The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 363: Bet 192 (Second update)_2

Not only did Ling Consort’s blade pierce his heart, but it also stabbed his soul, his faith.

All his faith seemed to have collapsed overnight. He started questioning whether the world was real or not.

“Right, Miss Gu.” Doctor Song was accustomed to this address, and did not change it, for Gu Jiao also preferred it. “Shopkeeper Wang came by just now and asked me to query you about the consultation fee…”

They now knew that Gu Chengfeng was Gu Jiao’s half-brother, technically part of the family, so–

Gu Jiao answered without hesitation: “Charge him as usual. Ten taels for surgery, ten taels for medicine, ten taels for examination. Moreover, this case falls under intensive care, it is three taels per day!”

Doctor Song broke out in cold sweat. What? It’s that expensive?

Before long, Gu Chengfeng came running back in a frenzy, holding a large food box, “Third brother, I bought your favorite Crispy Aromatic Duck and red bean cakes!”

Doctor Song looked awkwardly at Gu Chenglin lying on the sickbed, then turned to Gu Jiao, “Shouldn’t he avoid oily food with his injury?”

However, Gu Jiao didn’t stop him.

It wasn’t long before Doctor Song understood why Gu Jiao didn’t object.

Gu Chenglin wouldn’t eat anything at all, not even drinking water.

When he woke up, he would just lie there, staring blankly at the rafters. There was no response when he was called, and he wouldn’t respond even when the spoon was fed to his mouth.

Even when they forcibly fed him, the food just dribbled out from his mouth.

Gu Chengfeng turned to Gu Jiao and Doctor Song anxiously: “Think of something!”

Gu Jiao calmly looked back at him: “I can’t do anything about this.”

Gu Chengfeng gritted his teeth, while he was unwilling, he knew Gu Jiao was right – Gu Chenglin had lost the will to live. Even if they healed his physical wounds, his heart had died.

This shock was more unexpected than Ling Consort’s betrayal. Gu Chengfeng could never have imagined that his domineering, carefree younger brother would end up like this.

People from Songhe Court had also arrived, Gu Old Madam’s trusted servant and two clever little maids.

The trusted servant, maid Gui, broke into sobs when she saw the state of their young master: “That damnable woman! How could she do this after our old lady showed her so much affection!”

Gu Chengfeng remained silent.

He couldn’t utter a word.

Maid Gui told Gu Chengfeng: “Second young master hasn’t slept all night. You should go home, I will stay here and take good care of third young master.”

Gu Chengfeng held back his emotions and said, “I’m not leaving, I will wait for third brother to wake up.”

Truly wake up, not in this soulless state.

Maid Gui couldn’t convince him, so she suggested: “Then, second young master, eat something.”

Gu Chengfeng had no appetite, but he nodded.

Maid Gui opened the food box. Inside were two bowls of millet porridge, a bowl of pig’s blood tofu soup, a plate of braised carp with radish, a basket of steamed pork ribs, and a few stir-fried dishes.

As soon as Gu Chengfeng saw the pig’s blood and pork ribs in the bowl, scenes flashed through his mind: Gu Chenglin’s blood splashing three feet high, his flesh being cut open, cleaned and sewn back together. The details were painfully clear and wouldn’t fade away.

“Take it away!”

He couldn’t eat it!

Maid Gui was puzzled, “What’s wrong, second young master? Isn’t the food good? These are all nourishing dishes. Third young master has lost a lot of blood so we specially bought fresh pig’s blood, which was still warm when we bought it back–”

She would have been better off not saying anything – it just made Gu Chengfeng feel even worse.

In the end, he managed to force down a bowl of millet porridge but couldn’t eat another bite.

On the other hand, Gu Jinyu also heard about Gu Chenglin’s injury. Her school was next door, so she came to the medical hall right after school was out.

Gu Chengfeng was getting some fresh air in the backyard when he saw her, his face creased. “What are you doing here?”

Gu Jinyu spoke softly, “I heard Third Brother was injured. I came to see him. How is he? Is he out of danger?”

Gu Chengfeng usually had an attitude of live and let live towards Gu Jinyu. He didn’t exactly like her, but he didn’t dislike her either. However, today he was in a bad mood and Gu Jinyu ended up taking the brunt of it.

“What’s it to you?” he snapped.

Gu Jinyu gulped.

Second Brother was not usually this fierce.

Gu Jinyu said in a mild tone, “Second Brother, I mean no disrespect. I’m just worried about Third Brother.”

Gu Chengfeng sneered, “Worried about him? I think you’re secretly happy! Don’t think that I don’t know. All four of you, mother and son included, are wishing he’ll die!”

Gu Jinyu defended herself, “I’m not!”

Gu Chengfeng couldn’t care less. He turned and entered the room, shutting the door behind him, preventing her from taking a single step in.

Gu Jinyu was wronged for getting caught in the crossfire. The Yao Family, Gu Jiao and Gu Yan truly disliked Gu Chenglin, yet she sincerely hoped that Gu Chenglin would recover!

Gu Jinyu bit her lip and was about to leave in a huff when she unintentionally caught sight of Gu Changqing carrying a basket of herbal medicine out of the warehouse.

Big Brother?

Just as she was about to greet him, she saw Gu Jiao also coming out of the warehouse, carrying another basket of herbs.

“Leave it, I’ll move it myself.” After Gu Changqing put the herbs on the shelf, he turned around to take the basket from Gu Jiao. “How many more baskets are there?”

“Five baskets,” Gu Jiao replied.

Gu Changqing went back to the warehouse and moved all five baskets of herbs out. Then, he and Gu Jiao started drying the herbs together.

Gu Changqing still had the same serious expression. Perhaps even he himself hadn’t realized it, but the harshness in his eyes was gone. The way he interacted with Gu Jiao even seemed a little intimate, like a brother and sister.

When Gu Jiao walked under the shelf, Gu Changqing would even place a hand there to prevent her from bumping her head.

A myriad of feelings turned Gu Jinyu’s heart over.

Why is it that after all her efforts, Big Brother wouldn’t even spare her a single word?

Why did this country girl, just because she was a medicine boy in this medical hall, get so much favour from Big Brother?

It’s not even her who cured Third Brother!

She’s just a medicine boy!

Gu Jinyu clenched her kerchief tightly. She was about to leave when she saw Madam Yao coming out from the Courtyard.

Gu Jinyu was taken aback. Was Mother here too?

She glanced at Gu Jiao and Gu Changqing in the distance, a sense of satisfaction rising in her heart. Mother hated it the most when they mingled with their three brothers. She’ll let Mother find out and see what happens!

“Jiaojiao, are you drying the herbs again?” Madam Yao came over, “You go and rest. I will do it.”

“I’m almost done,” Gu Jiao said.

Gu Changqing and Madam Yao shared a glance. Gu Changqing gave a slight bow, and Madam Yao nodded in acknowledgment.

There were no extra words, which were very polite yet distant.

This was not the reaction Gu Jinyu had expected. Shouldn’t Mother be pulling Gu Jiao away, scolding her and telling her not to have anything to do with the three brothers?

Why is it that she was not allowed to talk to Big Brother, but Gu Jiao can?

Soon, Madam Yao went back in.

Gu Changqing said to Gu Jiao, “Wait for me here.”

He then went to the stables, took out a small box from a bundle hanging on the saddle, and brought it to Gu Jiao. “Here.”

“What is it?” Gu Jiao asked.

“You’ll know when you open it,” Gu Changqing said.

Gu Jiao simply responded with an ‘oh’, then opened the small box discovering four small figurines: a jade figurine, a gold figurine, a wood figurine, and a… an iron figurine.

Without guessing, it was clear that the jade figurine was for Gu Yan, the gold figurine was for Xiao Jingkong, the wood figurine was for Gu Xiaoshun. Why did her figure turn out to be an iron one?

Gu Jiao: “…”

These are crafts from Liang Country and are not available on the market.

Not because Gu Jiao healed Gu Chenglin and Gu Changqing wanted to give her a gift. After the last leaf card game where he won handsomely, Gu Changqing had located this set of crafts, planning to bring them to Bishui Alley next time.

Gu Changqing explained, “There’s a set of leaf cards under the box too.”

Gu Jiao: So you actually just want to play cards?