Chapter 794 A Warm Family (Second Update)
Zhang Dequan came today to inquire about Shangguan Yan's condition.
As planned, Xiao Heng told Zhang Dequan that Shangguan Yan woke up for a while during the day, but fell asleep again in the afternoon.
Zhang Dequan was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly returned to the palace to report Shangguan Yan's good news to the king.
When Consort Wang and her four companions in the palace heard that Shangguan Yan had woken up, they couldn't help but feel a sense of panic.
If they had initially harbored a sliver of hope, believing that Shangguan Yan was merely bluffing and wouldn't actually dare to perish with them, then Shangguan Yan's awakening now undoubtedly served as a final wake-up call.
They must find something that will tempt Shangguan Yan as soon as possible to redeem the leverage that Shangguan Yan has over them!
Night falls.
After being forced to take a bath by his wicked brother-in-law, Xiao Jingkong climbed onto the bed, bounced around a couple of times in dissatisfaction, and then fell asleep.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng had discussed it. Xiao Jingkong was now his little follower, so it was best for him to stay with him. Once Shangguan Yan had "recovered" enough to return to the palace, he would find an excuse to take Xiao Jingkong to live in the Duke's mansion.
"I told them I'd go stay at my uncle's house for a few days."
In any case, the eldest grandson of the emperor only has a few months left to live, and the emperor will fulfill his "last wishes".
Gu Jiao thought it was feasible.
After they finished talking, the two went to their great-aunt's place.
Gu Jiao had intended to help her great-aunt pack her things, but instead she saw her great-aunt sitting in a chair, legs crossed, cracking sunflower seeds, while the old priest carried a bundle in each hand: "Everything's packed, let's go!"
Gu Jiao's lips twitched. You're really acting like a proper grandpa...
The Han family has even set their sights on Nan Shi Niang, so "Miss Gu" of Canglan Girls' Academy is no longer safe.
Gu Jiao called Gu Chengfeng along, and they got into a carriage and went to the Duke's mansion.
An Guogong usually goes to bed early, but tonight he forced himself to stay up until now in order to wait for his two elders.
Gu Jiao didn't reveal much about her identity, only saying that her real name was Gu Jiao and that she was from Zhao Kingdom. She didn't mention anything about being a daughter of a marquis or a princess who protected the country.
As for Empress Dowager Zhuang and the old Grand Master of Ceremonies, she only referred to them as her great-aunt and great-uncle.
Duke Anguo was originally a powerful nobleman of the superior country, but since he cared about Gu Jiao, he would also respect Gu Jiao's elders.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of Maple House.
Duke Anguo's gaze remained fixed on the carriage, and when Gu Jiao jumped down from it, the entire night seemed to be illuminated by his gaze.
It was the relief and joy of finally seeing your own child again.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him, then was carried off the carriage by Gu Jiao.
The old priest went down himself.
Empress Dowager Zhuang: You're so thick-skinned and tough, yet you still want to be carried on someone's back? Walk by yourself!
With a beaming smile, Steward Zheng pushed Duke Anguo to the two elders: "Greetings, Master Huo, and Madam Huo."
Duke Anguo wrote on the armrest: "I hope you two will forgive me for not being able to greet you in person."
Gu Jiao said to her aunt, "The Duke means he welcomes you."
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at her sideways: "I don't need you to translate."
The little girl's heart has turned to the wrong side.
Gu Jiao then said to Duke Anguo, "My aunt is very satisfied with you!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang's lips twitched. Where was the satisfaction in my eyes? She was turning her back on me a little too quickly!
"Hmph!" Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted and entered the courtyard with an imposing aura.
Gu Jiao took the bundle from the old chief priest and escorted her great-aunt to the prepared room: "Great-aunt, what do you think of the Duke?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang said expressionlessly, "You didn't even ask me how Liu Lang was back then?"
Gu Jiao blinked: "The melon is cut up, I'll go get it!"
He flashed out of the house in a second.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was both amused and annoyed, and muttered casually, "He seems better than your father from the Marquis's mansion."
"Great-aunt! Great-uncle!"
It was Gu Yan's excited roar.
Empress Dowager Zhuang had just secretly taken out a candied fruit when she was so startled that her hand trembled and she almost dropped it on the ground.
Gu Yan, you've changed.
You've never been this noisy before!
More than three months later, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun finally met their great-aunt and great-uncle again, and they were both very happy.
But when they smelled the unmistakable scent of wound medicine and liniment on the two elders, their eyes darkened again.
"Are you injured?" Gu Yan asked.
Empress Dowager Zhuang waved her hand dismissively: "I slipped and fell in the rain that day, it's nothing."
It must hurt to think about someone so old falling down.
Gu Yan's eyes reddened slightly.
Gu Xiaoshun lowered his head and wiped his eyes.
"Alright, alright, you're perfectly fine now, aren't you?" Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn't bear to see the two children in pain, so she tugged at Gu Yan's sleeve. "Let me see your wounds."
“I have no wounds,” Gu Yan said, raising her chin slightly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang indeed did not see a wound on his chest, and frowned: "Wasn't it surgery? Or was it just a lie?"
Gu Yan's eyes flashed, and he exaggeratedly leaned into Empress Dowager Zhuang's arms: "Yes, I haven't had surgery yet, I'm so weak, ah, my chest hurts so much, my heart condition has flared up again—"
Empress Dowager Zhuang slapped him on the forehead.
It's confirmed, the kid is alive.
“Here it is.” Gu Xiaoshun immediately exposed Gu Yan’s mistake, pulling up his right arm. “It’s a small wound under the armpit.”
He gestured with his fingertip, "After applying scar cream, it's almost invisible."
Empress Dowager Zhuang also wants to see it.
Gu Jiao and Duke Anguo sat under the eaves enjoying the cool air. Duke Anguo couldn't turn around, but even just listening to the noisy sounds inside, he could feel the joy that came from the bottom of their hearts.
Since the loss of Xuanyuan Zi and Yinyin, the East Mansion has not been this lively for a long time.
Master Jing and his wife would often bring their children to keep him company, but the liveliness didn't belong to him.
He had been lonely for far too long, so long that his heart was almost numb, so long that he became a living dead and never wanted to wake up again.
He wanted to die in the endless darkness countless times, but his simple-minded younger brother repeatedly brought in renowned doctors to prolong his life.
Now, he is very grateful to his younger brother who never gave up on him.
Gu Jiao glanced at him and asked, "Are you thinking about something?"
“Yes,” Duke Anguo wrote.
"What are you thinking about?" Gu Jiao asked.
Duke Anguo hesitated for a moment, but ultimately wrote down the truth: "I was thinking that having you by my side was like having Yinyin by my side as well."
That deep emotional connection is universal.
"Oh." Gu Jiao lowered her eyes.
Duke Anguo quickly wrote: "Don't misunderstand, I'm not using you as a substitute for Yinyin."
"It's okay," Gu Jiao said.
I can't tell you the truth right now.
Because I still don't know where my destiny lies.
Once everything has settled down, I will definitely tell you frankly.
It was late at night, but the two young men, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, were wide awake, while their great-aunt and great-uncle were driven crazy by the noise.
Especially Gu Yan.
After recovering from his heart ailment, his destructive power rivaled that of Xiao Jingkong. In fact, because they hadn't seen each other for so long, he had a lot to say and could talk even more than Xiao Jingkong.
My aunt slumped lifelessly in the chair.
The aloof and taciturn Xiao Yan'er of yesteryear, she was ultimately wrong about her...
Duke Anguo should rest now. He bid farewell to everyone, and Gu Jiao pushed him back to the courtyard.
Gu Jiao pushed the Duke along the quiet path, with Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun laughing behind them. The night breeze was gentle, and they felt very relaxed.
When they arrived at the gate of Duke Anguo's courtyard, Steward Zheng was talking to a guard. Steward Zheng nodded to the guard and said, "I understand. I will speak to the Duke. You may leave."
"Yes." The guard clasped his hands and withdrew.
Steward Zheng hesitated at the door for a moment, and was about to walk towards Fengyuan when he looked up and saw that Duke Anguo had returned.
He hurriedly stepped forward: "Lord Duke."
The Duke looked at him questioningly, asking what had happened.
Steward Zheng did not hold back because Gu Jiao was present. He said truthfully, "The guards who escorted Mu Ruxin have returned. This is a letter written by Mu Ruxin herself. Please take a look, Your Highness."
Gu Jiao took the letter, opened it, and placed it on the armrest of the Duke of Anguo.
Manager Zheng hurriedly ran into the courtyard and brought out a lantern to illuminate the area.
The letter stated that Mu Ruxin wanted to return to her country on her own, and that she had already caused enough trouble for the Duke's mansion, so she would no longer trouble them.
The letter was written very politely, but I was sent away just like that, and I won't be able to explain it to the Duke when I get back.
If something were to happen to Mu Ruxin, people would blame the Duke's mansion for not treating their young lady well, allowing a weak woman to leave the mansion alone and be murdered in the street.
So the guards followed her for a while, hoping to make sure she was alright before returning to report.
Little did they know that they would follow her to the Han family's house.
"Did she go in?" Gu Jiao asked.
Manager Zheng looked at Gu Jiao and said, "Reporting to the young master, she went in. The guards in our manor said that she stayed at the Han family's house for almost half an hour before coming out. Then she went back to the inn, picked up her luggage, and went into the Han family's house with her maid! She hasn't come out yet!"
Gu Jiao said calmly, "Looks like she's hooked up with a new big shot."
Steward Zheng said, "That's what I think too! I heard that Prince Han's leg was crippled, so she might have gone to be his doctor! This person is really..."
In front of his young master, he swallowed his unpleasant words.
"Let her be," Gu Jiao said.
Whether she can cure Han Ye with her limited medical skills is another matter.
Duke Anguo didn't care about Mu Ruxin's whereabouts. He wrote, "Keep an eye out. Someone might come to the manor to inquire about something recently."
Steward Zheng was quick-witted, and he immediately understood what the Duke meant: "You think Mu Ruxin will tell the Han family that the young master's family has moved into our mansion? Don't worry! Not only will she not be able to guess it at all, but even if she does, I have a way to deal with it!"
(End of this chapter)
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