Chapter 228 Acting Cute (First Update)
Just as the old Marquis was suffering terribly from copying military books, he saw Marquis Xuanping stand up, flick his wide sleeves, and leisurely walk out!
The old Marquis: "..."
Marquis Xuanping left the palace with practiced ease, summoned Chang Jing, and boarded a carriage bound for the Imperial Academy.
Because of the approaching imperial examination, the Imperial Academy has recently increased its classes, and Xiao Liulang often doesn't get out of school until dark.
The timing is perfect, neither too early nor too late.
Marquis Xuanping waited outside the Imperial Academy for a full hour before Xiao Liulang finally arrived.
The Imperial College uniform was white with blue trim, wide cuffs, and indigo silk trim along the cuffs, lapels, and waistline. It was cinched at the waist, conveying a sense of restraint, propriety, and refined elegance.
Such prison uniforms can make anyone, unless they are ugly, look good. However, among the large group of Imperial College students in flowing white robes, one figure leaning on a cane stands out.
He was tall and slender, with a face as beautiful as jade. Behind him, the lights of countless homes reflected a clean and pure beauty in the young man, but his steps, supported by a cane, somewhat ruined this aesthetic.
Marquis Xuanping's gaze fell on his lame leg, and his handsome, thick eyebrows furrowed.
But it was only for a moment, and he got off the carriage with a normal expression.
His carriage didn't stop blatantly at the entrance of the Imperial College, but under the big tree to the side.
As Xiao Liulang was walking, a tall figure suddenly appeared from behind a tree, blocking his way.
He stopped and looked at the other person calmly.
The boy was already as tall as an adult man, so looking at him was no longer from below, but almost at eye level. However, he was much thinner, while Marquis Xuanping had practiced martial arts for many years, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a strong physique.
Xiao Liulang's eyes were devoid of warmth, surprise, or any other emotion; he simply stared at him coldly, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
That look stung Marquis Xuanping's eyes, yet he still managed a smile: "Son, it's been a long time!"
Xiao Liulang looked away: "I've already told you I'm not your son."
Marquis Xuanping: "How can an illegitimate child not be my son?"
Even if you're not Aheng, you're still Liulang, the child of me and Chen Yunniang.
Then you are my son!
This fallacy was blatantly written in his eyes.
Xiao Liulang had no interest in dealing with him: "I'm going back."
Marquis Xuanping continued to stop him: "Can you do me a favor?"
Xiao Liulang remained silent.
Marquis Xuanping said aggrievedly, "Today was really unlucky. I was tricked by a girl. She hid, and I hid, but in the end, I was the only one who got punished."
These words came out of nowhere, and Xiao Liulang neither understood them nor wanted to understand them.
Marquis Xuanping sighed, "His Majesty has punished me by making me copy military books. You know I'd rather be beaten or whipped than write anything. This is taking my life."
Xiao Liulang's mind flashed back to Gu Jiao's frantic expression as she practiced calligraphy.
Marquis Xuanping, unaware that his son had lost in thought, continued in a pitiful tone, "You always helped me copy things before, so please help me copy things this time too! That old monkey has no one to help him copy things, it's because his son is so useless, but my son is so capable!"
Marquis Xuanping's mouth is usually used to choke people; he doesn't usually say nice things. He only does this to coax his son.
It seems that all the refinement that Marquis Xuanping had cultivated throughout his life was used on this young man.
But the boy didn't appreciate it.
Xiao Liulang raised his eyes and stared at him intently, his gaze icy and chilling: "How many times do I have to say it? I am not your son. Your son died in the fire four years ago. He dared not cry out in the flames, desperately waiting for someone to rescue him, but in the end, he could only watch helplessly as he was swallowed by the sea of fire. He is dead, Xiao Ji, your son is dead!"
Xiao Ji, your son is dead!
These words were like a sharp knife, suddenly piercing into the heart of Marquis Xuanping!
Xiao Liulang resolutely left.
Marquis Xuanping's body was trembling slightly, and he raised his hand to cover his chest.
Hold!
It fucking hurts...
Xiao Liulang returned to Bishui Hutong with a chill in his body. Before entering the house, he suppressed the anger in his heart and stepped into the courtyard.
At this hour, everyone in the family had gone to bed, and unsurprisingly, a lamp was still left on in the main room for him.
He walked in quietly, and Gu Jiao was asleep again, slumped over the octagonal table in the main room.
The light cast a soft glow on her face and eyes, but unlike her usual cool demeanor, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were not feeling well even in her sleep.
Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and gently placed it on her forehead.
It's not hot.
He withdrew his hand.
He moved very gently, but Gu Jiao still woke up. She glanced at him groggily and asked, "You're back?"
Xiao Liulang noticed that she didn't look well, paused, and asked, "Is something... bothering you?"
Gu Jiao let out a listless yawn: "It's nothing."
Looking at her tired face, Xiao Liulang felt a slight pang in his heart: "I've eaten. Go to sleep. You don't need to wait for me anymore."
"It's alright." She smiled slightly. "I've already boiled the water."
"I'll go get it myself, you go to sleep." Xiao Liulang urged again, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Gu Jiao: "...Okay then."
She stood up listlessly, went into the room listlessly, and lay down on the bed listlessly.
She's not the type to whine without reason; even when she's sick, she acts as if nothing's wrong unless she's really feeling terrible.
Xiao Liulang glanced at her deeply through the crack in the door, said nothing, and turned to go to the kitchen.
Instead of immediately fetching water to wash up, he found some ginger slices and brown sugar cubes.
Life was tough in the countryside before; we didn't even have a piece of brown sugar and had to borrow it from the village... Now that life is better, she seems to care less about herself than about them.
Xiao Liulang brewed a bowl of thick brown sugar ginger tea and brought it to Gu Jiao's room.
He's a bad cook; he even burned the ginger tea.
He gently pushed open the door, came to Gu Jiao's bedside, and gently woke him up: "Get up and have something to drink."
Gu Jiao grunted and laboriously opened her sleepy little eyelids.
She smelled a scent of brown sugar and ginger juice, along with a slightly burnt smell.
She was stunned for three seconds.
"Can you sit up by yourself?" Xiao Liulang asked.
"No." The person who was about to sit up lay back down.
Xiao Liulang: "..."
Xiao Liulang placed the brown sugar ginger tea on the stool beside the bed, and gently helped her up from under the covers with his long, slender, jade-like hand.
The girl's body was soft and delicate, and she carried an alluring fragrance that was captivating.
Gu Jiao sat down on the edge of the bed. She was mostly awake by now. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the brown sugar ginger tea that he had picked up again.
Her husband made her brown sugar water.
My husband is so good.
How did you find out, my husband?
Gu Jiao's period started at night. She rarely experienced menstrual cramps; she only remembered having her first period when she came from the countryside, and she hadn't had one since.
Strictly speaking, I wasn't in too much pain today, just feeling sleepy, lacking energy, and a bit of a dull, uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
She is clearly an agent who can withstand level 10 pain and can remove bullets without anesthesia, but for some reason, she is extremely intolerant of menstrual cramps.
Xiao Liulang handed her the brown sugar ginger tea: "Can you drink it by yourself?"
Gu Jiao had just reached out her hand when she silently withdrew it, and said in a serious tone, "I feel very weak."
Xiao Liulang: "..."
Xiao Liulang sighed helplessly, sat down on the edge of the bed, picked up a spoon, and fed her spoonful by spoonful.
Gu Jiao opened her small mouth, gently sipped the spoon, and began to drink.
The bowl of brown sugar water was quickly emptied.
"Is there anything else?" she asked, smacking her lips as if she wanted more.
Xiao Liulang looked at her round little belly, which couldn't be hidden even by her nightgown, and said, "You can't drink anymore."
Gu Jiao's gaze fell on the delicate hand he was using to feed her with a spoon: "Oh."
Xiao Liulang then took the water away and let her drink two sips: "Go to sleep."
Gu Jiao obediently lay down, looking at him from her side with a somewhat docile expression.
Xiao Liulang met her undeniable gaze: "What's wrong? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Ba Wangjiao said, "Where do you feel unwell? You're someone who can take a bullet! Can't you even bear this little discomfort?"
She said in a coquettish tone, "But my stomach really does feel a little uncomfortable."
Finally, Jiaoqingjiao grabbed Bawangjiao and beat her with eighteen small fists, reducing her to five centimeters in size, before kicking her away!
Gu Jiao blinked at him and said, "My stomach feels a little uncomfortable."
"Ah..." Xiao Liulang was speechless.
"Get some sleep, you'll be fine tomorrow."
It's better not to ask.
"Shall I rub it for you?"
They're too intimate.
Xiao Liulang was torn between his inner thoughts and his own. He looked at Gu Jiao, who was staring at him with wide, innocent eyes, as if he were a heartless bastard and a complete scoundrel for talking the talk but not walking the walk.
Xiao Liulang didn't understand how he could read these things from just a glance.
He finally forced himself to sit down: "...I'll give you a massage."
"Mmm!" Gu Jiao nodded.
Xiao Liulang reached out his well-defined hand and slipped it into her bed. The bed was warm, and he could feel her body temperature through her nightgown.
Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then placed his palm on her soft, cold belly.
This was the first time he had truly touched such a soft spot of hers while fully conscious; his palms felt like they were on fire, burning hot.
(End of this chapter)
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