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The night was heavy.
After a night’s work at the cabinet, the top three scholars finally finished their official duties.
The three men came out of the cabinet office, and An Junwang boarded his own carriage back home.
A carriage from the Hanlin Academy stopped outside the cabinet office, intending to drop off Ning Zhiyuan and Xiao Liulang at their homes one by one.
Ning Zhiyuan was exhausted. He really wanted to take the Hanlin Academy's carriage home, but his horse was still at the Hanlin Academy. If he didn't ride the horse back tonight, he wouldn't be able to go to the Hanlin Academy for duty tomorrow.
Walking was too far, and hiring a carriage was too expensive.
Ning Zhiyuan sighed helplessly, "Forget it, I'll go back to the Hanlin Academy first and then ride my horse back home."
Xiao Liulang looked at him and said, "Don't tire yourself out riding a horse."
Ning Zhiyuan waved his hand, "It's fine, it's not too far."
The carriage headed towards the Hanlin Academy first.
"Oh, by the way," Ning Zhiyuan spoke again, "Don't you feel that Grand Secretary Yuan holds you in high regard?"
"Is that so?" Xiao Liulang responded.
Ning Zhiyuan said with certainty, "Of course! Grand Secretary Yuan only spoke three sentences to me and five sentences to An Junwang today. The total number of times he spoke to us is less than the times he spoke to you!”
Xiao Liulang really hadn't paid attention to such details.
Ning Zhiyuan continued, "And I noticed that he keeps looking at you."
Xiao Liulang gave him a puzzled look, "Did you really work properly today?"
Ning Zhiyuan sighed again, "Most of the tasks were completed by you and An Junwang. To be honest, I didn't do much."
Today, Grand Secretary Yuan asked them to go to the cabinet mainly to help organize some memorandums related to the State of Zhao's laws. The State of Zhao had been founded for two hundred years, and some of the laws established at the beginning of its foundation were suitable for that time, but not quite appropriate now.
Almost every Emperor of the State of Zhao would review and revise the laws.
Of course, the Emperor wouldn't personally revise each one; they were all drafted by the cabinet and then submitted for the Emperor's review.
But before the cabinet drafted anything, they needed to listen to the voice and sentiments of the people first, which were reported to the higher authorities through local officials. The top three scholars worked today to categorize and organize these reports into formal memorandums.
Ning Zhiyuan was in the cabinet for the first time, feeling not only nervous but also a bit clumsy compared to Xiao Liulang and An Junwang, who looked experienced and composed.
As a matter of fact, it was also the first time for Xiao Liulang and An Junwang to come to the cabinet to help, but both of them came from distinguished backgrounds and had a wealth of experience. They knew how to deal with the officials in the cabinet and handled themselves well.
Ning Zhiyuan teased, "Hey? Do you think... Grand Secretary Yuan has taken a liking to you? Does he want you to become his son-in-law?"
Xiao Liulang replied calmly, "Don't talk nonsense."
Ning Zhiyuan said, "I'm not talking nonsense! There were rumors before that Grand Secretary Yuan's granddaughter was supposed to marry An Junwang. But later, for some reason, it didn't happen, and An Junwang got engaged to the second daughter of the Marquis Ding'an Estate. Tonight, I observed closely, and the way Grand Secretary Yuan looks at An Junwang is off! He must be angry that An Junwang abandoned his granddaughter after leading her on!"
Xiao Liulang was never interested in gossip about others. He calmly said, "I'm already married."
Ning Zhiyuan continued, "I know you're married, but does Grand Secretary Yuan know? Last time, the Minister of Justice came looking for you and wanted to betroth his daughter to you, remember?"
Xiao Liulang gave him a sidelong glance, "You've been really idle lately."
Gossiping about everything!
Xiao Liulang didn't take Ning Zhiyuan's words to heart because regardless of whether Grand Secretary Yuan truly had his eye on him, it certainly wouldn't be to betroth his granddaughter to him.
——Grand Secretary Yuan and Old Marquis were already secretly discussing a marriage alliance after all.
…...
Xiao Liulang returned to Bishui Alley past midnight and unexpectedly found someone standing at the door, wearing a light-colored gown, appearing lonely in the thin moonlight.
It was only when Xiao Liulang approached that he recognized him as Liu Yisheng, whom he had crossed paths with before.
Liu Yisheng was an orphan from the fallen Liu Family, considered an outcast in the capital and despised like a street rat. However, he was also Gu Jiao's patient.
Little Jing Kong and Ming’er, the son of the State of Liang envoy Yu Qinwang, had previously encountered trouble with some child traffickers, and it was Liu Yisheng who bravely intervened and sent the two children back to the medical hall.
Yu Qinwang rewarded him generously, and he accepted it.
But when Xiao Liulang tried to express his gratitude, Liu Yisheng refused.
He told him, "Physician Gu treated me, either by taking less money or none at all. I owe Physician Gu a favor, so I can't accept your reward."
This response left a deep impression on Xiao Liulang.
"What are you doing here?" Xiao Liulang asked as he approached Liu Yisheng.
Liu Yisheng had noticed Xiao Liulang when he entered the alley, and he had considered avoiding him, but in the end, he decided to stay.
"I..." Liu Yisheng began but hesitated to explain why he was there.
He didn't want Xiao Liulang to misunderstand.
As he was struggling to find the right words, another carriage stopped at the other end of the alley.
Gu Jiao got off the carriage and walked towards home.
She saw the two handsome men standing at the door, facing each other in a strange atmosphere. For a moment, she was slightly amazed by the scene.
The sight was a little too pleasing to the eye.
Xiao Liulang looked steadily at her, with a hint of inquiry. At this hour, he thought she had already gone to rest, but unexpectedly, she had just returned.
Moreover, her clothes... It was apparent that she wasn't wearing the outfit she had on when she left in the morning, nor was it any of her clothes at home.
Liu Yisheng's eyes also held curiosity, not less than Xiao Liulang's. When Gu Jiao was taken away, she was unconscious and unresponsive. How come she seemed to have recovered completely now?
Could it be true, as Yuan Tang said, that the expert who took Gu Jiao away had no ill intentions towards her? Perhaps he was someone Gu Jiao knew?
"Husband." Gu Jiao called out to Xiao Liulang, "Why are the two of you standing here so late?"
"Ask him." After having his identity announced, someone's mood finally improved a bit, and he said to Liu Yisheng, "Come inside and have a seat."
But Liu Yisheng responded, "No need, I just want to ask Physician Gu to check my injury and will leave shortly."
Xiao Liulang didn't insist and turned to enter the courtyard, lighting up all the lanterns inside.
Gu Jiao's gaze fell on his right hand, "Your hand..."
Liu Yisheng glanced at his right hand, which was wrapped in bandages, "I'm fine."
Gu Jiao asked, "Did I stitch it up?"
Liu Yisheng looked puzzled, "You don't remember? You stitched it up."
Gu Jiao seemed to ponder for a moment, "I vaguely remember."
Liu Yisheng pursed his lips and hesitated to speak further. In the end, he decided not to ask.
He said, "I took your medicine chest and back basket to the medical hall."
When the expert took her away, he only took the person, leaving her things on the ground behind. Liu Yisheng went to the medical hall to inquire about news of her and her place of residence, and then he handed the back basket and small medicine chest to Second Owner.
Gu Jiao smiled faintly, "Thank you."
Gu Jiao examined his injury. She worried that she might not have stitched them up properly due to the circumstances. However, it turned out that her muscle memory was incredibly strong, and the operation was practically perfect.
Gu Jiao gave him some instructions and asked him to come to the medical hall tomorrow for a dressing change.
Suddenly, Liu Yisheng looked deeply at her and asked, "What about you? Are you really okay? That expert..."
"He..." Gu Jiao pondered for a moment and replied, "He is a friend of my husband."
She couldn't reveal the identities of Long Yi and Xiao Liulang, so she referred to them as friends for now.
Liu Yisheng was completely relieved, "Then, I'll take my leave now."
Liu Yisheng walked out of Bishui Alley and arrived at Xuanwu Street, where an inconspicuous carriage was parked.
Several dark guards were lurking around the carriage.
Yuan Tang was sitting inside the carriage.
After dealing with that group of assassins, Yuan Tang immediately returned to the palace and brought along the experts from the State of Chen.
However, he wasn't sure if the other party was scared off by Gu Jiao and the masked expert, as they didn't make any moves against him during the night.
Liu Yisheng got into the carriage.
Yuan Tang raised an eyebrow, "How is it? Is that girl alright?"
Liu Yisheng replied, "She is fine."
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