The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 702 - 702 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael)_3

Chapter 702: 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael)_3 Chapter 702: 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael)_3 As for the factional disputes, who knows what will happen in the future? Perhaps, after inheriting the Zhuang family, Prince An might be willing to join His Majesty’s faction for his daughter’s sake.

His Jin Yu is so gentle and virtuous that there is hardly any man in the world who would dare hurt her.

Immediately, Lord Gu went to Jin Yu’s courtyard.

“Father, you’ve lost weight,” Gu Jinyu said with concern. “Has supervising the construction of the residence been exhausting?”

Lord Gu massaged his sore shoulders and said, “It’s indeed been tough, but it’s a great accomplishment once completed.”

Gu Jinyu curiously asked, “Who is the Empress Dowager building the residence for? It’s such a big project that half of the Ministry of Works has been summoned.”

Lord Gu pondered, “I heard it’s being built for the second daughter of the Zhuang family. The garden inside is truly beautiful, and the scenery is unique. In all my years in the Capital City, I’ve never seen such an exquisite piece of land. I just wonder why the design of the courtyard mimics that of the house in Bishui Alley…”

“Bishui Alley?” Gu Jinyu was puzzled.

Lord Gu waved his hand and laughed, “Never mind that. I just heard from your grandmother that His Majesty has decreed your marriage to the Prince of An. Once you marry into the Zhuang family, you’ll get the chance to explore that residence. I wonder… could that residence have been built by the Empress Dowager for Prince An, providing him a separate dwelling after his grand wedding? If so, Jin Yu, you’re incredibly fortunate!”

Gu Jinyu’s face flushed slightly, “This… It’s a bit too early to say.”

Lord Gu chuckled heartily, “True, the marriage decree has just been issued, and the three letters and six ceremonials of betrothal are yet to take place, we can’t be impulsive.” Lord Gu grinned, filled with satisfaction as he said, “Regardless, let me congratulate you on finding your ideal husband.”

“All the credit goes to Grandfather,” Gu Jinyu said, her eyes lowered, a shy smile on her face.

Lord Gu simply thought that his own father had taken a liking to the Prince of An as his granddaughter’s husband and didn’t think much of it. He held Gu Jinyu’s hand, unable to hide his joy, “I am going to Bishui Alley to share this great news with your mother and your brother so they can share the happiness too!”

Gu Jinyu nodded, smiling. “Yes.”

So, Lord Gu went to Bishui Alley.

All the way, he was incredibly exuberant.

From now on, he would be the father-in-law of a Prince!

How glorious that would be!

Jin Yu had indeed brought him honor, unlike that annoying girl who married a poor country boy, causing strife with her mother.

Although she luckily married an individual who achieved first place in the imperial examination, it’s still incomparable to Prince An.

Upon reaching Bishui Alley, Gu Jiao and Gu Yan were busy in the front yard with a newly built swing. It was originally made for a little monk, but Gu Yan broke it while playing.

Gu Yan hurriedly called his sister for rescue before the little monk started crying.‌

The siblings were working well together, creating a warm scene.

Lord Gu indulgently watched for a while before briskly walking over, “Yanyan, Daddy’s here!” His gaze fell on Gu Jiao, and he reluctantly called out, “Jiaojiao.”

The siblings looked at him and then went back to fixing the swing.

Umm…

Lord Gu looked at himself, then down at his feet, he had come in, right?

He was in a good mood today, so he wouldn’t quarrel with these two.

He energetically walked over, ruffled Gu Yan’s hair and said, “You’ve grown.”

“Don’t touch me.” Gu Yan frowned and pulled his hand away.

Lord Gu didn’t mind, he smiled and said, “I came to see you both. By the way, I have good news for you. Jin Yu is getting married, and Yanyan, you will soon have a brother-in-law. This brother-in-law is incomparable to a poor country scholar.”

Gu Yan said frostily, “I only have one brother-in-law!”

“You would only say that because you don’t know who your second brother-in-law is. Once I reveal his identity, you’ll be eager to call him your brother-in-law.” Lord Gu paused for effect, then announced with a smug air, “He is none other than — The Duke of An.”

Well?

Surprised? Thrilled?

Lord Gu laughed heartily, then turned to look at the pair of twins, but they had already wandered off — one to the east room, the other to the main hall.

Lord Gu, who had been ignored: “…”

Dowager Empress Zhuang had injured her throat, so Gu Jiao paid another visit to the Imperial Palace in the afternoon to see her.

While passing through the Imperial Garden, Gu Jiao unexpectedly bumped into the Emperor, who was coming from the Huaqing Palace.

The Emperor’s eyes sparkled upon seeing her. Despite their argument the day before, he was hopeful they could make up today. But Gu Jiao just pulled a face and briskly walked away down a side path with a cold expression.

The Emperor: “…”

Nearby, the silent Empress Dowager, being supported by Eunuch Wei, witnessed the whole thing and asked softly, “Was that Miss Gu just now?”

“Ah, yes,” Eunuch Wei nodded.

Eunuch Wei’s fall from his horse in front of Gu Jiao had occurred while he was visiting the Empress Dowager; Gu Jiao happened to be present then.

He couldn’t hide his true status from Gu Jiao, and his facade as the Emperor’s lackey also crumbled.

In any case, the Empress Dowager had already met Gu Jiao before, so it was no surprise that she recognized her.

Recalling something, the Empress Dowager wondered aloud, “Was the doctor who treated my injuries last night also Miss Gu?”

“Ah… yes,” Eunuch Wei said, nodding awkwardly.

The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze, thought for a while, then chuckled lightly, “It seems the Emperor truly favours Miss Gu.”

Eunuch Wei laughed, “Miss Gu is indeed a skilled doctor with a keen mind, it’s unsurprising that the Emperor values her so much.”

He deliberately used the word “values” to imply that it was not a romantic interest.

Just then, the dejected Emperor shuffled over. Seeing the Empress Dowager, he composed himself and said calmly, “Let me accompany Mother to the pavilion for a rest.”

After they sat down in the pavilion, Eunuch Wei served tea and refreshments.

Looking at the Emperor with a furrowed brow, the Empress Dowager amusedly recalled, “The last time I saw Your Majesty being given the cold shoulder was when Ning An was in the palace. I remember she put in a lot of effort practicing her calligraphy all afternoon to show it off, only for you to criticise it. Ning An ran to my place and gave you the cold shoulder for days.”

That had happened shortly after the Emperor ascended to the throne.

The Empress Dowager had already moved to the nunnery by then.

Only Princess Ning An, who was still living in the Imperial Harem, had the nerve to snub the Emperor like that.

The Empress Dowager pointed to her left cheek, “Do you remember, Your Majesty, when Ning An was a child and quite mischievous, she fell off a tree while picking peaches. It left a small scar on her left cheek, which has faded over time. But being a girl who cared about her appearance, she always covered the scar with a floral sticker. Red and striking, it looked just like a begonia. The birthmark on Miss Gu’s left cheek is somewhat similar to Ning An’s floral sticker. Whenever I see her, I’m reminded of Ning An.”

The Emperor was stunned.

Until the Empress Dowager mentioned it, the Emperor had never associated Gu Jiao with Ning An. But now, he couldn’t help noticing the slight resemblance between them.

Could it be… that his fondness for the young doctor was due to thinking of her as a substitute for Ning An?

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