Chapter 528 Major Identity Reveal (Two Updates)
After Xiao Jingkong finished washing, it was Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun's turn.
Gu Xiaobao also had Granny Fang carry him to take a fragrant New Year's Eve bath.
Gu Jiao: She's not in a hurry, um, she's not in a hurry.
"Alright!" Madam Yao walked in through the back door of the main room with a beaming smile.
Gu Jiao stood up abruptly!
Xiao Heng, who was putting up couplets in the east room, suddenly choked!
Madam Yao smiled and said, "The New Year's Eve dinner is ready, let's eat first."
Gu Jiao: "...Oh."
Xiao Heng breathed a sigh of relief.
This kind of thing is ultimately embarrassing. He agreed so quickly because the atmosphere was right. He couldn't possibly refuse such a small request when she was about to go to war.
Looking back, I feel quite embarrassed.
Besides, he hadn't expected anyone to actually take this to heart, to keep thinking about it for three months...
This is too much!
Xiao Heng cleared his throat and glanced at Gu Jiao out of the corner of his eye. Gu Jiao had been looking at him the whole time, and he caught her in that small eye contact.
Instead of looking away guiltily, Gu Jiao smiled and smiled at him.
Xiao Heng: "..."
It seems I really can't be a decent human being tonight.
Although he was the one being watched, he wasn't unwilling, so strictly speaking, he was the one who took advantage of her.
Xiao Heng, you're only nineteen, and you're already behaving like a beast.
There are many people in the family, so we had to put two tables together to get everyone to sit down.
The New Year's Eve dinner was very lavish, with homemade cured pork and sausages, as well as fried meatballs and eggplant sandwiches given by neighbors. In addition, a chicken was killed... not our own, but bought from the market, which really startled our chickens for quite a while.
In addition, the old sacrificial priest also prepared braised small yellow croaker, old duck soup with shiitake mushrooms, and smoked bamboo shoots with sliced pork...
Of course, Xiao Jingkong's vegetarian dishes and steamed eggs with vegetarian shrimp are also indispensable.
Since New Year's Eve is also Xiao Heng and Xiao Jingkong's birthday, the old chief priest specially cooked two bowls of longevity noodles for the two of them, one large and one small.
Just a day ago, the family was filled with worry, but after Gu Jiao returned, the festive atmosphere of the New Year finally returned.
This wasn't the first time the emperor had eaten at Bishui Hutong, but it was his first time having New Year's Eve dinner there.
Looking at the dishes on the table, which were insignificant compared to the palace banquet, he wondered if it was because the dishes were so meager, but his nose started to sting a little as he ate.
He suddenly remembered when his mother was in the Cold Palace, it was also New Year's Eve, and he and Ning An climbed over the wall to find his mother.
He saw his mother sitting alone in the cold, dilapidated house, without even a decent bowl of charcoal. He took out the snacks and chicken legs that he had managed to steal and handed them to his mother.
Unexpectedly, the pastry was crushed and the chicken leg fell to the ground.
He didn't cry when he fell while climbing the wall, but when the palace servants chased and beat him, the moment he realized that his mother might go hungry on New Year's Eve, he burst into tears.
He had forgotten these things after being bewitched by Consort Jing, but recently he has been remembering them more and more.
I felt increasingly guilty towards my mother.
"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Wei, who was helping to serve the dishes, looked at his master in a panic.
The emperor couldn't stop his tears, and he stubbornly choked out, "I'm fine... it's just that the medicine's effects kicked in again..."
Eunuch Wei: "..."
Everyone: "..."
After the New Year's Eve dinner, the emperor recalled many things from his childhood and deeply realized just how much harm he had done to his mother during the years when they were at odds.
He even caused his mother to contract leprosy! What a depraved and insane act!
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager met the young miracle doctor. If it weren't for his skillful and kind heart, he might have regretted it for the rest of his life.
After finishing his New Year's Eve dinner, he found Gu Jiao chopping wood and boiling water in the kitchen.
"I have thought about it, and I want to thank you properly," the emperor said solemnly.
Gu Jiao gave the emperor a strange look.
The emperor said sincerely, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to reunite with my mother. Also, if it weren't for you, the battles on the border wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
How did we get onto the topic of war?
The emperor's thoughts wandered slightly, connecting Gu Jiao's kindness to Empress Dowager Zhuang with Gu Jiao's various performances in the border battles.
"I have heard about what happened to you at the border. In order to save your grandfather, you went deep into the remnants of the previous dynasty with Gu Chengfeng, but you were relentlessly pursued by the army of the previous dynasty and almost died under the arrow of the prince consort."
"Afterwards, you unfortunately contracted the plague while helping the plague patients in Lingguan City."
"After that, you went to kill the assassins in the hands of the prince consort for your elder brother, but you were frozen into an ice sculpture on the icy plain."
"You also developed lung disease from the cold, coughing up blood, and falling into a coma..."
The emperor spoke with great concern, but as he spoke, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his head, and a terrifying aura was coming from behind him.
The emperor is the Son of Heaven, and his aura is so powerful that it is beyond the reach of ordinary people. The fact that someone could make him tremble with fear shows just how cold their aura is.
Gu Jiao sensed it too. She turned her head and saw that Xiao Heng had appeared in the backyard at some point and was staring at her intently.
He didn't speak, but his eyes clearly said everything.
He was relentlessly pursued and nearly died from the prince consort's arrows. He contracted an epidemic, almost froze into an ice sculpture, and also suffered from lung disease, coughing up blood and falling into a coma!
Two balls of anger flashed in Xiao Heng's eyes, but his aura was extremely cold.
Gu Jiao heard Xiao Fuli's soft voice saying goodbye in her ear, and she decided to make one last stand: "I didn't!"
The emperor, completely unaware that he had exposed Gu Jiao's true colors, patted her shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, stop denying it. I've seen all the military reports from the border. I know you're not one to show off, so don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Gu Jiao clenched her small fists. You've already told the person you shouldn't have!
Xiao Heng narrowed his eyes dangerously.
Ha, you little liar!
Just then, the emperor finally discovered Xiao Heng in the courtyard.
Xiao Heng, leaning on his cane, walked toward Gu Jiao with an icy expression.
He came to confront Gu Jiao and demand an explanation.
The emperor's gaze fell on his limp leg and cane, and he asked curiously, "Eh? Didn't Yuya'er say your leg was all better? Why are you still using this?"
Yuya from the woodshed quickly covered her mouth.
She didn't do it on purpose!
She was speaking to the Empress Dowager!
His Majesty overheard it himself, so it's not her fault!
The sudden exposure caused Xiao Heng to pause in his steps, and he stumbled and almost fell!
Now it was Gu Jiao's turn to squint and look Xiao Heng up and down with a dangerous gaze.
Haha, you called me a little liar, turns out we're all the same!
...
The emperor, unaware that he had exposed two secrets, secretly returned to the palace with Empress Dowager Zhuang while pondering how to reward the young physician. This left the exposed couple staring at each other in disbelief at the kitchen door.
Yu Ya'er was called over.
"When will your son-in-law's leg be healed?" Gu Jiao asked seriously.
Yu Ya'er's heart skipped a beat. She glanced guiltily at her son-in-law, lowered her head, and said weakly, "It was...it was the second day after your mother first came to our house..."
Gu Jiao remembered it.
Princess Xinyang first visited Xiao Heng shortly after the incident involving Prince Ning. At that time, Xiao Heng had been harmed by Prince Ning and injured his right hand. She went to Zhuque Street and told Princess Xinyang that Xiao Heng had been living in the shadow of being abandoned by Princess Xinyang and in self-loathing over his unbearable background.
Princess Xinyang came to find Xiao Heng, and with the help of his aunt, Xiao Heng learned that Princess Xinyang had never abandoned him.
The mother and son resolved their differences.
So, after his mental illness was cured, his legs also stopped limping?
But he clearly didn't say that when he went to the Hanlin Academy for his duty the next day!
"By the way, how's your hand? Does it still hurt? Can you write now?"
"I don't feel well... I have no strength. Are my hands like my legs, or...?"
He sighed, looking like a little lame man who could no longer walk!
She comforted him, saying that he wouldn't, that with more rehabilitation and massage, he would definitely recover, and then she massaged him all the way!
Gu Jiao now strongly suspects that not only his foot had healed, but his hand had also healed back then!
He's just faking it!
Gu Jiao crossed her arms and looked at Xiao Heng with a slightly fierce expression.
Xiao Heng really didn't expect that he would fall apart again and again. Not only was his pretense of being lame exposed, but his act of pretending to be hand-clumsy was also exposed.
Now things are really messed up; nobody knows who's blaming whom.
"What's wrong?" Madam Yao noticed that the three of them looked a little off in the main room.
Neither Gu Jiao nor Xiao Heng spoke.
Yu Ya'er pointed at Gu Jiao and whispered to Yao Shi, "The eldest young lady fell seriously ill at the border and almost froze to death, but when she came back she lied and said that nothing was wrong."
Yao's expression changed.
Yu Ya'er then pointed to Xiao Heng: "And the son-in-law's leg, it's actually healed a long time ago, but he's been lying that he's still lame."
Yao: "...!!"
Madam Yao took a deep breath and clenched her handkerchief: "It's the New Year, don't be angry, don't be angry..." She forced a smile, "Today is Aheng and Jingkong's birthday, everyone is waiting for you in the main room."
Then, she looked at the young couple and said with a forced smile, "I'll settle the score with you after the New Year!"
She turned around, took Yu Ya'er's hand, and led her to the main room.
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at someone: "Did you hear that? I'll settle the score with you after the New Year."
Xiao Heng gave a faint smile: "You talk as if I don't need to settle accounts with you, Gu Jiaojiao. Your situation is more serious than mine."
Gu Jiaojiao! What kind of new nickname is that?
Xiao Heng was the name that came out of my mouth, and it felt pretty good after I said it.
He suddenly curled his lips into a smile and called out again, "Gu Jiaojiao."
Gu Jiao opened her mouth, pondered for two seconds, and looked at him meaningfully: "Since we're even, then tonight..."
Before she could finish speaking, his slender fingertips gently pressed against her soft lips. "No, you're not allowed to, you can't see."
Gu Jiao's face darkened!
...
Now that the truth had come out, Xiao Heng decided to stop hiding it and openly entered the main room.
However, the crowd's attention was not on his legs for the time being. They glanced at them and vaguely felt that something was wrong, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.
Yao has also gone astray, so she won't remind her and will just let these kids scare themselves.
"Brother-in-law, please sit down." Gu Xiaoshun gestured for Xiao Heng to sit down.
Xiao Heng and Xiao Jingkong were the birthday celebrants, sitting side by side on the bench.
They didn't actually have the habit of celebrating their birthdays on a small scale; it was Xiao Jingkong who celebrated them every year. Thanks to him, everyone in the family started celebrating their birthdays.
The only ones they missed were Gu Jiao's and Gu Yan's birthdays. Gu Jiao was on her way to the frontier, so neither she nor Gu Yan celebrated theirs.
Gu Yan said that he would spend time with Jiao Jiao again next year.
"Little monk, here you go." Gu Yan gave the little clay sculpture he made to Xiao Jingkong. This year, the house was finally not empty anymore; it was a small fishpond with two ugly fish carved from white radishes.
What he gave Xiao Heng wasn't a fishpond, but a courtyard, which, together with last year's gift, could just make up a small house—a rather ingenious idea.
Gu Xiaoshun gave the two of them two pen holders, one large and one small, which were exquisitely crafted and engraved with poems.
Xiao Jingkong liked it very much, and Xiao Heng was also very satisfied.
Gu Xiaoshun has been studying carving for so long, and what has improved is not only his skills, but also his knowledge. He now knows more characters than many scholars in the capital.
As long as you tell him that these words are to be carved, he can memorize them all immediately.
Ordinary people memorize characters by stroke order, while Gu Xiaoshun memorizes characters by treating them as a pattern. Although the methods are different, they achieve the same result.
In comparison, Gu Yan's scholarship was truly appalling.
This is not to say that Gu Yan is stupid; on the contrary, he is the most shrewd person in the family besides Xiao Heng.
Nothing can be hidden from him.
For example, the cinnabar mark on Gu Jiao's face.
Yao hadn't told him, and he hadn't overheard anything from the corner of the wall that night, yet he still guessed it.
For example, Gu Yan couldn't possibly not guess what Gu Jiao was thinking when she would occasionally glance at Xiao Heng.
There's no way around it, twins are just that powerful.
Before leaving, Empress Dowager Zhuang left gifts for the two of them. For Xiao Jingkong, she gave him a string of glass Buddhist beads. These were the first batch of glass beads successfully produced by Zhao State after Liang State passed on its glassmaking technology to Zhao State. The beads were of excellent quality and luster.
Xiao Jingkong also likes it very much.
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave Xiao Heng a glass inkstone.
The old chief priest gave the two of them books, and Yao made two sets of clothes by hand.
Gu Jiao also prepared a gift; for Xiao Jingkong, she gave him a rattle drum from the border region.
After the victory, the four-year-old boy from the ancient city gave her the only rattle drum: "You were right, the army didn't leave! This is your reward!"
This is the most sincere sentiment a child can have amidst the flames of war.
Xiao Jingkong quickly noticed a problem: "Why didn't my brother-in-law give me a gift?"
"Your sister has already given it to you." Xiao Heng looked at Gu Jiao with a meaningful gaze.
She was the best birthday gift for him.
"I want to see," said Xiao Jingkong.
Considering it was the little guy's birthday, Xiao Heng didn't discourage him, but simply picked out a mixed-hair brush from the pile of gifts: "Here you go."
"A pen," Xiao Jingkong shook his little rattle-drum. "My gift is the best, Jiaojiao likes me the most!"
A few people went to the backyard to light firecrackers.
"Brother-in-law!" Gu Yan suddenly moved closer to Xiao Heng and said mysteriously, "Come here, I have something good to show you!"
Xiao Heng followed Gu Yan to the main room.
Right now, everyone was in the backyard watching Xiao Jingkong and Gu Xiaoshun light firecrackers. The main room was quiet and deserted, except for Gu Yan and Xiao Heng.
Gu Yan furtively pulled a small porcelain bottle from his pocket: "I'm freezing! I'm freezing!"
"What is this?" Xiao Heng asked, puzzled.
“Wine!” Gu Yan raised an eyebrow and said, “It’s not ordinary wine, it’s double-brewed wine, pear blossom wine and osmanthus wine, which I managed to get from my great-uncle with great difficulty.”
"What are you grinding this for?" Xiao Heng asked.
Gu Yan said without changing his expression, "I want to drink, brother-in-law, let's drink together!"
If I get you drunk, Jiaojiao can do whatever she wants!
Gu Yan was really going all out for Jiao Jiao.
"You can't drink alcohol," Xiao Heng firmly objected.
Gu Yan has a heart condition and is too young to drink alcohol.
Gu Yan looked at him pleadingly: "One cup is fine."
Xiao Heng said, "Not even half a cup."
Gu Yan pouted: "But I asked for it to drink with you... I've never drunk alcohol before... I heard this kind of wine doesn't make you drunk... Brother-in-law, please let me taste it."
Xiao Heng: "No."
Gu Yan lowered her head, looking aggrieved.
Honestly, it's hard to resist him when he's like this, but Xiao Heng is a clear-headed person and he won't tolerate Gu Yan drinking.
As if sensing Xiao Heng's unwavering resolve, Gu Yan took a step back: "Then how about you try a couple of bites for me, brother-in-law, and then tell me what it tastes like?"
“…Alright.” It’s the Lunar New Year, and Xiao Heng couldn’t spoil the children’s fun too much.
When Gu Yan saw that he had agreed, the light in her eyes returned, and she was as happy as a child. She personally brought over a wine glass and poured Xiao Heng a full glass.
He knew his brother-in-law had a high alcohol tolerance, but this wine wasn't just any ordinary double-brewed wine; he had stolen it from his great-uncle, and one cup was enough to make him drunk and oblivious to the world!
Let's get drunk!
Brother-in-law!
Xiao Heng took the cup.
Just as they were about to drink, Xiao Jingkong and Gu Xiaoshun, who were playing around, suddenly rushed in without warning. Xiao Jingkong bumped into Xiao Heng on the spot, and Xiao Heng's hand trembled, spilling the entire cup of wine!
Gu Yan: "..."
Gu Yan clenched his little fists. Little monk!
"Brother-in-law, I'm sorry!" Xiao Jingkong apologized, then made a face at Gu Xiaoshun, "Hehehe! Come and catch me!"
After saying that, he ran out in a flash.
Gu Xiaoshun chased after him.
Gu Yan suppressed his anger, poured a second cup for his brother-in-law, and said with a smile, "It's alright, it's alright, there's more."
Xiao Heng accepted the second cup.
As a result, the two troublemakers came back again. This time it was Gu Xiaoshun who knocked Xiao Heng's cup over.
The cup shattered on the floor with a thud.
Gu Xiaoshun: "...Uh? Sui Sui Ping An?"
Gu Yan exploded!
Shatter your head, my foot!
The wine is almost gone!
Gu Yan was about to be driven crazy by these two guys!
He's good for nothing, but a master at causing trouble!
"I'm fine," Xiao Heng said. "I'll do it. You guys go out first, so you don't hurt your feet."
As he spoke, he picked up a broom and swept up the debris on the ground.
It was at this moment that Gu Xiaoshun noticed that Xiao Heng was walking differently than usual. He wasn't limping anymore; he, he, he…
"Oh brother-in-law..." Gu Xiaoshun looked at Xiao Heng's right foot.
"Brother-in-law? What brother-in-law! Go and light the firecrackers!" Gu Yan pushed Gu Xiaoshun out of the main room.
Gu Xiaoshun: "I just saw..."
"Alright, alright, you saw it, I know, don't delay my business. Jingkong! Xiaoshun is here!" Gu Yan waved decisively to Xiao Jingkong.
Xiao Jingkong grabbed a firecracker and pounced on Gu Xiaoshun.
The two childish kids started playing together again.
Gu Yan returned to the main room.
It's just my brother-in-law's foot.
It's been ready for ages, you idiot, you're only realizing it now!
"Brother-in-law, let me help you!" Gu Yan eagerly snatched the broom, swept up the debris on the ground, and scooped it out with a dustpan.
When he returned to the main room excitedly, he found that his brother-in-law was nowhere to be seen, but his sister was sitting at the table with a flushed face.
He walked over in a daze and asked Gu Jiao, "Sister, where's brother-in-law?"
Gu Jiao glanced at him with a dreamy look in her eyes, then pointed to the study.
Gu Yan noticed that Gu Jiao's reaction was not quite right. He looked at Gu Jiao, then at the porcelain vase on the table, and his heart skipped a beat!
He picked up the porcelain bottle and shook it; it was empty. He then lifted the bottle up and poured it out; not a drop of wine remained!
No, no way—
Gu Yan: "You didn't drink it! Say it wasn't you!"
Thump!
Gu Jiao's little head slammed onto the table.
Gu Yan: "..."
He wanted his brother-in-law to get drunk and take him to his sister's room, but his brother-in-law wasn't drunk; his sister was the one who lost consciousness first.
It's all over, it's all over!
Gu Yan slumped into a chair, let out a long sigh, and slammed his head on the table!
When Xiao Heng came out, he saw two little heads pressed together on the table...
While Granny Fang was changing the bedding in the east room, Xiao Heng had no choice but to send Gu Jiao back to the west room first, and then move her over later.
Gu Yan said sullenly, "I'll go ask Douya to make some hangover soup."
The hangover soup was quickly brought over, but before Xiao Heng could even swallow a drop, Gu Jiao knocked it over, spilling it all over him.
Seeing his older sister completely drunk, Gu Yan realized that there was basically no way to salvage the situation.
He shook his head helplessly and resignedly went to the backyard to light firecrackers.
Xiao Heng was covered in hangover soup. His clothes were thick enough that they weren't too hot, but they were damp and uncomfortable, and the cold wind made him feel freezing.
He could only change his clothes first.
He glanced at Gu Jiao and said with amusement, "So drunk."
Gu Jiao was indeed completely drunk, unaware that the little perk she had been longing for was right in front of her.
Xiao Heng reached out his long, jade-like hand and gently untied his belt, taking off his winter coat and undergarment.
Her plain white undergarment was also wet, clinging damply to her firm skin.
He slowly took off his clothes, revealing fair, jade-like skin, delicate collarbones, broad shoulders, a firm chest, and a smooth, masculine waistline without an ounce of excess fat.
Gu Jiao suddenly woke up.
She opened her eyes groggily.
Looking at someone's firm muscles and alluring body, I couldn't help but whistle in my heart.
Wow.
Don't ask, the answer is I've seen everything I needed to see.
(End of this chapter)
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