Chapter 242

The expected bitterness did not appear; instead the sweet taste of honey instantly melted on the tongue, then a cool sensation flowed from the throat through the whole body.

"How is it?" Tuan Tuan tugged at his collar, staring at him tightly.

"It seems... it really does work."

Gongsun Yue, incredulous, patted his chest: this is the feeling!

It really is this feeling! Exactly the same as after taking the Bone-eroding Pill!

Heaven! Could it be that Tuan Tuan actually succeeded?

I'm free? From now on I no longer have to humbly wait for the National Preceptor to grant medicine, nor be driven by others?

The overwhelming surprise made his whole body freeze.

Xiao Er, standing aside, was also dumbfounded: Miss, are you really not playing?

That's Wu Luo's secret medicine!

Tuan Tuan's eyebrows instantly brightened; she casually grabbed another and popped it into her mouth: "I told you it works! From now on we'll do it every day, that'll drive that nasty National Preceptor mad!"

"Miss! You can't eat that!" Xiao Er hurriedly lunged forward, picking up the plate holding the 'sugar beans'.

Tuan Tuan ate happily: "Why can't I eat it? Uncle Er, you try one too, it's sweet and delicious!"

Xiao Er shook his head vigorously; if it truly works, then it's medicine! You can't just eat it!

In Li Xiang Yuan.

Mo Zhanggeng entered, beaming, holding the newly obtained snow frog; at a glance he saw two pits on the ground.

The medicine boy's heart instantly lifted.

Mo Zhanggeng's eyes widened: "Who dares to be so bold! To pull out my Purple Star Herb?"

The medicine boy hurriedly replied: "It was Little Princess; she said she was going to the kitchen to make, make sugar beans!"

"Sugar beans?"

Mo Zhanggeng stormed into the kitchen, only to see Tuan Tuan standing on tiptoe, sprinkling dried osmanthus onto the "sugar beans", while Gongsun Yue carefully helped fan the coolness.

Mo Zhanggeng lunged forward in a single arrow step, pointing at the steamer with anguish: "Wasting precious resources! Wasting precious resources!"

Tuan Tuan blinked her innocent big eyes, raised a still steaming sugar bean: "Divine Doctor Grandfather! Want a taste? So sweet!"

"Sweet? What sweet! Do you know that Purple Star Herb—" He was cut off, then suddenly twitched his nose, grabbed a sugar bean and examined it closely.

"This... is this yours?" He looked at Tuan Tuan in disbelief.

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan proudly puffed her little chest, "I made it for Xiao Yueyue! He just ate one and said it's effective!"

Mo Zhanggeng hurriedly seized Gongsun Yue's wrist and placed his own hand on it.

Gongsun Yue had never seen him; his heart startled, and he couldn't dodge in time.

Mo Zhanggeng's expression shifted from fury to shock to ecstatic: "It really can suppress the Bone-eroding pain?"

Gongsun Yue quickly asked: "Divine Doctor, do you mean that from now on I can just eat the sugar beans Tuan Tuan makes?"

Mo Zhanggeng gave him a sidelong glance: "Nonsense! Can't you see whose disciple she is!"

Gongsun Yue was completely reassured; all worries vanished.

"Tuan Tuan! Tuan Tuan! You saved my life!"

Mo Zhanggeng stared at Tuan Tuan: "Girl, how did you get the formula?"

Tuan Tuan counted on her fingers: "Two purple herbs, two flowers, and..."

"Nonsense!" Mo Zhanggeng heard his heart race, "These ruler‑minister‑assistant ingredients are all wrong! Yet..." He stared at the sugar bean in his palm, a flash of brilliance in his eyes, "Disciple, could you be born with a talent for medicine?"

He suddenly wore a flattery‑filled smile: "Good disciple, want to learn a more powerful alchemy? Master will teach you to use a real furnace, okay?"

Tuan Tuan stepped back cautiously: "I don't want to be a medicine boy!"

"Not a medicine boy!" Mo Zhanggeng stamped his foot anxiously, "It's a legacy! The unparalleled legacy of my Rejuvenating Hand!"

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, thought, then finally nodded: "Fine, I'm not taking you as master. I'll learn only when I want to, and you must not watch me!"

"Alright, alright! Whatever you say!" Mo Zhanggeng beamed, but recalling the Purple Star Herb he had painstakingly cultivated, he saw Tuan Tuan strip two plants bare, and couldn't help pounding his chest and stamping his feet.

Xiao Er silently handed a pot of calming tea: "Divine Doctor, the Miss just said today we're making honey‑osmanthus flavor, tomorrow we'll make one that glows."

Mo Zhanggeng's hand trembled; no way! Must add a big lock to Li Xiang Yuan!

That night, Xiao Yuanhang learned of the incident, shocked yet unable to stop laughing: "Hahaha, worthy of my Xiao Yuanhang's daughter! I was just about to cut off Gongsun Chi's arm, and you helped father a great deal!"

Cheng Ru'an watched her husband's delighted expression and couldn't help smiling.

The next day, after the morning court, in Zichen Hall.

Xiao Jieyun's face turned ashen, and he slammed an urgent eight‑hundred‑li report onto the imperial desk.

"The Qingzhou Prefecture armory was robbed; thirty‑seven guards were all slain, and this was left at the scene!"

Eunuch Cheng presented a jet‑black crossbow bolt to Xiao Yuanhang, who was seated at the lower seat.

It was the special bolt for the Nine‑Star Composite Crossbow!

Xiao Yuanhang exclaimed: "Again the Nine‑Star Composite Crossbow?"

The Minister of War opened: "Your Majesty, these bandits are downright reckless! The Imperial Court should dispatch troops immediately to exterminate them completely!"

A palace attendant reported outside: "Reporting to Your Majesty! Song Gong seeks an audience outside the hall!"

Xiao Jieyun said: "Announce."

Song Jingxian slowly entered, about to bow, when Xiao Jieyun hurriedly stopped him: "Master, no need for formalities, please be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Jingxian sat, his face among those present growing solemn, "What... what happened?"

Xiao Yuanhang recounted the matter.

Song Jingxian nodded slightly: "I see."

Xiao Jieyun asked: "Master, what insight do you have?"

Song Jingxian replied: "Your Majesty, I think, since Tuan Tuan has just cut off their source of silver, these bandits are now desperate, clearly a case of a dog‑in‑a‑corner act."

These bandits are certainly not ordinary troublemakers. They deliberately left behind repeating crossbows, intending to intimidate, and even more to mislead, aiming to prevent us from discovering their true purpose.

The enemy lurks in the dark while we are in the light, and they are scattered throughout the vast martial world; for the Imperial Court to investigate is like trying to hit a flea with a fist—futile and ineffective.

Minister of War interface: "What Sir Song said is absolutely correct. The Ministry of War has been investigating this for a long time, but these martial world people hide in the dark and are scattered everywhere; the Ministry of War's long investigation has yielded nothing; it is indeed troublesome."

Song Jingxian nodded: "We need to dispatch a special force; only then can we achieve twice the result with half the effort, to gain remarkable effect."

The Minister of War asked: "May I ask what Sir Song is referring to?"

We need to send someone who understands the background of this case, possesses extraordinary ability, and also has a foundation in the martial world.

Xiao Jieyun frowned: "Who is this person?"

Song Jingxian said word by word: "He is none other than my closed-door disciple, Princess Jiayou."