Chapter 36: Someone stole my food!

In the evening, the Ning Prince's Mansion's family banquet prepared for Tuan Tuan began.

The whole family sat around the table, "Wow, so much delicious food!" Tuan Tuan looked at the big table of dishes, laughing so hard the dimples on her cheeks sank deep.

"Come, try this first; this dish was specially ordered by great-grandfather for you to eat." Cheng Ru'an picked up a chopstickful and placed it on Tuan Tuan's plate.

Tuan Tuan obediently ate it: "So fragrant! Great-grandfather is really nice! Thank you, great-grandfather!"

The Old Madam smiled so wide she couldn't close her mouth: "As long as Tuan Tuan likes it, that's good! If you love eating, eat more."

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously.

"Have another bite; this is something I personally cooked for you, Tuan Tuan. Now that you're a Princess, Mother is delighted!"

"Good!" Tuan Tuan realized: "Mother! What is a Princess?"

Cheng Ru'an, while placing more delicious food before her eyes, patiently answered: "A Princess is a title, just like Father's title is Prince Ning; Tuan Tuan's title now is Princess Jiayou."

Tuan Tuan pointed at herself: "Princess Jiayou is me!"

"Exactly! This title isn't something just anyone has! Father went to tell the Emperor; Tuan Tuan, as the Prince's Mansion's legitimate daughter, only became Princess Jiayou when the Emperor spoke."

"Oh—!" Tuan Tuan understood; she slid off the chair to the floor, went to her father's side, climbed onto his leg, and Xiao Yuanhang quickly reached out to steady her.

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck and gave his face a quick kiss: "Father is really nice! Thank you, Father!"

Xiao Yuanhang held her, smiling with eyes crinkled.

Xiao Ningxun waved at Tuan Tuan: "Tuan Tuan, come to Third Brother; Third Brother will feed you fish, all the bones have been removed!"

Upon hearing that, Tuan Tuan wobbled over and ran into Third Brother's arms.

Xiao Ningchen furrowed his brows: "Did you clean them properly? Don't prick her."

Tuan Tuan took a big bite of the fish meat that Third Brother had cleaned for her: "No way! Second Brother!"

Just like that, Tuan Tuan kept running back and forth among the people, the adults taking turns feeding her a bite each.

From outside the door came a servant's voice: "The Lu family's second young master has sent someone to deliver an invitation; they're waiting outside, awaiting a reply."

"Bring it over." Xiao Ningchen took the invitation and read it aloud: "Tomorrow at noon, a modest banquet will be held at Suijin Pavilion to celebrate Tuan Tuan's investiture as Princess Jiayou. We respectfully invite the honored relatives of the Ning Prince's Mansion to share in the joy. Lu Qingjia respectfully submits."

"Lu Second! Little Plum!" Upon hearing Lu Qingjia's name, Tuan Tuan immediately thought of the myna bird Little Plum and shouted it out.

Xiao Ningchen snorted, "Nonsense! How could we take Tuan Tuan to a place like Suijin Pavilion?"

"What is Suijin Pavilion? Is it fun? Second Brother, can't I go?" Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled.

"Suijin Pavilion? It's the biggest, most luxurious restaurant in Jingcheng. Second Brother, Tuan Tuan has helped Lu Qingjia before, and he likes her a lot, so it's fine—I'll take her." Xiao Ningxun, unable to resist his sister's pleading, seeing her full of curiosity, immediately volunteered.

"No way! Suijin Pavilion is huge, crowded, full of mixed company—this Lu Qingjia! Holding a banquet at his own mansion would do; why pick such a place?" Xiao Ningchen insisted on disagreeing.

The servant said: "The person from the Lu household said their second young master has already reserved tomorrow's Shredded Gold Soup, and they request that the Princess definitely attend."

"No wonder, Lu Qingjia is thoughtful. Aside from that, this Shredded Gold Soup is indeed rare." Cheng Ru'an nodded and decided: "Tell the messenger that the Princess will attend the banquet on time tomorrow."

"Yes."

She looked at Xiao Ningchen: "Don't worry; tomorrow let Xun Er take Tuan Tuan to try the Shredded Gold Soup—she hasn't had it before, let's get a fresh taste."

"Shredded Gold… what soup?" Tuan Tuan didn't understand.

Cheng Ru'an explained: "Shredded Gold Soup is Suijin Pavilion's signature dish, made with select ingredients and elaborate preparation; only a small crock is produced each day, divided into no more than three or five bowls, and its taste is incomparably fresh and delicious."

"Lu Qingjia went to the trouble of reserving this for your Princess investiture—no small feat."

Upon hearing "incomparably fresh and delicious," Tuan Tuan involuntarily swallowed saliva: "Let's all go together, okay? Mother? Great-grandfather, Father, Mother, Second Brother and Third Brother—everyone go!"

Cheng Ru'an laughed and shook her head: "If the whole family went, there wouldn't be enough Shredded Gold Soup to go around! Tomorrow is Lu Qingjia's banquet; just have Third Brother accompany you."

Xiao Yuanhang asked his son: "Chen Er, how is your leg?"

Xiao Ningchen replied: "I've recovered seventy or eighty percent; Mother's wish is that once I'm fully healed, I'll go out and move about."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "That's only proper; I also don't feel at ease letting you go out just now."

Tuan Tuan walked over to Xiao Ningchen's side, gently touched his legs with concern: "Does Second Brother's leg still hurt?" She blew on his knees: "Tuan Tuan will blow again, pain gone, flying light."

Xiao Ningchen's heart stirred; he scooped up his sister and placed her on his lap: "Second Brother's leg doesn't hurt anymore! It just needs a bit more time to fully recover—Tuan Tuan, don't worry. Come, Second Brother will give you this, have another bite."

Tuan Tuan opened her little mouth, ate it, looked at Second Brother, and smiled sweetly.

The next day at noon, Suijin Pavilion.

Suijin Pavilion was built beside the river, standing in a corner of the bustling market street.

Its structure was not the usual upturned eaves of a common tavern; rather, it resembled a blockhouse, five stories tall, tapering upward, the higher it rose the more solitary and sheer it appeared.

Before the door hung a huge glazed lamp, magnificent in its grandeur—a place where royalty, nobles, and high officials often held banquets to entertain guests.

On either side of the main gate hung a couplet: "Sparse shadows slant across clear, shallow water; faint fragrance drifts as the moon sets at dusk."

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, gazing at the glazed lamp: "Wow, it's huge! Sparkling bright, really beautiful!"

Xiao Ningxun held her up so she could see better: "Glazed ware is rare; a small piece is already valuable. This glazed lamp is so large, there's only one like it in all of Jingcheng."

The waiter came forward: "May I ask who the honored guests are?"

Xiao Ningxun replied: "The Ning Prince's Mansion, Princess Jiayou."

The waiter hastily bowed: "So it's Princess Jiayou's arrival—our humble shop shines with glory! The Lu family's second young master has been waiting upstairs for a while; I'm called Eleven. Please feel free to give any orders; both of you, follow me."

Xiao Ningxun held his sister tightly, followed Eleven up to the fifth floor, and entered a private room called Floating Light Hall.

"Young Alliance Leader! You've come!" Upon seeing Tuan Tuan, Lu Qingjia immediately rose, reaching out to take her from Xiao Ningxun's hands.

"Lu Second! Where's Little Plum?" Seeing him reach out, Tuan Tuan also opened her little hands, preparing to crawl over to find Little Plum.

Xiao Ningxun twisted his body, leaving both of their grasps empty; he held his sister and sat her steadily on the embroidered stool beside the table, giving him a glare: "Just sit properly!"

"Pfft," Bai Jianxing laughed: "The Young Alliance Leader is Xiao Brother's apple of his eye—can he let you hold her?"

Lu Qingjia gave an embarrassed smile: "The Young Alliance Leader is so adorable; I just wanted to give her a hug! Little Plum just flew out to play; she'll be back soon."

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips: "Still haven't seen Little Plum!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ningxun quickly changed the subject: "How is Chasing Wind doing?"

Before Lu Qingjia could speak, Bai Jianxing interjected: "That day's polo match, Chasing Wind became famous in a single battle! Nowadays, lots of people are begging Lu Qingjia to let them try riding Chasing Wind to feel what it's like."

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands happily: "Chasing the wind is the best!"

Xiao Ningxun smiled slightly; she hadn't seen Xiao Huamei, but just mentioning Chasing the wind made her happy—my little sister is really easy to please.

Seeing everyone gathered, Lu Qingjia shouted toward the doorway: "Shi Yi! Serve the dish! Bring the Suijin broth up!"

Shi Yi replied from outside: "All right! Fifth Floor Floating Light Hall, serve the Suijin broth!"

Tuan Tuan curiously looked around; sunlight streamed through the lattice window, filling the room with tiny specks of light, dreamlike and fantastical—so beautiful it was breathtaking.

Tuan Tuan reached out her little hand, and those tiny specks of light immediately scattered across her palm: "Wow! So beautiful! Third Brother!"

Xiao Ningxun explained to her: "The name of this Suijin Pavilion comes from the scene you see; it uses colored glaze to replace part of the window, so whether sunlight or moonlight shines in, it's as if filtered through a sieve, and the light and shadow look like scattered gold everywhere."

Just then, Xiao Huamei flew in from the private room's window: "Here I come! Here I come!"

Tuan Tuan excitedly raised both hands to catch it; Xiao Huamei flew a few circles around her head and landed steadily in her hand.

Tuan Tuan held Xiao Huamei, gently grooming its feathers: "Xiao Huamei! I miss you so much!"

After chatting for a while, Shi Yi still hadn't come to serve the dish.

Lu Qingjia frowned: "Why is today's dish so slow to come!" She stood up and pushed open the private room's door.

A familiar voice came in: "What does it matter that Lu Er ordered it first? Today I'm claiming this Suijin broth!"