Chapter 224: Go, don't mind me

After the eunuch retreated, only Gongsun Yue remained in the room.

He opened the stopper, poured the dark brown pill inside into his mouth, and swallowed it down with his saliva.

A hint of bitterness scraped his throat, followed by a familiar chill that dispelled the faint ache deep in his marrow.

He endured another month.

He subconsciously slipped the porcelain bottle into his sleeve, but touched something else.

He hesitated slightly, then took it out.

It was precisely the osmanthus candy that Tuan Tuan had stuffed into his hand today.

He stared at his palm, then clenched his hand tightly.

Wu Luo's snake-like eyes seemed to appear before him again.

"Your Majesty, this child is precocious, overly clever, and does not believe in ghosts and gods."

"He is not a devout believer, merely going through the motions for me; he cannot be made a divine child—perhaps we should choose someone else for this great task."

Father Emperor glanced at me, his gaze instantly turning icy.

"Then, according to the National Preceptor, what use is this child?"

Wu Luo looked at me, the smile at his lips sending a chill through my heart: "Since he is so adept at disguise, having nearly deceived even me, perhaps we should let him continue as he is."

"He is already six; my newly concocted secret medicine can keep his form and voice fixed as they are today. Please consider, Your Majesty—who would suspect a young child?"

Father Emperor also laughed, a laugh that frightened me: "The National Preceptor truly has skill and cunning! Since it is so, let us follow his advice."

From then on, I entered the endless hell.

As I grew older, enduring after taking that secret medicine became increasingly unbearable.

Each time it felt as if countless red-hot steel needles were piercing out from deep within my marrow, stirring, tearing, making my bones creak all over.

Such days passed for a full seven years, and my body finally remained forever at the age of six.

When Wu Luo told me I no longer needed to take that secret medicine, I naively thought I could finally escape the sea of suffering.

I never expected.

"This is the Bone-eroding Pill; you must take one each month. Otherwise, this six-year-old form cannot be maintained."

I looked at him: "What if I don't take it?"

He smiled faintly: "Then your bones and meridians will be severed throughout your body, like death by a thousand cuts."

From then on, I lingered in this body that would never grow, daily mingling with children, trying to forget that I am actually fifteen.

Over these years, the only thing sustaining my life has been Mother Consort.

Without Mother Consort, I would likely have already killed myself.

But I must endure; otherwise, what would become of Mother Consort?

She is so beautiful, so delicate; in that ruthless inner palace, she has no lineage, no favor—only me.

She always holds me while weeping; I have never told her how bitter my life is, but I know she knows.

Before coming to the Fierce Kingdom, Father Emperor granted her a consort's rank, saying it would protect her from bullying as long as I could kill Prince Ning.

I went to bid her farewell; she whispered in my ear, "Go, don't mind me."

But how could I not care? She is the only one in this world who has been kind to me.

I am so tired; the medicine's effect is rising.

If I do not take this medicine, I will die.

If I take this medicine, I would rather be dead.

Gongsun Yue peeled the osmanthus candy, placed it in his mouth, and its sweet fragrance melted there.

"Call me Tuan Tuan; I'll call you Xiao Yueyue, all right?"

"Shh! Keep it quiet—don't let Snow Clothes hear; it doesn't know anyway!"

"It's bleeding—does it hurt?"

Tuan Tuan, I have never seen such a smart and lovable child.

Just like this osmanthus candy, so sweet, so good.

"Daddy! I want to play 'raise high'!"

Do I really have to kill her father?

Gongsun Yue staggered and fell onto the bed, falling asleep.

The next day, Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningxun were off duty at home; Tuan Tuan was overjoyed, dragging the two brothers out to stroll the streets.

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "With the National Preceptor out, our Tuan Tuan can finally cut loose—no need to go to the Guoshi Residence every other day."

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Exactly!"

She grabbed her elder brother with one hand and the third brother with the other, eager to rush out of the residence.

Xiao Ningxun laughed, scooped her back, carefully fastened the hood of her little cape, examined it: "Looks good! Let's go."

Xiao Ningyuan laughed heartily: "Tuan Tuan, whatever you fancy today, big brother will buy it for you!"

"Big brother! That windmill is so pretty!"

"Buy it! Buy the whole cart!"

"Big brother, this clay figurine looks just like third brother!"

"Buy it! Wrap up all the clay figurines on the stall!"

"Big brother, look at that little guy making sugar figurines!"

"Buy it! Buy that little guy!"

Tuan Tuan: "……"

Xiao Ningxun: "……"

Big brother! I mean, he looks like Third Elder Brother!

Oh!

The three of them laughed until they bent forward and backward, and even Xiao Er, who was following behind, couldn't help bursting into laughter.

But after only strolling half a street, the attendants following them already had their arms full of all kinds of little trinkets, and even Xiao Er was holding a colorful pinwheel bigger than his face.

Xiao Ningxun laughed and shook his head: "Big brother, if you keep buying like this, our mansion could open a general store."

Xiao Ningyuan didn't mind, his face full of indulgence: "As long as Tuan Tuan likes it, what's wrong with buying the whole street?"

He bent down, picked up a butterfly hairpin inlaid with pearls from the stall beside him, held it up to Tuan Tuan's temples, and said, "This suits my sister; wrap it up."

Tuan Tuan giggled, her little face glowing with delight.

Xiao Ningxun was thoughtful, noticing Tuan Tuan sniffle her little nose: "Are you tired from walking? Suijin Pavilion is just ahead; let's rest and have something to eat, okay?"

"Okay!" Tuan Tuan nodded immediately, grabbing both of their big hands, "Let's go to Suijin Pavilion to eat something delicious!"

"Second Uncle! Keep up!"

"All right!" Xiao Er replied loudly.

Just as they entered Suijin Pavilion, the shopkeeper Du Qing personally came forward, smiling broadly as he led them to the finest private room on the top floor.

Soon the dishes were all served, and Tuan Tuan was just about to dig in.

The door of the private room was gently knocked.

They glanced at each other, wondering, "Who?"

Xiao Ningxun called out, "Please come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and a young man holding a lustrous white jade flute, dressed in a pale blue robe, appeared at the doorway, the corners of his mouth smiling as his gaze fell directly on Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Ningxun frowned and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

Xiao Ningyuan was more direct: "Hey! Why are you staring at my sister like that?"

That person then glanced at the two brothers, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "It seems my luck is good—I actually managed to encounter Princess Jiayou here by chance."

He gave a slight smile: "I am Su Yuheng, the Young Master of Tianji Pavilion; I apologize for the intrusion."