The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1362 - 1362 661 Daughter (second watch)

Chapter 1362: 661 Daughter (second watch) Chapter 1362: 661 Daughter (second watch) Gu Jiao had a problem: she would get sleepy as soon as she started reciting poetry.

At first, she could grit her teeth and push on, but eventually, she was nodding off like a pecking chick, oblivious to what she was even writing.

Even the purse was carried off by Xiaojiu by herself, since Gu Jiao had already dozed off on the desk.

Xiao Hen saw the latter half and was both annoyed and amused.

He had actually thought those poems were her heartfelt expressions of literary talent, but now it seemed they might have been copied from somewhere unknown.

Looking at the last few crookedly written notes, she must have been too sleepy to know where she had copied up to.

Xiao Hen was so irritated his teeth itched, “I was so excited for nothing, I won’t fall for your tricks again, little scammer!”

She must have been asleep, so Xiao Hen didn’t reply to the note.

Seeing there was nothing left for her to do, Xiaojiu flew back to her perch on the branch.

Xiao Hen still felt somewhat restless.

It wasn’t the love poems that bothered him; he wasn’t petty enough to mind such things.

It was the news he had gathered during the day that required him to calm down and carefully sort out.

Gu Jiao had told him that the person behind Nangong Li was of the Royal Family’s lineage, so he went to Shengdu’s liveliest Tea House to seek out a few Storytelling Masters and got a rough understanding of the Royal Family’s background.

He didn’t learn much, but he learned a thing or two about the Nangong Family.

The Nangong Family was closely associated with the Crown Prince’s estate, an unspoken secret well-acknowledged in Shengdu.

The Crown Prince of Zhan Country resided in the East Palace, whereas the Crown Prince of Yan Country established his own estate outside the palace.

The Crown Prince of Yan Country was the monarch’s second son, his mother being the esteemed Consort Han.

The young master who had prepared the viewing stand for him that day was the Crown Prince’s legitimate eldest son, the Prince of Ming District.

The Prince of Ming District and Han Che from today’s Pingyang Academy, who played cuju, were first cousins.

Although there was no evidence yet that it was the Crown Prince’s estate that had manipulated the Nangong Family, the Crown Prince’s estate was still the most suspicious.

So the question arose, who in the Crown Prince’s estate was targeting him? And why would they target him?

…

The night in Shengdu was unusually hot and stuffy, providing no relief even after sunset.

The bustling Duke Residence gradually quieted down after a whole day.

Miao Ruoxin sat in her room, feeling somewhat stifled.

“Bring some more ice cubes,” she said with a frown.

“Miss, what’s the matter?” the maid asked in puzzlement, noticing that the room already contained two basins of ice. Adding any more could make someone catch a cold.

“I’m just not feeling satisfied!” Miao Ruoxin declared in frustration.

Thinking about what had happened in the Academy, she increasingly felt that Xiao Liulang was thwarting her at every turn.

With irritation, she said, “He saw the perfect opportunity to make connections with the three Academy heads, deliberately taking all the seriously injured for himself and leaving me with a few insignificant, light injuries among the servants.”

The maid was at a loss for words in response to this.

“Forget it, let’s sleep,” Miao Ruoxin said, putting down her fan and getting up to go to bed.

The maid followed her to arrange the mosquito net, consoling, “Miss, he’s just a student from a lower country. You will soon become the adopted daughter of the Duke, and then see if he can compete with you.”

At this topic, Miao Ruoxin sighed, “We’ve been spreading the news for so long, the whole residence knows, yet why have there been no moves from the second lord and lady? Could I have misinterpreted the second lady’s intention?”

“How could that be?” the maid said. “The way the second lady questioned you was to probe your thoughts! I guess it won’t be long!”

Miao Ruoxin lay down, saying wistfully, “I have no parents; it was my master who raised me. If I truly become the Duke’s adopted daughter, I will definitely treat him with great filial piety… to make up for… the sorrow of losing his daughter!”

In the courtyard of the Duke.

The Duke had already retired to bed, but because Lianqiao was clumsy, she accidentally spilled a whole bowl of tea on the bed.

Lianqiao had no choice but to help the Duke into his wheelchair and find a mat to change.

The Duke sat with his eyes open, hands resting on the armrests of the wheelchair.

Right next to his hand was the nightstand.

On the stand lay the rouge Lianqiao had just bought from outside, intending to bring back to her room.

She had been toying with the rouge and that was why she absentmindedly knocked over the basin of water she was supposed to use to wipe the Duke’s hands.

She was terrified and hadn’t even managed to close the rouge lid properly.

The Duke’s right hand was only about two inches away from the rouge, a slight movement would be enough to reach it.

Yet for the Duke, who could not even control his blinking, moving his fingers accurately was an extremely difficult task.

The Duke stared intently at the rouge container, exerting all his strength until he was finally tremblingly able to touch the rouge.

His finger dabbed into the rouge, and with another immense effort, he shakily wrote a crooked letter.

…

The next day, Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun went to Tianqiong Academy for classes.

As soon as they entered the Academy, Gu Jiao felt several inexplicable gazes directed at her.

“Liulang!”

A student greeted her with a smile.

She didn’t recognize them.

“Liulang!”

Another student beamed at her and said hello.

Again, she didn’t recognize them.

What was going on?

Had everyone become so enthusiastic overnight?

“Liulang!”

After being greeted by many unfamiliar students, at last someone she knew arrived.

Zhou Tong.

“Xiaoshun,” Zhou Tong stopped in front of Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun with a beaming smile and greeted Xiaoshun.

Gu Jiao asked, “Is there some event happening today? Why is everyone acting like that?”

Zhou Tong asked, “Acting like what?”

“Liulang!” about the seventeenth unfamiliar student greeted Xiao Liulang enthusiastically.

Using her eyes, Gu Jiao gestured: “Just like that a moment ago.”

Watching the student walk away, Zhou Tong smiled in sudden realization, “You mean everyone recognizing you? What’s so surprising about that? Don’t you remember that you won the match yesterday?”

Gu Jiao said, “That doesn’t mean everyone should recognize me.”

Not everyone went to watch the match.

Zhou Tong chuckled and, through his sleeve, grabbed her wrist: “Come with me and you’ll see!”

Gu Xiaoshun bared his teeth, hey, let go of my sister!

Zhou Tong led Gu Jiao to the Academy’s notice board, already surrounded by students.

“Liulang is here!”

Someone in the crowd shouted, and just like that, the people originally crowded around the notice board scattered, making way for Gu Jiao.

This kind of treatment… caught Gu Jiao a bit off guard.

But Zhou Tong was unabashed, happily drawing Gu Jiao to the front and pointing at the notice board: “Look!”

Gu Jiao focused her gaze.

On the left side of the notice board hung the report of yesterday’s match along with high praise for their performance, while on the right hung separate portraits of them, but only Gu Jiao was mounted on a horse.

She gripped the reins with one hand, and a polo mallet with the other.

Mostly shown from the back, she turned her head to reveal half of her side profile.

The side that was visible was her mark-free right face, her garments fluttering, a ribbon flying past her cheek, an indescribable valiance and composure, not overshadowed even next to the ethereal Mu Qingchen.

Gu Jiao, looking at the youth in bright attire and on horseback, scarcely recognized herself.

Is this how others see me?

Zhou Tong said, “We worked together on it, painting all night.”

Gu Jiao then noticed the dark circles under Zhou Tong’s eyes and, glancing at Zhong Ding and the others posting the portraits, indeed, each one had heavy dark circles.

This was an experience that Gu Jiao had never had in her previous life.

In her past life, although she always topped the exams and won so many awards her hands went soft, not a single person could come close to her.

Or rather, she didn’t want them to.

Her status precluded her from having any friends.

“How did we do with the painting?” Zhou Tong asked with anticipation.

Gu Jiao’s eyes swept over Zhou Tong, Zhong Ding, and everyone who had been at the match yesterday. They also looked back at her, their eyes faintly brimming with hope and nervousness.

“Not bad,” said Gu Jiao.

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

They were students of the Wen Ju division, proficient in the four arts of zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting, but for some reason, they all seemed to feel their work was accomplished only after Gu Jiao acknowledged their painting.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be in class?” Gu Jiao asked indifferently.

Zhou Tong laughed, “Yes, yes, class!”

Turning around, Gu Jiao coolly walked away.

After a few steps, she said as if it was an afterthought, “Paint a few more, the walls at home are a bit empty.”

…

It had been a long time since Tianqiong Academy had seen such glory. Despite its reputation as the Royal Academy, the real glory was years past.

The last time their Academy produced a top scholar was seventeen years ago, and after that, they hadn’t even produced a number two or number three scholar.

Being mocked for their inadequacy in both the literary and martial arts had not been infrequent.

Now, having won two consecutive polo matches against two strong Academies had brought them immense pride.

The Headmaster was also very pleased, calling Gu Jiao and Mu Qingchen to his office to lavish them with praise: “… The matches were indeed well played, showcasing the level of Tianqiong Academy, but don’t become arrogant. Train diligently, aiming to bring more honor to the Academy in the next match!”

Mu Qingchen and the others gave a traditional gesture of respect.

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow, “Is that it?”

The Headmaster was taken aback.

Gu Jiao added, “Aren’t you going to offer anything tangible? Like… a prize?”

The Headmaster: “…”

“Ahem!” The Headmaster cleared his throat discreetly and said solemnly, “The Academy’s funds are a bit tight recently. Next time you win, it’ll all be given together!”

Hooked on the main point, Gu Jiao questioned, “So if we lose, you won’t give anything?”

The Headmaster: “Cough, cough! You little rascal, can’t you stop thinking about money for three sentences? How can someone who studies the sage’s books be so greedy?”

Gu Jiao pressed, “So will you give it or not?”

The Headmaster: “…”

Was it too late to say he wouldn’t give it?

On the way back to Mingxin Hall, Mu Qingchen asked Gu Jiao, “Are you short on silver?”

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow: “You could say that. Do you have a way to earn money?”

Mu Qingchen replied, “I can lend you some. How much do you need?”

“No need to borrow,” Gu Jiao waved it off. She wasn’t exactly strapped for cash now, she was just being cautious.

Gu Yan would need surgery next month, which might cost quite a bit of silver.

Gu Jiao said seriously, “If you have a way to make money, count me in. I’ll let you work as a middleman and earn some commission!”

Mu Qingchen: “…”