Chapter 117

Cheng Ru'an glanced at her daughter: "Please have Minister Sheng wait in the front hall and serve tea."

"Yes."

Sheng Zhan had just sat down and taken half a cup of tea when he saw Cheng Ru'an leading Xiao Tuanzi walk in.

This must be the renowned Princess Jiayou.

Sheng Zhan hastily rose: "I pay my respects, Princess Consort, Princess Jiayou."

After exchanging pleasantries, he stated his purpose: "Princess Consort, I have heard that during the autumn hunt, the Princess had remarkable ideas regarding crossbow bolts."

"Today I dare to come, simply to ask the Princess to visit the Ministry of Works; I have a few bow and crossbow drawings I would like the Princess to advise on."

Tuan Tuan lifted her head to look at her mother: "Mother, do I need to take charge?"

Cheng Ru'an was startled.

Although her daughter had been appointed as an envoy of the Private Affairs Workshop with a fifth-rank official post, that was not an office in the Ministry of Works; whether she should manage things or not, no one dared to say anything.

She silently looked at Sheng Zhan, but his gaze frightened her.

Only to see his eyes glowing with a greenish light, his pupils fixed unblinkingly on Tuan Tuan, full of longing.

Cheng Ru'an hesitated a moment: "Tuan Tuan, if you don't have to go to the Guozijian today, it's fine to take a look."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan replied.

She turned her head to look at Sheng Zhan, chin raised high: "I can go, but you must treat me to something delicious! I won't do it for nothing."

Sheng Zhan felt relieved and hastily agreed: "No problem! After the Princess finishes viewing, I, as host, will invite the Princess to try the newly opened 'Bawei Xian'."

"That Bawei Xian has only just opened, yet its reputation is excellent; everyone says its skill is on par with that of Suijin Pavilion."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan immediately beamed, jumped up and grabbed Xiao Er's big hand: "Second Uncle, let's go! Let's go eat that Ba-something-flavor together!"

As she ran out, she turned back and shouted: "Mother! I'll bring you something delicious back!"

"Don't run so fast! Don't fall! Xiao Er, watch her well!" Cheng Ru'an shook her head helplessly.

"Yes!"

When the carriage arrived at the Ministry of Works gate, Sheng Zhan happened to meet a colleague: "Princess, please go ahead; straight to the end is my office."

Tuan Tuan nodded, took Xiao Er's hand, and walked inside.

Sheng Zhan's office was simply furnished; the most conspicuous item was a wide desk placed in the center, covered with several sheets of drawings.

Tuan Tuan tiptoed, stretched out her little hand to grip the desk edge, curiously picking up the top sheet and examining it with especial focus.

"Where did this wild girl come from! Dare to meddle with the Minister's documents!" a harsh shout came from the doorway.

Tuan Tuan jumped in fright, turned her head, and saw a man in a cyan official robe with a stern face stride over, reaching out to snatch the drawing from her hand.

Xiao Er frowned, raised his arm to block him.

Tuan Tuan knitted her little brows: "Why are you being fierce?"

"Fierce?" the man pointed at the doorway, his manner menacing: "If you don't get out right now, I'll have the guards arrest you and throw you in jail!"

He glanced at Xiao Er: "Even if you are the child of some great family, this is the office of the Minister of Works, a place of confidential affairs, and you are not allowed to behave rudely here!"

"Is the Ministry of Works your family's?" Tuan Tuan, unafraid, tilted her head and asked him: "You say you'll take me, then take me?"

"Impudent! I am Feng Bojia, a chief clerk of the Ministry of Works!"

"Oh," Tuan Tuan slowly placed the drawing back on the desk: "So you're Feng Bojia."

Sheng Zhan hurried back, and upon reaching the doorway he happened to hear the last two sentences; his face instantly turned ashen: "Feng Bojia! It's you who is being rude! Who gave you the nerve to be disrespectful to the Princess?"

"The Princess?" Feng Bojia looked astonished, such a young Princess?

Sheng Zhan wished he could kick him out: "Hurry up and apologize to the Princess!"

Feng Bojia's face flushed pale and red, he held his neck stiff and remained silent.

"She's just a wet-nosed little kid here flipping through drawings; am I not allowed to say something?"

"And I haven't done anything wrong!"

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand: "I don't need him to apologize."

"His Hall of Impression is dark, misfortune looms; he won't be jumping about for long."

Feng Bojia, flushed red with anger at her: "You! Even if you are the Princess, you cannot curse a subordinate like this!"

Tuan Tuan's dark, glossy eyes fixed on him, scanning him up and down: "Your heart is so wicked, you even scheme against your own kin; aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"You! What nonsense are you spouting!" Feng Bojia's face changed dramatically; he jerked back a step, his voice altered.

"Whether it's nonsense, you know." Tuan Tuan blinked: "Stolen goods must be returned; you've taken someone else's position, so be careful!"

Feng Bojia trembled all over, stared at her in shock, then turned and fled, scrambling out.

Sheng Zhan was left bewildered by this sudden turn of events.

Yet see Tuan Tuan already had picked up the drawing on the desk, her little head shaking like a rattle drum: "I've looked it over; it's terrible, full of loopholes."

She shoved the drawing into Sheng Zhan's hand: "Go find Feng Zhou; show him the drawing, and he'll help you fix it."

"Feng Zhou?" Sheng Zhan looked bewildered: "Who is this person? Where is he?"

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little finger, pointing at the door through which Feng Bojia had vanished: "It's the person whose things that jerk just stole; go ask him!"

After strolling around the Ministry of Works, the two arrived at Bawei Xian.

"Why are you running around alone again?"

Tuan Tuan looked up: "Third Elder Brother! You're back!"

Xiao Ze bent down and lifted her: "You also came to try this newly opened restaurant?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Mm!"

Xiao Ze carried her upstairs: "How coincidental; someone invited me to dine here today, let's go together."

Xiao Er followed behind with a dark face, another who keeps hugging the young lady at the drop of a hat!

Upon entering a private room, the two youths seated inside rose together.

One of the blue-clad youths looked utterly incredulous: "Seventh Brother! Where did you pick up this kid?"

Tuan Tuan put on a stern little face: "I'm not something he picked up!"

Xiao Ze glared at that youth: "This is my ninth younger brother, Xiao Ran."

"That is Prince Chen's son, Chen Hao."

The green-clad youth named Chen Hao nodded slightly: "Your Highness, Seventh Prince, who is this?"

Xiao Ze placed Tuan Tuan on the embroidered stool beside him: "This is Princess Jiayou of the Ning Prince's Mansion."

Xiao Ran's face filled with surprise: "Princess Jiayou? The one who won snow ginseng for her elder brother and brought back two fierce tigers to the Main Camp during the autumn hunt?"

Tuan Tuan was just about to proudly shake her little head.

Then Xiao Ran said: "It's just this little brat!"

Tuan Tuan flared up, glaring: "You're the little brat! Your whole family are little brats!"

Xiao Ran burst out laughing: "Seventh Brother, this little brat is so fun! That one sentence of hers even dragged Father Emperor into the scolding!"

Xiao Ze helplessly glanced at his brother: "Hurry up and order the food!"

He reached out and ruffled Tuan Tuan's little head: "Don't mind him, he's always like this. What would you like to eat?"

Tuan Tuan snorted at Xiao Ran: "I'm ignoring you!"

She turned to look at Xiao Ze: "Third Elder Brother, what tasty things do you have here? I want to try them all!"

Hearing that, Xiao Ze called out loudly: "Xiao Er!"

Xiao Er rushed in with a swish, hand on his sword hilt: "Miss! What's wrong? Did these people bully you?"

Tuan Tuan looked bewildered: "I'm fine, Uncle Second."

Xiao Ze thought for a moment, then laughed helplessly: "I was calling the waiter, Xiao Er..."

Everyone in the room understood and couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Xiao Er's dark face flushed slightly as Tuan Tuan slipped down from the embroidered stool and ran up to him: "Uncle Second! Third Elder Brother is here, I'm fine—go ahead and order whatever you want to eat!"

"Don't worry about the cost! The old man from the Ministry of Works will foot the bill!"

Xiao Er glanced at her reluctantly: "Yes!" and withdrew.

Xiao Ze had Xiao Er prepare one serving each of the signature dishes from Hundred Flavors Pavilion, and they all ate heartily together.

Tuan Tuan looked at Chen Hao sitting opposite her: "Are you a friend of Third Elder Brother?"

Chen Hao glanced at Xiao Ze and smiled, giving a slight nod.

"All right, then for his sake I'll tell you: don't go near any incense-burning places for the next seven days!"

Chen Hao blinked: "Incense-burning places? Princess, I rarely go to Daoist temples to offer incense."

Tuan Tuan lowered her head and continued eating: "All right then; otherwise, you'll lose your life!"