Chapter 42: Why Do I Help You?

Wei Qingcheng and her mother's faces flushed purple, their bodies visibly trembling, almost unable to stand.

Eldest Princess, though she also couldn't help but smile, quickly stopped: "Princess Jiayou, no need to worry; after the banquet ends, I will have someone place this jade measuring ruler onto the carriage bound for Ning Prince's Mansion."

She looked at Wei Qingcheng: "I suppose the lady of the Marquis's mansion is certainly one who keeps her word."

Wei Qingcheng clenched her back molars and replied, "Of course, of course, I obey." After speaking she sat back down, her resentment with nowhere to vent, twisting the brocade handkerchief in her hand into a knot.

Tuan Tuan ran back to Cheng Ru'an, climbed onto her seat, and happily began eating the snacks on the table.

"Princess Jiayou, your gaze is like a torch; I wonder if you can decipher the item I brought?"

A crisp female voice rang out.

Cheng Ru'an looked over, brows slightly furrowed; the speaker was Minister of Revenue Gu's legitimate daughter, Gu Wanqing.

Wei Qingcheng cast a grateful glance at Gu Wanqing; the two were of similar age, having played together since childhood, essentially close confidantes, and Gu Wanqing's words now clearly came to help her.

Tuan Tuan heard someone mention her, looked over, and didn't recognize them!

Beside Gu Wanqing sat a noble lady whose hair was adorned with beads and jade.

Tuan Tuan whispered to her mother, "Mother, who are they?"

"They are the family of Gu Chengxiao you met that day when you rode a horse wildly in the street with Xun Er."

So it was that Gu family after all!

Tuan Tuan kept eating, ignoring her.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, the little girl actually dared to turn a deaf ear to her daughter's words! Du Lingyi's complexion darkened: "My daughter was presumptuous. Is Princess Jiayou unwilling?"

Tuan Tuan swallowed the pastry in her mouth: "Gu Chengxiao bullied my Third Brother; why should I help you?"

Bringing up this matter made Du Lingyi almost erupt in anger; her son, who had just gone out, not only nearly got into legal trouble because he met Xiao Ningxun, but also had his leg broken by a horse and now lay in bed!

Not to mention that after Gu Chengxiao returned to the mansion, he was harshly punished by the elders: "You ungrateful thing! The Jade Pendant you sent out seemed ordinary, yet it is an auspicious heirloom left by our Gu ancestors for descendants! How could you just give it away for free!"

Recalling all this, her eyes nearly flared, but her daughter gently tugged her sleeve from under the table and stopped her: "Princess, with such innate brilliance, you can turn decay into wonder…"

She then shifted tone: "Would you not wish to let us mortals broaden our horizons and witness firsthand what true 'divine skill' is?"

She stood up, bowed deeply to the Eldest Princess: "This item is a Gu family heirloom; it's not the first time I've brought it to a treasure appraisal gathering, yet no one has ever solved it. Now that a person like the Princess is present, I suppose Eldest Princess also wishes to see its true form."

The Eldest Princess gave her a glance, her face as still as water, then looked at Tuan Tuan, speaking softly: "Princess, would you be willing to try? Even if you cannot solve it, that's fine."

Cheng Ru'an furrowed her brows; this Gu child apparently wanted to roast Tuan Tuan? She was about to politely decline.

Tuan Tuan's eyes flicked, a sly smile on her face: "That's your thing; I won't help."

Gu Wanqing thought to herself: This item has been in the house for years, and countless skilled craftsmen have failed to open it; if it remains unsolved, it's just a piece of scrap metal in hand. Could this five‑year‑old truly possess transcendent ability? Impossible!

She forced out an ugly smile: "Princess, as you said, since that's the case."

She made up her mind, picked up the palm‑sized, dark‑colored iron box on the table and handed it to the maid behind her: "Give this to the Princess! It is now yours, so the Princess should be willing to try, right?"

The maid hurriedly placed the iron box onto Tuan Tuan's table.

Tuan Tuan glanced at the iron box before her, then looked up at the calculating face of Gu Wanqing.

She opened her little mouth, deep dimples on her face, and reached out to grab the iron box: "Oh—! You don't want it? Then it's mine now?"

Gu Wanqing's expression turned sour: "Yes, it now belongs to the Princess."

"Then let's take it home and play with it slowly, Mother!" After speaking, Tuan Tuan proudly lifted her chin, turned and leapt into Cheng Ru'an's arms. Hmph! I'll make you all bully Third Brother!

Gu Wanqing froze in place, her complexion shifting from red to blue, then to white, as spectacular as a spilled dye vat. This is no innocent child; clearly a little devil!

The onlookers exchanged glances, watching the little girl with the purest expression trample all the adults' careful scheming into mud.

The hall fell silent for a moment, then suppressed chuckles rose in waves.

The Eldest Princess again couldn't help but laugh; this child was truly amusing.

Cheng Ru'an also laughed, but she didn't intend to take advantage of the Gu family, especially since the Eldest Princess had just said Tuan Tuan should try: "Good girl, see, if you can solve it, then solve it; Mother wants to see, and Eldest Princess also wants to see."

"Mother and Eldest Princess both want to see, then I'll solve it." Tuan Tuan picked up the iron box and examined it carefully.

The iron box was as black as ink, its whole surface shimmering with a cold metallic sheen; the exterior was smooth as a mirror, with no visible lock holes, pivots, buttons, or seams.

The hall fell silent; everyone's gaze fixed on her, and after a while Tuan Tuan pouted, her face full of displeasure.

Gu Wanqing snorted: "What? The Princess is also at a loss? It seems Sister Wei's earlier attempt was just luck."

The onlookers, seeing this, began murmuring:

"A little doll couldn't possibly understand any mechanism!"

"Seems that earlier one was merely luck!"

"Indeed, being from the countryside can't compare to the capital's nobles!"

Cheng Ru'an lowered her head and said softly, "Tuan Tuan, if you can't solve it, that's fine; just give it back to her."

Tuan Tuan looked up at her: "Mother, there's something hidden inside!"

Cheng Ru'an suddenly recalled the Gu Worm, her face turning pale.

Tuan Tuan lifted the iron box, ran to the spacious area at the front of all tables, and slammed it onto the floor!

How foolish! Trying to smash the iron box to find treasure! Gu Wanqing finally burst out laughing, unable to contain herself: "Ha ha, what a fool, how could an iron box be smashed open!"

As soon as she finished speaking, several tables ahead gasped, "Ah! There's something inside!"

She awkwardly stifled her laugh, stepped forward a few paces, and stared.

To her surprise, the seemingly indestructible iron box had shattered into several pieces; Tuan Tuan crouched, rummaged through the fragments, and retrieved an exquisitely crafted copper lantern, placing it back on her table.

Everyone was stunned; could the iron box really be smashed?

The Eldest Princess waved her hand; a maid hurried down the steps, picked up a fragment of the iron box, and returned, presenting it with both hands.

The Eldest Princess took it, examined it closely: "I see! It's made of Xuan Iron Wood! This wood is fine‑grained, and its appearance and weight are indistinguishable from iron. It takes a hundred years to grow just one inch; it's extremely rare. That Master Gu's household possesses such a divine artifact is truly remarkable."

Gu Wanqing's expression was now indescribable; this was a Gu family heirloom, and today she had so casually handed it away.