Chapter 439 The Truth (Seventh Update)
Princess Xinyang suddenly stopped writing.
While massaging Gu Jiao's calves, Yu Jin glanced at Princess Xinyang without making a sound.
In truth, Yu Jin couldn't quite grasp Princess Xinyang's true feelings towards the young marquis. If she said she cared, she would cruelly disown him; if she said she didn't care, she would faint from grief because of his plight.
Yu Jin didn't believe or accept the claim that she fainted from anger.
I guess I still can't get over that mental hurdle.
They were afraid that being too kind to the young marquis would be unfair to the deceased child.
Gu Jiao felt so comfortable from being pinched that she became drowsy, and her little head started pecking at rice like a chick.
Yu Jin beckoned to the maid, signaling her to bring a cushion over.
The maidservant did as she was told.
Yu Jin gave a signal, and the maid placed a cushion behind Gu Jiao and helped Gu Jiao lean against it gently.
Princess Xinyang was engrossed in practicing calligraphy, unaware that Gu Jiao was about to fall asleep. Her gaze paused for a moment, and she suddenly asked, "Then who taught you to fight, since you love it so much?"
Gu Jiao snapped out of her daze, but didn't forget to stubbornly insist, "I didn't fight!"
Princess Xinyang didn't even lift her eyelids: "Who did you fight?"
Gu Jiao: "Prince Ning."
Yu Jin: "..."
"You even got into a fight with a prince, you've got some nerve." Princess Xinyang wrote another large "Autumn" character. "Why?"
Gu Jiao said bluntly, "I don't like him."
Princess Xinyang: "..."
"There are few who dislike Prince Ning," Princess Xinyang said calmly, continuing her calligraphy practice.
Gu Jiao turned to Princess Xinyang: "And what about you, Princess? Do you find Prince Ning pleasing to the eye? What kind of person is Prince Ning in your eyes?"
Princess Xinyang said calmly, "I haven't had much contact with Prince Ning. If Princess Ning'an were here, she might be able to answer you."
Yes, Princess Xinyang married Marquis Xuanping. Marquis Xuanping was from the same faction as Empress Xiao and the Crown Prince, and was in a different camp from Prince Ning and the Zhuang family. Consort Zhuang was also extremely petty, so she would not allow Prince Ning to have too much contact with Princess Xinyang.
However, Princess Xinyang's expression did not change at all when Prince Ning was mentioned. Does this mean that she never suspected that Xiao Heng's "death" was related to Prince Ning?
To be honest, four years ago there were only two people who had the motive to burn Xiao Heng to death: one was Prince Ning, and the other was Princess Xinyang.
The less suspicious Prince Ning is, the more suspicious Princess Xinyang will become.
Princess Xinyang had no suspicion of Prince Ning. Was it because she herself was the murderer, or because Prince Ning's disguise had successfully deceived everyone?
Gu Jiao eventually fell asleep.
The sun was shining brightly through the window, making the entire tabletop warm and cozy; Gu Jiao even broke out in a sweat.
Yu Jin gently stood up, placed Gu Jiao's feet on the stool, and put a cushion under them so that they would be stable and wouldn't hurt.
"Princess, shall we go out again?" Yu Jin asked softly.
Princess Xinyang practiced her calligraphy and said casually, "Let's do it another day. I don't want to go out today."
Yu Jin responded, turned around and went to the flower room, where she cut a few fresh flower branches to arrange in a bouquet.
The room was quiet except for the soft scratching of pens on the table, the low rustling of pruning, and someone's even breathing.
The surroundings were quiet, but it didn't feel lonely like usual.
“The blanket,” Princess Xinyang said, without looking up, her calligraphy practice steady and focused.
"Hey." Yu Jin put down the scissors and flower branches, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, opened the wardrobe, and took out a thin cashmere blanket.
She walked over, about to drape the cloak over Princess Xinyang's shoulders, when she heard Princess Xinyang speak expressionlessly: "Give it to her."
Although she didn't specify which "she" it was, there were only three people in the room, so if it was for Yu Jin, it should have been for you.
Yu Jin walked around the desk to Gu Jiao's side and gently draped a thin blanket over her.
Yu Jin squeezed Gu Jiao's palm.
Sure enough, I was sweating just now, but now I'm all cold.
The sun was setting and could no longer shine on her, and a gentle autumn breeze was blowing on her face outside the window.
Yu Jin was in a sheltered spot from the wind, which is why she didn't notice in time that Gu Jiao was cold.
Yu Jin's smiling gaze fell on Princess Xinyang's beautiful face, which seemed untouched by the passage of time: "Princess."
"What is it?" Princess Xinyang asked calmly.
Yu Jin smiled and said, "You like Doctor Gu too, don't you?"
She used the word "also".
It's unclear who the other person she was referring to who liked Gu Jiao was—Xiao Liulang or herself.
Princess Xinyang said, "I've said it before, her life is very valuable. If something happens to her, who will treat my illness?"
When Gu Jiao woke up, it was already dark, and the only person beside her was Long Yi, who stood like a statue.
Gu Jiao felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy. Almost reflexively, she sat up and said seriously, "I won't break the pen!"
Long Yi, who had been waiting all afternoon with a box of charcoal pencils: "..."
Yu Jin invited Gu Jiao to stay for dinner.
Gu Jiao glanced at Princess Xinyang watering the flowers in the courtyard, raised an eyebrow and said, "It's not like the princess is calling me to eat. I'm not eating, I'm leaving!"
Hiss—
Princess Xinyang almost drowned the flowers while watering them!
Yu Jin couldn't help but chuckle.
Gu Jiao was just joking. How could she not know that without Princess Xinyang's tacit approval, Yu Jin wouldn't have dared to ask her to stay for dinner?
She really had something to do and needed to go back quickly.
Yu Jin smiled and said, "I will prepare a carriage for Doctor Gu."
"I..." Gu Jiao was about to refuse; she could go back on her own.
Yu Jin added, "Or I can have Long Yi take you."
Gu Jiao's face turned serious in a second: "The carriage, thank you."
Yu Jin instructed the servants to prepare a carriage and said to Princess Xinyang, "I will see Miss Gu off."
Princess Xinyang didn't say anything, but picked up the water jug and used it to water the flowers in a different pot.
Gu Jiao didn't actually need Yu Jin to see her off, but she felt that Yu Jin seemed particularly eager to do so today.
The two left the courtyard.
Yu Jin said to the driver, "This wooden stool is unstable. Go and get a new one."
This is to get the coachman away.
Only two people remained at the door, along with Long Yi, who sat on the wall holding a box of charcoal pencils and looking resentful.
Yu Jin took Gu Jiao's hand and whispered, "Miss Gu, you're one of us, so I won't beat around the bush. I'll get straight to the point, and I hope you understand."
Sure enough, something happened.
Gu Jiao nodded: "Go ahead."
Yu Jin said solemnly, "About the young marquis... I don't know how much you've heard, but whatever you've heard, please believe the princess. She did hate the young marquis, but she hated herself even more, hated the assassins who poisoned her son, and hated those who killed her son with their own hands..."
Perhaps realizing that the identity of the person behind her was too sensitive, or perhaps unsure whether Gu Jiao had already learned of this, she was not sure.
Yu Jin paused, then changed her words, "The murderer. The princess did have the intention to kill, but she ultimately softened and couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't start the fire."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
