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Actually, Eunuch Qin didn"t think they looked alike that much. It was just that at a glance, there was something on the left side of both their faces.
Princess Ning"an continued walking, "How did imperial mother become acquainted with Physician Gu?"
Eunuch Qin followed her, "When Empress Dowager Zhuang and Young Miss Gu first met, this old servant was in the palace and wasn"t by Empress Dowager Zhuang"s side. If the princess wants to know the details, the princess has to personally inquire with Empress Dowager Zhuang."
It was true that Eunuch Qin wasn"t present by Empress Dowager Zhuang"s side at that time, but he had learned the ins and outs of the situation from Empress Dowager Zhuang afterwards.
He didn"t tell Princess Ning"an because he felt it wasn"t right for him to disclose this matter.
Princess Ning"an said, "If Physician Gu were to ask Eunuch Qin how imperial mother first met me, would Eunuch Qin also let Physician Gu personally inquire with imperial mother?"
Eunuch Qin choked up.
Princess Ning"an smiled faintly, "I"m just joking."
"Ah." Eunuch Qin secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking, Your joke is a bit too much.
Princess Ning"an added, "Would Young Miss Gu pretend to be me to make imperial mother happy?"
Eunuch Qin choked up again.
He smiled and said, "Your Highness is a n.o.ble imperial princess, how could Young Miss Gu truly resemble you? She can"t pretend to be the princess, even if she wanted to!"
Princess Ning"an whispered, "It seems not. I thought imperial mother favored her a lot because she saw my past self in her."
Eunuch Qin: Princess, please don"t share everything in your heart with this old servant. It puts a lot of pressure on this old servant.
Fortunately, on the rest of the journey, Princess Ning"an didn"t say anything that Eunuch Qin couldn"t handle.
Eunuch Qin escorted Princess Ning"an to Empress Dowager Zhuang"s bedchamber.
Little Jing Kong was a child who couldn"t sit still. He only stayed in Grandaunt"s bedchamber for a short while before running off.
The bedchamber was unusually quiet at this moment.
Eunuch Qin pushed open the slightly ajar door, and a young palace maid walked out quietly. She greeted the two people with a bow and whispered, "Princess, Eunuch Qin, Empress Dowager Zhuang has retired for the night."
Princess Ning"an asked anxiously, "So early? Is imperial mother not feeling well?"
The young palace maid shook her head, "Physician Gu just checked Empress Dowager Zhuang"s pulse, and it"s nothing serious. Empress Dowager Zhuang is just a bit tired."
Princess Ning"an"s expression eased, nodding, "Let imperial mother rest well. I won"t go in and disturb her. I"ll come back tomorrow."
The young palace maid curtsied and said, "Safe travels, princess."
Princess Ning"an turned and left the Renshou Palace. On the other side, after finishing the swing, Gu Jiao headed to the bedchamber to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Princess Ning"an turned around to look back, only to see Gu Jiao entering Empress Dowager Zhuang"s bedchamber as if it was an empty room.
There was no announcement, no obstruction.
Eunuch Qin looked at Princess Ning"an and then at Gu Jiao, who entered the bedchamber just like that. He felt awkward for a moment.
He didn"t know how to explain that he absolutely did not treat the two masters differently. Empress Dowager Zhuang simply didn"t restrain Young Miss Gu with the palace rules. Here, Young Miss Gu was just like how she was in Bishui Alley.
When Empress Dowager Zhuang was with Young Miss Gu, she wasn"t the powerful Empress Dowager Zhuang, but Grandaunt of Bishui Alley.
Unlike when he first met Ning"an, where Ning"an was an imperial princess, and she was an Empress. Rules were established from the very beginning.
Princess Ning"an muttered, "It seems imperial mother really cares a lot about Physician Gu."
Eunuch Qin quickly said, "Empress Dowager Zhuang cares most about you, princess. You follow the rules. Physician Gu grew up in the countryside and doesn"t quite understand the palace rules. Empress Dowager Zhuang is getting older and doesn"t like to argue with the young."
Princess Ning"an smiled faintly, "Eunuch Qin, no need to rush to explain. I won"t make things difficult for her."
Eunuch Qin chuckled, "Of course, of course. Your Highness is an imperial princess, you are magnanimous, and you won"t argue with a young girl."
Princess Ning"an nodded, "Eunuch Qin, please stay."
Eunuch Qin bowed, "Safe travels, princess!"
After Princess Ning"an disappeared into the night, Eunuch Qin returned to his little pond where he raised his turtles.
One could say that Empress Dowager Zhuang had treated him quite well, she even had a pond dug specifically for him to raise turtles.
In the palace, it was hard to trust anyone’s mouth, so whatever was on his mind, he only shared with this pond of little turtles.
He patted the closest turtle, sighing, "Why do I feel like the princess is a bit jealous of Young Miss Gu?"
He pointed to the turtle in his left hand, "Young Miss Gu."
And then the turtle in his right hand, "Princess Ning"an."
Both were little masters he swore loyalty to. He had to treat them equally, without favoring either one.
He looked at the turtle in his right hand, "You are someone I"ve watched grow up since childhood. I even changed your clothes for you when you used to wet yourself."
Then he turned to the turtle in his left hand, "Empress Dowager Zhuang"s life was saved by you. With you by Empress Dowager Zhuang"s side, she doesn"t have to work so hard. You take care of everything for Empress Dowager Zhuang."
Then he looked back at the turtle in his right hand, "From childhood to now, Empress Dowager Zhuang has always loved you the most, not letting you suffer any grievances."
He turned to the turtle in his left hand again, "Thank you for taking such good care of Empress Dowager Zhuang, allowing her to have someone to rely on."
Ah, as a loyal servant, he should be more loyal to Princess Ning"an, whom he raised since childhood.
But why did he favor this turtle in his left hand more?
……
"JiaoJiao!" On the way back in the carriage, Little Jing Kong obediently sat next to Gu Jiao and pulled her hand.
"Aren"t you sleepy?" Gu Jiao held his little hand.
Little Jing Kong shook his head vigorously.
Gu Jiao hummed, "It"s strange. You didn"t take a nap today, and you"re not sleepy. Were you scared by the puppy?"
"No." The puppy was indeed pitiful, but Little Jing Kong wasn"t an easily frightened child. He opened his big round eyes, blinked his long eyelashes, and pointed to the broken branches on the roadside, "JiaoJiao, do those tree branches hurt a lot?"
Gu Jiao thought for a moment, "Maybe they feel pain, but in spring, their branches can grow back."
"Then… What about flowers?" Little Jing Kong asked again. "If the flowers are picked, can they grow back?"
"Yes." Gu Jiao nodded.
Little Jing Kong stuck his little head out and swayed it, "Then what about my little head? Can it grow back like tree branches?"
Gu Jiao"s delicate body trembled, "Don’t do that!"
"Oh." Little Jing Kong sat up straight again, shaking his little short legs. "What about legs, JiaoJiao? If there are no legs, can they grow out like branches?"
Gu Jiao stroked his small head, regretful but had to tell him cruelly, "No, it can"t grow back."
Little Jing Kong bowed his head and uttered, "Oh.”
He asked these questions only after meeting Huangfu Xian. It wasn"t just random.
His Jing Kong was the warmest child in the world.
Gu Jiao rubbed his little head, "Although it can"t grow back, one can stand up again with external help."
A gleam of light returned to Little Jing Kong"s dim eyes, "Really? Can one really stand up again?"
Gu Jiao smiled gently, "Yes, as long as they work hard."Raz P."s Thoughts
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