars, and the wedding was postponed again and again. Now that her fiancé has done something like this, it would be strange if she didn't look haggard.

"What do you want with me?" Gu Jiao asked casually.

"May I come inside and talk to my sister?" Gu Jinyu asked awkwardly, standing at the door.

Gu Jiao turned around and found a chair in the main room to sit down.

Gu Jinyu sat down in another chair, one table away from Gu Jiao.

As soon as she opened her mouth, tears welled up in her eyes: "Sister, I really know I was wrong... Please forgive me..."

Gu Jiao glanced at her indifferently: "What do I forgive you for?"

Gu Jinyu clenched her handkerchief and choked back tears, saying, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have overestimated myself and always opposed my sister. I shouldn't have acted so arrogantly just because my father doted on me. Please, sister, give me one last chance to make amends for the sake of our parents from the third branch of the Gu family."

Gu Jiao frowned in annoyance: "Speak like a human being."

With tears in her eyes, Gu Jinyu said, "Father wants to break off my engagement with Prince An... Sister, you must know Father's temperament. He also opposed your engagement with your brother-in-law in the past. Sister, please help me! I don't want to break off the engagement! My innocence belongs to Zhuang Yuheng, I can't marry someone else!"

Gu Jiao asked, "Zhuang Yuheng has nothing left now, yet you still insist on marrying him?"

Gu Jinyu said firmly, "Yes. I don't know where he is now, but my brother-in-law used to be his colleague, so he should have a way to contact him. I hope my sister can pass on a message for me: if Father comes looking for him, please ask him not to agree to break off the engagement!"

Gu Jiao glanced at him and said, "Zhuang Yuheng is right next door. Go and talk to him yourself."

Gu Jinyu went next door with a surprised look on her face.

Prince An was packing his luggage when he heard that Gu Jinyu had come to see him. He hesitated for a moment but still went to the main room to meet her.

"Your Highness!" Upon seeing him, Gu Jinyu was overcome with longing, and her eyes reddened once again.

Prince An maintained a proper distance from her, observing etiquette, and asked politely, "Miss Gu, what brings you here?"

Gu Jinyu repeated what she had just said to Gu Jiao.

Prince An lowered his eyes and sighed: "I am deeply grateful for Miss Gu's kindness. However, does Miss Gu really intend to marry me?"

Gu Jinyu looked at him hurtfully: "Are you doubting me? If I didn't truly want to marry you, why would I ask you to break off the engagement with my father?"

Prince An explained, "It's not that I doubt you, but I'm worried that it might upset Miss Gu. I'm leaving the capital, going somewhere thousands of miles away, and I may never come back in this lifetime."

Gu Jinyu asked, puzzled, "Where...are you going?"

Prince An truthfully replied, "My family has been exiled to the border."

Gu Jinyu's expression changed: "But you weren't exiled!"

Prince An said calmly, "I'm worried about them."

Many of them deserved their fate, but there were also innocent ones, such as the two younger sisters in the family, who had never participated in their grandfather's ambitions.

Prince An continued, “I have already submitted my resignation to the cabinet and petitioned His Majesty to remove me from my position as a prince. Therefore, if you really want to marry me, you can only go with me to the border in the future… and live as a commoner.”

As he spoke, he stared intently at Gu Jinyu, "Miss Gu, are you still willing to accept this marriage?"

Gu Jinyu was stunned.

(End of this chapter)