Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!

S T E L L A R C L O U D

[Galetron]

O R A N G E S T A R

[Alma S.] [Azurixa] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]

[Lily J.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Anasi G.] [Jwyla C.] [Passerby] [Rose Ky] [Xena]

G O L D S T A R

[Anne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Smurfinbatik]

C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R

[Ava C.] [kuroneko_chan] [Leeyue] [Manon]

[Raquel G.] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes] [Woon Li Ying]

Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)

T/N: I'll be away tomorrow so posting tomorrow's update in advance. :)

........

The matter of Gu Jiao traveling to the State of Yan with Xiao Heng could be hidden from the common people, but not from the Emperor. After all, the Emperor was Xiao Heng’s uncle, and after the wedding, Xiao Heng would still have to bring his wife into the palace to pay their respects.

Gu Jiao could not possibly wear a mask for the rest of her life.

The Emperor had summoned the Gu grandfather and grandson into the palace today precisely to get to the bottom of the affair.

As for the parts concerning Gu Jiao, the two had told the truth——performing surgery on Gu Yan, becoming commander of the Black Wind Cavalry, treating Duke An and being adopted as his daughter, as well as the great battle at the border.

As for the whereabouts of Empress Dowager Zhuang and Old Chief, they had not uttered a single word; the Emperor only knew that one had resigned from office and the other had gone to the imperial villa to recuperate.

The movements of Marquis Xuanping, Tang Yueshan, Old Marquis, and Gu Changqing had likewise been kept largely concealed.

Old Marquis said. “His Majesty was not angry.” Except he had been very much astonished, so much so that even after they had withdrawn from the audience, he was still staring wide-eyed in shock.

Duke An, too, was greatly surprised. “Your Emperor… is truly unlike the others.”

Had it been the Retired Emperor of Great Yan, he would hardly have been so magnanimous, tolerating a general’s granddaughter to go to another nation and command its iron cavalry.

“Our Emperor is a benevolent ruler.” Gu Changqing said with genuine sincerity.

He was not a man of suspicious nature.

In fact, this was a double-edged sword. Toward those he trusted, he could extend boundless tolerance, just as he had once done for Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, and just as he now did for Grandaunt and for Gu Jiao.

“What about Ah Heng’s background?” Gu Jiao asked.

Gu Changqing replied, “Grandfather probed around indirectly, and it seems Princess Xinyang has not told His Majesty the truth; so we said nothing either, only mentioned that he accompanied you to the State of Yan.”

This, after all, was a matter internal to the imperial clan, and as court officials, they were in no position to interfere.

The few of them chatted for a while in the reception hall, and when the grandfather and grandson saw that Duke An had not rested well, they proposed to take their leave.

Gu Jiao had originally planned to take Duke An out for a bit of a stroll, but now she abandoned that idea; instead, she crouched beside his wheelchair, lifted her head to look at his handsome face, and said, “Adoptive father, rest well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow, and when you’re feeling more energetic, we can go for a walk around the capital.”

Duke An smiled with indulgent fondness. “All right.”

The three of them left.

Duke An then instructed the servants to bring him a cane. “To the garden.”

Steward Zheng hurriedly tried to stop him. “Aiya Lord Duke, dear ancestor! You mustn’t tire yourself out like this!”

Everyone assumed that the Duke’s weariness came from the rigors of the journey, and in truth that was not wrong as traveling had indeed been tiring. But Duke An was not afraid of hardship; before dawn he would already be up, practicing walking in the garden without rest.

“I do not want to sit in a wheelchair to see her off at her wedding.” Duke An said with unwavering determination. “I want to stand up and personally escort her to the bridal sedan.”

……

Three people walked out of the Duke Estate.

As for Gu Jiao marrying under the title of the Duke Estate’s daughter, it would be false to say that Old Marquis and Gu Changqing felt no stirrings of concern in their hearts, yet it would also be untrue to claim that they minded overmuch.

Having been through life-and-death trials together, they knew very well what sort of person Gu Jiao was.

She had no intention of clinging to power or currying favor with the mighty.

Moreover, Gu Jiao had grown up in the countryside since childhood, never having eaten even a single grain of rice from the Marquis Estate. It was her own freedom to acknowledge whomever she wished.

To truly bind her with worldly rules was impossible; otherwise she would never have had the audacity to swear brotherhood with Old Marquis in the first place.

She was full of strength, far stronger than anyone might guess from her appearance.

“JiaoJiao, where are you going? I’ll take you.” Gu Changqing asked.

Knowing that his younger sister would not be going to the Marquis Estate, he did not suggest that she come over to visit.

“I’m going into the palace.” Gu Jiao said truthfully.

“Very well, Grandaunt misses you quite a lot. Ride in my carriage then.” Gu Changqing offered.

“Go early and come back early, there’s still matters to do.” Old Marquis instructed in an even tone.

“What matters?” Gu Changqing asked in puzzlement, glancing at his grandfather. They had won a great victory, the Emperor had granted both him and his grandfather an entire month of leave, and as far as he was concerned, he was completely free in the days ahead.

Old Marquis said seriously, “Come with me to Grand Secretary Yuan’s residence.”

At the mention of Grand Secretary Yuan’s residence, Gu Changqing’s expression froze.

He had nearly forgotten that, back when he needed an excuse to “disappear” from the capital, he had staged a play together with the Grand Secretary’s granddaughter.

Gu Jiao, gloating, shot him a sidelong glance, her lips curling slightly as she said, “In that case, you’d better not see me off. No need to keep Young Miss Yuan waiting. I have a carriage; I’ll be off first!”

With that, she climbed into the Duke Estate’s carriage.

Gu Changqing closed his eyes with a pained expression, then turned toward Old Marquis. “Grandfather, I…”

Old Marquis clasped his hands behind his back and strode forward in great, purposeful steps. “Everything is prepared for you. Get in the carriage!”

Through gritted teeth, Gu Changqing said, “Didn’t you already know that my trip to the south to seek the phoenix bird and propose marriage was merely to cover my tracks?”

The arrangement had been that, if he could not find the phoenix bird, he would be too ashamed to seek Young Miss Yuan’s hand. She would be left quietly heartbroken, and would then retire into religious life, never to marry.

“Forget it. Let’s go. There’s no phoenix bird anyway.”

Feeling entirely secure in that knowledge, Gu Changqing boarded the carriage without fear.

The moment he sat down, he saw on the floor two birdcages, and inside each cage was a lively, vigorous phoenix bird in perfect health.

Gu Changqing: “?!”

Old Marquis: Hah, boy, you’re still far too green to try and clash with your grandfather!

……

It was only upon arriving at the imperial palace that Gu Jiao realized she had forgotten to bring the token for Renshou Palace.

The guards at the palace gate were new recruits and had never seen Gu Jiao before.

Gu Jiao was considering asking someone to go inside and announce her arrival when, at that moment, the family carriage came rolling toward her.

“Young miss!”

It was Yu Ya’er’s excited voice.

Gu Jiao lifted the curtain, turned her head, and looked. “Yu Ya’er? Uh… Xiaobao?”

Yu Ya’er stepped down from the carriage, holding Gu Xiaobao in her arms.

Gu Jiao quickly alighted from her own carriage as well. “Why have you two come over here?”

Yu Ya’er smiled and said, “After Xiaobao woke up, he looked for you everywhere. Madame said you would definitely go into the palace, so she asked me to bring Xiaobao in first.”

The little fellow actually knew to come looking for her.

Gu Jiao, pleasantly surprised, reached out and gave Xiaobao’s cheek a gentle pinch.

Gu Xiaobao’s face was cool and aloof.

“What’s this about?” Gu Jiao asked, curving her lips in a faint smile.

Gu Xiaobao twisted his small body away at once, burying his head in Yu Ya’er’s arms to hide.

Yu Ya’er mouthed silently to Gu Jiao, “He’s. An. Grrry.”

Amused, Gu Jiao reached over and plucked the little fellow into her own arms.

Xiaobao struggled twice in a show of great pride, but when he couldn’t break free, he brought up his tiny hands to cover his face.

He simply would not let Gu Jiao look at him.

Gu Jiao was so entertained that she burst into hearty laughter.

She remembered that the first time she had left Little Jing Kong behind to go up the mountain, when she returned home, Little Jing Kong had reacted in exactly the same way.

What had she done back then?

“All right, all right, it’s my fault today. I apologize, will you forgive me?”

“You have to give me a kiss before I can forgive you!”

Gu Jiao nodded with great meaning, and with the ease of experience, planted a kiss on Gu Xiaobao’s cheek.

Yet Gu Xiaobao still didn’t move the little hands that were covering his face.

Gu Jiao said, “Huh? That didn’t work?”

Gu Xiaobao was blushing so hard he could hardly bear it.

To read advance GSPW chapters! Updates 7x a week (daily).

You can read up to 45 advance chapters in our patreon so you should go check it out. ^^

No patreon but want to support us? Then,

OR if you can't support us in money, you can always support us emotionally -just hope into . Hehehe~

--------------------------------------------

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW PROJECT:

Description:

In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.

The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.

From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.

***

Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.

After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"

Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"

Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”

Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.