165: The peacock's mistake

Something is wrong.

Sophia, while claiming to want to bear Children for her master, either hits or scolds the Children.

Her aversion is so obvious; she doesn't act like a Foster Mother at all.

A page of previously browsed information flashed through Tu Nan's mind. It clearly stated that she and Tang Jun had a child, but the child wasn't sent here. Tu Nan guessed that was only because the Foster Mother didn't have custody of the child, and Kong Jiamu had found another placement for the child.

"Where is your Foster Mother identification number engraved?"

Tu Nan suddenly asked.

Sophia looked pitiful, pouting and fiddling with her hem. Seeing Tu Nan unmoved, she had no choice but to pull down the collar of her dress... lower and lower, until finally... a small line of glowing blue script appeared.

Between her twin peaks, winding downwards.

Lance leaned in to examine it closely. Sophia gave her an aggrieved, seductive look... she thought Lance was a Male Beast.

"Such a strange code, I can't tell where it's from. Is the beginning a B or a 12? What is 1200653-XA?"

"How much is this?" Lance asked Sophia.

Sophia's voice was like a mosquito's hum, "It's B00653-XA."

"Which Nursery? Where?" Lance was curious. "I know all the Nurseries; I've never heard of this one."

"What are you saying? I never cared about these things; Master Tang Jun knows," Sophia pushed the responsibility onto the dead man.

Tu Nan was thoughtful. Lance had paid attention to Foster Mother matters her entire life, yet she hadn't heard of this Nursery number?

Either it doesn't exist, or... she circled Sophia twice, then suddenly asked, "What are the rules?"

"They are clauses that must be followed... Foster Mother rules, many and detailed. Now, non-traditional Nurseries have simplified them to just a few rules."

"I'm asking Sophia, what are *her* rules?"

"Obey all commands of the master and mistress." Sophia answered quickly this time. She looked at Tu Nan expectantly, "Mistress, do you not want me to serve the master? I can serve you too."

This seemed correct; Foster Mothers indeed had to be obedient, and the Female Beasts of the household did have the right to discipline them.

Tu Nan knew Sophia still misunderstood her relationship with Kong Jiamu, but that was fine.

"Then I ask you." Tu Nan unexpectedly asked a question.

"Have you given birth? Don't lie; I can send you to the hospital for a check-up."

Sophia's expression was shaken. After struggling for a long time, whether it was to obey the rules or fear of being caught lying at the hospital,

She gave the answer Tu Nan had already anticipated.

"No..."

Lance realized something was wrong. She had also seen the simple information Colonel Kong sent to Tu Nan, which said this woman was the Foster Mother of his comrade's child?

"I guess you can't give birth either?" Tu Nan asked finally.

Sophia looked at her innocently.

This is a big deal... Lance and Tu Nan exchanged glances.

The two of them left Sophia in the room and walked out. Closing the door, Lance immediately said, "I've never heard of any Nursery cultivating infertile Foster Mothers; there's no value in that."

Tu Nan's eyes were frozen with ice. She snorted coldly, "Value... how could there be none?"

She directly dialed Kong Jiamu's communication.

"Kong Jiamu, you seem to have stirred up big trouble. Come to me quickly." After hanging up, she spoke to Lance again.

"You know? This world is getting worse and worse."

***

Less than twenty minutes later, Kong Jiamu and Hain Montoya appeared together.

"What's wrong? A single, abrupt sentence scared me into rushing out of the house."

With two S-ranks, Tu Nan, who had originally intended to change rooms, led them directly inside.

Sophia, who had been sitting on a chair, immediately rose happily to greet Kong Jiamu when he appeared.

"Stop, stay there!"

Kong Jiamu was now determined to draw a clear line with other Female Beasts, especially those who looked particularly beautiful... even if she was a Foster Mother, what if Pearl cared?

"Ah... I forgot to arrange her. Good Pearl, you wouldn't be doing this just for that, would you?"

Kong Jiamu looked miserable.

Tu Nan shook her head gravely. She asked the two nobles seriously.

"I ask you, besides Foster Mothers, is human trafficking illegal in the Empire?"

"Of course, a serious crime." Kong Jiamu spoke as a matter of course, not understanding why Pearl would ask such a question.

"...The Empire needs people. Your Majesty would absolutely not tolerate such behavior," Hain added.

Tu Nan nodded. She already knew these things from what she had seen and heard; her question was just for final confirmation.

"Very well, come, look at this one."

Tu Nan slowly walked towards Sophia, taking her hand, leading her into the sunlight by the window, and turning her around.

"Truly beautiful..." Tu Nan sighed with emotion.

The two Male Beasts agreed, but their gaze remained fixed on Tu Nan.

"I just asked this 'Foster Mother' with extraordinary beauty, and she told me that Tang Jun's child is not hers, and furthermore..."

"She cannot give birth."

"Her Foster Mother mark is also very strange; that 'Nursery' number doesn't correspond to any existing Nurseries."

Hearing this, the two Male Beasts found it strange, but hadn't fully reacted yet.

"Haven't you heard any strange rumors in the noble circles?" Tu Nan smiled eerily, "For example, who has very beautiful dolls to share or sell."

"What?" Kong Jiamu exploded. "I don't!"

"..." Tu Nan was speechless; she really wasn't talking about this silly bird's private life in a Yin and Yang way.

Instead, Hain's expression changed, as if he had thought of something.

He quickly stepped forward to Sophia, asking coldly yet politely, "May I see your number?"

Sophia had no way to refuse.

Hain carefully identified the mark, just like reading a book, and then very seriously told everyone present.

"This is ancient noble script, only used in specific contexts like writing books or Gift List (gift lists)." He straightened up, swept his gaze over everyone present, and said with some uncertainty,

"At the last banquet, they were playing cards in the entertainment room, and someone handed out a chip. The font on it seemed to be this kind, but I only saw it for a moment."

This was something Tu Nan hadn't expected.

However, it only made her hypothesis more complete.

"She shouldn't be a Foster Mother at all; 'doll' is more like it." Tu Nan sneered.

"Look at the code, at least 653 or more? Or are there other types of codes, who knows? Isn't this a big deal?"

"It seems someone is addicted to playing God," Hain commented. "If this matter truly involves high-ranking nobles, acting rashly will face resistance."

"Don't touch this matter anymore," he instructed Tu Nan and Lance, then turned to Kong Jiamu.

"...But we must inform Your Majesty."

Kong Jiamu's teeth ground together, his gaze chilling.

"I'm such a bastard... I never noticed." He hated himself for not discovering these clues and for bringing danger to Pearl. "Tang Jun, why did he make everything sound like entrusting his child to me?"

Perhaps he dared not trust others or say more at the time? Tu Nan was silent; no one could know more from a dead man.

Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "Was his child a boy or a girl? Could it be..."

"A girl." Kong Jiamu felt everything was even worse. Was that really his child?

"Tang Jun wasn't that rich, nor was he a bad person. I left that girl with his parents, this is not good..." He immediately made a call.

"Sergeant Song Jie, arrange a starship and wait for me at the starport. I'm going to Tang Jun's hometown. Bring enough people; it's a big job."

He was going to dig for clues, at least to bring that child back.

"I'll take Sophia, but she's been with Pearl for so long... I'm worried..."

Kong Jiamu looked at Tu Nan, full of lingering fear.

"I am here."

Hain once again took on the role of protector.

"Good. Then I'll set off now. I'll report to Your Majesty on the way."

Kong Jiamu was decisive, not even planning to return home, and was about to leave, dragging Sophia with him.

Tu Nan and Hain saw him to the door.

Before stepping out of the room, Peacock suddenly pulled Tu Nan into his embrace, lowered his head, and gave her a long, deep kiss.

She prepared to push him away, but Kong Jiamu held the back of her head, pressing her so she had nowhere to retreat.

"Remember to miss me. See you in the Capital City, hmm?" He released the person in his arms, waved his hand dashingly, and left without looking back.

Meanwhile, Hain stepped half a pace forward, his lips pressed tightly together.