Chapter 769 Taking Back Everything (First Update)
When Xiao Heng and Master Jing returned to the Qilin Hall after returning all the books, the conversation between Duke Anguo and Gu Jiao was almost over.
The second wife has been unwell for the past few days, so Master Jing had to go back early. He pushed his elder brother to say goodbye to Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao.
In the corridor, Xiao Heng watched the two brothers leave and sighed, "Although they are not born of the same mother, the two brothers have a pretty good relationship."
Master Jing is simple-minded, and his wife is gentle and virtuous. Duke Anguo is fortunate to have such a younger brother and sister-in-law.
Of course, having such a magnanimous elder brother as Duke Anguo was a blessing for the young couple.
A united family is more precious than any wealth or glory.
Seeing that Gu Jiao didn't say anything, Xiao Heng stepped into the house and saw Gu Jiao sitting in a wheelchair, staring blankly at the scene in the yard.
Xiao Heng took an orange from the fruit plate on the table and sat down on the stool next to her.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked while peeling an orange.
"I'm wondering who I really am," Gu Jiao said.
Xiao Heng already knew that Gu Jiao was not the Gu Jiao Niang of the past; she came from a very far away place, but she had never had such doubts before.
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Did the Imperial Advisor say something to you?" he asked.
She started acting strangely after returning from meeting the Imperial Advisor, and then wanted to speak with Duke Anguo alone.
Based on her question, Xiao Heng guessed that the Imperial Advisor had said something to her, perhaps related to her background.
Gu Jiao remained silent.
Xiao Heng didn't press her. He smiled and handed her the peeled orange: "Actually, it doesn't matter who you were before. What matters is that you are you."
Gu Jiao was slightly taken aback: "Me, it's me?"
"Hmm." Xiao Heng gazed at her intently, with all his weight and trust in him. "Name, identity, appearance, physical body... are all illusions."
As he spoke, his long, slender, jade-like fingertips gently touched her forehead. "This part of you is the only true and unique part."
Gu Jiao looked at him strangely: "You're starting to sound more and more like an enlightened monk. If you listen carefully, there's even a hint of Zen in your speech."
Xiao Heng sighed, "Well, what can I do? Who told me to raise a little monk in my family? I guess I'm just like the saying goes, 'One is influenced by one's surroundings.'"
Gu Jiao was amused by him and ate a segment of the orange he handed her.
"Is it delicious?" Xiao Heng asked.
Gu Jiao nodded: "It's delicious."
Xiao Heng knew she still had something to say.
She's not the type to fuss over details; anything that requires her time to carefully consider her words must be significant.
He showed no impatience, did not urge her, and did not leave; he simply stayed with her silently.
Just as she had accompanied him on his journey to regain his sight.
The trust and understanding between them need no further explanation.
After Gu Jiao finished eating the last segment of orange, she said, "There's something else I want to tell you, and it's actually the main point I want to make."
Most people would subconsciously keep their distance in such serious situations.
Xiao Heng didn't do that. Instead, he moved his stool closer to her, looked at her delicate profile, and said, "Okay, I'm all ears."
Gu Jiao glanced at him and said, "It's not a good thing. It's okay if you don't want to listen."
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Then I want to hear it too."
Gu Jiao paused for a moment and asked, "Are you aware of the crimes committed by the Xuanyuan family back then?"
Xiao Heng nodded: "I saw the Xuanyuan family's files in the library. They recorded dozens of serious crimes—colluding with the Great Jin, betraying the country, ceding border cities, persecuting loyal officials, embezzling disaster relief funds, privately making dragon robes, and rebelling... The Xuanyuan family's 'sins' are too numerous to list."
Gu Jiao said, "What I'm about to say is related to the Xuanyuan family."
Xiao Heng looked at her gently, signaling her to continue.
Gu Jiao said solemnly, "I want to clear the name of the Xuanyuan family, and I want to overthrow the King of Great Yan."
This wasn't a decision she made after learning about Jing Yinyin's background; it was a seed that had sprouted in her heart long ago.
She said to Xiao Heng, "You don't need to join. The King of Great Yan has no intention of harming you. Even if your identity is exposed, you are still his true eldest grandson. He will not harm you, nor will he harm Shangguan Yan again. Your real enemies are only the Crown Prince and those who covet the throne."
Those people are much easier to deal with than the king; the king is too powerful an enemy.
Overthrowing his imperial power was something even the Xuanyuan family, which once possessed a million soldiers, could not do.
It's too difficult for Gu Jiao to deal with him.
This was a situation with almost no chance of success. Gu Jiao was willing to die herself, but she didn't want to drag Xiao Heng down with her.
“Haven’t we been doing this all along?” Xiao Heng grasped her hand, gazing deeply into her slightly bewildered eyes. “Sending the little monk home isn’t just your wish.”
"Being willing to risk everything for the one you love is not your exclusive privilege."
"You're allowed to risk your life for me, but I'm not allowed to go through fire and water for you?"
As he finished speaking, his eyes grew heavy, as if she had broken his heart: "We're husband and wife, do you really... want to leave me all alone?"
Gu Jiao is easily swayed by gentle persuasion but not by force; she is utterly powerless against the gaze of a cute, puppy-like man.
She sat there in her wheelchair, stunned, forgetting even what she was about to say.
Xiao Heng sighed wistfully, "Do you lack confidence in me, or in our relationship?"
Gu Jiao: "Ah, this..."
Debating isn't Gu Jiao's forte; fighting is.
She couldn't out-argue Xiao Heng even if she had ten mouths.
Gu Jiao scratched her fingers: "But he is your grandfather."
Xiao Heng said, "It was my grandfather who slaughtered my grandmother's entire clan."
That's true...
Gu Jiao asked, "Are you really not going to regret it?"
"No." Xiao Heng looked at her and gently squeezed her fingertips. "So now, may I join you, my commander?"
What an irresistibly flirtatious tone! Why did a serious conversation suddenly take such a turn for the worse at the end?
Gu Jiao crossed her hands over the large bear paw, her eyes darting around: "I need to think this over carefully and assess your qualifications as an ally."
"And me too."
Shangguan Yan walked in, leaning on her cane.
Xiao Heng was just about to use his good looks to his advantage when Shangguan Yan startled him so much that he jumped up from his chair!
"Mother! When did you arrive? Why were you so quiet?"
"You didn't hear me or make a move, so you thought you knew I was here?" Shangguan Yan muttered under her breath, walked up to the two of them, looked down at Gu Jiao, and said, "I want to join too."
Gu Jiao looked at her: "Are you sure?"
Shangguan Yan looked at the blue sky outside the window: "I couldn't be more certain. Fifteen years ago, I didn't have the courage I have now. Having lost the Xuanyuan family, my mother, and my position as the Crown Princess, I was like a bird with its wings stripped bare, with no will to fly anymore. I wholeheartedly hoped that my two children could live well, but after meeting you, I realized that I was wrong, terribly wrong."
"It's not enough for a person to just survive; he must live openly and honestly, without having to live in hiding or relying on the identity of others."
“I have failed before, but I hope it’s not too late for me to realize my mistakes.”
Even if it means sacrificing her self-respect and destroying her pride, she will still accomplish what she didn't have the courage to do fifteen years ago.
"Girl, you're amazing," Shangguan Yan said to Gu Jiao.
“I know that,” Gu Jiao said.
Shangguan Yan's lips twitched.
I'm already quite narcissistic, but I didn't expect this girl to be even more narcissistic than me... Such a touching moment, such a profound speech, brought tears to my eyes, but I managed to hold them back.
Did my uncles and aunts feel this way before?
What goes around comes around; no one escapes the wrath of Heaven.
Shangguan Yan glanced at the two of them: "Do you have any plans? I suggest you start with military power. Fifty thousand Black Wind Cavalry are far from enough."
Gu Jiao said to her, "The 50,000 Black Wind Cavalry is just the beginning. I will take back all the military power of the Xuanyuan family."
Although Shangguan Yan used a cane, her royal air was not to be underestimated.
She nodded with an air of dominance: "Very well, I'll be watching. So, you make your plans, and I'll make mine."
Xiao Heng asked, "What does Mother intend to do?"
Shangguan Yan gripped her cane tightly, her eyes turning cold: "Take back the position of Crown Princess!"
...
That night, the family ate dinner in Shangguan Yan's room. Xiao Jingkong snuggled in Gu Jiao's arms for a while before going to the yard to play with Xiao Shiyi.
Yu He brought the prepared herbal medicine to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao looked at the medicine, lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Heng asked.
Gu Jiao frowned and said, "I suddenly have a question."
Xiao Heng responded with a puzzled "Oh," and asked, "What's wrong?"
Gu Jiao then asked, "The Imperial Preceptor's Hall provides medical treatment for all the disciples who participated in the selection. Master Han was so badly injured, why wasn't he sent to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall?"
"He was taken back directly by the Han family... Was he seriously injured?" Xiao Heng was unaware of this. The Han family had not disclosed the extent of Han Wuye's injuries to the public, and he thought that Han Wuye had only suffered minor injuries.
Gu Jiao recalled, "I injured him with my own hands. He didn't even have the strength to stand up. With injuries that severe, it would have been safer to treat him at the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, wouldn't it?"
Xiao Heng frowned: "If that's the case, then things are a bit strange."
Gu Jiao stroked her chin: "Han Ci... must have a secret!"
(End of this chapter)
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