The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 590 - 590 284 Catching the Real Culprit (Second Update)

Chapter 590: 284 Catching the Real Culprit (Second Update) Chapter 590: 284 Catching the Real Culprit (Second Update) Gu Chengfeng had walked a long way before he was able to suppress the anger and jealousy in his heart. But he was still angry: “Who exactly is stabbing me in the back? Not only did they target my elder brother, but they also framed me! It’s too abominable. If I catch them, I won’t hesitate to rip them apart!”

The whole incident was beyond strange. Trapping Gu Changqing was not surprising, as many people wanted him dead. But disguising oneself as his twin sister Feishuang to frame him was somewhat intriguing.

Did the other party impersonate Feishuang unintentionally, or did they know who Feishuang was and intentionally impersonate her?

Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng each harbored their thoughts when suddenly, a majestic and tall silhouette approached them.

Gu Chengfeng looked up and was instantly stunned: “Gr-Grandfather!”

The old Marquis had just had a dispute with Tang Yueshan without resolution. He was currently in a fit of anger when he saw Gu Chengfeng with a young girl, so he walked over, frowning.

Only when he approached, he recognized her as the young medical maiden who had treated the emperor’s head injury in the street.

The old Marquis had a bad impression of her. She had claimed that someone had wronged her, but instead of handing it over to the official government, she took matters into her own hands. When he tried to apprehend her, she had resisted, causing him to unintentionally lash the emperor’s head.

“Why are you with a medical maiden?” The old Marquis asked Gu Chengfeng gravely.

Gu Chengfeng opened his mouth, remembering that the two probably hadn’t met before. He hesitated, then introduced: “Grandfather, she is Gu Yan’s sister, the other twin.” He turned to Gu Jiao, “He’s my grandfather, and also your grandfather.”

Gu Jiao did not call out grandfather.

The old Marquis furrowed his brows.

This girl… was his granddaughter?

The old Marquis did not think that Gu Jiao had recognized him long ago. After all, in his memory, Gu Jiao had only seen him once, with the identities of the Emperor and Marquis Xuanping alias.

But…now that Gu Chengfeng had introduced him, wouldn’t she even call him grandfather?

The old Marquis did not particularly care about this granddaughter. Since he had no expectations, there was not much disappointment. If she would not call, so be it. He wasn’t concerned.

“What are you doing in the military camp?” The old Marquis asked.

“Delivering medicine.” Gu Jiao replied.

Yes, she was a medical maiden, a low-status profession. If this granddaughter had grown up in the Marquis residence, he would never have let her become a medical maiden.

The old Marquis was overwhelmed with concerns about Gu Changqing’s situation and didn’t have much time to spend on a granddaughter who was not close to him. He said to Gu Chengfeng, “Who allowed you to come to the military camp? Without my orders, don’t come to the military camp again!”

“But…”

“There are no buts!”

The old Marquis decisively silenced Gu Chengfeng’s words. “At this critical time, don’t come and stir up trouble!”

“How did it go with Grand Marshal Tang?” Gu Jiao suddenly asked.

This statement was very clear, she knew about Gu Changqing’s predicament and she cared about it.

The old Marquis had always thought this granddaughter had nothing to do with the Marquis residence. Now, it didn’t seem to be the case. She could appear with Gu Chengfeng and come to the military camp to deliver medicine on the day of Gu Changqing’s incident, which hardly seemed coincidental.

Of course, the old Marquis wouldn’t stop her from interacting with her half-brothers. However, the consequences were too severe in this case. Even he could do nothing, let alone a young maiden.

“This is none of your business,” he said solemnly. “Finish delivering the medicine and hurry back!”

He didn’t have time to deal with a maiden. He needed to find a way to stop Tang Yueshan as soon as possible, otherwise, Gu Changqing couldn’t be saved.

“I am at Miaoshou Hall,” Gu Jiao watched his retreating figure, saying, “If you need me, you can come and find me.”

Ha, what could a young maiden help with?

She was simply overestimating her capabilities!

The old Marquis took Gu Chengfeng with him and left without looking back.

As the medical officer completed the examination of the medicine, Gu Jiao boarded the departing carriage as well.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she had stayed up too late the night before; she fell asleep in the carriage from drowsiness.

Afterwards, she had a dream.

In the dream, the Gu family never found the real killer. Gu Changqing was forced into a desperate situation. With both human and physical evidence pointing at him, Tang Yueshan ordered the execution of military laws, sentencing him to death by beating three days later.

To prevent his elder brother’s execution, Gu Chengfeng went to the military camp claiming to be Feishuang, that he was the one who killed the soldier, and Gu Changqing was in the prison only to capture him.

As a punishment for fighting Tang Ming and severing one of his arms, Gu Changqing was sentenced to one hundred lashes, stripped of his official position, and then released.

But what no one expected was that on the night Gu Changqing returned to the Marquis residence, Tang Ming was killed.

Tang Ming, who had neither died early nor late, happened to be killed right after Gu Changqing was released. If this was a coincidence, it was too perfect.

Whether others believed it or not, Tang Yueshan was certain that Gu Changqing was the killer. This loss of reason led Tang Yueshan to storm into the Marquis Residence, stabbing Gu Changqing in the chest…

Gu Jiao woke up abruptly.

Everything in the dream was clear, even the blood flowing from Gu Changqing’s chest seemed warm, the droplets splattering onto her fingertips.

The tragedy was going to happen tonight.

After midday, Tang Yueshan would announce the execution of Gu Changqing by beating in three days.

In the afternoon, Gu Chengfeng would go to the military camp to “surrender”.

In the middle of the night, Tang Ming was assassinated.

Preventing this tragedy is simple enough. As long as Gu Chengfeng doesn’t go to the Military Camp to take the fall, Gu Changqing would not be released, and whether Tang Ming lives or dies would not fall on his head.

However, there’s a drawback to this. That being whether Tang Ming was murdered from some personal vendetta or to frame Gu Changqing.

If it’s the former, the murderer might still attempt to kill Tang Ming tonight; if it’s the latter and Gu Changqing does not appear, the murderer would definitely not make a move.

Without any movement, how is she supposed to catch the murderer?

“Third Young Master, wait, return to the Military Camp.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Gu Jiao returned to the Military Camp and saw Gu Changqing again, “Did you tell them about your suspicion that the murderer might be Feishuang?”

Gu Changqing shook his head, “I haven’t.”

It’d be useless to say so. With no evidence, everyone would think he was fabricating things out of thin air.

“Have they guessed it?” Gu Jiao asked again.

Gu Changqing thought about it and shook his head again, “They haven’t fought with Feishuang. The few hidden weapons alone should not be enough to determine that someone had been there, let alone Feishuang.”

Just as Gu Jiao had guessed, the evidence left by the other party was not enough, not to frame Feishuang, but to force Feishuang to reveal herself.

It appeared that the other party was aware of the relationship between Feishuang and Gu Changqing and was certain that Feishuang would take the blame for Gu Changqing.

The other party’s purpose was not to kill Feishuang, but to make Gu Changqing leave the Military Camp, then kill Tang Ming and frame Gu Changqing.

But Gu Changqing had already escaped from the prison the previous night. Why didn’t the murderer kill Tang Ming then? Wouldn’t it be easier to frame him?

Gu Jiao stroked her chin, “Could it be that the murderer wasn’t able to make a move last night?”

Regardless, Gu Changqing must leave the Military Camp today to lure the murderer into proceeding with his original plan to kill Tang Ming.

In principle, it could be done the day after tomorrow, but considering that the murderer seemed to have some difficulties yesterday, Gu Jiao was worried that he would also find it inconvenient in the next two days.

Really, the murderer is not professional at all!

–

After noon, the events in Gu Jiao’s dream occurred. Tang Yueshan indeed found Gu Changqing guilty, announcing that he would be executed by caning in three days on the Military Camp’s punishment ground.

Some people were fighting for justice for Gu Changqing, others were incredibly indifferent. The atmosphere was frigid in the Gu family army. They all thought that Gu Changqing had only gone to discipline Tang Ming for their sake.

But now, Gu Changqing was going to be executed for them.

“Captain, if he really dares to execute Guard Gu, we will rebel!”

“Right! Let’s rebel against him!”

“I’ve hated the sight of Tang Yueshan and his nephew for a long time! I’d rather be castrated than work under him!”

Righteous indignation filled the Gu family’s army.

This was a scene that Gu Jiao did not foresee in her dream.

But just as everyone was ready for action, a fire suddenly broke out outside. Immediately after, someone ran shouting, “The place is on fire! We have a fire!”

The fire occurred at the punishment room. The soldiers rushed to put out the fire. The fire indeed extinguished, but Gu Changqing was missing.

A soldier shouted, “Not good! Gu Changqing has escaped!”

Everyone scavenged the Military Camp but didn’t find any trace of Gu Changqing. If one were to say that he was burned to death, there should at least be a body, right? You can’t say he was burned to ashes, can you?

Vice General Hu reported the matter to Tang Yueshan immediately after learning about it.

Tang Yueshan was enraged, “What are you all doing? You can’t even guard one prisoner! Go find him for me now! Even if you have to turn the Capital City upside down, you must find Gu Changqing!”

The moon was veiled, and the wind was high.

Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng, dressed in their night clothes, lay prone in the flower bush outside Tang Ming’s courtyard.

They had been hiding there for a full two hours.

“Is it going to happen or not? Is the murderer really coming to assassinate Tang Ming?” Gu Chengfeng asked.

“He will,” Gu Jiao said.

Nothing much had changed. Gu Changqing was sentenced to death, he left the Military Camp, the only difference was the way he left, but Gu Jiao didn’t think that this would affect the murderer’s actions.

Gu Chengfeng whispered, “It’s almost midnight now. Apart from seeing people from the Tang Residence going in and out, we have not seen even a shadow of the murderer.”

Right, in her dream, Tang Ming was killed before midnight, so it should be now. Why hasn’t the murderer shown up?

Wait.

People from the Tang Residence going in and out.

Gu Jiao suddenly stood up, “Not good! The murderer is inside! He’s from the Tang Residence!”

Tang Ming deserves to die, but he can’t die tonight!