Chapter 142: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Er hurriedly gave a brief account of how he obtained the jade seal.

Upon hearing that the divine child was actually the Prince of Xia, Xiao Yuanhang was shocked to learn that he had secretly tried to harm Tuan Tuan, and his eyes widened with fury: "You little brat! How dare you lay a hand on my daughter!"

He crouched down, tightly embracing Tuan Tuan with heartache: "Don't worry, my daughter; with this jade seal, I will surely take a pound of flesh from them, principal and interest!"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded vigorously: "Mhm! Daddy, bite hard! Daddy's the best!"

Xiao Yuanhang sent his daughter back to Jinglan Pavilion, instructed Cheng Ru'an to give Tuan Tuan a good bath and prepare some tasty food, then took the jade seal and went straight to Zichen Hall to see the emperor.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the jade seal on the dragon throne, his expression somewhat conflicted.

How could something like a jade seal end up out there? Am I dreaming?

"Is this really the jade seal of Xia?"

Xiao Yuanhang briefly explained the origin of the jade seal, how Tuan Tuan obtained it, how the Xia divine child first tried to buy it and then sought to seize it—all to no avail.

Only then did Xiao Jieyun feel a sense of reality.

He picked up the jade seal, played with it, and burst into laughter: "Hahaha! My princess is truly extraordinary—she actually brought back the very lifeline of Xia!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "That Xia prince must have brought this news back by now. The Xia emperor must be on edge."

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "The more they panic, the steadier I stand like Mount Tai. Tuan Tuan did a great job—excellent! This achievement alone could offset my hundred thousand troops."

"Yuanhang, bring her to tomorrow's morning court. I will publicly reward her in grandeur before all civil and military officials, so they can see what it means to have heaven bless our kingdom of Lie."

"I will obey your edict."

Xiao Yuanhang returned to the prince's residence, told Tuan Tuan the news, and Cheng Ru'an gasped: "His Majesty ordered Tuan Tuan to attend court?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head, frowned: "Attend court? Me?"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at his daughter: "Exactly! Tomorrow early, you'll come with me, starting at the yin hour and going to court at the mao hour."

"Yin hour?!' Tuan Tuan's eyes widened: 'I'm not going! That's too early—it's still dark! I want to sleep!'"

Cheng Ru'an helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Be good, it's an imperial decree—you can't skip it."

Tuan Tuan pouted and muttered: "Uncle Imperial, why must you make me go? Won't you let me sleep?"

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and the tuft of hair that already stood up on her head stood even higher.

Seeing her cuteness melted Xiao Yuanhang's heart; he ruffled that little tuft of hair: "No worries, just for one day—I'll hold you while we go, you can sleep, and I won't disturb you. It's not like we have to go every day."

The next day, at the yin hour of deep autumn, the capital was still shrouded in darkness, the cold biting to the bone.

When Cheng Ru'an pulled Tuan Tuan out of her warm blanket, her eyelids seemed glued shut, her little head drooping like a sleepy kitten, completely pliable.

After washing and dressing, Xiao Yuanhang wrapped Tuan Tuan tightly in a thick fox-fur cloak, forming a snug bundle, and carried her into the warm carriage.

The carriage entered the palace gate, where civil and military officials stood in line waiting, each frozen and turning pale.

Only Xiao Yuanhang, holding the plump "cloak bun" in his arms, stood out noticeably, drawing many surprised glances.

The main hall had ample charcoal fires, dispelling the chill.

After the officials shouted "Long live!", Xiao Jieyun immediately spotted the little bun in Xiao Yuanhang's arms and smiled: "Prince Ning, you've worked hard—please take a seat."

As Xiao Yuanhang sat down holding his daughter, Duke Needle Guo Wei Zhengchu stepped forward first, his voice heavy with sorrow: "Your Majesty! Now the drought rages, refugees lament, and folk rumor says this is heavenly punishment."

If we cannot appease heavenly wrath, the people's hearts may turn away, and the foundation of the state will shake.

Marquis Jing Hai Zhou Jinhua immediately echoed: "Your Majesty, heavenly intentions are unfathomable. For the sake of the realm and all peoples, I beg you to issue a self‑reproach edict to pacify the people's hearts."

"I second that!"

"I also second that!"

"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"

Xiao Yuanhang frowned tightly: "Absurd! Natural disasters are just natural changes—what do they have to do with Your Majesty? Instead of thinking how to relieve the disaster and protect the people, you use this baseless talk to coerce the ruler—what is your motive?"

"Prince, your words are mistaken! We're not speaking nonsense—this is what the people say. They all claim that if Your Majesty lacked virtue, how could Xia enjoy favorable winds and rains while our Lie kingdom suffers continual disaster?" Wei Zhengchu pressed on aggressively.

"Exactly! Though Prince Ning has military merit, he must not let private interests override public duty, neglecting the world!"

The two sides were locked in dispute, and the hall instantly filled with noisy clamor.

Xiao Jieyun cleared his throat: "Officials, let's set aside the argument for now. I have something I wish to show you all."

Chief Eunuch Cheng held a tray covered with bright yellow silk in both hands, walking steadily up to the steps before the throne.

Xiao Jieyun personally swept away the silk, revealing an ancient, elegantly carved jade seal whose natural beauty was breathtaking, appearing before everyone's eyes.

"This is the heirloom jade seal of the Da Xia."

All the officials were greatly startled: "The Da Xia jade seal?!"

"How could it be in Your Majesty's hands?"

"Is it really the jade seal?"

Xiao Jieyun's gaze fell on the little dumpling in Xiao Yuanhang's arms: "This is an unprecedented feat accomplished by Princess Jiayou for me and for our fierce nation!"

Wei Zhengqiu bowed, his voice urgent: "Your Majesty! Although this object is fine, it is a source of disaster!"

"Da Xia and our fierce nation are currently on good terms; if we forcibly seize their state seal, it will surely provoke war!"

"It would be better to return it voluntarily, to demonstrate our fierce nation's sincere desire for friendly neighborly relations, thereby avoiding the calamity of war."

"Preposterous!" Xiao Yuanhang glared at him angrily: "The peace you speak of was bought with the lives of countless soldiers in the border war years ago!"

"Da Xia harbors wolfish ambitions that have never ceased!"

"Now, with heaven blessing our fierce nation and the jade seal fallen into Your Majesty's hands, we could hold them hostage; how could there be any reason to return it with both hands, thereby enriching the enemy? Lord Wei's action is no different from colluding with the enemy!"

"Prince Ning! Don't spout bloody nonsense!"

Seeing the dispute flare up again, Xiao Jieyun raised his hand: "Enough! Since the jade seal has already fallen into my hands, there is no reason to give it away lightly."

"Officials, there's no need to argue; let's see what Da Xia does next. This matter can be discussed later."

He surveyed the officials: "Princess Jiayou has performed this remarkable feat; she deserves a great reward."

"I decree that Princess Jiayou be granted a fief of five thousand households, with the land designated in the edict, to honor her achievement!"

As soon as the words fell, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Your Majesty! The fief and food stipend are regulations for the princess; Princess Jiayou receiving this grant may be inappropriate!

Xiao Jieyun let out a cold snort: "If any of you beloved officials are dissatisfied, you may also try."

If one can also bring back for me a jade seal from an enemy state, I, too, shall likewise permit him to be enfeoffed as a king after splitting the land!

Upon hearing this, the officials looked at each other in dismay, and no one dared speak further.

Seeing this, Wei Zhengqiu again steered the discussion back to the self‑blaming edict.

Your Majesty! Even if the Princess (Commandery) has rendered merit to the state, heavenly disasters are warnings from Heaven, concerning the foundation of the nation; the matter of the self‑blaming edict must not be delayed any further!

The people's hearts are like water; they can carry a boat as well as capsize it. Please, Your Majesty, give this careful thought!

If Your Majesty does not issue an edict, I fear uprisings will arise everywhere!

The assembled officials spoke with fervor and high spirits, their voices rising ever higher.

Tuan Tuan was finally startled awake from sleep by the uproar that filled the heavens and earth.

No matter how tightly she pulled her cloak, it still could not block the outside clamor.

When the last trace of sleepiness was completely chased away by the noise, her pent‑up morning grumpiness reached its peak.

The cloak bun jerked suddenly!

Tuan Tuan struggled to lift the cloak covering her, rose from her father's lap, and with her small frame wobbling, she steadied herself by holding onto her father's head before she could stand firm.

She stretched out her little finger, pointing at the loudest Wei Zhengqiu and Zhou Jinhua, unable to bear it any longer, she let out a fiercely cute roar:

You——have you finished making noise, ah!!

Still not letting people sleep!!