The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 782 - 782 363 Major Discovery (First Update)_2

Chapter 782: 363 Major Discovery (First Update)_2 Chapter 782: 363 Major Discovery (First Update)_2 Gu Jiao pondered, “What symptoms will appear when the effects of the medicine wear off?”

Nanxiang shook her head, “I’m not sure as I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard that there can be backlash, such as… nightmares.”

What Nanxiang didn’t mention was that there could also be some mental confusion, but since she had never actually seen it happen, all of this could have been mere speculations.

Gu Jiao thought seriously, had the Emperor’s recent insomnia, as Wei Gonggong alluded to, been related to this?

She looked at the dried flowers on the table and asked, “Can the medicine guide prevent the effects of the medicine from disappearing?”

“In theory, it can, but—” Nanxiang touched the dried flowers all over the table, “Usually, one or two pieces of medicine guide are enough. Using this much only indicates that the person who administered the medicine is in a very unstable situation, and the medicinal guide’s effect is beyond rescue. Unless, they plan to administer medicine to that person again.”

“Would administering it again be effective?” Gu Jiao asked.

Nanxiang pondered seriously, “It should be, but it’s hard to say how much effect it would have.”

So, Consort Jing really did go to buy medicine yesterday. She planned to administer it to the Emperor again, because no matter the effect, it wouldn’t be worse than it is now.

Consort Jing probably planned to administer the medicine to the Emperor when she invited him to dine at the nunnery last night. Unfortunately, Gu Jiao’s presence there prevented her from doing so.

But Consort Jing wouldn’t give up so easily. Gu Jiao felt that she would seek another opportunity to get close to the Emperor.

“I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be on my way now. I’ll come to visit again another day.” After sitting for a while, Nanxiang stood up to leave.

Gu Jiao escorted her and Master Lu to the door alongside Gu Xiaoshun.

After they got into their carriage, Master Lu sighed. “You’ve said so much to that girl. Aren’t you afraid of exposing your identity?”

Nanxiang replied casually, “What is there to fear? When soldiers come to the fore, they must do their duty. And so, too, must soil when water comes. Sooner or later, she’ll become our son’s sister. We can’t just stand by when she’s in trouble.”

Master Lu held her hand and spoke earnestly, “I am not being selfish. I’m just afraid you are getting yourself involved again. I don’t want what happened more than ten years ago to repeat. Let the royal family handle their own disputes. Don’t get yourself entangled.”

Nanxiang smiled – her veil hiding her disfigured face – and replied, “Understood.”

That night, except for Little Jingkong who was taken to the Imperial Palace, the whole family was back home. They were all happy for Gu Xiaoshun when they heard that he had accepted Master Lu and Nanxiang as his adoptive parents.

The old priest personally cooked a large table of delicious food, celebrating the joyous occasion with Gu Xiaoshun.

Gu Xiaoshun felt slightly embarrassed. He was still confused, how did he become the son of Master and Mother?

Gu Yan looked at his bowl, piled high with food, and seriously said, “See, I wasn’t lying when I told you that Mother had taken a liking to you.”

Gu Xiaoshun: “…”

Is this what you mean by “taking a liking”?

After dinner, Yu Yaya collected the dishes and bowls and took them to the backyard; everyone then went about their own business.

Gu Yan went to help Little Jingkong free the chickens. Normally he should have done this before dinner, but he left it until nightfall due to his procrastination.

Gu Xiaoshun went to manage his own wood, Xiao Liulang returned to the study, and Gu Jiao was watering the vegetable field in the front yard.

Madam Yao came over, “Jiaojiao.”

“Hmm?” Gu Jiao looked at Yao Family as she continued watering.

Madam Yao was holding a box in her hand, looking a bit nervous and anxious, “Jiaojiao, come over here.”

“Okay.” Gu Jiao put down her watering pot and came to the stone table. Madam Yao was already sitting on a stone stool, so Gu Jiao sat beside her.

Madam Yao put the box from her arms on the table and gently pushed it in front of Gu Jiao.

“What’s this?” Gu Jiao asked curiously.

Madam Yao looked at her with hopeful eyes, “You open it and see.”

Gu Jiao opened the box and found that it was filled with exquisite jewelry of the finest quality.

“This is…” Gu Jiao didn’t understand Madam Yao’s intention.

Madam Yao composed herself, gathered her courage, and held Gu Jiao’s hand, “It’s for you.”

“Why?” Gu Jiao asked.

Today wasn’t a special occasion, why would she give her all these pieces of jewelry?

Madam Yao lowered her head and fidgeted with a handkerchief in her hand, “I’ve wanted to give them to you for a long time. I was just afraid that you wouldn’t accept them.”

These were not particularly expensive pieces of jewelry, even though they were of good quality. They had been given to her by her grandmother before her marriage, a long time ago. The styles are outdated.

It wasn’t that she was really living that poorly, it was just that the jewelry that was bought from outside was not as meaningful as what her grandmother had given her.

However, she wasn’t sure if her daughter would like it too.

Besides, other than making a few clothes for her every month, her daughter didn’t want any money or the like.

Gu Jiao said nothing.

Thinking that she wanted to refuse, Yao quickly said, “No, it’s not worth much! They’re all old jewelry!”

If this wasn’t worth much, then what would?

Gu Jiao didn’t know much about the styles of ancient times, but she could recognize gold. A box full of solid gold jewelry, if all sold, could buy a small mansion in Capital City.

Gu Jiao uttered, “So old…”

Yao stammered, “Not, not that old!”

Good heavens, what was she saying?

If it was too valuable, she worried Gu Jiao wouldn’t accept it; if it wasn’t valuable enough, it seemed like the gift was inadequate.

Yao had never been so conflicted and distressed.

The corners of Gu Jiao’s mouth curled upwards as she laughed, “Beautiful, I like it very much.”

Was this…an agreement to accept it?

Yao’s eyes sparkled, her heart that had been anxious all night finally set at ease.

She couldn’t help but take a long breath.

Actually, it wasn’t so much that she worried her daughter would reject her gift; rather, she was more concerned that her daughter would reject her affection for her.

Gu Jiao returned to the eastern room, taking out each piece of jewelry from the box to admire.

As a guest from a different world, she indeed quite fancied these pieces of jewelry – they were antiques after all.

As she was admiring them, Xiao Liulang stopped at the doorway.

With her keen perception, Gu Jiao quickly noticed the breath outside the door, turned her head toward him, her eyes sparkling, “Dear husband. ”

This habitual term of address, free from any bit of coquettishness, almost made Xiao Liulang lose his breath.

Xiao Liulang clutched his chest, his gaze swept across the jewelry on the table, and he hid his right hand under his wide sleeve.

“What have you taken?” However, Gu Jiao was very observant and noticed it.

“Nothing.” Xiao Liulang replied, “I haven’t finished reading my book.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Gu Jiao set down the pearl comb in her hand, took a few steps forward, and grabbed Xiao Liulang’s sleeve, “What have you taken? Show it to me.”

Xiao Liulang nonchalantly replied, “I told you, it’s nothing.”

Gu Jiao did not believe him, and reached to grab his right hand, which he had hidden under his wide sleeve.

Even if he wanted to escape, how could he be a match for Gu Jiao?

Gu Jiao quickly took the piece of red string from his hand.

It was a hand-woven red string embellished with a few small jade beads. The jade wasn’t of high quality, but the detail in the craftsmanship of the red string was exquisite.

“Is it for me?” Gu Jiao asked.

It was meaningless to deny it now that she had it in her possession.

Xiao Liulang vaguely affirmed her question with a non-committal grunt.

He had seen an old woman hand-weaving it when he was on his way home from the Hanlin Academy. As soon as the bright red color caught his eye, he immediately thought of her.

At the time, he didn’t think too much and just thought it would look good on her.

However, after he brought it home, he found that she already had so much valuable jewelry. Then his hemp bracelet…

Gu Jiao handed him her left wrist along with the red string, “Help me wear it.”

Xiao Liulang’s eyelashes trembled, he took the string, his fingertips accidentally touched hers, and a tingling sensation spread from his fingertips to the depths of his heart.

He put the red string on her slender wrist.

Her wrist, fair as ivory and as beautiful as jade, was set off by the dazzling red, pushing its appeal to the extreme.