Chapter 229: A Tattered One Among the Rags

Gongsun Yue hurriedly replied, "Prince! I am indeed not the biological son of Consort Yun; that imperial brother has long been gone."

"My birth mother was merely a palace maid who had long since died."

"Consort Yun, she has a kind heart; seeing that I was frail and often ill, bullied by others, she raised me by her side. In my heart, I have long regarded her as my birth mother."

"The Father Emperor said that sending me to the Fiery Kingdom as the 'son of Consort Yun' was only for the sake of appearances."

His heart pounded; this was the excuse the Father Emperor had taught him when he left that day.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at him without giving a verdict.

The story sounded seamless, yet it still failed to explain why he only had a name without a mother consort or a birth order.

It seemed he had already understood this excuse fully.

The more thoroughly he prepared, the more it indicated there must be a hidden scheme.

Tuan Tuan listened with great sympathy: "Xiao Yueyue, so your mother consort wasn't your biological mother!"

Gongsun Yue felt a pang in his heart: Yes, but he couldn't admit it.

He nodded, his heart choked with discomfort.

Xiao Yuanhang continued, "On the day we went hunting, did you mention it to anyone?"

Gongsun Yue's heart hammered like a drum.

He pretended to ponder, "Yes, after I returned, I spoke of it with Yu Gonggong."

"Do you mean that eunuch in the Zhi Hall?"

After Xiao Er sent him back that day, he had already reported everything in the Zhi Hall.

Gongsun Yue nodded, "Right, that's him. His name is Yu Jinzhong, he came with me by the Father Emperor's order, originally an inner constant attendant of the palace; the Father Emperor trusted him greatly."

"How I have been here, what I have done, he has been sending reports to Da Xia to inform the Father Emperor."

Xiao Yuanhang looked at him, "Could it be that eunuch who plotted the assassination that day?"

Gongsun Yue lowered his head after speaking, a faint smile curling his lips.

Yu Gonggong, if Prince Ning discovers you, then please seek your own blessings.

Tuan Tuan, puzzled, "Father! Are you done? I still have to go feed fish with Xiao Yueyue!"

Xiao Yuanhang laughed, "Play something else, stop worrying about those fish. You two are so careless, the fish are almost bursting from being overfed; don't feed them for a few days."

He placed his daughter on the ground, "Go, go out and play."

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan grabbed Gongsun Yue's hand and ran out.

Xiao Yuanhang watched their backs, "Xiao Er! Send someone to keep an eye on that Yu Gonggong!"

"Yes!"

The next day, a summons for Tuan Tuan arrived at Ning Prince's Mansion.

Xiao Ningxun opened it and saw that Su Yuheng invited Tuan Tuan to dine at Suijin Pavilion in the evening.

"Why has Su Yuheng set his sights on Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Ningyuan leaned over to glance, "But the letter he sent last time was indeed useful. What does he want this time?"

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Last time he appeared, you two were present; tonight you both accompany Tuan Tuan, and bring Xiao Er along."

"Yes, Father."

That evening, in the elegant hall of Suijin Pavilion, Tuan Tuan ordered a large spread; just as they began to eat, Su Yuheng arrived as promised.

A few adults exchanged brief pleasantries; Su Yuheng looked at Tuan Tuan, "Princess, you truly have not disappointed me."

Tuan Tuan was startled, "Oh, you mean the letter you sent last time?"

Su Yuheng nodded.

Tuan Tuan giggled, "It has nothing to do with me; I can't even read what's written on it. In the future, don't give me any letters, just give them to my brothers!"

Xiao Ningxun patted her little head, "Very good, eat."

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan continued to eat silently.

Su Yuheng smiled faintly, "Last time, I was merely testing the waters; I trusted the Princess, but for others I had only heard rumors, so I dared not take it lightly."

He clasped his fists toward the two brothers, "I, Su, have been rude, offending you, offending you."

The two returned the salute, "No problem."

Xiao Ningxun went straight to the point, "Young Master Su, Tianji Pavilion is already implicated in the Private Goods Workshop case; as someone within, why do you expose its secret yourself?"

"Since last time you sent a letter to test the waters, and the result is now clear, why do you still invite my sister today? I don't know what you truly intend."

Su Yuheng's smile faded, "To be frank, I have a request today."

The two brothers exchanged a glance.

Xiao Ningyuan said, "I used to be a traveling merchant for many years, essentially a wanderer of the jianghu. Jianghu folk all say, 'Within Tianji Pavilion one can watch the constellations, the universe lies in the palm.'"

"Regarding the swiftness of information and the depth of connections, Young Master Su can be said to hold the bull's ear of the jianghu. I wonder what matter could bring him to the Ning Prince's Mansion?"

Su Yuheng stared at them, "Today's Tianji Pavilion is no longer the Tianji Pavilion of old; it has long lost its autonomy."

Xiao Ningyuan was shocked, "Why is that?"

Su Yuheng hesitated a moment, then sighed, "Many rebellious acts within the pavilion were not my desire; they were forced upon me by others, compelled."

"I reveal its secret because, if this continues, the decades‑long foundation of Tianji Pavilion will be destroyed in an instant."

"Not only Tianji Pavilion, the whole world may fall into war, with countless lives suffering."

"Though I, Su, am unworthy, I would not dare to become the ancient sinner who brings such calamity upon the people."

Xiao Ningxun's eyebrows furrowed, "War erupting everywhere?"

Su Yuheng looked earnestly at Tuan Tuan, "Princess, you pray for rain for the people and summon the golden dragon; your divine powers are vast, which is why I wish to ask you to act."

Tuan Tuan looked up at him, "What are you doing?"

"Save my father, who is being controlled by a Gu Worm, his life worse than death."

"If the Princess (Commandery) can rescue my father from his predicament, everyone in Tianji Pavilion is willing to obey the Princess's orders from now on, to brave fire and water without hesitation! That day I gave the chief token to the Princess as a sign of sincerity."

Gu Worm?

Tuan Tuan's little face scrunched up: "Is it that broken summit again?"

Xiao Ningxun replied: "Nether Summit."

Su Yuheng's face showed surprise: "You know the Nether Summit?"

Tuan Tuan waved her little fist: "We know! They're the ones who made dad sick! Using that worm! They also hurt Sister Shu Jun!"

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Young Master Su means that, because of Tianji Pavilion's power, the Gu Worm poisoned the old master at the Nether Summit, causing you to obey him?"

Su Yuheng nodded: "Exactly so!"

"From what the Princess (Commandery) says, could Prince Ning also have been harmed by it?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Yes! They made dad, when he just woke up, know nothing and forbid me from touching anything!"

Su Yuheng hurriedly asked: "Do you know how Prince Ning got rid of that Gu Worm?"

"With a bell!"

"A bell?"

Tuan Tuan was proud: "Yes! The little bell I found! It's so powerful!"

Su Yuheng sprang up: "Princess (Commandery), may I borrow that bell for a moment?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Sure!"

Su Yuheng bowed deeply: "Thank you, Princess (Commandery)." After speaking, his eyes darted eagerly toward the three siblings, clearly impatient to get the copper bell.

Even a matter of heaven cannot delay Tuan Tuan from eating!

Xiao Ningxun said: "Young Master Su, please sit for a moment; after my sister finishes eating, we will return to the mansion together."

Su Yuheng: "…"

After a while, Su Yuheng followed the three siblings into Ning Prince's Mansion and arrived at the dilapidated room where Tuan Tuan lives.

Su Yuheng, with a shocked expression, looked at the room full of junk: "The treasure is here, here?"

Tuan Tuan, excitedly: "Yes! Look, these are all the treasures I picked up! Mother specially gave me this room!"

"Little bell, where are you?"

Tuan Tuan searched everywhere, and finally in a corner uncovered a dust‑covered, inconspicuous small copper bell.

She grabbed it, nodded with satisfaction, walked up to Su Yuheng and raised it: "Here it is!"

Su Yuheng's face stiffened: "Princess (Commandery), you aren't mistaken, right? This is the treasure that can destroy that Gu Worm?"

It's clearly just a piece of junk from the pile of trash!