Chapter 635: Indeed Some Things Are Unusual

Chu Yuan asked, "It… wasn't originally a fox, was it?"

"Wow! Master, you're so amazing!" Tuan Tuan stroked Xiao Feifei, "Xiao Feifei used to be a worm!"

"Worm?" Chu Yuan was shocked, "What kind of worm?"

"It's a Gu Worm!" Tuan Tuan said nonchalantly, "I fed it my blood, and that's why it became like this."

"Your blood?" Chu Yuan's brows knit together, "How could you use your blood to feed it?"

"It was near death then! I gave it a drop of my blood, and it came back to life!"

"It was terrible when it was a worm, but now it's fine! It even saved Feng Zhou's life!"

Feng Zhou hurriedly said, "Exactly! National Preceptor, Xiao Feifei is a good fox!"

Xiao Ningyuan asked, "Is there anything wrong with Xiao Feifei? National Preceptor?"

Chu Yuan stared at Xiao Feifei, "I saw a trace of unusual causality on it."

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, "What causality?"

Chu Yuan shook his head, "Never mind, it's an aberration. No matter what it was before, since it now listens to Tuan Tuan, there's no need to probe further."

He looked at Xiao Ningyuan, "Why didn't you follow the main army, yet came to Jingcheng ahead of time?"

Xiao Ningyuan recounted Xiao Ningxun's concerns and the fact that a mage not from Zhongyuan was in Jingcheng:

"National Preceptor, have you noticed anyone setting up formations? Like the last border war."

"I haven't detected any. However, regarding that mage you mentioned, I know a little."

Xiao Er hurriedly asked, "Has the National Preceptor met him?"

Lu Qi immediately interjected, "Do you know where he lives?"

The two exchanged glances, thoughts aligned; if they knew where he lived and what he looked like, they could just cut him down.

Chu Yuan shook his head, "I don't know those things, but when he was performing a ritual in Jingcheng, I once fought him."

"Huh?" Tuan Tuan hurriedly asked, "Master, were you injured?"

Chu Yuan patted her little head, "Of course not. He used forbidden techniques; I broke his spell, and after that he vanished."

"I thought he had already left Jingcheng."

"But as you said, he's still in Jingcheng, which is strange. If he's still there, why is there no activity?"

Xiao Ningyuan hummed, "Could he be as powerful as Wu Luo? With you and Tuan Tuan here, I actually hope he makes some move, so he can be scattered like Wu Luo's soul."

Tuan Tuan let out a small yawn.

Chu Yuan hurriedly said, "Tuan Tuan is sleepy; let's all go to sleep first. The secret chamber is already prepared; go there. We can sleep a bit longer tomorrow."

He lifted Tuan Tuan, and the others followed him into the secret chamber.

Inside, fresh bedding covered the beds, and tea sets were placed on the tables—everything needed for daily life was fully provided.

Xiao Ningyuan clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, National Preceptor, for your thorough consideration."

Tuan Tuan immediately spotted a neatly placed cloth rabbit that Eunuch Cheng had made for her, freshly washed and spotless.

"Wow! My little rabbit!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed, leaping to the bedside, hugging the rabbit and constantly petting it, "Thank you, Master! You kept it so well!"

Xiao Feifei, seeing this, became frantic, jumped into her arms and kicked the rabbit away with a foot.

Tuan Tuan gently tapped its forehead, crouched, and picked up the rabbit, "Xiao Feifei, this was made by Eunuch Cheng; you can't do that!"

"Ying ying ying…" Xiao Feifei whined plaintively, looking at the rabbit, too scared to kick again.

Eunuch Cheng felt warm inside; the Little Princess was truly nostalgic. That lively fox was far cuter than the rabbit he made, yet she still cherished it.

He softly said, "Little Princess, it's alright."

Tuan Tuan placed the cloth rabbit beside her small pillow, "Eunuch Cheng, you made this for me; I love it!"

Chu Yuan smiled, "Everyone sleep now; I'll return tomorrow."

For several days, Tuan Tuan happily ate the long‑missed snacks from Qiaosu Pavilion and dishes from Suijin Pavilion, overjoyed.

But soon she felt stifled; the whole Jingcheng she couldn't go out to stroll!

One day, she clung to Xiao Ningyuan, "Big brother, shall we go see Imperial Aunt?"

Xiao Ningyuan was startled, "Eldest Princess?"

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan climbed onto his lap, "I haven't seen Imperial Aunt in ages; isn't there a secret passage? Let's go see her!"

She turned to Chu Yuan, "Master, is Imperial Aunt okay now?"

Chu Yuan sighed, "Since Prince Chen and Prince Qing entered Jingcheng, Eldest Princess has shut herself in the Palace and never left."

"The Crown Prince died for the country; he was highly respected in the army. They dare not disrespect her, yet they can't treat her kindly either."

Tuan Tuan's eyes grew wet, "Imperial Aunt is so pitiful! I want to go see her."

Xiao Er looked at his lady's pitiful expression and felt heartache, "Miss is right."

"Since there's a secret passage, and we've been there before, Great Young Master, let her go see her."

Lu Qi also said, "Yes, Great Young Master, now we're familiar with the routes, and nothing remains."

Xiao Ningyuan sighed, "Very well, then we'll go tonight; it's a good chance to ask about the current state of the Palace."

Tuan Tuan was delighted, "Great! We can finally see Imperial Aunt!"

That night, the group entered the Palace at the hour of Zi, slipping through the Guard patrols as last time, and arrived at Eldest Princess's sleeping chamber.

"Imperial Aunt!" Tuan Tuan stuck her head out from behind the bronze mirror and called softly.

Eldest Princess was sitting alone before her dressing table; hearing the voice, she shivered, turned, and opened her arms wide, "Tuan Tuan! You finally came! Come quickly!"

Tuan Tuan ran happily to her, leapt into her arms, "Imperial Aunt! I've missed you so much!"

Eldest Princess held her tightly, tears streaming, "Since you last came, I've sent them away every Hai hour, waiting here alone for you."

"I just hope one day I can see you again."

"I can always hear you call my name, but each time I turn around I can't see you."

"You're finally here," she kept murmuring, "as long as you're here, that's fine, that's fine."

Tuan Tuan's nose tingled, and she lifted her little hand to wipe her tears: "Imperial Aunt, don't be sad, Imperial Uncle will be back soon!"

Eldest Princess was startled: "His Majesty is going to attack Jingcheng?"

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan finally remembered, "Ah, my big brother and the others are still waiting, can we let them in too?"

Eldest Princess nodded: "All of you, please come in."

Xiao Ningyuan, Xiao Er, and Lu Qi, upon hearing, stepped out, saluted: "Eldest Princess."

"Please sit, when will His Majesty arrive? What are the odds of victory?"

Xiao Ningyuan said: "The exact date depends on the army's march; we only arrived in Jingcheng a few days ago ourselves."

"Eldest Princess, may I ask, how are things in the Palace?"

Eldest Princess replied: "It's not too bad; Noble Consort De and Little Twelve, when Seventh Prince was missing, it was chaotic for a while."

"They searched everywhere, even captured many people for severe torture, but got nothing out of them; later it gradually quieted down."

Tuan Tuan hurriedly asked: "What about that Little Fuzi in the Dezheng Palace? Is he okay? Thanks to him I was able to rescue Little Twelve."

Eldest Princess slightly frowned: "Little Fuzi? I don't know."

"Imperial Aunt, could you ask about him? Little Fuzi is a good person, I don't want anything to happen to him!"

"Alright," Eldest Princess patted her little cheek, "the person Tuan Tuan wants to protect, Imperial Aunt will certainly do her best."

"Mm‑hmm!" Tuan Tuan smiled, "Thank you, Imperial Aunt!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi smiled as they looked at their lady; our lady is truly kind‑hearted! As long as someone has helped her, she tightly protects them.

Eldest Princess thought for a moment: "However, there is one matter that is indeed rather… unusual."