The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 861 - 861 394 Jiaojiao Majestic (Second Update)_2

Chapter 861: 394 Jiaojiao Majestic (Second Update)_2 Chapter 861: 394 Jiaojiao Majestic (Second Update)_2 “`

No sooner had his voice fallen than Eunuch He, who had leapt into Xianle Inn with his light-body skill, was indeed kicked out by a master from inside.

Gu Jiao looked down from her high vantage point at Eunuch He lying on the ground like a dead fish and curved the corners of her lips, saying, “Ten taels of silver, and I’ll take you inside.”

Eunuch He turned his face away.

He refused.

Eunuch He tried climbing over the wall in another place.

Eunuch He tried yet another place.

Eunuch He tried climbing over the wall in who knows how many different places.

A quarter of an hour later, Eunuch He hobbled back to Gu Jiao, a scowl on his face as he resignedly pulled out ten taels of silver.

Gu Jiao didn’t take it, her eyebrows lifting slightly, “Twenty taels.”

Eunuch He exclaimed indignantly, “You clearly said ten taels just now!”

Gu Jiao spread her hands, “The price has gone up now.”

Eunuch He: “…”

To complete the task assigned by the Emperor, Eunuch He ultimately gave in and humiliatedly handed her a banknote for twenty taels.

It counted as an official expense. At worst, he would report to His Majesty that he had spent fifty taels, thus making a personal profit of thirty taels.

Gu Jiao was in the vicinity of Xianle Inn to see patients today; her little third brother’s carriage was parked across the street. Gu Jiao went to the carriage to change into men’s clothing and put on a mask.

She had Eunuch He take off his night clothes and wear ordinary traveling clothes, then she took out the token and led Eunuch He into the Xianle Inn.

“Why do you have a token from Xianle Inn?” Eunuch He asked suspiciously.

Gu Jiao thought about it, then earnestly replied, “Because I’m impressive?”

Eunuch He: “…”

Eunuch He entered as a servant of Gu Jiao and could not leave her to act on his own; he had to keep Gu Jiao with him.

“I need to go over there,” he pointed toward the eastern wing rooms, where there were plenty of people and where it was easy to gather intelligence.

Gu Jiao curved her lips slightly, “That will cost extra.”

Eunuch He again bore the humiliation, pulling out another ten taels!

Gu Jiao pocketed the banknote and led Eunuch He towards the first floor of the eastern side.

Gu Jiao wasn’t exactly a regular at the Xianle Inn, but given that she had been a guest in Mo Qianxue’s chambers every time she appeared, the courtesans almost all remembered her.

Along the way, many courtesans sent her flirtatious glances.

Gu Jiao, hands clasped behind her back, appeared nonchalant and devil-may-care, which made her even more popular with the ladies.

Eunuch He disapproved of her, but couldn’t do anything about it, which was rather frustrating for him.

Eunuch He underestimated how tight-lipped the patrons and courtesans of Xianle Inn were; being a servant, no one cared to speak with him. Out of options, he had to look to Gu Jiao again, “Help me with some inquiries.”

Gu Jiao looked at him with a smile, “Asking questions is a separate service.”

Eunuch He’s mouth twitched with irritation, and he pulled out ten taels!

“Ten taels isn’t enough,” she said.

Grinding his teeth, Eunuch He handed over another ten taels!

Gu Jiao accepted the banknote, “Ask what?”

Eunuch He took out two folded portrait sketches, “Have they seen the people in these drawings?”

Gu Jiao, “Bringing props will cost you extra.”

Eunuch He: “…”

In the end, Eunuch He was squeezed for a hundred taels, the latter fifty of which were on an IOU.

There were a total of four portraits, one of which showed a masked face, while the other three were unmasked.

Gu Jiao recognized at a glance that these were the portraits of the Dragon Shadow Guards.

Strange, why would the Emperor want to investigate the Dragon Shadow Guard? Could it be that they’ve gone missing? And not just one, but three?

The masks of the Dragon Shadow Guards were the same, signaling uncertainty as to whether the guards were showing themselves unmasked or in disguise at the Xianle Inn.

Gu Jiao wasn’t sure whether Eunuch He was certain there was a connection between the Dragon Shadow Guard and Xianle Inn or if he was simply conducting a blanket search.

She didn’t ask.

Today Mo Qianxue hadn’t come out to meet her, so she boldly guessed that Mo Qianxue wasn’t in Xianle Inn.

She pocketed the portraits and went upstairs.

She hadn’t gone to much trouble to pick a courtesan, as one had voluntarily come to her.

“Yo, Young Master, it’s been a long time.”

A beauty in a pink embroidered dress edged with fairies approached Gu Jiao with a half-covered face using her folding fan, swaying gracefully.

Gu Jiao remembered her—the second sister of Xianle Inn who had tried to seduce her but was slapped by Mo Qianxue last time. She was called the second sister because she seemed to hold a high position at Xianle Inn, just below Mo Qianxue.

What was her name?

Hua…

“Xiyao has seen the Young Master,” she said demurely, performing a greeting.

Gu Jiao’s gaze lingered on her for two seconds, as if contemplating some possibility, then she took out her notebook and wrote, “No need for formalities, Miss Xiyao.”

Hua Xiyao stood straight, hiding everything below her eyebrows with her fan, and cooed flirtatiously, “Are you here looking for Sister Qianxue?”

As she spoke, her expression turned one of regret, “What a pity, Sister Qianxue has gone out with a client, and we do not know when she will return. If the Young Master doesn’t mind, would Xiyao keep you company to relieve your boredom?”

“`