Chapter 201 Witness (Second Update)
This statement is tantamount to an admission.
The gazes of the crowd toward her grew increasingly filled with admiration.
Surrounded by a crowd, Gu Jinyu entered the girls' school. Before entering, she glanced at the clinic, trying to find Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao did not come to the clinic today.
She went to the post station to send a letter to Xue Ningxiang. There was a reply from Xue Ningxiang, as well as a reply from Zhou Erzhuang, whom Gu Changqing had brought from the military camp. She also sent some trinkets from the capital to Gouwa.
Gouwa is two years old now. He can walk, run, and jump, and he's also very good at calling people, especially calling "Dad".
In her letter, Gu Jiao asked Xue Ningxiang if she had any plans to find a father for Gouwa.
Gu Jiao didn't have those rigid ideas. In Gu Jiao's eyes, Xue Ningxiang was still young, only two years older than herself, and seventeen this year.
Gu Jiao didn't think that a woman had to find a man to be fulfilled, but she didn't have to remain a widow for life just for the sake of so-called reputation.
She has the right to pursue her own happiness.
The fact that she has mastered calligraphy shows that Xue Ningxiang is by no means a numb and resigned young widow. She has been influenced by the old lady for so long, and the old lady's affection for her is not for nothing.
She has her own pursuits.
However, she was very afraid that this pursuit would be a great transgression, and would ultimately invite everyone's contempt and ridicule.
Gu Jiao encountered someone when she came out of the post station.
We're not exactly acquaintances, but we've met before.
The other party was dressed in a magnificent brown-red brocade robe, exuding arrogance and swagger. He had handsome features and a wicked gaze.
However, Gu Jiao disliked his somewhat devilish charm.
Gu Jiao pretended not to see it and walked forward expressionlessly.
Just as they were passing each other, the other person suddenly stretched out his arm and blocked Gu Jiao's path.
"Young lady, it's been a long time." The Fourth Prince smiled. "What a coincidence, are you here to send a letter too?"
Gu Jiao looked at the arm blocking her way and felt a little annoyed.
To be fair, the fourth prince is not bad-looking. If he hadn't seen that handsome monk, he might have been considered to meet Gu Jiao's aesthetic standards.
But comparisons can be hurtful, can't they?
Both are alluring beauties, but the beautiful monk is leagues ahead of him!
Gu Jiao was extremely annoyed.
The Fourth Prince's eyes were blatant: "Oh, young lady, you have quite the fiery temper. But it's alright, I wouldn't bother taming a horse that isn't fiery. It's dry and windy, young lady, would you like to have a cup of tea sometime?"
Gu Jiao glanced at him indifferently: "Not thirsty."
The fourth prince persisted: "The pastries at Yuqionglou are quite good, would you like to try some, young lady?"
Gu Jiao said, "I'm not hungry."
The fourth prince said, "Then let's go listen to some opera."
After being annoyed to a certain extent, Gu Jiao suddenly calmed down and looked him up and down: "Do you have a lot of money on you?"
The fourth prince was taken aback.
What kind of talk is that? Does a prince like him need to pay money to go to the opera? But he did bring some money with him.
He laughed and said, "I brought them, quite a lot. Whatever the young lady likes, this prince will buy it for her."
Gu Jiao thought about it seriously: "Then we need to go somewhere where there are no people."
Make it cleaner.
She must not let her husband find out.
The fourth prince was surprised that the little girl was so perceptive. He paused for a moment, then thought it made perfect sense.
He is a prince; who would dare to oppose him?
"I know a place where I guarantee there will be no outsiders." The fourth prince smiled smugly and turned to lift the curtain of the carriage.
"Are you sure?" Gu Jiao asked.
My husband is a scholar who may become an official in the future. Openly robbing someone is not a suitable thing for a future scholar's wife.
So Gu Jiao decided to give him one last chance. If he really wanted to die, then she would have no choice but to grant his wish.
The Fourth Prince was a little puzzled. Wasn't the question reversed? Shouldn't he be the one asking her?
“Okay, young lady, please—” he gestured.
Just as Gu Jiao was about to board the carriage, another carriage drove up.
The carriage stopped beside the two of them, the curtain was lifted, and a handsome, refined figure stepped out.
"Your Highness, it's been a long time."
The opening remarks were exactly the same, spoken without any real thought, and sounded like they had ulterior motives.
The fourth prince narrowed his eyes, looked at the young man opposite him, and said, "Prince An?"
Prince An smiled gently, his gaze falling on Gu Jiao, and said, "Isn't this Miss Gu? Miss Gu doesn't need to go to the clinic today?"
"You know each other?" the fourth prince asked suspiciously.
Prince An smiled and said, "My sister and I stayed at the estate of the Marquis of Ding'an for a few days while we were traveling. This is the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an."
The Fourth Prince didn't know much about the Ding'an Marquis's residence; he had only met Gu Jinyu.
Prince An then said, "I just came out of the palace. I heard that His Majesty is looking for several princes. I wonder if there is something wrong."
Since he said that, how could the Fourth Prince still be in the mood to flirt with the beauty?
The fourth prince gave Prince An and Gu Jiao a deep look before getting into his carriage and leaving.
Prince An turned to look at Gu Jiao, his temperament gentle and his voice low and warm: "That is the fourth prince of the current dynasty."
"Yes." Gu Jiao knew.
Seeing that she wasn't surprised, Prince An paused for a moment, then smiled to himself, "That's true."
She wasn't some delicate flower in a greenhouse; how could she be so easily tricked into getting into a carriage by a man?
"Shall we go back to the clinic?" he asked.
"Mm." Gu Jiao nodded.
Just as Prince An was about to say, "I'll see you off," a sound came from above, and a tile from the eaves slid down.
Gu Jiao was facing herself, with a carriage opposite her and a corner of the wall beside her; she had no way to avoid it.
Prince An stepped forward and used his tall body to shield her from the tiles.
However, the pain he had imagined did not come. He blinked, looked up, and saw that the tile had been nailed to the roof of the carriage by the silver needle in Gu Jiao's hand.
Prince An: "..."
Prince An took a step back and smiled helplessly, "Miss Gu, have you always been this capable? It's impossible for anyone to be a hero and save the damsel in distress."
At the Imperial Academy, Xiao Liulang finished his studies.
As he went outside, he saw Gu Jiao waiting for him under a big tree with a small basket on her back.
She was also carrying two stacks of small medicine packets, one on each side.
Although the weather had cleared up, it was still not warm, especially after sunset when the wind on the street became even colder.
Xiao Liulang, leaning on his cane, hurried over: "Why didn't you wear more clothes?"
"It wasn't cold when I went out," she said.
That means it's cold now.
Xiao Liulang keenly grasped the information in her words. He took off his cloak and intended to hand it to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao glanced at the medicine packets in her hands, her implication clear: both hands were full.
People around them were looking at them.
Xiao Liulang's eyes flickered slightly, but he still draped the cloak over her shoulders, his slender, jade-like fingers gently tying the ribbon.
"Liu Lang, is your wife here to pick you up again?" A student who was on good terms with Feng Lin and thus knew Xiao Liu Lang asked jokingly as he passed by.
"Hmm," Xiao Liulang mumbled in response.
Gu Jiao looked at him with bright eyes.
Her face practically screamed, "I'm your wife now? Really? Really? Really?"
Xiao Liulang coughed lightly and looked away: "Let's go home."
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
Gu Jiao followed behind him, walking slowly out.
Suddenly, a pile of snow fell from the big tree.
Xiao Liulang pulled her over with one hand, and raised his other arm to shield her head. Snowflakes fell heavily, soaking his sleeves.
She remained motionless in his arms, staring at him with wide eyes, behaving very obediently.
This appearance was so deceptive that even Xiao Liulang, who was with her day and night, couldn't resist it for a moment, and his chest was suddenly filled with a surge of blood.
She's too obedient, I can't stand it.
Xiao Liulang's breathing became erratic, and he quickly turned his face away.
Gu Jiao pressed her head against his chest, exclaimed, "Your heart is beating so fast!"
Xiao Liulang suddenly took a step back: "No!"
Gu Jiao looked at his reddened little ears: "It's obvious."
Xiao Liulang said solemnly, "If I say no, then no!"
After saying that, he fled in panic, but in his nervousness he took the wrong path and crashed into a tree with a thud.
Gu Jiao: "..."
Gu Jiao, hahaha!
After the imperial examinations, the atmosphere at home became much more relaxed. The old lady went out to play cards, but she didn't forget to take her "old man" with her. If she lost, it was her "old man's" money; if she won, it was hers.
Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun would go to the Lu family to learn their skills every day after school, and they would also eat dinner there.
To be honest, the master's wife's cooking skills were not very good, comparable to Xiao Liulang's, but since their master said it was delicious, they could only bite the bullet and eat it.
Ever since Xiao Jingkong made his first good friend at the Imperial College, he plays with his friend every day after school, and today was no exception.
Compared to studying, Gu Jiao believes that Xiao Jingkong lacks interaction with his peers, so she strongly supports his after-school activities.
However, today, there is one more person in their small group—Qin Chuyu.
Xiao Jingkong looked puzzled: "Why is he here?"
Xu Zhouzhou whispered, "Sigh, my dad insists I take him with me, and I'm really worried."
Xu Zhouzhou and Qin Chuyu didn't actually know each other. Qin Chuyu and Xiao Jingkong were in the same class, while Xu Zhouzhou was in a regular class. It was all arranged by his father, so he couldn't refuse.
Xiao Jingkong disliked Qin Chuyu for two reasons: firstly, Qin Chuyu was spoiled and unreasonable; secondly, whenever he was with Qin Chuyu, no one could hear him. Xiao Jingkong didn't yet understand what kind of emotion this was, and he instinctively felt uncomfortable with it.
Xu Zhouzhou has no feelings for Qin Chuyu.
But he could sense that his friends didn't welcome Qin Chuyu.
He felt he had done something wrong and whispered, "I'm sorry, I promise I won't bring him next time."
"It's okay, I can play with him for your sake." Xiao Jingkong is a generous child; as long as he doesn't compete with him for Jiaojiao, everything else is negotiable.
"What are you guys playing?" Qin Chuyu asked.
Xu Zhouzhou said, "We are building a house."
Qin Chuyu said arrogantly, "What's the point of building such a small house? If you're going to build something, build a palace!"
"What is the imperial palace?" Little Jingkong was a good child who would ask questions if he didn't understand.
"The palace is where my father... cough, the emperor lives!" Qin Chuyu almost let it slip, and broke out in a sweat feeling guilty.
Fortunately, neither of the children recognized it.
Xiao Jingkong then asked, "What is an emperor?"
He grew up in a temple and had never been exposed to such information. Now that he's in his family, they never mention emperors.
Xu Zhouzhou came from an official family, so he understood this. He explained to his friend, "He is the ruler of Zhao Kingdom, the most powerful person in the world!"
"Oh." Xiao Jingkong seemed to understand but didn't really want to. He was only interested in their little house. "I've never seen a palace before, so I don't know how it's built."
Xu Zhouzhou shrugged: "I've never seen it either."
They've never even seen a royal palace; what two country bumpkins!
Qin Chuyu remembered his father's teachings: he must not reveal his identity as a prince.
However, he secretly made a mental note of it, planning to ask his sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, for permission to bring his two friends into the palace for a visit during the next ten-day holiday.
The following day, His Majesty personally summoned Lord Gu to verify the matter concerning the bellows.
Consort Shu was also present.
The smile on Consort Shu's face never disappeared.
His Majesty was still quite cautious and asked another question: "I have heard that Vice Minister Gu has another daughter."
Consort Shu had mentioned Gu Jinyu's background to His Majesty. Before that, His Majesty had already agreed to confer upon Consort Shu the title of County Princess, and he did not go back on his word just because she was not the Marquis's biological daughter.
He's just a county lord without a fief or estate, it doesn't matter.
The bellows is a matter of great importance.
Lord Gu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, my eldest daughter grew up in the countryside and has never received much education."
The meaning of this statement is quite clear: how could someone who is completely illiterate make such a remarkable invention?
Lord Gu's expression didn't seem like he was lying, and besides, His Majesty didn't think he had any reason to lie. Who would give the credit of their own daughter to their adopted daughter?
His Majesty drafted an imperial edict, bestowing upon Gu Jinyu the title of Princess Hui, a second-rank official.
This is the first princess of this dynasty who was not of royal lineage.
Generally speaking, only the legitimate daughters of princes are qualified to be granted the title of princess. The daughters of princes are second-rank princesses, and the daughters of crown princes are first-rank princesses.
Gu Jinyu is the first princess of the dynasty who is not of royal lineage. Her rank is slightly lower than that of a royal princess, but only by half a rank, and she enjoys a fief of 500 households.
Although this fiefdom is worth very little silver, it represents a great deal of significance.
From this day forward, she is truly recognized by the royal family.
Her status was more than enough to be a suitable match for a prince.
Of course, the emperor did not forget the carpenter who invented the bellows and the old blacksmith who was the first to promote the bellows to the people free of charge.
He decided to summon the two men to the capital to bestow titles and rewards upon them.
(End of this chapter)
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