The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1532 - 743 National Master Makes a Move_3

Gu Jiao couldn’t carefully examine their injuries at night, and it wasn’t until they were on the carriage that she discovered varying degrees of bruises and scrapes on them, all from knocks and falls along the way.

Xiao Hen had already been waiting at the entrance of the National Master Hall for quite some time.

Gu Changqing and Gu Jiao got off the carriage, holding the children in their arms.

Xiao Hen briskly walked over, and seeing the pitiable state of the two little ones, his gaze grew cold.

He turned to Gu Jiao and Gu Changqing, "You’re both alright?"

"We’re fine."

This trip, Gu Changqing and she indeed had no serious trouble, it was only the two little ones who had suffered greatly.

"Let me." Xiao Hen reached out to take the child, Little Jingkong, from Gu Changqing’s arms.

Little Jingkong, in a rare move, did not protest, though he had a grim expression on his face, his body was honest.

He obediently nestled into Xiao Hen’s arms, breathing in the scent of his body.

Having joined the family since he was three and a half, over the course of two years, he not only deeply relied on Gu Jiao but also on Xiao Hen from the bottom of his heart.

Just like a child who loves their mother the most, but also doesn’t want to go without their father.

Xiao Hen looked down at the little guy resting against his chest, "Scared, weren’t you?"

He didn’t even have the energy to be mischievous.

"Not at all," Little Jingkong snorted through his nose, "I’m just tired."

If he could still argue back, he should be alright.

Xiao Hen couldn’t help but smile, "Alright, you’re tired, so you can rest today."

"No homework."

"Fine."

"And I want candy."

"That can be arranged."

Little Jingkong’s eyes, dark as grapes, swiveled around.

Seizing the rare moment of his brother-in-law being so understanding, he decided to bargain for some small benefits for himself.

Xiao Hen could easily see through his little tricks, and pinched his cheek, warning, "Moderation is key, otherwise I’ll take back those concessions, too."

Little Jingkong’s face darkened in a second.

True to form, the bad brother-in-law!

Suppressing the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, Xiao Hen said to Gu Jiao, "I’ll take Jingkong for a bath first. If anyone asks, I’ll say he bravely stepped forward to save my little aunt, and I need to keep this little benefactor at the National Master Hall for a few days."

It was a good excuse.

"There’s one thing I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Shouldn’t it be ’little aunt’?" Gu Jiao asked.

With a light smile, Xiao Hen explained, "The imperial Changsun family’s surname is Shangguan. According to the customs of the Dayan royal family, those with the same surname address each other as ’aunt’."

Gu Jiao suddenly realized, "Oh, that’s how it is. Then I’ll take the Little Princess back to the palace first."

Xiao Hen, watching the Little Princess clinging to Gu Jiao’s neck, refusing to let go, said, "No need, the ruler is on his way here."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

The ruler had heard that the Little Princess was sent back to the palace but had been waiting in vain for her appearance, so he decided to come to the National Master Hall to inquire about the situation.

Upon learning that the Little Princess was at the Qilin Hall, he rushed over without a second thought.

"Your Majesty, please slow down!" Zhang Dequan could hardly keep up!

Does Your Majesty think you’re still young at your age?

Are you not afraid of falling over?

"Xiaoxue!"

The ruler’s voice reached the hall before he did.

The Little Princess lifted her head from Gu Jiao’s embrace, gazing eagerly towards the entrance.

The moment the ruler rushed in, the Little Princess burst into tears, crying, "Waaah—Uncle Emperor... bad people captured me..."

Gu Changqing couldn’t show his face, so after he dropped off Gu Jiao, he left.

In the chamber next to Shangguan Yun, aside from the Little Princess, there were only Gu Jiao, Xiao Hen, and Little Jingkong. novelbuddy.cσ๓

The sovereign gazed at the two disheveled children and, in an instant, his dragon-like visage was filled with rage!

Gu Jiao had no qualms about fanning the flames, "This morning, the Little Princess had an asthma attack once, and it was very critical."

The sovereign looked at the Little Princess who was crying so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath.

The Little Princess cried intermittently, nodding, "Can’t breathe... so uncomfortable..."

The sovereign asked with concern, "Are you still having difficulty breathing now?"

The Little Princess sobbed and shook her head, "Not now... Teacher gave me medicine..."

The sovereign had Zhang Dequan take the two children to the next room for something to eat.

He then turned to Gu Jiao, who also looked somewhat disheveled, and said somberly, "Was it you who found the Little Princess?"

Gu Jiao replied straightforwardly, "Yes."

The sovereign asked with suspicion, "How did you find her?"

Do you suspect me of guarding myself against thievery?

Gu Jiao said, "I have an eagle, it found her."

The sovereign was somewhat dubious, "Your eagle can also search for people?"

"Trained to do so," said Gu Jiao.

As if.

Gu Jiao thought to herself.

"I’ve seen that eagle," Xiao Hen stated, "The two children have also seen it, the eagle recognizes them."

The sovereign’s trust in Shangguan Qing was quite high, so he didn’t dwell on this matter anymore. Instead, he asked Gu Jiao, "Where is the person who kidnapped the Little Princess?"

"Didn’t see anyone," Xiao Hen cut in before anyone else could speak.

Gu Jiao unflinchingly said, "Right, saw no one. The two children escaped into the woods from where they were being held, and I found them in the woods."

"I understand," said the sovereign.

The sovereign went to the next room to question Little Jingkong and the Little Princess.

Being just four years old, the Little Princess could provide only limited clues; she only remembered being captured over and over, failing to recall the faces of those people.

Little Jingkong remembered the faces of the peddlers and the men in black, as well as the looks of the Dong Family’s head and others; but Xiao Hen had earlier warned him to pretend he didn’t remember or didn’t see clearly.

Zhang Dequan said, "Your Majesty, the children are young, and they have been through such a scare. It’s normal for them not to remember."

The sovereign left the Qilin Palace with a dark expression.

Watching the sovereign’s retreating figure, Gu Jiao asked Xiao Hen, "Why should Jingkong and I say nothing?"

Xiao Hen took her hand and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "Because even if we did speak, there isn’t enough evidence, and who knows if the major families would band together to bite back against us."

Gu Jiao asked, "So we’re just going to let it go?"

Xiao Hen adjusted her hair at her temples, "No. The Little Princess has suffered so much this time and almost lost her life; the sovereign won’t let this go so easily. Those who play games behind the scenes will soon realize they have overestimated their abilities."

...

In the Book Pavilion, on the third floor.

The sovereign sat opposite the National Master, having tea.

The National Master poured tea for himself and the sovereign, "Are you truly determined to do this, Your Majesty?"

The sovereign said with conviction, "Indeed."

The National Master gave a faint smile, took a sip from his teacup, and said, "It was agreed upon at the outset that National Master Hall would not interfere in court affairs, not engage in struggles for power, and not meddle in family matters of the elite."

The sovereign spoke earnestly, "I... am not commanding you as the ruler of a country, but am asking you as an old friend to help with this matter."

The National Master paused in his tea-drinking, "Ye Qing."

Ye Qing stepped forward, bowed with hands clasped and said, "Your disciple is here."

The National Master asked, "What hour is it now?"

Ye Qing answered respectfully, "The hour of noon has just passed."

The National Master stated indifferently, "By the hour of You, I want to meet with the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the Little Princess."

Ye Qing’s expression turned solemn, "This disciple understands and will comply!"