Chapter 217: Have You Ever Held a Grudge Against Anyone?

Tuan Tuan hurriedly comforted him: "Don't cry, we will definitely be able to cure sister's illness."

Tuan Tuan looked toward the bedside Hua Ping: "Sister Shujun, what did you buy when you went out shopping the day before yesterday?"

Hua Ping hurriedly wiped her tears with her sleeve: "In reply to the Princess, Miss bought a box of her usual face cream and also a painting."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Where?"

Hua Ping walked to the dressing table, took out an exquisite porcelain box, and handed it to her: "This is the box. Miss had the painting hung on the outer room wall."

Tuan Tuan opened the lid of the porcelain box, and a sweet, rich floral scent wafted over her face.

She held it to her nose and sniffed carefully, then turned it over and examined the porcelain box; after a moment, she returned it to Hua Ping: "There's nothing wrong with this; take me to see that painting!"

"Yes, please follow me, servant." Hua Ping hurriedly led the way.

The adults also hurriedly followed out.

Upon arriving in the outer room, Hua Ping raised her hand and pointed to the side wall: "Princess, this is it. Miss loved it greatly; the day she bought it, she stood before this painting for a long time."

Everyone looked up, and it was a painting titled "Jiangnan Misty Rain".

In the painting, the mountain hues are hazy, the water ripples gently, a few white-walled, dark-tiled houses are nestled within the misty waters; the atmosphere is serene and distant, the brushwork delicate.

Hua Ping whispered: "The scenery in this painting is very similar to the landscape near my family's old residence in the Jiangnan region."

"Miss took a liking to it at first sight in the Ink Rhythm Studio, was overjoyed, and upon returning ordered the servants to hang it here."

Tuan Tuan raised her head and examined the painting "Jiangnan Misty Rain".

"This painting is very clean, and there is no dark aura; where exactly does the dark aura on sister's body come from?"

She let her little head droop, full of confusion, and thought carefully.

Cheng Ru'an saw her daughter's little face scrunched up, felt heartbroken, stepped forward and stroked her hair: "Tuan Tuan, take a rest, don't tire yourself out."

"I'm fine, Mother." Tuan Tuan shook her head, refusing to give up.

She turned her head to look at Hua Ping: "Think again carefully—have only these two things been added to sister's room these days?"

Hua Ping thought carefully: "In reply to the Princess, I am certain."

"Although we also received many gifts earlier this year, Miss merely glanced at them and ordered the servants to store them in the warehouse; none were left in the room."

Tuan Tuan pressed her lips together and pat-pat-patted back to the inner room's dressing table, picked up the cosmetic box again, examined it thoroughly, then ran back.

She reached out her little hand toward Xiao Yuanhang: "Father, hold me!"

Xiao Yuanhang immediately bent down and held his daughter steady in his arms.

Tuan Tuan pointed at the painting: "Come closer, Father! Even closer!"

Xiao Yuanhang followed her words, stepping forward until Tuan Tuan's nose was almost touching the paper of the painting.

Tuan Tuan lay her whole body on the painting, eyes wide open, scanning the paper bit by bit, inch by inch.

Suddenly, she stretched out her little hand and pointed at a spot in the painting: "Huh? There's a person in here!"

Everyone heard this, immediately gathered forward, and focused their gaze in the direction she pointed.

Only see: within that white-walled, dark-tiled house, there is a tiny inconspicuous window; inside the window, a young maiden leans against the sill, gazing softly at the scenery outside.

Song Jingxian was astonished: "This painting is actually this detailed!"

Cheng Ru'an sighed: "The painter's thought is too ingenious. But what's the use of painting something so tiny?"

Tuan Tuan extended her little finger and gently touched the girl in the painting.

"Huh? Why is this spot thicker than elsewhere? And it's hard!"

She dug in hard.

"Rip."

A slight tearing sound rang out; the small piece of painting paper where the girl was, which she had dug out, tore off and floated down.

And at the damaged spot, a Talisman only the size of a fingernail, dark yellow in color and triangular in shape, also floated down with the paper scrap to the ground.

Tuan Tuan slipped from her father's embrace to the floor, picked up the Talisman, held it before her eyes and examined it carefully: "Father! This depicts a worm, exactly the same as the one you had before!"

Xiao Yuanhang's face changed dramatically; he hurriedly squatted down and looked over at his daughter's little hand.

Only see: within the Talisman's intricate patterns, there actually is a Gu Worm design!

"Netherworld Peak?!"

Tuan Tuan handed the Talisman to Hua Ping: "Quick! This is the evil thing that made sister sick! Quickly burn it!"

Hua Ping did not dare delay; she carefully pinched it with her fingertips and quickly walked to the corner's charcoal brazier, throwing it in.

"Sizzle——"

A wisp of extremely thin black smoke shot up from the charcoal fire, carrying a faint fishy odor, then vanished without trace.

Tuan Tuan turned and ran back to the bedside of Song Shujun; the adults also hurriedly followed inside.

She again focused her gaze; the black aura on Song Shujun's body had completely disappeared, her pallid complexion regained a hint of color, her empty eyes slowly closed, her breathing became even and prolonged, and she sank into a deep sleep.

Tuan Tuan touched her own chest and gave Song Zhulin a sweet smile: "Sister is all right now!"

Song Zhulin's eyes lit up: "Really? Sister's better? But why is she still ignoring me?"

"Sister is tired," Tuan Tuan explained to him, "the dark aura clung to her, she felt awful, and she hasn't slept well for several days."

"Now that the evil thing is gone, she needs to sleep well. When she wakes up, she'll be just like before, playing with you!"

Song Zhulin then finally put his mind at ease: "Mm! Thank you, Tuan Tuan!"

Cheng Ru'an couldn't help but murmur: "May the True Person protect us!"

Xiao Yuanhang's gaze was deep: "Let her rest well; you two go outside to play, we'll go to the main hall for a cup of tea."

Song Jingxian instructed Hua Ping: "Take good care of her."

The three of them arrived at the main hall and took their seats.

Song Jingxian's expression was solemn: "Today we owe much to Tuan Tuan, who saved Shujun's life. I will keep this in mind."

"Although Tuan Tuan is young, she already possesses such discernment and responsibility; this is truly heavenly blessing."

Cheng Ru'an quickly said, "Master Song, you overpraise him; that Tuan Tuan can form an affinity with Shu Jun's siblings is also her blessing."

Song Jingxian looked at Xiao Yuanhang, his gaze piercing: "Yuanhang, I wish to take Tuan Tuan as my closed-door disciple, to impart all my learning wholeheartedly."

Xiao Yuanhang was startled by the words, then showed a troubled expression: "Master, your kindness is overwhelming, I am deeply grateful. However, Tuan Tuan is already the teacher of Cui Jiziu of the Guozijian, a fact known throughout the capital. If he were to become your disciple as well, I fear it would offend Cui Jiziu's dignity."

Song Jingxian smiled faintly: "Tuan Tuan is so young, yet already the teacher of Cui Daisheng? I truly hadn't expected that."

He thought for a moment: "No problem! Cui Daisheng and I are extremely familiar; I will personally write a letter to him, explaining everything clearly."

"When the initiation feast arrives, I will invite him to take the seat of honor, and publicly declare that although Tuan Tuan enters my door, he is not of the same lineage as Cui Jiziu, so there will naturally be no conflict."

"As for you, Yuanhang, although you have previously listened to my lectures, this acceptance of a disciple concerns only my affinity with Tuan Tuan; henceforth, our official interactions will have nothing to do with this. Would that settle things completely?"

Xiao Yuanhang rose and bowed: "Thank you, sir, for considering my daughter so thoroughly! For Tuan Tuan to receive your instruction is what I, the Prince, could only wish for."

Cheng Ru'an also rose and bowed: "Thank you, Master Song!"

Song Jingxian beamed with delight: "Good! Good! I never expected that, in my twilight years returning to the capital, I could still take on such a fine talent as a disciple—how gratifying! Please, be seated."

The two sat down again.

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Sir, today's affair is certainly no coincidence."

"That talisman was hidden so secretly; it is truly malicious and deceitful. Ponder carefully: since returning to the capital, have you ever formed any grudge with anyone?"

Song Jingxian pondered for a long time, then slowly shook his head: "I have only been back in the capital a short while; I have not yet formed any grudge with anyone."

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Please rest assured, sir, the Ning Prince's Mansion will certainly not stand idly by. To use such vicious means to harm the loyal and good—such a heart deserves punishment! I will surely get to the bottom of this!"

Song Jingxian let out a long sigh: "Thank you for your trouble."

"By the way, what insect did Tuan Tuan mention earlier?"

Xiao Yuanhang replied: "I, the Prince, am not entirely clear either; I have only seen it before."

Having said that, he rose to take his leave, and together with Cheng Ru'an, he brought Tuan Tuan away from the Song Residence.

Returning to the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Yuanhang summoned Xiao Er: "Go at once to investigate! Look into the details of the Mo Yun Zhai, and examine that painting 'Jiangnan Mist and Rain' to determine exactly who painted it!"

"'Yes!' Xiao Er received the order and departed."