The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1228 - 1228 Past and Present Lives (Two Updates)_4

Chapter 1228: Past and Present Lives (Two Updates)_4 Chapter 1228: Past and Present Lives (Two Updates)_4 “Are you going out?” Yujin asked.

“I’m going back for a bit,” Gu Jiao said.

Yujin smiled, “You’ve stayed for a few days; it’s about time to go back and have a look. Don’t worry about the princess; I’m here for her.”

Yujin prepared a carriage for Gu Jiao.

On the way back to Bishui Alley, the route would pass near Liu Yisheng’s house. As they approached the alley, Gu Jiao said to the coachman, “Stop for a moment, I have something to do.”

“Yes, Doctor Gu!”

The coachman stopped the carriage at the entrance of the alley.

Gu Jiao was just making a detour to see if Liu Yisheng had returned without much hope, but as she came to the door without even raising her hand to knock, a white figure swooshed over the wall and desperately leapt into her arms.

“Xiaoshi!”

Gu Jiao embraced the plump little bundle in her arms.

The little bundle snuggled into her embrace dependently.

Gu Jiao curved the corners of her lips.

“Who’s here?”

Liu Yisheng opened the peeling wooden door from inside the courtyard, and he saw Gu Jiao standing outside.

Dressed in a green garment, Gu Jiao still looked the part of youthful beauty, though her brows carried an inadvertent air of decisiveness.

Liu Yisheng’s gaze fixed on her for a moment.

Gu Jiao said, “You’re back?”

She spoke of returning.

Which showed she knew he had left before.

Liu Yisheng explained, “Wen Momo was getting old, so I took her back to the countryside… to return to her roots.”

Wen Momo was the old servant who had worked in the courtyard, frail with age and hindered mobility.

Liu Yisheng had taken her to live in the countryside for a while.

Gu Jiao suddenly realized, “I see, then she…”

Liu Yisheng said, “She passed away.”

Her descendants were gone, and it was Liu Yisheng who had seen her off to the end.

“She died peacefully in her sleep,” Liu Yisheng said, making way for her, “Come in and sit.”

Carrying the little bundle, Gu Jiao entered the courtyard, “I was just passing by today. I didn’t expect you to be actually home. Yuan Tang asked me to bring you some things; I’ll bring them over in a moment.”

Liu Yisheng led Gu Jiao into the main room and poured her a cup of tea.

Someone was cooking in the backyard.

It was his last remaining servant, Anu.

Gu Jiao’s gaze fell on a few trunks perched on the chairs: “Have you just come back, or are you leaving again?”

Following her gaze, Liu Yisheng looked at his and Anu’s luggage and said, “Actually, I was about to go find you. I must say farewell to you.”

Gu Jiao’s expression paused: “Are you leaving the Capital City?”

“Yes,” Liu Yisheng said with a relieved smile, “I’m leaving, and it’s probably not just the Capital City.”

“You’re leaving Zhan Country,” Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng smiled helplessly, “No choice, who made me lose a bet to someone? I understand the principle of honoring a bet.”

Gu Jiao said, “So you remember.”

Liu Yisheng pulled out three ornamental hairpins from the brocade pouch, “I’ve always remembered, it’s just that Wen Momo was in poor health, and I couldn’t leave her here alone.”

Gu Jiao nodded her head.

It seemed like something he would do.

Thinking of something, Liu Yisheng said with a serious tone, “But don’t get your hopes up. I’m just going to study. Becoming a marquis or chancellor, those kinds of good fortunes won’t fall on my head.”

Gu Jiao did not argue.

Liu Yisheng carefully stowed the three hairpins: “Before I leave, I have a question for you.”

Gu Jiao said, “Go ahead.”

Liu Yisheng hesitated for a moment, then mustered up the courage to ask, “Why… are you so good to me? Is it really just because I was a patient at the Medical Hall?”

“It’s not,” Gu Jiao said.

Liu Yisheng’s eyes brightened, “Then it is…?”

Gu Jiao curved her lips again, “You’ve already asked one question.”

Liu Yisheng choked, then after a long pause, he managed a bitter smile, “That’s true.”

Gu Jiao noticed a bamboo flute lying on one of the trunks, “You like to play the flute?”

Liu Yisheng said warmly, “I do.”

Gu Jiao uttered an “oh,” then asked, “When are you leaving?”

“I’m setting off in two hours. Given my particular status, it’s inconvenient to leave the city when it’s crowded.” Liu Yisheng said.

Gu Jiao nodded, then looked at him, “Is your carriage ready?”

Liu Yisheng smiled, “It’s ready.”

Gu Jiao said, “Then I’ll go get Yuan Tang’s things for you.”

Liu Yisheng opened his mouth, “No need to make a special trip; I’ll have Anu go with you.”

“Alright.”

An ordinary night unfolded, and Liu Yisheng, having lived in the Capital City for twenty-two years, finally worked up the courage to board the carriage that would take him away.

He was not permitted to leave the Capital City; he spent some silver and used some measures.

He left by the west city gate.

He did not know if he could ever return, but he had to go.

As he passed Phoenix Pavilion, he suddenly heard a string of melodious, ethereal guqin music.

Liu Yisheng felt a jolt in his heart.

He suddenly gripped the carriage curtain tightly, about to lift it, yet he suddenly paused.

Anu turned around, gesturing with his hands, asking if he wanted to get off.

He looked in the direction of the music, hesitating in his eyes, yet he shook his head, “Let the carriage slow down.”

Anu slowed the carriage.

The distant sound of the guqin came through, like celestial music or the sound of a mountain stream.

He had never heard such a lingering and moving melody in his life; not even the court musicians could replicate a fraction of her skill.

Liu Yisheng slowly took out the bamboo flute in his hand, placed it to his lips, and followed her guqin notes.

She was seeing him off with her music.

A song of surprise to farewell a confidant.

She thanked him for his previous life’s buried bones; he thanked her for her kindness in this life.

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