The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1399 - 1399 679 Jiaojiao Takes Action (First Update)

Chapter 1399: 679 Jiaojiao Takes Action (First Update) Chapter 1399: 679 Jiaojiao Takes Action (First Update) Gu Chengfeng bristled with anger, “Can it be? What kind of person is this Crown Prince anyway? How could he even plot to kill his own sister!”

“Sister?” Gu Jiao was simply puzzled.

After pondering for a moment, Gu Chengfeng corrected himself, “Oh, wrong, it seems to be the elder sister. The Princess is the sovereign’s third daughter; there are two older half-sisters born before her, and no prince was born before she was.”

As he spoke, he subconsciously touched his chin—a habitual gesture of Gu Jiao’s—but when people live together for a long time, they tend to pick up each other’s habits imperceptibly.

Not even he himself noticed.

He said doubtfully, “The Crown Prince wants to kill Xiao Hen and also the Princess; what exactly is their relationship?”

“I do not know,” said Gu Jiao.

Curious, Gu Chengfeng asked, “How many assassins did they send?”

Gu Jiao replied, “Six.”

Regardless of what the Princess was like, since the Crown Prince intended to kill Xiao Hen, frankly, Gu Chengfeng did not want the Crown Prince to succeed.

“Can’t we report this to an official or something… and have them chase the people down?” The moment these words left his lips, Gu Chengfeng startled himself—had he been influenced by the girl’s audacity after spending too much time with her?

Yan Country was part of Shang Country; it wasn’t the place for people like them to meddle in a royal family’s internal strife.

A misstep could lead to irreversible disaster, and they might not even know how they died.

Besides, they were neither related nor acquainted with the Princess; was it too high a price to pay, risking their lives just because they found the Crown Prince disagreeable?

With a snap, Gu Jiao closed her first-aid kit.

Gu Chengfeng jumped at this sudden noise.

Gu Jiao picked up her small basket and began to pack hidden weapons: “Later, you send Master Jingkong back.”

“Of course, I’ll take him back,” Gu Chengfeng responded without hesitation, “I was the one who brought him here, so who else would take him back if not me?”

As he spoke, he suddenly sensed something was amiss, “Wait a moment, what are you particularly instructing me for? What are you planning to do?”

Gu Jiao’s hand rested on her belt.

“Hey!” Gu Chengfeng covered his eyes and turned his back, “Even if I am your kin-brother, you can’t do this! Have some sense of propriety between genders!”

“Oh,” said Gu Jiao, “I forgot you’re a man.”

Gu Chengfeng: “…!!”

What a mortifying sister!

Gu Chengfeng made a hasty retreat from the room.

Gu Jiao changed into night traveling clothes, put on a mask, and went to the Backyard to fetch her horse, carrying the Red-Tasseled Spear.

Master Meng and Gu Yan were playing chess in the Backyard.

Seeing her dressed as such, Master Meng looked puzzled, “Why are you dressed like that?”

Mrs. Nan’s health was no longer in serious condition; she had just gone to the kitchen to make a fire, planning to make something for Little Jingkong to eat. She was just coming out to draw water when she saw Gu Jiao.

She was slightly taken aback: “Are you going out?”

Gu Jiao nodded, “Yes, I’m stepping out for a bit. I’ll have to leave Ayan in Mrs. Nan’s care for the time being.”

Looking after Gu Yan was expected; after all, he was her husband’s disciple. But how long was this outing for her to ask for such a favor?

Gu Yan lowered his eyes, pinching the chess piece in his hand.

Gu Xiaoshun had taken Little Jingkong and Little Shiyi for a walk. Gu Jiao asked Gu Yan to inform Gu Xiaoshun to request a few days off for her.

“Hmm,” Gu Yan murmured in affirmation.

Gu Jiao led the horse to the doorway.

Gu Chengfeng rushed out after her, “Hey! You must be insane! Do you even know what you’re doing? What’s our business with the internal strife of Yan’s royal family?”

Gu Jiao adjusted the saddle, fastening the buckles, “The Crown Prince wants to kill Xiao Hen.”

Gu Chengfeng asked, “So?”

Gu Jiao pondered, “There’s something I must verify personally.”

Gu Chengfeng grew anxious, “What thing?”

Mounting her horse, Gu Jiao said, “I’ll tell you when I return.”

Gu Chengfeng, clutching his fist in anger, watched her swift, unhesitating departure, gritting his teeth, “Hey! You girl! Stop! Come back here! They’ve been gone a whole day and night! You won’t catch up!”

Gu Jiao was already far away.

Gu Chengfeng felt a murderous rage boiling up.

Exactly how did this girl grow up? Was she sure she didn’t eat the heart of a bear or the gall of a leopard?

Those were the Crown Prince’s people, from the Crown Prince’s manor!

“If you can’t beat them, run! And don’t you dare take off your amulet of protection, you hear me!”

…

Zhan Country’s Imperial Mausoleum was built near the Capital City, unlike Yan Country’s, which was far from Shengdu, in the mountains a hundred li away. It was said that the ancestor Emperor had people look at the feng shui; the mountain range resembled a jiaolong, or dragon, with clear water and beautiful mountains, akin to another dragon vein.

Building the Imperial Mausoleum there was supposed to ensure the enduring imperial aura of Dayan and the prosperity of the nation.

If it was only a hundred li, one could actually arrive within a day and a night at full gallop.

Only, the previous night had seen rainfall in Shengdu, and it was uncertain if other areas en route had also encountered heavy rain, which would slow down the journey.

As for how much it would be delayed, it depended on the specific circumstances at the time.

Moreover, they couldn’t push on without any rest, as it could affect the fighting strength.

Gu Jiao felt there was still hope that she could catch up, although the hope was very slim.

But even if the chances were slim, she had to try.

She needed to know the answer.

The sun was setting in the west.

Near a post station by the mountains, six cloaked men led their horses in, handed them to the station’s attendants, and asked them to feed the horses well.

They themselves ordered a tableful of dishes.

“We’re about to enter the mountains,” the leader said. “There must be no slip-ups in this operation.”

The man beside him said, “Don’t worry, big brother, aren’t you aware of our capabilities? The Princess’s martial arts are already crippled, how could those palace guards in the Imperial Mausoleum possibly stand a chance against us?”

The leader said, “Make it clean, don’t let anyone trace it back to His Highness.”

“Of course.”

“Moreover, our target is only the Princess. If we can avoid the mausoleum guards, we do so. We kill them only if we must, to avoid unnecessary complications.”

“Got it, big brother!”

The group finished eating the food on the table.

The leader left a silver coin on the table, donned his cloak, and led the others to the stables to fetch their horses and leave the post station.

The sky was overcast, and the air within the mountains was oppressively hot.

A man in black said, “Big brother, it looks like it’s going to rain again.”

The leader, looking at the Imperial Mausoleum not far away, said with an icy gaze, “Heavy rain will mask our scent, making it the perfect time to kill.”

As he spoke, he covered his face with a black cloth around his neck.

The rest of them followed suit and covered their faces with cloth.

He gave the command, “Let’s go!”

The men gripped their reins tightly and drew their swords, charging towards the Imperial Mausoleum shrouded in the night with a murderous aura!

Reaching the Imperial Mausoleum required crossing a bridge made of ropes.

Just as they spurred their horses onto the rope bridge, an arrow suddenly flew from behind them, its chilling killing intent and sharp sound of splitting the air as if tearing through the night.

The leader instantly became alert and slashed the arrow in two with his sword!

“Who’s there!”

He reined in his horse, stopping at the entrance to the rope bridge.

When he stopped, the five others in black also halted one after another.

Lined up in a row, the leader turned his horse around and came forward, standing at the forefront of the group, gazing intently at the young man approaching them on horseback through the dark night.

Moonlight trailed behind the youth, one hand holding a bow, the other grasping the reins, exuding a powerful aura like a demon from Purgatory!

The men were taken aback in unison.

The leader stared deeply at the youth who had suddenly appeared, squinting his eyes slightly, and asked again, “Who are you?”

Gu Jiao drew three arrows from behind her back, notched them on her bowstring, and targeted the men, “Someone who’s come for your lives!”

Having said that, she released her grip, and the arrows flew from the bowstring!

Although she fired three arrows simultaneously, the shots were effortless—none targeted any man directly, yet they landed right beneath their horses’ hooves.

Startled, the horses reared up, almost standing on their hind legs and letting out terrified neighs.

The men hurriedly dismounted and, with a few adept rolls, steadied themselves on the ground in front of the bridge.

The leader said coldly, “Kid, that’s some good archery! Which Archery Camp are you from?”

Archery Camp?

The other five, on hearing this, couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

Many were skilled in archery, but there were differences between the archers of a military camp and the experts among the civilians.

This youngster was actually an archer from a military camp; no wonder he had forced the six of them off their horses with a single shot.

Gu Jiao had no intention of wasting words with them.

She drew her bow again.

The leader scoffed with disdain, “Kid, do you really think you can harm us like that? You guys go ahead and cross the bridge, I’ll handle him!”

Having been forced off their horses didn’t mean their martial arts were lacking, it was the horses that weren’t good enough.

In fact, it was on foot that these men truly excelled!

Gu Jiao fired three arrows simultaneously once more!

Only one arrow targeted the leader’s heart, while the other two went astray.

The leader nearly laughed. “I thought you had some skill, kid, but it turns out that’s all you got!”

He raised his sword and effortlessly chopped down the incoming arrow!

“Big brother!”

Behind him, one of the men in black shouted out!

He turned his head and saw that the two arrows he thought were stray had in fact accurately pinned the ropes at the other end of the bridge. The force and precision with which they struck had severed the ropes!

Such a distance!

Such fine ropes!

How did he manage it!

Since when did Shengdu produce such a young, talented archer?

The leader roared, “Kid! Where did you learn your archery!”

Unfortunately, Gu Jiao still didn’t intend to engage him.

The bridge crashed with a boom!

“Big brother, the bridge has collapsed!”

The eyes of the leader became utterly icy. “Kid, you’re courting death—”

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