Chapter 226: Come Over a Little Earlier

"Yes! Empress Dowager, please follow this old servant."

Cheng Jinyan led the Empress Dowager into the inner hall.

An Niang, her clothes neat, sat on the bed facing the wall, her body swaying gently, murmuring incoherently.

The Empress Dowager saw her, and her legs instantly gave way, collapsing to the ground.

They really know! They know everything!

The Empress Dowager wept aloud.

She had plotted every scheme, schemed all her life, for that supreme honor, and for the rise and glory of the Murong family.

She trod on countless corpses, using every underhanded method, to lift the Murong family to the pinnacle of the outer kin.

She never imagined that in the end, the Murong family would ascend because of her, yet also be doomed forever because of her.

Now only a bamboo basket fetching water remains, a void.

She not only destroyed herself, but also the matriarchal clan she had vowed to protect.

"Ha ha! Hahaha…" The Empress Dowager suddenly burst into a mad laugh, her laughter harsh and desperate.

The laughter startled An Niang, who was sitting on the bed.

She turned bewilderedly and looked at the Empress Dowager: "Who are you? Where is my child? Where is Yangyang?"

Xiao Jieyun entered: "I remember your kindness in raising me and will not hold you accountable."

"You remain in Shoucheng Palace, enjoy your twilight years. Cheng Jinyan, escort her back."

"Yes."

The Empress Dowager's steps were unsteady, stumbling as she walked out.

Xiao Jieyun walked to An Niang's side, grasped her hand: "An Niang, I, for the Empress, for you, have taken revenge."

An Niang looked confused: "Where is Yangyang?"

Xiao Jieyun looked at her, his heart sour, recalling that day's brief moment of her clarity.

Tuan Tuan, had it not been for you, An Niang could never have had that moment of clarity to speak of the past.

She would still be kept in the dark, mistaking the thief for a mother.

This time, being able to uproot the Murong family with legitimacy is also thanks to you.

He smiled faintly, "Tuan Tuan, Imperial Uncle thanks you."

This day, Ning Prince's Mansion.

Tuan Tuan and Gongsun Yue crouched on the ground watching ants relocate.

She held a piece of rice cake, pinched off a bite with her tiny hand, and placed it on the ground beside the ant colony.

Quickly, an ant crawled over, nudged the rice cake crumb, then zipped back to the colony.

"Look, look!" Tuan Tuan watched intently, "He went back to call other ants!"

Gongsun Yue stared fixedly: "Hmm, they've all arrived!"

A swarm of ants crawled to the rice cake, working together to lift the crumb.

Tuan Tuan pinched another piece, placed it in front of the previous one, took a few steps forward, crouched and dropped another piece.

Soon, the rice cake crumbs lined up on the ground, winding upward until beneath a large tree.

Gongsun Yue followed her: "Tuan Tuan, why do you want them to move their home under that tree?"

"It seems they originally intended to move over there." He raised his hand and pointed aside.

Tuan Tuan replied: "That spot is too low! Not good! If it rains, their home will be flooded."

"That tree is tall; they must move there to live properly."

Gongsun Yue's heart twitched, "Tuan Tuan!"

You, for a swarm of ants, pave the road so earnestly, fearing they drown, fearing they have nowhere to settle.

But what about me?

He looked at Tuan Tuan, his heart feeling blocked, both sour and astringent.

He envied those ants immensely.

If back then there had been someone like that, who could reach out and gently pull him away from the path leading to the abyss, how wonderful that would be.

He lowered his head, his drooping eyelids shielding the moisture in his eyes, and whispered, "Tuan Tuan, you're so kind."

"Tuan Tuan, what are you watching while crouched on the ground?" a familiar voice came from behind.

Tuan Tuan turned, stood up happily and rushed over: "Uncle Wang!"

Wang Mingrui scooped her up: "Not bad, a bit heavier than when you just returned to the capital."

Tuan Tuan clutched his neck, gazing at his face, wow, so handsome, never enough to look at!

Wang Mingrui looked at Gongsun Yue: "This child must be your study companion."

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Yeah! He's Xiao Yueyue!"

Gongsun Yue didn't know Wang Mingrui's status, nor how to address him, unsure of proper etiquette, and was at a loss, his face flushed.

Wang Mingrui smiled faintly: "No need for formalities, you play, I'll go to the study to find Yuan Heng."

He set Tuan Tuan down on the ground, patted her little head, and turned away.

Gongsun Yue watched his back: "He calls the Prince's name."

Tuan Tuan, unbothered: "Right! Uncle Wang and Daddy are really close!"

"Oh," Gongsun Yue continued, "Is he also a high official of your Liè Kingdom?"

"I don't know!" Tuan Tuan grabbed him and ran, "Let's go! Let's feed the fish!"

Study.

Wang Mingrui said: "I just deliberately took a look at that Da Xia hostage prince; I saw no flaw, just a six‑year‑old child."

Xiao Yuanhang furrowed his brow slightly: "Didn't you find anything?"

"It's not that," Wang Mingrui hesitated, "this matter leaves me at a loss."

"The news from Da Xia indeed mentions a prince named Gongsun Yue, but there is no rank listed, nor is his birth mother known."

Xiao Yuanhang, with a puzzled expression, asked, "What does that mean?"

Wang Mingrui explained, "In the Emperor of Xia's palace, whether a prince died young, was placed under house arrest, or perished, the jade genealogy records all contain entries. Mother, birthdate, birth order—everything is recorded."

"But for this 'Gongsun Yue,' the name exists; when he left Tianqi Cheng, the Emperor of Xia himself acknowledged him as a prince. Apart from that, everything else is blank."

"What's more strange is that when he departed, besides Gongsun Chi, he only went to see a newly appointed Cloud Consort. That Cloud Consort indeed once had a son, but that prince died young nine years ago."

Xiao Yuanhang furrowed his brow tightly, "It seems Gongsun Yue's background is a mystery. Could it be that Gongsun Chi recruited some wandering eccentric, took the prince's name, and sent him here?"

"Gongsun Chi, ever scheming, in order to get His Majesty to approve Gongsun Yue as Tuan Tuan's reading companion, even used the exchange of the jade seal as a pretext, showing his determination."

"What I can't understand is why he is so intent on leaving a six‑year‑old child by Tuan Tuan's side. What exactly is different about this Gongsun Yue?"

Wang Mingrui asked, "He's been a reading companion for some days now; haven't you noticed anything?"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head, "His words and actions are just those of a child; he gets along well with Tuan Tuan, and I haven't seen anything abnormal."

Wang Mingrui smiled faintly, "If you can't see it, just test him and it'll show."

Xiao Yuanhang also smiled, "That's exactly what I had in mind."

Wang Mingrui glanced at Tuan Tuan again; Tuan Tuan whispered a few words to him, he nodded, and took his leave.

That night, Gongsun Yue was kept by Cheng Ru'an at the Prince's Mansion for a meal.

Xiao Yuanhang said to Tuan Tuan, "Tomorrow dad will have a day off; shall we take the two of you to the mountains for hunting? Call Xiao Er, pick a few Guards, just the few of us, and have a good day of fun."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, "That's great!"

She looked at Gongsun Yue excitedly, "Come over early tomorrow!"

Gongsun Yue nodded obediently, "Alright."