Chapter 333 Counterattack (Two Updates)
In the end, the old lord did not let Gu Yan pay the bill. He took out his money pouch, took out a silver coin from it, and handed it to the waiter. However, he may have taken it too quickly, and a red rope-woven pipa knot came out with it.
Gu Yan quickly picked up the pipa knot. The pipa knot looked quite old, faded and frayed.
It's hard to imagine that a tough, strong man would have such a thing in his purse.
"Did your confidante give it to you?" Gu Yan asked.
It was obviously a gift from a woman, but not from the old lady of the mansion. He and the old lady Gu were only superficially close, so he wouldn't wear something from her.
"Cough, no, don't talk nonsense." The old Marquis put the pipa knot back into his money bag.
Gu Yan didn't believe it. He asked curiously, "I didn't realize you had a confidante. Where is she now?"
She's definitely not at the manor; the old concubines there were dealt with long ago by Madam Gu.
The old Marquis has never mentioned his feelings to anyone over the years, keeping all his bitterness bottled up inside. To be honest, he does have a strong urge to confide in others.
He hesitated for a moment and said, "It belongs to a friend of mine. He left it with me, and I was just about to return it to him."
My friend?
What a familiar opening!
Having read all of the old master's romantic tales, Gu Yan said he understood, he understood very well!
He raised his handsome little eyebrows: "So where is your friend's confidante now?"
The old marquis sighed sadly: "She... became a nun."
"Why did you become a monk?" Gu Yan asked.
“My husband passed away against his will. However…” The old marquis paused here, “It may also be so that I could see my friend one more time before I die.”
Who would have thought that old men were so popular with women?
Gu Yan didn't inquire about the reasons why she was unable to do what she wanted. His focus was on the next sentence. He said thoughtfully, "It seems that this confidante is deeply in love with your friend."
The old marquis looked down at the love knot in his hand and said, "It's a pity we met too late. I wish we could have met before I was married."
Gu Yan said, "But her husband is already dead, isn't he? And she even shaved her head and became a nun for your friend. You... cough, I mean, can't your friend really see her feelings?"
The old marquis frowned: "You mean—"
Gu Yan said, "What I mean is, she might have been waiting for your friend to take her away."
"Take her... away?" The old Marquis was shocked. This child really knows how to say something outrageous!
Gu Yan nodded: "Yes. I'm asking you, why does your friend think she became a nun just to see him? Did she say that herself, right? Or did she make your friend feel her affection for you?"
“…Yes.” The old Marquis nodded in agreement.
Gu Yan slammed his hand on the table: "That's settled! She's a woman, and the amount of affection she can express is already her limit. She can't just keep saying that you'll elope with me. We men have to take the initiative in these kinds of things!"
The old Marquis was stunned by Gu Yan's words and forgot to mention that Gu Yan was only fifteen, still wet behind the ears, and not a real man.
"This...this is utterly outrageous!"
How did this child grow up? He's bolder than his three older brothers!
Gu Yan: "What's so outrageous about it? If you like it, just go for it."
The old marquis hesitated: "What if she's unwilling—"
“If she’s unwilling, it means she doesn’t care about your friend…” Gu Yan patted his grandfather’s shoulder and analyzed for him with his extensive experience reading countless romance novels. “She’s already become a nun, what else wouldn’t she be willing to risk? If she’s unwilling to elope, then there’s only one truth—she doesn’t like your friend and has just been taking advantage of his feelings for her!”
-
Gu Jiao had been busy at the clinic all morning, and finally had a little free time in the afternoon. She rarely didn't have to deal with gunpowder, so she lay down on the rattan chair under the big tree to cool off for a while.
Li Wanwan was practicing the piano next door, separated by a wall.
She had gotten used to coming here at this time every day to practice the piano for Gu Jiao, but she didn't know if Gu Jiao was there every time.
Her piano skills have improved significantly since the year before last, but today she seemed preoccupied, as she played absentmindedly.
"You played it wrong again," Gu Jiao said calmly.
"Ah!" Li Wanwan's face paled. She hadn't expected her mistress to be there today, especially since her mistress hadn't listened to her practice the zither for several days.
She quickly composed herself and said, "I... I'll play it again properly."
The results were still unsatisfactory.
She was so nervous that her palms were sweating.
It's strange, even though the other person isn't her teacher, she's still more nervous than when she's with her teacher.
"I'm sorry, I should have been more focused..." She bit her lip and whispered, "I might not be able to come next month... I... I'm getting married..."
She was actually not very old, only sixteen. In this dynasty, unlike the previous one, it was not considered a problem for a woman to get married at eighteen or nineteen.
However, it depends on the specific circumstances. Daughters of wealthy families can afford to marry, but women from poor families like her have to get married early.
I've heard that girls in the countryside get married earlier. Thinking about it, I'm lucky. At least I made it to sixteen and had the chance to attend a girls' school for half a year. I also met a girl through the girls' school and received so much guidance from her.
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
No one will play the piano for me anymore.
When will Xiao Jiangli learn to play the piano?
“I’ve been thinking about saying goodbye to the girl these past few days and thanking her. My biggest gain from the girls’ school was meeting her. Originally, my family was going to let me drop out of school after the New Year, but the piece she revised for me caught the eye of Music Master Xie. Only after his insistence did my family let me study for another six months.”
As Li Wanwan spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, "Speaking of which, this marriage is all thanks to you, Miss. I play the zither very well, and a young master from a prominent family heard me and came to my father to ask for my hand in marriage."
Gu Jiao didn't see her expression, but she could easily tell from her words that she longed for marriage, so it seemed that she also admired that young master.
“Young lady, I… may I give you something? You’ve taught me so much, I’d feel terrible if I just left like this. Please accept my token of gratitude. It’s nothing valuable, just a small medicine bag, please accept it.”
"Mm," Gu Jiao replied faintly.
Li Wanwan was overjoyed. She took out a medicine bag that had been rusted for several nights from her wide sleeve, and put a few dates inside so that it wouldn't be too light to throw.
"Girl, catch!"
She threw the medicine bag over the courtyard wall.
Gu Jiao caught it with one hand: "Thank you."
Li Wanwan smiled brightly: "Of course! Then, I'll take my leave! There are still a few days left, and I will try my best to play a few more pieces for you. If I don't come one day, then... I won't come again."
In the end, she suddenly felt a little disappointed.
I can't bear to part with the girl.
I don't know if I'll ever meet someone like that again, someone who is both a teacher and a friend.
She packed up the guqin, picked up the case, and left.
Snap!
A small brocade pouch landed squarely on her violin case.
She was slightly taken aback: "Miss?"
"A wedding gift," Gu Jiao said.
Li Wanwan smiled happily, like a child.
"Miss Gu, Miss Gu! Someone needs a doctor to come to their home; they say the situation is very urgent!" Xiao Sanzi rushed over in a hurry.
"How critical is it?" Gu Jiao asked.
Xiao Sanzi said fearfully, "His hand...his hand is broken! Cut off! It was a lumberjack!"
This is considered a major operation, and Gu Jiao has to go in person.
"Okay, I'll go." Gu Jiao slung her small basket over her shoulder, and Xiao Sanzi drove the cart to the mansion on Qingliu Street that the servant had mentioned.
As they walked, Xiao Sanzi realized something was wrong: "Hey? This isn't the way to Qingliu Street!"
The servant rode ahead on horseback. Hearing this, he didn't turn around and said, "When I came here, they were doing roadworks over there. We'll have to go around from here."
"What's wrong? Is the road wrong?" Gu Jiao asked casually.
"It's a bit roundabout," Xiao Sanzi muttered.
Gu Jiao lifted the curtain and looked at the scene along the street.
Not every street in the capital is bustling and lively; some remote areas are quite desolate.
This is an old street with few pedestrians and shops. Further ahead is an official road with wheat fields on both sides.
That's right, there are fields in the capital, but they are all in relatively remote areas.
"What a perfect ambush spot..."
This is an instinct I developed in my past life as an assassin; whenever I see a location, I subconsciously judge whether it is suitable for committing a crime.
However, she stopped as soon as the thought crossed her mind.
Something's not right.
Something is very wrong.
It's an assassin's intuition.
Gu Jiao lowered the curtains, then flung open the front blind. She shot out a silver needle, which pierced the servant leading the way.
The servant let out a scream and fell off his horse.
"Miss Gu, you—" Xiao Sanzi was dumbfounded.
"Turn around!" Gu Jiao didn't have time to explain to him.
As expected of someone who has seen the world following Gu Jiao, Xiao Sanzi didn't let her down at the crucial moment. If it were the Second Master here, he probably would have fainted by now.
He didn't ask why they turned around; he trusted Gu Jiao.
Unfortunately, it was too late. The men in black, who had been lying in ambush under the ridges of the fields, rushed toward Gu Jiao's carriage like arrows.
Each person carried a gleaming broadsword, their eyes sharp and their killing intent palpable!
Gu Jiao didn't need to count to know that there were ten people on the other side.
They really think highly of her, sending so many people to surround and kill her!
"You go first!"
Gu Jiao jumped off the carriage.
Xiao Sanzi didn't make a fuss about leaving. He knew his own limitations; he didn't know martial arts, and staying would only be a burden to Miss Gu.
It would be better to report to the authorities quickly; perhaps that could bring help to Miss Gu.
Of course, it would be good if he could distract a few assassins.
He was willing to do anything for Miss Gu!
"Come on, assassins!"
He tightened his grip on the reins and looked back.
Uh, none of them caught up...
Gu Jiao was surrounded by men in black.
She swept her cold gaze over them: "Let's all come at once, it's too tiring to do it one by one."
The men in black all gave Gu Jiao a look of disdain and charged at her with their knives.
"Perfect timing to test my gunpowder on you guys." Gu Jiao narrowed her eyes slightly. It was a pity there were only three pieces; she wondered how powerful they really were.
In her past life, she played with a small firecracker that could explode when thrown on the ground without being lit.
The black powder she made was similar to firecrackers, only more powerful.
Gu Jiao took out a piece of gunpowder and threw it at a man in black. With a loud bang, the man in black was knocked unconscious.
So-so.
Gu Jiao wasn't too satisfied, but she wasn't too disappointed either.
She blew herself into the sky mainly because she used a lot of ingredients; it's not bad that such a small thing can knock someone out.
The assassins had never seen such a strange hidden weapon before. It was powerful and swift, and everyone was startled by the explosion.
Everyone looked at Gu Jiao with apprehension.
Gu Jiao coldly curled the corners of her lips, snatched the knife from one of them, and sent him flying with a punch.
The others then realized what was happening and charged at Gu Jiao again.
However, that explosion had completely shattered their morale. Gu Jiao dealt with it quickly, and after the last assassin fell, she calmly clapped her hands.
But no one expected that a dangerous aura would suddenly approach.
What a terrifying aura!
Gu Jiao's heart skipped a beat; she couldn't dodge it.
That person was too fast!
At the critical moment, a sword light slashed down, blocking the assassin's attack. Then, another arm reached out, grabbed Gu Jiao's waist, and pulled her back rapidly.
"Wait for me here!"
After saying this, Gu Changqing drew his sword and charged at the other party.
This was the first time Gu Jiao had seen Gu Changqing truly fight someone. He was much stronger than she had imagined, but she was still no match for him.
That was someone even Gu Jiao felt a sense of apprehension towards.
how so?
Who exactly is he?
Gu Changqing was struck by the opponent's palm, but steadied himself with his sword.
Gu Jiao took out the last two black powder pellets and threw them fiercely at the other party!
The man thought it was an ordinary hidden weapon and slashed down with his sword. Two loud cracking sounds were heard. Whether the man was frightened or shocked by the gunpowder is unknown.
In short, he took several steps back, a hint of surprise flashing in his cold eyes.
Didn't either of them knock you out?
Truly a master among masters
Gu Jiao pretended to reach into her purse to continue rummaging, but she actually had nothing left. She just hoped to fool the other person, and fortunately, she succeeded.
The other party gave Gu Jiao a cold glance and then used his lightness skill to leave.
Gu Changqing stared in the direction the other person had left, then suddenly clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Gu Jiao hurriedly stepped forward and took his pulse.
Gu Changqing waved his hand: "I'm fine, just some internal injuries, I'll be fine after a rest."
As he spoke, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles, sheathed his longsword with his other hand, and looked at Gu Jiao, asking, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Gu Jiao shook her head.
Gu Changqing whistled, and his horse galloped over.
The brother and sister mounted their horses.
"These people?" Gu Jiao looked at the man in black who had fainted on the ground.
Gu Changqing seemed very experienced: "You won't get anything out of them. The key is that person from earlier. These guys are just petty thugs who do things for money and don't even know the identity of their patron."
Gu Jiao nodded.
The brother and sister returned to Bishui Hutong.
The old chief minister had just returned from his duty at the Imperial Academy when he saw Gu Changqing's pale face and frowned immediately: "What happened?"
Gu Changqing looked at Gu Jiao and said, "We encountered a group of assassins."
"An assassin?" The old chief priest's gaze swept over the two of them. "Is he trying to assassinate you or Jiao Jiao?"
"They tried to assassinate me," Gu Jiao said truthfully.
She jumped off her horse, offered her hand to Gu Changqing, and helped him down.
The old chief priest looked around, pulled on the horse's reins, and said to the two men, "Come with me."
...
"You mean that person's martial arts skills might not even be able to beat your grandfather?"
After hearing what had happened, the old priest frowned deeply. "That's impossible... How could your grandfather's skills be no match for an assassin?"
"The aura on that person is very..." Gu Jiao wanted to say familiar, because she smelled the aura of a kind on the other person. The other person was a killing machine, just like herself in her previous life.
“Strange.” Gu Changqing finished Gu Jiao’s sentence for her. “He is unlike any of the masters I’ve ever met before. His martial arts style is different, his internal energy is different, and—he has tattoos on his face!”
The person was wearing a mask, but Gu Jiao threw out that strange hidden weapon, which shattered a piece of the mask.
He saw half of a tattoo.
"What kind of tattoo?" The old priest brought out paper and pen. "Draw it for me."
Gu Changqing drew half a tail.
The old chief priest's expression changed: "It's the Dragon Shadow Guard!"
"What is the Dragon Shadow Guard?" Gu Jiao asked.
Gu Changqing had already figured it out, and his expression became solemn: "They are the late emperor's assassins."
The old chief priest pondered and said, "Back then, in order to deal with Zhuang Jinse, the late emperor secretly trained a group of assassins, the youngest of whom was only five years old. Before he died, he passed them on to Your Majesty."
Gu Changqing frowned: "Your Majesty wants to kill Jiaojiao?"
The old chief priest waved his hand: "No. His Majesty dotes on Jiaojiao and would never harm her. His Majesty once transferred the Dragon Shadow Guard to another person, also to protect her from Zhuang Jinse's persecution."
Gu Changqing asked in astonishment, "That person is—"
The old chief priest said solemnly, "The Dowager Consort Jing."
Gu Changqing gasped!
Old Master: I, the number one green tea in Zhao Kingdom, absolutely do not acknowledge anyone as better than me!
(End of this chapter)
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