Chapter 515

The physician hurried over, and Xiao Ningxun quickly asked him to take Cheng Ru'an's pulse.

After calling the physician, Tuan Tuan sprinted to the Main Camp's big tent to call her father, where Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningchen happened to be.

Xiao Yuanhang scooped up his daughter, bolted toward his wife's tent, and the two brothers hurried after him.

The whole family stared anxiously, faces full of worry, at the physician who had closed his eyes to concentrate on taking the pulse.

A few Silver Needles were inserted into Cheng Ru'an's head; her eyes were shut, her complexion gray and wan, markedly different from before.

After a half‑day, the physician slowly opened his eyes, removed the needles, and said gravely, "Strange. Yesterday Princess Consort's pulse was clearly fine; how could it become like this in just one day…"

Hearing that, Tuan Tuan hurried, "Doctor Uncle, what exactly is mother's illness?"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at the physician and said, "Whatever the serious condition, I will spare nothing to cure her; just tell me plainly."

The physician frowned, "Prince, Princess Consort's pulse… is very chaotic."

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly asked, "In what way is it chaotic?"

The physician showed a troubled expression, "Princess Consort had just been recuperating for several days; her qi and blood are fine, yet the pulse is erratic, with no pattern at all. In my decades of practice I have never seen such a pulse."

He shook his head, a fine sweat beading on his forehead, "Princess Consort has no internal disease nor external invasion. Prince, forgive me; my knowledge is shallow, and I truly cannot determine what ailment she suffers from."

"I have already applied acupuncture to Princess Consort to ease her headache, and I will prescribe a calming formula; please have her take it and see if it steadies her."

A heavy gloom fell over everyone's hearts, unsure how any disease could be cured.

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Very well, go prepare the prescription. Liu Grandma, quickly brew the medicine and bring it to Princess Consort for her to take."

"Yes." The physician and Liu Grandma left the tent.

Xiao Yuanhang set his daughter down, went to his wife's side, extended his large hand, gently smoothing the strands by her temple, and softly asked, "An'er, are you feeling better?"

Tuan Tuan lay on the bedside, lifted her little face and asked, "Mother, does your head still hurt?"

Cheng Ru'an slowly opened her eyes, glanced at her husband, then at her daughter, tugged at the corner of her mouth without smiling, and whispered, "Much better."

She raised her hand, brushed her daughter's hair, and said, "Tuan Tuan, my little Tuan Tuan, after this mother may not be able to stay with you; you must listen well to Father and your brothers."

Everyone felt a pang in their hearts.

Tuan Tuan stared at her mother, her little face clenched, tears swirling in her eyes, "Never!"

"Doctor Uncle can't see mother's illness; I'll go find someone who can…"

Having said that, she turned and ran out of the tent.

Xiao Yuanhang stretched out his long arm and stopped his daughter, "Where are you going?"

Tuan Tuan struggled with her little arms and legs, "I'm going to find Grandfather!"

Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningchen each stepped forward, in unison, "I'll go with Tuan Tuan!"

Xiao Ningxun hesitated for a moment and did not step forward.

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at his sons, shook his head, released his hand, and called out, "Xiao Er! Follow her!"

From outside the tent came Xiao Er's voice, "Don't worry, Prince!"

Tuan Tuan sprinted out of the big tent, and Xiao Er scooped her up, "Let's go! I'll fetch Red Cloud!"

"Mm." Tuan Tuan clutched his neck, burying her little face into the hollow of his throat.

Xiao Er hurried to the stables, raised his hand and pointed at Red Cloud, "Quick! Ready the horse!"

The soldiers at the stables quickly secured the tack; Xiao Er placed Tuan Tuan on the horse, flipped onto the saddle behind her and shouted, "Ride!"

Red Cloud, like an arrow loosed from a bow, galloped out of the Main Camp, heading straight for the cavalry's supply depot.

After a half‑day, Liu Grandma entered the tent carrying the medicine; Xiao Yuanhang took it, personally spooned it to his wife's lips, and after she finished, he covered her with a blanket.

Cheng Ru'an looked at her husband and smiled gently.

Xiao Yuanhang felt a sour sting in his heart; the wife who was in his arms last night as usual, how could she have become like this in an instant?

Xiao Ningxun whispered, "Father, let mother rest. I have a matter to report; let's go outside to discuss."

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at him; when Tuan Tuan ran out, Xiao Ningxun had remained silent, and he had already sensed something amiss. "Very well, Liu Grandma, take good care of her."

Liu Grandma wiped a tear away, "Prince, rest assured, the old servant will manage."

Xiao Yuanhang said softly, "Sleep a while, An'er; I'll go with the children and be back soon."

Cheng Ru'an nodded, "You go attend to things; you need not worry about me."

The father and his sons returned to the Main Camp's big tent, where Zhang Wu'an and several deputy commanders had been waiting for a long time.

Xiao Yuanhang's expression remained unchanged, still as steady as ever; after about an hour he finished handling the military affairs.

After the deputies left, Xiao Yuanhang ordered, "I have an important matter; no one may enter without permission!"

"Yes!" the personal guards outside the tent replied in unison.

Only then did Xiao Yuanhang look at Xiao Ningxun and say, "Speak."

Xiao Ningxun clenched his teeth, recounted the events of last night, and voiced his thoughts: both times the Heavenly Son Sword went missing, it was Cheng Ru'an who did it.

Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningchen exchanged a look, their faces full of disbelief.

But the third brother had seen it with his own eyes, and they could not help but doubt.

The three brothers all turned to look at their father.

Xiao Yuanhang's face grew solemn, his eyes flickering, "An'er could never be a traitor; there must be something fishy."

Xiao Ningchen was the first to speak, "Father is right; how could Mother be a traitor?"

Xiao Ningyuan hesitated a moment, "Father, this matter is difficult. The Heavenly Son Sword concerns the army's success or failure in sieges, and His Majesty places extraordinary importance on it."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, "Precisely because of that, last night I specifically instructed Tuan Tuan not to speak of this to anyone. But what about His Majesty?"

The three brothers together lifted their eyes to look at their father.

Xiao Yuanhang listened quietly, then said slowly, "I am the commander; whatever the reason, An'er indeed committed an act that endangers the army, and I bear full responsibility."

The three brothers shouted in unison, "Father!"

Xiao Yuanhang rose slowly, "You need not worry, Xun Er, go retrieve the Heavenly Son Sword."

"Yes!" Xiao Ningxun received the order and left.

After a bout of trouble, Xiao Ningxun returned holding the cleansed Heavenly Son Sword and, with both hands, presented it to Xiao Yuanhang: "Father, please rest assured, the Heavenly Son Sword is unharmed."

Xiao Yuanhang reached out and took up the Heavenly Son Sword, strode out of the tent, and said: "You stay here; I will go to His Majesty to apologize."

The three brothers exchanged a glance, halted their steps, and said: "Yes."

Xiao Yuanhang arrived at the imperial tent, with Xiao Ze and Xiao Ran seated on either side of the Emperor, and the three of them were discussing the situation in Jiangnan.

Xiao Jieyun saw him and said: "Sit, Yuanhang. You've come at just the right time; those two have improved greatly, speaking fluently about the court situation—you should sit down and listen as well."

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his robe, dropped to his knees, and said: "Your Majesty, I have come to apologize."

Xiao Ze and Xiao Ran were startled by his words and rose to their feet together.

The Emperor frowned slightly and asked: "What crime have you committed?"

Xiao Yuanhang concealed nothing, recounting in detail how Cheng Ru'an had twice stolen the Heavenly Son Sword and threw it into the bitter-water well.

He gently placed the Heavenly Son Sword on the ground, touched his forehead to the earth, and said: "Your Majesty, the mistake made by my Princess Consort is entirely my fault; I beg Your Majesty to spare her, and I am willing to bear the responsibility alone."