Chapter 145: I Must Eliminate Her

Tuan Tuan hoisted the wet, heavy "fish bundle", and, amid the cheerful crowd of the little snowball, walked into the Fengyi Palace.

She shouted happily, "Empress! We're back!" and tossed the bundle onto the ground.

Mu Rongjin heard the voice, looked up, and the tea cup in her hand almost fell to the ground.

She saw that the previously neat and tidy Xiao Tuanzi now had a slightly disheveled bun, with a few damp strands clinging to her forehead.

Her little clothes were a mess, and water droplets pattered onto the carpet.

And the previously sickly snowball was now lively, following step by step at her feet, its fluffy tail held high, rubbing affectionately up and down her calf.

"You! What is this!" Mu Rongjin stood up, pointing at the still slightly moving bundle on the ground, unable to say a word for a long moment.

Tuan Tuan crouched, forcefully spreading the tightly tied hem, and the plump, fresh, iridescent koi burst out with a crackle, two of them still stubbornly writhing.

"Your Highness, look!" Tuan Tuan pointed at the fish with her small hand, her cheeks flushed, "There's a pond in the Imperial Garden, and the fish inside are huge!"

"The snowball said she wanted to eat fish, so we went to catch them! These fish are so obedient, they all jumped up by themselves! Empress, we have fish to eat tonight!"

They jumped up themselves? How can I not believe that?

Mu Rongjin glanced at the koi on the ground, then at the clear‑eyed, self‑assured little girl before her, and for a moment didn't know how to react.

Scold her for causing trouble? But her face, waiting for praise, makes it hard to be harsh.

Moreover, the snowball was indeed as lively as before.

She choked for a moment, then shook her head, and with a helpless chuckle said, "You…"

She stepped forward, took Tuan Tuan's small hand, feeling an icy chill, furrowed her brows, and ordered those around, "What are you still staring at? Quickly prepare hot water to attend to the Princess's bath and change! This wet clothing clings to her body; catching a cold would be terrible!"

The palace staff only then snapped out of their stupor and hurried forward.

Tuan Tuan was led by the palace maids toward the rear hall, still turning back every few steps to remind, "Your Highness, wait for me! Wait until I finish washing before eating!"

Mu Rongjin looked at the heap of fish on the ground, placed a hand on her forehead and said, "Don't worry, we won't be without yours!"

"Attendants! Send these koi… no, fish, to the Imperial Kitchen, tell them to prepare them carefully; tonight at Fengyi Palace, we have a full‑fish feast!"

Just as Tuan Tuan reached the doorway, she heard it, slipped free from the maid's hand, clung to the doorframe and turned back, crisply adding, "Your Highness! Send someone to tell Imperial Uncle, invite him to eat too! He loves dining with me!"

After speaking, Tuan Tuan was half‑coaxed, half‑carried away by the helpless palace maids.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Mu Rongjin's smile froze on her face.

Invite His Majesty? His Majesty hasn't set foot in Fengyi Palace for a long time.

Beside her, the trusted maid Si Yu, who read the situation best, twinkled her eyes, immediately bowed and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Princess is thinking of His Majesty!"

"With something delicious, the first thought is to invite His Majesty to taste it; this is the Princess's pure filial piety. If His Majesty knows the Princess is so mindful of him, his heart will be greatly pleased. Shall I go report it right away?"

Mu Rongjin's eyes flickered, her expression complex.

As a distant relative of the Empress Dowager, she was placed beside the Emperor by the Empress Dowager to keep the throne from falling into others' hands.

These years, His Majesty and she, if described politely, are said to treat each other with mutual respect.

In reality, it's respect from a distance.

She also does not wish to be caught between this royal mother and son, so she has long feigned illness, resulting in no offspring over the years.

Had His Majesty not suddenly fallen out with the Empress Dowager, the gates of Fengyi Palace might never have opened.

When was the last time she dined with His Majesty?

She couldn't recall; it's been far too long.

Si Yu saw her drifting off, whispered another question, "Your Highness? Shall I go now?"

Mu Rongjin thought for a moment, "Go, and tell His Majesty of the Princess's actions today."

"Yes." Si Yu turned and left.

After bathing, Tuan Tuan changed into clean, fresh new clothes, returning to the main hall scented with soapwood.

The large dining table was already laden with various exquisite dishes: steamed fish, braised fish, sliced fish… the milky‑white fish broth exuded fragrance, and the golden‑fried fish pieces made one's mouth water.

She just climbed onto the chair when a voice from outside the hall announced, "His Majesty has arrived—"

Xiao Jieyun strode in like a comet, instantly spotting the little Xiao Tuanzi eyeing the dishes, laughed loudly, and bent down to scoop Tuan Tuan up.

Mu Rongjin hurriedly rose and performed the salute, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects; may you be safe."

Xiao Jieyun gave her a glance, "No need for ceremony."

He weighed the little Xiao Tuanzi in his arms, "I heard you today in the Imperial Garden emptied half of my Azure Wave Pond? And specially invited me to taste?"

Tuan Tuan clung to his neck, nodded vigorously, and whispered into his ear, "Imperial Uncle, let me tell you, those fish are so dumb, they all jumped onto the shore themselves! I'm not lying!"

"They jumped onto shore themselves? With your talent of subduing tigers, it must be your trick!"

Xiao Jieyun laughed heartily, the day's fatigue vanished, and he affectionately pinched Tuan Tuan's cheek, "Good! Then tonight I shall truly taste, the fish that our little lucky star personally 'invited' up, how delicious!"

Mu Rongjin personally set the dishes for the Emperor, occasionally adding some to Tuan Tuan's bowl.

Tuan Tuan sat between them, picking up chopsticks for this side, a spoon for that side, babbling continuously, eating with a fragrant splutter.

The snowball, already with a round belly from eating, lay on the concubine's couch beside her, washing its face with its paws.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager exchanged a smile.

Inside Fengyi Palace, the lights were warm, fragrance filled the air, a scene of harmonious joy.

Si Yu stood aside, unable to hold back a sigh, "Beside the Empress, it's just missing a child like the Princess!"

At the same time, Da Xia, Guoshi Residence.

Gongsun Zhi slowly opened his eyes, his complexion sallow.

Jiang Xin whispered, "Your Highness?"

Gongsun Zhi murmured "Hmm," Jiang Xin helped him sit up, propped against the headboard, and announced loudly, "Your Highness is awake, quickly summon the National Preceptor."

"Yes." The footsteps of the servants outside gradually faded.

Soon, the National Preceptor Wu Luo entered, handing Gongsun Zhi a bowl of pitch‑black medicinal broth: "Drink it."

Gongsun Zhi took it, raised his head, and drank it all in one go.

Wu Luo sat beside the bed: "Your Highness, there's no need to worry; your body is fine, it's just that sudden anger has attacked your heart."

Gongsun Zhi thought for a moment, shook his head: "National Preceptor, I was fine when I left the Sacred Medicine Valley."

"It happened while I was on horseback; suddenly my chest felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, then I vomited blood and fell from my horse. National Preceptor, it must be that someone secretly tried to kill me."

Wu Luo looked at him: "Your Highness, you're overthinking; do you still not trust my medical skill?"

Gongsun Zhi's complexion gradually turned rosy: "The National Preceptor's medical skill is naturally flawless."

"National Preceptor, you must help me. This time, in Lie Kingdom, I met a little girl who actually could discern the fortune on my body!"

"Just thinking of her makes me uneasy; I must get rid of her!"

Wu Luo's eyes flashed: "Who could discern the fortune on your body, a little girl?"