The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 454: 230 Shaking the whole field (One more update)

The little eunuch brought back the lute case to Prince Rui’s mansion.

Princess Rui was sitting in the pavilion, yawning.

The little eunuch asked, “Your Highness, would you like to take a look?”

Anything brought back from Gu Jiao, Princess Rui would totally trust, she waved her hand to the little eunuch, “Keep it safely.”

“Yes!” The little eunuch carries the lute case into Princess Rui’s room.

Maiden Xu was directing the maids to tidy up the room, the little eunuch bowed to her, “Sister Xu, the princess ordered me to bring this lute, where should I put it?”

Maiden Xu found a cabinet that they used often, “Put it here for now. It will be used again in a few days.”

The emissary from Liang Country was arriving, and the Crown Princess had sent a message asking Princess Rui if she could play a tune for the emissaries as a gesture of courtesy.

How on earth was the Crown Princess not aware that Princess Rui was pregnant?

Princess Rui had had a surgery earlier this year, and got pregnant before her body had fully recovered. The Imperial physician had advised her to stay in bed as much as possible.

Maiden Xu was full of complaints, but she didn’t dare to voice them out. With a disgruntled expression, she closed the cabinet.

The third month of the year, the time when the grasses grew and nightingales sang, the whole Capital City was vibrant.

The streets were bustling with people, a never-ending flow.

The main roads of Capital City were wide, capable of hosting at least four horse-drawn carriages at a time. The wider ones like Vermilion Bird Avenue near the Imperial Palace, could accommodate more than ten carriages without feeling crowded.

The third prince brought the horse-drawn carriage to a smooth stop at the destination mentioned by Gu Jiao.

The third prince looked up at the plaque which read ‘Taihe Martial Arts Academy’ in large letters, unable to believe his eyes, “Maid Gu, are you sure we’re at the right place?”

After all that turning here and there, could he have taken a wrong turn somewhere?

Gu Jiao lifted the curtains to look around and replied, “Yes, this is the place.”

The third prince’s bewilderment only grew. “But Maid Gu, why are we here? Are you…going on an appointment?”

But why would she need to change her clothes for that? Could it be that this medical hall didn’t allow female doctors?

His mind was filled with endless questions.

Gu Jiao did not answer his questions. Instead, she hopped out of the carriage, “Wait for me in the alley.”

“Oh.” The third prince was usually not a talkative person, which was probably why Gu Jiao wasn’t annoyed by his driving.

The third prince parked the carriage in an alley next to the Martial Arts Academy, and Gu Jiao walked into the Academy.

Taihe Martial Arts Academy was a top-tier academy in Capital City; it had three floors in total. Walking through the front gate, you would find a grand hall. Straight in front of the entrance, there was a gigantic ‘Martial Arts’ character written in Cursive Script on the wall with various weapons displayed on either side. A few of the academy’s disciples were miming combat moves, probably discussing how to spar.

The arrival of a stranger didn’t surprise them. They must be used to seeing unfamiliar faces.

It was not unusual.

In Zhan Country, only literary examinations existed, not martial ones. Therefore, Zhan Country only had the champion of a literary examination every three years. Unlike Liang Country and Yan Country, which would select martial examination champions as well as literary examination champions at the same time.

However, Zhan Country also needed martial arts talents. Some directly joined the Military Camp, like Gu Changqing, while others didn’t wish to serve the court and hoped to pave their own pathway using their martial arts skills.

Martial Arts Academies were born amidst such circumstances.

“Reading is above all else”, but some born were naturally not school material. They wished to learn martial arts. After learning martial arts, they could become bodyguards or teach martial arts or they could even serve as guards at big families’ households… There were always plenty of ways to make a living and it was better than farming.

Therefore, Martial Arts Academies in Zhan Country held some popularity.

Of course, there were different types of martial arts schools. In local parlance, there were “clear schools” and “black schools”. The clear schools were those which only accepted disciples for the pure purpose of teaching martial arts; whereas, the black schools were more complicated. Apart from accepting disciples, they had many other services as well.

Taihe Martial Arts Academy was a black school.

This was revealed to Gu Jiao by Gu Chengfeng. Mostly because Gu Jiao would frequently beat up Gu Chengfeng. Initially, Gu Chengfeng could barely win against Gu Jiao, then gradually they would fight to a draw. Even more gradually, Gu Chengfeng began to be defeated by Gu Jiao quite handily.

Even if he was used to being beaten up, there was a limit to how much of a beating he should take!

He was supposed to be a thief, not a punching bag!

If Gu Jiao was to recover the expertise of her previous life, she had to continuously find stronger punching bags.

Gu Jiao took out a mask from her chest and put it on.

The mask too, was stolen by Gu Chengfeng without costing a single Copper Plate.

She navigated her way effortlessly into the academy, passed through the Chuihua Gate and entered an apparently deserted tearoom. She lightly twisted the oil lamp on the tea table, and with a rumbling sound, the wall of the tearoom opened up.