The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1503 - 732 The Second Watch

The image of the young man on the portrait lingered in Gu Jiao’s mind.

Not for any other reason, but because the face of the young man looked too much like Long Yi’s.

If Long Yi were to return to the age of thirteen or fourteen, he might look just like that.

Most people cannot fully outline a person’s face in their mind; even for our closest parents, if you close your eyes, you are left with just a vague silhouette.

However, Gu Jiao was a person who had undergone special training, she could visualize in detail every face she remembered.

She incessantly compared Long Yi with the young man in the portrait in her mind.

Could this young man be Long Yi from years ago? Or just someone who resembled Long Yi’s appearance?

If it’s the latter, then it’s fine, but if it’s Long Yi —

From the distribution of the floors, the higher one went, the more confidential it became.

The portrait had just been brought down from the third floor, even the portraits of the Xuanyuan family and the top ten noble families were only on the second floor, could Long Yi’s secrets be even greater than theirs?

...

Inside the study room on the third floor, the king and the National Master sat cross-legged on cushions, playing a game of strategy.

Wang Xu had been waiting next to the two for over an hour.

It was only after the National Master made the final move that the king sighed, "You’ve won again."

The National Master replied, "By only half a point."

The king huffed, "Half a point is still winning, don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been letting me win."

The National Master looked at the king and said, "Your Majesty’s usual skills are not this poor, are you distracted because you’re worried about the Princess?"

"I am not worried about her!" the king said, pausing for a moment, "And besides, she’s no longer the Princess."

The National Master didn’t reveal the fact that it was you who called her the Princess last night.

After hesitating for a moment, the king asked, "Can her injuries truly be healed?"

"Yes," the National Master said without hesitation.

The king looked at him skeptically, "You say that with too much certainty."

The National Master said, "Because it was her who performed the surgery, that’s why I am very confident."

The king’s brows furrowed deeper, "National Master, I have known you for over thirty years, and you have never praised anyone in front of me. Could this Xiao Liulang really be that exceptional?"

The National Master affirmed, "He is."

The king was not accustomed to the National Master praising someone so highly; he had not even praised Xuanyuan Li like this before.

"But, I don’t really like him," the king said.

The National Master poured a cup of tea for the king, "Because there is no awe for the imperial authority in her eyes? Just like... the once Xuanyuan family."

At the mention of the Xuanyuan family, the king’s complexion darkened.

The National Master said with an airy tone, "Your Majesty need not take it to heart, he is but a student from Zhan Country, aside from being proficient in medicine, playing cuju, and a bit of martial arts, there is not much else."

The king frowned, "To be acknowledged by you to this extent, yet you say there’s not much?"

The National Master seemed to be in a good mood, chuckled, and replied, "Heroes emerge from youths."

The king did not continue the subject.

The National Master lifted his hand.

A disciple, waiting respectfully at his side, stepped forward, ready to tidy up the chessboard, but the king gestured with his hands, "Stop it, no more playing, the hour is late, I should return to the palace."

"Your Majesty," the National Master glanced at Wang Xu on the side.

Only then did the king remember that Wang Xu had come over, but he had been so engrossed in the game that he had Wang Xu wait until now.

"What is it—" the king began to speak but stopped abruptly, a hitch in his voice as he furrowed his eyebrows, "How did you end up like this?"

Wang Xu had already changed back into his official uniform of the Guandu Prefecture, only his swollen, bruised face couldn’t be changed in a moment’s time.

He didn’t mean to smear the Imperial Grandson’s name and merely said awkwardly, "I took a tumble."

The National Master sipped his tea, his tone teasing, "Martial artists are strong; such a fall must have taken remarkable strength too."

A normal person can’t fall to the point of looking like a pig’s head... Wang Xu felt awkward in his heart, falling was a bit more dignified than being beaten up.

Wang Xu got to the matter at hand, bowed and reported, "I have investigated the Princess’s injury and have found some clues."

"Oh?" The king had just picked up his teacup and was about to drink when he heard this and put the cup down, "Speak."

Wang Xu pulled a clean handkerchief from his bosom and opened it to reveal a fine strand of kudzu fiber: "This was found by me in the thorn bushes at the crime scene, it should belong to the clothing of the assailant."

Zhang Dequan took the handkerchief, presented it before the king and the National Master.

The National Master glanced at it and said, "It’s kudzu fabric, produced in Huaiyang County, of medium quality. Our National Master Hall also uses this type of kudzu fabric to make summer garments for disciples."