Chapter 525

Tuan Tuan also widened her eyes looking at him: "Grandpa, who is this bad guy?"

The old man let out a long sigh: "I have been obsessed with medicine since childhood; in my youth I wandered the world, exchanging skills with masters everywhere."

"One day I happened to meet someone whose medical skill was superb, whose knowledge was broad, and who especially loved the art of Gu Worms."

"I admired his medical skill, and together we raised Gu Worms, pondering how to use Gu Worms to treat patients."

"But gradually I realized that I studied Gu Worms to heal and save people, whereas he only wanted to use Gu Worms to control others."

"I once earnestly advised him, but he wouldn't listen at all."

"So I left without saying goodbye, slipping away quietly, and never saw him again."

Xiao Ningxun pressed further: "What is this person's name?"

The old man hesitated a moment, then said: "His surname is Cheng, given name Jing."

Cheng Jing!

The three brothers exchanged a glance; after all this time going around in circles, they finally knew their opponent's name.

Tuan Tuan, however, asked: "Grandpa, why did you think he was already gone?"

"Because his health was very poor."

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed in surprise, "Can a doctor's health also be poor?"

The old man laughed: "Doctors are ordinary people too, so they naturally can have poor health."

"Moreover, his frailty is a congenital weakness that can only be nursed, not cured."

"I once advised him to take good care of himself; otherwise, he would not be a sign of longevity."

The old man fell into memory: "When I was with him, he often fell ill, unable to withstand even the slightest wind or rain."

"Several decades have passed; I never expected he would still be alive."

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Do you know where he comes from?"

The old man shook his head: "We were together only a short time, about half a year, and we only discussed medicine, never mentioning our families."

Xiao Ningyuan snorted: "Truly a scourge lasting a thousand years; such a wicked person, yet he lives so long!"

Xiao Yuanhang asked: "Old sir, is Cheng Jing's age roughly the same as yours?"

The old man slowly shook his head: "No, he is much older than I."

Everyone was startled again.

The old man looks to be about sixty; this person is older than him and frail, so it's no wonder he thought the man was already dead.

The old man looked at Tuan Tuan: "Little one, the silk lead in your hand is a supreme treasure of the world; anyone who studies this way desires it, so you must keep it safe."

Tuan Tuan nodded firmly: "Got it! When we return to Jingcheng, I'll dig it out!"

She thought for a moment: "Surely it's gotten covered in dust again!"

Hearing that, the old man felt a pang of pain and beat his chest: "Such a treasure, and you actually let it gather dust?"

Tuan Tuan giggled: "Because I've picked up too many things!"

Everyone laughed.

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Princess Consort's illness, please trouble yourself with it; old sir, please stay and rest easy."

He thought for a moment: "I wonder if three corpses will be enough?"

The old man's face instantly turned grim: "I heal and save lives, never harming the innocent! Could it be that Prince Ning intends to have his own soldiers cut down so I can save your Princess Consort?"

He sprang to his feet: "If I were to trade a living person's life for your Princess Consort, how would I differ from Cheng Jing? Bring me the Curled-leaf Cold Orchid, and I'll leave at once!"

"Let your Princess Consort fend for herself."

Xiao Yuanhang blinked: "Old sir, you've misunderstood; it's not like that."

"These three corpses are the envoys sent a few days ago by the Ni Ze of Jingcheng to our Main Camp to display might and deliver orders."

The old man looked at him, obviously half-believing, half-doubting.

Tuan Tuan hurried to his side, pulling his hand back onto the chair: "Grandpa, my dad would never do such a thing!"

"When we first arrived here and had no food, Dad even shared his own rations with the uncles!"

The old man looked at Tuan Tuan, then snorted and eased his expression.

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "Chen Wang and Qing Wang surely never imagined that the people they sent would actually save Mother's life."

A personal guard hurried into the main tent: "Prince, a messenger has come from Jingcheng bearing a letter; he says he was sent by Lord Song."

Tuan Tuan exclaimed joyfully: "Teacher!"

Xiao Yuanhang ordered: "Quickly ask him in."

The old man, unwilling to get further involved, rose upon seeing this: "Who will take me to see my Curled-leaf Cold Orchid?"

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Xiao Er, you take the old sir; also prepare a separate tent for him, and let him rest first."

"Yes!" Xiao Er walked to the tent flap, lifted the curtain: "Please, come in."

The old man followed Xiao Er out of the main tent.

A dusty, weary man entered, kneeling in salute: "Greetings, Prince Ning!"

"Please rise."

The man produced a letter from his bosom, offering it with both hands: "This is Lord Song's order, to be personally delivered into your hands."

Xiao Yuanhang took it, opened it, and read it carefully.

The man took off the pack on his back, glanced around, his gaze settling on Tuan Tuan: "May I ask, are you Princess Jiayou?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "That's me! Do you have any fun things to give me, Teacher?"

The man placed the pack on the table before Tuan Tuan, opened it, and inside lay several neatly arranged books.

"Lord Song especially instructed me to deliver these books into the Princess's hands."

"Lord Song said, although the Princess resides in the military camp, her studies must not be neglected."

Please, Princess (Commandery), study diligently; if you have any doubts, you may ask the Third Young Master.

The Third Young Master, a disciple of Yun Yai Xiansheng, is more than capable of serving as the Princess (Commandery)'s enlightenment teacher.

If there's anything else you don't understand, you can note it down; when you meet Lord Song, I will personally answer in person.

Tuan Tuan's little face immediately fell: "......"

The three brothers, seeing this, all lowered their heads and chuckled.

The little sister dislikes reading and writing the most; now it's perfect, the teacher has brought all the books to the camp!

Furthermore, it was specifically arranged for Xiao Ningxun to do the teaching; now there's no excuse for slacking off.

Xiao Ningxun smiled and clasped his hands: "Thank you, Lord Song, for keeping me in mind; I will properly teach the Princess (Commandery) to read and write."

Tuan Tuan's face turned red, she pouted, and stamped her foot: "Third Brother!"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at the man: "How did you come out of the Song Residence?"

The man replied: "Lord Song has been under soft confinement in the residence, but Prince Chen and Prince Qing, considering the Imperial Teacher's status, have not made things difficult for him."

This time I am able to leave the city thanks to Chen Hao's help.

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, slowly rose, and said: "I will go seek an audience with His Majesty."

Xiao Ningchen looked at his expression: "Father, has something changed in Jingcheng?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded and strode out.

The three brothers exchanged a glance; what's happened in Jingcheng?

Xiao Yuanhang entered the imperial tent and presented Song Jingxian's letter to Xiao Jieyun.

His Majesty, Prince Chen and Prince Qing have posted notices saying that the twelfth prince died of illness, and Noble Consort De, unable to bear the grief, also passed away.

They have set the date for the eighth day of next month to elevate the eleventh prince as the new emperor, and have prepared a grand enthronement ceremony to quell doubts among the populace and officials.

Lord Song's meaning is that if the army attacks the city on the day of the enthronement ceremony, he and Chen Hao can act as inside agents.

Xiao Jieyun placed the letter on the table and said: "Chen Hao?"