The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1407 - 1407 684 first watch

Chapter 1407: 684 first watch Chapter 1407: 684 first watch At nightfall, Master Lu and Gu Xiaoshun returned to the mansion with a cart full of firewood.

“Why did it take you so long?” Madam Nan went up to the door, helping the two men with the firewood.

Master Lu hurriedly stopped her, saying, “You leave it, I can handle it!”

“It’s just a few bundles of firewood,” Madam Nan said nonchalantly.

“Even so, we can’t let you carry them, right, Xiaoshun?” Master Lu, knowing he couldn’t win over Madam Nan, drew Gu Xiaoshun as reinforcement.

“That’s right, Madam,” Gu Xiaoshun jumped off the horse cart and took the firewood from Madam Nan’s hands.

Madam Nan gave Master Lu a glare.

As Gu Xiaoshun moved the firewood, he caught a glimpse of the Red-Tasseled Spear and a small backpack in the main hall, his eyes lighting up, “Eh? Is my sister back?”

Madam Nan smiled, “She’s back, playing chess with Old Master Meng in the backyard.”

Everyone in the family was aware of Old Meng’s surname, but no one associated him with the Chess Saint of the Six States, because how could such a figure who was revered even at the National Master Hall be in a position where he was reliant on the kindness of strangers?

Overwhelmed with excitement as if he wished he could stick a couple of feathers in his hair, Gu Xiaoshun hurried to the backyard carrying a bundle of firewood, “Sis!”

Gu Jiao had already washed up and changed into clean clothing, her hair half wet, draped loosely over her shoulders.

Hearing Gu Xiaoshun’s voice, she raised a hand to brush her unruly hair behind her ear and turned to look at Gu Xiaoshun, “Xiaoshun.”

Gu Xiaoshun put down the firewood, and gave her a thorough once-over, “Sis, why were you out for so long? We were worried sick about you!”

Gu Jiao curved her lips slightly, “I was delayed by some matters. You’ve been away from the Academy for so many days. I hope no trouble came up?”

Gu Xiaoshun shook his head, “Oh, no trouble. I said you were sick, they wanted to visit you, but I stopped them.”

“They?” Gu Jiao was confused.

“Master Wu, Mu Qingchen, Mu Chuan…” Gu Xiaoshun rattled off over twenty names in one breath, since those were the only people he recognized, there were many more he couldn’t name.

Gu Jiao: “Hmm.”

Was she really that popular?

“Alright, alright, kiddo, wait for a bit, I need to finish this game of chess with your sister,” Old Master Meng couldn’t wait any longer. He had a scorebook in his hand—he had already played over twenty rounds with Gu Yan, and the kid would have to play them all back with him.

Since there was still firewood left to move, Gu Xiaoshun scratched his head and said, “Sis, I’ll come find you later.”

Gu Jiao: “Alright.”

…

Gu Jiao came back safely, and the rock in everyone’s heart settled to the ground. Madam Nan decided to make something delicious the next morning.

But they had run out of star anise and fennel, so Madam Nan made up her mind to buy some from the shop.

There was a spice shop right in the alley, just a few steps away.

However, it was closed today, so Madam Nan had to go to the street to buy them.

Master Lu was fixing the horse cart at home. Midway through the repairs, he frowned, “Why isn’t Nanxiang back yet? Xiaoshun, take over for me. I will go and check.”

“Alright!” Gu Xiaoshun took the tools from Master Lu’s hands, and Master Lu quickly walked out.

Meanwhile, Madam Nan had indeed run into a bit of trouble. She had been ambushed in another alley and had been injured, her veil covered in bloodstains.

Clutching her painful chest, she raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth and quickly shot out three Begonia Needles.

The person sneered coldly, catching her hidden weapons effortlessly in his hand.

Madam Nan’s face paled.

Glancing at the Begonia Needles in his hand, the person sneered, “So they are coated with poison, you’ve become much more ruthless than before. Sadly, today’s you and your dad are still no match for me!”

As he reached the last word, his smile turned sharp, and with a flick of his fingers, he shot the three Begonia Needles back at Madam Nan.

Madam Nan’s pupils contracted!

They were too fast!

She couldn’t dodge in time!

Suddenly, a small figure dashed from behind Madam Nan, swooshing forward and grabbing her, pulling her aside.

Three Begonia Needles clanged as they nailed into the ground!

Almost simultaneously, Gu Jiao thrust her spear into the ground and leaped up, aiming a stab directly at her opponent’s chest!

The adversary reached back to grab the shaft of the Red-Tasseled Spear, only to find it was a feint; the spearhead suddenly switched direction, sweeping toward his lower body!

The man’s pupils shook, he tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, and leaped into the air, landing on the rooftop.

Once he steadied himself, he looked down at the alley where the youth with dancing ink-black hair was standing.

The youth held the Red-Tasseled Spear and looked up coolly, his eyes filled with icy and unyielding defiance.

“That spear technique just now…” He furrowed his brows, murmuring softly to himself, then he gave a faint smile, “Nanxiang, is this the expert you’ve brought to help? I must say, the kid is somewhat beyond my expectations, but even so, he’s still no match for me! Watch out!”

“Senior brother!”

Nanxiang hurried forward, stretching out her arm to protect Gu Jiao behind her, “Don’t hurt her!”

Senior brother?

Gu Jiao looked up again at the man on the rooftop. The sky was too dark, and his figure was enveloped in the night, making it hard for Gu Jiao to discern his complexion, but she could still vaguely make out his facial features.

This man had a pair of particularly sinister eyes.

His appearance might have been considered exceptional, but those eyes gave him an inexplicably eerie aura.

“Nanxiang, step back.” Gu Jiao pressed down on Nanxiang’s arm and stepped forward fearlessly, her spear aimed at him, “Come down and fight me.”

The man was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting the youth to be so recklessly brave, but soon, he laughed heartily.

“Little junior sister, it’s been ages since I’ve seen someone this interesting. Since he called you ‘Master Aunt,’ I suppose he could be considered half a disciple of mine. Fine, fine, fine, I only heard that you had come to Shengdu, so I came to greet you, that’s all. I had no intention of hurting you. It was you who were too nervous and attacked me first.”

Nanxiang gritted her teeth: “Shameless!”

“Well, now that the greetings are over, I should be leaving. Farewell, little junior sister!”

With that, he let out a sinister laugh and, using his lightness skills, disappeared into the night.

Gu Jiao turned around and reached out to support her by the forearm: “Nanxiang, you’re injured.”

Nanxiang waved her hand dismissively: “It’s just a minor injury; it’ll heal in a few days. How come you’re here?”

Gu Jiao replied: “You hadn’t come back, so we came out to look for you. Master Lu went to look for you too, probably in another direction.”

Nanxiang took deep breaths and said: “Let’s go, we should head back.”

Holding the Red-Tasseled Spear in one hand and supporting Nanxiang with the other, Gu Jiao walked back with her.

As they exited the alley, Nanxiang gave a bitter smile: “I never really told you about my past, do you blame me?”

Gu Jiao shook her head: “I haven’t told Master Aunt about my matters either.”

Nanxiang smiled and didn’t compete with her over who had more secrets: “The man just now is Qun Xuan, the direct disciple of the Great Master of Tang Sect. Tang Sect is a power in Jianghu outside the six nations. I was originally from Tang Sect, but later, discontent with the marriage they arranged for me, I crippled my own martial arts and left. If I still had my martial arts, Qun Xuan wouldn’t have been able to injure me today.”

Gu Jiao suddenly realized: “So that’s how it is, no wonder Master Aunt’s poison and hidden weapons are so formidable.”

Nanxiang shook her head slightly again: “Actually, those two are my weakest skills. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have crippled my martial arts but my hands. When it comes to hidden weapons and poisons, Qun Xuan is far superior to me.”

Gu Jiao asked in confusion: “Then Master Aunt…”

Nanxiang said: “My martial arts skills were pretty formidable. Back in the day, Tang Sect had a forbidden technique that disciples were normally not allowed to practice. But for some reason, the leader decided to let us direct disciples give it a try, and I was the only one who managed to learn it. Perhaps that’s why I was forced to marry the Sect Leader’s son…”

She paused for a moment, then laughed, “But those are things of the past. Losing my martial arts but gaining a life of freedom isn’t too bad.”

“Then why did he want to kill you just now?” Gu Jiao didn’t believe his nonsense about just coming to say hello – she could feel the murderous intent herself.

Nanxiang said: “He wanted to force me to reveal the methods of learning the forbidden technique. Alas, how would I know any method? I just practiced, and it came naturally – who knew they were so inept?”

Gu Jiao: “…”

Thinking of something, Gu Jiao said: “He mentioned earlier that he heard ‘Master Aunt’ had come to Shengdu.”

Nanxiang sighed: “Do you remember the steward from National Master Hall, the one surnamed Liao? The person we asked to pull some strings to get you into National Master Hall?”

Gu Jiao had some recollection: “The one who got kicked out by the Horse King?”

Nanxiang replied: “Yes, that’s him. He was once an external disciple of Tang Sect and knew several of us. I suspect it was he who leaked my whereabouts to Qun Xuan. But I really didn’t expect Qun Xuan to come to Shengdu. It’s against Tang Sect’s rules; since the previous Sect Leader, they no longer get involved in worldly affairs lightly.”

Suddenly, Nanxiang thought of a possibility.

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