Chapter 286 Silly boy, praising your aunt

Xiaoyue looked at Wan Wenbin and nodded, "Master Wan, please accept my condolences."

"Oh, my sister's fate was indeed her own doing. I had advised her before, but her arrogant and domineering nature would have led her to a pile of bones if she had encountered someone else. It's truly unfortunate for Mayor Zhang," Wan Wenbin said.

"In that case, what brings you here, Master Wan?" Xiaoyue asked.

"The Stone Dragon Emerges from Water!" Wan Wenbin said, pressing his lips and coughing lightly a few times.

"Master Wan, are you feeling unwell?" Xiaoyue inquired.

"I've always been frail, and recently caught a cold, so my health has been up and down," Wan Wenbin replied.

"Have you seen a doctor?" Xiaoyue asked again.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have seen a doctor who said it's lung deficiency and I just need to rest," Wan Wenbin said.

"Good," Xiaoyue nodded, then glanced toward the mayor's residence. "Master Wan, would you like to visit my sister?"

"No need, Your Highness. Let's focus on the matter at hand," Wan Wenbin said.

Xiaoyue glanced at Ci Xin and Wen Xu beside her, her brow twitching slightly, but she said nothing more and stepped into the carriage.

Wan Wenbin had arrived in his own carriage, while the princess's carriage was specially arranged by the mayor's residence. The official carriage trailed behind the Wan Family's carriage, moving at a leisurely pace.

"Is the relationship between Wan Wenbin and Wan Wenxiu really that strained?" Wen Xu asked curiously.

"Our emperor promotes filial piety, emphasizing brotherly love and respect, to prevent the world from repeating the royal family's missteps. It seems Yunzhou still follows its own customs," Ci Xin said as he also got into the carriage.

"Yesterday, we didn't assign anyone to look into Wan Wenxiu's situation. The Wan Family is indeed rather peculiar," Xiaoyue said.

Ci Xin lifted the carriage curtain and motioned for Xiaoyu Heng to come closer, whispering something to him. Xiaoyu Heng immediately gave the necessary orders.

"This second prince is quite admirable, most importantly, he never flaunts his royal status. Such qualities are rare," Ci Xin said.

"Yes, he takes after his mother, Consort Qi, who is also quite admirable," Xiaoyue nodded.

She hadn't interacted much with Consort Qi.

Previously, since her brother's first wife was Lin Rou, she had always been close to her.

Even after Lin Rou had a child, she remained by her side, helping to care for the baby.

She couldn't understand what Lin Rou was thinking, or why, in just six or seven years, she had changed so drastically.

The carriage arrived at the Wan Family's pier.

Xiaoyue got out of the carriage. The child was now cradled in Nanny Gui's arms, and she followed Wan Wenbin toward the lake.

"This stone dragon moves independently underwater. It appeared near the Zhao family a few days ago, with its head facing the Qian family. These days, the water flows downstream, but the stone dragon moves upstream," Wan Wenbin explained.

"Hmm, Master Wan, have you considered what might be pulling the stone dragon?" Xiaoyue asked.

She wasn't curious about the Stone Dragon Emerges from Water.

Since seeing the Black Otter, she knew why the stone dragon wandered around the lake—it was because the Black Otter liked marble.

Marble emits a faint glow underwater, attracting the otter, which then pushes the stone dragon along.

However, Xiaoyue is not ready to explain these matters to Wan Wenbin and the others yet.

"Princess Royal, as for the stone dragon... I truly don't know what is pulling it underwater. If it were big fish, how would they know to push the stone dragon along?" Wan Wenbin said.

"So, Master Wan, are you certain that the stone dragon emerging from the water is a very strange phenomenon?" Xiaoyue looked at the calm lake and asked, "Where is the stone dragon?"

"Old Cao, come over here!" On one side, the steward of the Wan Family stepped forward and called out. A middle-aged man who had been busy at the dock quickly ran over.

He was barefoot, with a cloth bandage on one leg, soaked with blood.

"Tell us what happened when you saw the stone dragon," Wan Wenbin said.

"Yes, Master!" The man glanced at Xiaoyue, then immediately lowered his eyelids, speaking nervously, "It was like this, Princess Royal. Early in the morning, when I came to the dock to inspect the cargo ship, I was walking near the water. Suddenly, waves appeared on the surface. Sensing danger, I quickly ran back. But curiosity got the better of me, so as I ran, I looked back and saw the stone dragon slowly emerging from the water. It lasted for about half an hour. Old He also saw it!"

Another worker was called over, and he immediately nodded, "Yes, yes, the stone dragon emerged from the water. It was unbelievable!"

The steward cut him off before he could say more.

"Hmm," Xiaoyue said noncommittally. She walked to the edge of the dock.

"Princess Royal, don't get too close. It's dangerous over there. Please come back a bit," Wan Wenbin quickly stepped forward and urged.

"When did you get the injury on your leg?" Xiaoyue asked the worker named Old Cao.

"Princess Royal, I got this injury when I first started work. A rope had some issues, and I accidentally got tangled in it," the worker replied.

"Did it bleed a lot? How bad is the injury?" Xiaoyue asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Princess. We're used to hard work. This injury is just a small cut. It bled a little at the time, but it stopped later!" The worker smiled, looking honest and simple.

"Here is some healing ointment. After work, apply it to the wound and wrap it with clean cloth. It should be mostly healed by tomorrow," Wen Xu took out a packet of healing ointment and handed it to the worker.

"Thank you, sir, thank you, kind sir!" The worker was moved to tears.

"This is the most genuine kindness. If you treat them just a little better, they will be deeply touched," Ci Xin said, holding his arms, speaking to Xiaoyu Heng beside him.

"Imperial Tutor, why hasn't Auntie mentioned the otters yet?" Xiaoyu Heng whispered.

"Because once she tells them, they'll start speculating, and in the end, it will still be the common people who suffer," Ci Xin said.

"Oh, I see," Xiaoyu Heng nodded.

"Silly boy, remember one thing. Your aunt has been a prodigy since she was young. Her mind is very sharp," Ci Xin said.

"Yes, I know. My mother also says Auntie is a wonderful person," Xiaoyu Heng nodded. He walked aside and held Xiao Xi'er in his arms, saying, "Little Xi'er is also very smart."