Chapter 436: Chapter 411, Xin’s Secret_1
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Watching Gu Jian knock the Imperial Guard down with a wooden stick, causing him to fly backward and spit blood, both Wei Qi and Wu Jingyi’s expressions changed, they couldn’t help but take another look at the elderly man before them.
However, the next scene made not only the two of them, but everyone in the courtyard, widen their eyes in disbelief.
“Uncle, the Imperial Guard didn’t mean it.”
Uncle?
Who is the uncle?
Who’s uncle?
Yang Chenghua and Wu Jingyi were somewhat confused, but Wei Qi and Eunuch An had looks of realization on their faces.
Ignoring the words of the Fifth Master, Gu Jian carefully removed the silver needles from Granny Gu, helped her up, and then strode quickly toward Daohua, who had collapsed at the door.
Granny Gu was also worried about Daohua. She followed shakily, only to have her vision darken and her body sway. Then she felt a pair of strong, solid arms support her.
Looking at Granny Gu, the Fifth Master’s lips moved, his eyes filled with a complex mix of self-reproach, joy, and deep concern.
Granny Gu didn’t look back at the Fifth Master, but hurried towards Gu Jian.
The Fifth Master had no choice but to assist the elderly lady.
“Is Daohua okay?”
Even before she had come close, Granny Gu asked hastily.
Gu Jian glanced coldly at the Fifth Master. “You’ve brought fine bodyguards.”
He was happy to see Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao, the two young men, suffer a little—boys need to be chiseled to become something after all; but Daohua was a girl, precious and delicate. How could she withstand a bodyguard’s rough handling?
Seeing his sister’s worried face, he softly reassured her, “It’s nothing, she just fainted. She’ll need a few days to recover, though.”
The bodyguard had been strong; he had observed that his apprentice’s neck was already showing a large bruise.
Granny Gu: “Then what are you standing there for, quickly carry Daohua to the Taohua Temple to rest.”
Gu Jian nodded, yet he didn’t move immediately. He was holding Daohua and thus couldn’t support his sister, unsure of what to do.
Seeing Gu Jian’s dilemma, the Fifth Master, who had been treated like he was non-existent, immediately said, “Mother, let me help.”
Hearing the term “Mother,” Granny Gu was slightly stunned, while Gu Jian cast a glance at the Fifth Master.
Both remained silent, yet neither spoke against it.
The rest of the people in the yard had by now turned into motionless statues.
Clearly, the word “Mother” had a far greater impact than “Uncle.”
Afterward, Gu Jian, carrying Daohua, walked ahead, while the Fifth Master supported Granny Gu behind. The four people slowly left the farmhouse.
Eunuch An and Wei Qi immediately followed at a brisk pace.
Wu Jingyi and Yang Chenghua exchanged glances and followed as well, but stopped with great tactfulness at the doorway.
Wei Qi guarding the safety of the Fifth Master and Eunuch An being at his service was their duty and made sense. If the two of them tagged along, it would seem like prying into the Fifth Master’s private matters.
The two then witnessed the Fifth Master squat down, lift the old lady onto his back, and personally carry her up the mountain.
Watching this scene, both Wu Jingyi and Yang Chenghua inhaled sharply.
“Your family has been living in Beijing for generations. Have you ever heard of the great fire in Chengqian Palace during the twenty-second year of Yongxing?”
“How could I forget? The Emperor’s favorite Imperial Consort died in that fire.”
“Have you heard that besides the Imperial Consort, there was also a chosen maid who died?”
Wu Jingyi was stunned, “I didn’t know that.”
A chosen maid was merely an Imperial Consort without rank. With the Imperial Consort drawing all the attention, who would notice such a minor character?
Wu Jingyi looked at Yang Chenghua inquisitively, “Why would you be interested in something that happened decades ago?”
Yang Chenghua just smiled, offering no answer.
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Why?
Although the current Emperor is a wise ruler, there is a saying that accompanying a monarch is like accompanying a tiger. In order to commit fewer taboos, Wentao had spent a considerable amount of time cautiously studying the Emperor’s preferences since becoming an official.
During this time, he made a startling discovery: the Emperor’s affection for the Jiang Family was not as genuine as it appeared. He had even witnessed the Emperor reveal a murderous intent towards the Jiang Family’s Princely Heir.
Upon discovering this, he had been on tenterhooks for a long time, concerned for the safety and lives of his entire family. He forced himself to forget this matter, but fate had other plans.
In the fifth year of Yongxing, Consort Sheng De and Consort Du Xian both miscarried one after another. When he was responsible for investigating the matter, he inadvertently uncovered a secret from the former dynasty at the Imperial Medical Bureau.
It turned out that when the Empress Dowager was still the Empress, a maid selected from Kunning Palace had been pregnant twice, and he had quietly calculated the timing following medical advice, which exactly matched the current Emperor and Prince Ping.
He still remembered the dread he felt upon learning this information.
The current Emperor and Prince Ping were not the biological sons of the Empress Dowager!
This was simply appalling.
Wu Jingyi glanced at Yang Chenghua, who was lost in thought, and mentally cursed the old fox; this old fellow must know some inside information.
But he didn’t care.
After all, the conclusion was already laid out before him.
At that moment, an Imperial Guard returned with a hawk whose throat had been pierced through.
“Fortunately, I was quick, otherwise, this sea hawk would have successfully sent a warning message.”
Observing the Imperial Guard who was seeking credit and the one still with blood on the corner of his mouth, Wu Jingyi and Yang Chenghua exchanged a glance. They looked at the guard who shot the hawk with a bit of sympathy.
That old master’s temper is not very good; this guard might be in trouble.
Wu Jingyi: “First, tidy up this area properly, so as not to arouse suspicion.”
Yang Chenghua pointed to Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao on the ground: “What about these two blockheads?”
Wu Jingyi sneered. Daring to gag him with a towel, he would make sure they paid dearly. Then he ordered the guards, “Throw them deep into the mountains again.”
Yang Chenghua didn’t stop him, but he did say, “Take it easy though, the old lady and the old master seem to have a soft spot for them.”
Wu Jingyi didn’t care in the slightest, “Don’t worry, the old master didn’t say a word when the guards took action against these two youngsters earlier, there won’t be any trouble.”
However, to avoid any accidents, he still assigned two Imperial Guards to secretly “look after” them.
…
Meanwhile, at Taohua Temple.
Gu Jian carefully laid Daohua on the bed, administered her medicine, and then slowly made his way to the main hall.
In the hall, Granny Gu sat in silent contemplation, while Lord Wu knelt with his back straight below her.
Eunuch An stood far from the doorway, not daring to let his gaze sweep into the room. Wei Qi outright hid outside the courtyard, on alert for any disturbances.
After entering the room, Gu Jian didn’t know what to say, so he simply sat in silence without a word.
After a while, Lord Wu took the initiative to speak: “Over the years, your son has been constantly searching for you both.”
Gu Jian glanced at him: “Did you know we were alive?”
Lord Wu nodded: “I knew the charred corpses left by the Jiang Family were fake the instant I saw them.”
Granny Gu sighed: “Even if you found us, what could you do?”
Lord Wu’s eyes reddened slightly, filled with resentment and bitterness: “Your son must vindicate my mother.”
Granny Gu gave a bitter smile: “Why would the Jiang Family dare to take the risk of supporting you as their candidate? It’s because they bet on the fact that you could only rely on the Jiang Family. The burning of Chengqian Palace and the poisoning of the former Emperor were done by me and your uncle personally. As long as the Jiang Family holds that over you, you can’t do anything to them.”
Lord Wu took a deep breath: “I can’t now, but one day I will completely root out the Jiang Family.”
Gu Jian remained silent. He also loathed the Jiang Family to the core for using his sister as a pawn to bear children, taking away her babies, and ultimately, her life.
Granny Gu, however, shook her head: “There’s no need for that. I am someone without a past, you don’t have to tarnish your own reputation for my sake.”