The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 836

Chapter 836: 386 The truth comes to light (second update)_2

It was none other than the Prince of Ning, who had once traveled to Jiangnan with the Emperor.

The Emperor had worn this very bamboo hat at the time.

The Prince of Ning surely couldn’t fail to recognize his own imperial father. He gently closed the window, leaving only a narrow crack, puzzled, "What’s going on? Why would Father come to such a place?"

"Could it be to catch the Crown Prince?" the guard suggested.

The Crown Prince was not as meticulous as the Prince of Ning, so it was within reason for the Emperor to notice his actions.

The Prince of Ning slightly shook his head, "No, Father has gone to see that pharmacist from Yan Country."

The guard inquired, baffled, "Why would His Majesty seek out a pharmacist from Yan Country? Is His Majesty not feeling well?"

Speaking of this, the Prince of Ning remembered something; his father had met a Taoist priest on the way back to the palace who claimed he could concoct the Immortal Pill that grants everlasting life. His father was so set on attaining immortality that he hadn’t set foot in the Imperial Harem for two years.

He had investigated the Taoist priest and found his background suspicious. Just as he was pondering how to advise his father to stay away from the priest, the Emperor had suddenly dismissed the priest from the palace.

As if the quest for everlasting life was just a joke, or perhaps merely a whim of the Emperor’s.

The Prince of Ning was unaware that the Emperor had suffered from venereal disease and could not guess that the Emperor had sent the priest away simply because his illness had been cured and he no longer needed the pretext of seeking immortality.

In the end, the Emperor did not meet with the pharmacist from Yan Country. He was one step too late; the pharmacist had left the city to gather herbs.

As for when he would return, there was no certainty—perhaps three to five days, or as long as ten to fifteen days.

The Emperor, anxious to verify the truth, could not wait that long.

He thought of someone else.

...

Gu Jiao had been pretending to be a patient at the Medical Hall for a while, thinking that the Emperor would not come again. She removed her bandages and rode in Xiao Sansi’s carriage back to Bishui Alley.

She had just entered the house when the Emperor arrived on her heels.

With no time to even dry her half-sunned herbs, she dashed back into her own room!

Her movements so swift, Yao Family, who was watering the vegetable garden, didn’t even have time to react.

The Emperor entered the courtyard.