Chapter 212: How nice it would be if you called me Tuan Tuan

In Zichen Hall.

Xiao Lin, Tuan Tuan, and Xiao Jin stood in a row, kneeling on the futons, their little heads drooping in unison.

Cheng Ru'an, Noble Consort De, and Consort Rong stood beside them.

Murong Jin sat below the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun sat with a solemn expression on the Dragon Throne.

Murong Jin found the earlier scene amusing, the more he thought about it the more he wanted to laugh, and he could hardly contain himself.

She lowered her head and picked up a silk handkerchief to cover her mouth, which she couldn't keep from turning up.

Cheng Ru'an looked at her daughter's dejected little appearance and didn't know what to say.

Noble Consort De spoke first: "Your Majesty, the children only thought that big bird was cute, so——" but she really didn't know how to excuse her son.

Consort Rong said bluntly: "Please punish them, Your Majesty."

Xiao Jieyun looked at the three little dumplings kneeling on the ground, then glanced at the consorts nearby.

Punish? How am I supposed to punish them? They're only this big!

How infuriating! This truly makes me furious!

Eunuch Cheng understood, stepped forward, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, how about punishing the two young princes and the princess by having them clean the Hall of Revered Ancestors? That would also count as them fulfilling their filial duty."

Xiao Jieyun glanced at him and thought, "You old thing still have ideas."

He thought for a moment and said: "Xiao Ningzhao!"

Cheng Ru'an's heart trembled.

The hall was utterly silent, with no response.

Eunuch Cheng hurriedly coughed, wanting to remind Tuan Tuan: "His Majesty is calling you! Princess!"

Xiao Jieyun instantly flared: "Princess Jiayou Xiao Ningzhao!"

Tuan Tuan then realized: "Oh, Xiao Ningzhao is me!"

She raised her head, looking at Xiao Jieyun: "Imperial Uncle! Call me Tuan Tuan, that would be much better! Calling me Xiao Ningzhao feels so awkward!"

Xiao Jieyun was furious!

I originally wanted to show respect by using her full name, but she didn't remember it at all! And she even complained that I got it wrong!

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly explained to her daughter: "Your Majesty, in my household we usually call the princess by her nickname; she's grown accustomed to it, so she didn't react right away. Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

Murong Jin also chimed in: "Yes, Your Majesty, the princess is still young and not very familiar with her formal name, so this happens."

Noble Consort De and Consort Rong also said: "Your Majesty, the child is too young; please calm your anger."

"Exactly! How old is the princess? Forgetting is perfectly normal."

Xiao Jieyun was about to speak when a eunuch outside announced: "The Eldest Princess has arrived!"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Imperial Aunt is here!"

"Please."

The Eldest Princess entered the hall and paid her respects to Xiao Jieyun.

"Please be seated."

The Eldest Princess sat down, looked at the three little dumplings on the floor, and said: "Your Majesty, children don't understand; please show leniency and don't punish them heavily."

Xiao Jieyun rubbed his forehead, helpless: "I didn't intend to do anything!"

Every single one of them actually came to plead for her!

Another eunuch announced: "The Ninth Prince and Prince Chen's son Chen Hao are outside requesting an audience!"

"The Ninth Prince? Chen Hao? What do they want?"

"Allow it!"

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao entered the hall, performed their salutations, and inquired after well-being.

Xiao Ran said: "Father Emperor, I happened to see what just occurred; the princess is young and lively, please don't blame her."

Chen Hao also said: "Your Majesty, the princess is innocent; although her idea was fanciful, it better demonstrates her abilities as an Immortal Envoy. Please, in consideration of her past merits, pardon her slightly."

Xiao Jieyun was so angry he laughed.

"Good! Good! I originally thought only the Seventh and Eleventh Princes, and the Twelfth, were on good terms with Tuan Tuan; I never expected the Ninth Prince and Chen Hao, these two boys, would also come to plead for her to me!"

"But with so many people interceding, his old face finds it hard to let go."

Tuan Tuan turned her head to look at Xiao Ran and Chen Hao: "How did you two come here?"

"They're doing fine, speaking well for me."

She also looked at the Eldest Princess, the Empress, the two consorts, and her mother.

The little dumpling clung to her head, flung herself onto the ground: "Imperial Uncle, I was wrong, Imperial Uncle, I was wrong, Imperial Uncle, I was wrong..." her little mouth kept babbling on.

Xiao Jieyun looked at her and thought: "This child has practically become a spirit."

He sighed: "Forget it, you don't all need to come one by one to plead with me. I never intended to punish her severely anyway."

"Go, go clean the Hall of Revered Ancestors for me! Not a single hair is allowed to remain!"

Tuan Tuan looked at him, then at Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin beside her, tugged their sleeves: "Thank you, Imperial Uncle!"

Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin understood: "We, your subjects, thank you, Father Emperor!"

The three little dumplings sprang up from the ground and darted away in a puff of smoke.

Everyone filed out of the hall, and Cheng Ru'an thanked them each in turn.

Noble Consort De said: "Let's just return to my palace; don't follow them, lest His Majesty find out and become displeased."

Cheng Ru'an nodded, and Consort Rong ordered the palace attendants: "Follow them closely, and don't let them go anywhere else."

"Yes!"

In the Hall of Revered Ancestors, the three little dumplings looked at the fur all over the floor, exchanged a glance, and all burst out laughing.

The palace attendants handed each of them a bag.

The three little dumplings picked up while they played, but after half a day they had gathered hardly anything.

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao stood beside the gate, smiling as they watched.

Xiao Ran told the servants, "Go, lend a hand."

Chen Hao hesitated: "What if His Majesty finds out..."

Xiao Ran shrugged: "Father Emperor wouldn't care. He treats Princess Jiayou better than he does us royal brothers!"

With help, Tuan Tuan quit picking up and came running over, tumbling.

She lifted her little face: "Thank you, you guys!"

Xiao Ran gazed at her chubby little face!

"If you're free tomorrow, come with us to the teahouse to listen to storytelling."

"Teahouse?"

"Yes, the newly opened Fu Yun Teahouse in Jingcheng is huge; the storytellers are supposedly hired from outside and speak exceptionally well. Though it's only been open a month, it's packed every day. Want to go?"

"Great! Let's go together tomorrow!"

As they spoke, a few servants had already cleaned the ground; Tuan Tuan waved at Xiao Ran and Chen Hao: "I'm going to find my mother!"

Xiao Ran smiled at her: "See you at noon tomorrow at the teahouse, little squirt!"

Tuan Tuan pouted at him: "Again calling me little squirt! Oh well, since you pleaded for me today, I'll forgive you."

Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin bowed properly to Xiao Ran: "Thank you, Ninth Brother."

Xiao Ran waved his hand: "Hurry up and go."

Tuan Tuan turned, took the two little dumplings' hands, and returned together to Dezheng Palace.

On the carriage back to the mansion, Tuan Tuan excitedly told her mother about Xiao Ran's invitation.

Cheng Ru'an agreed: "Let your second uncle accompany you."

"Okay!"

The next day at noon, Fu Yun Teahouse.

Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan through the gate: "Our young lady is Princess Jiayou of the Ning Prince's Mansion."

The waiter hurriedly bowed and led the way: "Please follow me, the private room is ready; the esteemed person has instructed that upon Princess Jiayou's arrival, she is to be taken to the third-floor private room."

Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan up the stairs.

Tuan Tuan lay on his shoulder, looking around: "Wow! So pretty!"

The first floor was noisy, with a high platform in the center where the storyteller sat high.

The second floor was much more tranquil, with half-rolled bamboo blinds, faintly revealing scholars playing chess and sipping tea.

Upon reaching the third floor, the view opened up brightly.

The third floor had only three private rooms, each spacious and bright, with glass-inlaid doors, tables set with tea ware and snacks, and a fragrant aroma wafting over.

The two followed Xiao Er into a private room named Cai Ju Xuan.

"Please wait a moment, the esteemed person will arrive shortly." The waiter withdrew.

Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan on the embroidered stool; downstairs, the storyteller slapped the sounding board and was telling the "Water Submerges Golden Mountain" episode of White Snake, which Tuan Tuan listened to with relish.

Soon after, Xiao Ran and Chen Hao arrived together in ordinary attire.

"You came really early! Fortunately I had already greeted them." Xiao Ran pinched Tuan Tuan's cheek and naturally sat beside her.

Chen Hao sat opposite.

Tuan Tuan tugged at Xiao Er's sleeve: "Uncle Second, sit too!"

Xiao Er hesitated a moment, then sat in the empty seat beside her, sitting up straight.

Hardly had they settled when a commotion arose outside in the corridor.

Several young men in fine clothes came upstairs; as they passed Cai Ju Xuan, one in purple robes casually glanced inside and stopped.

"Yo! Isn't that Chen Wang's eldest son, Chen Hao?" the purple-clad man leaned against the doorframe, smirking: "Why haven't you returned to your father's side? Looks like you, the eldest son, are destined to grow old and die in Jingcheng."