Chapter 2: Ancestors manifest their spirit!

Cheng Ru'an stared, "What... does the Taoist Priest mean?"

"Taoist Priest Grandpa! I'm back!" Tuan Tuan came bouncing back, the small bundle on her back obviously bulging more than when she just left, "Whose carriage is at the gate? Is it my parents'?"

The old Taoist said nothing.

How would I know whether it is or not!

However, it's strange to say, today only this one worshipper entered the door; usually even if it's desolate, it's never this bad.

Could this noble person really be Tuan Tuan's mother?

Cheng Ru'an lowered her head to look at Tuan Tuan, what a clever little appearance! Those little dimples on her face are exactly the same as mine, even in the same spot!

Tuan Tuan also lifted her little face to look at her, so pretty, I just want to snuggle: "My name is Tuan Tuan! Are you my mother?"

Cheng Ru'an looked at her, and hearing that "mother" made her heart tremble.

As it turned out, this child was Tuan Tuan.

Recalling how she had just visited three Taoist temples, asking all the way for the Tuan Tuan master, Cheng Ru'an could only feel both amused and exasperated.

"Do you know your parents' names? Where is your home?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "How would I know!"

The old Taoist hurriedly interjected, explaining how Tuan Tuan had been raised here: "It just so happens that it's been exactly five years; well, this child has been waiting here for most of the day."

He took out that note from five years ago from his sleeve, unfolded it intending to hand it over, only to discover in surprise that the paper was blank, the handwriting having vanished!

He froze instantly, wondering, could it be that I was seeing things back then?

Impossible! I've looked at it more than ten times!

He glanced at Cheng Ru'an, then at Tuan Tuan, the two smiling at each other, the dimples on their faces constantly flashing.

It's heaven's will!

He slipped the note back into his sleeve: "I've been worried; if the parents momentarily forgot to come, it would hurt the child's heart, don't you think?"

Cheng Ru'an looked at Tuan Tuan, a strange sense of intimacy welled up in her heart, a feeling she had never experienced before.

Without a second thought, she blurted: "Would you be willing to let me be your mother? Come home with me, and I'll make whatever you want to eat."

Tuan Tuan looked at her face, her big eyes blinking.

Cheng Ru'an's hands trembled slightly, afraid that if she said she wouldn't go, she wouldn't know what to do.

Tuan Tuan's face broke into a brilliant smile, her two little dimples sinking deep: "Great! Does your house have any treasures I can pick up?"

Cheng Ru'an's heart settled in her stomach, unable to hold back a laugh: "What treasures do you want to pick up?"

"As long as I like it, I want it!" Tuan Tuan declared confidently, as long as no one is around, I can pick it up! Once I pick it up, it's mine! "I want to pick it up and hide it away, could it be useful?"

Cheng Ru'an bent down, pulling her into her embrace: "Great! My manor is huge, huge; whatever you like, you can pick up!"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Then shall we go home now?"

"Exactly!"

"Mother!" Tuan Tuan buried her little face in Cheng Ru'an's neck crook: "You came to pick me up, I'm so happy! Eh, where's Father?"

Her little face was icy cool and soft, rubbing against the neck made it itch; Cheng Ru'an's heart trembled, she bent down and lifted her: "Father's health isn't good, he's resting at home; we'll see him when we get back. Come on, Mother will take you home."

Tuan Tuan nodded: "From now on, everything I pick up I'll keep at home."

"Good! I'll keep them stored for you, no one is allowed to touch them."

"Mother is so wonderful!" Tuan Tuan softly nestled into the Princess Consort's embrace.

The old Taoist saw the two to the carriage side, Tuan Tuan waved at him: "Taoist Priest Grandpa! I'm leaving! Wait for me to come pick you up!"

The old Taoist wrung his hands anxiously: "Come on, come on, once we're down the mountain it'll be dark. If we don't leave now, you might even drag that broken well on Houshan back with you."

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips, then followed Cheng Ru'an onto the carriage, heading down the mountain.

"Master, was Tuan Tuan really taken away by her parents?" The two little Taoists returned, seeing the carriage's distant silhouette.

"Heaven's secrets must not be leaked." The old Taoist said that, then humming a little tune, he bounced all the way back to the temple.

The short little Taoist tugged at the tall Taoist's sleeve: "Senior Brother! Isn't this great piece of news worth us going to have a couple of drinks?"

The tall Taoist shook his head repeatedly: "Not just that! We also need a chicken to make it enough!"

The two exchanged a smile.

The carriage swayed gently along the downhill path, Tuan Tuan leaned against her mother, half-asleep.

Cheng Ru'an held Tuan Tuan, for some reason feeling completely at ease, she was thinking, tomorrow I'll bring this child to see the Prince? I don't know if it'll frighten her.

"Gah—click!"

A sharp, piercing abnormal sound suddenly came from beneath the carriage, followed immediately by the sound of wood breaking!

The entire carriage jolted violently, then lurched to a halt in the middle of the road.

"Whoa—!" The driver strained hard on the reins, finally controlling the startled horses.

"What's going on?" Granny Liu hurriedly steadied the Princess Consort and called out loudly.

The driver jumped off the carriage shaft, crouched to inspect, then exclaimed in shock: "How is this possible! The axle broke?!"

Cheng Ru'an led Tuan Tuan off the carriage, brows slightly furrowed: "Didn't you check before we set out?"

"Your Ladyship, I assure you! I checked three times before departure."

"The axle wood is solid, absolutely no problem! But look at this break," he pointed at the fractured spot, "the inside is completely hollow! It's as if it were worm-eaten, yet this is clearly fine hardwood—how could it just be hollowed out?"

Granny Liu asked the driver: "Is there any way to join it?"

The driver hesitated: "I'll go look around, see if there's anything usable." With that, he ran off toward the woods beside the mountain.

Granny Liu pointed in another direction: "My lady, I'll go check over there."

"Go ahead."

Tuan Tuan rubbed her eyes: "Mother, the carriage can't move, right?"

Cheng Ru'an nodded, brows furrowed tight: "Out in these wilds, if we can't go on, what are we to do?"

My Ning Prince's Mansion is truly plagued by so many setbacks!

Tuan Tuan squatted down and pointed at the broken spot: "Mother! If we fix this, we can keep going, right?"

Cheng Ru'an nodded.

Tuan Tuan set the small bundle on her back down on the ground, opened it, rummaged through it, and pulled out a short, black, inconspicuous wooden stick she had just picked up today, looking very satisfied.

She tossed the stick at the carriage casually: "Fix it quickly! Don't delay my return home!"

A faint glimmer flashed, and the stick vanished.

Cheng Ru'an covered their mouth in surprise.

The snarling crack writhed and sealed at a speed visible to the naked eye!

But in the blink of an eye it was restored to its original state, even the wood grain joined seamlessly, as if it had never been broken.

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands in satisfaction, stood up, leapt into Cheng Ru'an's arms, and nudged her head: "All right, Mother! We can go home now!"

Cheng Ru'an held her warm, soft little body tightly.

I've got a lucky star—going home!

May the immortal deities protect us! Ancestors, show your spirit!

Liu Grandma and the driver came back and stared dumbfounded.

Done? At this hour? Who repaired it? How could that be!

"Ahem." Cheng Ru'an cleared their throat lightly, "The incense here is flourishing; it must be under the protection of a true immortal, nothing surprising."

Liu Grandma couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Flourishing incense? Princess Consort, haven't you noticed that broken temple—today it's just our family as the worshippers?

Cheng Ru'an, feeling a bit guilty, said, "Let's return to the mansion."

Ning Prince's Mansion, Xiao Yuanhang on his sickbed.

Princess Consort Fang Qingyan carefully tucked the blanket corner for the motionless Prince on the couch, murmuring softly, "Prince, you truly endure—it's almost three years now."

She gazed at Xiao Yuanhang's face, her lips slowly curving.

Even if your battle merits are illustrious, what does it matter? The Princess Consort's lap is empty; when you pass away, this hereditary throne will ultimately fall into Uncle Two's hands, right? It hasn't been for nothing that I've endured all these years.

Poor Princess Consort burns incense for you day after day, hum—what good does it do?

She rose slowly: "Jinxiu, go, back to Defying Frost Pavilion."

"Yes!"