Chapter 237

Xiao Yuanhang murmured: "Prince Chen's eldest legitimate son, Chen Hao?"

Cheng Ru'an wore a worried expression: "Prince, that child Chen Hao even pleaded for Tuan Tuan before His Majesty; he doesn't seem like someone who would do such a thing."

Although Prince Chen was indeed restless at the beginning of His Majesty's reign, these years he has stayed in his fief, observing his duties, without the slightest transgression. Could it be that he has harbored some other thought? Chen Hao is only doing this because he was ordered by Prince Chen.

Xiao Yuanhang pondered for a moment: "Continue the interrogation, separate them all and question them, let them explain all the details."

Yes.

Tuan Tuan slept sweetly until just before noon before waking, then got up and went to Lin Feng Ju.

"Xiao Yueyue! What are you doing?"

Gongsun Yue's complexion was rosy, wearing a faint smile: "Tuan Tuan! Grandma Zhou just made chrysanthemum cake, come and try it."

Tuan Tuan ran to the table, sat down, picked up a piece from the plate and handed it to Gongsun Yue: "You eat too! Grandma Zhou made this for you."

Then she also picked up a piece, took a bite: "So fragrant!"

With her cheeks bulging from the food, Tuan Tuan said: "Xiao Yueyue, is it warm enough here? If not, I'll have someone add two more charcoal basins for you."

Gongsun Yue nodded while eating: "Enough! Enough! I even sweat when I sleep at night; this place is really good! Before, I often would wake up frozen in the middle of the night."

Tuan Tuan felt heartbroken: "Xiao Yueyue, if I had known earlier how terrible your lodging was, I would have had you move in here long ago."

Gongsun Yue felt a soft sourness in his heart: "Tuan Tuan, you've already been good enough to me, thank you."

Tuan Tuan laughed: "You already said that! Right, shall we go see my big cat today? I haven't seen it in a long time."

"Big cat?"

"Yes! It's really beautiful! We'll go soon!"

The two Xiao Tuanzi finished their snacks, reported to Cheng Ru'an, then went to Wanlingyuan.

After petting the big cat to their heart's content in Wanlingyuan, they returned to the Prince's Mansion.

As the carriage just stopped, Xiao Er first carried Tuan Tuan down, and the elderly attendant hurried forward to help Gongsun Yue alight: "Your Highness, I haven't seen you in several days; are you well?"

Tuan Tuan glared at him, displeased: "He's fine, no need for you to worry!"

The elderly attendant bowed and replied: "Yes! Yes! Your Highness, since you reside here, everything is naturally fine. Your Highness, let me escort you inside."

Gongsun Yue understood, he had something to say to him: "Tuan Tuan, go inside first, let him accompany me for a while, it's fine."

Tuan Tuan gave the elderly attendant a sideways glance, said nothing more, and pulled Xiao Er's hand as she walked inside.

The elderly attendant carefully supported Gongsun Yue and whispered: "Your Highness, Consort Yun's health has not been good lately; if you don't hurry back, you might not even get to see her in time."

Gongsun Yue's heart skipped a beat: "What happened to Mother Consort?"

"I, the elderly attendant, am not sure either, but that's the report we received; Your Highness, you decide for yourself."

He slipped something into Gongsun Yue's hand: "Put it into Prince Ning's food; it will take effect the next day, undetectable by gods or ghosts, and then Your Highness can return to see Consort Yun."

Gongsun Yue clenched the object tightly in his hand, feeling panicked and confused.

At dinner, the whole family had gathered.

Servants brought up bowl after bowl of steaming hot soup.

While the soup was being served, Gongsun Yue rose under the pretense of arranging dishes, and his sleeve seemingly unintentionally brushed over the top of Xiao Yuanhang's soup bowl.

His fingertips trembled slightly, and the colorless, tasteless poison powder fell into the thick white broth, vanishing instantly.

He had just sat back down when he saw Xiao Yuanhang casually pick up the soup spoon, scoop a spoonful, and bring it to his lips.

Gongsun Yue stared intently at him, his breath catching suddenly.

"Prince! Someone from the Main Camp has come to see you!"

The servant hurried in to report.

Xiao Yuanhang put down the soup spoon: "You go ahead and eat, I'll be right back." He rose and walked out.

Gongsun Yue sat stiffly, a layer of cold sweat appearing on his back.

That bowl of poisoned soup remained untouched in its original place.

His extremely tense nerves suddenly relaxed, bringing on a wave of faintness; his face turned pale, and fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Xiao Yueyue, what's wrong with you?"

Tuan Tuan looked at him, extended her little finger to touch his forehead: "Your face is so pale! Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Everyone immediately turned their gaze to him, expressions filled with concern.

Cheng Ru'an walked over, felt his forehead: "It's not hot."

Gongsun Yue's heart lurched, he forced himself to calm and squeezed out a smile: "No, no, it's nothing. Perhaps I walked too long this afternoon in Wanlingyuan, my legs are a bit sore."

"I see." Xiao Ningyuan laughed, "It's nothing; at your age I was the same—any extra running makes my whole body ache the next day. Growing pains are like that for children."

Xiao Ningxun raised an eyebrow, looking at him teasingly: "Come on, big brother, among us three brothers, you're the one who can't endure hardship the most, which is why your martial arts are the worst now. It's just a habit of laziness from childhood."

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Ningyuan with wide-eyed amazement: "Wow, big brother, I didn't know you were so lazy as a child!"

Xiao Ningyuan's face flushed, he angrily punched Xiao Ningxun: "You talk too much! Always exposing my shortcomings in front of Tuan Tuan!"

Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Cheng Ru'an walked back to her seat, sat down, watched the children laughing and chatting, and shook her head with a smile.

Gongsun Yue also curled the corners of his mouth, but his heart felt as if it were being torn in two.

Prince Ning, you'd better not come back.

I can tell the elderly attendant that I've already taken care of things, but you were lucky—it didn't work out, so it's not my fault.

But if you don't come back to drink this bowl of soup, I won't be able to return to see Mother Consort.

Mother Consort is now gravely ill; am I not even allowed to go back and see her?

You had better come back quickly.

Tuan Tuan, you've been so good to me; if you knew I was the one who harmed your father, you would surely hate me.

I don't want you to hate me; you are my only friend.

Anxiety and worry, self-reproach and guilt, frantically scorching his five viscera and six bowels.

Under the torment as if ice and fire intertwined, he could barely keep the smile on his face.

Laughter inside the house had not ceased; Xiao Yuanhang returned, lifted his robe and sat down, reached out again, and picked up the soup spoon.

Gongsun Yue's heart, which had just slightly settled, leapt up to his throat again.

"Young miss," the servant hurried in again, "Someone outside who calls himself Lord Wang has come; he says that the matter you asked to inquire about has news."

Xiao Yuanhang's motion paused; he put down the soup spoon, looked at his daughter, and asked, "Tuan Tuan, what did you have Lord Wang Mingrui inquire about?"

Tuan Tuan's little face lit up: "Quick, let him in!"

Gongsun Yue felt his heart unable to rise or fall, as if it were being roasted over a fire repeatedly.

He could barely catch his breath.

A dust-covered man walked in and bowed.

Tuan Tuan, unable to wait, sprang up from the stool; Xiao Ningxun hastily reached out to steady him: "Be careful!"

The man lifted his head: "Princess, the news you requested about the recent situation of the Da Xia Consort Yun has just come back."