The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1994

Chapter 1994: Chapter 997: New Year’s Eve Reunion (Jingkong Extra)

Xiao Hen stayed inside the room for a full two quarter-hours before coming out.

Earlier, he had intentionally given Gu Jiao an excuse to leave. It wasn’t that Gu Jiao truly wanted to look at the door couplets.

As expected, he went next door and Gu Jiao sat there motionless.

The way she sat there so quietly made one’s heart ache.

Gu Jiao heard the sound of him pushing the door open and got up to look at him. Her tone was calm, but her eyes carried worry: "How is Jing Kong?"

Xiao Hen entered the room and placed the empty bottle of wound medicine on the table.

The answer was already clear.

With such a large bottle, their whole family couldn’t use it up in a year, which showed how many injuries Jing Kong had on his body.

Gu Jiao silently pressed her forehead against his firm chest.

He raised his long, jade-like hand and gently rubbed her head.

Whenever she was down, he would always comfort her this way.

Xiao Hen softly said, "Don’t be too sad. I looked carefully, and all the wounds have healed."

At this moment, he was able to calmly explain to her, but earlier in the room, he was almost unable to hold it together several times.

Fortunately, Jiaojiao didn’t see him in such a sorry state, or he would have no face to meet anyone later.

She spoke softly, "When he had chickenpox before, I didn’t want him to have a single small pockmark, so I wrapped his little hand up. He sneaked out to scratch, and Gu Changqing caught him red-handed."

Now, with so many scars on his body, her heart must ache terribly.

"Also, he would tell me even if he hurt his finger smashing walnuts."

Xiao Hen didn’t know how to comfort her.

Boys are like that; when young, they cling to their mothers, but as they slowly grow up, some things and words only their fathers can know.

Perhaps, that’s the price of growing up.

It’s the child’s way of protecting his mother, I suppose.

...

Dinner was set at Shangguan Yun’s place.

Because Xiao Cong had just vomited and hadn’t yet recovered, someone needed to hold him. Since Xiao Hen was already holding Xiao Yang and Little Xiao Xuan, Gu Jiao went to hold Xiao Cong.

But how could Xuanyuan Xi let Jiaojiao tire herself out?

Carrying the child was definitely his job!

Xuanyuan Xi decisively took Xiao Cong again.

Xiao Cong sat in his arms with a sullen face: Uncle, could you be a person?!

Tonight was the New Year’s Eve dinner. Duke An was invited to the Imperial Palace, and Geng Wuxiu also came.

Geng Wuxiu found it puzzling why the palace always called him or his brother for the New Year’s Eve dinner every year?

But since the food cooked by the royal chef was delicious, he was happy to come.

Xuanyuan Qi, Liao Chen, and the Taoist priest Qingfeng were all stationed at the border pass and couldn’t return to the capital.

During dinner, Xuanyuan Xi finally learned about his being granted a marquisate. To be honest, he wasn’t very keen on official titles. He went to war not for official status, but if it meant he could show off to his bad brother-in-law, it would be delightful!

He picked up some greens with his chopsticks and spoke in a pretentious tone, "Ah, some people become top scholars at nineteen, but some are already marquis at thirteen!"

Apart from Xiao Yang and Little Xiao Xuan, everyone else at the table twitched their mouth corners. Familiar recipe, familiar taste—the boastful little monk is back.

But what kind of humblebrag is this?

Top scholar at nineteen? How would other top scholars feel?

Also, should you be reminded that your bad brother-in-law became a young Jinjiao of the Guozijian at thirteen?

The pinnacle of both civil and military domains has been taken down by you two.

Xuanyuan Xi raised his chin and snorted, "I don’t care; anyway, I’m better than the bad brother-in-law!"

Xiao Hen picked up a piece of fish with the bones removed and placed it in his bowl, "Just eat your food."

Since he was ten, Xuanyuan Xi gradually became less averse to meat; initially, he could only drink a bit of meat broth, but he gradually began to eat small fish and shrimp, and now he can eat a bit of lean meat.

Just not too much.

Xuanyuan Xi hummed as he began eating happily.

At this moment, he was just a carefree child again.

New Year’s Eve is also the birthday of Xiao Hen and Xuanyuan Xi; the Imperial Kitchen made Longevity Noodles for the two of them, and Xuanyuan Xi slurped it all up in one go.

He was never hungry at home, but on the battlefield, he often went hungry, which made everything taste especially good to him afterward.

The adults around the table watching him couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry.

Duke An chuckled to lighten the mood: "Almost forgot about the gifts."

Xuanyuan Xi lifted his head from the bowl, "Oh, there’s a gift? For me?"

Duke An smiled, "Both you and Ahen have one."

The gifts for Xiao Hen were mostly books, antiques, and paintings, whereas the gifts for Xuanyuan Xi were a wide variety.

Gu Jiao gifted him a newly made nine-section whip, even designed with hidden weapons by Gu Xiaoshun. It could be used for attack, defense, and sneak attacks.

Xuanyuan Xi went outside to swing it a few times on the spot. The weight and length were just right, and the agility was perfect. He really liked it.

He tucked the whip at his waist, returned to his seat, and asked Xiao Hen, "Brother-in-law, what gift did you get for me?"

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