Chapter 20

Xiao Ningchen curled his lip: "Youth Roaming Alliance? What's that? Why do you still want Tuan Tuan to be the alliance leader?"

Lu Qingjia looked at Tuan Tuan: "Little Tuan Tuan, I have several playmates I grew up with, all of whom especially love animals. Last time you tamed that snow leopard in Wanlingyuan, I told them when I got back, and they were incredibly jealous."

"We discussed it and plan to set up a Youth Roaming Alliance, honoring you as the alliance leader. From now on we'll all go out and play together—do you like that?"

Tuan Tuan didn't understand: "What's an alliance leader?"

"The alliance leader is the head of our Youth Roaming Alliance! As long as you speak, we'll listen to you! Because you're the alliance leader!"

Tuan Tuan jumped up and down excitedly: "Yay! I'm the alliance leader!"

Xiao Ningxun snorted: "Lu Qingjia, you've really gone to great lengths so Tuan Tuan can later accompany you to Wanlingyuan."

Lu Qingjia gave an embarrassed smile: "I've got a gift! Bring it up! Let you see whether I'm full of sincerity!"

Two servants carried in a large box, set it on the ground, and opened the lid.

Painted kites, bamboo dragonflies, glazed marbles… all were gifts for Tuan Tuan, making her eyes dazzle, her face flush with excitement as she leaned over the box, her little hands constantly rummaging inside.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun's faces instantly darkened: "That brat! I was just about to buy every toy Tuan Tuan could play with, and he actually sent them all over!"

Lu Qingjia crouched down: "How about it, Little Tuan Tuan? Will you be willing to be the alliance leader?"

"Do it, do it, do it!" Tuan Tuan agreed without even lifting her head.

The myna bird chimed in: "Do it, do it, do it!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and reached out to touch it, but Lu Qingjia stepped back: "Don't, it'll bite strangers."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Ningchen hurriedly scooped up Tuan Tuan, glared at Lu Qingjia, and exclaimed: "How dare you bring something this dangerous inside!"

"No, second older brother, put me down—I want to touch it. Let me touch it, it won't bite me." Tuan Tuan protested.

Xiao Ningchen resignedly set her down: "Lu Qingjia, if it dares to bite Tuan Tuan, I'll immediately take it to make soup."

Lu Qingjia had the little myna perch on his fingertip, trembling as he approached Tuan Tuan: "Please don't bite, or you'll end up in the pot."

"Little bird, be good, okay? I'm Tuan Tuan. You're so smart! You can say so many words—may I touch you? Please don't bite me." Tuan Tuan muttered to herself while slowly reaching out a little hand toward it.

The little myna tilted its head, and before Tuan Tuan's hand could reach it, it actively rubbed against her.

Tuan Tuan was delighted and immediately hugged it with both hands, whereupon Lu Qingjia exclaimed in shock: "Don't!"

But Tuan Tuan had already cradled the little myna in her hands: "Little bird! You like me, right?"

The little myna rubbed its beak back and forth across her hand, clearly enjoying letting Tuan Tuan stroke its smooth feathers, and squawked loudly: "Like! Like!"

Lu Qingjia stared wide-eyed: "Good heavens! Even if I do this, it still bites me! Tuan Tuan, you're amazing! No, no, Alliance Leader! Please accept my bow!" After saying that, he actually bowed to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan tilted their little head, thinking. Although they didn't understand what being the Alliance Leader entailed, everyone had given them so many fun things, and they had already agreed just now, so fine: "Okay!"

She continued stroking the little myna: "What's its name?"

Lu Qingjia blinked: "A name? It's just a bird, it doesn't have a name."

Tuan Tuan frowned: "Such a cute little bird, how can it not have a name?"

"Let's call it..." she thought: "Little Plum Candy! Its eyes are black and shiny, its body fragrant, like the plum candy my mother gave me."

Lu Qingjia laughed: "Fine! I'll follow the Alliance Leader's lead! From now on it will be called Little Plum Candy!"

Tuan Tuan stroked Little Plum Candy's head: "Little Plum Candy, do you like the name I gave you?"

The little myna shouted at the top of its lungs: "Little Plum Candy! Little Plum Candy!"

Tuan Tuan happily placed it on her cheek, rubbed it, then looked up at her two brothers: "It likes this name! Brothers!"

Turning her head, she solemnly told Little Plum Candy: "You're called Little Plum Candy, and I'm Tuan Tuan!"

The little myna's pair of dark, bright eyes stared at her: "Tuan Tuan! Tuan Tuan! Tuan Tuan!"

Tuan Tuan was so excited she couldn't contain herself, and she planted a firm kiss on its little head.

The two brothers wore auntie-like smiles, thinking, "How can our little sister be so adorable! Such an adorable little sister is ours!"

Lu Qingjia saw the opened brocade box at his feet: "Alliance Leader! This is a rare treasure, I got it with great difficulty! Come, let me teach you how to play."

Xiao Ningchen's face darkened: "Tuan Tuan is still recuperating; you've stayed long enough, go back."

Xiao Ningxun went further, grabbing him and pulling him up: "Come on, Lu Two, I'll see you out."

Lu Qingjia was helplessly pulled backward by him, Tuan Tuan let go, and Little Plum Candy flew onto his shoulder; as he retreated, he shouted: "Alliance Leader! In seven days! Let's go out and play together, don't forget!"

Xiao Ningxun answered for her sister: "Got it! Got it! Hurry up and go!"

Throwing Lu Qingjia out of the Prince's Mansion, the two brothers accompanied Tuan Tuan as they played with the pile of toys stacked like a small hill, and Tuan Tuan's clear laughter echoed throughout every corner of the Quiet Orchid Court.

Cheng Ru'an watched his three children playing together, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up.

At that moment, in the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion, a servant whispered: "Young Master Xiao Wenli is outside the mansion, requesting to see the Old Madam."

The Old Madam's eyes dimmed: "Let him in."

Shun Gu whispered: "Old Madam, don't grieve; although the Third Master is gone, Young Master Wenli is talented and his studies are progressing well—this is also a blessing for the third branch."

The Old Madam sighed deeply: "Although both of my sons are legitimate heirs, they are worlds apart. The eldest has achieved great merit, while the third is neither literary nor martial, frail in health, and passed away early, leaving only this bastard son, Wenli."

"Ah, every time I see Wenli, I think of his father, and my heart aches."

"This child is also pitiful—his mother died in difficult labor, his father passed away early. I had wanted to keep him close and raise him well, but he turned out aloof, affectionate toward no one. After his early education, I sent him to the Lingyun Academy, where his ties to the Prince's Mansion grew thin."

"Now that he's grown, I don't expect him to bring glory to the family; I only hope he can secure a modest livelihood, free from want, and live peacefully— that'll do. Better than his father's fate... never mind, I won't speak of it."

As they spoke, a youth in a straight-cut blue cloth robe entered, walked in upright, performed a proper salute, and presented a letter of instruction: "Paying respects to grandmother."

"Within the Guozijian, several retired senior scholars will begin public lectures starting tomorrow, specifically to guide students aspiring to the autumn examinations. Thanks to the teachers' recommendation in my elementary studies, they have allowed my grandson to attend as an auditor."

"Therefore, I have come today to inform you all that, starting tomorrow, my grandson will take up residence in the Guozijian. Should he, by luck, pass the examinations, he may also bring honor to our family gate."

"Rise." The Old Madam looked at him: "If that's the case, go take your leave of the elders, then go—don't overexert yourself, look after your health."

Xiao Wenli kowtowed: "Grandson will keep it in mind."

He then rose to his feet: "Grandson takes his leave."

In the Quiet Orchid Court, Tuan Tuan was playing with the Nine-Curved Golden Wave that Lu Qingjia had given her, together with her brothers.

Xiao Ningxun exclaimed: "Mother, Tuan Tuan is really smart! Just one look and she knows how to play with this thing—I can't even figure it out."

Xiao Ningchen also looked a little surprised: "This little gadget actually hides a mechanism; I couldn't figure it out either, but Tuan Tuan knew how to play with it after just two touches."

hearing the praise from the two older brothers, Tuan Tuan happily wagged its little head.

Cheng Ru'an sat to the side, smiling.

When Xiao Wenli walked in, he saw exactly such a joyful, warm scene; thinking of how he had been orphaned since childhood, lonely and helpless, his heart felt a prick, as if stabbed by a needle.