Chapter 77 Oath
No sooner had the county magistrate left than Huang Zhong arrived.
"My lord! My lord!"
"Why are you alone? Where's the child?"
"I almost fell for it! The Gu family is no good!" Huang Zhong recounted the whole story of the Gu family's substitution, "Luckily, I ran into Brother Xiao Shun, otherwise I would have made another mistake!"
Lord Gu was furious. "Very well, these people have a death wish! I'll deal with them later!"
"Are you deaf?" Lord Gu glared at Huang Zhong.
Huang Zhong pursed his lips. Weren't you still hesitant about whether to acknowledge the person back at first? Why are you in such a hurry now?
Huang Zhong took out a lifelike wooden carving from his pocket: "Brother Xiao Shun gave it to me, saying this is the young lady!"
The last wood carving was given to the dean's elderly mother. Gu Xiaoshun then carved a new one, but hasn't had a chance to give it to Gu Jiao yet.
This time, Huang Zhong was more shrewd and didn't tell Gu Xiaoshun the truth. He only said that his master had received a favor from his sister and wanted to invite her to town to express his gratitude.
Fearing they might thank the wrong person again, Gu Xiaoshun gifted the wood carving to him.
Lord Gu felt that the wood carving looked somewhat familiar.
“Something’s missing.” Huang Zhong patted his chest again and pulled out a small piece of dough, which he stuck to the left cheek of the wooden carving. “Brother Xiao Shun said that Miss has a red birthmark on her face.”
Red birthmark...
Lord Gu finally realized why the wood carving looked familiar. Wasn't this the brat he had just ordered to be arrested?
"Are you mistaken?" Lord Gu frowned.
"This time there's absolutely no mistake!" To verify the truth, Huang Zhong had the villagers check with them, and it turned out he was indeed the child of the third branch of the Gu family!
Lord Gu felt as if several bolts of lightning had struck his head, and he began to sway precariously.
Huang Zhong noticed his lord's unusual behavior and asked worriedly, "My lord, what's wrong? You don't dislike Miss's appearance because of the birthmark, do you? Brother Xiao Shun said that although she has a birthmark, she's not ugly at all!"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and even a younger brother sees a fairy in his eyes. Gu Xiaoshun never thought his sister was ugly.
Huang Zhong was waiting for Lord Gu to speak when, in the next second, Lord Gu disappeared!
Lord Gu naturally went after Gu Jiao; he never expected that the brat was the child he had been searching for!
What did he do?
He personally sent that person to jail!
Whether she'll recognize him or not is another matter; I'm afraid it will be difficult to get his blood as a medicinal ingredient from her at that time!
When Lord Gu arrived at the county government office, the county magistrate and his entourage had just arrived as well.
He had just revealed his identity to make the magistrate obey his orders. When the magistrate saw him, he hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects. However, Lord Gu did not even glance at him and walked straight towards the carriage where Gu Jiao and the other man were imprisoned.
Something unexpected happened: the carriage was completely empty, not a soul in sight!
Lord Gu's eyes widened: "Where is he?"
The county magistrate was dumbfounded. Yes, where is she? He saw her and the child get into the carriage with his own eyes. They didn't stop along the way. How could she have vanished into thin air?
Could that girl be a hidden master?
The magistrate, sweating profusely, said, "This...this official has failed in his duty. I will immediately send men to arrest her and bring her back! Torture her severely! Let's see if she dares to escape again!"
"How dare a mere ninth-rank official torture the bloodline of a marquis?" Marquis Gu retorted sharply, "You corrupt official! You even arrested two children! And tortured them! Why don't you just fly to the heavens!"
The county magistrate looked completely bewildered: "No...did you order me to arrest him?"
Lord Gu kicked him: "Do you think I'll just arrest you because I tell you to? Who is the real official in charge of the people's livelihood? You don't stand up for the people, you don't stand up for them, you only know how to curry favor and flatter. What use are you?"
The county magistrate, disheveled in the wind: "..."
As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun disappeared into the horizon, leaving the sky a hazy, indistinct gray.
Gu Jiao held Xiao Jingkong's hand and walked slowly down the quiet street.
Although we no longer have osmanthus cake, we still have candied hawthorn.
The series of events hadn't frightened him at all. He licked the candied hawthorn one bite at a time, licking it with utmost care!
Gu Jiao couldn't help but ask him, "Are you scared?"
"Hmm?" Xiao Jingkong paused in his licking of the candied hawthorn, opened his big, bright eyes and looked at Gu Jiao. After a long while, he finally understood, "Don't be afraid!"
That's what he said.
Gu Jiao hummed in agreement.
It's good that you're not afraid.
The first lesson Gu Jiao learned was the way of survival. She didn't care much about whether people were good or bad, but after having Xiao Jingkong, she seemed to start to care more.
It doesn't seem right for kids to learn things like prison escaping.
Gu Jiao was pondering how to educate Xiao Jingkong when Xiao Jingkong shook her hand: "Jiaojiao, you're amazing!"
"Hmm." Gu Jiao assumed he was talking like a child.
Little Jingkong: "I want to become really powerful too! More powerful than Jiaojiao! That way, Jiaojiao won't need to be powerful anymore!"
"Huh?" Gu Jiao stopped and looked at him in confusion.
Xiao Jingkong raised his head, his clear eyes, devoid of any impurities, staring intently into Gu Jiao's eyes: "Jiao Jiao, you must be having a hard time, right? Master said that great people have all endured a lot of hardship, and they will continue to endure a lot of hardship in the future."
He didn't understand why people who become powerful still have to suffer. His master said it's because powerful people are destined to go up the mountain, and those who go up the mountain suffer, while those who come down the mountain find comfort.
This is the first time someone has asked Gu Jiaoxin if she is having a hard time.
She joined the organization at the age of eight. She was subjected to whipping, electric shocks, and torture... She was trained to the point of shock almost every day. People only cared about whether she could take on the next mission, and no one ever cared about how hard she worked.
Gu Jiao was at a loss for words.
Thinking about what had just happened, Xiao Jingkong lowered her head dejectedly: "Did I... make Jiaojiao feel tired?"
Gu Jiao didn't expect him to say that. Gu Jiao touched his little bald head: "No, raising Xiao Jingkong is not hard at all."
"Really?" Xiao Jingkong stared at her blankly.
Gu Jiao saw a hint of hesitation in his eyes. This carefree little guy was actually more easily hurt than anyone else.
Gu Jiao nodded firmly: "Yes, really."
A smile returned to Xiao Jingkong's eyes. He patted his little chest and said confidently, "Jiaojiao, wait for me to grow up. When I grow up, I'll carry you up the mountain!"
If all capable people have to go up the mountain, then he'll carry Jiaojiao up the mountain on his back!
Jiaojiao doesn't need to walk; he'll bear all the suffering Jiaojiao endures!
Gu Jiao didn't understand what "going up and down the mountain" meant, but she felt the little guy's concern.
She crouched down and gently stroked the tip of his nose.
At this moment, Gu Jiao had no idea that the vow someone made when he was three and a half years old would actually be fulfilled when he grew up.
No one could have predicted that an adorable little dumpling would one day become such a majestic and awe-inspiring divine general—
Of the six kingdoms, and indeed of the entire world, no one dared to make her suffer.
When they returned to the village, Xiao Jingkong was already asleep, nestled in Gu Jiao's arms, drooling in his sleep.
There was a carriage parked at the entrance of the village. Gu Jiao didn't pay attention to it, but when she got closer, she found a person standing next to the carriage.
It was none other than Lord Gu, who had ordered her and Xiao Jingkong to be arrested and imprisoned.
(End of this chapter)
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