The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 478 - 243 Toughness (Second Change)

Chapter 478: 243 Toughness (Second Change)

Chapter 478: 243 Toughness (Second Change)

When the news reached the Imperial Palace, the emperor was in the Imperial Study Room discussing a peace negotiation between two nations with several ministers.

Zhan Country and Chen Country had fought quite a few wars, with Zhan Country greatly weakened as a result. The nation’s treasury has been in a state of semi-insolvency for several years now, and Liang Country is so powerful that it pays no mind to Zhan Country at all.

During this peace negotiation, Liang Country’s attitude was unyieldingly strong, leaving absolutely no room for concessions.

The emperor and the elder statesmen were turning grey with worry.

And then, out of nowhere, the prince sent word – Liang Country was willing to make concessions, and the condition was just a child?

“What sort of child?” the emperor asked.

An emissary from Liang Country said, “An orphan. The prince and his wife took a liking to the child and want to adopt him. As a reward, the prince will make concessions during the peace talks.”

“How… much?” asked the Grand Tutor.

The minister from Liang Country smiled and pulled out a list from his wide sleeve.

Eunuch Wei stepped forward to take the list, ensuring it was neither poisoned nor containing any hidden weapons before presenting it to the emperor.

The emperor read it and then passed it to the Grand Tutor and others.

The Grand Tutor, Chancellor Yuan and other senior officials were flabbergasted after reading it.

They couldn’t believe it!

The original negotiation terms were – Liang Country would exchange their limewater mortar technology for Zhan Country’s bellows and sticky rice mortar technologies. Trade would also be opened up on the border of the two countries, with Liang Country’s cheap handicrafts in exchange for Zhan Country’s top-grade silk and tea.

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But now, they had added glass technology. Liang Country’s glass craft was unique and exquisite. It was so valuable that it was beyond the reach of the common people. Only royal households in the Six Kingdoms could afford such a luxury. Plainly speaking, a poor country like Zhan Country couldn’t afford it.

This technology was extremely tempting.

At the very least, it showed the sincerity of Liang Country.

It was rumored that Yan Country had once coveted Liang Country’s glass-making technology, but was refused.

Yan Country was a prestigious kingdom, on par with Liang Country. If Liang Country were to pass on such technology to Zhan Country instead of Yan Country, they might offend the latter once word gets out.

Does the prince know what he’s doing?

Is he behaving so recklessly because he is the biological son of Liang Country’s king?

“Could it be a trick?” one of the senior officials asked.

The emissary from Liang Country scoffed, “My prince is a man of his word. Does he need to play tricks on you?”

Are you all deserving?!

It’s like an elephant wanting to crush an insect. All it has to do is step on it; is it really necessary for it to hop about confusing it, dizzying it, making it lower its guard?

Everyone suddenly understood the logic.

But… all for a child?

Everyone was genuinely baffled by the prince’s puzzling behavior.

The emperor was also perplexed. He did not immediately agree, sensing that something was amiss. He sent the ministers away and kept the emissary from Liang Country for questioning.

“Why would the prince set his sights on an orphan from Zhan Country?” the emperor asked directly.

The emissary from Liang Country wasn’t afraid that the emperor would adopt a ‘lion’s den’ approach once he knew the truth. After all, this emperor of Zhan Country was not easily fooled. He relayed the prince’s words verbatim, “Your Majesty, do you remember the visit by the prince and his wife five years ago?”

The emperor nodded, “I certainly remember.”

The emissary continued, “Back then, the princess was pregnant and stayed in Zhan Country for several months until she had given birth.”

“It was said that the child had died a premature death. I was deeply saddened when I heard about it,” said the emperor, his brows furrowing, “Does this have something to do with that child?”

The emissary from Liang Country smiled, “My prince came across the child by chance and found out that the child didn’t die after all. Someone may have saved him from the coffin. Considering that Zhan Country has taken care of the prince’s son for so many years, my prince has agreed to make concessions in the peace talks as a way of repaying you.”

If that was the case, everything made sense.

The emperor nodded, then quickly asked with a hint of suspicion, “Is it really the prince’s son?”

The emissary from Liang Country said, “Do you think my prince would make such a great sacrifice for a fake son?”

The emperor also felt it unlikely, and asked again, “Where is the child now?”

The emissary from Liang Country laughed, “He was adopted by a young doctor from a medical hall.”

Upon hearing the words ‘medical hall’, a faint sense of unease rose in the emperor’s heart: “Which medical hall? Huichun Hall?”

The emissary laughed, “Ah, no, it’s Miaoshou Hall.”

The emperor’s face changed.

After two classes in the afternoon, Xiao Jingkong was out of school, and Gu Jiao came to pick him up from Guozijian.

Xiao Jingkong thought that Uncle Liu would come to pick him up. He sighed and walked along reluctantly, only to find out that it was Gu Jiao when he got to the door. He felt as though he had missed out on a million!

If only he had run faster! That would have been so much more time spent with Jiaojiao!

“Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao!”

Charging ahead with his short legs, he dashed towards Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao bent down slightly to wipe the sweat off Xiao Jingkong’s forehead with a handkerchief.

The temperature fluctuations were significant recently, very cold in the morning and evening, so they put on a bit more clothes when going out, however, in the afternoon, the intense sun made the child sweat profusely.

Gu Jiao felt his back, well, his inner clothes were thoroughly soaked.

“Did you race again this afternoon?” Gu Jiao asked.

“No, we didn’t race today.” Xiao Jingkong shook his head, “Master taught us to play football.”

“Is it fun?” Gu Jiao asked.

“Very fun!” It was the first time for Xiao Jingkong to play? He found it very novel, “Some people played better than I did, they have played before.”

Xiao Jingkong wasn’t a very competitive child. He was quite used to coming first, and even if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be too upset for long, especially in areas new to him, he was generally open to learning.

This explained why, despite his feuds with Xiao Liulang, he still managed to absorb the knowledge imparted by Xiao Liulang like a sponge.

Gu Jiao took Xiao Jingkong directly to the medical hall.

“Miss Gu, there are patients,” Xiao Sanzi urged Gu Jiao in the courtyard.

Gu Jiao had just found a change of clothes for Xiao Jingkong.

Xiao Jingkong obediently said, “Jiaojiao, you go and get busy, I can change my clothes myself.”

Gu Jiao said, “It might take a while.”

Xiao Jingkong patted his little chest, “No problem, I can take care of myself! After I change my clothes, I’ll do my homework!”

How could a child be so well-behaved?

Gu Jiao grinned knowingly, patting his little head: “Okay, there are some pastries on the table, eat if you’re hungry.”

Xiao Jingkong cutely said, “I’ll wait for Jiaojiao to eat together!”

This child.

Gu Jiao’s heart had been completely melted by him.

Gu Jiao went to the consulting room.

She genuinely thought a patient had come, but it turned out to be Eunuch Wei from the Emperor’s side.

Eunuch Wei already knew of the Emperor’s fall from the horse, but he didn’t know that Gu Jiao had guessed the secret of the Emperor being a patient with a venereal disease from the county town.

Of course, Gu Jiao would not disclose it herself.

Eunuch Wei chuckled awkwardly, “Miss Gu, this old slave has come to confirm something with you.”

Gu Jiao looked at him, “What is it?”

Eunuch Wei laughed dryly, “In your medical hall…are you the only female doctor?”

“Yes.” Gu Jiao nodded.

With a sinking feeling, Eunuch Wei thought, “It’s over, the Emperor’s suspicions were true. This is just what I was afraid of. Why did Prince Yu pick her of all people?”

“Why do you ask?” Gu Jiao was aware of something strange in Eunuch Wei’s expression.

Eunuch Wei sighed in exasperation, “Miss Gu, you…you’re in trouble!”

Eunuch Wei explained the origin of Prince Yu wanting a son from the Emperor to Gu Jiao, there’s no room left to exaggerate, the issue was too big.

Gu Jiao realized suddenly, “Hmm.” So that was why he was so confident, claiming that the whole capital city could not stop her. It was because he was the prince of Liang Country.

Eunuch Wei said solemnly, “The Emperor is actually very helpless. It’s not that he’s tempted by the terms, but because it’s natural for a father and son to acknowledge each other. He can’t stop him from taking his own son back home. Miss Gu, don’t you agree?”

Gu Jiao’s gaze chilled, “Just because he says it’s his son, it is?”

Eunuch Wei replied, “Isn’t it clear?”

With the standing and status of Prince Yu, even if he wanted to pass off a deer as a horse, no one could stop him, not to mention acknowledging a son.

No evidence was needed in such a matter.

The conditions he had offered in the negotiation were the most powerful evidence. From the court officials to the commoners of Zhan Country, likely no one would disbelieve or disagree.

This was the advantage of absolute power.

No matter how powerful an individual is, they’re still an individual, but Prince Yu had an entire powerful country behind him.

Eunuch Wei sighed, “Miss Gu, don’t blame the Emperor. He’s helpless too. He can’t stop a man from taking his own son home.”

“I see.” Gu Jiao nodded silently, stood up without saying another word, and walked out of the consulting room.

Xiao Jingkong had changed into a clean set of regular clothes and was sitting at a small wooden table in the courtyard doing his homework.

His small body was sitting up straight, and he looked incredibly serious.

A box of newly baked pastries was on the table, filling the entire courtyard with a delicious aroma. It was his favorite date and osmanthus cake.

Yet he didn’t eat a single bite, he was waiting for Jiaojiao to eat together.