Chapter 204

Zhang Wu'an slapped his thigh: "I get it now, Miss! This damn thing wasn't made in one place!"

He pointed at that crossbow bolt: "Someone divided the work of making arrowheads, shaping shafts, and adding fletching among several groups scattered across the land."

"Finally they found a place no ghost could touch, and gathered it all together!"

Xiao Ningchen nodded: "Even if the Private Objects Workshop is tightly run, it seems they couldn't stop this divide-and-conquer tactic."

"If we only investigate Jingcheng and Feng Zhou, we'll miss the point; we need to trace this hidden thread that strings together the Jiangnan Region."

Tuan Tuan had been completely confused, but here she finally understood.

It turned out the villains hadn't stolen the finished goods or blueprints from Feng Zhou.

They had quietly, in bits and pieces, delivered them to the villains in different places!

She tugged Xiao Ningchen's sleeve: "Second Brother, hurry and tell the Ministry of War officials to release Feng Zhou!"

Xiao Ningchen shook his head: "Tuan Tuan, I can report this to the Ministry of War right away, and I can also memorialize His Majesty to clarify the matter."

"But Feng Zhou, until this matter is cleared up, he definitely won't be released."

"After all, he's in charge of the Private Objects Workshop; now that the Workshop has suffered such a lapse, he bears full responsibility."

Seeing his sister's little face fall again, he rubbed Tuan Tuan's head: "But once this matter is cleared up, given his talent, he should be able to be reinstated and redeem himself through service."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Second Brother, that's great! Hurry and report it! Imperial Uncle is the Emperor; he'll surely get to the bottom of this!"

Xiao Ningchen picked her up: "All right! Go back first, don't worry—if we want to get to the bottom of this, it will certainly take some time."

"You go back and wait for good news, okay?"

Tuan Tuan nodded.

Xiao Ningchen carried her out of the camp, put her in the carriage, and told Xiao Er: "Go straight back to the mansion, no delays."

Tuan Tuan poked her head out the carriage window: "Uncles! Thank you! I'm heading back!"

"Miss! Come visit often!" The old soldiers were reluctant to let her go.

Back at the Prince's Mansion, Tuan Tuan ate her fill, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.

Cheng Ru'an tucked her in with a small blanket, then looked at her husband.

"Prince, Tuan Tuan ran around all day for Feng Zhou's sake. This child is truly sincere."

Xiao Yuanhang gazed at his daughter's sleeping face, eyes deep: "Our Tuan Tuan has always been like this—seeing a good friend wronged, she spares no effort to protect them fully."

He took his wife's hand: "This nature is like yours, and like mine."

"Loyal and righteous. But in this world, people's hearts are unfathomable; with her such sincerity, she'll surely suffer losses someday."

Cheng Ru'an leaned against her husband: "Let her suffer loss if she must. Yuanhang, you've fought half your life, guarding the Ning Prince's Mansion—isn't it so our children never have to learn those empty flatteries and false pretenses?"

"I only hope Tuan Tuan can stay like this, following her true heart, free of worry and care."

Xiao Yuanhang smiled, drawing his wife into his embrace: "An'er is right. Our Tuan Tuan ought to live openly and honestly, happily and freely."

He suddenly thought of something: "An'er, tomorrow take Tuan Tuan to the Guoshi Residence, prepare some generous gifts, and thank the National Preceptor for his strong assistance this time. Without what he gave Tuan Tuan, she couldn't have returned safely."

Cheng Ru'an nodded.

The next day, she prepared generous gifts and brought Tuan Tuan to the Guoshi Residence.

Cheng Ru'an expressed her gratitude in earnest words.

Chu Yuan gave a slight nod: "Princess Consort, you overpraise me; this is simply my duty."

Tuan Tuan took out the five-colored thread ball from her little sachet, walked up to Chu Yuan, and raised her small hand high:

"'National Preceptor! I'm returning this to you! Thanks! This treasure is awesome—it saw through your wicked junior's dream in an instant!'"

Her clear, childish voice echoed in the room.

Cheng Ru'an's smile froze instantly, her face showing embarrassment—this child!

Chu Yuan's hand paused slightly.

He looked at the little doll before him with a complex expression, face saying "quick, praise me," and took the thread ball: "Not bad, the Da Xia National Preceptor Wu Luo is exactly my wayward junior who went astray."

Tuan Tuan recalled something: "But why did he ask, 'He's actually still alive?'"

Chu Yuan fell silent for a moment, gave a wistful smile, and did not answer.

"'Princess (Commandery), my junior disciple possesses extraordinary talent, far surpassing mine.'"

"But he has devoted his life to the shortcut of drawing on others' vital energy to bolster himself, thus sinking deep into mire, unable to free himself."

"This time, though he suffered heavy injury, his foundation remains intact."

"The Way he cultivates is naturally adept at plunder and transfer. I only hope that after this defeat he can turn back from the wrong path."

Drawing on others' vital energy to bolster oneself...

"How come this line sounds familiar to me?"

Tuan Tuan lowered her head, thinking carefully.

"Ah! It's that dream! The tall senior brother said the same thing to the round-faced junior!"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "National Preceptor, did you used to live in a peach grove when you were little? Was your junior's face round as a child, always following you?"

Chu Yuan startled at her words, then gazed deeply at her.

He suddenly understood, and took something from his bosom.

It was a bronze key barely an inch long, covered in mysterious patterns, archaic and unadorned.

"'It seems the Princess (Commandery)'s wisdom and spirituality can already touch cause and effect. Come, open your hand.'"

Tuan Tuan opened her small hand, and Chu Yuan solemnly placed the bronze key into her palm.

"'Princess (Commandery), though your journey to Da Xia has been perilous, you have also turned misfortune into blessing, making great progress. Since that is so, I will give this to you.'"

"This object is called the Myriad Phenomena Key."

"Holding it, with a calm mind and focused spirit, you can observe the flow of qi and discern karmic entanglements."

"May you, with this wisdom, perform many good deeds, accumulate vast blessings, and thus not waste this heaven‑bestowed spirituality."

Tuan Tuan held the key, turning it over and over, examining it for a moment, then put it into the small sachet: "I know! Thank you, National Preceptor! You've given me another gift!"

"But." Xiao Tuanzi thought for a moment, "You've already given me two gifts; what should I give you in return?"

Chu Yuan smiled faintly: "Your treasures are useful only in your hands; there's no need for a return gift."

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly thanked him, taking Tuan Tuan and leaving the Guoshi Residence.

In the carriage, Tuan Tuan recalled Song Jingxian—Grandpa Song had given me a jade pendant that day; the National Preceptor doesn't require a return gift, but Grandpa Song will surely want one.

"Mother! Where does Grandpa Song live? He gave me a jade pendant; I want to find him and give him a return gift."

Cheng Ru'an, hearing her husband mention this before, said: "It's worth a trip; His Majesty granted a residence to Lord Song, right next to the imperial palace. Mother, shall I take you there?"

"Good!"

The mother and daughter arrived at the Song Residence; the servant reported and had them enter: "Please wait a moment, Lord Song will be here shortly."

"Wow! This is different from our home!" Tuan Tuan climbed onto a stool, leaned against the window, and looked toward the garden.

The courtyard was deep, yet there were no showy flowers like those of ordinary wealthy families; only a few old pines stood.

A blue stone chessboard lay quietly beneath the tree; a row of bamboo slips hung in the corridor, rustling softly in the breeze.

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Indeed, worthy of the Imperial Teacher's residence!"

Song Jingxian walked in, smiling: "Why have the Princess Consort Ning and the Commandery Princess come to see this old man today?"