Chapter 513: I have three brothers keeping me company

Liu Mamam wore a doubtful expression: "Just a few days ago, you boiled soup and personally sent it to the Third Young Master's tent."

Cheng Ru'an remained stunned: "Is... it me?"

Liu Mamam nodded: "Yes! At that time the Third Young Master wasn't there, you set down the soup and went to the bitter water well to look for the young lady."

"Because it was getting dark then, you didn't let me follow, you ordered me to go back and watch over the dinner you had prepared for the young lady—don't you remember?"

Cheng Ru'an's doubt deepened: "I... did I also go see Tuan Tuan?"

She tried hard to think, but her head felt like it would split; she raised a hand to her forehead: "How can I remember nothing... ah! My head hurts so much!"

Xiao Ningxun hurried to support his mother: "Liu Mamam, I'll take the soup; hurry and help Mother back."

"All right, all right." Liu Mamam hastily put the earthen jar on the ground, reached out to support Cheng Ru'an: "Your Highness, let's go back."

Xiao Ningxun shouted: "Someone! Quickly fetch the physician to the Princess Consort Ning's tent!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Ningxun bent down, picked up the earthen jar from the ground, and quickly entered his father's tent: "Father! Mother came to bring you soup, but on the way she suddenly got a terrible headache; I've already sent for the physician."

Xiao Yuanhang sprang to his feet: "An'er!" He dashed out of the tent, and Xiao Ningxun hurried after him.

After carefully taking the pulse, the physician replied: "Your Highness, from the pulse I see that the Princess Consort's qi and blood are deficient, her liver wood is slightly excessive, but otherwise there is no serious problem."

"It should be due to recent overwork and excessive worry."

Xiao Ningxun asked: "If that's all, why has Mother forgotten what she did?"

The physician pondered: "When one's spirit is exhausted, the mind becomes unfocused, and occasional forgetfulness is common."

"As for the headache... according to this pulse, it's from overthinking damaging the spirit, causing the meridians to tense. Please, Princess Consort, keep your mind at ease and avoid excessive worry."

As his words fell, Tuan Tuan ran in: "Daddy! Third Brother!"

She rushed to the bedside, clutching her mother's arm with both small hands, her face turning white: "Mother! What's wrong with you?"

Cheng Ru'an endured the headache, forcing a weak smile: "I'm fine, just a bit of a headache. Weren't you off playing with the Twelfth and the others? How did you come back?"

"An uncle told me the physician uncle had come to see Mother, so I ran back!"

Cheng Ru'an gently patted her daughter's small hand: "The physician already said I'm fine, don't worry."

Tuan Tuan turned to look at her father: "Daddy, does Mother need to take medicine? Do we have any?"

"If not, I'll go get some for Mother!"

Xiao Yuanhang lifted her up and looked at the physician: "Does she need to take medicine? How should she be cared for?"

The physician smiled slightly: "Little Princess, there's no need to worry; the Princess Consort's ailment is not serious. I'll prescribe a few doses of calming spirit-nourishing, blood-enriching, qi-boosting medicine; she'll be better after a few days."

He paused: "However, while taking the medicine she needs to rest, avoiding mental strain; after a few days of such recuperation she will recover."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Thank you, physician; please write the prescription—are the medicinal ingredients all available?"

"Yes, they're just common medicinal herbs." The physician smiled at Tuan Tuan: "Little Princess, you don't need to trouble yourself to find them."

"Thank you, Physician Uncle!" Tuan Tuan then relaxed, hugging her father's neck with a serious expression: "Daddy, Mother is ill and needs to rest, just like Grandfather—you're not allowed to come in again, okay!"

Everyone in the tent stared, then lowered their heads, pressing their lips together to keep from laughing out loud.

Cheng Ru'an blushed deeply, turning her face toward the inside of the bed; Xiao Yuanhang's old face flushed: "Er, oh, Father knows."

He poked Tuan Tuan's little cheek: "You, too, shouldn't sleep with your mother; sleep with Father instead."

Xiao Ningxun said: "Officers often come to Father's tent to report important matters; it's better to let Tuan Tuan stay with me."

"That works too."

Xiao Ningxun took Tuan Tuan from his father's arms: "Be good, let's go out."

Everyone withdrew from the large tent.

Xiao Yuanhang drew his wife into his embrace: "An'er, take good care of yourself, don't overexert yourself again."

Cheng Ru'an's complexion improved considerably: "Mm."

"Given the current situation, whenever I think of you and the children soon having to go to war again, I can't help but worry excessively; I truly can't set my mind at ease."

Xiao Yuanhang felt a sour softness in his heart: "It's all my fault; a man who stands between heaven and earth ought to protect his wife and children, letting them live without worry or care, enjoying peace."

"And yet I have let you suffer alongside me here—truly a life wasted."

Cheng Ru'an's throat tightened: "Yuanhang, this isn't your fault, and I have never blamed you."

Xiao Yuanhang pulled her closer into his embrace: "Just focus on recuperating, don't worry anymore—remember, I will handle everything."

Cheng Ru'an nodded, and they leaned against each other.

Tuan Tuan nestled in her brother's arms and returned to his tent.

Xiao Tuanzi had been sullen all the way, not chattering nonstop as before.

Xiao Ningxun knew she was worried about Mother, but what could he use to cheer his sister up?

He drew out the Heavenly Son Sword and handed it to her: "Be good, want to play with this? I'll have someone tell the Eldest and Second Brothers not to go pay their respects to Mother these few days."

"Mm," Tuan Tuan took the Heavenly Son Sword, holding it and playing with it.

She touched the still-dim last indentation: "Why aren't you lighting up yet? Hurry and shine—I miss Master and the others so much."

Several days later, after taking the pulse, the physician smiled and nodded: "Princess Consort, your pulse is steady; you may go out more often to walk and relax."

He paused, then added: "But still, you must not overthink or worry excessively."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "All right, thank you for your trouble."

She stepped out of the tent, feeling refreshed: "Where is Tuan Tuan?"

Liu Mamam replied: "At the Third Young Master's place. During these days of your illness, the young lady has had no heart to play—truly filial conduct."

Cheng Ru'an's heart softened: "Come on, let's go see her."

"All right." Liu Mamam supported her as they went to Xiao Ningxun's tent.

"Mother!" Tuan Tuan burst with joy, launching herself into her embrace: "You're better? That's wonderful! I've missed you so much!"

Cheng Ru'an took her hand, sat down, and pulled her into her arms: "Yes, Mother is all better."

She gently stroked her daughter's hair: "Mom heard that these few days you haven't gone to find Xiao Yueyue and the others; are you bored staying here?"

Tuan Tuan rubbed back and forth in her embrace: "Not bored at all! Third Brother is keeping me company!"

"He even brought the Heavenly Son Sword for me to play with, teaching me how to use a sword!"

Cheng Ru'an suddenly froze: "Heaven, Son, Sword?"