Chapter 122: 99 Truth (Second update)_2
The Prime Minister's Darling
The news quickly spread to the Yao family as well.
Madam Yao had already moved back to Gu Yanâs courtyard, having awoken shortly after Gu Yan had left.
Indeed, she hadnât managed to keep an eye on her son, and Madam Yao shook her head in resignation.
Her insistence on not letting her son leave wasnât solely out of concern for his physical health. She also worried whether her daughter had fully come to terms with her own origins, and whether her sonâs hasty visit might unsettle her.
When she learned that Gu Yan had decided to stay in her daughterâs village, oddly enough, Madam Yao was relieved.
If her daughter was willing to accept Gu Yanâs presence, it meant she didnât feel intruded upon and might have already accepted her true identity.
However, Room Lady worried: âMadam, the conditions in the village are quite poor. How could the young master, who is used to a life of riches and comforts, adapt to living there?â
Room Lady could be somewhat obstinate and annoying in her ways, but her loyalty to Madam Yao and Gu Yan was genuine. As for Gu Jiao, Room Lady didnât really hold her in high regard at the moment.
Madam Yao smiled and said, âJiaojiao will take good care of him.â
Room Lady retorted, âHe wonât get used to the food.â
Gently Madam Yao replied, âJiaojiao is a doctor, she knows more than we do about what Yanyan can and cannot eat. Moreover, Iâm sure he would enjoy anything she makes.â
Room Lady was skeptical: âSheâs just a little herb girl who happened to treat you a couple of times. That doesnât prove her medical skills are exceptional.â
Madam Yao clasped Room Ladyâs hand, tenderly and solemnly saying, âRoom Lady, you donât know Jiaojiao yet. Once you do, youâll like her too.â
Room Lady shook her head inwardly.
They were servants; their likes or dislikes towards the young master didnât matter. As the daughter of the lady, Room Lady would see Jiaojiao as her young mistress in the future. Any past grievances, she would make amends for. But Jiaojiaoâs heart seemed too cold to them, and Room Lady feared that her lady wouldnât warm it up.
When Lord Gu came looking for Madam Yao, she was packing things.
Lord Gu asked in confusion, âWhat are you doing?â
Madam Yao replied, âPreparing a few sets of clothes for Yanyan to take with him.â
Her tone was relatively soft.
She was still unaware of Lord Guâs altercation with Gu Jiao. Being a person not prone to tattle-taling, even if she was, she wouldnât expose her conflicts with Lord Gu to Madam Yao. Madam Yao suffered from a severe case of anxiety and depression; and as a doctor, Gu Jiao would avoid riling her up.
Now that Madam Yao had reconciled with her daughter, her mood improved, hence her demeanor towards Lord Gu was also more amiable.
Lord Gu felt consoled, but after comprehending the meaning of her words, his mood plummeted: âYou are sending clothes for Yanyan? Do you truly intend for Yanyan to stay there?â
âCanât he?â Madam Yao retorted.
âAhâ¦â Lord Gu stammered, on the verge of argument but halted himself. As Madam Yao had finally ceased displaying a cold demeanor towards him, he decided not to test his luck. Smiling, he replied, âHe can. I was just concerned that Yanyan wouldnât adapt to living away from you.â
âThat might be true.â Madam Yao agreed.
To this, Lord Gu rejoiced. However, his joy was short-lived as he heard Madam Yao murmur, âMaybe I should move there too.â
Lord Gu: ââ¦!!â
Hold on!
How can you move there too?!
âNever mind, I shouldnât be hasty. I might scare her away.â Madam Yaoâs prior experiences suggested that her daughter wasn with herâ¦âaccepted her yet.â
Lord Gu let out a sigh of relief.
But before he could fully relax, he heard Madam Yao say, âOr⦠shouldnât I ask her first?â
Lord Gu immediately shook his head, looking like one of those drum-dolls!
Suddenly, Lord Gu had an idea. He grabbed the portrait from the table and said to Madam Yao, âOops, she has been suffering alone for so many years before we appeared in her life. It wonât be easy for her to accept us. Showing up all of a sudden might scare her. Let Yanyan persuade her for a few days! If you truly miss her that much, you can just look at her portrait!â
âThe way youâve put it seems somewhat reasonable.â Madam Yao truly missed her daughter. The portrait was on the table. She could look at it day and night, but it was never enough.
Madam Yaoâs gaze fell on the portrait of her daughter, her expression softened.
âLord Gu,â Madam Yao suddenly spoke, âWhat is that red mark on Jiaojiaoâs face? Is she ill?â
She had wanted to ask this question for a long time, but it was not appropriate to ask when she was a stranger to Gu Jiao. After recognizing her, she hadnât had the chance.
Lord Gu replied, âSheâs not ill. According to her family, itâs a birthmark that has been there since birth. It wasnât so noticeable when she was little, but as she grew up, the birthmark expanded.â