The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1195

Chapter 1195: 580 Strong (Second Update)

Before dawn, Gu Jiao emerged from the east room. In recent days, Huangfu Xian had been resting in the west room, while Xiao Hen and Xiao Jingkong originally intended to sleep in the east room, but ended up being dragged away by their grandfather next door.

The sounds of a back-and-forth between an adult and a child already drifted from next door, seemingly waking up as well.

Gu Jiao went to the backyard to wash up. Just as she was wiping her face, she saw a shadow cast by the lantern hanging in the corridor.

Turning around, she focused and saw Huangfu Xian rolling his wheelchair out of the study room. The study room had no threshold, allowing the wheelchair to pass freely in and out.

But how had he managed to come out of the west room?

"Have you been awake for a long time?" Gu Jiao asked.

"Not too long, I had one of your bodyguards assist me." He was referring to how a hidden guard had helped him and his wheelchair out of the west room. This young man was even commanding the hidden guards now.

Gu Jiao said, "Wait a moment, I’ll go make breakfast after I finish washing my face."

Huangfu Xian stared at her intently, "I heard from ’little mushroom’ that you have a way to make me stand up?"

"Little... mushroom?"

Gu Jiao blinked in confusion, then finally realized he was talking about Xiao Jingkong.

Gu Jiao looked at him, "Have you come around?"

Huangfu Xian lowered his gaze, pinched his cold fingertips, and said, "I have."

He wanted to live, not merely exist like a walking corpse, but live like a real person. Even if he was without legs, he aspired to stand tall. He intended to traverse Zhan Country’s rivers and mountains, measure its territory with his footsteps, and live on persistently and diligently, bearing his mother’s hopes.

"It’s very tough."

"I’m not afraid."

"It’s also very painful, even more so than scraping bones."

"I’m not afraid of pain."

Gu Jiao scratched her head. It wasn’t about whether he was afraid. She didn’t have the materials to make a reception cavity here.

Never mind, she’ll obtain some tree resin when spring comes.

After washing her face and returning to the east room, Gu Jiao took out the first-aid kit, intending to prepare salves and gauze for Huangfu Xian’s wound dressing. To her surprise, the weight of the first-aid kit felt off.

Upon opening it, she saw, atop the emergency medicine, a pair of brand-new prosthetic sockets.

...

The affair of the Quiet Imperial Concubine and her daughter served as a bloody lesson for the emperor. He mentioned no more about concealing anyone’s crimes. Of course, even if he wanted to conceal them, it was no longer possible. Princess Xinyang had already revealed the Quiet Imperial Concubine’s crimes in front of all the officials at Jinluan Hall, and there was no retracting it.

Furthermore, the truth about Princess Ning An’s parentage needed to be announced to the world, and the crimes of the false Ning An were to be publicized as well.

These matters were fully entrusted to the Ministry of Justice.

Minister Xing was exonerated and released this very morning.

Xiao Hen and Minister Li personally went to Dali Temple to bring him back.

Minister Li bowed to Minister Xing, with an apologetic smile, and said, "Minister Xing, framing you as part of a play on that day was a last resort. I apologize for the offense!"

"You rascal!" Minister Xing raised his hand as if to slap Minister Li.

Minister Li immediately shrank in fear.

In the end, Minister Xing held back, merely nudging him lightly with his foot, "You couldn’t even give me a heads up! I’ve always treated you well. How could you turn around and throw mud at me!"

Minister Li sheepishly grinned, glanced at Xiao Hen beside him, and said, "That was Xiao Liulang’s instruction. He said it was dangerous enough for me to pretend to be bought by her, adding more people to the secret could’ve risked exposure."

Minister Xing disagreed, "What, you can act but I can’t?"

Minister Li replied with a bitter smile, "You... you really can’t act, you’re too honest..."

That flattery immediately defused half of Minister Xing’s anger. He looked at both of them seriously and said, "Just this once, not a precedent. Remember to inform me in advance if there’s any plan in the future. Don’t leave me in the dark again!" _{frёewebnoѵēl.com}

"Yes, yes! Of course!" Minister Li kept smiling in agreement.

As they spoke, they left Dali Temple, and a carriage stopped by the roadside.

Minister Li personally helped Minister Xing onto the carriage, then turned around with an awkward expression, and approached Xiao Hen with a lower voice, "Xiao Liulang, I really owe you one this time."

Minister Li was not just pretending to be bought by the owner of Xianle Inn. He had truly been bribed.

After everything came to light, it was Xiao Hen who stepped in, claiming Minister Li had agreed to his suggestion to put on a show, with the goal of luring the fish into the net.

Xiao Hen said, "Minister Li, you’re too kind."

Minister Li, feeling embarrassed, added, "I was bewitched this time. I won’t dare to do it again. I am profoundly grateful for you saving my life. If there is anything you need in the future, just tell me. I will definitely go through fire and water for you!"

Xiao Hen offered a faint smile, "You are too kind."

Whether Minister Li was truly that grateful didn’t matter. What mattered was that now Xiao Hen had leverage over him, and Minister Li would be of use to him.

From that moment on, Xiao Hen began the first step in cultivating his power.

The account books from Noble Consort Jing, Princess Xinyang had handed them to Xiao Hen, and Xiao Hen understood her intentions. If he was willing, he could turn the books in, or choose to keep a firm grip on them.

"Young master, Lord Xiao and Physician Gu have arrived!" Eunuch Su announced from outside the door.

Empress Xiao dismissed the palace maids, leaving only Eunuch Su.

"Ahen!" Empress Xiao was sobbing uncontrollably.

As the Empress, she was usually composed and restrained, rarely seen in such a state of distress.

Xiao Hen softly reassured, "Aunt, take care of yourself. Let Jiaojiao take a look at Xiaoqi first."

Empress Xiao stepped aside, "Jiaojiao, you must cure Xiaoqi..."

Gu Jiao nodded, "I’ll do my best."

Gu Jiao set down her small basket, opened the first aid kit, and took out a stethoscope. There was no abnormal sound in the lungs, but the heartbeat was slightly fast.

She also took Qin Chuyu’s pulse. This pulse was so strange, she had never encountered such a symptom in her two lifetimes.

Gu Jiao asked Empress Xiao, "Can you describe the situation when the Seventh Prince fainted in detail?"

Empress Xiao recalled, "At that time, Xiaoqi was eating, he said he didn’t want to eat the vegetables, I just scolded him a bit, then he suddenly cried out, clutched his chest, and collapsed to the side."

"Clutched his chest? Chest pain?" Gu Jiao muttered to herself, then asked, "Does he usually react like this?"

Empress Xiao shook her head, sobbing, "No, he has always been fine. It’s just since he was kidnapped by that woman, he became somewhat sluggish. I thought he was scared, the imperial physician said the same. The child is young, can’t be given medicine rashly, the physician said he would be fine after a while, but who would have thought..."

Gu Jiao pulled back the covers and undid Qin Chuyu’s clothes, meticulously checking for any hidden wounds on his body.

There were none.

Xiao Hen suddenly spoke up, "Jiaojiao, his right wrist."

Gu Jiao looked towards Qin Chuyu’s right wrist, but saw nothing unusual. She changed her angle, standing by Xiao Hen’s side, and this time she saw it clearly.

There was a pale, greyish mark on Qin Chuyu’s wrist. It could not be seen if the light was too bright or too dark.

Gu Jiao rubbed it with her fingertip but couldn’t remove it, "Has he had this mark before?"

Empress Xiao thought for a moment, then shook her head, "There shouldn’t be. Although the mark is faint and hard to detect, if it’s been there for many days, we should’ve noticed it."

Gu Jiao concluded, "So it’s likely appeared recently."

After a moment of thought, Gu Jiao said to Xiao Hen, "Where is the young master of Xianle Inn? She may know what this is."

Xiao Hen replied, "She has been taken away by His Majesty’s people. The Emperor said he wanted to deal with her personally."

Empress Xiao hastily instructed Eunuch Su, "Go to His Majesty and request for her!"