Chapter 63 Siblings
Gu Yan knew from Gu Jiao's eyes that she still remembered him, and a hint of joy appeared on his perpetually world-weary handsome face.
Seeing him smile, Gu Jiao's mood improved as well. Just as she was about to go up and greet him, she saw him place his jade-like index finger on his lips.
Gu Jiao immediately understood and lowered her eyes, pretending not to have seen anything.
Although these guards were also from the hot spring resort, they had never seen Gu Jiao before and therefore did not recognize her identity. However, seeing that Gu Jiao was alright, they continued to search for her.
Once she was sure the person had gone far away, Gu Jiao approached the carriage.
This is a commoner's carriage, very simple. The guards would never have imagined that the noble young master of the Marquis's mansion would stoop to such a carriage.
Gu Jiao drew back the curtains, looked at the delicate-featured, sickly-looking young man before her, and asked, "Why did you come here? And why did you shake off your guards?"
“I’ve come to find you,” Gu Yan said honestly.
"Looking for me? Are you feeling unwell?" Gu Jiao subconsciously reached her hand through the window to take his pulse, but only after grasping his wrist did she remember that she was just a lowly medicine boy in the Marquis's mansion.
She withdrew her hand without making a sound.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Yan's pale face: "I knew it was you."
Ah, how did you know that?
Where did I slip up?
Gu Jiao scratched her head.
Gu Yan was amused by her bewildered expression: "Others may not know, but come up here."
Her secret is becoming increasingly difficult to keep hidden. First it was the old man, then the second master and the old doctor, and now it's this young master of the Marquis's mansion.
But Gu Jiao still decided to play dumb: "I didn't treat your illness, it was Doctor Li from Huichuntang. I'm just his little apprentice!"
Gu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, little medicine boy, are you coming up? If you don't come up soon, they'll find me."
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and then got into the carriage.
She sat down next to Gu Yan.
Even Gu Jiao felt this carriage was too shabby to ride in; it must have been quite a hardship for this young master of the Marquis's mansion.
Gu Yan didn't feel wronged at all; he was willing to sit anywhere as long as he could see her.
Gu Yan smiled and extended her thin, pale wrist: "Little medicine boy, would you like to take my pulse?"
Gu Jiao remained expressionless: "I might not be able to tell for sure."
Gu Yan nodded with a smile: "Mm."
Gu Jiao took his pulse, and it was much more stable than last time.
Then she opened the small medicine box and took out a stethoscope.
"What is this?" Gu Yan asked curiously.
"Stethoscope, take off your clothes," Dr. Gu said aloofly.
Gu Yan was stunned: "..."
Gu Jiao unbuttoned his shirt and put the stethoscope inside.
He still has arrhythmia and murmurs. The anti-heart failure medication is effective for him, but it is not as miraculous as some people think.
"You must be feeling very uncomfortable?" Gu Jiao put away her stethoscope.
Gu Yan lowered his head, his long, pale fingers slowly closing his clothes: "It doesn't hurt, really, it's much better than before."
He has spent so many years suffering from heart disease and has never experienced the comfort of a normal person. Any little bit of discomfort is good for him.
"I'm sorry you had to suffer because of the jade thumb ring," Gu Yan suddenly said.
Gu Jiao was stunned for a moment. She had almost forgotten about it if he hadn't mentioned it. Actually, it was nothing. It was just an unimportant person who misunderstood her. "I took your ring first. I should apologize to you."
Gu Yan disliked her distant attitude: "I don't want your apology."
Gu Jiao smiled faintly and didn't continue the topic: "Why did you shake off the guards?"
“They’re annoying,” Gu Yan said.
Gu Jiao lifted the curtain and looked at the man in black on the ground: "But you will encounter assassins."
Gu Yan smiled and said, "He's not an assassin, he's my bodyguard. He's the one who lured them away."
Gu Jiao blinked innocently: "He's really unlucky, getting injured by some thugs."
Another guard not far away coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Girl, is it really okay to lie through your teeth?"
"Hmm." Gu Yan chuckled. "He was injured by thugs. Just ignore him and let him fend for himself."
...No need for that.
Gu Jiao cleared her throat: "You have more than one bodyguard, don't you?"
Gu Yan's smile remained unchanged: "There are two."
It seems the one who ran away was indeed his bodyguard. Luckily, I didn't chase after him, otherwise it would have been troublesome if I had knocked him unconscious as well.
Gu Jiao's face was filled with obvious embarrassment.
"What's your name?" Gu Yan asked.
"Gu Jiao," Gu Jiao said.
Gu Yan was surprised: "You also have the surname Gu? My name is Gu Yan. We were one family five hundred years ago."
Gu Jiao laughed. You, a dignified young master of a marquis's mansion, have lowered yourself to associate with a little village girl. Aren't you afraid that the marquis and his wife will beat you up if they find out?
"Are you hungry?" Gu Yan asked.
Gu Jiao got up early and walked a long way, so she was really hungry now.
The west side of the town is not as prosperous as the east side, and there are no decent restaurants. It took a while to find a small restaurant that was passable.
"Have you ever been to a place like this before?" Gu Jiao asked as she got off the carriage.
"No," Gu Yan said honestly.
As a sickly little seedling who could be blown over by the slightest breeze, the Marquis's family had doted on him and raised him with utmost care. How could they allow him to come to such a lowly place?
Of course, he himself wasn't very interested either, firstly because he didn't have the energy to make a fuss, and secondly because he was world-weary and too lazy to bother.
Things are different now.
He wasn't that upset, and besides, he wanted to see her.
The two found a quiet corner to sit down. Gu Yan's appearance, temperament, and clothing were destined to attract a lot of attention. He hated being stared at, but if he was with her, he didn't mind.
The waiter had never seen such a distinguished young master before, and even forgot to greet him.
Gu Yan ordered a large table of delicious dishes.
Gu Jiao frowned: "Can you eat this?"
It's all about braised pork knuckle with rock sugar, braised lion's head meatballs, and steamed assorted preserved meats. He has to avoid these foods because of his illness!
Gu Yan rested his chin on his hand and looked at her: "You eat it for me."
Gu Jiao: "..."
Gu Jiao wanted to be reserved, but he ordered all her favorite dishes.
Actually, this was something Gu Yan had always wanted to eat, but the imperial physician wouldn't let him.
In the end, Gu Jiao was eating big meals of meat and fish, while Gu Yan could only drink porridge on the side.
However, watching her eat felt like I was eating it myself, and the sense of satisfaction I had never experienced before.
After the meal, Gu Yan went to pay the bill, and Gu Jiao looked at the first-aid kit one last time.
Sure enough, there are new drugs for treating heart failure.
Gu Jiao's original packaging was removed, and just like last time, it was placed in several different small porcelain bottles. The usage and dosage were written on the bottles in cinnabar.
When Gu Yan came over, Gu Gang handed him the medicine: "You've almost finished your medicine, haven't you?"
Gu Yan looked at the medicine in her hand and fell into deep thought.
Gu Jiao continued to feign ignorance: "Doctor Li gave it to me!"
Gu Yan: "...Oh."
"Take your medicine on time. Going out for a walk is fine, but don't shake off your guards again, especially since your bodyguards aren't very skilled; they could easily knock you down with one blow..."
Gu Jiao spoke with a serious expression, but suddenly caught sight of him smiling at her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she said solemnly, "I didn't hit him! I didn't! I don't hit people!"
—This is a classic case of trying to hide something obvious.
Gu Yan was secretly laughing like a fool.
(End of this chapter)
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