The Prime Minister’s Darling

Chapter 103: 90 Candid (Revision)_3

“Huh? You didn’t go out?”

The old lady was puzzled.

Though Little Monk was just a three-year-old boy, he was actually very busy every day.

He continued his habit of undertaking morning and evening classes in the temple, after waking up, he would recite Buddhist scriptures in his heart, and after reciting, he would go to the little woodland behind the house to train.

Once, the old lady had come out and saw him circling a stout tree with his hands gripping his feet, she almost thought that she had seen a little snake demon!

He practiced all the basic exercises, occasionally Gu Jiao would accompany him to train, if no one accompanied him, he would practice on his own, in the pure unadulterated sense of it.

After training, he would go find his friends in the village, come back for lunch, and help Gu Jiao with work in the afternoon.

Now it’s precisely the time for him to spend time with his peers.

Little Monk replied: “Jiaojiao is sick, I have to accompany Jiaojiao.”

His schedule didn’t allow anyone to disturb it, only Jiaojiao could.

This answer was not surprising at all. The old lady glanced over at him and landed her sights on a strange man standing by the door.

“Who’s that?” She asked calmly.

Little Monk held back the words “Big Bad Egg”, as he had promised Jiaojiao he wouldn’t tell the family about their capture, to save his aunt and the wicked brother-in-law unnecessary worry.

“Just a person,” Little Monk said disdainfully.

The Old Lady: Can’t I see it’s a person?

The old lady gave it no further thought and started heading towards the entrance.

By this time, Marquis Gu also noticed the old lady approaching him.

Marquis Gu was well aware of Gu Jiao’s current situation, not only did he know that she had adopted a little monk, but he was also aware that she had found a “lame husband”. There was also an aunt who had come to pledge allegiance to them.

The aunt belonged to the husband’s family.

But she herself was poor enough as it was, so why was she still bringing more people home?

Could she come across a prime minister or an empress dowager?

Didn’t she know her own limits?

At this point, Marquis Gu was seething with rage.

However when the old lady came closer and he got a clearer view of her face, he was not just seething but completely out of breath!

“Empress…Empress…Empress…Empress…”

The Empress?

Marquis Gu’s knees went weak and he stumbled onto the doorstep, bowing down profoundly!

The old lady looked at the stranger who had collapsed at her feet, he was giving her such a grand salute upon their first meeting, as she rubbed her chin, she remarked, “…There’s really no need.”

Little Monk turned his head and said, “He’s here to see Jiaojiao. The female donor has already entered, I’m in charge of keeping guard here, I won’t let him inside!”

Not letting men enter Jiaojiao’s room was nothing out of the ordinary, so the old lady did not suspect anything, nor did she bother to ask who Marquis Gu was, she yawned and went to the backyard to crack melon seeds.

Marquis Gu pushed up from the ground with his hand, almost falling over again.

From his perspective, he could clearly see the old lady sitting on a bench outside the door of the main room. She was dressed in rustic attire, her head wrapped in a scarf typical of village women.

Looking at her this way, Marquis Gu didn’t think she resembled the Empress Dowager anymore.

Zhuang Empress Dowager had married the late emperor at the age of thirteen, upon her entry into the palace she was conferred the title of virtuous empress. She had ruled the Imperial Harem for several decades, having held regency for seventeen years. Though she had not borne a single offspring for the late emperor, the current emperor was placed on the throne by her own hand, her position was thus unshakeable in both the court and the Imperial Harem.

Ordinary people hardly ever get to see the Zhuang Empress Dowager.

Marquis Gu had the fortune of seeing her on two occasions, once at a court banquet during the Ghost Festival, where he caught a glimpse of her from afar. The Zhuang Empress Dowager’s Phoenix-demeanor overshadowed even the emperor standing nearby.

The second occasion was when he had gone to the palace to visit the pregnant Imperial Noble Consort. He had run into Zhuang Empress Dowager’s procession.

He had moved aside to pay his respects to Zhuang Empress Dowager.

He had barely dared to take a glance, her fierce gaze had almost suffocated him on the spot.

Zhuang Empress Dowager was not a good person, which was why behind her back she was often cursed as a poisonous empress and a bewitching empress.

Looking at the old lady in front of him, apart from a similar appearance, where was there the slightest hint of Zhuang Empress Dowager’s aura?

“Auntie, are you stealing food again?” Little Monk suddenly noticed that the sound of the old lady cracking melon seeds was off, he turned around and saw her somehow had grabbed hold of a jar of candied dried bayberries.

The old lady decisively turned her back to him, swinging a blow on the back of Little Monk’s head, “Stop sprouting nonsense! Where do I have any?”

As she was speaking, she grabbed a big handful and stuffed them into her bag.

By the time Little Monk came over to confiscate the jar, she had already hidden quite a few.

Marquis Gu witnessed everything and was more sure than ever that she was just a food lover, not the ruthless Zhuang Empress Dowager!

—

Inside the house, Gu Jiao was gradually regaining consciousness.

She could have woken up earlier, but to let her sleep peacefully, the Yao Family had made a makeshift curtain to cover the window.

The dim light truly made one feel sleepy, and Gu Jiao kept sleeping till noon.

When she opened her eyes and found a person sitting by her bed, warning bells immediately went off in her heart!

She quickly pulled out the dagger from under the pillow and swirled it around the person’s neck, pressing the tip of the blade against their throat and holding them tightly against her!

“Jiaojiao, it’s me!” Said Madam Yao.

Hearing the familiar voice, Gu Jiao paused slightly, her vigilant expression relaxing. She put the dagger away and released her: “Madam Gu?”

That move just now had scared the cold sweat out of Madam Yao.

She turned around, steadied herself, and reached out to touch Gu Jiao’s forehead, “How do you feel?”

Gu Jiao instinctively dodged her hand.

Madam Yao paused, feeling a little embarrassed, “Did I scare you?”

The light inside the room was a little dim, and Gu Jiao did not notice the redness in her eyes, but saw the blood stains on her neck.

She had inflicted it when she had held her hostage earlier.

She was running a high fever, her strength was not as accurate as it usually was, and she had inadvertently injured her.

But her first reaction was not to check her wounds, but to be concerned about Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao looked at her with a complex expression.

Madam Yao noticed Gu Jiao’s gaze, she covered her wound with a handkerchief and laughed, “I’m fine, Jiaojiao, how are you doing?”

She asked for the second time.

After thinking about it, Gu Jiao gave her a response, “I’m fine, Madam Gu, what brings you here?”

“I came to see you.” Madam Yao walked to the window as she said this, and pulled the curtain open. The strong light immediately penetrated through the window paper and flooded the room.

Gu Jiao’s eyes slightly closed, taking a moment to adjust to the light, she said, “Madam Gu was just poisoned, she should be resting in bed.”

Madam Yao looked at her with a soft gaze, “I know, I came today because there’s something I need to tell you.”

Gu Jiao looked at Madam Yao and suddenly saw a shiny tear at the corner of her eye.

Madam Yao stepped forward and took Gu Jiao’s hand, carefully placed it on her thin face.

She was very weak, but this time brought a tremendous force, “Jiaojiao, I am your mother.”