The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 949 - 949 433 Cleansing the Void (First Update)

Chapter 949: 433 Cleansing the Void (First Update) Chapter 949: 433 Cleansing the Void (First Update) Long Yi tested drugs on Xiao Liulang as he had before, switching from one to another. In the end, Long Yi’s movements became anxious and disordered.

He seemed to feel that Xiao Liulang’s legs wouldn’t get better.

Dragon Shadow Guards do not cry.

Neither do they suffer.

In that moment, Gu Jiao standing outside the door, felt an immense sorrow from Long Yi.

…

Having changed his clothes, Xiao Liulang came out and said to the silently waiting Gu Jiao in the corridor, “I’m fine, let’s go.”

Go?

Gu Jiao looked at Xiao Liulang in astonishment.

It took her a moment to realize that his “let’s go” meant to leave this place.

Gu Jiao didn’t mention that it would be best to stay here. She dropped the twig in her hand, stood up, and looked at him, “Alright.”

On the way back in the carriage, Xiao Liulang did not speak a word.

Long Yi was not present, but both Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao knew he was following far behind the carriage.

“Is it because of the princess?” Gu Jiao finally spoke up.

Xiao Liulang tried to keep his tone normal, “She does not wish to see me.”

Indeed, if she wanted to see him, she wouldn’t have returned to the Princess Residence.

Gu Jiao couldn’t argue with that.

The carriage continued to sway along.

Xiao Liulang’s face was very pale.

Gu Jiao couldn’t tell whether his paleness was due to the physical wounds or his heartache.

Gu Jiao thought of the portraits she saw at the Princess Residence and, after hesitating for a moment, asked, “Why?”

What Gu Jiao wanted to ask was, why did you turn out this way?

However, Xiao Liulang thought Gu Jiao was asking why she did not want to see him.

This was the scar that had been repeatedly torn open in his heart, the memory he least wanted to touch.

But since she asked.

He told her.

“Because I am not her biological child.”

“Her own son died.”

“Because of me.”

…

Having returned to Bishui Alley, both had composed themselves, with no trace of anything unusual showing on their faces.

Long Yi left quietly using his light-footed skills after they had safely arrived. After all, he was Princess Xinyang’s secret guard, and his duty was to stay by her side.

There were only two classes at Guozijian that afternoon. Little Clean Void got out of school early and was now peeping out of his home doorstep.

His two little feet stayed obediently within the threshold, but his small body almost flung itself outside, his arms flying behind him like an eager emperor penguin.

Gu Jiao was instantly amused by him.

“Jiaojiao?” Little Clean Void spotted Gu Jiao, tilted his head for a closer look, assured himself that he wasn’t seeing things, then turned and called back to the Yao Family and Room Momo in the backyard, “Jiaojiao is back! I, I, I… I can go out now!”

With that said, he stepped over the threshold with his little short legs and dashed towards Gu Jiao.

And, unsurprisingly, he fell over again.

It had been a long time since he last fell, but he was still quite skilled at cradling his head.

He hugged his little head and rolled all the way to Gu Jiao’s feet.

After rolling, feeling that his image as a little tough guy was ruined again, he swiftly turned his eyes, spread his body out, and called out in an especially domineering tone, “Jiaojiao.”

He wasn’t embarrassed; anyone else would be.

Others are terrible brothers-in-law.

This little rascal’s knack for feigning innocence truly has no match.

What a pity, all played out by Xiao Liulang.

Before Gu Jiao could bend down to pick him up, Xiao Liulang simply grabbed the little tyke’s collar and hoisted him up in one swift motion.

Ow, ow!

I wanted Jiaojiao to hold me!

Not you!

Xiao Liulang carried the little tyke into the courtyard.

He had lost his walking stick, but he was after all stronger and more robust than before, ensuring that the little one didn’t fall; however, just as he entered the main room, his right foot couldn’t support him anymore.

Gu Jiao timely took little Jingkong into her arms and supported him with her other hand, sparing him the embarrassment and awkwardness of a fall.

Xiao Liulang, sensing the weakness in his right foot, tightened his fist inconspicuously.

Gu Jiao hadn’t told her family about Xiao Liulang being abducted by assassins; she had only said he was out on official duties. The original plan was for him to recover from his wounds at Princess Xinyang’s until he was healed, so there was no need to inform the family.

However, he had returned earlier than planned, and so his injuries could no longer be concealed.

“Liulang’s back from his official duties,” Yao Family’s words were only halfway spoken when they noticed his stiff right hand, “Liulang, your hand…”

As if nothing was amiss, Xiao Liulang said, “I carelessly tripped while on official duty, bumped it on the edge of a step, and bled a little, but it’s all right now.”

And got over a dozen stitches.

Gu Jiao thought to herself.

Such a pity, her husband’s hand was so good-looking; if it were to scar, she would chop off the assailant’s hand!

Xiao Liulang’s wrist was wrapped in gauze, and since Yao Family couldn’t really unwrap it to check the wound, they believed his story about the ordinary scrape. Still, worried, she had the housekeeper make a pot of pig’s trotter soup to nourish his hand.

Xiao Liulang: “…”

Xiao Liulang needed to get IV drips today, so Gu Jiao hung the IV bag on the bookshelf behind the desk in the western room, where Xiao Liulang read while getting the drip.

It wasn’t long before little Jingkong came over with a drawing in both hands.

His stature was still quite short, so he had to stand on tiptoes to stick out half of his little head from behind the desk.

He simply walked around the desk to Xiao Liulang’s side and, tilting his head, asked him, “Do you have a brother?”

Without looking up, Xiao Liulang continued flipping through the Arithmetic book from Yan Country, “Why do you ask that?”

Little Jingkong glanced at the drawing of Little Xiao Hen, “This person looks so much like you!”

Xiao Liulang’s expression paused; he turned his head and saw the drawing in little Jingkong’s hands.

He instantly recognized the people in the drawing, himself at five years old beside the young Princess Xinyang.

He slightly clenched his fingers: “Where did this drawing come from?”

“From Jiaojiao’s basket,” Little Jingkong tilting his little head, “Your brother is good-looking, better looking than you! Your brother can smile, but you can’t!”

The drawing of Little Xiao Hen beamed with innocence and joy, as if all the happiness in the world was his alone, the glee almost spilling from his eyes.

That was Xiao Hen of the past.

Seeing himself and Princess Xinyang in the drawing, Xiao Liulang felt a wave of bewilderment wash over him.

The affection of a mother and the filial piety of a son seemed so far away; looking back, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

In the afternoon, Princess Xinyang’s heart condition acted up, causing her to faint in the Princess Residence.

Worried about the delay in treatment due to back-and-forth travel, Yujin decided to send Princess Xinyang straight to the Medical Hall.

Gu Jiao was, yet again, whisked away by Long Yi, and that sensation was too bittersweet for words.

Princess Xinyang was given the Research Institute’s heart failure medication, and her condition was somewhat alleviated and controlled. The reason she fainted was not due to an acute heart condition but because she had not slept all night, overworked herself, and had low blood sugar.

Gu Jiao administered some glucose to Princess Xinyang.

When Princess Xinyang woke up in the evening, she opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar room, with a round head beside her bed.

She opened her mouth and asked hoarsely, “Where am I?”

Little Jingkong, who was squatting on the ground playing with marbles, looked up at her, blinking with big eyes, “You’re awake, benefactor? You’re in the Medical Hall; this is Jiaojiao’s room, and you’re sleeping in Jiaojiao’s bed. How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Jiaojiao said if you feel unwell, I should tell her, she’s seeing patients up front.”