Tangtang hummed a little tune, bobbing her head as she walked.
Suddenly, her steps came to a halt. Pointing at the courtyard gate not far ahead, she asked, “Sister, what place is this? Why are there so many people standing guard?”
Hongyu looked in the direction of her finger, the smile on her face stiffening before she replied, “Little Commandery Princess, this is the Third Imperial Grandson’s courtyard! The Third Imperial Grandson suffers from a strange illness—he falls into a deep sleep during the day and stays wide awake at night… and he tends to attack people, which is why His Royal Highness had guards posted here!”
The Third Imperial Grandson was a child she had watched grow up—obedient and clever. She had no idea why he had fallen ill with such a bizarre condition.
A wave of sadness washed over Hongyu, and her eyes turned red.
Tangtang, however, froze. Day and night reversed? Attacking people?
These symptoms sounded somewhat familiar, as if she had heard about them somewhere before…
For a moment, Tangtang fell into deep thought. Seeing this, Hongyu did not dare disturb her.
A moment later, Tangtang snapped her eyes upward toward her third brother’s courtyard.
She remembered!
She had heard Master mention it in the past—this was Yin-Yang Derangement Syndrome!
Those afflicted with this condition suffered from a misaligned soul. As soon as night fell, the Yang energy inside their body would surge uncontrollably, causing a drastic change in temperament and making them lose all reason to harm others!
Moreover, if this condition was not treated in time, it would grow increasingly severe until they fell into an eternal, unawakening sleep.
“Sister, in the past, did Third Brother sleep very little during the day, and could he control himself at night without hurting people?” Tangtang’s tender, pale face was filled with gravity.
Hongyu nodded repeatedly. “It was like that before! But starting a year ago, the Third Imperial Grandson began sleeping more and more during the day, and at night when he went wild, even two guards couldn’t hold him down…”
Tangtang’s brow furrowed tightly. Third Brother’s illness was even more severe than she had imagined.
Thank goodness she remembered everything Master had taught her, and the Bagua Mirror was right inside her little pouch.
Tomorrow, at the very moment the sun first rose, she would borrow a strand of early morning Sun Energy to draw a Soul-Anchoring Tranquility Talisman. After sticking it on Third Brother’s forehead for three days, she would use the Bagua Mirror at night to suppress the surging Yang energy inside his body.
“Don’t worry, Sister, Third Brother will be fine!” Tangtang comforted her in a firm, resolute tone.
No one could take away the people she wanted to protect!
Hongyu let out a bitter smile and nodded, a sliver of hope igniting in her heart.
“Allow me to take you to the First Imperial Grandson’s place first. Our First Imperial Grandson has a taciturn nature and dislikes speaking, please do not mind him…”
Tangtang pulled her thoughts back and stepped forward to keep pace with Hongyu.
The two soon arrived at the Cedar Court. Just as they stepped through the entrance, they saw a slender youth dressed in a dark patterned robe standing under the veranda, gazing blankly at the sky.
“This servant pays respects to Your Highness…” Hongyu curtsied. “The Little Commandery Princess received some delicious pastries and brought them over especially for you…”
Gu Jinhuai withdrew his gaze, swept a faint glance over Tangtang, and gave a slight nod without uttering a word.
So this was the younger sister Father had brought back from outside the palace—thin as a stick of firewood.
Seeing Hongyu set down the food box yet linger without leaving, Gu Jinhuai’s brow knit together in displeasure. “Not leaving yet?”
The food was delivered, so what was she still standing here for? Did she expect a sickly invalid like him to entertain a child?
Hongyu’s complexion changed slightly, and she hurriedly curtsied to apologize, “May Your Highness appease your anger, this servant shall take the Little Commandery Princess and withdraw at once!”
With that, Hongyu hurriedly reached out to grab Tangtang’s hand, only for Tangtang to dodge it.
Tangtang walked up to Gu Jinhuai, tilting her head up as she spoke in her sweet, milky voice, “Big Brother, I am your younger sister Tangtang! Not the ‘tang’ in candy, but the ‘tang’ in Chinese flowering crabapple~”
Big Brother was just as pretty as Mother; Tangtang liked Big Brother!
Gu Jinhuai looked down at Tangtang, his face devoid of any smile.
This little girl was truly pushy and familiar—not only unable to read the room, but also incapable of understanding plain language.
Tangtang had been tilting her head up for so long that her neck felt sore. She tiptoed and wrapped her arms around Gu Jinhuai’s leg. “Big Brother, give me a hug~ Tangtang’s neck hurts!”
Big Brother was so pretty; his embrace must be as warm as Mother’s.
Gu Jinhuai let out a cold scoff, grabbed Tangtang by the back of her collar, lifted her up, and set her down to the side.
He disliked being touched by anyone, especially children.
“Big Brother?” Tangtang pouted her small mouth, looking at him with aggrieved, teary eyes. “Does Big Brother not like Tangtang?”
At the thought of this possibility, two pools of tears instantly gathered in Tangtang’s eyes.
Gu Jinhuai’s expression flickered, a trace of irritability rising in his heart. He wanted to explain but couldn’t bring himself to speak, which ultimately turned into two chilly words: “I don’t.”
Upon hearing this, the tears in Tangtang’s eyes vanished in an instant. She wrapped her arms around Gu Jinhuai’s leg once more. “Tangtang knew it! Big Brother is the best! Tangtang likes Big Brother the most!”
As the little milk ball spoke, she reached out her tiny hand, wanting to pat Gu Jinhuai on the shoulder.
However, due to the massive height difference, even on tiptoes she could barely reach Gu Jinhuai’s lower belly.
Huh?
Why was Big Brother’s tummy so bulging? Just like those aunts back home who were carrying little babies.
Tangtang’s tiny hand froze in midair, her round, dark almond eyes filled with confusion.
Could Big Brother have a little baby too?
But Big Brother was a boy, and Master had said that boys couldn’t give birth to little babies!
Gu Jinhuai’s face changed drastically. With a wave of his arm, he shoved Tangtang away harshly, shouting in a mixture of shock and rage, “Get out!”
Tangtang lost her balance and landed right on her bottom. She stared blankly at Gu Jinhuai, unable to comprehend why the Big Brother who was fine just a moment ago had suddenly flown into a rage.
Seeing this, Hongyu rushed forward to help Tangtang up. “Commandery Princess! How are you? Does it hurt? Allow me to take you to see the imperial physicians!”
Tangtang shook her head, drooping listlessly over Hongyu’s shoulder.
Mother had said her brothers were all frail and sickly; Big Brother must have felt unwell, which was why he lost his temper so suddenly.
It was all the fault of the mean illnesses and bad black mist—it had nothing to do with Big Brother, so Tangtang didn’t blame him.
Gu Jinhuai regretted shoving her the moment he did it, but not knowing how to make amends, he simply stiffened his posture, turned around, and walked back into his room.
Hongyu carried Tangtang out of the Cedar Court. Tangtang looked back at the tightly shut courtyard gate and asked in a muffled voice, “Sister Hongyu, is Big Brother about to give birth to a baby?”
Hongyu hurriedly covered her mouth, saying nervously, “My little ancestor, you can’t go around saying things like that!”
Tangtang’s face turned red from holding her breath. Pulling free from her hand, she said anxiously, “I’m not talking nonsense! Big Brother’s tummy is so bulging, he’s definitely about to give birth to a baby!”
She had felt it with her own hand! Big Brother’s belly was hard, and the little baby inside could even move!
Hongyu broke out in a cold sweat and explained in a low voice, “The First Imperial Grandson is a male, he cannot give birth to a baby! He fell ill with a disease that leaves the imperial physicians helpless. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess can only watch helplessly as His Highness grows thinner by the day while his belly grows bigger and bigger…”
He wasn’t about to give birth to a baby?
Tangtang’s brow knit tightly. Although Big Brother had black mist hovering over his head too, it wasn’t particularly severe.
What kind of strange illness would make a person grow gaunt while their belly grew bigger and bigger?
“Sister Hongyu, let’s go back and see Big Brother again!” Tangtang set her small face firmly. “I want to see Big Brother’s tummy with my own eyes!”
Only by seeing it with her own eyes could she make an accurate judgment.
Hongyu hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, “I’ll take you, but if the First Imperial Grandson is unwilling, I won’t be able to help either…”
Tangtang nodded. A tiny obstacle like this wouldn’t stop her!
If Big Brother was unwilling, one Sleepy-Sleep Talisman would fix everything!