Chapter 315: Little Dot, are you unhappy?

Xiao Ningxun's hand slipped a little; he hastily tightened his arms, fearing he would drop Tuan Tuan.

He lowered his head to glance at his sister, then immediately looked up and met Xiao Er's gaze; the two understood each other perfectly—Tuan Tuan had just summoned a downpour, surely her luck was leaking again.

He looked around at everyone: "Zhou Ping, as soon as the ship docks, go fetch Luo Hongli right away—don't speak extra, just say the Ninth Young Master summons her."

"Yes!" Zhou Ping replied hurriedly.

The two brothers suppressed their shock, secretly resolved: no matter what the young lady became, they would still help her—they were the ones who, seeing them in distress, had pulled out all their silver to aid their lady.

Xiao Ran protested: "Why would I look for her?"

Xiao Ningxun sighed: "We're both men; Tuan Tuan got soaked, so she needs a bath and a change of clothes—here, the only woman we can trust is her."

"Using you as an excuse to bring her over, no one will suspect anything."

"Oh." Xiao Ran understood: "Then use me."

Xiao Ningxun then looked at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: "After docking, quickly get a soft sedan; I'll hold Tuan Tuan—the fewer people who see her, the better."

"Yes!" Xiao Er stared fixedly at Tuan Tuan; the young lady looked this adorable.

Lu Qi silently reckoned: finally he could hug the Lord Master more.

Xiao Ran couldn't resist reaching out to poke Tuan Tuan's little nose: "Now she's truly a little dot."

Soon after, the ship docked.

Zhao Tieshan had just stepped forward to see them off when Xiao Ran stopped him: "Commander Zhao, handling the subsequent interrogation of prisoners and such is now entirely your responsibility—leave us a few horses."

Zhao Tieshan hastily saluted: "Yes, subordinate obeys."

Seizing the chance, Xiao Ningxun held the tightly wrapped Tuan Tuan in his cloak, was the first to jump off the ship, and stepped onto the gangway.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi followed closely, then hurriedly split up to look for a soft sedan.

Zhou Ping rushed to the boat at the dock, and shortly brought Luo Hongli over.

Seeing Xiao Ran disembark, Luo Hongli went up to meet him: "What's up?"

Xiao Ran nodded: "Follow me." He brought her to Xiao Ningxun's side.

Xiao Ningxun whispered: "Young Chief Luo, no matter what you see, don't scream or ask why—I need your help."

Luo Hongli blinked, bewildered: "What's this? Hey, where's Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Ningxun lifted a corner of the cloak; Luo Hongli glanced in and her eyes widened instantly.

"This... this... this..."

Xiao Ningxun re-covered the cloak: "Thank you, Young Chief—come back to the inn with us to bathe and change Tuan Tuan."

Luo Hongli was dazed, muttering: "Back to the inn? Oh, okay."

Xiao Ningxun continued arranging: "Zhou Ping, Zhou An, go back and just look after your lord father. Guard the inn; if anyone comes, turn them away, saying I've caught a slight chill."

Zhou Ping opened his mouth, as if wanting to ask something, but his younger brother gently tugged his sleeve.

"Yes."

The soft sedan arrived.

Xiao Ningxun slipped into the sedan with Tuan Tuan, while the others mounted their horses and all returned to Zui Jiangyue.

Entering the guest room, Xiao Ningxun carefully placed Tuan Tuan on the bed.

Tuan Tuan was still asleep; her dark pink little dress was hilariously empty, all bunched up on her.

Everyone stood by the bed, staring fixedly at the tiny figure on it.

Xiao Ningxun whispered: "Xiao Er, ask the shop for hot water and a wooden tub for a child's bath."

"Yes."

"Miss Luo, thank you—once the hot water arrives, let Tuan Tuan soak a bit longer; she got caught in the rain tonight, I worry she'll catch a chill."

"All right." Luo Hongli took a deep breath: "Don't worry, I've cared for children before. But I still need clean soft cloth and children's clothing."

"I'll get them." Lu Qi responded, then turned and left.

The hot water arrived quickly, and the waiter thoughtfully brought a folding screen.

Luo Hongli rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, tested the water temperature: "You wait outside."

"Hmm." Xiao Ningxun glanced again at his sister on the bed, then retreated outside the screen.

Luo Hongli gently coaxed: "Be good, little one, let's soak in hot water."

As she spoke, she removed Tuan Tuan's clothing.

The little one murmured indistinctly, waved her tiny fists in the air, then let them fall limp.

Luo Hongli supported her small body and gently lowered her into the hot water.

Several people outside the screen listened quietly.

Amid the splashing water sounds, Luo Hongli's low murmurs could be heard:

"These little arms and legs are as tender as lotus root segments!"

"Don't move around, just sleep—lying in my hand is fine."

Xiao Ran couldn't hold back, went to the side of the screen to peek inside, but Xiao Ningxun grabbed his collar and pulled him back.

Soon, the water sounds stopped.

After a moment, Luo Hongli whispered from inside: "All right, everyone come in."

Several people entered and saw that Tuan Tuan had already changed into clean nightwear, her face turned inward, her back to them.

Luo Hongli was gently wiping her hair with a soft cloth.

Several grown men stared at the one-year-old Tuan Tuan on the bed, unsure what to do.

Just then, after all the fuss, Tuan Tuan woke up.

She turned over, blinked her eyes, and spread her little arms toward the adults beside the bed: "Hold me!"

Three pairs of big hands reached out at once.

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head a little, seeming somewhat confused, her small arms slowly drooping.

"Brother, brother." Tuan Tuan called out in a clingy, sugary voice.

Xiao Ningxun gently supported her and lifted her up.

Xiao Er's hand froze in midair, feeling somewhat unwilling.

Lu Qi retracted his arm and rubbed his nose.

Xiao Ran didn't reach out; with such a small child, he didn't know how to hold her.

Luo Hongli couldn't help laughing: "She still wants you."

Xiao Ran leaned over, poked Tuan Tuan's cheek with his finger; Tuan Tuan's eyes followed his finger, then glanced at Xiao Ran, opened her little mouth, and bit down.

"Oh dear, little one, why are you biting me!"

Xiao Ran didn't dare pull his finger back hard; right after, a small string of saliva bubbles bubbled out of Tuan Tuan's mouth, all smearing onto the finger inside her mouth.

"Hahaha!" Xiao Ran burst out laughing, gently withdrew his finger, "Little one, are you unhappy?"

Xiao Ningxun took a clean handkerchief, gently wiped the saliva from Tuan Tuan's mouth, and couldn't help laughing as well.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi turned their faces away, their shoulders shaking continuously.

The one-year-old young lady is even cuter!

"I'm hungry." Tuan Tuan pointed at her little belly.

Several people looked at each other, wondering what a one-year-old child should eat.