The Prime Minister's Darling

Doctor Zhuge said, “As long as the marquis will spare my useless apprentice, I will keep the marquis’s secret for a lifetime. But, are you sure that the madam gave birth to twins?”

I am certain, the madam was conscious during childbirth.”

“Then there is only one possibility.”

A mixup.

Marquis Gu pondered for a moment and ordered, “You stay in the mansion for now, I will call you if needed.”

Doctor Zhuge gave a bow, “Ready to obey the Marquis at any time.”

“You may leave.”

“Yes.”

After Doctor Zhuge left, Marquis Gu collapsed onto a chair, devoid of any energy, his mind felt blank.

The night in the villa was terribly quiet, the thin moonlight silently fell on the ground, casting a light shadow on the trees and flowers in the courtyard.

No doubt the children were switched.

The how and why could only be asked of the servants who attended the birth at the Yao family.

Unfortunately, after so many years, those people are no longer in the Marquis’s Residence, making them difficult to find.

Besides, he was not sure if the child was still alive.

To say that he didn’t care a bit would be false, but to say that he cared to the point of impulsiveness would be false too.

The madam’s health has been severely affected by her son’s illness, he must consider whether she could withstand the blow of the truth.

If telling her would harm her, then he would rather keep this secret for a lifetime.

At the same time, he also has to consider Jin Yu’s situation.

Jin Yu is the child he raised with all his heart, and he loves her more than his four sons. He doesn’t want Jin Yu to be hurt in any way.

Finally, there is the other child.

He had not yet decided whether he wanted to claim that child, but he must find her no matter what.

She is the only chance for Gu Yan’s recovery, she can save Gu Yan’s life.

“Servant!”

“Yes, Marquis.”

“Call for Aunt Fang.”

“Yes.”

Aunt Fang is the housekeeper of the manor and also the personal maid of Madame Yao.

When Madame Yao’s brother got married, she unknowingly visited the Yao family in Qing City while pregnant, and stayed there for half a year before returning to Capital City. She intended to give birth in the Capital City, but the labor started halfway.

Although Aunt Fang was not with Madame Yao at that time, she still knew more about what happened than most people.

“My lord, you summoned me?” Aunt Fang entered the room and greeted Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu raised his hand slightly without turning on the lights. His face was half-hidden in the darkness, cut by the moonlight in half light and half shadow.

Marquis Gu asked, “Where did the madam gave birth?”

Aunt Fang was taken aback, “Why does the marquis suddenly ask this?”

Marquis Gu replied indifferently, “I heard that the madam often goes to that temple to pray to the Bodhisattva recently and Yanyan’s condition improved. I plan to also pray there sometime.”

Aunt Fang found it strange. The Marquis’s Residence never believed in Buddhism, why would they suddenly mention going to the temple to pray?

—

On the other hand, Gu Jiao had taken the silver and asked the shopkeeper to make more candied pork hock and braised lion’s head, again storing them in jars. Afterwards, she went to the Cloth Shop to buy several pairs of shoes and some clothes.

With so many things, her small basket couldn’t fit, and she wrapped two large bundles and held them carefully.

Xiaoliulang knew she would come to town today, and whenever she came to town, she would always pick him up from school, so he told Uncle Luo to wait.

After waiting for almost an hour, even Xiaoshun began to wonder if his sister had already gone back, then Jiaojiao showed up.

She was small, and the bundles were shockingly large, almost completely covering her. She struggled to poke her small head out from the side of the bundles, her cheeks were red and she was panting heavily.

She wasn’t tired, she was suffocating.

The three quickly helped her to carry the bundle and put it in the ox cart.

Once settled, Gu Xiaoshun urged, “Uncle Luo, let’s go back to the village, I’m starving!”

Uncle Luo laughed, “Okay!”

Gu Jiao wiped the sweat from her forehead, “Why are you guys still not leaving?”

Gu Xiaoshun said, “We’re waiting for you, brother-in-law said you were coming.”

Gu Jiao glanced at Xiao Liulang and said seriously, “If you wait that long, aren’t you afraid I would have gone back already?”

Insisting on waiting for her, really!

Xiao Liulang responded casually, “So you came so late, aren’t you afraid we would have left already?”

Going from the cloth shop to here was not on the way, so she had to make a detour just to check if he was waiting for her, really!

Gu Xiaoshun touched his stomach and started to murmur: Suddenly I feel full, but why?

When they arrived home, Xiao Jingkong had been waiting at the door for a long time. The old lady told him that Jiaojiao would be back by the time he counted to a hundred.

After unknowingly counting to a hundred several times, the ox cart finally entered the village.

He ran out, shouting, “Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao!”

He really liked to call her Jiaojiao, and Gu Jiao went along with it. Seeing the little boy running towards her, she was about to warn him not to fall, but he fell.

He must be used to falling by now. He didn’t forget to hold his own bald head and rolled like a small winter melon to Gu Jiao’s feet.

Gu Xiaoshun was carrying the bundle, so Gu Jiao had her hands free. She picked up Xiao Jingkong and dusted him off, “Did it hurt when you fell?”

Xiao Jingkong shook his head, “No! Doesn’t hurt! I’m really good at falling!”

Gu Jiao: It’s only impressive if you cause someone else to fall, not if you fall yourself.

“Call them.” Gu Jiao pointed to Xiao Liulang and Gu Xiaoshun behind her.

Xiao Jingkong was a polite little boy and obediently called out to his brother-in-law Xiao Liulang and Brother Xiaoshun.

Even though he actually didn’t want to call them.

Gu Jiao took Xiao Jingkong home.

Xiao Jingkong was hopping and skipping, incredibly happy!

After they got home, Xiao Jingkong went to the kitchen and brought back a few large baked sweet potatoes.

“Jiaojiao, eat sweet potato! I baked it!”

In fact, Xue Ningxiang brought the sweet potatoes over when she came to cook at noon. She made the fire, she washed the potatoes, and Xiao Jingkong just used tongs to place the cleaned potatoes into the stove. Even when the potatoes were done, Xue Ningxiang was the one who pulled them out.

But in Xiao Jingkong’s opinion, he completed the most important step in baking the sweet potatoes – baking them, so they were his baked sweet potatoes!

The things Sister Xue did were separately called getting the sweet potatoes, washing the sweet potatoes and pulling out the sweet potatoes!

Gu Jiao gracefully took a bite.

“Is it good? Is it good? Is it good?” Xiao Jingkong asked with a tilted head.

“Hmm, it’s good.” It was just a bit cold. It didn’t matter if she ate it, Xiaoshun would be fine too, but Xiao Liulang’s stomach was delicate and he might upset it.

Gu Jiao took the sweet potato to heat up in the kitchen and took out two bowls, filled them with Candied Pork Hock and Braised Lion’s Head, and delivered them to Xue Ningxiang.

Xue Ningxiang gave her some boiled eggs and steamed buns in return.

When Gu Jiao returned, Xiao Jingkong had already set the bowls and chopsticks.

The five family members sat down to eat.

Xiao Jingkong obediently waited to be fed.

Gu Jiao put a piece of meat from the pork hock that was fatty but not greasy into his bowl.

Xiao Jingkong was so excited he started screaming with joy. He grabbed the chopsticks to pick up the meat. But before he could get it to his mouth, he smelled it and his eyes rolled back in his head. He fell backwards with a thump!

He was sprawled on the ground, head tilted, tongue out, unconscious!

Gu Jiao: “…”

There really were people in this world who fainted at the sight of meat!