The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 797

Chapter 797: 370 Retribution (Second Update)

Xiao Liulang was not working overtime tonight, so the two of them walked home to Bishui Alley together.

As soon as they arrived at the front door, a small figure slithered out, pounced on Gu Jiao, hugged her leg and called out in a tone tinged with grievance: "Jiaojiao!"

It was Little Jingkong.

He had been away from Jiaojiao for two days and two nights, and he missed her so much that his little heart ached!

Gu Jiao picked up the little guy from her leg: "Did your great-grandma ask you to come back?"

Little Jingkong replied: "I came back on my own accord!"

It was because Empress Dowager Zhuang could no longer tolerate this little chatterbox. Without Gu Jiao by his side, he would chatter non-stop, so much so that even the little turtle raised by the eunuch Qin became depressed.

Having a great-great-grandson was indeed important, but living to see him was even more important.

So, when he suggested leaving the palace again, Empress Dowager Zhuang quickly had Eunuch Qin send him back home.

After saying that, Little Jingkong wrapped his arms around Gu Jiao’s neck and rested his little head on her shoulder: "Jiaojiao, I missed you so much, didn’t you miss me even a little bit?"

Gu Jiao, amused by his antics, nodded with a grin: "Yes, I did."

"I knew it!" The little guy was over the moon, wriggling with joy in Gu Jiao’s arms.

Xiao Liulang watched the small figure who was unabashedly cuddling Gu Jiao, and his handsome face turned darker and darker.

"Jiaojiao, there’s a lantern festival tonight!" Little Jingkong, oblivious to his cranky brother-in-law’s glare, held onto Jiaojiao’s neck and sighed. "I’m so grown up, but I have never seen a lantern festival before!"

The little guy even learned to beat around the bush.

Since neither Gu Jiao nor Xiao Liulang had anything to do tonight and Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were unexpectedly at home as well, the couple decided to take their three younger brothers and two secret guards to the lantern festival after dinner.

The Lantern Festival was held on Chang’an Avenue. All the small stalls along the street, except for the ones at the two ends, were hung full of dazzling lanterns. Some lanterns were for sale, some were prizes for guessing lantern riddles, and some were for making friends, and forming groups to compose poetry.

Looking out, Gu Jiao had only one thought on her mind: it was crowded, extremely crowded!

After living in the Capital City for so long, this was the first time Gu Jiao was so taken aback by the bustle and hustle of this city. Everywhere she looked, there were surging crowds and a dazzling array of lights.

"Oh no! Oh no! I can’t see!" Little Jingkong was too short and was blocked by the people around him, which made him jump anxiously on the spot.

The first secret guard lifted Little Jingkong up and let him sit on his neck.

With an improved line of sight, Little Jingkong widened his eyes in surprise: "Wow!"

The air up here was so fresh!

The first secret guard, with Little Jingkong on his neck, followed closely behind Gu Yan, while the second secret guard followed Gu Xiaoshun.

They were secret guards, not Dragon Shadow Guards. Their line of thinking was simple and they had highly acute judgment and strong teamwork skills. They knew they only needed to watch over the three young boys.

They didn’t need to worry about their masters, since the missus could easily handle ten times her size and was entirely capable of protecting her husband!

"Jiaojiao! Look! A lotus lantern!"

"Jiaojiao! A peach lantern!"

"Jiaojiao! A tiger lantern!"

Little Jingkong would tell Gu Jiao every time he saw a lantern. At first, he got responses from Gu Jiao, but from a certain point, they were separated by the crowd.

Little Jingkong turned around, and Jiaojiao was gone!

"Jiaojiao?"

Just now, at one of the small stalls, they commenced lantern making live. Without using any copper plate for purchase, they would give away lanterns as rewards for solving riddles. This attracted many people to the small stall, and the surging crowd pushed Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang to the side.

When they were about to be separated, both of them instinctively reached out and grabbed each other’s hand.

For Gu Jiao, it was an instinctive act, and for Xiao Liulang too. However, the difference was, Gu Jiao had already made a habit of being good to Xiao Liulang. She was boldly nice, boldly aboveboard, and not at all secretive about it.

But Xiao Liulang always kept himself in check and restrained.

So, grabbing her hand without hesitation was a first for him.

Luckily, Gu Jiao was not very perceptive. If it was someone else, they might have asked him why he was so proactive today.

Gu Jiao did not ask. She just looked at him, her eyes gleaming and corners of her lips curling up a bit: "Don’t worry, I will hold onto you. I won’t lose you."

Xiao Liulang felt a great sense of relief.

Thankfully, she didn’t overthink it.

But the next second, he frowned again.

Why didn’t she overthink it?

Did she not realize he took the initiative to hold her hand? Didn’t she feel that something was amiss?

He took a deep breath, looked at her and said: "You..."

"Huh? There really is a peach lantern."

Gu Jiao noticed a big pink peach lantern ahead and exclaimed. After she finished, she realized that he too had begun to speak. She asked: "What did you just say?"

Xiao Liulang opened his mouth: "... Nothing."

The crowd was getting denser, and the two of them walked hand in hand to the end of Chang’an Street.