Chapter 227.1: Punishment
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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There was a reason why the Emperor and Marquis Xuanping went out of the palace incognito, and it also wasn’t surprising that they ran into Old Marquis. The three of them had originally booked a place to discuss things together in secret.
It was just that they encountered each other earlier than expected.
The three of them went to a nearby… Opera house.
That’s right, an opera house.
Marquis Xuanping was well-known for being romantic and unruly, he loved beauty and loved listening to plays. He was often seen going in and out of this place, but no one knew that this was originally a property under his name.
The trio entered a private room, and the servant boy outside closed the door.
The Emperor's head was injured and he felt half dead from the pain. After he sat down, he said impatiently, "Make it short! How are things?"
Old Marquis didn't dare to neglect, after cupping his hands in salute, he said, "Responding to Your Majesty, since the news of my return to the capital has come out, my whereabouts have been monitored."
"By the Zhuang Family?" The Emperor asked.
Marquis Xuanping on one side grabbed a handful of melon seeds.
The Emperor glared at him.
"Alas." He was even forbidden to eat melon seeds, indicating that His Majesty was truly very angry. Marquis Xuanping could only reluctantly put the melon seeds back.
Old Marquis nodded, "Yes. Today, this official went to the temple and was quietly followed by An Junwang."
The Emperor frowned, "He actually followed you himself?"
Old Marquis didn't feel surprised by this, "This official is very familiar with all of his guards, so he can only take risks by going on his own."
It wasn’t easy to find An Junwang. On the way there, Old Marquis hardly noticed anything. It was on the way back when An Junwang got into his carriage, seemingly a little earlier than he should have, that Old Marquis discovered him.
As for why he seemed to be in a state of disorder, Old Marquis had no idea.
Discussing serious business, the Emperor's face had a solemn look, “What about the whereabouts of the Empress Dowager? Have you got any luck?”
Old Marquis speculated, "I think... the Empress Dowager may have already entered the capital."
The Emperor’s frown tightened more, "Why do you think so?"
Old Marquis looked pensive as he said, "Although the Zhuang Family is still pretending to look for the Empress Dowager, their search has been much slower. Moreover, when An Junwang left the capital, he appeared to accompany his sister to go sightseeing, but he was actually asking for information about the Empress Dowager along the way. After that, An Junwang returned to the capital using the provincial exam as an excuse... Forgive this official for being blunt, An Junwang is still young, and he doesn't have to give up looking for the Empress Dowager just for the imperial examination."
The Emperor pondered for a moment, and felt that Old Marquis's words were not unreasonable, "So you think he must have gone back to the capital because he already found the Empress Dowager? But now that they found the Empress Dowager, why don't they let her return to the palace?"
Empress Dowager’s return to the capital actually made the Emperor's side more fearful. The Zhuang Family held a heavenly card in their hands but did not play it. What kind of pattern was this?
Old Marquis thought, "About this... This official also remains perplexed despite much thought. Perhaps... It’s due to Empress Dowager's leprosy that hasn't been cured yet. Could they be secretly treating the Empress Dowager?"
An Empress Dowager with leprosy would be despised and rejected. When Empress Dowager Zhuang was infected with leprosy, they all thought that the opportunity to bring down Empress Dowager Zhuang had come, but unexpectedly the Empress Dowager escaped by herself.
If they dared say that Empress Dowager Zhuang left the palace without permission, Grand Preceptor Zhuang would dared to question in public whether they murdered Empress Dowager Zhuang.
They didn't dare to bet who would be the victor and the loser and had to resort to roundabout strategy, claiming that the Empress Dowager had a sudden illness and went to the temporary imperial residence to recuperate.
Then, intentionally or unintentionally, they let the Zhuang Family find out——Empress Dowager Zhuang escaped after having been inflicted with leprosy.
The Zhuang Family were also afraid that this disease would ruin the reputation of the Empress Dowager, so they also kept this information from being leaked and secretly searched for the Empress Dowager.
The two sides achieved a delicate balance in a short period of time.
But this balance would be broken one day.
If Grand Preceptor Zhuang really managed to find Empress Dowager Zhuang, and cured Empress Dowager Zhuang, then the day when the balance between the two sides were broken wasn’t far away.
The journey from the medical hall to the monastery and vice versa wasn’t short, and there was also another delay. By the time Gu Jiao returned to Bishui Alley, it was already dusk.
The mesmerizing sunset glow on the horizon fell on the red walls and green roof tiles, dying them with warm orange light.
When Gu Jiao walked into the alley, she had the real feeling of going home.
This kind of feeling was something she had never experienced before.
In her previous life, the days she lived with her parents were few and far between, and their house was empty and cold, without the slightest warmth of home.
The so-called home in her previous life was just a place to stay.
But now it seemed to have a new meaning.
After a busy day, she was always looking forward to coming back here and seeing the people in the house.
It wasn’t that she never got tired, she was just used to being tired. Anyhow, there was no one to care for her then, so it was useless to complain.
“JiaoJiao!”
Little Jing Kong's voice interrupted Gu Jiao's thoughts.
The little guy was sitting on the threshold waiting for her again.
In the morning, he tripped and fell and burst into tears, but now he was running towards her and even threw himself into her arms.
She wanted to pick him up, but he shook his head and said, "No, JiaoJiao is tired."
He resisted the urge to get into her embrace and took Gu Jiao's hand.
"Does your leg still hurt?" Gu Jiao bent over to pull up his little trouser leg.
Little Jing Kong shook his head and replied, "It doesn't hurt at all!"
Actually, it still hurt a little, but Little Jing Kong’s spoiled act was based on the premise of not increasing Gu Jiao’s burden.
"Big sis!" Gu Xiaoshun heard the noise at the door, dropped his half-finished carpentry work, and ran out like a monkey, helping Gu Jiao to carry her back basket, "Give it to me!"
Gu Xiaoshun insisted on carrying the back basket in his hand, and even carefully put her small medicine chest in her east room.
Gu Yan was originally working for Little Jing Kong in the yard, shoveling chicken poops which made him want to pull his hair out. He was not as idle as Little Jing Kong, and he was not as nimble as Gu Xiaoshun. When he finally saw his sister, his pretty face was all black.
Gu Jiao was amused by his appearance.
Gu Yan awkwardly turned his back to her.
Gu Jiao went and coaxed him.
It was difficult for others to coax him, but how could it not be easy for Gu Jiao? Gu Jiao simply took him by the hand and he already lost his temper.
Yao shi came out of the kitchen with a new plate of steamed cakes. When she saw her daughter, her eyes were immediately filled with tenderness, "JiaoJiao is back? I just made some snacks, Jing Kong, go and see if Grandaunt is awake."
"Alright!" Little Jing Kong loved going to Grandaunt's room for rounds, as he always discovered something and felt full of accomplishments!
Little Jing Kong ran to elderly woman’s room while puffing and blowing.
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