Chapter 25: with translation of chapter title

Old Madam looks at Tuan Tuan: "Tuan Tuan, are you willing to give this little bell to Grandpa Guo Taiyi?"

Tuan Tuan tilts her little head and looks at Guo Taiyi.

Guo Taiyi hurriedly says, "Little miss, feel free to touch my beard!"

Everyone laughed, and Tuan Tuan also laughed: "No need to touch, I've already touched it, Grandpa, you can take it. But after you're done, give it back to me, okay! I still want to hear it sing!"

Guo Taiyi was overjoyed, even bowed to her: "Thank you, little miss!" He took out a box, placed the insect and the bell inside, and, in high spirits, was about to take his leave.

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly called out to him: "Guo Taiyi, does the Prince's illness still require medication?"

Guo Taiyi then remembered: "Forgive me! Forgive me! I was so delighted today that I forgot myself. Just brew and take the prescription from yesterday; no new formula is needed. The root cause is gone, and the Prince will recover after a few days of rest."

"Thank you, Doctor. Regarding today's matter, please keep it confidential for the Prince's Mansion and do not mention it to anyone," Cheng Ru'an said with a solemn expression.

Guo Taiyi was startled, then realized that the soul‑capturing gu was not a random occurrence; it seemed someone was scheming to harm Prince Ning, and he had unintentionally learned the Prince's Mansion's secret.

If it weren't for this strange illness, Prince Ning, as a member of the imperial family, would now still be the generation's virtuous king who commands the army, boasts brilliant war merits, and whose reputation shakes the court.

Who would strike? Why strike? With such heavenly grudges, I, a humble doctor, must keep as far away as possible.

Thinking of this, Guo Taiyi slowly knelt before Old Madam and the Princess Consort, performed a grand bow: "Your servant obeys," then lifted the medicine box and turned to leave.

After Guo Taiyi left, Cheng Ru'an had Xiao Ningxun hold Tuan Tuan, and personally tidied her husband's bed until it was spotless.

Xiao Yuanhang lay on his back, eyes tightly shut, looking just as before.

Cheng Ru'an raised her eyes to scan the crowd: "Regarding today's matter, only those present in this room of the Prince's Mansion may know; tell no one. Chen'er, when you walk you still need the Seven Stars to support you; don't let others notice."

The two brothers nodded: "Son obeys."

Tuan Tuan didn't understand: "Why?"

Xiao Ningxun whispered in her ear: "Because Daddy may have been harmed to become like this; Mother means we must not let the bad people know Daddy is already recovered, so they won't come to harm Daddy again, and the same applies to Second Brother's leg."

Tuan Tuan raised her little fist: "I get it! I won't tell, won't let the bad guys know, but Third Brother, who is the bad guy? We'll catch him. Daddy's illness never gets better, Mother keeps crying, Tuan Tuan wants to beat him!"

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "Of course we have to catch him, Tuan Tuan is really clever!"

Cheng Ru'an looked at Old Madam: "Mother, the daughter‑in‑law has arranged it this way; do you think it is appropriate?"

Old Madam nodded slightly: "Your arrangement is very good. Since Guo Taiyi said Yuan will recover in a few days, everything in the mansion can wait until Yuan awakens, and he will decide himself."

A servant's voice came from outside the door: "Second Master is outside requesting an audience, saying he wants to visit the Prince."

Cheng Ru'an felt a sudden thump in her heart, slipped her husband's hands into the brocade blanket, and looked at Old Madam.

Old Madam examined the bed carefully; everything was as before, then said, "Let him in."

Xiao Yuanhua, still recalling Xiao Yuanhang's condition after taking Night Bright Sand, finished copying the "Family Law" in the ancestral hall and hurried over.

After bowing to Old Madam and Cheng Ru'an, he looked at his elder brother on the bed, lifeless and motionless.

"Brother Wang's illness is still like this?"

Cheng Ru'an gave no reply, but her complexion darkened, she shook her head slightly, with an expression of having lost all desire for life.

Xiao Yuanhua relaxed: "It seems Night Bright Sand didn't have much effect. Son, go back to the mansion today and invite a famous doctor to see Brother Wang again."

Old Madam nodded: "Go."

Three days later, Xiao Yuanhang slowly opened his eyes; the room was silent, this is… where?

A soft child's voice came to his ears: "Mother! Why is Daddy still not awake! Should we ask Grandpa to get the bell back?"

Mother? Daddy? Grandpa? Bell? This milk‑sweet voice strangely tugged at his heart—who could it be?

His wife's voice remained as gentle as ever: "No need, Tuan Tuan, don't worry; after he finishes using the bell, he'll send it back. Grandpa's medical skill is the best; he said your Daddy will wake up in a few days, it will definitely happen."

He turned his head toward the bedside, precisely locking onto that tiny figure.

A delicately carved, jade‑like little girl, with a round face, looking about four or five years old, dressed in pink, her big, glossy, wet eyes stared at him.

Her clear gaze suddenly sparkled: "Mother! Daddy is looking at me! He's awake!"

A smile blossomed on her face, two little dimples familiar yet faint.

Cheng Ru'an rushed to the bedside, her face full of surprise: "Finally awake! Prince? Do you still recognize me?"

Xiao Yuanhang's throat was a bit dry; he opened his mouth a few times and managed two words: "An'er."

Cheng Ru'an's tears welled up; "An'er" was the name her husband used privately for her, and after more than two years, she finally heard it again.

Seeing her husband's gaze fall on their daughter, Cheng Ru'an hurriedly pulled Tuan Tuan into her arms, drawing her closer to him.

"Prince, this is Tuan Tuan, my daughter; look, she's very obedient, right? Your illness could be cured, thanks to her."

Tuan Tuan looked at him, recalling that day when he avoided her hand, her little mouth pouted, her face full of grievance, and she turned and curled into her mother's arms.

Xiao Yuanhang felt as if the softest feather had struck his chest hard, a sour, swelling pain; daughter? This child, looking four or five, looks just like An'er. Have I been ill for so long?

"Tuan… Tuan?"

Hearing Daddy call her, Tuan Tuan turned her body, eyes meeting his.

"Daddy's eyes are so bright! Like stars in the sky!" Tuan Tuan hesitantly stretched out her little hand toward him, "If you hide again, you'll be a bad Daddy, and I will never pay attention to you again!"

In the next moment, a large hand clasped her little hand in its palm.

Tuan Tuan was delighted: "Mother! Daddy didn't hide! Daddy didn't hide!"

Cheng Ru'an wiped her tears: "Yes, Daddy avoided Tuan Tuan last time because his illness hadn't healed yet; now it's cured, so he naturally won't avoid her."

He saw that Xiao Yuanhang's hand was still wrapped in the soft cloth that Guo Taiyi had bandaged last time.

Tuan Tuan cupped his large hand to her mouth with both hands, puffed out her pink cheeks, and earnestly "whoosh" blew two breaths; the breath was light and warm, carrying a sweet milky scent: "Tuan Tuan blow blow, pain fly fly."

Xiao Yuanhang was stunned.

The iron‑blooded heart that had traversed battlefields and witnessed countless deaths seemed completely melted by this tiny airflow.

"Tuan Tuan is really well‑behaved." He tried to lower his voice, truly not knowing how to interact with such a soft little doll, and clumsily withdrew his hand, lightly touching Tuan Tuan's small face.

That little face! Softer than a flower petal.

His palm was broad and thick, the knuckles bearing rough, thin calluses from constantly gripping weapons, forming a stark contrast with his daughter's delicate little face.

Tuan Tuan happily rubbed her hand on his a few times: "Daddy, do you like Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled faintly, "I like it!"

Tuan Tuan excitedly hopped up, "Daddy likes me! I'm going to tell second brother and third brother! Daddy likes me!"

"Go, don't shout on the way; speak quietly to the two of them—this is a secret only our family knows! Tuan Tuan must help mother guard it and must not let unrelated people know."

"Tell them quietly that Daddy just woke up and still needs to sleep, and have them come see Daddy again tomorrow."

"Alright! Daddy! I'll come see you again tomorrow!" Tuan Tuan bounced and ran out, "Grandma! I'm going to find second brother and third brother to play!"

"Little miss! Slow down! Watch your step!" Gatekeeper Liu Grandma's voice faded as Tuan Tuan drifted farther away.

Cheng Ru'an nodded, "What a clever child!"

She looked at Xiao Yuanhang, "Prince, you finally woke up; so many important matters in the mansion are waiting for you to decide!"