The Prime Minister's Darling

Today was the day of the agreed follow-up consultation with the mysterious dignitary, who was already waiting at Huichun Hall.

This time, he did not request the hall to be cleared.

Gu Jiao arrived a bit late due to saying farewell to Xiao Liulang, making the dignitary wait for a while.

The young guard beside him looked visibly displeased: “Humph, you’re the first person who has dared to make my master wait!”

Gu Jiao shrugged, “Oh, what an honor.”

The young guard turned his head away.

Gu Jiao entered the room.

The man kept his face covered with a bamboo hat, concealing his features, but his dignified and noble bearing was unmistakable.

Two attendants of a soft demeanor still stood by his side.

Being familiar with Gu Jiao’s rather unceremonious manners after several encounters, the attendants saw her ignore formal greetings toward their master and sit down. Despite their grunts of disbelief, they did not dare to utter a single word of criticism.

The reason was obvious – their master’s health had truly taken a turn for the better under this young girl’s care!

Gu Jiao had administered three doses of penicillin, one every seven days, with the last dose given a month ago. His visit today was for the follow-up.

Gu Jiao took his pulse and performed a check-up.

“Am I fully recovered now?” The joy in the man’s voice was palpable.

After taking off her gloves, Gu Jiao told him, “Currently, your recovery seems to be going well, but it would take two years without recurrence to say you are completely cured. Hence, routine follow-ups are needed.”

“Uh…” The man fell silent.

Gu Jiao sensed that his mood was unlike the previous visits, “What’s the matter? Can’t manage the follow-ups?”

He gave a small smile and replied, “To be honest, I am leaving.”

“Oh.” Gu Jiao was not surprised. His accent already hinted that he was not a native, or even from Youzhou, but from someplace even farther, where exactly – Gu Jiao could not guess.

The man asked in a friendly manner, “But I do believe you have cured me, Miss. May I ask, where did you learn such profound medical skills?”

Gu Jiao simply replied, “I have many teachers.”

Which was the truth. In her previous life, she had learnt medicine in a university and a research institute and later worked in another institution. She indeed had many mentors.

Being a discerning person, the man did not probe further when Gu Jiao showed reluctance. He said, “Thank you for curing my disease. Besides the consultation fee which I’ve already paid, I want to express my gratitude.”

“Your consultation fee is already…” Gu Jiao stopped midway as the man presented a brocade box from his attendant and placed it on the table.

The brocade box looked valuable at first glance.

Gu Jiao seamlessly switched gears, “If you truly want to offer a token of gratitude, I will reluctantly accept.”

The attendants could barely watch, “Can’t you be a bit more dignified and refuse?”

The man smiled indulgently, sliding the brocade box toward Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao opened it to find an exquisite jade folding fan. It felt cool and smooth in her hand, a truly magnificent fan.

“Do you like it?” the man asked.

Gu Jiao hesitated.

The attendants were stunned, “Seriously? A fan made from thousand-year-old jade – and she doesn’t like it?”

“If you don’t like it, we can exchange it for something else.” The man spoke softly.

“Um, do you have a fan made of gold?” Gu Jiao asked.

One attendant couldn’t hold back his laughter, causing him to wobble a bit, “You don’t know how to be polite, do you? She’s asking for gold right off the bat. Is gold as valuable as jade? A country bumpkin indeed!”

The man chuckled, “I don’t have a gold fan. However, I do have something else made of gold.”

He gave some quiet instructions to one of his attendants, whose eyes widened, “Sir, are you sure? That is…”

The man’s tone was less kind now, “Just do as told. Since you returned from Jiangnan, you’ve been talking more and more.”

“Yes.” The attendant reluctantly fetched a small box from the carriage.

Surprisingly, it contained a game of Huarong Road made entirely of gold.

Huarong Road was a popular ancient puzzle toy, frequently sold in shops, but they were generally made of wood. This was Gu Jiao’s first encounter with one made of gold.

It was both fun and shiny – Little Pure Sky would definitely love it.

Gu Jiao nodded in satisfaction.

The man, observing a flicker of emotion on her normally placid face, barely held back a chuckle, “Do you like gold, or do you like Huarong Road?”