Chapter 552 Jiaojiao's Identity Exposed? (First Update)
Huangfu Xian fell to the ground in a way that he considered extremely shameful, so much so that when Xiao Jingkong slid down from the windowsill to help him, he was ruthlessly rejected.
He braced himself on the armrests with both hands and struggled to sit back in his wheelchair.
Whether from anger or embarrassment, his cheeks were flushed red.
He had a strange feeling in his heart, like the surging of the tide, and he didn't know what was wrong with him.
Little Jingkong put her little hands behind her back, tilted her head and looked at him cutely: "Big brother, are you shy?"
"I didn't!" Huangfu Xian said irritably, his face flushed.
Xiao Jingkong: "Oh."
Huangfu Xian: What kind of disbelieving tone is that?
Huangfu Xian said coldly, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave?"
Wait, didn't the little guy already leave?
Why did he come back after saying such hurtful things?
Xiao Jingkong honestly said, "I'm leaving now, but I just remembered there's something I forgot to tell you."
Xiao Jingkong is a very organized child. He always makes sure to do what he plans. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so troubled every day back in the countryside because Gu Yan didn't follow his lunch plans.
"What is it?" Huangfu Xian asked coldly.
“Your leg.” Xiao Jingkong pointed to his injured leg, which was now covered again under the blanket.
Huangfu Xian's pupils contracted.
His legs were his taboo; no one could touch them, no one could see them, and no one could mention them.
Huangfu Xian's aura turned icy.
Unaffected, Xiao Jingkong finished speaking: "Jiaojiao has a way to help you stand up again!"
Huangfu Xian's eyes flickered slightly, and for a very brief moment his heart tightened, but it was only for a moment.
He quickly regained his composure.
He had heard this kind of talk far too many times. Back in the border region, there were countless witch doctors, physicians, and even so-called miracle doctors who could cure him.
It's ridiculous that he believed it when he was so young.
In the end, without exception, it was all about appeasing him.
He eventually came to the conclusion that his legs were not tree branches that could grow back in the spring after being broken in winter.
He will never have legs again in his life, let alone the chance to stand up.
Xiao Jingkong said earnestly, "Jiaojiao said that as long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to stand up!"
Ha, effort?
Huangfu Xian smiled coldly.
Even if he could actually stand up, it would only be in a dream.
Ironically, after being disabled for so long, he had forgotten what it felt like to stand up, and he couldn't even dream of that real feeling anymore.
Huangfu Xian didn't seriously consider whether the girl Xiao Jingkong mentioned was some kind of con artist; perhaps she was just trying to fool a child.
He said calmly, "Don't waste your time, kid."
I can't stand up.
Xiao Jingkong said confidently, "If Jiaojiao says you can, then you can! I'll bring Jiaojiao to see you next time!"
After saying that, he climbed over the windowsill and hopped away.
Xiao Jingkong returned to Renshou Palace.
Eunuch Qin went to run errands, leaving Empress Dowager Zhuang alone in her bedchamber. Little Jingkong skipped in, stared intently at Empress Dowager Zhuang, and put his hands on his hips, exclaiming, "Auntie! You've been stealing food again! I'm going to tell Jiaojiao!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang nearly choked to death on a bite of candied fruit!
Xiao Jingkong came over and confiscated her candied fruit.
Empress Dowager Zhuang gripped the candied fruit box tightly: "These are all the ones I've collected over the past few days!"
Xiao Jingkong said seriously, "Jiaojiao said that candied fruit cannot be saved!"
You can't make up for the ones you didn't eat before! You can only eat five a day! My aunt just ate five!
Empress Dowager Zhuang resolutely defended her candied fruit; how difficult was it for her to accumulate so much?
"Give it to me!" Empress Dowager Zhuang said with great force.
"No!" Xiao Jingkong said without backing down.
An old man and a child each grabbed one end of the box, staring at each other, as if an invisible contest had begun in the bedroom.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent some refreshments over."
At the entrance, a young palace maid reported.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared fiercely at Xiao Jingkong: "Let go."
Little Jingkong also looked at his aunt with a fierce yet adorable expression: "No."
Empress Dowager Zhuang took a deep breath and slowly released her hand: "Alright, it's all yours, all of it."
Xiao Jingkong raised an eyebrow and revealed a triumphant little smile.
"Go and see what kind of snacks you want," Empress Dowager Zhuang said to Xiao Jingkong.
"Oh." Xiao Jingkong put the candied fruit box on the table and ran to the door to get the snacks.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at Xiao Jiu, who was sweeping snow with her wings on the crabapple tree, and quickly hid the candied fruit box: "Oh! Xiao Jiu took the candied fruit!"
Xiao Jiu, once again inexplicably blamed: ...!
...
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the court assembly will begin in Zhao Kingdom. The emperor is making careful preparations for the upcoming assembly in the imperial study, reviewing the memorials submitted by the cabinet and the various voices he has collected from the people by his spies.
There was a strong call to confer the title of Princess Ning'an as the Protector of the Nation's Eldest Princess, and the people were full of praise for her, as if she had become an indispensable force in this battle.
The emperor favored Ning'an and naturally wouldn't object to the people's praise of her. However, when he thought of the ambitious Huangfu Xian, the emperor hesitated.
A young eunuch came to the door. Eunuch Wei went out quietly, listened to the eunuch whisper a few words, and then waved for him to leave.
He then turned and entered the imperial study: "Your Majesty, Prince Gu requests an audience."
"Announce it," the emperor said.
Gu Changqing has made great contributions, and the emperor now values him highly.
Gu Changqing, dressed in plain brocade robes, entered and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
The emperor said with a gentle smile, "No need for formalities. Have you come to see me with something to report?"
"Indeed." Gu Changqing said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I wish to leave the capital for a few days to visit the families of Deputy General Zhao and Assistant General Qi. They made great contributions in this battle and could have lived, but in order to save their soldiers and the people of Lingguan City, they chose to perish together with the generals of Chen. Your Majesty wishes to personally bring their military insignia back."
He died on the battlefield, never to return home, and all he could bring back was a military tag to prove his identity.
This was originally Gu Changqing's plan, but due to the incident at Xianleju, the trip was brought forward. After visiting the families of the two men, he was going to investigate the background of the young master of Xianleju.
The emperor could not refuse such a request.
The emperor sighed, nodded, and said, "Go ahead, I will reward you when you return to the capital."
Gu Changqing cupped his hands and said, "What I ask for is not a reward, but only that the country be peaceful and prosperous, the government be efficient and the people be harmonious, the people be well-fed and clothed, the men farm and the women weave, and that they no longer have to suffer from the ravages of war and displacement."
Isn't this also what the emperor expected?
As a lower-ranking state, Zhao was far inferior to the three upper-ranking states in terms of both economy and military strength. Although the people in the capital city lived in peace and prosperity, in harsh and cold places like the border, the people were frugal and could not even fill their stomachs.
The Yan state, which also possessed a cold, icy plain, was able to achieve prosperity for its people, who were free from hunger and cold.
If he could, he really wanted to go to the State of Yan to learn from its experience and see how the ruler of Yan transformed a small country into the strongest of the six states in just a few decades.
After receiving the emperor's permission, Gu Changqing set off from the capital that very day, accompanied by two generals from the Gu family army. Therefore, no one suspected that he harbored other motives.
Gu Changqing's visit today stirred up quite a ripple in the emperor's heart. He suddenly felt that his reward might not be enough.
After much deliberation, the emperor summoned Eunuch Wei and asked, "How is the old Marquis's injury?"
Eunuch Wei laughed and said, "I heard she's mostly recovered and can walk around, though not as nimbly as before. Miss Gu said she'll need some kind of rehabilitation treatment to fully recover!"
The emperor grunted and said, "Send someone to the Marquis of Ding'an's residence to bring the old Marquis to the palace. I have something to discuss with him. Remember, make sure the carriage travels slowly and doesn't bump the old Marquis."
"How about I go myself?" Eunuch Wei asked.
"That's fine," the emperor said.
Eunuch Wei then personally went to the Marquis of Ding'an's residence and brought the old Marquis to the palace.
Although the old Marquis could walk, he couldn't walk for long. His limbs had been broken, and although they had healed, he still needed to be cared for.
The emperor allowed him to ride in a sedan chair all the way to the imperial study, which was an unparalleled honor.
After he entered the imperial study, the emperor immediately offered him a seat.
"Your Majesty." The old Marquis was flattered and prepared to stand up to reply.
The emperor gestured for him to sit down: "Minister Gu, please sit down. You are my trusted advisor, and you also made significant contributions in the border war."
The emperor was well aware of the role the old marquis played in this battle. If it weren't for him, Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng wouldn't have gone to the border. If they hadn't gone, Zhao Kingdom would have lost an outstanding general, the border would have lost another city, and the plague would have killed countless people... The emperor might also have lost his sister Ning'an forever.
In short, it was all thanks to Gu Chao.
Moreover, the reason why Gu Changqing and the Gu family army fought so bravely was partly due to Gu Chao's capture.
"Your humble servant dares not accept such praise," the old marquis said, bowing slightly.
The emperor said with emotion, "Gu Chao, you are blessed. Your grandsons are all outstanding."
Gu Changqing, needless to say, has never disappointed anyone since he was a child.
Gu Chengfeng and Gu Jiao were pleasantly surprised.
"Your Majesty flatters me," the old Marquis said modestly.
"Alright, we've been ruler and subject for many years, so there's no need for these formalities. I've summoned you to the palace today to discuss with you the matter of bestowing titles and rewards upon your grandsons."
Although the old marquis was a military general, he was quite good with numbers; he knew that nothing could be more than three. Yet, he clearly only had two grandsons who went to the frontier—
"I intend to promote your eldest grandson, Gu Changqing, to the rank of General Dingbei, a third-grade official, and your second grandson, Gu Chengfeng, to the rank of Commandant Yueqi, a sixth-grade official."
Upon hearing this, the old Marquis, though feeling the reward was a bit too great, understood that this was both a way to appease the soldiers and boost morale after the great battle, and a strategy to win over the hearts of the people.
However, the emperor's next words left the old marquis completely baffled.
"Your granddaughter is also quite good. I intend to bestow upon her the title of Princess, and the title will be determined by the Hanlin Academy."
"Wait, Your Majesty, you just mentioned my granddaughter? Why did Your Majesty bestow honors upon my granddaughter?"
Your Majesty wishes to bestow honors even upon the Gu family's grandsons who have no merits. Shouldn't you start with Gu Chenglin and Gu Yan?
That girl is just a woman!
Why bestow honors upon her?
The emperor smiled and said, "The little divine physician has made great contributions on the frontier, so of course I should reward her."
The old marquis stared in disbelief: "She...made a contribution?"
Did that girl go to the border region?
The old Marquis said he couldn't understand it at all!
Yes, the medical staff went to the border region; she must have gone with the medical team.
What was Gu Chao's reaction?
The emperor frowned slightly and said solemnly, "She and Grand Marshal Tang defended Yuegu City and waited for the Gu family army to come to their rescue. Also, she saved you."
The old Marquis said excitedly, "That was clearly my little brother's achievement! It was my little brother who fought for days and nights in Yuegu City, and it was also my little brother who went to the Prefect's Mansion to rescue me. By the way, even my injuries were treated by my little brother. It can't be that the credit belongs to her just because someone from her clinic changed my dressings a few times! Your Majesty, if you want to reward someone, reward my little brother!"
No one can steal his little brother's credit!
Even my own granddaughter is not allowed!
He'll fight anyone who wrongs his little brother!
The new emperor was completely bewildered.
What little brother?
Speak of the devil and he appears.
Gu Jiao was originally going to the palace to fetch Xiao Jingkong. Upon learning that he was going to the palace, the old chief priest asked him to deliver a memorial to the emperor.
She has come to deliver a memorial to the emperor.
Eunuch Wei naturally wouldn't stop her, since they weren't discussing any important military matters inside. Eunuch Wei led her to the entrance of the Imperial Study: "Your Majesty."
The emperor turned his head and saw Gu Jiao at the door. He smiled and waved to her, "Come in quickly! We were just talking about you!"
Gu Jiao stepped inside.
But as soon as she stepped one foot across the threshold, she saw the old Marquis sitting in a chair.
She froze on the spot!
The old marquis turned his head, wanting to see who the newcomer was.
At the critical moment, Gu Jiao quickly pulled out a mask and put it on her face!
Gu Jiao forgot that this was not the frontier, and she was wearing a woman's dress.
I'm too sleepy. I'll write the second update tomorrow. Goodnight everyone.
(End of this chapter)
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