Chapter 21: Rescue by Indirect Means

"Hey, hey, hey!" Tan Xingyou was shaken. "You can eat recklessly, but you can't speak recklessly! It was clearly you who brought your servants to find trouble with us, so how did it suddenly become me bullying you?"

"I don't care!" Shen Zijiao shouted, his voice booming like a bell, tears and snot streaming across his face. "It was you who bullied me!"

After his fierce declaration, he wiped away his tears with his sleeve and rushed out of the inn. "I'm going to complain to my father!"

Seeing Shen Zijiao run, the servants hurriedly followed after him in a grand procession. One servant lingered at the back, hastily pulling out some silver. "I'll take ten bottles of that wound medicine first."

"Alright!" Tan Xingyou quickly called out, "Yuanbao, Yuanbao, hurry and fetch ten bottles of wound medicine!"

The boy named Yuanbao answered promptly, grabbed ten bottles, bundled them up quickly, and handed them over. "Here, ten bottles."

The servant took the medicine and left in a hurry. Tan Xingyou bounced, clutching the silver. "Yes! We’ve got money!"

Turning around, he spotted Tan Qingjiu standing upstairs.

Tan Xingyou quickly hid his hand behind his back. "Hehe, mother."

But Tan Qingjiu wasn’t looking at him; her gaze was fixed firmly on the distant main entrance.

Tan Xingyou seized the chance to stash away the silver and bounded up the stairs. "That little chubby kid was quite amusing. He claimed you bullied his mother and came to make trouble. Being a doctor is dangerous; medical trouble happens everywhere."

Tan Xingqi glanced at him. "Fool."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Tan Xingyou protested. "Mother, I just handled that medical dispute for you, and now brother is scolding me."

"Tsk, that chubby kid is so weak, and he insists on finding his father, as if his father is so formidable."

Tan Qingjiu withdrew her gaze, her brows knitted tightly. "His father is the heir to the Prince of Ding."

"What's so special about the Prince of Ding's heir? If he wants to cause trouble for you, not even the King of Heaven can stop me with my slingshot. But a mere Prince of—"

Tan Xingyou’s words abruptly halted as he realized. "Prince... Prince of Ding's heir?"

"So he came to... to..."

Tan Xingqi looked at him and sighed. "He came to seek justice for the Princess of Ding, Tan Yunge."

"His father is the Prince of Ding’s heir, his mother is the Princess of Ding—so he..."

"Most likely, he’s our eldest brother."

Tan Qingjiu lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she turned and entered the room.

Tan Xingyou followed, still looking incredulous. "How could our eldest brother be like that?"

"Not to mention his personality is so unexpected, even his looks and build are..."

Tan Xingyou glanced at Tan Xingqi, then looked down at himself, finishing his sentence. "He’s really very different from us."

He hurried into the room and saw Tan Qingjiu sitting by the table, lost in thought. He quickly approached her. "Mother, was that really our brother just now? Couldn’t he be another son of the Prince of Ding’s heir?"

"Mm, before I came to the capital, I’d already inquired. Tan Yunge is notoriously jealous, so the Prince of Ding’s heir has only this one son."

"But..."

Tan Qingjiu pressed her lips together. "The Prince of Ding’s heir and Tan Yunge have only this one child, so they spoil him excessively. Shen Zijiao’s temperament is arrogant and volatile, always causing trouble."

Her voice faded. When she’d read letters investigating Shen Zijiao, Tan Qingjiu hadn’t felt anything concrete. Now, seeing Shen Zijiao in person, she realized her earlier thoughts had been too optimistic.

Shen Zijiao’s temperament was utterly unlike Xingqi or Xingyou’s—pampered, causing trouble everywhere. Yet judging from his purpose and reactions today, he fiercely defended Tan Yunge.

If she rashly revealed the truth, he likely wouldn’t believe or accept her.

Tan Xingqi gazed quietly at Tan Qingjiu, stepping forward. "Mother."

"I think we should recognize our brother soon and tell him the truth."

"Mm?"

Tan Xingqi’s expression was calm, with a mature air.

"I’m unsure what Tan Yunge intends, but judging from brother’s situation, their guidance seems lacking. Spoiling him like this may not be a good thing."

"Mother said brother is arrogant and volatile, always causing trouble. But the capital is full of noble figures and powerful people—being the Prince of Ding’s heir isn’t much here."

"Brother hasn’t met any real trouble yet, but if Tan Yunge keeps indulging him, disaster is inevitable."

"Besides, mother revealed her identity in front of Tan Yunge. As long as Tan Yunge isn’t foolish, she’ll guess mother is the Tan Qingjiu from the Tan residence."

Tan Qingjiu’s fingers twitched. She’d acted deliberately, wanting them to know her identity.

Tan Yunge was no fool. How could Shen Zijiao, a half-grown child, know about her bullying Tan Yunge? Clearly, Tan Yunge had told him.

Shen Zijiao appearing here now was almost certainly Tan Yunge’s deliberate act.

Tan Yunge was probing, warning, and showing off.

She meant to tell Tan Qingjiu that Shen Zijiao was hers alone, that he only recognized her as mother. If Tan Qingjiu wanted Shen Zijiao safe, she’d better behave.

"The way Tan Yunge and the Prince of Ding’s heir raise their child, they’ll ruin brother sooner or later."

"It’s better to tell him the truth early, find a way to win him over, and let mother guide him properly."

Tan Qingjiu gave a bitter laugh. "Easier said than done."

"He may not believe it, and even if he does, he may not accept me. You saw his attitude just now..."

Tan Xingyou’s eyes gleamed. "Why not leave this to me?"

"To you?"

Tan Xingyou nodded. "I’m the king of children in Miracle Valley. Every child is drawn to my charisma and listens to me."

"Mother can... first find out where brother spends his time or where he studies, then send me and my brother there. We’ll infiltrate the enemy camp, gather information, and gradually make our way in."

Tan Xingyou’s eyes sparkled. "If we do that, we’ll need new disguises for our faces."

Tan Qingjiu looked at Xingyou and Xingqi. "That’s a clever, indirect approach."

"Of course. Mother, don’t worry. Brother and I will win him over soon."

Tan Qingjiu turned and instructed Qingdai, "Find out where Shen Zijiao studies and who he likes to play with."

"Yes."

A sharp glint flashed in Tan Qingjiu’s eyes. Tan Yunge wanted to use Shen Zijiao as leverage against her? But this should be her own bargaining chip against Tan Yunge.

Tan Qingjiu bit her lip and added, "Besides Shen Zijiao, help me investigate another person."