The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 797 - 797 370 Retribution (Second Update)

Chapter 797: 370 Retribution (Second Update) Chapter 797: 370 Retribution (Second Update) Xiao Liulang was not working overtime tonight, so the two of them walked home to Bishui Alley together.

As soon as they arrived at the front door, a small figure slithered out, pounced on Gu Jiao, hugged her leg and called out in a tone tinged with grievance: “Jiaojiao!”

It was Little Jingkong.

He had been away from Jiaojiao for two days and two nights, and he missed her so much that his little heart ached!

Gu Jiao picked up the little guy from her leg: “Did your great-grandma ask you to come back?”

Little Jingkong replied: “I came back on my own accord!”

It was because Empress Dowager Zhuang could no longer tolerate this little chatterbox. Without Gu Jiao by his side, he would chatter non-stop, so much so that even the little turtle raised by the eunuch Qin became depressed.

Having a great-great-grandson was indeed important, but living to see him was even more important.

So, when he suggested leaving the palace again, Empress Dowager Zhuang quickly had Eunuch Qin send him back home.

After saying that, Little Jingkong wrapped his arms around Gu Jiao’s neck and rested his little head on her shoulder: “Jiaojiao, I missed you so much, didn’t you miss me even a little bit?”

Gu Jiao, amused by his antics, nodded with a grin: “Yes, I did.”

“I knew it!” The little guy was over the moon, wriggling with joy in Gu Jiao’s arms.

Xiao Liulang watched the small figure who was unabashedly cuddling Gu Jiao, and his handsome face turned darker and darker.

“Jiaojiao, there’s a lantern festival tonight!” Little Jingkong, oblivious to his cranky brother-in-law’s glare, held onto Jiaojiao’s neck and sighed. “I’m so grown up, but I have never seen a lantern festival before!”

The little guy even learned to beat around the bush.

Since neither Gu Jiao nor Xiao Liulang had anything to do tonight and Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were unexpectedly at home as well, the couple decided to take their three younger brothers and two secret guards to the lantern festival after dinner.

The Lantern Festival was held on Chang’an Avenue. All the small stalls along the street, except for the ones at the two ends, were hung full of dazzling lanterns. Some lanterns were for sale, some were prizes for guessing lantern riddles, and some were for making friends, and forming groups to compose poetry.

Looking out, Gu Jiao had only one thought on her mind: it was crowded, extremely crowded!

After living in the Capital City for so long, this was the first time Gu Jiao was so taken aback by the bustle and hustle of this city. Everywhere she looked, there were surging crowds and a dazzling array of lights.

“Oh no! Oh no! I can’t see!” Little Jingkong was too short and was blocked by the people around him, which made him jump anxiously on the spot.

The first secret guard lifted Little Jingkong up and let him sit on his neck.

With an improved line of sight, Little Jingkong widened his eyes in surprise: “Wow!”

The air up here was so fresh!

The first secret guard, with Little Jingkong on his neck, followed closely behind Gu Yan, while the second secret guard followed Gu Xiaoshun.

They were secret guards, not Dragon Shadow Guards. Their line of thinking was simple and they had highly acute judgment and strong teamwork skills. They knew they only needed to watch over the three young boys.

They didn’t need to worry about their masters, since the missus could easily handle ten times her size and was entirely capable of protecting her husband!

“Jiaojiao! Look! A lotus lantern!”

“Jiaojiao! A peach lantern!”

“Jiaojiao! A tiger lantern!”

Little Jingkong would tell Gu Jiao every time he saw a lantern. At first, he got responses from Gu Jiao, but from a certain point, they were separated by the crowd.

Little Jingkong turned around, and Jiaojiao was gone!

“Jiaojiao?”

Just now, at one of the small stalls, they commenced lantern making live. Without using any copper plate for purchase, they would give away lanterns as rewards for solving riddles. This attracted many people to the small stall, and the surging crowd pushed Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang to the side.

When they were about to be separated, both of them instinctively reached out and grabbed each other’s hand.

For Gu Jiao, it was an instinctive act, and for Xiao Liulang too. However, the difference was, Gu Jiao had already made a habit of being good to Xiao Liulang. She was boldly nice, boldly aboveboard, and not at all secretive about it.

But Xiao Liulang always kept himself in check and restrained.

So, grabbing her hand without hesitation was a first for him.

Luckily, Gu Jiao was not very perceptive. If it was someone else, they might have asked him why he was so proactive today.

Gu Jiao did not ask. She just looked at him, her eyes gleaming and corners of her lips curling up a bit: “Don’t worry, I will hold onto you. I won’t lose you.”

Xiao Liulang felt a great sense of relief.

Thankfully, she didn’t overthink it.

But the next second, he frowned again.

Why didn’t she overthink it?

Did she not realize he took the initiative to hold her hand? Didn’t she feel that something was amiss?

He took a deep breath, looked at her and said: “You…”

“Huh? There really is a peach lantern.”

Gu Jiao noticed a big pink peach lantern ahead and exclaimed. After she finished, she realized that he too had begun to speak. She asked: “What did you just say?”

Xiao Liulang opened his mouth: “… Nothing.”

The crowd was getting denser, and the two of them walked hand in hand to the end of Chang’an Street.

Xiao Liulang was not really fond of such hustle and bustle. He found it all too noisy, and the air filled with the smell of sweat and powder would always leave him gasping for air. But tonight, none of this happened.

The originally difficult journey seemed to become less challenging.

After visiting the Lantern Festival, they met up with Gu Yan and a few others at the other end of Chang’an Street. Xiao Jingkong was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Another round please! Another round please! I want Jiaojiao!”

The Lantern Festival without Jiaojiao felt incomplete to Xiao Jingkong, and he felt his night has been wasted!

He was crying his heart out!

Unfortunately, the Lantern Festival was over, and the street was desolate. Only trampled and torn lantern papers were left on the ground.

Even the street mirrored his mood!

“Boohoo—”

He cried his heart out!

It was only until Gu Jiao promised to take him to the Lantern Festival alone next time that he managed to hold back his tears. With swollen eyes, he sniveled, “I…I want to sleep with Jiao Jiao tonight.”

Xiao Liulang’s mouth twitched. Little monk, it seems like you were crying not because you were sad, but because you want to sleep with her, right?

Gu Jiao agreed.

However, the little fellow cried so much that he exhausted his physical strength and fell asleep on the way home.

Xiao Liulang nodded his small head back and forth, but he would not wake up!

Xiao Liulang: “Hehe.”

Xiao Liulang planned to take Xiao Jingkong to the room of Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, and then go to Gu Jiao’s east room by himself. But when he arrived at the main hall, he heard Gu Xiaoshun say, “No need, brother-in-law, you don’t have to room with us tonight. The bed in the west room has been repaired!”

Xiao Liulang was stunned, “Repaired? Who did it?”

“I did it! I fixed it this afternoon!” Gu Xiaoshun patted his chest proudly.

After all, he was his master’s direct disciple. His carpentry work was excellent. It was just a bed. He could definitely fix it!

Wait a minute.

Why does everyone look unhappy?

Did he fix it too slowly?

…

In the dark night, when everyone had fallen asleep, the bustling city also became quiet.

The chanting in the temple also stopped, and only a few candle flames were flickering in the candelabra.

Eunuch Wei was standing guard outside. He thought to himself that the Emperor had been eating for too long, and he wondered why it had gotten so quiet all of a sudden?

Suddenly, the door to the meditation room opened, and Empress Dowager Jing walked out slowly.

Eunuch Wei hurriedly bowed, “Empress Dowager.”

“The Emperor fell asleep during dinner due to his state affairs. You go and ask Sister Hui An to bring a futon and a pillow.”

Eunuch Wei glanced inside and saw the Emperor sleeping with his head on the dining table. He was worried, but he still went to find the little nun named Hui An to bring a futon and a pillow.

The wooden floor was clean.

Empress Dowager Jing laid the futon behind the Emperor, and together with Eunuch Wei, they gently helped the emperor lie down.

“Pillow.” She said.

“Yes.” The little nun placed the pillow under the Emperor’s head.

Empress Dowager Jing personally unfolded the thin quilt, gently covering the Emperor.

She held the Emperor’s hand and mumbled, “Sleep, when you wake up, you will be my Honghong again.”

Eunuch Wei looked at Empress Dowager Jing strangely.

That phrase was taboo. She wasn’t the Empress Dowager, so she wasn’t qualified to call the Emperor by his name, let alone call herself mother.

However, he was more concerned about the phrase “When you wake up, you will be my Honghong again”. Why did she say that?

Did he not belong to her before he woke?

The Emperor slept for a long time, and it was slightly light when he woke up.

Empress Dowager Jing had been with him all night, and just before dawn, she fell asleep on a table next to him.

Her hand was always holding the Emperor’s hand, and when the Emperor moved, she was instantly awakened.

Even though the futon was thick, it was not as comfortable as the dragon bed. The emperor felt a little sore in the waist and back.

“Eunuch Wei.” He muttered in a daze, he was still a bit groggy.

Empress Dowager Jing sat up straight, looking at him with gentle eyes. “Hong’er.”

The Emperor opened his eyes and looked at her, frowning, “What did you call me?”

Empress Dowager Jing paused slightly.

She stared intently at the Emperor.

But she found that there was no expected affection in his eyes. On the contrary, there was only icy indifference and alienation.

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