Chapter 127: I'll Go With You

Tuan Tuan and Xiao Er hurried back to the Prince's Mansion; just as they jumped off the carriage, a servant at the gate shouted urgently, "Young miss! The Prince is in Yangzheng Pavilion!"

Xiao Er picked up Tuan Tuan and rushed straight to Yangzheng Pavilion; upon reaching the door, he set her down, and Tuan Tuan ran inside with her little legs.

Xiao Yuanhang and his wife, together with Doctor Guo, were seated around the bed, and even Divine Doctor Mo Zhanggeng was there.

"Father! Mother! I'm here! What's wrong?" Tuan Tuan ran over and looked.

On the bed lay a person with handsome features, eyes tightly shut, face as white as paper.

"Uncle Wang!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed and flung herself to the bedside.

Xiao Yuanhang pulled her into his arms: "Tuan Tuan, Uncle Wang has been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Tuan Tuan lifted her little head, looking at Doctor Guo, "Doctor Guo, please heal him quickly!"

Doctor Guo's face showed difficulty as he looked toward his Master Ancestor.

Mo Zhanggeng set aside his usual nonchalant expression, slowly shaking his head: "This poison is called the Thousand Mechanism Lure; it is not an ordinary toxin, its potency is fierce, and it takes effect extremely quickly."

"That he still has breath to live is already the result of my disciple-grandson administering timely acupuncture, blocking his meridians."

"To save him, we need the Nine Pure Spirit Leaves unique to the Sacred Medicine Valley; using them as a guide can dispel the Thousand Mechanism transformation."

"Nine Pure Spirit Leaves?" Tuan Tuan looked at him, "Divine Doctor Grandfather, you're a divine doctor—you must have some, right?"

Mo Zhanggeng rolled his eyes: "I'm a divine doctor, but not a pantry of herbs! If I had them, I would have already used them."

Doctor Guo clung to the last hope: "Young miss, do you have any idea?"

Tuan Tuan frowned, thought for a moment, then seriously shook her head: "I don't have any."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "Mother! The pearl that saved Elder Brother!"

Cheng Ru'an immediately recalled as well: "Yes! Yes! That night pearl! Someone! Quickly go to Jinglan Pavilion and bring the box holding the copper lamp!"

"Yes!" Grandma Liu, who had been waiting outside, replied, and shortly thereafter brought it back.

Tuan Tuan found the mechanism, pulled open the copper lamp, and saw her little head droop; the night pearl that had saved Xiao Ningyuan had lost its luster and remained dull.

"No good! The pearl hasn't awakened yet."

Everyone's gaze darkened.

They hurriedly called her back, having held a sliver of hope that this child might have some solution, but unexpectedly……

Tuan Tuan looked up at the divine doctor: "Divine Doctor Grandfather, where can we buy those Nine Pure Spirit Leaves?"

Mo Zhanggeng gave a bitter laugh: "Buy? How could that be possible! The Nine Pure Spirit Leaves are one of the Sacred Medicine Valley's treasures; they can only be begged for, not bought."

"What are we waiting for?" Tuan Tuan lifted her head, no longer listless, "Let's go to the Sacred Medicine Valley now and bring the leaves back!"

"How could you go? Impossible!" Cheng Ru'an's face turned pale as she snatched her into her arms, "The journey to the Sacred Medicine Valley is far; you're so young—how could you venture into such dangerous lands!"

"Mother," Tuan Tuan turned in her arms, her small face full of earnestness, "If it weren't for Uncle Wang's Jade Bone Whistle, I would have already been snatched by villains and taken to Da Xia!"

"Now that he lies here, I certainly must go!"

Although Cheng Ru'an knew her words made sense, she still found it hard to let go, tightly embracing her daughter and unconsciously looking toward her husband.

Xiao Yuanhang pondered a moment, then placed a large hand on his daughter's small shoulder: "Repaying kindness with gratitude—no wonder you're my daughter! Go ahead; we'll depart tomorrow, Father has approved!"

Mo Zhanggeng immediately stepped forward, patting his chest: "Please rest assured, I will surely look after my disciple!"

Tuan Tuan immediately wrinkled her little nose at him: "I'm not your disciple at all!"

Mo Zhanggeng's old face instantly fell, showing a hint of wronged, pitiful expression.

A servant outside reported: "Prince, the Seventh Prince has come to visit, saying he wishes to see the young miss."

"Third Elder Brother is here? I'll go see him!" Tuan Tuan ran out; the people inside exchanged glances, wondering why the Seventh Prince had come.

Tuan Tuan ran to the front hall: "Third Elder Brother! I can't go out to play with you anymore; I'm heading to the Sacred Medicine Valley tomorrow!"

Xiao Ze raised his eyebrows: "You? Going to the Sacred Medicine Valley for what? Your elder brothers are all absent now—who will accompany you?"

"Divine Doctor Grandfather! My uncle has been poisoned badly; I must go there to find a potent leaf to cure him."

Xiao Ze looked at her, his eyes flickering, and handed over a silver note from his sleeve: "This is a ten-thousand-tael silver note that Chen Hao entrusted me to deliver, in thanks for your life-saving grace."

"He said his leg injury hasn't healed yet; once it's better, he will personally come to express his gratitude."

"Did he still go to burn incense?"

Xiao Ze helplessly nodded: "It's not his fault. In his manor they're repairing the Buddhist hall; as the eldest son he must hold the primary incense stick to fulfill the rites."

"Fortunately he remembered your words and didn't light the incense."

"When he stepped forward to offer incense, the beam happened to break, falling exactly where he knelt."

"If the incense had already been lit, the beam would have dragged the curtains down, pressing on him—certain death."

Tuan Tuan nodded, accepted the silver note openly, and slipped it into her little sachet.

Xiao Ze took his leave and departed.

That evening she handed over the twenty-thousand-tael silver note from Xie Yunshu, the grain voucher for thirty thousand shi, together with the ten-thousand-tael silver note from Xiao Ze, all to Xiao Yuanhang.

"Father! These are the gifts from the pastry aunt and Chen Hao; I'm giving them to you!"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at the great wealth in his daughter's small hands, so astonished he could not speak for a moment.

The military pay and grain he had been worrying about—now they were available?

"Good! Good daughter!" He laughed loudly, lifting his daughter high: "You've done a great service for your father!"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around her father's neck, proudly raising her little chin: "Father, am I amazing?"

"Amazing! Extremely amazing!" Xiao Yuanhang tossed her high into the air, then caught her steadily.

Tuan Tuan giggled happily.

The next morning, outside the mansion gate.

Cheng Ru'an, eyes brimming with tears, once again tidied her daughter's clothes and hair, giving countless instructions, reluctant to part: "When you're out, be sure to eat well; if it's cold, remember to add layers; don't catch a chill."

Tuan Tuan took her hand and pressed it to her face: "I know, Mother! You can relax!"

Xiao Yuanhang solemnly instructed Xiao Er: "On the road you must be cautious; be sure to keep Tuan Tuan completely safe."

Xiao Er stood up straight: "Yes! I will not let the Prince down!"

Mo Zhanggeng, meanwhile, was beaming with delight beside them, his gaze fixed on Tuan Tuan's eyes, which sparkled brightly.

Looking forward to this journey deepening his bond with Tuan Tuan and tricking her into becoming his true disciple.

Everyone was reluctant to part, about to depart, when they saw three fine horses galloping up.

"Whoa—!"

Xiao Ze reined his horse to a stop, dressed in neat everyday attire, with two capable guards behind him.

His gaze swept past the crowd and landed squarely on Tuan Tuan, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

"The road to Sacred Medicine Valley is long; I will accompany you."