Chapter 219

Xiao Jieyun frowned slightly, West Lu?

Xiao Yuanhang's heart jumped, Jifeng? Impossible!

Although this person is not exactly upright and honest, he is also straightforward, quick to repay kindness and vengeance, and quite protective of Tuan Tuan—how could he act this way?

If he intended harm to Lie State, the Seventh Prince and Tuan Tuan could have acted while they were in Da Xia—why go through such a roundabout way?

He stepped forward quickly: "Your Majesty, this matter still needs detailed investigation; that artisan might also be speaking nonsense, and we cannot readily believe his words alone."

"Prince Ning's words are reasonable," Xiao Jieyun mused for a moment, "but West Lu cannot be neglected; the Ministry of War should increase personnel and strictly investigate the western border."

"Yes!" the Minister of War returned to his rank.

From outside the hall came a loud report by a palace servant: "Report to Your Majesty! Prince Gongsun Yue of Da Xia is outside seeking an audience!"

Xiao Jieyun nodded slightly, and Eunuch Cheng announced loudly: "Summon the Da Xia prince into the hall!"

Against the morning light, a figure appearing about five or six years old, extremely small, appeared at the hall's entrance.

He held in his hands a scroll of a state letter obviously too large for him, head lowered, step by step, slowly walking into the hall.

He arrived before the imperial steps, knelt and performed the salute; his elaborate prince's robes made his movements clumsy and laborious.

"Prince Gongsun Yue of Da Xia, I pay my respects to Your Majesty." He raised the state letter high above his head, "By order of my father emperor, I have come to present the state letter."

Eunuch Cheng quickly descended the imperial steps, took the state letter, and presented it to Xiao Jieyun.

Xiao Jieyun unfolded it and looked: "Gongsun Yue, your father emperor says in the state letter that he wishes to exchange two border cities for Da Xia's jade seal, and to have you remain as a hostage in my Lie State?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prince Gongsun Yue lowered his small head even further, his voice faint.

"My father emperor told me, your subject, that Princess Consort Jiayou is an Immortal Envoy of Lie State, possessed of great divine powers."

"He likes the princess consort very much, ordering me to stay and serve as her study companion, to learn from her. After I turn seven, I will follow Your Majesty's arrangements to become a study companion for other princes."

Xiao Jieyun pondered for a moment, neither agreeing nor disagreeing: "I come to ask you, do you know what a 'hostage' is?"

Prince Gongsun Yue's small body trembled slightly: "I know, I know. It means that if Da Xia does something wrong to Lie State, Your Majesty can kill me."

Xiao Jieyun gave him a deep look: "Quite a sensible child. Someone, take him away first."

"Yes." A palace servant entered, "Please follow me."

Prince Gongsun Yue crawled up from the ground, followed him, and left the hall.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the officials: "What are your esteemed opinions, ministers?"

An official stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Da Xia's jade seal ultimately belongs to Da Xia; returning it sooner would be beneficial and harmless to relations between the two states."

"Since the Da Xia emperor is now willing to exchange two cities and a prince for it, I believe we can readily go along with the flow and bring this to fruition."

Another official stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the jade seal certainly should be returned, but I believe we could also ask for one more city. Since they are willing to give up two cities, adding one more should also be fine."

Xiao Jieyun nodded, but had not yet made a decision.

After court was dismissed, Zichen Hall.

"Yuanhang, what do you think about Prince Gongsun Yue serving as Tuan Tuan's study companion?"

Xiao Yuanhang thought: "Your Majesty, Tuan Tuan's disposition needs no study companion; even if one were needed, it should be a female official, not a young boy."

"The Da Xia emperor sends over a prince, explicitly stating that before age seven he should serve as Tuan Tuan's study companion; although the rule that men and women separate seats at seven is not against ritual law, I always worry that the visitor may have ill intentions."

Xiao Jieyun smiled slightly: "Yuanhang truly is a loving father, always considering Tuan Tuan first in everything."

Xiao Yuanhang thought of his daughter, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "Indeed, Tuan Tuan brings me such joy that I always end up thinking more for her."

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "My decision is made. Let Da Xia exchange three cities for their state jade seal. Prince Gongsun Yue is already..."

Xiao Yuanhang hastily said: "Your Majesty, your wisdom is supreme!"

Returning to the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Yuanhang informed Cheng Ru'an of this.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ru'an furrowed her brows: "Your Majesty, why did you agree to this?"

Xiao Yuanhang said: "The Da Xia emperor raised two matters; if Your Majesty rejected both outright, there would be no room for negotiation. Rejecting one and agreeing to the other, thus balancing, is also normal."

Cheng Ru'an asked: "What does the Da Xia prince look like?"

Xiao Yuanhang recalled: "Thin and small, looking about the same as Tuan Tuan."

Cheng Ru'an sighed: "So young, yet to be a hostage in another state—how pitiful."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Just a six-year-old child; I expect nothing will happen, I'll have Xiao Er keep a close watch."

A few days later, Da Xia agreed to exchange three border cities for the jade seal, and Xiao Jieyun issued an edict ordering Prince Gongsun Yue to serve as Tuan Tuan's study companion.

The day after the imperial edict was issued, Prince Gongsun Yue came to Ning Prince's Mansion for the first time.

Servants brought him to the main hall to wait.

He stood trembling in the center of the main hall, his small head bowed low, eyes fixed on the ground.

Cheng Ru'an led Tuan Tuan in.

Prince Gongsun Yue hastily performed the salute: "I pay my respects to Princess Consort Ning, Princess Consort Jiayou."

Cheng Ru'an looked and saw a tiny person, not much taller than Tuan Tuan, wearing clothes that were half new and half old, hair neat and tidy, his whole appearance proper and orderly.

"Please rise, have a seat."

"Thank you, Princess Consort Ning." Prince Gongsun Yue climbed up, sat at the edge of the chair, and never dared to lift his head to look at anyone the whole time.

Tuan Tuan looked at him, "This little brother is so small!"

She walked up to Prince Gongsun Yue; he saw a pair of little embroidered shoes appear before him, and he shifted his bottom a bit in the chair.

Tuan Tuan looked at him: "I'm Tuan Tuan! Are you Prince Gongsun Yue of Da Xia?"

Prince Gongsun Yue nodded, lowering his head even further.

Tuan Tuan bent down to look at his face, startling him, whereupon he lifted his head.

Tuan Tuan laughed: "You're quite handsome! Why do you always keep your head down?"

Prince Gongsun Yue looked at Tuan Tuan: "I, I am a hostage. I fear that if I make a mistake, I will never be able to return."

Tuan Tuan asked: "What is a hostage? Aren't you a prince of Da Xia?"

Gongsun Yue's head drooped again: 'Being a hostage means Father Emperor doesn't want me anymore; let me live here from now on, I can't go home.'

If Da Xia and Lie State go to war, I will be killed.

Tuan Tuan furrowed her brows: 'Father Emperor's got a screw loose? Why send you here? Imperial Uncle is a good person; even if war breaks out, he won't kill you—what good would killing you do? Don't worry!'

Gongsun Yue suddenly lifted his head, looking at Tuan Tuan's eyes glistening with tears: 'Really, really?'

Tuan Tuan imitated her mother's words: 'Truer than pearls! By the way, Mother said you're here to be my study companion—what are you studying?'

Gongsun Yue blinked: 'I'm your study companion, Princess (Commandery); whatever you read, I'll read too—what volume are you up to?'

Tuan Tuan chuckled: 'I haven't read any of them!'

'Huh? Then what am I supposed to accompany?'