Chapter 512: When Did I Ever Make Soup for Ningxun?

At dinner, everyone gathered together, with Tuan Tuan sitting between Xiao Ze and Xiao Ran; the two kept piling vegetables into her bowl as if competing, making Tuan Tuan delighted and excited.

After the meal, Tuan Tuan followed her mother back to sleep, while Xiao Ze and Xiao Ran, weary from the journey, each rested.

Xiao Yuanhang brought his three sons and entered the Emperor's imperial tent.

Xiao Jieyun asked, "Yuanhang, what's the matter?"

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Ningxun, you explain."

"Yes." Xiao Ningxun said slowly, "These past days I have kept the imitation Heavenly Son Sword in my tent, ordering the personal guards to watch from a distance."

"Today, that imitation Heavenly Son Sword is missing."

Xiao Jieyun's face darkened: "Did you see who took it?"

Xiao Ningxun shook his head: "No. The personal guards were watching closely, but there was nothing unusual."

"I have inquired; aside from my mother coming to bring me soup today, no one has entered or left my tent."

He shook his head: "Mother never involves herself in state affairs; even if Tuan Tuan had mentioned the Heavenly Son Sword and the key to her, it couldn't have been her who took it."

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "It's absolutely impossible for the Princess Consort Ning; someone must have evaded the personal guards and sneaked in."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "I think the same."

"But everyone in the Main Camp now are loyal subjects who follow His Majesty; no matter whom we suspect, we need solid evidence before acting."

He paused: "Otherwise, wouldn't we chill the hearts of all the soldiers? Yet this matter is not entirely without benefit."

Xiao Jieyun gave a slight nod: "Exactly; at least they think they've succeeded, unaware that the Heavenly Son Sword is still here."

"If so, let's investigate covertly, without seeking quick gains."

"But no matter who did it, Yuanhang, you must uncover the culprit and punish them according to military law; His Majesty will not tolerate it!"

"Yes!"

The next morning, Tuan Tuan woke up, opened her eyes, and saw Xiao Ningxun sitting beside her bed.

"Third Brother!" Tuan Tuan happily stretched out her little arm from the covers, "You're up so early! Hug!"

Xiao Ningxun tucked her little arm back into the blanket, just as he used to do when sharing an inn with his sister, wrapping Tuan Tuan tightly like a little zongzi and pulling her into his embrace.

"Still early? Little lazy pig, the sun is already high; only you are still asleep."

Tuan Tuan leaned comfortably into her brother's arms: "I'm tired! I want to sleep a bit longer."

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "Anyway, there's nothing to do now; sleep if you want."

"By the way, Tuan Tuan, yesterday was it Mother who went to the Bitter Water Well to fetch you back?"

"Yes! Mother said she missed me, came to see what I was playing with, and just came over!"

"Oh, Mother didn't play with you?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "No, I told Mother to throw stones into that well; the sound is lovely."

"Mother went to throw them, and she also said it sounded nice."

"Then what happened?"

Tuan Tuan thought: "Afterward, I played with mud, and Mother just stood by the well waiting for me, then we came back together!"

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "Come on, little lazy pig, you've slept so long—aren't you hungry?"

Tuan Tuan rubbed her belly and honestly nodded: "I'm hungry."

Xiao Ningxun laughed as he set her back on the bed: "Then first put on your clothes; I'll go bring your meal over."

Tuan Tuan gave a sweet smile: "Third Brother, you're so nice!"

Xiao Ningxun walked out of the tent and bumped into Cheng Ru'an and Liu Mama; Liu Mama held a tray with the meal prepared for the younger sister.

Cheng Ru'an laughed: "Ningxun? How did you come here? Is Tuan Tuan awake? This child, after sleeping so long, opens her eyes and immediately cries for hunger."

Xiao Ningxun bowed: "I pay my respects to Mother. I came to check on Tuan Tuan; she just woke up and is indeed hungry."

"I had intended to fetch her meal myself, but Mother thought of everything."

Liu Mama interjected: "The young lady had a great time playing yesterday; even late at night she kept chattering to the mistress, who had to soothe her for a long while before she slept."

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "Mother has worked hard. I still need to find the Seventh Prince; I'll go ahead first."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Go."

Xiao Ningxun bowed again, watching their backs disappear into the main tent.

Yesterday only my mother came to my tent, but how could it have been her?

I must be mistaken.

The personal guards left behind are all carefully selected by me, each skilled in martial arts.

If someone could slip into the tent under the noses of all those guards, wouldn't that person's martial arts be unfathomably profound?

Does such a master truly lie hidden in the Main Camp?

Or did an outsider sneak in yesterday?

Who exactly could it be?

He shook his head, furrowed his brows, and walked around the Main Camp, silently gazing at each familiar face.

They are all veteran soldiers who have survived bloody battles; how could it be them?

Unaware, he had come to the edge of the Bitter Water Well.

Several soldiers were drawing water; seeing him, they all stopped and saluted: "Third Young Master!"

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "What are you drawing water for?"

One soldier replied: "We want to build a vegetable cellar! Deputy Commander Zhang said, store the vegetables and we can eat well for many more days."

"Good!" Xiao Ningxun laughed: "Go ahead and get busy; I'll take a walk alone."

"Yes!" The soldiers carried several buckets of water away.

Xiao Ningxun stood by the well, gazing into its deep water, recalling Tuan Tuan's earlier words.

「I told Mother, throwing stones into that well makes a lovely sound. 」

「Mother went to throw them, and she also said it sounded nice. 」

He crouched down, picked up a stone, and threw it into the well.

「Boom! 」 The echo inside the well lingered.

A sudden idea flashed in his mind: if it really was someone from the Main Camp who took the Heavenly Son Sword, then this deep well wouldn't be the perfect hiding place?

Xiao Ningxun turned and hurried into Prince Ning's tent: "Father! I want to fish out whatever is in the bitter-water well!"

Xiao Yuanhang blinked: "Bitter-water well?"

"Yes! Father, if we can fish that imitation Heavenly Son Sword out of the bitter-water well, we can confirm that it was indeed someone from the Main Camp who took it."

"If it were an outsider who sneaked in, they'd just take it and leave; they certainly wouldn't throw it into the well."

"Only someone from our Main Camp could do something like that."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Take a few people with you, find a pretext, and don't let anyone suspect anything."

"Yes!"

After a day of salvaging, Xiao Ningxun returned to his father's tent holding the imitation Heavenly Son Sword covered in mud: "Father."

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at the imitation Heavenly Son Sword, his brows furrowed, and he exchanged a look with his son.

The two understood each other; now they could be certain that the one who took the Heavenly Son Sword was someone from the Main Camp, not an outsider who had sneaked in.

But who could it be?

The bitter-water well had no guard; anyone could approach it.

Xiao Ningxun comforted his father: "I'll investigate in secret; Father, you should rest."

A few days later, he encountered Liu Mama holding a clay jar and Cheng Ru'an in the camp.

The two were about to bring Xiao Yuanhang some freshly prepared tonic.

After a brief chat, Liu Mama asked with a smile: "Third Young Master, how was the soup the mistress sent you a few days ago?"

"That was personally stewed for you by the mistress."

"If you like it, Third Young Master, I can make more for you as your humble servant."

Cheng Ru'an blinked: "When did I ever make soup for Xun Er these past few days?"