Chapter 909: Can

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and let out a long sigh: "All right, all right, Tuan Tuan is fine. It's just like the previous times; resting for two days will be enough."

Tuan Tuan watches Master's mouth moving, but hears not a single word, and, in a hurry, grabs his sleeve.

Chu Yuan holds her small hand, smiles at her and shakes his head.

Xiao Ningxun lets out a sigh, then furrows his brows again: "National Preceptor, previously it always recovered in one day; why does it take two days this time?"

Chu Yuan shakes his head: "The situation is different. Today, in her haste, her Qi flow leaked out too quickly and heavily; one day may not be enough."

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly asks: "After two days, will she truly recover?"

"Princess Consort need not worry; at the latest after two days, she will be restored to her former state."

Cheng Ru'an then pats his chest, and a weight lifts from his heart.

Tuan Tuan looks at her mother, then at Master, and points to her own ear.

Chu Yuan extends two fingers toward her.

Tuan Tuan is stunned, turns her head toward Xiao Ningxun.

Xiao Ningxun also extends two fingers, enunciating each syllable with his mouth: "Two—days."

Tuan Tuan's eyes instantly widen.

A moment later, Xiao Tuanzi's mouth pouts, tears flow again, and her little mouth pouts even higher than before.

At the same time, in the Imperial Study.

Xiao Jieyun looks at the brocade handkerchief on the Dragon Desk, silent for a long while.

After a while, he slowly speaks: "A few days ago, the Empress knelt before me, begging me to enshrine Lao Qi as Crown Prince."

"She had no allies in court, and lived long in the inner palace; how could she plot and execute such a meticulous assassination?"

Xiao Yuanhang hesitates a moment: "Whether it is related to the Empress, I dare not speak rashly."

"Yet today is the investiture ceremony; under everyone's watchful eyes, the Crown Prince was attacked on the main street—this cannot be concealed."

"If we do not investigate immediately, rumors will spread throughout Jingcheng, and the people's hearts will be uneasy."

Xiao Jieyun nods slightly: "Cheng Jinyan."

Eunuch Cheng hurriedly bows and replies: "The old servant is here."

"Convey my decree: order Dali Temple official Li Jing to investigate this case thoroughly, and bring me a complete truth!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Jieyun looks at Prince Ning: "What about Tuan Tuan? I heard Tuan Tuan saved the Crown Prince, and I am thinking what reward to give her at today's palace banquet."

Xiao Yuanhang sighs lightly, recounts Tuan Tuan's matter: "I have ordered Xun Er to send her back to the mansion."

"Tuan Tuan," Xiao Jieyun closes his eyes, "If it were not for her, Lao Qi would not have escaped this disaster today."

"The title 'Princess Protector of the Nation' truly suits Tuan Tuan."

"Blame me, I am not good," Xiao Jieyun sighs lightly, "always letting this little child bear my worries."

Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly says: "His Majesty, you speak too highly."

"Only that I miss her; I truly have no interest in the palace banquet. Please, His Majesty, grant me permission to return to the mansion immediately."

"Go," the Emperor thought for a moment, "In my Imperial Medical Office, all rare medicinal herbs are at your disposal; by all means, you must cure her."

Xiao Yuanhang bows and says: "I obey the decree, thank you."

Having finished, he bows, steps back, turns and walks out.

Xiao Jieyun picks up the handkerchief on the desk and mutters: "Empress, may this matter have nothing to do with you."

After a while, the Emperor arrives at Taiji Hall.

All the ministers at this moment already know of the Crown Prince's assassination; each holds their breath, lowers their heads, and dares not speak.

Only Xiao Ze remains unmoved, sitting upright at his seat.

Xiao Jieyun scans the seats: Princess Chang, Lord Song, the three sons of Prince Ning, Old Nine, Chen Hao, Lu Qingjia, Xiao Er, Lu Qi, Marquis Jinghai, none are present.

He smiles slightly, knowing these people must have gone to Ning Prince's Mansion to visit Tuan Tuan.

He gently raises his hand: "Begin the feast."

"Yes."

The sound of silk and bamboo instruments rises, the dancing maidens enter, their water sleeves swirling like clouds; in the great hall, goblets clink, songs and dances ascend, and the atmosphere becomes lively.

At the same time, in Fengyi Palace.

Murong Jin sits alone by the couch, cradling Xiao Che in her arms.

The curtains hang low, the dim yellow candlelight casts the sleeping chamber in an especially cold and desolate glow.

The silk-and-bamboo music drifts faintly through the window lattice.

That sound, blocked by the thick palace walls and torn by the night wind, comes in broken and intermittent, its melody unclear, yet the lack of clarity makes it even more painful.

She can easily imagine how lively the scene in Taiji Hall must be now.

Everyone is raising their glasses for Lao Qi, congratulating him on becoming Crown Prince.

Only she, alone, holding her son, sits here in solitude.

Siyu steps in lightly, sees her, waves her hand: "All of you, step back."

"Yes." A few palace attendants in the corner retreat.

Siyu walks to Murong Jin's side, whispers comforting words: "Your Highness, Seventh Prince has already been enshrined; your young prince will surely be safe from now on."

"Your Highness need not worry any longer."

She pauses, her voice even softer: "It truly is hard on Your Highness."

Murong Jin remains silent for a long time, then sighs lightly: "But may it be so."

Siyu, seeing that she finally speaks, quickly says: "The dinner has already been set; Your Highness, please have a few bites, the phoenix body is important."

Murong Jin lowers her head, looking at Xiao Che in her arms.

The little one stared at her with a pair of round, bright eyes, his little mouth slightly open, as if waiting for his mother to say something to him.

Mu Rong Jin extended a finger, gently tapped his little cheek, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of her lips: "Bring it here, look at Che Er, only then can this Palace eat."

Si Yu's eyes grew hot: "Yes." She rose and stepped out.

After a while, Si Yu finally returned, gently placing several dishes and a jar of soup on the table.

Mu Rong Jin placed her son into the cradle, got up, and walked to the table to sit down.

Si Yu picked up the silver chopsticks, pinched a piece of fish meat intending to put it into the plate before her.

Her wrist trembled slightly, the fish slipped from the chopstick tip and fell onto the table.

Si Yu's face turned pale, and she hurriedly knelt: "It was my clumsiness, please forgive me, Your Highness!"

Mu Rong Jin shook her head: "No problem, get up." She picked up the silver chopsticks, took a piece of fish herself, and put it into her mouth.

Si Yu stood up, trying to ladle a bowl of soup, but her wrist still trembled uncontrollably; the spoon clanged against the porcelain bowl, the soup splashed out and splattered on the table.

Mu Rong Jin lifted her eyes to look at her: "You are always careful in your actions, how could you be so careless? Is something… wrong?"

Si Yu lowered her head, her voice trembling: "Just now, when I went to the Main Hall to serve the evening meal, I heard the palace staff all saying…"

"What did they say?"

Si Yu gritted her teeth, forced herself to answer: "They said His Highness the Crown Prince was attacked on the Long Street today."

Mu Rong Jin's hand suddenly trembled, and the chopsticks fell onto the table.

She steadied her mind, looked around; in the sleeping chamber there were only she and Si Yu, and then she whispered: "How is the Crown Prince? Any injuries?"

Si Yu shook her head: "The Crown Prince is fine; those assassins died on the spot."

"I heard the last assassin was struck dead by a sudden bolt of lightning from the heavens; the common folk say, 'Heaven protects the Crown Prince.'"

"Since there's no incident, what is there to say?" Mu Rong Jin picked up the chopsticks again: "It cannot be guaranteed, and it was his own doing."

"A benevolent ruler's reputation is insufficient; he still seeks a destiny ordained by Heaven."

"It's just to deceive the common people, that's all."