The Prime Minister’s Darling - Chapter 664

Chapter 664: 314 Overbearing Jiaojiao! (First update)_2 Chapter 664: 314 Overbearing Jiaojiao! (First update)_2 A long sword flew out swiftly as if in slow motion, piercing the chest of one of the assassins.

Realizing that something was wrong, the assailants did not face the counterattack, but continued to charge toward Gu Jiao.

The owner of the long sword leaped into the air, positioning himself in front of Gu Jiao.

Both sides began to fight fiercely, while Gu Jiao quickly pulled up the Consort of Prince Rui.

The Consort of Prince Rui, already frightened and at her wits’ end, fainted in Gu Jiao’s arms after calling out “Prince Ning.”

So it was Prince Ning.

Gu Jiao, cradling the Consort of Prince Rui, turned her attention back to the fight.

At this point, Prince Ning had killed three of the assassins and one fled after realizing the situation was not in his favor.

Prince Ning barked a command, “Capture him! Alive!”

The guards from Prince Ning’s Mansion chased after the fleeing assassin.

Prince Ning wiped the blood off his sword with a handkerchief, sheathed it and approached Gu Jiao and the Consort of Prince Rui, asking, “Are you both alright?”

Gu Jiao looked up at him.

Dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, Prince Ning stood tall and imposing, his clear brows and eyes exuding an air of righteousness. His face bore a striking resemblance to both the noble Empress and the Emperor.

Of all the princes she had met, he was the most like the Emperor, not only in looks but also in demeanor.

Prince Ning was twenty-six this year, the Crown Prince was three, he possessed both the vigor of youth and the steadiness of maturity.

Gu Jiao shifted her gaze and checked the pulse of the Consort of Prince Rui.

The Consort of Prince Rui’s pulse was normal; she had simply fainted from shock and distress. Gu Jiao assured, “It’s okay, she’ll be fine when she wakes up.”

Prince Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Prince Ning did not ask about Gu Jiao’s identity, his eyes did not seem unfamiliar.

He recognized her.

Gu Jiao looked at him, puzzled.

She did not remember meeting him before.

Prince Ning smiled and said, “I was at the scene when the incident happened at the Ministry of Works. I saw you treating the injured.”

Gu Jiao murmured her understanding.

The accident was so severe that she only paid attention to the injured and not the unscathed.

Prince Ning said, “Where were you ladies heading? I can arrange for someone to escort you.”

All of the guards from Prince Rui’s residence had been slain by the assassins and their carriage was lost.

Gu Jiao replied, “We just came from the nunnery and were planning to head back.”

Prince Ning paused, then asked, “So you were accompanying the Consort of Prince Rui to visit the Dowager Empress?”

Gu Jiao nodded.

Frowning, Prince Ning quickly instructed his guards, “Some of you, quickly go to the nunnery and check if the Dowager Empress is safe!”

“Yes!”

A few guards immediately headed toward the nunnery.

Prince Ning told Gu Jiao, “I will arrange for you to be sent back.”

Suddenly, Gu Jiao stopped him and asked, “Why are you here, Prince Ning?”

Prince Ning felt a chill under her piercing stare, “Do you suspect me?”

Gu Jiao abruptly responded, “Your timing was too perfect.”

Prince Ning gave a slightly exasperated smile, “If I was a bit later, you two would have been killed. If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn’t have shown up at all. Moreover…”
He glanced at the unconscious Consort of Prince Rui in Gu Jiao’s arms, “She is the wife of my younger brother.”

Everyone knew that Prince Rui was an ally of Prince Ning; would he be insane enough to attack his brother’s wife?

Prince Ning continued, “The Emperor was worried about the Dowager Empress and asked me to visit the nunnery.”

This was the truth. He really had been sent by the Emperor to visit the Dowager Empress, Quiet.

As the Emperor’s foster mother, the Dowager Empress Quiet would undoubtedly be worried and distressed to hear about the assassination attempt on the Emperor.

Not only had Prince Rui and his wife considered this, but upon seeing his gravely ill Empress Mother, the Emperor had immediately decided to send Prince Ning to check on the Dowager Empress Quiet at the nunnery.

Gu Jiao hummed in understanding. This matter was easy to verify, and Prince Ning shouldn’t be lying.

So, Prince Ning was not involved in the assassination.

Then who could it be?

Though the assailants seemed to be targeting the Consort of Prince Rui, they couldn’t rule out that she was their target.

Prince Ning gave his carriage to Gu Jiao and the Consort of Prince Rui and then rode a horse towards the nunnery.

Gu Jiao took the Consort of Prince Rui back to the Residence of Prince Rui.

Before they departed, Prince Ning sent a guard to the Imperial Palace to inform Prince Rui, who had been anxiously waiting at the mansion’s entrance.

Upon seeing Gu Jiao carrying someone out of the carriage, Prince Rui quickly rushed forward and took the Consort of Prince Rui from Gu Jiao’s arms.

Looking at the Consort of Prince Rui, the worry in his eyes could not be hidden, “Is… is she alright?”

Gu Jiao replied, “She’s okay, she’ll recover after a good sleep.”

Initially, the Consort of Prince Rui had indeed fainted, but she woke up halfway and wept for a while before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep again.