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That night, Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn’t sleep well. As long as she closed her eyes, she would see the aggrieved appearance of the young girl, making her tossed and turned for most of the night before she finally fell asleep, only to dream of the little monk this time.
The little monk questioned her tearfully, "Grandaunt, why did you come here to be the Empress Dowager? Aren't you going back with us?"
Aren't you going back with us?
You are our Grandaunt…
The next morning, the various court officials could feel the Empress Dowager Zhuang's 'don't mess with me right now or I will execute your whole family' aura through the thick beaded curtain. Each and every one of them remained silent out of fear, afraid to stand out in such an atmosphere.
After the court meeting was adjourned, Empress Dowager Zhuang summoned Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
In the side hall, Grand Preceptor Zhuang bowed and cupped his hands to Empress Dowager Zhuang, "Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Aijia has something to ask you."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang: "Please go ahead and ask, Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Who was Aijia with during the year or so that Aijia was missing?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was surprised, "Why is Empress Dowager suddenly asking about this?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang said dully, "You only need to answer Aijia’s question."
"Yes." Grand Preceptor Zhuang cupped his hands and recounted, "After escaping from Leprosy Mountain, Empress Dowager wandered among the common people and tumbled into a small village where she was found by His Majesty's people and was temporarily kept under house arrest."
Empress Dowager Zhuang’s voice had a trace of impatience as she said, "Aijia is asking, who exactly are they?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang answered solemnly, "The new Zhuangyuan, Xiao Liulang."
"Xiao, Liu, Lang?" Empress Dowager Zhuang’s eyebrows furrowed up. This name sounded exceptionally familiar, though she could not recall where she had heard it. But it made sense if she had lived in his home before.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang continued, "Xiao Liulang is one of His Majesty's people. Even back in the village, he has been in contact with His Majesty. Afterwards, he came to the capital to take the imperial exam, which was simply a facade to deceive the eyes and ears of the people as the real purpose of their arrival was to bring the Empress Dowager back into the capital in secret. As a matter of fact, Heng'er had actually found Empress Dowager's whereabouts as early as in the county, and had even gone to meet Empress Dowager to recognize her. Unfortunately, Empress Dowager didn’t remember Heng'er at that time and even injured him. Afraid of the damages when pelting rats, Heng'er dared not act rashly and could only return to the capital to discuss countermeasures with this official. This official had then contacted my subordinates and forced His Majesty to reopen the Imperial Academy, convinced that Xiao Liulang would not leave the Empress Dowager in the countryside when he entered the capital."
This was actually far from the truth. Clearly, it was they who used Xiao Liulang for their own purpose, it was just that when Grand Preceptor Zhuang connected everything afterwards, he believed that Xiao Liulang had premeditated it.
Empress Dowager Zhuang might have detected a flaw if Grand Preceptor Zhuang was lying to deceive her, but the thing was, he really believed it to be the case.
Empress Dowager Zhuang retracted his gaze on his face, saying, "No one suspected anything with this many people in the family?"
Grand Preceptor Zhuang responded, "Xiao Liulang was originally a poor boy from another place. He claimed that Empress Dowager was his Grandaunt to the public, and since none of his relatives came to seek shelter with him, no one suspected anything. The reason Empress Dowager suddenly asked about them… Is it because they came to find the Empress Dowager?"
Zhuang Yuexi had long asked someone to deliver a letter to Grand Preceptor Zhuang about what happened in the palace yesterday. Of course, she did not mention that she went to find Gu Jiao afterwards and only told him about the encounter in the imperial garden.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang said, "They drugged the Empress Dowager to make her lose her memory, taking the opportunity to get close to Empress Dowager and capture her heart. Empress Dowager must not be fooled by them."
So they were not sincere when they called her ‘Grandaunt’. They were only using her. Somehow, this knowledge made Empress Dowager Zhuang’s heart ache.
But it was strange, wasn't it?
Shouldn't she feel furious, fly into a rage out of humiliation, and immediately decree the execution of their family?
But why was there only sadness in her heart?
……
The weather was clear and the sky was cloudless.
Marquis Gu had not been to Bishui Alley for some time. Today, he was on his way to oversee the construction of Empress Dowager's new manor and happened to pass by Bishui Alley. He decided to pay Yao shi a visit.
He had just arrived at the courtyard gate when he ran into Gu Jiao, who had returned with Little Jing Kong in her arms.
Little Jing Kong was fast asleep in Gu Jiao's arms and there were still teardrops on his eyelashes.
Gu Jiao's expression looked even colder than usual.
It had also been a while since Marquis Gu last saw this unfilial daughter of his. She seemed to have grown taller and her countenance resembled Yao Shi's appearance more and more.
"Where have you been?" He asked in an unpleasant voice.
Gu Jiao ignored him and stepped towards the courtyard.
Marquis Gu gritted his teeth, "I'm speaking to you! Did you not hear me?!"
Gu Jiao looked at him coldly, "You’d better not provoke me today."
Meeting her chilling gaze made Marquis Gu feel as though his heart was clutched by a hand, his hand trembled and the blueprint he was holding fell out.
Gu Jiao wasn’t interested in his things, but there it was; even though she didn’t want to see it, she still caught a glimpse of it, which actually made her stop in her tracks.
Marquis Gu quickly picked up the blueprints and dusted it off with his hand. He then glared at Gu Jiao and said, "What are you looking at? This manor isn’t being built for you!"
Then he remembered that he was rarely able to show off in front of this girl. Smoothing out the blueprints again, he said to her, "Do you know what this is? It's the mansion that the Empress Dowager ordered the Ministry of Works to build for Young Miss Zhuang."
"What's this?" Gu Jiao held the sleeping Little Jing Kong in one hand and pointed at a small dot on the drawing with her other hand.
Marquis Gu raised an eyebrow, "An ancient well."
"What about this?"
"Jujube tree. It has to be tall and there should be straw mats wrapped on its trunk, that kind where it should be safe for a child to coil himself around it."
"For what reason does a child have to coil himself around it?"
"How should I know? Try asking the Empress Dowager if you have the ability!"
It was rare for him to be able to talk back, and his tone was also very arrogant! But after saying that, he subconsciously raised his hand to cover his head!
But Gu Jiao did not hit him.
It was… quite unexpected.
Gu Jiao continued to ask with obvious curiosity, "What is this?"
Today was probably the longest conversation between the father and daughter ever since they met. They already exchanged so many words, and yet this girl still hadn’t beaten him up!
Was this girl finally becoming filial? Life was so rewarding!
"These are bamboo, this is a dog house, this is a chicken coop, and there is also a birdcage here. This is a vegetable field, this is the east wing, this is the west wing…"
Marquis Gu said with great enthusiasm, however, as he spoke, he sensed that something was amiss.
He looked at the blueprints and then at the courtyard in front of him.
What on earth?
How come this courtyard looked the same as the manor’s blueprints?
Gu Jiao also noticed it.
She took out the money pouch and looked at it carefully for a long time.
‘I don't want you anymore.’ She wanted to hear these words from Grandaunt’s own mouth.
The following day, Gu Jiao made another trip to the imperial palace on the grounds of another follow-up house visit to the Emperor, and this time, it was her turn to play missing. As soon as she entered the side hall, she disappeared without a trace.
The palace was guarded by imperial guards, but it wasn’t too difficult for her to avoid their detection.
She headed to the imperial garden.
Perhaps it was because of the nice weather, or maybe Empress Dowager Zhuang just didn't want to stay in Renshou Palace, but she often sat alone dazedly in the imperial garden lately.
Even this time, she was in a daze in front of a potted begonia when Gu Jiao came over.
"Who is it?" Eunuch Qin caught sight of the shadow casted on the ground and looked towards its owner. When he saw Gu Jiao, he said warily, "You again!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang also turned her head when she heard the noise.
At the first sight of Gu Jiao, Empress Dowager Zhuang's mood actually rose for a moment. But the next second, she thought of something and her heart turned cold again.
"What are you doing here?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked in a low voice.
Gu Jiao replied, "I came to find Grandaunt."
Empress Dowager Zhuang opened her mouth faintly, "There is no Grandaunt for you here."
"There is." Gu Jiao said with a trace of grievance.
Empress Dowager Zhuang felt a grip in her heart all of a sudden. Clenching her fingers, she said coldly, "Stop playing these little games in front of Aijia. You weren't even born when Aijia paved a bloody path in the harem and fought her way out. Do you really think Aijia will fall for your tricks?"
Gu Jiao didn't rush to refute her words. Instead, she stretched out her hand and spread out her fingers to reveal the money pouch in her palm.
Empress Dowager Zhuang originally had no idea what she had lost. However, the moment she laid her eyes on the pouch, she instantly knew that it was the thing she had been looking for.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's gaze grew colder, “How did Aijia's things get in your hands?"
Gu Jiao lowered her eyes and said in a particularly aggrieved and obedient manner, "Someone gave it to me and said that you’re returning it to me. That person told me that you don’t want me anymore."
How could Aijia not want you anymore? You are Aijia's JiaoJiao…
These words suddenly flashed through Empress Dowager Zhuang's mind——
References
1. — to hold back from taking action against an evildoer for fear of involving innocent people.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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