The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1594

Chapter 1594: 769 Take Back Everything (first update)

Xiao Hen and Second Master Jing had just returned all the books to the Qilin Palace when Duke An’s conversation with Gu Jiao was nearly at its end.

Second Lady had recently fallen ill today, so Second Master Jing needed to leave early and, pushing his elder brother’s wheelchair, bid farewell to Xiao Hen and Gu Jiao.

In the corridor, Xiao Hen watched the two brothers depart and remarked, "Though they are not born of the same mother, their relationship as brothers is still quite good."

Second Master Jing wasn’t very astute, and his wife was gentle and virtuous. For Duke An to have such a brother and sister-in-law was indeed fortunate.

Of course, it was also lucky for the young couple to have a magnanimous brother like Duke An.

A united family is, in fact, more precious than any wealth or honor.

Seeing that Gu Jiao remained silent, Xiao Hen stepped into the room only to find Gu Jiao sitting in her wheelchair, quietly staring into the Courtyard, lost in thought.

Xiao Hen took an orange from the fruit tray on the table and sat down on the stool beside her.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked while peeling the orange.

"I am wondering who I actually am," Gu Jiao replied.

Xiao Hen already knew that Gu Jiao was no longer the former Miss Gu; she came from a very distant place, but she had never had such doubts before.

"Why do you suddenly ask this? Did the National Master say something to you?" he inquired.

She had been slightly off ever since she returned from seeing the National Master and then wanted to speak with Duke An alone.

Combining her question with her earlier demeanor, Xiao Hen speculated that the National Master might have spoken to her about something related to her origins.

Gu Jiao remained silent.

Xiao Hen didn’t press her; he smiled, handed her the peeled orange, and said, "In fact, who you once were doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you are you."

Gu Jiao looked surprised: "I, am myself?"

"Yes." Xiao Hen gazed at her earnestly, his gaze laden with gravity and trust, "Names, identities, appearances, shells... they’re all illusory."

As he spoke, his long, jade-like fingers gently tapped her forehead, "It’s here that is the unique truth."

Gu Jiao looked at him oddly: "You’re starting to sound like an enlightened monk. If I think carefully, it even has a bit of Zen to it."

Xiao Hen sighed: "Alas, what can I do when there’s a little Monk in the house? It’s like the saying, ’One takes on the color of one’s company.’"

Gu Jiao was amused by his comment and nibbled on a segment of the orange.

"Is it tasty?" Xiao Hen asked.

Gu Jiao nodded: "It’s delicious."

Xiao Hen understood there was something else on her mind.

She wasn’t one to beat around the bush. If she was taking time to measure her words, it must have been something significant.

He showed no impatience, did not hurry her, and didn’t walk away, simply keeping her company in silence.

Just as she had once been by his side when he was struggling to see the light of day again.

The trust and understanding between them had long since needed no words.

After Gu Jiao finished the last segment of the orange, Xiao Hen considerately passed her a clean handkerchief.

She took it and wiped her fingers, then said, "There is one more thing I need to tell you, and it’s actually the main point of what I wanted to discuss."

In such a solemn situation, most people would subconsciously create some distance.

Xiao Hen, however, did not do so. Instead, he moved his stool closer to her and, looking at her delicate profile, said, "Good, I’m all ears."

Gu Jiao glanced at him and spoke, "It isn’t good news, you don’t have to listen earnestly."

Xiao Hen smiled: "I still want to listen."

Gu Jiao paused, then asked, "Are you fully aware of the crimes the Xuanyuan Family was charged with years ago?"

Xiao Hen nodded: "I saw the Xuanyuan Family’s file in the Book Pavilion. It listed numerous severe accusations—colluding with Dajin, treachery, ceding frontier cities, harming the loyal and good, embezzling disaster relief funds, fabricating a Dragon Robe, starting a rebellion... The ’sins’ of the Xuanyuan Family are too numerous to record."

Gu Jiao stated, "What I’m about to tell you has to do with the Xuanyuan Family."

Xiao Hen looked at her kindly, signaling for her to feel at ease and continue.

Gu Jiao spoke seriously, "I want to exonerate the Xuanyuan Family, I want to bring down the sovereign of Dayan Country."

This wasn’t a decision she made only after learning about Jing Yinyin’s background; it was a seed that had sprouted in her heart long ago.

She said to Xiao Hen, "You don’t have to join in. The sovereign of Dayan has no intention of harming you. Even if you are exposed, you are still his true eldest grandson, and he will not hurt you, nor will he harm Shangguan Yun again. Your real enemies are only the Crown Prince and those coveting the throne."

Those people were much easier to deal with than the sovereign, a formidable enemy indeed.

Overthrowing his royal power was something even the once mighty Xuanyuan Family with their millions of soldiers couldn’t achieve.

It was exceedingly difficult for Gu Jiao to confront him.

It was a task almost surely doomed to failure, and Gu Jiao could face her own death, but she didn’t want to drag Xiao Hen into it.

"Haven’t we always been doing this?" Xiao Hen held her hand and looked deep into her slightly surprised eyes, "Sending the little Monk back home isn’t just your wish alone."