The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 870 - 870 401 End (first update)

Chapter 870: 401 End (first update) Chapter 870: 401 End (first update) “Impossible—by what right—Zhuang Jinse, by what right—”

Behind her was the shrill roar of Consort Jing, accompanied by a series of crashing tables and chairs, but with the Dragon Shadow Guard present, Empress Dowager Zhuang was not worried that Consort Jing could rush at her.

Empress Dowager Zhuang left the room without looking back.

The emperor stood at the doorway, dumbfounded as a wooden chicken.

Clearly, he had been eavesdropping all along and had heard every single word.

Consort Jing had revealed many insider details, but his focus was only on the last point. He looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang, nervously and tentatively fidgeting with his clothes, awkwardly yet excitedly saying, “I…I am truly Your Majesty’s own son, right?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at him with disdain, “Haven’t I said you’re not!”

His voice was quite loud.

The emperor popped his head out, glanced in the direction of Consort Jing inside the room, and gave Empress Dowager Zhuang a knowing look.

Then, he followed Empress Dowager Zhuang into the next room.

“Why are you following me in here?” asked Empress Dowager Zhuang unabashedly.

The emperor chuckled, “I know Your Majesty said that on purpose for Consort Jing to hear; I am indeed Your Majesty’s own flesh and blood!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang: “…”

This man, why won’t he listen?

Does she not recognize her own child?

Empress Dowager Zhuang cast a glance below the emperor’s waist: “I gave birth to one with nothing dangling!”

The emperor clenched his legs together, looking aggrieved.

Just as Empress Dowager Zhuang thought her foolish son had finally understood and would stop his foolishness, the emperor said pitifully, “Xiao, Hong, Hong doesn’t care; Xiao, Hong, Hong is Your Majesty’s own son!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang, unable to bear watching: “…”

Can she deny this?

In another room, the old Marquis and Gu Chengfeng stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Gu Chengfeng stood in the center of the room like a quail caught red-handed, head drooping.

The old Marquis sat on the chair with boldness, looking at Gu Chengfeng with a complex expression: “How come you’re here?”

This had to start from the chance encounter Gu Chengfeng had with the emperor, the opportunity for him and Empress Dowager Zhuang to escape had been bought with Gu Jiao’s life. He had run forward with all his might, even losing his mask in the process, so when he ran into the emperor and the old Marquis, he was recognized at a glance by the old Marquis.

The only consolation was that he hadn’t engaged in combat at the time, only using a bit of his lightness skills.

Gu Chengfeng stammered, “I…At that time in Bishui Alley, His Majesty came to Bishui Alley to find the Empress Dowager, I heard it in the Study Room, and I was worried about the Empress Dowager’s safety, so I also came out to search, I… also wanted to exert my meager strength.”

A dissolute young master actually wanted to exert his meager strength for the Empress Dowager; no matter how one heard it, it sounded quite peculiar.

The old Marquis continued, “And they just let you out of the city like that?”

Gu Chengfeng answered with a straight face, “I…I presented the Marquis Residence’s token, saying I was your own grandson, and they let me go.”

The old Marquis was half-convinced, but what concerned him more than how he got out of the city was how he knew the Empress Dowager and how he learned martial arts?

Gu Chengfeng didn’t know if the Empress Dowager’s time in the commoner’s world was known to his grandfather because the Empress Dowager had always claimed she had been recuperating in the travel palace for the past year.

Worried he might say something he shouldn’t, he went on, “How could I not recognize her? I have been to the palace before! When I visited Consort Shu, I saw the Empress Dowager from afar, several times at that! And once, I accidentally got lost, and it was the Empress Dowager who had someone lead me back. I never told you this; I know you all dislike the Empress Dowager.”

The first few sentences were thought up on the way back, and the part about the Empress Dowager giving him directions was a spur-of-the-moment fabrication.

That perfectly explained why he went out to look for the Empress Dowager because she had helped him!

He was repaying a kindness!

Wow, how did I become so smart all of a sudden!

I truly am brilliant!

“As for martial arts, ah, where do I know martial arts? It’s just a little lightness skill, which I secretly learned from my elder brother!”

The logic is flawless!

He’s so capable!

But…where did he get the ability to concoct such a tale? It felt oddly familiar…

The old Marquis still sensed something amiss but couldn’t pinpoint any faults. He couldn’t seek verification from Empress Dowager Zhuang, who wouldn’t even bother with the emperor, much less him.

Sneaking out of the residence at night warranted punishment, but considering Gu Chengfeng’s merit in saving the Empress Dowager, the old Marquis let him ride back in a carriage.