The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1374 - 1374 667 Severe Beating of the Han Family (Second

Chapter 1374: 667 Severe Beating of the Han Family (Second More) Chapter 1374: 667 Severe Beating of the Han Family (Second More) Gu Jiao used her own voice.

By now, he was already blind, but at least let him hear.

Xun Fengxian, who was pouring tea for Gu Jiao on the side, gave a start when she heard the maiden’s voice, and looked towards the boy in disbelief!

“Prepare the hot water,” Gu Jiao said, and then her voice returned to that of a green teenager.

Xun Fengxian wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, confused—had she been so shocked that she mistook the voice? This was clearly a boy, how could he suddenly sound like a girl?

A girl wouldn’t be this terrifying.

Gu Chengfeng’s injuries were severe, with minor abrasions from falling, as well as knife wounds from fighting with others, all swollen with soaked flesh and filled with sand and mud.

In the process of cleaning, the skin and muscles all needed to be turned inside out.

Gu Jiao calmly did everything that needed to be done.

On the side, Xun Fengxian could barely keep from gasping out loud.

My goodness, isn’t this cleaning too brutal? She thought. She had never been this terrifying even when tormenting those disobedient servant boys. Where did this kid come from? Was this really about saving someone, or was it a death blow?

“Stop cleaning,” Gu Chengfeng said weakly, “it’s unsightly.”

Gu Jiao said calmly, “I have seen wounds uglier than this.”

Apart from the new injuries Gu Chengfeng had acquired today, his body was also covered with numerous old wounds, large and small, which were clear evidence of the hardships he endured on his journey.

“Was it Han Family’s doing?” Gu Jiao asked.

Her voice remained steady, betraying no ripples of emotion, yet an inexplicably bone-chilling murderous aura enveloped the room.

Xun Fengxian, carrying the hot water into the room, shivered unconsciously.

She had been in this line of work for many years, seen all sorts of people, but this was the first time she had encountered a youth with such a heavy murderous aura at such a young age.

She placed the hot water next to the bed, on a stool, and asked, “Does the Young Master have any other orders?”

“Cook some vegetable porridge,” Gu Jiao said.

“Eh, sure!” Xun Fengxian responded, hurrying to instruct Ginkgo to do so.

Once the enormous weight in one’s heart has been lifted, it becomes easy to fall asleep from the relief.

Gu Chengfeng was almost asleep when he suddenly felt someone pulling at his pants. He was momentarily puzzled in his drowsy state and instinctively grasped his waistband, “What are you doing?”

Gu Jiao looked at the blood seeping through his trousers and said, “There are wounds on your legs.”

With the last bit of consciousness, Gu Chengfeng stubbornly resisted, “Don’t… don’t look… ”

Gu Jiao said, “It’s not like I’ll make fun of you for being small.”

Gu Chengfeng: “…!!”

He’s not small!

He’s Gu Big Big!

And what was this girl saying!

Should a young lady even speak like that?

Gu Chengfeng’s head tilted to the side, and he lost consciousness.

Xun Fengxian: “Uh… ”

Did he pass out from sleep or anger?

It was a good thing Gu Jiao checked—Gu Chengfeng had a knife wound near the groin on his thigh, deep to the bone, which took seven stitches.

By the time all the injuries were treated, it was half a ‘shi chen’ later, and the kitchen’s vegetable porridge was ready. Gu Chengfeng was already asleep, and without disturbing him, Gu Jiao had some herself.

She wasn’t hungry.

She just didn’t like to waste food.

After a night full of shocks, Xun Fengxian felt she needed to have some porridge to calm her nerves.

“Um… If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to my room,” she said awkwardly.

Gu Jiao, sitting at the table, put down the bowl in her hand and said, “Hang on, I have a question for you.”

Xun Fengxian quickly turned back and said with an ingratiating smile, “Eh! Please ask, Young Master!”

Gu Jiao asked, “Were today’s officials from the Han Family, from that Han Che’s Han Family?”

Han Che?

Xun Fengxian was taken aback before she realized that indeed, the second young master of the Han Family was called Han Che.

She nodded, “Yes, that’s the Han Family!”

Gu Jiao added, “Why would the Han Family relentlessly chase after a slave?”

“You may not know this, but he’s not an ordinary slave…” Xun Fengxian began, but then realized the nature of the relationship between the two and coughed lightly to correct herself, “The attire of the officials earlier suggests they were from the Han Family’s mine. The mine strictly controls labor service, and they capture and execute anyone who flees. That’s a rule of the mine and also a method the Han Family uses to intimidate people.”

“Your friend is very fortunate to have escaped. The Han Family’s mine is no place for people; only death-row inmates are sent there, or slaves bought for that purpose. Those people are treated less than human, working from dawn till dusk. If they fall sick or injured, no one takes care of them; they are just thrown into the mountains because the cost of treatment is enough to buy a new slave.”

A fierce killing intent flashed in the depths of Gu Jiao’s eyes.

Xun Fengxian advised, “I suggest Young Master not act rashly, the Han Family is not one to be trifled with.”

“How troublesome are they?” Gu Jiao inquired.

Xun Fengxian said, “The Han Family is the mother’s family of the Crown Prince, their power is overwhelming. Don’t be fooled by their not ranking first among aristocratic families, sometimes rankings are deceiving, and the true power lies in the military control in their hands. The Han Family has obtained the Hei Fengqi from the Xuanyuan Family, and they possess the strongest cavalry in Yan Country. You’re still young, Young Master, and might not understand warfare or know how formidable cavalry can be. The steed of Han’s heir, Black Wind King, is said to be a demonic horse that comes once in a millennium, capable of driving wolves and battling tigers. It is the only one of its kind in the six nations, without any match!”

“Ah—”

A maid’s scream came from the Backyard.

Sure enough, it was the King Horse splashing in the water on the open ground in the Backyard, drenching the passing maid Gingko with water.

Speaking of slaves, Gu Jiao’s gaze fell on the branding on the outer side of Gu Chengfeng’s right leg, a mark burned deep with red-hot iron, searing both flesh and dignity.

This mark was glaring, more so than all of his other injuries combined.

Gu Jiao asked, “How long will the officials take to give up if they can’t find him?”

The question was rather confusing, and Xun Fengxian barely understood it but she responded, “They won’t give up. None who escaped from the Han Family’s Mine have ever not been found and brought back. Why else do you think no one dares to escape now? Your friend is probably the first to have escaped this year. Be careful when you take him away later.”

Gu Jiao gave her a sidelong glance, “Who said I was taking him away?”

Xun Fengxian was startled, “What?”

Gu Jiao looked at Xun Fengxian, threateningly, “The longer he can hide, the longer you live.”

Xun Fengxian: “…?!”

Wasn’t it, was this kid trying to extort her?

Did she now have to perpetually help him outwit Han Family’s officials?

Xun Fengxian stammered, “I-I-I warn you…”

Gu Jiao said indifferently, “The soft ones are afraid of the hard ones, the hard ones are afraid of the ruthless, and the ruthless are afraid of those with nothing to lose. Guess which one I am?”

Xun Fengxian felt a lump of old blood stuck in her throat.

…

Gu Chengfeng had a high fever all through the night, and Gu Jiao stayed by the bed all night.

The next day before dawn, Gu Jiao took a carriage to Tianqiong Academy.

At the entrance of the Academy, she ran into Gu Xiaoshun.

Gu Xiaoshun, holding his book bag, came over, “Sister! Did you spend the night at the Little Princess’s Residence last night?”

“No.” This wasn’t the place to talk; Gu Jiao looked around and said, “I’ll tell you later.”

Gu Xiaoshun replied, “Oh.”

Gu Jiao planned to leave King Horse at the Academy first and take him back in the evening, but after only walking a few steps, someone called out from behind her, “Is that Xiao Liulang? My young master invites you!”

“Not going,” Gu Jiao said without a second thought.

The person pronounced each word clearly, “My young master’s surname is Han.”

Gu Jiao paused, then handed the carriage over to Gu Xiaoshun, “You go in first, my book bag is on the carriage, don’t forget to take it to Mingxin Hall later.”

“Alright,” Gu Xiaoshun obediently took the reins.

“Lead the way,” Gu Jiao turned back and said to the young guard.

The guard led Gu Jiao to a nearby alley.

Han Che had been waiting in the alley for quite some time, flanked by quite a few Han Family guards.

Their disposition clearly indicated hostile intentions.

Actually, the matter was simple, it was all about a horse.

One would have thought that with Lord Ming stepping in, Xiao Liulang’s horse would surely be taken, but unexpectedly, a Little Princess interfered. Lord Ming was put in an awkward position and couldn’t save face, so he vented his anger on Han Che, blaming him for not understanding the situation and offending the Little Princess.

Was this his fault?

Or was it not because Lord Ming couldn’t best the Little Princess?

That, he dared not say.

He was irate inside, tossing and turning all night without sleep. He decided that no matter what, he had to get his hands on that horse to avoid swallowing this insult.

Of course, he wasn’t an unreasonable barbarian.

He would first use civility, then force if necessary.

“Xiao Liulang, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve taken a liking to your horse. Name your price!”

Gu Jiao looked at him coldly.

“Why are you looking at me? That I fancy your horse is your good fortune. If not for this, do you think you, with your status, are worthy of speaking with the Han Family heir?”

Gu Jiao still just looked at him coldly.

Han Che felt like he was being targeted by a savage wolf, with a chill spreading across his forehead, he said in a fury, “Xiao Liulang! Don’t think someone’s truly got your back! The Little Princess is just a child, and if Lord Yun Shan and the King come to know you’re using her, your fate will be worse than death! If you sell the horse to me now and beg me properly, maybe I’ll consider sparing you, out of pity for your groveling, and ask the Han Family to—”

Before he could finish his last word, Gu Jiao kicked him fiercely, sending him crashing to the ground!

The youth was like Asura, stepping on his chest, “Are Han Family people that impressive?”

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