The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1113 - 1113 538 Tender Hearted (Second Update)

Chapter 1113: 538 Tender Hearted (Second Update) Chapter 1113: 538 Tender Hearted (Second Update) Bishui Alley.

Lord Gu, having been ignored by his son, felt a bit embarrassed. He cleared his throat and placed his sleeping son back into the arms of the Yao Family matriarch.

He had come today not only to see the Yao Family matriarch and his son, but also for another matter—the marriage of Gu Jinyu.

Gu Jinyu’s wedding to the Prince of An County was initially set to take place before the end of the year, but unexpected war broke out. While ordinary citizens’ marriages might remain unaffected, the Prince of An County was a court-appointed official, and Gu Jinyu was the daughter of the Marquis Residence, so they could not wed during a national crisis.

Therefore, the marriage was postponed until after the New Year festivities.

“It’s next month,” Lord Gu explained to the Yao Family matriarch, “Jin Yu is your daughter; how can a daughter get married without her mother by her side? Why don’t you come back to the residence with me for a few days and stay until after Jin Yu is married?”

The reason behind the animosity between the Yao Family matriarch and the Gu Family stemmed mainly from the fact that she was unwelcome by everyone in the residence, headed by the Gu Family’s old matriarch, followed by Gu Changqing and his three sons. As for the servants, they didn’t really matter too much; in any case, they wouldn’t dare to make a real fuss in front of the Yao Family matriarch.

Now, with various misunderstandings cleared, the resentment the three Gu brothers held towards the Yao Family matriarch had vanished, and Lord Gu felt it was time to bring her back home.

The Yao Family matriarch hesitated.

She knew that the Gu Family’s old matriarch still did not wish to see her, the daughter-in-law who had come into the picture halfway, and it was impossible for their relationship to go back to being completely free of grudges.

Furthermore, even if she returned, neither Gu Yan nor Gu Jiao would go back with her.

She couldn’t bear to part with her two children, nor could she part with the large family in Bishui Alley.

But the lord was right; Jin Yu was also her daughter.

When the third son of Gu and his wife treated Jiaojiao like a treasure, what reason did she have to treat Jin Yu poorly?

“My health hasn’t been very good lately, and I can’t attend to everything in the residence,” Lord Gu said, looking at her.

The Yao Family matriarch glanced at Gu Jiao, who was in the backyard repairing a football with flirtatious eyes, and then said to Lord Gu, “You’ve been here for so long, haven’t you spoken a word with Jiaojiao?”

Lord Gu huffed, “It’s her who won’t talk to me! I’ve been here for so long, did you hear her call me ‘Father’ once?”

The Yao Family matriarch replied, “Jiaojiao is just not used to it. Besides, have you ever treated Jiaojiao like a father should?”

“I…” Lord Gu faltered, his words trailing off.

The Yao Family matriarch continued, “And you’ve hit her with a whip before.”

“That was…” Lord Gu coughed awkwardly, feeling guilty, “how long ago was that and you still remember? Wasn’t it because I didn’t know she was our daughter and thought she would harm you?”

When it came to this matter, Lord Gu would get heated. He had only whipped the girl once, yet she bore a grudge in such a way—opposing him at every turn and even luring away his wife and son!

Two sons!

Was it he who did not act like a father?

Clearly, it was she who did not act like a daughter!

Why couldn’t she be more like Jin Yu, gentle and generous, charming and cute—the very image a daughter of the Marquis Residence should be!

Lord Gu rolled his eyes and complained, “If that girl was even half as sensible as Jin Yu, I wouldn’t find it so hard to dote on her!”

The Yao Family matriarch stood up, holding the sleeping Gu Xiaobao, and frowned at him, “Are you admitting you don’t dote on Jiaojiao?”

“No, it’s not… I…” Lord Gu was caught off guard, his mouth moving faster than his thoughts. Why did his wife always catch him at such tricky angles!

The Yao Family matriarch trembled with anger, “So all your past claims of doting on Jiaojiao were lies to deceive me!”

Lord Gu panicked completely and hurriedly said, “I didn’t lie to you! It’s the truth! I do dote on Jiaojiao! She’s the one I dote on the most!”

Not wanting to wake her sleeping son, the Yao Family matriarch suppressed her anger and asked, “Then tell me, what is Jiaojiao’s favorite food?”

Lord Gu opened his mouth.

He had no idea what the girl’s favorite food was!

“You can’t even answer that, yet you claim you dote on Jiaojiao!” With those words, the Yao Family matriarch left without turning back, cradling Gu Xiaobao in her arms.

Lord Gu: “…”

Sigh!

Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun had gone to see Master Xianzu and Master Lu in the southern wing, and were not at home. With the Yao Family matriarch ignoring him, Lord Gu, feeling rather downhearted, touched his nose. Every strand of hair on his body seemed to express the awkwardness he felt inside.

He hesitated over whether or not to leave first, but just then, Little Jingkong came over.

Little Jingkong was Gu Jiao’s constant companion, following her wherever she went, yet, surprisingly, he was not sticking to her at the moment.

Lord Gu was rather astonished.

He looked at this tiny figure who, no matter how much he grew, seemed to maintain his small stature, and for once, spoke to him amicably, “Why have you come over here?”

Without saying a word, Little Jingkong walked to the threshold of the main gate in the front courtyard, stood there with his little hands behind his back, and blinked up at him.

Lord Gu’s mouth twitched, “Are you trying to give me the boot?”

Little Jingkong shook his head enthusedly, “Jiaojiao has said that we should be polite children. A visitor is a guest, and it’s not right to send someone away just because they’re not welcome. That’s for adults to do; our job as children is just to be good.”

Lord Gu: “…”

After facing rejection at every turn, Lord Gu finally left with a sense of defeat.

Gu Jiao fixed Little Jingkong’s football, and once again, he could happily play.

“Thank you, Jiaojiao!” Xiaojingkong stood under the gazebo, cutely saying.

Gu Jiao curved the corners of her lips, handing the football on the stone table to him, “Want to play?”

“Will Jiaojiao play with me?” Xiaojingkong asked.

“Okay,” Gu Jiao nodded.

Gu Jiao played with Xiaojingkong for a while until the old libationer finished his duties and came back to check on Xiaojingkong’s homework, and only then did he leave, reluctantly.

Gu Jiao then went to the Medical Hall.

She brought some of the candied fruits and Hawthorn Cakes that Granduncle had made.

When she entered the room, Mo Qianxue was leaning against the head of the bed sulking. Seeing her come over, she let out a cold huff, rolled her eyes, and turned over, showing the back of her head to Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao was always about the person, not the issues. Those she accepted could get away with anything in her eyes, and Mo Qianxue’s little tantrums were like a drizzle that couldn’t even wet her clothes.

“How are you feeling today? Is there any discomfort?” Doctor Gu asked routinely.

Mo Qianxue, clutching a handkerchief, said annoyedly, “Not so good, uncomfortable everywhere!”

Gu Jiao placed the snacks on the bedside table and reached out to take her pulse, “Is that so? Let me see.”

Mo Qianxue pulled her hand back, “I won’t let you, you little swindler, check!”

So lively, it looked like there was nothing wrong in the afternoon.

As a physician, Gu Jiao naturally had to be concerned about her patient’s diet. She had asked the maid, and Mo Qianxue hadn’t eaten much, just a couple of dishes and a soup and barely touched them.

Gu Jiao opened the food box, took out a stack of gleaming and translucent Hawthorn Cakes, and said, “These are made by my granduncle, try them.”

When one person cares for another, their focus can become very strange.

I only heard Mo Qianxue sneer, “Your grandfather doesn’t have a sister, so where did you get a granduncle from?”

Gu Jiao’s gaze paused on her, “You’ve investigated me.”

Mo Qianxue’s eyes flashed.

Oh no, she had blurted it out!

Mo Qianxue recognized Gu Jiao as the mute boy who had flirted with her only after being saved by Gu Jiao and returned to Xianle Inn, and Gu Jiao had never mentioned who she was, nor who her grandfather was.

In other words, before recognizing Gu Jiao this time, she, Mo Qianxue, had investigated the young lady of the Marquis Residence.

This was very intriguing.

Why had Mo Qianxue investigated her?

Mo Qianxue steadied herself, and said in her usual tone, “Does this need investigation? The story of the young lady from the Marquis Residence working in the Medical Hall as a doctor has been the talk of the town.”

Gu Jiao stared unblinkingly at her, “So you’re that certain I am the doctor?”

Mo Qianxue almost couldn’t resist her seemingly casual yet sharp gaze, “Aren’t you surnamed Gu?”

Gu Jiao indifferently placed the Hawthorn Cake in Mo Qianxue’s hand, “That’s true.”

Mo Qianxue let out a relieved sigh inwardly; thank goodness she was quick-witted!

After Gu Jiao handed the snacks to Mo Qianxue, she went out to get the medicine for her. To strengthen the foundation and nourish the origin, traditional Chinese medicine was needed.

After she left, Mo Qianxue pulled out a packet of powdered medicine from her bosom and sprinkled it on a piece of Hawthorn Cake, wiping away the excess powder. A thin layer blended with the sugar grains on the cake, creating no visible sign of it.

When Gu Jiao returned to the room carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal decoction, Mo Qianxue was sitting on the bed with a cold face.

The Hawthorn Cake was on the bedside table next to her, and she huffed, “What a mess of flavors, claiming to be made by your granduncle? If you don’t want to bother about me, just say so. There’s no need to fob me off with some stall-bought stuff!”

“Does it taste bad?” Gu Jiao asked curiously.

Mo Qianxue huffed, “Terrible! You won’t believe it until you try one yourself!”

Gu Jiao picked up the top piece of Hawthorn Cake.

Mo Qianxue grabbed her hand, “Aren’t you afraid I might have poisoned you?”

Gu Jiao countered, “Would you?”

Mo Qianxue slowly let go, her voice cold, “Yes! Of course! I would love nothing more than to poison you, you little swindler!”

Gu Jiao tasted the Hawthorn Cake in her hand, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, “Hmm, it does seem a bit too sour. I must have taken the wrong one, this is made for my great-aunt.”

“Doctor Gu! There’s a patient who has fainted over here!”

The voice of Xiaosanzi came from outside the courtyard.

“I’m coming!” Gu Jiao put down the Hawthorn Cake and turned to leave the room.

Mo Qianxue looked at the Hawthorn Cake that Gu Jiao had bitten into, and then at the snowfield outside the window with a bird and half a Hawthorn Cake, kicking her feet under the covers in a huff!

Next time… next time, I definitely won’t go soft!

If I go soft again, I, Mo Qianxue, will write my name back to front!