Chapter 169: Going to My Zhuangzi

That afternoon, the sunlight was lazy, warm and gentle, shining on Tuan Tuan.

Father and the older brothers were all busy with the troupe's affairs, and only Xiao Er kept her company, strolling all the way to Jingcheng's North Market.

The bustling crowd and the dazzling array of stalls made the place extraordinarily lively.

"Baa— baa—"

"A little lamb!" Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, and she tugged Xiao Er, following the sound.

Ahead, a few people were gathered, and a sheep seller was impatiently pulling a white little lamb.

The lamb looked no more than a month old, one hind leg seemed a bit lame, skinny and tiny, shivering, its wet black eyes full of terror, bleating.

"Useless! Can't even stand steady, keeping it just wastes my fodder!" the sheep seller cursed, trying hard to drag the lamb away.

"Don't pull it like that! Its leg hurts!" Tuan Tuan shouted, pushing through the crowd, rushing forward without thinking.

Xiao Er's large hand gently pressed, stopping her: "Miss, be careful."

"But it hurts!" Tuan Tuan looked up at him with her little face.

Xiao Er thought for a moment, then led her slowly over.

Tuan Tuan crouched, extended her small hand, and gently stroked the lamb's trembling back.

"Don't be afraid," she said softly, "I'll pat you, and it won't hurt anymore."

Soon, the lamb's violent shaking gradually subsided; it stopped struggling, lowered its head, and nudged Tuan Tuan's wrist with its still‑young horns.

Tuan Tuan placed her two little hands together, cupping like a bowl: "Uncle Xiao Er, it's thirsty, give me some water."

Xiao Er took out his Water Bag and poured some clear water into her hand.

Tuan Tuan carefully lifted the water to the lamb's mouth: "Drink up."

The lamb was clearly dying of thirst; a few sips emptied the water from her hand.

Its little eyes glanced at Tuan Tuan, and it stuck out a pink tongue to lick her finger.

"Hey! Interesting!" a voice full of curiosity rang out nearby.

Tuan Tuan looked up and saw an unusually tall man in prairie attire, his face covered with Luosaihu, standing opposite her.

Wow, his eyes are as bright as stars!

Luosaihu crouched down, and his large hands patted the lamb's head.

He watched Tuan Tuan and the lamb with interest, grinned, showing white teeth: "Little girl, you've got some skill! This beast is friendly to you."

Then he turned his head and shouted cheerfully to the sheep seller: "Hey! Don't slaughter this lamb! I'll buy it!"

The sheep seller was startled and hadn't replied when Xiao Er stepped forward; his tall frame completely shielded Tuan Tuan and the lamb, and with a blank expression he said to Luosaihu: "Sir, we'll buy the lamb, so we won't trouble you further."

He disliked any strangers approaching his lady, especially this one, whose aura was fierce and eyes shrewd.

Tuan Tuan tugged at Xiao Er's sleeve: "Uncle Xiao Er, let's play a bit longer, just a little while! We just arrived."

How could Xiao Er bear to refuse Tuan Tuan?

He tossed a silver coin to the sheep seller, crossed his arms, eyes wary, staring intently at Luosaihu.

Luosaihu was unfazed, finding the master‑servant pair extremely amusing.

He laughed heartily, got up on his own, and went to a nearby stall to buy a few freshly baked sesame biscuits.

He broke off a large piece, handed it to Tuan Tuan, then broke a small piece and placed it near the lamb's mouth.

The lamb sniffed it and carefully began to eat.

Seeing this, Xiao Er furrowed his brows even tighter.

He immediately reached into his backpack, took out an oil‑paper packet containing two delicate, soft sugar cakes.

He placed it before Tuan Tuan: "Miss, eat this."

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes; her left hand held the sesame biscuit from Luosaihu, her right hand the sugar cake from Xiao Er.

She unhesitatingly took the biscuit with her left hand, lifted the osmanthus cake with her right, taking a bite on the left—"ah‑wu"—and another bite on the right—"ah‑wu".

She squinted contentedly, mumbling: "Mmm! Uncle Luosaihu's biscuit is so fragrant! Uncle Xiao Er's cake is also very sweet! Both are delicious!"

Luosaihu found it even more amusing; this kid was actually a "water‑serving" master!

He simply plopped down on the roadside steps, unconcerned about the dust, leaning sideways, basking in the warm sun, and gnawed the remaining biscuits.

Tuan Tuan looked at his clothing: "You're not from the Fire Nation, are you?"

Luosaihu nodded.

Tuan Tuan was curious: "Then which country are you from?"

Luosaihu replied: "West Lu."

Tuan Tuan's face showed longing: "Is West Lu far? I haven't been there! What is West Lu like? Could you tell me about it?"

Luosaihu took a wine pouch from his waist, took a sip, and wiped his mouth: "West Lu is not close to here."

"On horseback, even the fast ones take nearly a month."

Tuan Tuan exclaimed: "Wow, that's so far!"

Luosaihu nodded: "It's not close; someone like you can't sit on a horse for a day, so it'll probably take two months to get there."

He glanced around: "West Lu is different from here."

"Here there are too many people, you can't see a single stretch of grass. Where is that like our West Lu, an endless prairie."

"Cattle and sheep outnumber people by far."

"When the wind blows, the great meadow looks like waves, truly beautiful!"

Tuan Tuan listened spellbound: "Sounds wonderful! Uncle, if I want to visit West Lu someday, can I find you?"

Luosaihu smiled: "Sure! My house is big, you can stay."

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands, exclaiming: "Great! Thank you, Uncle! Oh, by the way, what's your name, Uncle?"

"My name is Jifeng."

This Luosaihu is exactly the Xilu envoy Jifeng.

He usually dislikes Palace formalities, only liking to drink wine and stroll.

He delegated all the envoy's affairs to his subordinates and went out for a stroll.

I originally wanted to experience the street life of Lie Kingdom's capital Jingcheng, but instead I encountered the Lie Kingdom Immortal Envoy who had made a big splash at that day's Palace banquet.

I didn't expect this child to be so kind-hearted, and moreover to know how to tend livestock, like a little girl on the grasslands.

And Tuan Tuan, with so many people at that day's banquet, she couldn't even tell who was who, let alone recognize him.

Xiao Er didn't go at all, and furthermore didn't know who he was.

Jifeng was very pleased: 'This is great, why bother distinguishing between Da Xia, Lie Kingdom, and Xilu? We're all just two arms and two legs.'

He had eaten and drunk his fill, stretched his waist: 'There's no good place around here to ride horses and shoot arrows; I feel cramped, can't even stretch.'

Tuan Tuan thought: 'How about you go to my manor?'

Jifeng laughed: 'You little squirt actually have a manor?'

Tuan Tuan raised her chin: 'Of course I do! It was given to me by Imperial Aunt! But I've never been there; how about we go together tomorrow?'

Xiao Er frowned: 'Miss, that's not proper.'

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: 'Why isn't it proper, Second Uncle?'

Xiao Er gave Jifeng a sideways glance, full of vigilance: 'His origins are unknown; who knows what he's up to!'

Jifeng glared: 'Hey! Big dark guy, how dare you talk like that?'

Tuan Tuan quickly tugged Xiao Er's hand: 'Second Uncle! Uncle Jifeng is a good person! It's fine! You come with me too, okay?'

Xiao Er nodded and then fell silent.

Tuan Tuan was delighted: 'Uncle Jifeng, tomorrow morning I'll come here to pick you up, okay?'

Jifeng smiled: 'Good! Let's meet and not part!'

That evening, Tuan Tuan told Cheng Ru'an that her father and brothers were busy, and she wanted Xiao Er to accompany her to stay a few days at the manor given by the Elder Princess.

Cheng Ru'an readily agreed, packed a cart with possibly useful items for his daughter, and the next morning sent her off in the carriage.

The carriage arrived at Bei Shi; Jifeng was leaning against a pillar, and Tuan Tuan poked her little head out of the carriage: 'Uncle Jifeng! Get in!'