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Ning w.a.n.g not targeting Xiao Liulang didn’t mean he wouldn’t go after Xiao Heng.
The Crown Princess used to be engaged to Xiao Heng. The two of them grew up as childhood sweethearts. If Ning w.a.n.g misunderstood that the Crown Princess still held feelings for Xiao Heng, given his twisted nature, there was a high chance he might kill Xiao Heng.
Wait.
Kill Xiao Heng?
Something flashed through Gu Jiao"s mind, but it was too fleeting to grasp.
"Physician Gu, did something come to mind?" Yuan Tang interrupted Gu Jiao"s train of thought.
"I thought of something."
"Oh no! It"s on fire, it"s on fire!" The cry of a little medicine boy came from the lobby.
Gu Jiao stood up. Yuan Tang was closer to the door. He immediately opened the door of the consultation room and went out.
The medicine boy accidentally dropped a match into a container of medicinal liquor, causing the entire container to catch fire.
Seeing this, Yuan Tang quickly approached, picked up the burning container, and carried it to the open s.p.a.ce in the backyard.
Witnessing this scene, a spark of insight illuminated Gu Jiao"s mind. She had finally caught what had slipped away earlier.
That’s right.
Fire.
The fire from four years ago!
Could it be that the fire back then wasn"t set by Princess Xinyang? Was it actually the work of Ning w.a.n.g?
Perhaps there was some misunderstanding that led Xiao Liulang to believe otherwise?
If it was indeed Ning w.a.n.g"s doing, then this situation was grave.
This time, when he abducted Xiao Liulang, it wasn"t just to show his power and give her a warning. He genuinely intended to take Xiao Liulang"s life.
She originally planned to cut this pot of leeks slowly. But he actually dared to touch her husband!
Gu Jiao didn"t have concrete evidence from four years ago. However, it didn"t matter anymore. Even if they didn"t consider the old debt from four years ago, just this recent incident alone made him unforgivable.
In the afternoon, Gu Jiao visited the palace.
Ning w.a.n.g was a highly regarded imperial prince in the eyes of the Emperor. He worked in the Ministry of Personnel and was occasionally summoned by the Emperor to the imperial study or Huaqing Palace. Recently, due to the search for Xiao Liulang, the Emperor had been summoning both him and the Crown Prince almost daily to inquire about their progress.
Although Gu Jiao wasn"t in the palace, she had close connections with Renshou Palace and had heard some things from Eunuch Qin"s mouth.
Upon entering the palace, Gu Jiao asked one of the guards on duty, "Has His Highness Ning w.a.n.g entered the palace?"
Recognizing her and knowing that she was greatly favored by Empress Dowager Zhuang and His Majesty, the guard was eager to provide information. Besides, it wasn"t a secret either, "His Highness has entered the palace."
Gu Jiao followed up, "Did he go to the imperial study or Huaqing Palace?"
The guard responded, "His Highness headed in the direction of Huaqing Palace."
"Thank you." Gu Jiao expressed her grat.i.tude before turning and making her way to Huaqing Palace.
Unlike in Renshou Palace where Gu Jiao could enter just by showing her face, in Huaqing Palace, she still needed to be announced. However, in a short while, Eunuch Wei hurried over and escorted Gu Jiao inside.
Eunuch Wei asked, "Young Miss Gu, what brings you here? Are you here to inquire about Lord Xiao"s situation?"
Gu Jiao had only shared the information about Xiao Liulang"s rescue with her Grandaunt and hadn"t informed the Emperor. Therefore, Eunuch Wei wasn"t aware either.
Gu Jiao nodded her head, "Yes, I"m here to inquire about the situation."
Eunuch Wei suggested, "Perfect timing. His Highness Ning w.a.n.g is here as well. You can ask him if he has found any leads."
Leads were impossible. Xiao Liulang was already back home.
Gu Jiao met with the Emperor and Ning w.a.n.g, and perfunctorily inquired about the progress of the case.
As expected, there was no progress at all.
The Emperor was visibly anxious, "It"s been so long without any news. Could it be that he..."
Gu Jiao watched Ning w.a.n.g"s expression closely. There was an air of genuine concern on his face, without a hint of schadenfreude.
Understandable.
If he didn’t know how to hide himself deeply, he wouldn"t have managed to maintain an illicit relationship with the Crown Princess for so long without anyone discovering.
The Emperor closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, "Increase the manpower. Regardless of the situation, we must find him alive or at least his body!"
Ning w.a.n.g made a respectful bow, "Understood! This son obeys!"
The Emperor sighed once again, "Zhen will also a.s.sign a few more people to a.s.sist you. Please bear with the extra workload in these days... Zhen hopes to find Xiao Liulang as soon as possible."
"Son will go search immediately!" Ning w.a.n.g said, then bowed and left the study of Huaqing Palace.
Gu Jiao pondered for a moment before saying, "Your Highness Ning w.a.n.g, would you mind if I leave the palace with you?"
Ning w.a.n.g blinked in surprise and then nodded, "Of course not, Physician Gu, please."
"Your Majesty, I"m taking my leave." Gu Jiao bid farewell to the Emperor.
The Emperor"s mind was currently preoccupied with Xiao Liulang"s safety, so he didn"t keep Gu Jiao in Huaqing Palace for a meal.
Gu Jiao left the palace with Ning w.a.n.g.
Along the way, they exchanged a few casual words, showing no signs of any prior conflicts.
Before getting on the carriage, Ning w.a.n.g smiled and said, "Physician Gu, if we can maintain this kind of harmony between us, we can consider the past as if it never happened."
Gu Jiao didn"t respond to his words. Instead, she asked, "I didn"t come here by carriage today. Could you give me a ride part of the way?"
"Of course." Ning w.a.n.g made a gracious gesture, indicating for Gu Jiao to board the carriage.
Gu Jiao got onto the carriage, and Ning w.a.n.g followed suit.
They maintained a polite and courteous distance between them.
Gu Jiao turned serious and said, "There are some things I want to discuss privately with Your Highness."
Ning w.a.n.g looked deeply into her eyes, gave an understanding smile, and instructed, "All of you, stop first. Don"t follow us."
The guards halted.
The carriage continued for a while.
Ning w.a.n.g asked, "Are you ready to speak now?"
Speak my a.s.s!
In an instant, Gu Jiao stood up, swiftly grabbing her big gunny sack and covering Ning w.a.n.g with it!Raz P."s Thoughts
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