Chapter 205 Debunking Counterfeits (Two Chapters Combined)
"Handsome Uncle," that's such a funny way to address you.
The emperor was being addressed like that for the first time, and all the flattery he received paled in comparison to the child's simple "handsome uncle."
The child didn't seem afraid of him. Although he was traveling incognito, he had long since developed a majestic aura from sitting on the dragon throne, and ordinary people would feel a sense of dread when they saw him.
He squatted down.
Eunuch Wei intervened: "My lord!"
The emperor raised his hand to stop him, signaling him to shut up. He then squatted down in front of Xiao Jingkong, looking at Xiao Jingkong at eye level.
This child is so beautiful, with a round little face, big grape-like eyes, and spirited little eyebrows. His little nose and mouth are also incredibly pretty.
The last time I saw such a cute child was when Ah Heng was a child.
No one could put on airs in front of a child like this, and the emperor couldn't help but smile gently: "What's your name?"
"Jingkong." Little Jingkong put his hands behind his back, tilted his head and thought for a moment, then grabbed his little clothes and said, "I am a student of the Imperial Academy."
The emperor was completely charmed by the child.
Every little expression and gesture is incredibly cute.
The night was too dark, so he didn't pay much attention. He only thought the clothes looked familiar at first glance, but he didn't think about the Imperial Academy's elementary school, since the children there were all six or seven years old, and this little dumpling looked to be less than four years old.
He chuckled: "Are you really a student at the Imperial Academy? How could there be such a young student at the Imperial Academy?"
Xiao Jingkong declared confidently, "I am! I really am! I...test me if you don't believe me!"
The emperor didn't really know what elementary education actually entailed, so he tested his chubby son on a passage from the Thousand Character Classic and the Three Character Classic, based on the level of his son. As a result, Xiao Jingkong crossed his arms and looked at him with a serious expression: "Are you looking down on me by giving me such a childish question?"
emperor:"……"
The February night breeze was still quite chilly. Xiao Jingkong lost one of his shoes, and his little feet were standing on the cold ground, freezing him to the bone.
He put his right foot on the top of his left shoe, but then he lost his balance and swayed from side to side. His little foot fell to the ground, and he quickly lifted it back up and put it back on the top of his left shoe.
This process is repeated.
The emperor suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for his little foot.
The emperor bent down and picked up the little one.
Eunuch Wei was startled!
Your Majesty! What are you doing?
You are the ruler of a country, the Son of Heaven, how can you just casually hold a commoner's child?
Xiao Jingkong suddenly felt that he had grown taller.
He crossed his fingers in the arms of the handsome uncle, indicating that he couldn't let a stranger hug him.
But a little hug doesn't seem to be a problem...
The handsome uncle doesn't look like a bad person.
In the Zhao Kingdom, there is a saying that one should hold one's grandson but not one's son. Therefore, the emperor has never even held his own son, but now he is holding a commoner's baby.
I never knew a baby's body was so soft, and it even had a faint milky scent.
"Where do you live?" the emperor asked kindly.
Xiao Jingkong pointed to the clinic.
He does live in Bishui Hutong, but he's going to the clinic now, where all his friends are.
"Your Majesty..." Eunuch Wei glanced at the emperor with concern.
The emperor said, "It's alright."
The area around the Imperial College was quite safe, and besides, he wanted to see if the capital city was truly peaceful and prosperous.
"Let me carry you, servant." Eunuch Wei stretched out his hand.
I can carry the weight of an empire, how could I not be able to hold a child?
The emperor refused Eunuch Wei's offer and took Xiao Jingkong to the clinic.
The emperor was unaware that this was a clinic that housed patients from accidents. Xiao Jingkong pointed out the back door, leading directly into Gu Jiao's courtyard.
In the courtyard, Qin Chuyu was enjoying his meal, completely unaware that his father would arrive in three seconds.
He held a string of candied hawthorns in his left hand and a bottle of milk in his right, slurping it down with obvious delight.
"Chu Yu!" Xiao Jingkong called out to him.
"Hey!" he replied casually, but when he looked up, he almost choked to death!
The emperor and Eunuch Wei also saw Qin Chuyu.
Qin Chuyu: "Father, father, father..."
Eunuch Wei: "Seven, seven, seven..."
Emperor: "Shut up!"
The two of them obediently shut their mouths.
Xiao Jingkong glanced at the handsome uncle, then at Qin Chuyu, and inexplicably sensed that their expressions were a bit off.
"Do you know each other?" he asked, tilting his head.
It would have been better if he hadn't asked. As soon as he opened his mouth, Qin Chuyu felt jealous. He had never been held by his father in his entire life. How come this kid got to do it?
Qin Chuyu mustered his courage and glanced at the emperor. Seeing that the emperor didn't seem to mind, he cleared his throat and said, "He is my father..."
"So it's your father!" Xiao Jingkong suddenly realized.
In the countryside, the emperor would have several grandchildren by then, but Xiao Jingkong was of a higher generation in his family, and he had met Xu Zhouzhou's father (Xu Zhouzhou was born late in life). Xu's father was even older than Chu Yu's father, so Xiao Jingkong was quite accepting of this matter.
Little Jingkong wiggled his little bottom as he got down from Uncle Shuai's arms.
Qin Chuyu then noticed his feet. It turned out that his father had carried him back because he had lost his shoes. He felt a little better.
Little Jingkong said, "Your father is so handsome!"
Qin Chuyu returned the favor by saying, "Your brother-in-law is handsome too!"
Xiao Jingkong, who didn't find her bad brother-in-law handsome at all: "..."
Xiao Jingkong hopped into Jiaojiao's room and took a new pair of tiger-head shoes to change into.
Gu Jiao's courtyard was filled with Xiao Jingkong's things, from clothes and shoes to toys, everything was there.
As soon as the emperor appeared, Qin Chuyu became extremely flustered. He dared not eat the snacks or drink the milk, and just stood there timidly.
If we were to say who the two people Qin Chuyu feared most in his life were his maternal uncle, Marquis Xuanping, and the emperor.
In fact, neither of them ever beat him. On the contrary, Empress Xiao would occasionally get angry and hit his palm with a ruler.
The emperor was also quite annoyed. He now truly believed that the little guy was a student at the Imperial Academy and a classmate of his own son. But why could an eight-year-old child play with a four-year-old child?
And even though it's so dark, he still hasn't returned to the palace.
However, in front of outsiders, the emperor did not embarrass his son.
Soon, Xu Zhouzhou returned, panting: "Jingkong, where did you run off to?"
Little Jingkong came running out, hands on hips and head swaying: "I told you you couldn't catch me, nyah nyah nyah!"
"Who is he?" Although Xu Zhouzhou's biological father was a court official, he had never met the emperor.
"He is Chu Yu's father," Xiao Jingkong introduced.
"Oh." Xu Zhouzhou greeted him politely, "Hello, Uncle Chu!"
Old Man Xu only told Xu Zhouzhou to play with Chu Yu, without mentioning that Chu Yu was actually a prince. Naturally, Xu Zhouzhou didn't know that Chu Yu's surname was Qin.
The two children were unaware of Qin Chuyu's identity, which meant they had become true friends, and the emperor's expression softened.
The three children played for a while longer when Qin Chuyu's palace servants came to fetch him back to the palace. The children were terrified when they saw the emperor.
The emperor said nothing and intended to leave with Qin Chuyu, but suddenly several women's mournful wails came from outside the courtyard.
The emperor frowned: "What's going on?"
Xiao Jingkong sighed, "They are the patients' family members. Many patients came to the clinic today, all with serious injuries, and their families are very sad."
Many patients?
An ominous premonition swept through the emperor's mind, and he gave Eunuch Wei a wink.
Eunuch Wei understood and went to the main hall to inquire.
You wouldn't believe it until you asked; the Miaoshoutang clinic was treating dozens of yamen runners and craftsmen who had been involved in accidents at the Ministry of Works. The clinic was packed with patients, both upstairs and downstairs.
The emperor dismissed the three children and sent them inside to eat.
Upon hearing Eunuch Wei's report, the emperor's face immediately darkened. When Minister Zhao reported the accident, he did not mention that there were so many wounded: "Weren't there only a dozen or so, and most of them not seriously injured? He said there were only two seriously injured, and both have been properly taken care of."
This is why the emperor traveled to the south of the Yangtze River incognito. In order to protect their own official positions, the information that officials passed on to him was all filtered.
When a ruler is misled, he will make wrong decisions.
Eunuch Wei dared not utter a sound.
As early as when Minister Zhao reported to His Majesty, he guessed that the casualties were not so small, and he guessed that His Majesty also guessed it. However, neither he nor His Majesty expected that Minister Zhao would hide so much.
That's going too far.
"I will go and see for myself!" the emperor said in a deep voice.
"No, Your Majesty—" Eunuch Wei hurriedly stopped him. Even he, a mere eunuch, was terrified at the sight of those wounded. His Majesty, the ruler of the country, could not witness such a scene!
Ignoring Eunuch Wei's obstruction, the emperor strode out of the courtyard. Just as he crossed the threshold, he unexpectedly encountered a robust figure.
"Commander Gu?" the emperor asked in surprise.
Gu Changqing came to visit Xiao Jingkong and Gu Chenglin. The wards were too crowded, so Gu Chenglin was moved to Gu Jiao's courtyard. However, he stayed in the room and did not come out, so even Xiao Jingkong and the others did not know that he was in the courtyard.
Gu Changqing was also surprised. Why would he see the emperor here?
Gu Changqing bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty."
The emperor's gaze fell on his bandaged left hand, and he asked, "You went to the scene of the incident too?"
Gu Changqing replied truthfully, "Yes, I heard the news on the way and led a group of men there."
The emperor nodded, assuming that he was there to escort the wounded. The emperor then asked, "Is your hand alright?"
Gu Changqing said, "It's nothing serious, just a minor scratch."
The emperor stared at him intently: "You went to the scene, so you should know what happened. Tell me honestly how many people were killed or injured?"
Gu Changqing was a member of the military and did not participate in the affairs of the Six Ministries. Logically, he should have avoided this topic as well. However, thinking of the many wounded and that Gu Jiao had almost lost her life to save them, he finally steeled himself and said without hesitation: "Six are in critical condition, thirteen are seriously injured, thirty-seven are slightly injured, and there is one more... I don't know if he can be saved. If he cannot be saved, one person will die."
The emperor suddenly felt a darkness engulf his vision!
Even though he had anticipated that the situation would be more serious than Minister Zhao had described, he had not expected it to be this serious!
The patient being resuscitated was the man whose name had been covered with a black cloth by Gu Jiao. He was deemed beyond saving, yet he still hadn't died even after everyone had left the scene.
Other clinics were hesitant to admit him, but Gu Jiao did.
After all six critically ill patients were out of danger, Gu Jiao began to resuscitate him, and has been doing so for a full three hours now.
Whether or not there are deaths makes a completely different nature of the accident.
Everyone waited anxiously, including the emperor and Gu Changqing.
The emperor was worried about the life lost, while Gu Changqing was worried about both the life lost and Gu Jiao's health.
Gu Changqing brought over a water pouch.
The emperor gave him a strange look.
After an unknown amount of time, the door finally opened.
Gu Jiao came out.
She was soaked in sweat, with not a dry spot on her body.
Gu Changqing strode forward: "How are you?"
“His willpower is really strong. He has survived for now, but he is not completely out of danger yet…” At this point, Gu Jiao realized that Gu Changqing was asking about her. She paused and said, “I’m fine.”
I'm just a little hungry.
Gu Changqing uncorked the water pouch in his hand and handed it to her: "The food is ready, go and get something to eat."
Gu Jiao hummed in agreement, took the water pouch, and took a sip.
The emperor, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded when he saw Gu Jiao.
He never expected to see her here; this wasn't—
"Huh?" Gu Jiao spotted the emperor, but didn't recognize him. Seeing his stunned expression, she asked, "Are you a patient's family member?"
The emperor was so stunned that he forgot to answer.
Gu Changqing knew that the emperor was traveling incognito and was at a loss for words.
Gu Jiao continued, "His condition is still unstable; he needs to get through a three-day critical period."
The emperor finally found his voice. Yes, he had been wearing a bamboo hat, which was why the little girl didn't recognize him.
The emperor said, "I am not a family member."
"Oh." Gu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Are you from the government investigating the accident?"
Before the emperor could speak, Gu Jiao nodded, "If you have any questions, you can ask me directly, or you can ask Doctor Song, Doctor Chen and Doctor Li. We have all been there."
They didn't say anything discouraging like "the investigation was useless" or "officials don't serve the people," nor did they ask if answering truthfully would cause trouble.
She looked at him with an open and sincere gaze.
The emperor suddenly fell silent.
Gu Changqing said softly, "I'll handle the investigation. You go and eat."
Gu Jiao thought it was feasible and turned to go to the courtyard.
Only after she had gone far away did the emperor recover from his series of shocks.
He recalled how Gu Changqing interacted with the other person, which didn't seem like they had just met. He asked, "Do you two know each other?"
Gu Changqing cupped his hands in greeting, took a deep breath, and said, "Your Majesty, she is my younger sister."
The emperor was startled again: "You...sister? Your sister isn't—"
Gu Changqing said solemnly, "She is my younger sister."
...
On the carriage back to the palace, Qin Chuyu, exhausted from playing, fell fast asleep.
He lay beside the emperor, the chubby boy curled up like a little bear cub.
Eunuch Wei used his hand to stop him from rolling off the couch.
The emperor, however, was completely immersed in indescribable shock.
This trip was incredibly rewarding.
The injured man's condition, the Ministry of Works' cover-up, and the little miracle doctor who treated his illness in the county town.
And the little miracle doctor turns out to be the biological daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an—
So, the bellows was also her—
Marquis of Ding'an, are you an idiot?!
The first thing the emperor did upon returning to the palace was to summon Minister Zhao to his study and ask him about the true extent of the casualties.
Minister Zhao initially tried to make a last-ditch effort, but the emperor simply threw the list of the wounded in front of him.
Minister Zhao was stunned when he saw the list.
Didn't he already issue a gag order? Which fearless brat leaked the truth?
The people in the Ministry of Works naturally didn't have the guts to do it, so the emperor never expected to start with the Ministry of Works and appointed Gu Changqing instead.
Many of today's patients were escorted by Gu Changqing's guards. He knew which clinics they had been sent to and easily obtained their names.
Miaoshoutang treated the most patients, including a dying patient who was rejected by other clinics, six critically ill patients, seven seriously injured patients, and ten slightly injured patients.
When Minister Zhao saw the list, his face turned pale.
Although the accident was caused by Gu Jinyu's haphazard alteration of the bellows, Minister Zhao, as the head of the Ministry of Works, was not without responsibility. The government stipulated that work should begin at Chen Shi (7-9 AM), but the accident occurred at Mao Shi (5-7 AM).
In other words, those craftsmen were already working hard before dawn.
Minister Zhao delayed his report by an hour in order to cover up the fact that construction had started earlier.
That's not the worst part. The worst part is that many of the injured were unlicensed laborers hired by the government. They were paid the lowest wages for doing the hardest and most dangerous work, while the government paid them according to the wages of regular craftsmen. So where did the difference go?
There are countless workshops of all sizes in the Ministry of Works; this is just the tip of the iceberg. If other workshops also have such shady dealings, the amount would be terrifying.
The emperor, filled with rage, exclaimed: "My eyes are blind, and my ears are deaf!"
If such abhorrent things can happen even under the emperor's nose, what about the entire Zhao Kingdom?
The national treasury is in deficit because of these corrupt officials!
Minister Zhao kowtowed desperately: "Your Majesty! I was unaware of this matter! I failed in my duty! Please grant me a chance to atone for my sins. I will thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the mastermind behind it all to justice!"
The emperor would never believe him; he ordered the imperial guards to drag him away.
The emperor was so angry that he trembled all over.
Eunuch Wei offered a cup of tea: "Your Majesty, please calm down."
The emperor, furious, said, "Such a huge incident has occurred, and everyone treats me like I'm deaf and blind! How am I supposed to vent my anger?"
Eunuch Wei sighed.
Minister Zhao is actually quite capable. He has served two terms as Minister of Works, and his merits outweigh his demerits. If there are no accidents involving the furnace and bellows, he will likely be promoted again next year.
But then I ran into that Miss Gu—
Is it Minister Zhao who is unlucky, or everyone who gets involved with Gu Jinyu?
Eunuch Wei shook his head helplessly, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Your Majesty, what about Princess Hui...?"
Yes, there is this problem.
The emperor had a headache and rubbed his aching temples: "Summon her to the palace tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Eunuch Wei went to the Marquis's residence and summoned Gu Jinyu to the palace.
Having learned from her previous experience, Gu Jinyu was more cautious today. On her way to the Imperial Study, she secretly slipped a heavy purse into Eunuch Wei's hand.
She said gently, "May I ask, Eunuch Wei, what business does His Majesty have with me today?"
With a smile, Eunuch Wei put the purse into his pocket.
Gu Jinyu was delighted to see him accept the gift, but then she heard him say, "Your Highness will know once you go inside. I dare not inquire about His Majesty's intentions!"
Gu Jinyu: "..."
After entering the imperial study, Gu Jinyu bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
The emperor didn't wake her. He was reviewing the memorials in his hand, leaving her waiting for a while, until her legs were numb from bending over. Then he said slowly, "The investigation results of the accident are out. It was caused by too many bellows. You modified it yourself. What do you have to say about that?"
Gu Jinyu hadn't slept all night, having already guessed this possibility, and she had prepared her explanation.
She knelt down, kowtowed, and said sincerely, "I am guilty. I miscalculated a number when calculating the maximum wind force and air volume that the furnace could withstand."
These were Gu Jiao's words when she retorted, and she immediately put them into practice.
Thank you so much, sister.
The emperor was obsessed with arithmetic and astronomy. Hearing her mention this, he almost gestured for her to continue, but thankfully he remembered his purpose: "Then what about the bellows? Did you really invent the bellows? If not, do you know what crime you have committed? Confess to me honestly, and for the sake of the old Marquis, I can forgive you this time. Otherwise, if I find any evidence, Gu Jinyu, you know the consequences."
The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by caning for minor offenses, and death for serious offenses.
Gu Jinyu felt a sudden panic.
Didn't His Majesty trust her quite a bit yesterday? Why has he suddenly become suspicious of her?
It was His Majesty who summoned Gu Jiao, and then what did Gu Jiao say about her in front of His Majesty?
What a nasty girl!
Although Gu Jinyu was tempted by the emperor's proposal, she still retained a shred of clarity.
This is His Majesty's trap!
His Majesty couldn't find any evidence at all. If he could, he would have punished her long ago. Why bother coercing and bribing her to confess?
As long as she stubbornly denies it, the invention will be hers.
Even though her mistake led to a terrible accident, the invention of the bellows meant that under the laws of Zhao Kingdom, her merits and demerits were offset. At worst, she would only be fined a large sum of money, and she herself would not have to accept any punishment!
She kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. The bellows was my invention!"
The emperor's fingers, gripping the memorial, turned white.
Eunuch Wei glanced at Gu Jinyu, then at the Emperor, and shook his head with a sigh.
Gu Jiao didn't have a copy of the original draft; she had simply drawn it on the ground, which the carpenter then copied.
It was precisely because Gu Jinyu had such confidence that she dared to insist that the bellows belonged to her.
The emperor indeed had no evidence. He swallowed hard and said, "Very well, I believe you. Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Jinyu slowly stood up.
The Emperor said, "You've reached the age where you should be getting married. The Empress and Consort Zhuang have found several outstanding men for you. Come and take a look."
Gu Jinyu was taken aback at first, then overjoyed, and stepped forward, saying, "Yes!"
She went to the emperor's desk and reached for the portrait that the emperor had gestured to her with his eyes.
She swore she hadn't touched anything, but the jade seal on the table suddenly fell to the ground.
It turned out that the imperial seal was pressing down on the portrait, and another portrait was covered on top of the imperial seal. Gu Jinyu drew the portrait that was being pressed down by the imperial seal.
The imperial seal slammed onto the floor, chipping a corner off with a loud thud!
Gu Jinyu turned pale!
The emperor remained remarkably calm. He glanced at the broken jade seal on the ground and said indifferently, "Oh, Princess, this is the Imperial Seal of the State. You've broken it."
"Your Majesty...no...this humble woman didn't...this humble woman didn't drop it!" Gu Jinyu panicked.
The emperor sneered, "If it wasn't you, then who else could it be but me? I didn't even lift a hand just now, and everyone in the room saw it."
Gu Jinyu looked at the emperor in disbelief: "Your Majesty..."
The Emperor calmly sipped his tea: "Intentionally damaging the Imperial Seal is a capital offense. Whether you did it on purpose or not, I will order an investigation. Go and reflect on your actions. Guards! Take the Princess to the Ministry of Justice prison!"
Gu Jinyu cried out in a broken voice, "Your Majesty—Your Majesty—Your Majesty—"
Gu Jinyu was dragged away by the Imperial Guards in a disheveled state.
Eunuch Wei looked at Gu Jinyu with pity. Trying to fight His Majesty? You're too green.
The emperor's frustration eased somewhat. He ordered the jade seal, which Qin Chuyu had smashed, to be put away and said to Eunuch Wei, "If Marquis Ding'an comes to plead for his daughter later, let him go and plead with his eldest daughter."
Eunuch Wei's lips twitched: "...Yes."
The emperor was right; as expected, Marquis Gu indeed went to the palace to plead with the emperor immediately after learning the news.
Eunuch Wei stopped the man outside the Imperial Study. Of course, he couldn't directly convey His Majesty's words, as that would easily incur hatred between His Majesty and the Little Divine Physician.
As the chief eunuch who fought his way through the harem, Eunuch Wei had his own set of rhetoric skills.
He embellished his words slightly and said, "His Majesty didn't sleep a wink all night because of the Ministry of Works, and he just rested. The princess has made a grave mistake, harming so many innocent craftsmen, and His Majesty is furious. Even if you see His Majesty, it won't make a difference. Your eldest daughter has done a good job treating the wounded. If you really want to save her, you should ask your eldest daughter. If she intervenes, His Majesty will probably be willing to grant her a favor."
That girl is just a young apprentice medicine boy; what kind of injured person could she possibly treat?
It's just that they benefited from Miaoshoutang's reputation!
Despite harboring such slander in his heart, he never stopped walking.
He rushed to Miaoshoutang.
It was still quite early. Gu Jiao had just changed the dressing and started an IV drip for the injured person who had his arm wrapped in black cloth, and then went to check on the condition of six critically ill patients in the other wards.
Everything is fine.
She went back to the courtyard.
Girls' school has started.
The female student named Li Wanwan has started practicing the piano in the woods next door again.
Fortunately, it didn't torment Gu Jiao's ears as much as before.
Gu Jiao squinted as she lay on the rattan chair in the courtyard, listening to Li Wanwan play the piano.
Halfway through the conversation, the courtyard gate was pounded on loudly.
"Open the door!"
It's Lord Gu.
Li Wanwan was probably frightened, and the music stopped abruptly.
"Play your tune," Gu Jiao said.
The person playing the zither didn't ask why, seemingly trusting Gu Jiao implicitly, and continued playing.
Her piano playing is beautiful and can soothe the restlessness in one's heart.
Lord Gu, standing outside the door, had no time to appreciate the music. The door was clearly bolted from the inside. The girl was in the courtyard, but no matter how long he knocked, she didn't respond.
That girl did it on purpose!
Lord Gu was furious: "I know you're in there! Get out right now! Jin Yu has been kidnapped! Go and rescue her!"
Gu Jiao scoffed and put one hand behind her head.
What business is it of hers if Gu Jinyu is arrested?
Lord Gu was not discouraged: "Jinyu didn't do it on purpose! She didn't mean it! She wanted to improve the bellows for the good of the court! She never thought such a big accident would happen! You are her sister! You can't let her go to jail!"
Oh, you're in jail?
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow.
Upon hearing that Gu Jinyu had been arrested, Lord Gu became so anxious that he lost his composure and forgot to ask what crime Gu Jinyu had been arrested for. He even assumed that His Majesty was reprimanding Gu Jinyu under the pretext of an accident.
Lord Gu roared, "She's your sister! Do you have no conscience?! You come with me to the palace right now to see His Majesty! Beg His Majesty to grant you a pardon for your sister!"
Gu Jiao: Hehehe!
Lord Gu was furious: "You...you...you, if you don't come out, I'll shut this clinic down! Let's see how arrogant you'll be then—"
Before Zhang could finish speaking, the courtyard gate creaked open.
A slender, delicate hand emerged, revealing a pair of exquisitely smooth, jade-like wrists beneath it.
She gently raised her fair wrist and grasped Lord Gu's collar with her delicate hand.
Before Lord Gu could even react, he was dragged into the courtyard.
"You, you, you...you brat, what are you doing?" Lord Gu's buttocks were mercilessly rubbed against the ground.
Gu Jiao dragged him into the woodshed without a word, as if he were a sack.
She closed the door to the woodshed.
On the other side of the courtyard wall, the melodious sound of a zither drifted out.
Unspeakable screams echoed from the woodshed.
"ah--"
"ah--"
"ah--"
Bang bang bang!
Knock knock knock!
Click click click!
"No hitting in the face—"
"ah--"
The music was melodious and captivating. As the last note was played, someone in the woodshed also finished giving their last little punch.
Gu Jiao opened the door and stepped out of the woodshed, feeling refreshed.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating Lord Gu's bruised and swollen face. He slumped against the wall, like a puppet with its strings cut, utterly lifeless.
Lord Gu said aggrievedly, "Waaah... I said I wouldn't like being slapped in the face..."
Can I ask for a monthly pass?
I'm worried that everyone has too many monthly votes and won't be able to use them all by the end of the month.
(End of this chapter)
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