Chapter 55: Let's Go to His House to Get It

Lv Zheng shivered all over, countless gazes fell on him, Huo Wenxuan's disappointment, his sister's terror, the onlookers' mockery… the blood in his body turned cold.

Lv Zheng opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Lv Zheng wanted to backtrack, wanted to argue, but the wager had been his own proposal, and under everyone's watch, what reason could he have to renege?

His face shifted from pale to bluish, then to red, and finally turned a dead gray.

Finally, he clenched his teeth, forced himself to endure shame and humiliation, staggered forward two steps, and in front of Xiao Ningxun and Tuan Tuan, fell with a thud and knelt, rapidly kowtowing three times.

Each head that struck the ground felt like it smashed his shattered dignity.

After the kowtows, he sprang to his feet, without looking back, and rushed toward the gate of Xuanqiong Temple as if fleeing in panic.

Tuan Tuan hurriedly shouted after his retreating back, "Hey! Don't forget the snow ginseng!"

Lv Qianru glared fiercely at Tuan Tuan, then turned to chase after her brother.

The two companions' crushing defeat made Huo Wenxuan's complexion extremely grim; she stomped her foot hard and, without uttering a single word to hold the scene, left.

The commotion ended, the onlookers gradually dispersed, the hall returned to its former tranquility, and atop the balcony, the prayer bells continued to chime softly.

Xiao Ningxun bent down and lifted his sister into his arms.

"Third Brother! We won, wait for them to bring the snow ginseng, and give it to big brother to eat!" Tuan Tuan clutched his neck, her soft voice whispering in his ear.

"Alright." Xiao Ningxun nodded heavily.

The great event in the hall prompted a junior Taoist to sprint and report to Xuanqing Zhenren; Cheng Ru'an, standing nearby, heard everything clearly, his expression changed slightly, but he said little.

After bidding farewell to Xuanqing Zhenren, Cheng Ru'an returned to the Prince's Mansion with his children.

During dinner, Tuan Tuan excitedly recounted the day's events, vividly describing them to Father and Second Brother.

Xiao Ningchen glanced at his younger brother: "Third Brother, never do that again; it's too risky. If we lose, how will Tuan Tuan ever establish herself in the capital?"

Xiao Ningxun lowered his head: "It was my recklessness; it won't happen again."

Tuan Tuan hurried to Second Brother, climbed into his arms: "Second Brother, Third Brother has always protected me; he's a good brother, please don't speak ill of him."

Xiao Ningchen steadied her onto his lap and fed her a piece of fish meat: "Good! Tuan Tuan is right! Second Brother won't speak of him."

Xiao Yuanhang, however, was unperturbed: "No wonder Xun Er, that Lv kid is so arrogant; he deserves a lesson."

He glanced at his wife's face, only to find she had remained silent the whole time.

That night, Tuan Tuan fell asleep.

Xiao Yuanhang asked softly, "An Er, what troubles you?"

Cheng Ru'an sighed and told her husband all of Xuanqing Zhenren's words: "Prince, I'm really scared; Tuan Tuan is so good, I truly worry about her…"

She paused, not continuing.

Xiao Yuanhang gently pulled his wife into his arms: "No need to worry; whatever the matter, we as a family bear it together. What is there to fear? Could I not protect my own child?"

"Xuanqing Zhenren's words are reasonable, but Tuan Tuan's actions, being all benevolent rather than evil, surely Heaven will not treat her poorly."

Cheng Ru'an leaned against her husband's chest, hearing his reassurance; the half‑day's worries finally lifted, and after careful thought she said, "Prince, you are right; I was overly worried about Tuan Tuan. Though she is not my biological child, I always feel she is my own flesh and blood."

With the heavy burden gone, she finally laughed: "Tuan Tuan, you clever rascal! You actually won Lv Lord's most treasured snow ginseng; Lv Lord must be aching with worry now. Lv Zheng, that kid, will probably face family punishment."

Xiao Yuanhang also laughed: "Indeed, that child is truly mischievously clever; how could she have thought of this?"

Cheng Ru'an understood: "Because she misses her big brother. By the way, Prince, how is Zhao Lord's matter?"

Xiao Yuanhang hummed: "Yuan Er's victimization is ironclad evidence; Dali Temple has reviewed it, and tomorrow it will be transferred to the Ministry of Justice. The Zhao family, a filthy bunch, even dares to covet the Prince's commercial house; the Emperor will surely punish them severely."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "I only hope Yuan Er recovers quickly. Though Guo Taiyi repeatedly assures that the poison in him has been cleared, each day he remains unconscious, my heart cannot settle."

Xiao Yuanhang gently stroked his wife's hair: "With Tuan Tuan as a lucky star, Yuan Er will surely be fine. Stop worrying and rest."

The couple, having finished speaking their hearts, went to sleep together.

The next morning, Tuan Tuan got up and immediately asked, "Mother! Has the snow ginseng been delivered?"

Cheng Ru'an was startled: "Weren't we promised it would be delivered within three days? It's early this morning; how could it already be here?"

Tuan Tuan pouted: "But I want to give it to big brother quickly! Mother, shall we go to his house now to get it?"

Cheng Ru'an was shocked: "Huh? No, we can't!"

"Why not?" Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled.

"Because if we go to his place to take it, that Lv kid would probably be so angry he'd literally vomit blood."

Xiao Yuanhang, from the doorway, stepped in and happened to hear the mother‑daughter's idle chat.

"Father!" Tuan Tuan ran happily toward him.

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his daughter, growing more fond as he looked, pinching her little cheek: "Tuan Tuan brought such a fine thing for big brother; father will reward you! What do you want? Tell father."

Tuan Tuan thought seriously for a while: "I want big brother to wake up."

Xiao Yuanhang's heart trembled; this child is so pure‑hearted and exceedingly clever—such a rarity. How could I, Xiao Yuanhang, be worthy of having such a wonderful daughter?

He placed a gentle kiss on her little face and said softly, "Alright, Tuan Tuan, don't worry; your big brother will wake up."

The Lv family acted swiftly; before noon, they had delivered the snow ginseng to the Prince's Mansion.

The servant reported back: "It was the steward of the Lv family who delivered it personally; his face was very grim when he arrived, saying that the young master of the Lv household, because of this matter, was nearly broken in the leg by Lord Lv last night and is now being punished in the ancestral hall."

Xiao Ningxun recalled Lv Zheng's arrogant demeanor yesterday and hummed, "Serves him right."

Xiao Ningchen walked to the table, opened the lid of the brocade box containing the snow ginseng, and an intoxicating fragrance instantly spread.

Everyone gathered around.

The snow ginseng surprisingly already bore a vaguely human‑baby outline: head, limbs, torso distinct, hair and beard all white, like a sleeping snow doll.

The whole body displayed a luminous, translucent snow‑white hue, yet faintly showed flowing golden veins, enveloped in a milky aura, exuding potent spiritual energy.

Tuan Tuan leaned in and sniffed vigorously: "So fragrant! It smells sweet!"

Cheng Ru'an, face alight with surprise, exclaimed, "Prince! This snow ginseng truly is no ordinary item!"