Chapter 49: Grandpa, Can You Draw?

She clenched her teeth and made up her mind: "Prince, you see even the finest details; I can tell you everything about the mansion, but I have a request—please grant it, Prince."

"Speak."

"If I reveal everything, my life will surely not be spared; please, Prince, do not further pursue my family, let them, let them escape this disaster, leave Jingcheng, and settle elsewhere."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "I, the Prince, approve. You acted alone, so you shall bear it alone."

Zhou Māmā knelt upright and respectfully performed a grand bow to him.

"The Princess Consort manages the inner household, and the external businesses are all under her natal family's name; therefore, the escort bureau's account books are hidden in the Princess Consort's bedroom wall, inside the secret box behind the landscape and clear‑sound painting."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, waved his hand, hurried to Zhou Māmā while the confession document was being written, handed her the cinnabar seal ink and said: "Place your handprint."

Zhou Māmā lifted her hand, trembling, dipped it in the cinnabar, pressed it onto the confession, then immediately closed her eyes, her mind empty.

Xiao Yuanhang ordered: "Detain these two separately; keep a close watch, they must not escape nor commit suicide."

"Yes." Xiao Er, one in each hand, personally escorted them out.

Xiao Ningchen at this moment was utterly reverent toward his own father, understanding the account books were crucial, stepped forward: "Father! I will go now and steal those account books!"

"Steal?" Xiao Yuanhang smiled faintly: "Why steal? The father should search openly and honorably!"

"Immediately take the Prince's Mansion token, deliver Prefect Li Jing of Jingzhao Prefecture to the Prince's Mansion. Tell him the Prince wishes to see him, and say no more. Zhao Heng, as Minister of Works, has long been in Jingcheng; it's hard to say whether he has any private ties with the Prefect."

The father indeed thought of everything, even this; Xiao Ningchen bowed in his heart: "Yes! Son obeys!" and turned to leave.

Xiao Yuanhang stood and returned to Yangzheng Pavilion.

Tuan Tuan had already awakened, and Cheng Ru'an was accompanying her at the meal.

"Daddy!" Tuan Tuan saw Xiao Yuanhang, rushed over: "Why did you take so long? I haven't seen you for ages."

Xiao Yuanhang scooped her up, sitting at the table: "Daddy went to investigate the villains harming your big brother, so I couldn't be with Tuan Tuan. Once Daddy finishes, I'll dine with you."

"The villains harming big brother? Weren't they found by the big pearl?" Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled.

"That person was merely following orders; Daddy will also capture the villain who ordered him, that's the real big bad." Xiao Yuanhang picked up a piece of chicken and fed his daughter.

Tuan Tuan opened her mouth to eat, tilting her little head: "The ones harming big brother, more than one villain?"

"Tuan Tuan is truly clever!"

"Prince?" Cheng Ru'an couldn't help but ask for clarification.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at his daughter, shook his head; Cheng Ru'an understood her husband didn't want their daughter to hear these matters, so she stopped asking.

"Daddy! I'm already awake, but big brother hasn't woken yet!" Tuan Tuan pouted.

"He will wake." He looked at his wife: "After the meal, please have Guo Taiyi come again to check on Yuan'er."

"Alright." The three of them finished dinner, entered the inner chamber; Xiao Ningyuan kept his eyes tightly closed, unmoving, yet his complexion was rosy, his chest rose slightly, as if asleep.

Xiao Ningxun also came: "Father, Mother, hasn't big brother awakened yet?"

Cheng Ru'an shook her head with a worried expression; although Guo Taiyi said the poison was cleared, as long as her son hasn't awakened, her heart remained tightly clenched, unable to let go.

"Your Prince, Princess Consort." Guo Taiyi entered and paid his respects.

"Guo Lao, please take another look at Yuan'er."

"Yes." Guo Taiyi hurried forward, examined: "Princess Consort need not worry, the young master is merely fatigued and will wake up."

Xiao Ningchen strode in: "Father, Prefect Li of Jingzhao Prefecture is already waiting outside the courtyard, and Zhou Dahai's family has also been brought back."

Cheng Ru'an raised her head in surprise: what does the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture come for?

Xiao Yuanhang's face was as still as water: "Gather all human and material evidence, assemble two hundred Guards, I, the Prince, will personally go to the Minister's residence to accuse him."

"Yes! Son wishes to follow father!" Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun said in unison.

Tuan Tuan looked up: "Second brother, Third Brother, where are you going with Daddy?"

Xiao Yuanhang touched his daughter's little cheek: "Daddy is going to catch the villains."

Tuan Tuan instantly perked up: "I want to go too!"

Xiao Yuanhang was stunned; with swords flashing, how could he take a five‑year‑old daughter along?

"Tuan Tuan, be obedient and stay at home with your mother."

Tuan Tuan, upon hearing that Daddy and brothers were going to fight the villains without her, protested: "No, I must go!"

Xiao Yuanhang was at a loss, looking to his wife for help.

Cheng Ru'an hugged Tuan Tuan: "Be good, Tuan Tuan! That villain… is huge and dangerous, so Daddy won't let you come."

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun listened, biting their lips hard to keep from laughing.

"But Mother, you promised me that when Daddy finds the villain, he'll take me to fight him; Daddy and brothers aren't afraid, and Tuan Tuan, being Daddy's daughter, isn't afraid either, no matter how big!"

Tuan Tuan leaned against her mother's arms, pouting in grievance.

Cheng Ru'an was momentarily at a loss for words; she seemed indeed to have said that line, and wondered how the child remembered it so clearly!

She glanced at Xiao Ningyuan on the bed, eyes brightening: "But big brother will wake soon; if Tuan Tuan goes, when big brother opens his eyes, Tuan Tuan won't be able to see him."

"Ah…" Tuan Tuan frowned, genuinely worried.

Cheng Ru'an reassured: "Then, Tuan Tuan, stay with Mother here, guard this spot, and wait for big brother to open his eyes, okay?"

Tuan Tuan thought very seriously, again and again, wanting both to go with Daddy and brothers to fight the villains and to watch big brother open his eyes; it was so hard!

Suddenly, her gaze fell on Guo Taiyi's face: "Grandpa, can you draw?"

Guo Taiyi was suddenly singled out, paused, then quickly replied: "I know a little, miss, what would you like me to draw for you?"

The others were also baffled by her question: draw? draw what?

"Great!" Tuan Tuan jumped up, ran to Xiao Yuanhang, grabbed his big hand and pulled: "Grandpa! If big brother opens his eyes, you draw him! When I come back after fighting the villains with Daddy, I'll be able to see him!"

Guo Taiyi was dumbfounded, while the others were both amused and bewildered: how could she think of such an idea!

Cheng Ru'an opened her mouth, truly unable to think of another reason, and helplessly looked at her husband.

Xiao Yuanhang felt a surge of affection: this is my daughter! So clever and fearless! He stretched his arm, scooped up his daughter, planted a big kiss on her cheek, and held her tightly to his chest, genuinely delighted.

"Alright! Daddy will take you! But as we agreed, you stay outside with your Third Brother; when Daddy goes in to catch the villains and captures them, we'll all return home together!"

"Hmm! Good!" Tuan Tuan was satisfied.

Xiao Ningxun stepped forward and took Tuan Tuan; Xiao Yuanhang strode out of Yangzheng Pavilion, leading a massive contingent, and rushed toward the Minister of Works' residence.