The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 426 - : 215 Slapping in the Face (First Update)_2
Chapter 426: 215 Slapping in the Face (First Update)_2
The fifth prince was in quite a jitter, dare not even to exhale a breath.
It was almost of certainty that the fifth prince had been cheating in his studies. Had it not for the concubine causing such a stir, the emperor wouldn’t suspect his son at all – would the fifth prince claim credit that doesn’t belong to him, did his past education contain elements of fraud?
“Who did your homework in the past?” the emperor asked sternly.
The fifth prince had originally planned not to reveal anything, however, unable to withstand the pressure from his father, he stammered out: “My… my cousin.”
The emperor reeled back in anger.
It was Gu Jinyu again!
The emperor was so angered that he found it somewhat ridiculous.
He had been wondering where Gu Jinyu got the ability to claim credit at every turn, now he saw it as something she had learned from being surrounded by such behaviour from an early age. Her talents were taken away by others, hence she also took things from others.
What is this called? If the upper beam isn’t straight, the lower ones will go crooked!
All the goodness of the concubine now suddenly made the emperor feel very bad!
But, the son is his own, and he cannot leave him be.
After the third prince was conferred the title of Ruiwang, the eldest prince was also conferred Ningwang. The fourth and fifth princes were also old enough, and officials in the court have suggested that they should also be conferred titles.
He had the titles ready for his two sons this morning.
But now, the emperor felt the timing was not ripe.
In fact, the fourth prince’s education was not fraudulent, the emperor had just been affected by the fifth prince and suddenly started doubting the fourth prince as well.
Should the fourth son’s education be tested as well?
Or even if his education is tested, should his character be tested too?
The emperor’s thoughts were swirling, and in the end, he said one thing – the conferment of the titles would be postponed!
So, the fourth prince, who had done nothing, missed the chance to be conferred his title because of politics.
The fourth prince was really frustrated, who had he offended? Where could he go to reason this?
…
Xiao Jingkong had a wonderful afternoon in the Imperial Palace.
To not expose his identity, Qin Chuyu didn’t mention he lived in the palace and would be going home with his father later.
Young children do not suspect so much.
“So, see you tomorrow.” Xiao Jingkong said goodbye to Qin Chuyu and left the palace in Xu Zhuzhu’s carriage.
It was rather late when the Xu family’s carriage dropped Xiao Jingkong off at the medical hall, with fewer patients today, Gu Jiao was waiting for Xiao Jingkong in the Grand Hall.
Xiao Jingkong was actually very tired, Xu Zhuzhu was already sound asleep, while Jingkong was barely keeping his eyes open, resisting the urge to fall asleep.
The carriage arrived at the medical hall.
Gu Jiao would look at each carriage that stopped at the medical hall.
This time was no exception.
She saw the Xu family’s carriage, stood up and walked out.
When Xiao Jingkong didn’t hop down, she had a pretty good guess what had happened.
She got on the carriage and took Xiao Jingkong into her arms.
As Xiao Jingkong was nodding off, he felt his body becoming lighter. He opened his eyes a crack and sleepily called out, “Jiaojiao?”
“Hmm, it’s me.” Gu Jiao held him with one hand and supported the back of his head with the other, taking him off the carriage.
“Please be careful.” The chauffeur brought over a footstool.
“Thank you,” Gu Jiao expressed her gratitude and returned to the medical hall with Jingkong.
Xiao Jingkong laid on Gu Jiao’s chest, his little head propped up on her shoulder, soon falling asleep.
Gu Jiao freed up a hand to take the little basket.
A slender hand like jade reached over.
“I will do it.” He put Gu Jiao’s first and kit in the basket, and then put the little basket on his back, reaching out to take Xiao Jingkong.
But Xiao Jingkong seemed to sense something, furrowing his little brows and tightly holding onto the front of Gu Jiao’s robe.
“It’s ok, I’ll hold him,” Gu Jiao told Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang hmmed in response: “Alright.”
Gu Jiao asked curiously: “Why are you here so late? The medical hall is not busy today.”
“I was passing by.” Xiao Liulang said seriously.
Gu Jiao: “Oh.”
“Is there anything else?” Xiao Liulang asked.
“No, let’s go home.” Gu Jiao said cheerfully.
“Hmm.” Xiao Liulang responded, quickly realizing something was amiss.
Home?
Since when had he started to consider that place his home?
Gu Jiao stepped over the threshold and noticed that Xiao Liulang hadn’t followed. She turned to look at him. “Aren’t you going home?”
Xiao Liulang opened his mouth, “Going.”
He made his exit, walking with his cane.
Gu Jiao waited for him to approach before they walked side by side towards Bishui Alley.
The streets were noisy and bustling with people.
Xiao Liulang moved to the outer side, using his body to shield her from any pedestrians who might bump into her.
As they walked, he observed her subtly.
When they first met, she was just a silly girl. Now, she had become a graceful and elegant woman. Although her face was the same, she seemed like a completely different person.
He had planned to leave.
But he didn’t know when exactly it began. Perhaps it was when she insisted on his attending Tianxiang Academy, or maybe when she disregarded everything to send him to the county examination site… Yet, step by step, they had reached this point.
He couldn’t let himself act naïvely like he did last time when he asked for a gift.
He couldn’t have a heart, couldn’t have a home, couldn’t have any attachments anymore.
Creak–
Gu Jiao pushed open a courtyard door.
Xiao Liulang almost instinctively said, “You’ve made a mistake, this isn’t our home.”
After saying that, he was taken aback himself.
Gu Jiao turned around and curved her lips, “I know, I’m delivering cough medicine to Uncle Zhao.”
Her smile was as pure as snow on a mountain peak.
Xiao Liulang was momentarily blinded.
—
The news about the Emperor stripping Gu Jinyu of her title and position as princess spread throughout the streets and alleys the next day. The tea houses were filled with discussions about why the Emperor had punished Gu Jinyu so severely.
“I heard she broke the national seal, and the Emperor punished her out of anger!”
“What I heard wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it?”
“Do you know about the stove accident at the Ministry of Works? She wanted to modify the stove to use six bellows instead of two, causing the stove to explode!”
“She can just suggest modifications, don’t the officials at the Ministry have to approve it?”
“That’s where the problem lies. She merely proposed the plan, but whether to implement it was up to the Ministry. The supervising department of the Ministry is actually responsible, so the reason she was punished must be something else.”
“Enough, enough, stop beating around the bush, tell us!”
“The bellows weren’t her invention, they were invented by another girl! An old blacksmith came all the way from the country town to expose her!”
“What?! It was like this?”
“Otherwise why would the Emperor punish her? It’s because she has committed the sin of deceiving the monarch!”
“She is a daughter of a noble house. How dare she take credit for other people’s achievements! Shameless!”
“Isn’t it? So disgraceful!”
This conversation happened in a small tea house outside the capital city. The news had spread like wildfire even there.
An imposing old man, whose dignity was not diminished even in ordinary clothing, slightly furrowed his brows. “Young man, which Marquis’s daughter are you talking about?”
His voice was so formidable that the chattering people fell silent and turned to look at him.
Despite some grey hair, he was robust and his eyes were stern. His aura was formidable, and none present dared to underestimate him.
Finally, a brazen young man ventured to answer, “The Marquis of Ding’an.”
The intimidating old man asked gravely, “Are you sure, are you not mistaken?”
The young man shivered under his powerful gaze, “No-no-no, I’m not mistaken… it’s the Marquis of Ding’an! The whole capital city is talking about it. You can ask anyone! The Marquis’s daughter invented the bellows, was conferred the title of Princess… but before she could enjoy it, the bellows caused trouble… injuring a lot of people…”
The old man’s gaze turned icy cold.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
