The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 512 - 257 Progress (Second Update)_2

Chapter 512: 257 Progress (Second Update)_2

Chapter 512: 257 Progress (Second Update)_2

Today is a day of great joy for all scholars who have passed the imperial examination, so naturally, they are supposed to have a few drinks. Xiao Liulang, the newly appointed highest-ranking scholar, was definitely not going to miss out on his share of wine.

But Xiao Liulang had never had alcohol before and his tolerance was quite poor. The few glasses of light wine served at the midday banquet wouldn’t have been enough to get him drunk, but the issue was that after the banquet concluded, some of them went off in small groups to other places.

Where these places were is a bit difficult to mention.

Xiao Liulang was unwilling to stay there and insisted on going home. The others didn’t like that, forcing him to drink another three glasses before allowing him to leave. This guy was truly bold, drinking until he passed out.

Ning Zhiyuan, being a family man himself, didn’t enjoy such events either, so he suggested taking the newly appointed highest-ranking scholar home.

“Is it to the left? Is it that alleyway?” In the carriage, Ning Zhiyuan asked Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang was too drunk to respond.

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Ning Zhiyuan shook his head, telling the driver to move forward. They were perhaps moving too hastily, and nearly collided with someone at the entrance to the alleyway.

It was two women, one in a Taoist robe, the other in a purple dress.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” The coachman hurriedly apologized.

Ning Zhiyuan also lifted the curtain of the carriage, got off, and bowed to apologize, “Ladies, are you all right? I’m sorry, I was rushing and didn’t mean to bump into you.”

Ning Zhiyuan was still wearing his official attire from being a top scholar.

The lady in purple recognized him at a glance, and with a laugh, she whispered in the ear of the Taoist woman, “Sister, it’s that dark-looking scholar!”

Ning Zhiyuan: Am I dark?!?

Then his face became even darker.

The Taoist gave the girl in purple a warning glance, and she stuck out her tongue in response.

The Taoist turned her gaze away, giving Ning Zhiyuan a slight nod, “No harm done. Excuse us.”

Then she left, leading her sister away.

As the two passed by the carriage, a sudden gust of wind lifted the curtain of the carriage to reveal a young man half-leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, seeming to be recuperating.

The moonlight spilled over, casting a luminous glow on his red silken scholar’s robe. With his eyes closed and his delicate, jade-like features, slightly flushed from the wine, he was breathtakingly handsome.

Having grown up in a Taoist temple, the Taoist woman prided herself on having spurned the seven emotions and six desires of the mortal world. And yet, she could not deny that this young man was truly captivating.

Of course, she was just looking. She hadn’t forgotten that this young man was taken.

She didn’t covet what others had.

Once they had walked some distance away, the lady in purple suddenly came back to her senses and said, touching her hot cheek, “Sister, sister! Did you just see that? The new scholar in the carriage! My god! He’s just too…”

Too what?

The lady in purple suddenly couldn’t find the words to describe him. Her heart was pounding. She had admired him from afar in the daytime and thought he was handsome enough, but seeing him up close just now, she realized he was more than just handsome, he was downright enchanting!

She excitedly shakes the Taoist’s hand: “Sister, sister!”

“You don’t stand a chance,” the Taoist threw a bucket of cold water.

The lady in purple’s heart shattered, “Wuwu~”

Both of them got into their own carriages, and Ning Zhiyuan helped the drunken Xiao Liulang off theirs.

What everyone was oblivious to was another carriage parked at the other end of the alleyway.

The Princess Consort was sitting in her carriage.

She was just passing by, and by chance, she saw the well-known scholar Ning Zhiyuan alight from his carriage to apologize to a young lady from the Yuan family and a Taoist.

She knew who the top three scholars were, but she hadn’t gone to see the top scholar’s parade, so she didn’t recognize Ning Zhiyuan. His identity was revealed by his official attire.

A plain-looking scholar wasn’t particularly intriguing, so she was planning to leave. But then Ning Zhiyuan helped a young man out of the carriage.

That was…the new top scholar, and also…him.

An image of a young, naive face involuntarily flashed through the Princess Consort’s mind. The 13 or 14-year-old young lord was still just a boy who had just lost his childishness. He was very likeable, but not in a romantic way.

The young man before her bore almost the same face as him, yet seemed completely different. He had grown taller, his features more defined. He still had a youthful air, but also the strength of a grown man, radiating a masculine charm.

Thump, thump, thump!

Ning Zhiyuan knocked on the door of the house.

With a creak, the door was opened.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Excuse me, is this the home of Xiao Liulang?” Ning Zhiyuan asked.

“Oh, isn’t this Liulang?” Aunt Liu recognized Xiao Liulang and quickly asked, running out and shouting to the houses ahead, “Jiaojiao! Liulang is back!”

Then, the Princess saw a young girl in a blue dress emerge from a courtyard, quickly approaching Ning Zhiyuan and Xiao Liulang, and took Xiao Liulang from Ning Zhiyuan’s hands.

Xiao Liulang was quite drunk. As soon as the woman’s hands rested on his waist, he vigilantly opened his eyes.

“It’s me.” Gu Jiao said.

“Jiaojiao?”

“Mm, I’m here.”

“Hm…” Xiao Liulang surrendered his resistance and was helped by Gu Jiao back to the courtyard.

Gu Jiao probably thanked Ning Zhiyuan, but the Princess wasn’t aware of that—her gaze was fixed on Gu Jiao’s arm that was wrapped around Xiao Liulang’s waist.

Suddenly, she felt a little irritated.

“Princess?” A lady of the court called her cautiously.

Only then did the Princess notice she had torn her own handkerchief. She loosened her grip and smiled, “I just felt a little nauseous. Let’s go back to the palace.”

“I will summon the royal physician right away,” the lady of the court said hastily.

“All right,” the princess nodded.

She took one last look at the two supporting each other in the night.

He is not Ahen, he is not.

Ahen would never fall for another woman, nor would he let another woman get close to him, never.

Gu Jiao helped him into the courtyard.

With Xiao Liulang being as drunk as he was, it wouldn’t be good to have him stay with Little Pure in the same room. If something happened during the night, Little Pure would be scared, and couldn’t care for him anyway.

Gu Jiao helped Xiao Liulang to her own room.

She helped Xiao Liulang lie down on her bed, removed his official hat. Now at the end of April, the weather was no longer cold. His thick robe was oppressively heavy, causing him to sweat.

Gu Jiao went to grab water, planning to wipe him down.

As soon as she sat down, she heard him mumble, “Jiaojiao, I’m hot …”

His tone, usually cool and aloof, had a trace of seductive magnetism when he was drunk.

His voice had changed since when he first arrived. It wasn’t unpleasant to the ear, but wasn’t appealing either. Over time, his voice had matured. Gu Jiao, being with him every day, didn’t notice the change.

It was not until that moment did Gu Jiao realize that his voice sent shivers down her spine!

Gu Jiao put down the water basin and started to unbutton his clothes. As she unbuttoned his collar, his slender neck came into view. The exquisite Adam’s apple on his neck moved.

It was a bit seductive.

Gu Jiao: “…”

Gu Jiao, with a strong will, undid his buttons and removed his heavy robe. Then she started to wipe his face.

His cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol and his lips were moist with the sheen that only wine could provide.

He gradually opened his eyes and looked a little confused, which was alluring.

Gu Jiao: I’m not drooling, not drooling at all.

With a drunken expression, Xiao Liulang asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Gu Jiao honestly replied, “You’re handsome.”

He smiled lightly, “What about me is handsome?”

“Everything. Your eyebrows are handsome, your eyes are handsome, your nose is handsome…” Gu Jiao glanced at his moist lips, and added silently in her heart, even his lips are handsome. They’re the most handsome.

He lied on the bed looking at her with a mysterious and alluring gaze that would never appear on a usual day. He hooked his lips and said, “Are you just going to look?”

“Huh?” Gu Jiao was taken aback.

The next second, he lifted his slender arm, his hand as smooth as jade, and gently held the back of Gu Jiao’s head. With just the right amount of force, he pulled her closer, leaning her towards him.