Chapter 17

"Wow! Turns out, you're not the legitimate daughter!" Tuan Tuan took Third Brother's hand and walked out from behind the tree—this nasty sister is just like that black old woman, full of dark aura! Her mouth is still so nasty! I won't let you hit!

"I am the legitimate daughter, I say no hitting." She lifted her little head and looked at Xiao Ningxun: "Third Brother, may I?"

Xiao Ningxun spoke gently: "Of course, Tuan Tuan is the legitimate daughter, certainly may."

Xiao Ningshu's face changed, she glared fiercely at Tuan Tuan: "Turns out, you're just a picked-up bastard!"

Xiao Ningxun's face sank: "Fourth sister, watch your words! Tuan Tuan is the legitimate daughter of the Prince's Mansion, formally recognized by grandmother after kowtowing to the ancestors; as a concubine-born daughter, how dare you insult her?"

Xiao Ningshu's face fluctuated between pale and green; according to propriety, what Xiao Ningxun said was indeed true, so be it, this score will be noted for now and settled later: "Forget it, I, Miss, will not stoop to the level of this slave; let's go!" Having said that, she turned and left.

The two maidservants glared at Tuan Tuan, then hurriedly followed behind her.

Qixing stood up, trotted over, bent down to pick up the Shadowbearer, and carefully wiped it—this is the young master's treasure!

Tuan Tuan looked at Second Brother, whose face was still deathly pale—no way, this nasty sister is bullying Second Brother like that; I must vent anger for Second Brother!

She lowered her head, opened the embroidered pouch at her waist, and pulled out a broken kite string—this was the treasure she had just picked up yesterday.

She lifted her chin and threw it at Xiao Ningshu's back: "Trip her!"

The kite string vanished into thin air in an instant.

Xiao Ningshu's skirt swayed, her toes seemed to catch on something, her body lurched forward with an "Ah!" scream, and she fell flat on the blue stone of the small path.

"Miss!" Haitang and Chun Tao rushed over to pull her up; she held the maid's hand, leveraged herself up, but a piercing pain shot through her ankle and spread throughout her body, and she sat down again on the ground.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head and looked at her, speaking seriously: "Does your foot hurt? From now on you're not allowed to call Second Brother a cripple. Otherwise, every time you say it, you'll fall!"

Xiao Ningshu turned to look at her: "You!" She was so angry she couldn't utter a coherent sentence.

Haitang and Chun Tao exerted all their strength to help her up, and the three of them slowly left.

Qixing stepped forward, bowed to Tuan Tuan: "Thank you, little miss, for saving this slave!"

Tuan Tuan brushed off her little hands: "It's fine! Who let her be unreasonable, first bullying Second Brother, then bullying you!"

Having said that, she bounced over to Xiao Ningchen's side, tugged at his sleeve: "Second Brother! I'm Tuan Tuan! Your sister Tuan Tuan! Just now you looked like you were dancing—so beautiful!"

How Xiao Ningshu fell, both brothers saw it clearly; at this moment they exchanged a glance, although both were shocked, they tacitly avoided mentioning it.

Xiao Ningxun's heart was even more convinced: Tuan Tuan must be a little immortal!

Xiao Ningchen lowered his gaze at this little sister; the dimples on his face were especially affectionate, exactly like their mother's.

A warm current flowed through his heart; this little sister is truly adorable.

He almost forgot his earlier embarrassment from falling, reached out and patted Tuan Tuan's little head: "Tuan Tuan, Second Brother thanks you."

Tuan Tuan broke into a bright smile: "Second Brother, does your leg still hurt? May I help you back?"

"Okay."

Qixing hurriedly supported his right arm, while Tuan Tuan strained to hold his left hand.

Xiao Ningchen leaned slightly toward Qixing, afraid his weight would press on her; Xiao Ningxun silently followed behind them as they entered Xiao Ningchen's residence, the Chen Needle Hall.

Xiao Ningchen went into the inner chamber to change clothes; Tuan Tuan, visiting for the first time, curiously walked around the room, touching this and that: "Third Brother! Second Brother's place has so many things, different from your Xun Yu Study!"

Xiao Ningxun pointed to the bow and arrow hanging on the wall and told her: "This is the bow and arrow Father gave Second Brother when he was nine; Second Brother used it in the martial arts field competition, hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces and took first place."

"That is the ring‑pommel great saber Second Brother used at age twelve; during the spring hunt, Second Brother used it to bag a huge black bear!"

"Wow wow wow! Second Brother is so amazing!" Tuan Tuan listened, her eyes shining.

"Third Brother, let's not talk about that—please sit." Xiao Ningchen changed into a fresh white robe, supported Qixing as they came out, sat in a chair, his whole person clean and refined, with an otherworldly air.

Tuan Tuan ran to his knees, wrapped her arms around his legs, lifted her head: "Second Brother! Is your leg injured from playing?"

"Tuan Tuan!" Xiao Ningxun knew Second Brother hated anyone mentioning his leg ailment, and quickly called out to her.

Xiao Ningchen waved his hand: "No need for such taboo; it's been several years already, and I've grown used to it."

Xiao Ningxun felt a pang in his heart: How could you possibly be used to it! Second Brother, just seeing you secretly practicing your sword earlier shows how much you wish your legs could recover.

Xiao Ningchen lowered his gaze at Tuan Tuan lying on his knees and said softly: "Second Brother's leg didn't get hurt from playing; it suddenly lost strength."

"Can't even Grandpa cure it? Grandpa is very capable; he said Father's illness is almost healed!"

Xiao Ningchen startled, "Grandpa? Oh, sister must be referring to Guo Taiyi, who often comes to the Prince's Mansion: 'Grandpa couldn't cure it either. Second Brother's leg, I fear, will remain like this for the rest of his life.'"

Xiao Ningxun couldn't bear it: "Second Brother! Don't say that—Father's illness is that severe, yet it's almost healed now; your leg will surely get better too! Right? Tuan Tuan?"

By now Tuan Tuan was sitting on the footstool before Xiao Ningchen's chair, her little hands gripping his legs; hearing this, she glanced at Third Brother, then at Second Brother.

"Exactly! Second Brother's leg will surely get better! Tuan Tuan will help you!"

Because of that fall just now, Xiao Ningchen's leg still ached slightly; he rubbed it gently while giving her a faint smile: "How will Tuan Tuan help Second Brother?"

Tuan Tuan hugged his knee, blew a breath: "Tuan Tuan blows, pain flies away." Then she used her two little hands to slowly stroke his leg, from knee to ankle.

Xiao Ningxun laughed, about to speak, but saw Second Brother's complexion suddenly change.

Xiao Ningchen's eyes flickered, his expression solemn.

What is this? Definitely not my imagination!

Those little hands, upon contact with their palms, sent a completely unfamiliar warm current, like the warmest stream basked in spring sunshine, gentle yet irresistible, seeping in!

Wherever it passed, the deep‑seated stagnation in his legs, which had gnawed at bone and marrow like a corrosive ailment, now resembled ice meeting scorching sun, beginning to melt rapidly!

A deep‑bone‑marrow tingling, making one shudder, rose from deep within flesh and blood, like countless long‑dormant vital forces being forcibly awakened, now struggling to break through the earth and reborn.

This itch was so intense he could hardly keep from clenching his fists; after the itch subsided,

that warm current surged past some barrier, growing ever more tumultuous, like a bursting dam flooding his meridians, rushing and colliding!

Every inch washed by the warm current was like parched soil greedily drinking sweet rain, gradually becoming filled with strength.

Xiao Ningchen's mind went blank; the tremendous shock and ecstasy made his whole body tremble violently.

He almost instinctively exerted force and sprang to his feet.

No longer the former limp weakness, his legs steadfastly supported his body; an unprecedented sense of lightness and solidity surged from the soles straight to the crown of his head.

"Second Brother!" Xiao Ningxun rushed over, intending to support him, but stopped upon seeing Second Brother's face lit with delight.

Second Brother, he didn't need anyone's help… he… stood up on his own?