The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 812

Chapter 812: 377 Mother’s kindness and filial piety (second watch)_2

"The consultation fee isn’t cheap," Gu Jiao declared.

Prince Ning probably hadn’t expected Gu Jiao to react this way, as normally adults would feel so honored to be asked to visit the prince’s mansion for medical treatment, they’d hate to even charge a consultation fee. Caught off guard, he wasn’t sure how to respond.

A moment later, he couldn’t help but say with a chuckle, "That’s only to be expected."

Gu Jiao stated, "When I have time, I’ll send someone to deliver a note to the prince’s mansion."

Prince Ning smiled, "Then that’s settled. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."

After Prince Ning had left, Gu Jiao rose from the swing and made her way to her aunt’s study room.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was reading a document. Upon seeing Gu Jiao enter, she humphed disapprovingly.

This was typical of her aunt, so Gu Jiao didn’t feel she had done anything outrageously wrong. She approached and handed Xue Ningxiang’s letter to her aunt.

"What’s this?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

"A letter from Xue Ningxiang. Do you remember her, auntie?" inquired Gu Jiao.

Empress Dowager Zhuang furrowed her brows in thought.

To remind her, Gu Jiao mentioned, "Doggy’s mother."

Upon hearing about Doggy, Empress Dowager Zhuang remembered—a little baby who, given a sweet, could lick it for an entire day in her courtyard, quiet and easier to manage than little Jingkong!

Then she recalled Xue Ningxiang.

Mainly because Xue Ningxiang cooked delicious meals, and Sixth Son cooked terribly. Whenever Gu Jiao was absent, she would have Xue Ningxiang come over to cook.

"She cooks well," Empress Dowager Zhuang remarked.

"Please read the letter first," Gu Jiao suggested.

Empress Dowager Zhuang read the letter swiftly through. To be honest, Xue Ningxiang’s handwriting was rather ugly. But with Gu Jiao’s "pearls and jade" as a prior example, Empress Dowager Zhuang felt she could just about accept it.

"Oh," Empress Dowager Zhuang raised her eyebrows, "little Xiang Xiang is quite in demand."

Such a reaction was worthy of her aunt.

Gu Jiao took a seat opposite Empress Dowager Zhuang and watched her intently, "Right? So how should we solve this dilemma?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang said nothing but extended her hand in a "give it to me" gesture.

Pretending not to understand, Gu Jiao asked, "What’s that?"

With an icy tone, Empress Dowager Zhuang declared, "Don’t play dumb with me! Make up for yesterday’s performance fee! Otherwise, no deal!"

Just as expected.

"Alright then," Gu Jiao sighed, reluctantly pulling out a box of sweets and counting out five to place in Empress Dowager Zhuang’s hand, her face a portrait of pain, "That’s all there is, not even one left for Jingkong." _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}

Gu Jiao, who knew the entire truth—no, she had not only taken action but had also shot herself in the foot.

Well, let them act on; it wasn’t a bad thing after all.

Having tolerated the Emperor for so many years without knowing he had been drugged, who could say whether her aunt truly harbored no nostalgic feelings of the bond between mother and child?

Gu Jiao chose to keep the truth from her aunt as well.

Thus, her aunt also believed that Empress Jing was restraining herself from acting.

"Are you planning to visit the Imperial Garden today, Mother?" the Emperor asked in an indifferent tone.

Such terrible acting skills!

Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes and, without venturing from Renshou Palace, felt disinclined to play along, "Go? Why not? But—"

She drew out her words, deliberately glancing at Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao caught on immediately.

Candied fruit, of course.

She got the hint!

Perfect timing; Gu Jiao also wanted to observe the effect of the Traditional Chinese Medicine on the Emperor. Madam Nan had mentioned that when a TCM practitioner needed such large doses of a medicinal guide, it meant the medicine’s efficacy was nearly unsustainable.