Chapter 221: It Really Looks Like Xun Er When He Was Little

The next day, Gongsun Yue arrived as scheduled.

Tuan Tuan and he played in the Prince's Mansion for a while, then sighed, "Mother Consort, I want to go strolling on the street with Xiao Yueyue."

Cheng Ru'an gladly agreed.

Xiao Er led the two of them to the bustling main street.

Tuan Tuan tugged Gongsun Yue as they ran about the street, and they both set their eyes on an endearingly clumsy mud doll: "Second Uncle! I want this! Two of them, one for me and one for Xiao Yueyue!"

Xiao Er handed over the silver and said, "Wrap it in two portions for me." Turning his head, he saw the two had already run to a stall on the opposite side of the street.

"Let's go! We'll check over there." Tuan Tuan pulled Gongsun Yue forward.

A man in a gray cloth short shirt, small and thin, lowered his head, his steps swift as he brushed past her, deftly hooking.

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan felt a lightness at her waist, looked down, and Mother Consort's hand‑embroidered little Sachet was gone!

"My Sachet!" she shouted.

The thief, after getting away with it, immediately slipped into a gap in the crowd and slipped toward a side alley.

"Stop!" Gongsun Yue darted out, his small body weaving through the crowd at lightning speed, chasing that gray figure.

"Xiao Yueyue!" Tuan Tuan also gave chase.

"Miss!" Xiao Er, no longer caring about the mud doll, felt a surge of urgency and hurried after them.

In the alley, the thief was smugly weighing the Sachet, when a child's low shout came from behind: "Put the thing down!"

The thief turned, saw only an ordinary‑dressed little boy, sneered, "Get lost, little brat!" and turned to leave.

Gongsun Yue's gaze hardened; he said no more.

He surged forward, using his short stature to his advantage, delivering a swift slide kick that precisely tripped the thief at the ankle!

"Ow!" the thief, caught off guard, cried out as he fell forward, the Sachet in his hand flying out.

Gongsun Yue rolled on the spot, deftly catching the Sachet.

The thief cursed as he scrambled up, about to strike, when he looked up and saw Tuan Tuan and Xiao Er also entering the alley, so he turned and fled deeper into the lane.

Gongsun Yue got up from the ground, clutching Tuan Tuan's Sachet tightly in his hand.

"Tuan Tuan, I retrieved it for you!" Gongsun Yue handed the Sachet to her.

Tuan Tuan pulled his arm, where the fabric was worn by the rough ground, oozing tiny specks of blood: "Are you hurt?"

Only then did Gongsun Yue feel his elbow burning hot with pain; looking down, he said, "It's no problem."

He whispered, "Your Sachet."

Tuan Tuan finally took it, her little mouth puckered, and her big eyes instantly clouded with tears: "It's bleeding, does it hurt?"

Gongsun Yue was stunned.

Since childhood he had been injured and sick; apart from Mother Consort, no one ever cared, and no one ever felt sad enough to weep over his minor wounds.

An unfamiliar, scorching feeling surged within him, leaving him at a loss.

"No… it doesn't hurt."

"Nonsense, it's bleeding! Let's hurry back and apply medicine!" Tuan Tuan tugged his uninjured hand: "Xiao Yueyue, thank you! You're truly amazing!"

"Second Uncle! Let's go home!"

Xiao Er, with one hand, lifted Tuan Tuan, and his other hand instinctively reached to hoist Gongsun Yue as well.

Gongsun Yue stepped back half a pace, evading.

Xiao Er's hand paused in midair, giving him a deep look: "Then stay close to me."

Back at the Prince's Mansion, Cheng Ru'an hurriedly ordered someone to fetch Golden Healing Medicine, personally cleaned his wound, sprinkled the powder, and carefully bandaged it.

Gongsun Yue sat obediently, not uttering a word.

Does this child even dare to cry out in pain?

Cheng Ru'an couldn't help asking, "Did you often get injured before?"

Gongsun Yue thought for a moment, then nodded.

Tuan Tuan asked curiously, "Why?"

Gongsun Yue whispered, "My Mother Consort was only a palace maid; Father Emperor has many consorts, and they all look down on her."

"They also look down on me; several imperial brothers always trouble me."

Tuan Tuan clenched her little fist: "Then you should beat them!"

Gongsun Yue lowered his head: "I have fought them, but they are many, and there are many servants; I can't win."

Tuan Tuan said angrily, "Then go complain to your Father Emperor! Let him deal with them!"

Gongsun Yue shook his head: "Father Emperor won't intervene; he has too many sons."

"He always says, the strong survive; those who cannot live are too weak, and the too weak shouldn't exist."

Tuan Tuan was stunned: "What nonsense is that? How can a father be like that!"

Cheng Ru'an shook his head, letting out a soft sigh.

No wonder this child is always timid; father doesn't care, mother can't protect him, and a place like the palace makes it hard for this child to have endured all these years.

She glanced at his worn clothes and said, "Grandma Liu, go to Xun Yu Study and fetch a piece of Xun Er's childhood clothing."

"Yes."

Soon the clothing arrived; Gongsun Yue tried it on, and it fit perfectly.

Cheng Ru'an looked at his slightly disheveled hair and said, "Come, let me comb you."

Gongsun Yue hurriedly replied, "I dare not trouble Princess Consort."

Cheng Ru'an smiled, "It's fine; when Xun Er was young, I often combed them, so sit still."

Gongsun Yue sat upright, motionless.

Cheng Ru'an re‑combed his hair, looked at him, and laughed, "This look really does resemble Xun Er when he was little."

Gongsun Yue rose and performed a salute: "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Cheng Ru'an looked at him, her heart growing softer: "Come have dinner with us at the Prince's Mansion tonight; going back alone would be rather boring."

Tuan Tuan, upon hearing, became happy: "Right! Let's eat together tonight."

Gongsun Yue was about to salute again, but Cheng Ru'an supported him: "No need for so much ceremony; it's too distant."

At dinner, aside from Xiao Ningchen being at the military camp, the whole family had gathered.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at Gongsun Yue, his gaze deep: "I heard from Xiao Er that you react quickly and your skills are not bad; have you trained before?"

Gongsun Yue replied: "I've been in many fights, so I've picked up a bit."

Xiao Ningyuan exclaimed upon hearing: "Exactly! How many truly apprenticed and trained hard? Most just learned from fighting."

Xiao Ningxun gave her elder brother a glance: "Big brother, you've never been able to endure hardship in training since childhood; it's certainly not from fighting!"

Everyone laughed.

Gongsun Yue watched them, realizing that this is what a family meal looks like—really nice.

After finishing the meal, Tuan Tuan clung to Xiao Yuanhang: "Daddy, I want to be lifted high!"

Upon hearing, Xiao Yuanhang scooped her up, tossed her into the air and caught her again; Tuan Tuan giggled nonstop: "Daddy lifts me the highest! Daddy is the best!"

Gongsun Yue looked up at them, his face full of envy.

This is the war god Prince Ning of Da Xia, at home.

It turns out, not all fathers are as cold and heartless as the Father Emperor.

After that day, Gongsun Yue and Tuan Tuan grew ever closer, almost inseparable.

The Prince Ning family also treated him with exceptional warmth.

Several days later, Song Jingxian's acceptance of Tuan Tuan as a disciple was celebrated with a initiation banquet at the Song Residence.

The Imperial Teacher issued invitations, and nearly all the dignitaries and nobles of Jingcheng came.

Xiao Yuanhang attended with his whole family in fine attire; Gongsun Yue, as Tuan Tuan's reading companion, changed into princely robes and came along as well.

Upon entering the Song Residence, Tuan Tuan ran to the backyard to find Song Shujun and her brother.

Gongsun Yue sat alone in a corner, unwilling to draw anyone's attention.

However, a voice of moderate volume still sounded: "Isn't that the Prince of Da Xia? Dressed so splendidly, I almost forgot you were a hostage."