Chapter 963 Meeting Nan Shi Niang Again (First Update)
After paying respects to the Imperial Preceptor in the Purple Bamboo Grove, Gu Jiao went to the operating room to check on Shangguan Yan's condition.
Shangguan Yan has fallen asleep. Xiao Heng said she feels fine, just a little hungry.
"When Mother wakes up, she can have some congee," Gu Jiao said, then added, "I'm going to the Duke's mansion; I promised Jingkong I'd pick him up tonight."
Xiao Jingkong and Long Yi accompanied Duke Anguo back to his residence.
Xiao Heng raised his hand and smoothed the hair at her temple: "I'll come pick you up in a bit."
"Okay." Gu Jiao agreed and turned to leave the operating room.
"Jiaojiao," Xiao Heng called softly, "Are you... alright?"
Gu Jiao didn't tell Xiao Heng about the Imperial Advisor, but since Gu Jiao could guess it, Xiao Heng naturally couldn't have been completely unaware.
She is less emotional than most people, but if she cares about someone, even the smallest emotion will not escape her notice.
Gu Jiao paused at the door, then suddenly turned around, walked up to him, and pressed her forehead against his firm chest.
Whenever she felt down, she would seek comfort in his arms in this way.
Xiao Heng gently put his arm around her slender waist and patted her head soothingly with his other hand.
Actually, even if Xiao Heng didn't notice, she could handle her emotions, but he always did and always comforted her in time.
Not a single word was said to comfort her.
She's human too; she can be sad, she can grieve, she doesn't have to be so strong.
Shangguan Yan slept all afternoon and finally woke up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her son and daughter-in-law embracing each other affectionately.
She opened her mouth.
Okay, she's full.
I'm so full from all the dog food.
Xiao Heng held Gu Jiao in his arms, comforting her gently.
Gu Jiao's forehead was still pressed against his warm and firm chest, and her slender hands were kneading his belt, a sign that her mood was improving.
"Mother is awake," she whispered.
Xiao Heng's eyes flickered, and his eyelashes trembled.
"I'm leaving." Gu Jiao curled her lips into a wicked smile, turned around and left the operating room, leaving Xiao Heng alone to face the awkward situation of being caught red-handed.
After leaving the Imperial Preceptor's Palace, Gu Jiao mounted the Black Wind King's horse.
She also rode the Black Wind King in Zhao Kingdom, but it just didn't feel quite the same.
The familiar streets, the familiar atmosphere, and the sounds of bustling traffic evoke endless memories.
The Tianxiang Academy, the polo tournament, the selection of the Black Wind Cavalry commander... all these memories are vivid, as if they happened yesterday.
Gu Jiao patted Black Wind King's neck and said, "Boss, let's go to the Duke's Mansion!"
Black Wind King carried Gu Jiao as it galloped through the familiar streets. Its aura was so strong that it could easily startle other horses, so it tried to avoid crowds and take the empty alleys.
When the two of them were halfway there, a broken tile suddenly flew from in front of them. Just as it was about to hit Gu Jiao, Black Wind King swerved to the right and nimbly dodged it.
Immediately afterwards, more and more tiles and even hidden weapons followed.
There's a fight going on.
"Where do you think you're going? Today, it's either you or me who dies!"
Gu Jiao frowned. That voice—
"Boss!"
She gripped the reins tightly, her eyes blazing.
Black Wind King and she already had a tacit understanding honed from their battlefield experience. It quickened its pace and sped forward like lightning.
It was a dilapidated alley, with a third of the wall at the end collapsed, but it was still more than a person tall.
Gu Jiao tightened her grip on the horse's flanks, slightly lifting her body off the ground. Black Wind King leaped over the wall.
Gu Jiao didn't bring her red-tasseled spear, but she had other weapons on her.
She untied the whip from her waist, swung it around, and with a crack, struck the two combatants.
The man in black seemed to have the upper hand. He thrust his sword at the veiled woman lying on the ground, but in the blink of an eye, his wrist holding the sword was suddenly gripped by a powerful force.
He was startled and turned his head to look.
Black Wind King raised his front hoof and stomped down hard on him!
He tried to pull the whip's owner off the horse, but he clearly didn't have the strength, so he had to sidestep to avoid it.
On the surface, it seemed like he had dodged it, but Gu Jiao pulled him back and sent him flying, slamming him hard against the thick wall!
"ah--"
The man in black felt excruciating pain in his chest and back at the same time. He screamed and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Gu Jiao dismounted and, just as he was about to stand up, stepped on his chest, mercilessly stomping him back to the ground!
The man in black felt as if all the bones in his body had shattered, and his head hit the ground hard, almost scattering his brains.
Ignoring his pain, Gu Jiao turned to the woman beside her and asked, "Aunt Nan, are you alright?"
That's right, the person being chased by the man in black was none other than Nan Shi Niang, whom we haven't seen in a long time.
When Nan Shi Niang heard Gu Jiao's voice, she was taken aback. When she looked at Gu Jiao's face, she didn't dare to recognize her for a long time.
“It’s me, Madam Nan,” Gu Jiao said.
Nan Shi Niang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "Jiao Jiao? Your face..."
"Oh, the birthmark is gone." Gu Jiao said, glancing at the man in black at her feet, and asked, "Mistress Nan, who is he?"
Nan Shi Niang stood up, leaning against the wall, dusted herself off, and came to Gu Jiao's side: "People from the Tang Clan."
With that, she flicked her finger and shot out a poisoned needle, sealing the other person's throat.
Gu Jiao withdrew her foot from the other person and asked Nan Shiniang, "Shiniang, what exactly is going on? You said earlier that you were staying in Shengdu to handle some private matters, is that related to the Tang Clan?"
Nan Shi Niang sighed helplessly: "It's a long story."
Gu Jiao looked around: "Where's Master Lu?"
Nan Shi Niang said, "He went to kill another Tang Clan disciple. I arranged to meet him at Li Ji Tea House."
Gu Jiao knew that teahouse; she had taken Xiao Jingkong there to eat the pastries. It was located on Biluo Street, just three miles away.
She said, "I'll go with Madam Nan to wait for Master Lu."
Nan Shi Niang asked, "Will this take up too much of your time?"
"No," Gu Jiao shook her head.
There are priorities, and I believe Xiao Jingkong won't be angry.
The two rode together to Li's Tea House on the Black Wind King's horse and asked for a room on the second floor facing the street.
Gu Jiao opened the window and sat down with Nan Shi Niang by the window.
The view from here is excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire street. If Master Lu were to come to the vicinity, they would be able to spot him immediately.
Gu Jiao poured a cup of tea for Nan Shi Niang.
"By the way, Jiaojiao, what brings you to Yan? And how did your birthmark disappear? I heard you and Aheng got married, but I'm so sorry I couldn't attend your wedding." Madam Nan had so much to say. She was not only concerned about Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng's situation, but also missed Gu Xiaoshun, Gu Yan, and the others.
"Actually, that's not a birthmark, it's a virginity mark," Gu Jiao explained succinctly about the abbot's drunken blunder.
After hearing this, Mrs. Nan was at a loss for words.
Afterwards, Gu Jiao told the others about their current situations. Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were studying at Qinghe Academy, while Gu Chengfeng had become a captain in the army and no longer went to the academy. They would all pursue martial arts careers in the future.
Gu Changqing inherited the Gu family army and married Yuan Baolin.
Xiao Heng passed the examination to become a junior minister last July. At the end of the year, when the chief minister Yuan was in poor health, he submitted his resignation. In February of this year, Xiao Heng succeeded him as chief minister.
My great-aunt and great-uncle were both in very good health. My great-uncle had been reinstated to his original position and often visited the palace.
Gu Xiaobao is two and a half years old. He's a lazy but clever little boy.
The Yao family is also doing well.
“Aheng and Jingkong have also arrived. Aheng is in the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, and Jingkong is in the Duke of Anguo's Mansion.”
Gu Jiao spoke in great detail, gently and patiently.
Seeing that everyone was safe and sound, Madam Nan was overjoyed: "That's wonderful, that's wonderful!"
"But Madam Nan, what's the situation on your side?"
"Sigh." Madam Nan touched her face through her veil. "It's all old grudges. Back then, I left the Tang Clan after my martial arts were crippled, and we were even. I naively thought that the Tang Clan would keep their word and not make things difficult for me anymore. Later, I went to Zhao Kingdom and met you, Master Lu."
At this point, she paused, then smiled slightly: "You probably guessed it, Master Lu is the same Master Lu from Zhao Kingdom. He once received a favor from Elder Feng. Back then, when Aheng came to your door asking Master Lu to take Xiaoshun and Ayan as his disciples, he agreed."
Gu Jiao did indeed have this guess about Master Lu's identity, so she wasn't particularly surprised when she heard what Master Nan said.
Nan Shi Niang recalled, "When I first got together with your Master Lu, I hadn't been disfigured yet. Unfortunately, during a boat trip on the lake, I caught the eye of His Majesty the Emperor of Zhao. I don't know what the Emperor of Zhao was thinking, but even though he knew I was already married, he still invited my husband and me into the palace. He hosted a banquet for us in the Imperial Garden. Everyone drank some wine during the banquet, and I went to a nearby pavilion to sober up. I never expected to offend Empress Xiao."
"And then?" Gu Jiao asked.
Nan Shi Niang picked up her teacup and gave a bitter smile: "Later, we left the table. On the way back, your Master Lu and I were chased and killed. That's when my face was disfigured. The murderer escaped and I haven't been able to find him all these years."
Gu Jiao stroked her chin: "Most people would probably think it was Empress Xiao who did it."
Nan Shi Niang nodded: "That's right. Your Master Lu and I were suspicious at first, but what could we do? She is the Empress of Zhao Kingdom and the younger sister of Marquis Xuanping. We are weak and powerless, and there is no way we can do anything to her."
“Your Master Lu hated Empress Xiao, and he also hated the source of the tragedy—Emperor Zhao. If he hadn’t coveted my beauty and invited my husband and me into the palace, I wouldn’t have offended Empress Xiao. He stopped serving the court and went into hiding.”
"Shortly after you went on your mission last year, I encountered the same murderer who disfigured me once again!"
(End of this chapter)
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