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Xiao Liulang quickly reached out and pulled her inside, accidentally falling into his own embrace. He held her tightly with one hand while swiftly closing the door with the other.
Almost at the moment he latched the door, the guards outside arrived.
"You two, go check over there. You two search this courtyard. You, come with me!"
"Yes!"
Gu Jiao was tightly held in Xiao Liulang's arms. She didn't move, blinking her big eyes as she looked at him innocently.
Xiao Liulang raised his index finger and gently placed it on his own lips.
Gu Jiao understood.
Don’t speak, right? She got it!
"Achoo——"
But she couldn't hold back her sneeze!
Even her mask got askew!
"What's the noise?"
One of the guards walked towards Xiao Liulang's room.
"It's me." Xiao Liulang said casually.
"Lord Xiao, you're still awake at this hour?" The guard asked from outside.
Xiao Liulang held Gu Jiao and didn't dare to move a step. He responded, "I was sleeping, but you woke me up."
"Apologies." The guard outside cupped his hand. "One of our brothers found a guard who fainted near the kitchen. It seems he has been unconscious for quite some time. We suspect there might be a thief infiltrating, so we are searching the examination compound on orders. Please bear with us, Lord Xiao."
Gu Jiao took off her askew mask. She was held tightly by him and couldn't free herself, so she simply buried her little head in his chest.
Xiao Liulang's heart skipped a beat, and his breathing became heavier. He composed himself and said, "I didn't hear any commotion here. You should quickly go and check with the other lords."
"Yes." The guard agreed.
"Brother, we haven't found anything here."
"Nothing over there either."
"Let's go."
The guards gradually left this side. Xiao Liulang carefully listened to their footsteps, making sure the last guard had also moved away.
The surroundings fell silent once again.
However, Xiao Liulang didn't move, and neither did Gu Jiao.
The room was dimly lit by the faint moonlight that timidly seeped through the window paper, providing very little illumination.
The night was serene.
He held her, with their breaths mingling and the sound of his own heart pounding like a drum.
"I didn't knock out that guard. I didn't hit anyone." Gu Jiao said.
"Mhm." Xiao Liulang responded vaguely, gently releasing his arm that held her. The night concealed the flush on his cheeks as he asked, "What are you doing here so late?”
"Gu Chengfeng said someone tried to poison you." Gu Jiao said, her fingertips already touching his pulse.
"I didn't eat anything." Xiao Liulang said. "The unconscious guard was probably the one who was supposed to deliver my dinner."
"Your pulse seems fine." Gu Jiao asked, "Is the poisoned food still here?"
Xiao Liulang went to the table in the dark and took out a match to light the oil lamp, "It was taken away. But I kept a little bit of the poisoned green onion."
As he spoke, he took out a small porcelain bottle from his bag.
Gu Jiao emptied the contents of the bottle, carefully examined it, and her expression turned solemn. "It's arsenic."
Someone actually tried to poison her husband!
Her little fists itched to retaliate!
Xiao Liulang looked at her fierce expression and couldn't help but laugh.
He raised his hand and gently stroked her head, "I'm fine. I wasn't affected this time. The other party probably realized their plan was exposed, so they won't make a move again in the short term."
At least not in the examination compound.
"You came all the way here in the middle of the night just for this?"
In his view, this was just a trivial matter. From the moment he returned to the capital, he knew that there would be many thorns ahead.
"I will find the culprit." Gu Jiao said earnestly.
"Good." Xiao Liulang smiled faintly and brushed the stray strand of hair on her head that was blown by the wind.
It was strange. He had never done such a gesture before.
They had always maintained the facade of being husband and wife, but there was no real interaction between them. They were more like guests living under the same roof, each with their own domain and no interference from each other.
At what point did their boundaries start to blur? And when did their plans start involving each other?
Xiao Liulang chuckled and lowered his head.
"What are you laughing at?" Gu Jiao asked.
"Nothing." Xiao Liulang shook his head.
He couldn't help but find it amusing.
As for what he was laughing about, he seemed to know and yet not know at the same time.
"By the way, what is the contents of the decree in Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing’s hand?" Gu Jiao skipped the question of how he knew about the imperial decree’s contents.
Xiao Liulang seemed to finally understand what he was laughing about. He was happy.
Being with her, he never had to worry about her asking difficult questions. Of course, he wouldn't intentionally inquire about things she didn't want to talk about either.
It wasn't cautiousness after knowing each other well, but rather their inherent personalities and a natural understanding between them.
Xiao Liulang said, "It was the imperial decree left by the late Emperor before his death, and it contained something very important."
To say it was very important was an understatement. It was something that could shake the foundation of the imperial court.
Gu Jiao asked, "Is it related to Grandaunt?"
Xiao Liulang nodded. "Yes."
Of course, it must be related to Grandaunt, otherwise Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing wouldn't have held onto it as her trump card for so many years.
Gu Jiao continued to speculate, "Did the late Emperor agree to let Grandaunt assume the regency?"
"If the late Emperor agreed, then Grandaunt wouldn't have to endure so much criticism. By holding onto this imperial decree, Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing undoubtedly created great obstacles for Grandaunt's regency." Gu Jiao speculated.
Xiao Liulang shook his head. "No."
Gu Jiao changed her direction of speculation, "Then is it to prevent Grandaunt from interfering in court affairs?"
"Also no." Xiao Liulang shook his head again.
Gu Jiao made a strange sound of contemplation, "It wouldn't really be a decree for Grandaunt to accompany the late Emperor in death, would it?"
Xiao Liulang fell silent.
Seeing his expression, Gu Jiao had her answer.
The imperial decree that the late Emperor issued before his death was indeed for Grandaunt to accompany him in death!
With this revelation, Gu Jiao became even more puzzled, "But then, why would Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing keep an imperial decree for Grandaunt to accompany the late Emperor in death a secret? She and Grandaunt have such a hostile relationship, wishing to get rid of each other. Why would she hide the decree?"
Xiao Liulang's gaze gradually deepened. He said, "Because within that imperial decree... It isn't just Grandaunt who was ordered to accompany the late Emperor in death. Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was also named."
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