Chapter 39

Eunuch Cheng glanced at the uncle and nephew, his gaze landing on Tuan Tuan, whose face still had tears hanging: "Oh dear! Princess, what's wrong? Why are you still crying

Tuan Tuan recognized him, opened her two little hands and reached out: "Grandpa! Hold me!"

Eunuch Cheng hurried over, took her from Xiao Yuanhang's hands, and held her in his embrace.

The child's sweet, soft scent instantly filled his embrace.

Wei Zhongli and Wei Bing'an exchanged a glance, both somewhat dumbfounded—when had Eunuch Cheng become so close to the newly appointed Princess Jiayou?

Tuan Tuan burrowed into Eunuch Cheng's embrace, clutching a bit of his front clothing and wiping her tears, whining pitifully: "Grandpa! They bullied me! They snatched my food and even hit Third Brother and them!"

When Eunuch Cheng went to the Ning Prince's mansion yesterday to deliver the edict, he had already taken a great liking to this little princess; seeing her like this now, his heart melted and trembled.

"Don't cry, little princess, your father is here, and Grandpa is here too—no one can bully you. May I ask, Prince, what exactly has made you angry?"

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at Du Qing, still standing to the side: "You tell Grandpa."

Du Qing understood Eunuch Cheng's weight, so he hurried forward, knelt and paid his respects, and repeated what he had just said.

Eunuch Cheng heard and gave a faint smile: "It's just over a bowl of food? Really ridiculous!"

Xiao Ningxun well knew his father's intention in establishing authority for his sister; after Du Qing finished speaking, he immediately stepped forward and bowed: "Eunuch Cheng, if it's only this, Father would naturally not be angry."

"It is precisely because Wei Bing'an spoke insolently, openly insulting the princess in public, calling her a bastard! That is why Father decided to have him escorted to Jingzhao Prefecture to be punished according to law."

Tuan Tuan had never understood what "bastard" meant, why more than one person said they were bastards; so she clung to Eunuch Cheng's neck and asked: "Grandpa! What is a bastard? Why did he say I'm a bastard? Am I a bastard?"

Eunuch Cheng's old heart felt a sting from her words: "Little princess, that's a vulgar insult; we don't learn such things!"

"You just need to remember that you are your father and mother's biological child—that's enough. Treat any other talk as a fart, and don't ask again, got it?"

Tuan Tuan looked at him, half-understanding, and very obediently asked no more: "I remember! I am the legitimate daughter, Princess Jiayou, the biological child of my father and mother!"

"Exactly! The little princess is really clever!"

Eunuch Cheng lowered his head, gave Wei Bing'an, lying at his feet, a cold look: "Third Master, I've long heard you're a spoiled brat, but I didn't expect you to have such gall. Princess Jiayou was appointed by His Majesty's own decree; you dare speak of her like that—I see you have a death wish."

"The Ning Prince is a relative of the imperial house; his legitimate daughter is also of imperial blood. By insulting the royal family, are you dissatisfied that the position of Defender of the State Marquis is too secure?"

"Didn't the Prince just say he'd send him to Jingzhao Prefecture? What are we waiting for? Drag him away."

Wei Bing'an plopped onto the ground, his lips trembling, unable even to utter a plea for mercy; two guards stepped forward and hauled him up.

Wei Zhongli was both shocked and angry, yet dared not make a sound, watching helplessly as his nephew was dragged away.

Xiao Yuanhang was likewise struck hard in the heart by Tuan Tuan's earlier words; he gave Wei Zhongli a cold sideways glance and walked to the stair railing.

He loudly addressed everyone in the Suijin Pavilion: "Princess Jiayou is the Ning Prince's mansion's sole legitimate daughter; if anyone still objects to her lineage, they are opposing this Prince. Don't blame me for turning ruthless."

Xiao Ningxun nodded heavily; Lu Qingjia and Bai Jianxing gave him a thumbs-up, shouting, "Your dad is mighty!"

Everyone in the Suijin Pavilion heard clearly and exchanged glances; the Ning Prince truly treasures this legitimate daughter!

Eunuch Cheng smiled slightly: "Look at my memory! Just now I went to the mansion to deliver His Majesty's oral decree, but couldn't find the Prince; hearing from the Princess Consort that the Prince had come here, I hurried over. His Majesty's oral decree!"

Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly took Tuan Tuan over; upon hearing this, everyone knelt to listen to the edict.

Eunuch Cheng said: "The Ning Prince's health has recovered; I am greatly pleased. This is a joy for the clan and a blessing for the state. As Mid-Autumn approaches, I wish to hold a banquet in the palace—one to celebrate the festival, two to congratulate the Ning Prince on his recovery."

He paused: "I specially command the Ning Prince to bring his entire household to attend, to enjoy familial bliss."

"Your subject obeys the edict!" Xiao Yuanhang stood up.

Eunuch Cheng chuckled, raising his voice on purpose: "His Majesty also specially instructed that, aside from others, Princess Jiayou must certainly attend. I have prepared fine gifts to bestow upon her."

Tuan Tuan, imitating her father, piped up in a childish voice: "Tuan Tuan, I obey the edict!"

Eunuch Cheng burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha! This child! What can I say? She's so clever!"

Xiao Yuanhang picked up his daughter and planted a firm kiss on her little cheek: "So obedient!"

Tuan Tuan covered her belly: "Father, I'm hungry."

Eunuch Cheng frowned: "Where's that bowl of Suijin soup? Hurry up and bring it!"

Shiyi quickly replied: "Coming! Floating Light Hall, serve the Suijin soup!" He nimbly carried a golden soup tureen into the side room.

Wei Zhongli seethed with resentment: "That Ning Prince, who was barely alive a few years ago, has suddenly recovered, and His Majesty now values him so highly! Today's affair has settled a grudge between my Defender of the State Marquis household and him."

"In the future court, we'll surely have to endure many more troubles."

He lightly waved at the household servants, slipped away quietly, and sneaked out of the Suijin Pavilion.

Both Xiao Yuanhang and Eunuch Cheng noticed, but pretended not to; today the Defender of the State Marquis household has lost a descendant and lost all face—there's no need to quibble further.

Shiyi came out and bowed: "Everything is ready; please, honored guests, take your seats."

Tuan Tuan tugged at her father's collar, slipped from his embrace, waddled over to Eunuch Cheng's side, and took his hand: "Grandpa! Let's eat together!"

Eunuch Cheng bowed down: "Grandpa still has to go back to his post, so I won't disturb the Princess (Commandery) any longer."

"But Mother said it's so tasty, Grandpa should try a bite! Eat together with Tuan Tuan!"

Xiao Yuanhang, seeing this, backed his daughter: "Today's banquet is to celebrate Tuan Tuan's conferment as Princess (Commandery); Eunuch Cheng, just have a look, try some, then you may leave. If the Son of Heaven over there misses the appointed time, just shift the blame onto me."

Eunuch Cheng smiled, did not refuse, and Tuan Tuan took his hand into the elegant room; at that moment the soup jar was empty, yet only five bowls had been placed on the table.

Eunuch Cheng looked around, counting Tuan Tuan there were six people, and deliberately teased her: "Little Princess, look, six people but only five bowls of soup—no share for the extra family!"

Tuan Tuan stared at him, then at the others, "Grandpa helped Daddy today! Must have Grandpa's!"

She hopped onto the nearest brocade stool, and with both tiny hands lifted the bowl before her: "Grandpa! Here you go! Tuan Tuan will eat again next time!"

Eunuch Cheng's smile suddenly froze, as if the softest part of his heart had been struck hard.

He had spent a lifetime in the inner palace, accustomed to insincere flattery; his heart had become as hard as iron, yet now a single pure, unthinking remark from this little child warmed it, making it soft and aching.

A faint tremor ran through the wrinkles at his mouth corner as he took the soup bowl Tuan Tuan offered, and he couldn't help exclaiming, "Ah… my little ancestor!"

Xiao Ningxun, seeing the scene, said, "Come, Tuan Tuan, over to Third Brother here; that bowl is for Eunuch Cheng, and the two of us will share this bowl together!"

Tuan Tuan ran over happily: "Here I come! Here I come!"

Xiao Huamei, not knowing where she came from, darted out, chased Tuan Tuan, and in her voice shouted, "Here I come! Here I come!"

Everyone in the house laughed.