The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 85: 84 Imperial Examination (second revision)

Huang Zhong found Young Master Gu on a large tree a hundred steps away from the courtyard.

Lord Gu had been hauled up by Gu Jiao and hung on a large tree branch, like a soaking wet garment, not a single dry spot on his entire being as water dripped down from him.

Huang Zhong was extremely startled when he saw him; it was lucky it was broad daylight, for he might have mistaken him for a ghost if it had been night!

“My Lord, why have you hung yourself on a tree?”

Did I hang myself? It was that reckless lass!

“And how did your face get swollen?”

Still that lass!

Every encounter with the girl spelled trouble for him, his body was soon going to bear no mark of soundness!

He realized, that lass was his nemesis!

“I refuse to recognize her as family anymore—”

—

Gu Jiao bid Gu Yan goodbye, and although he was reluctant to see her go, her promise to return soon for a follow-up examination comforted him.

He accompanied Gu Jiao in his palanquin, and then saw her onto the carriage.

This stunned all the servants again.

You see, Gu Yan’s palanquin was his private territory. Once, Gu Jinyu, who was a child at that time, had been impetuously curious and climbed in, only to be kicked out by Gu Yan.

“You can ride it again next time.” Gu Yan told Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao nodded: “Okay.”

After leaving the villa, Gu Jiao didn’t immediately return to town. Instead, she paid a visit to the Dean Li’s home first.

Dean Li was at the academy, and at home were only Madam Li and the house servants.

Madam Li was seldom lucid and it was said that she sometimes didn’t even recognize Dean Li.

But she seemed to recognize Gu Jiao and gave her a large handful of sweets, smiling sweetly.

Gu Jiao examined her and found that she didn’t have any serious complaints. It was just old age, memory degeneration, and physical debility.

Gu Jiao left a basket of fresh mountain goods and noticed that Madam Li was constantly salivating at a mulberry tree outside the wall. So, Gu Jiao left the compound, planning to pick some mulberries for Madam Li.

But when she approached, she discovered that the mulberry tree didn’t grow wild on the roadside but was rather planted in the neighboring courtyard. It was because the crown of the tree was so tall that it poked above their own wall.

Gu Jiao thought for a moment and knocked on the neighbor’s front door.

“Ahem, who’s there?”

Accompanied by a low cough, the vermilion front door was opened by a graceful lady.

Gu Jiao recognized her in an instant.

She in turn recognized Gui Jiao.

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, gave a weak cough, then a gentle smile emerged: “Miss, it’s you?”

Gu Jiao was startled. She came to pick mulberries, how did she encounter the lady from the temple?

“Madam, do you actually live so far away?” From here to the temple was not too close; the trip could hardly be described as anything other than arduous.

“My surname is Gu,” said Madam Yao gently.

Gu?

Was there a second wealthy Gu family over here? Of course, the answer was no.

Gu Jiao quickly guessed her identity, but since she did not disclose that she was the Marchioness, Gu Jiao also made no mention of it.

Madam Yao led Gu Jiao inside. She had been sunbathing in the courtyard before. There were wicker chairs, tables, and wooden stools.

She pointed at a wooden stool and said, “Sit.”

Gu Jiao sat down and noticed there were no servants in the courtyard.

Madam Yao noticed her curiosity and smiled, “I wanted some solitude so I sent them to the front yard. This is the backyard. Does Miss also live nearby?”

Gu Jiao replied, “I was passing by, saw the mulberries and thought they looked delicious. I wanted to come in and ask permission, I hope I am not disturbing Madam Gu?”

“Not at all,” Madam Yao was very glad to see Gu Jiao, although she herself couldn’t pinpoint why. “I’ll have someone pick them for you.”

Madam Yao had a maidservant pick mulberries for Gu Jiao, and started chatting with Gu Jiao in the courtyard: “I don’t know Miss’s full name.”

“Gu Jiao,” Gu Jiao replied.

Madam Yao smiled in pleasant surprise, “Your surname is also Gu? We were from the same family 500 years ago.”

Gu Yan had said the exact same thing before – like mother, like son.

Madam Yao’s condition was not good. She had barely spoken a few sentences before she began to cough violently.

Gu Jiao watched her pale complexion and hesitated, then said, “Madam Gu, if you don’t mind, can I check your pulse?”

“Does Miss Gu have knowledge of medical arts?”

“A little bit.”

Madam Yao smiled and extended her hand onto the table.

The maidservant came over with a basket full of mulberries and asked for further instructions. Madam Yao beckoned her to leave.

The maidservant gently put the basket of mulberries on the table before retreating.

Her pulse was not very good, but her physical condition was worse than what her pulse suggested.