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After handing the imperial decree to Yu Jin for safekeeping, Xiao Heng went to the adjacent room to accompany Gu Jiao.
Lately, they had been busy with their own separate matters and had very few opportunities to be alone together.
Yu Jin finished handling the imperial decree appropriately and returned to Princess Xinyang's room.
Princess Xinyang finally finished washing up and was sitting in front of the dressing table applying cold cream.
A woman's hands also needed careful care.
"I'll do it." Yu Jin said.
Princess Xinyang handed her the cold cream.
Yu Jin scraped a bit with her fingertips, lifted Princess Xinyang's left hand, and gently applied it to the back of her hand. "Princess, I heard from the Little Marquis earlier that the late Emperor left behind a blank imperial decree. Without that decree, Grand Preceptor Zhuang probably won't be able to stir up any trouble anymore."
Princess Xinyang scoffed, "Humph."
Yu Jin smiled softly, "The Little Marquis is indeed capable."
Princess Xinyang chuckled, "What is he capable of? It was Zhuang Yuheng who stole back the decree. He just sent someone to get Zhuang Yuheng out."
After finishing applying the cold cream, Yu Jin gently massaged Princess Xinyang's hand to help it absorb, "But why would Zhuang Yuheng be willing to steal the decree for the Little Marquis? Hasn't the princess thought about this? Zhuang Yuheng has severed ties with Grand Preceptor Zhuang. With no one in the capital daring to shelter him, only our Little Marquis has the courage."
Princess Xinyang curled her lips.
Yu Jin continued, "Reaching the unreachable and thinking the unthinkable, that's the talent of the Little Marquis. He is a child with vision, strategy, courage, and breadth of mind."
Did Princess Xinyang need someone else to tell her that?
She just liked hearing others praise her son.
Yu Jin smiled and placed Princess Xinyang's tender left hand on her own thigh, then took her right hand next, gently applying the cold cream, "First, Grand Preceptor Zhuang lost the protection of Empress Dowager Zhuang, then he lost Ning Wang as a chip. Now, even the only chance to turn the tide has vanished. I estimate that the Zhuang Family's days are numbered. They are not to be feared. However, the people from the State of Yan are somewhat troublesome. What does the princess plan to do?"
Princess Xinyang pondered for a moment, "I plan to borrow someone else's knife."
Yu Jin was slightly surprised, "Whose knife does the princess want to borrow?"
Princess Xinyang looked coldly at the setting sun outside the window and said, "Another Yan people’s knife."
……
In the adjacent room, Xiao Heng peeled an orange for Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao had been resting quietly for four days.
The wounds on her arms and abdomen were healing well, and the injuries on her wrist and stabbed areas were also recovering nicely.
In another two or three days, the bandages could be completely removed.
Gu Jiao had never rested for such a long time before.
She felt like she was going moldy inside the room, and she seemed to understand Mo Qianxue's frustration a bit.
"I'm fine now, I can go back." Gu Jiao said while sitting on the bed.
"No." Xiao Heng refused flatly, "Physician Song said you need to rest for at least seven days."
In fact, according to reason, it should be a period of ten days to half a month of rest, but both Physician Song and Xiao Heng understood that someone like her couldn't stand being cooped up in the house for so many days.
Furthermore, her injuries were indeed healing faster than ordinary people, hence they reduced it to seven days.
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
Xiao Heng chuckled softly and handed her a few peeled orange slices.
He also knew she was feeling bored.
Therefore, these past couple of days, he had been visiting the yamen less frequently and mostly stayed here with her.
"The matter with Grand Preceptor Zhuang has been settled. It was Zhuang Yuheng who retrieved the item." He said to her to ease her boredom. "Who would have thought that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing would actually have a blank imperial decree from the late Emperor."
"Why didn't she take it out earlier if she had this decree?" Gu Jiao asked.
Xiao Heng continued peeling the remaining orange slices, "I guess either the decree had already fallen into the hands of those Yan people by that time, or it was hidden somewhere and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing only found it shortly before her death, but she didn't have the chance to retrieve it herself, so she left a message for Qin Fengyan to retrieve it. However, Qin Fengyan was intercepted by those Yan people on her way to get the decree, so they seized the decree and used it to negotiate with Qin Fengyan."
"That seems to make a lot of sense." Gu Jiao said and ate a slice of orange, so sweet!
Xiao Heng watched her bulging cheeks, resembling that of a little squirrel foraging for food. He couldn't help but smile, saying, "I'm just guessing, but all of this doesn't matter anymore... Take your time eating."
"Mm."
Although she responded so, she grabbed several more slices and stuffed them into her mouth.
Why did she like oranges so much?
Xiao Heng couldn't help but laugh and handed her the other half of the peeled orange.
She took it and pointed to the oranges on the plate.
Her meaning was very obvious, she wanted more.
Xiao Heng raised an eyebrow, "Is it getting easier for you to boss around your husband?"
Gu Jiao nodded generously, admitting it without hesitation.
Xiao Heng chuckled and peeled another orange for her.
This time, Gu Jiao didn't eat it herself. Instead, she said to him, "You eat too."
"I don't like oranges." Xiao Heng said.
Gu Jiao asked, "Then what do you like to eat?"
Xiao Heng looked at her deeply and said, "Nothing."
He lowered his gaze and continued peeling the orange.
As he peeled, he suddenly felt the light dim, then he realized that Gu Jiao's body was leaning towards him.
His breath caught, his eyelashes trembled.
Gu Jiao tilted her head, reached out her hand, and pinched his chin.
His heart skipped a beat!
"Oh, there's something on your face." Gu Jiao said, looking left and right, and then removing a bit of cotton wool stuck to his cheek.
Xiao Heng blushed awkwardly.
It was... cotton wool?
He thought she was going to——
"Husband, what's wrong with you?" Gu Jiao looked at him and asked.
"N-nothing." Xiao Heng said disappointedly, lowering his gaze.
He put the peeled orange peel on the table and began to pick out the pith.
Gu Jiao curved her lips. Looking at that handsome and bitter face, she leaned forward, and gently kissed him on the corner of his lips.
T/N: Bonus chapter will be posted tomorrow. I had a sudden appointment and can't do extra today. T.TRaz P.'s Thoughts
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