Chapter 41: Can I take everything?

Xiao Anhe walked in slowly and took his seat; everyone rose and saluted: "May the Eldest Princess be at peace!"

The Eldest Princess's expression was calm; her gaze swept slowly over the crowd, lingering slightly on Cheng Ru'an and Tuan Tuan, then she lightly raised her hand: "Please rise."

"Thank you, Eldest Princess." Everyone rose again and sat down.

The Eldest Princess looked toward Cheng Ru'an: "It's been a long time since I last saw Princess Consort Ning. A few days ago I heard the Emperor mention that Prince Ning has fully recovered from his serious illness, his health restored; I am greatly relieved."

Cheng Ru'an quickly rose: "Thank you, Eldest Princess, for your concern."

The Eldest Princess's gaze fell on Tuan Tuan: "Is this Princess Jiayou?"

Tuan Tuan looked at her curiously, "How beautiful!" But why does she have a cloud of gray around her? She seems utterly unhappy. "Yes, that's me! You're the Eldest Princess, right?"

Cheng Ru'an quickly whispered: "Tuan Tuan, do not be rude; you must address the Eldest Princess."

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan, upon hearing, knew she had to salute again, so she properly stepped out of her seat, the curiosity on her little face instantly gathering, she strained to put on the most serious expression, and gave the Eldest Princess a deep bow.

Tuan Tuan's little arms and legs, though her movements were proper, her balance was lacking; as she performed the salute properly, she swayed, and with a solemn expression imitating her mother, she said: "May the Eldest Princess be at peace!"

The Eldest Princess smiled slightly: "Princess Jiayou is quite adorable; please rise."

Zhao Qilan at the nearby table curled her lip in disdain, stepped forward, performed a proper bow, and said with a smiling face: "Your servant pays respects to Your Highness."

The Eldest Princess turned her gaze to her and gave a slight nod.

Zhao Qilan continued: "To be invited by Your Highness to this precious gathering is an honor for me and my daughter." As she spoke, she turned slightly and gently guided Wei Qingcheng forward.

Wei Qingcheng stepped forward and made a deep bow to the Eldest Princess: "Your servant Wei Qingcheng has long admired Your Highness; today I have specially brought a cherished family heirloom, a 'Flying Heavenly Music Dance Puppet,' for Your Highness to appreciate."

Though it is a mundane object, it can be called the pinnacle of ingenuity. I dare not say it will catch Your Highness's eye; I only hope to elicit a smile, adding a touch of brilliance to this gathering.

Her words were full of modesty, yet every sentence emphasized how extraordinarily precious the item she brought today was, revealing her boastful intent.

Upon hearing this, the Eldest Princess's smile did not fade; she raised her eyebrows slightly: "Well-intentioned. If so, then allow it—present it for viewing."

Wei Qingcheng ordered the two maids behind her to lift up a jeweled automaton puppet over three feet tall, made of red gold inlaid with gems; she personally wound its spring.

With a "click", the mechanism started, the puppet began to dance; as it turned and raised its arms, the gems on it refracted brilliant light, and the pearl-like sounds from its internal eight-tone wheel rolled out one by one, pattering, the melody extremely pleasing.

The hall instantly filled with exclamations of amazement.

"Truly a marvel of craftsmanship! The Needle Guo Marquisate indeed has deep foundations!"

"No wonder she's the marquisate's daughter! She truly is well-informed and knowledgeable!"

"At today's gathering, this Flying Heavenly Music Dance Puppet is surely the star of the show!"

Wei Qingcheng smiled at the corners of her mouth, enjoying the astonishment and praise.

Just as she was secretly pleased, she suddenly saw Tuan Tuan staring fixedly at the spinning, dancing puppet, looking dazed? Never seen one before, you country bumpkin!

A flicker of contempt crossed her eyes; she deliberately raised her voice: "This object was crafted over several years by a skilled artisan from the Western Regions; it is the only one in the world. If it can bring a smile to Your Highness and everyone today, that is its fortune."

Changing the subject, she said: "I wonder what treasure Princess Jiayou has brought to broaden my horizons?"

The hall fell silent at once; Cheng Ru'an's expression darkened slightly, about to speak, but Tuan Tuan tugged at her sleeve.

"I don't have any." Tuan Tuan answered in a childish voice, pointing her small hand at the puppet's base, where a maid had used an old wooden wedge to stabilize it: "What is this?"

Wei Qingcheng glanced down, covered her mouth and laughed lightly: "Just a wooden wedge used to prop up the feet. Don't you like the puppet, Princess, but instead taken a fancy to this?"

"Mm-hmm!" Tuan Tuan nodded.

The scorn on Wei Qingcheng's lips could not be concealed: "Princess, your taste… is indeed unique. Since you like it, I won't keep it; I'll give it to you."

She waved her hand; the maid stepped forward, lifted the puppet, took out the wooden wedge, and placed it before Tuan Tuan.

"You really don't want it?" Tuan Tuan asked seriously.

Wei Qingcheng could barely keep from laughing: "No need, such ordinary things—we have plenty in the marquisate. If you like it, Princess, feel free to take them all."

Only then did Tuan Tuan reach out to take it: "You said you didn't want it, so I picked it up."

Everyone in the hall was stunned, then burst into suppressed laughter.

"I heard the legitimate daughter of Prince Ning was raised in the countryside since childhood; seeing her now, she is indeed… ignorant."

"Although she bears the title of princess, she is hardly fit for refined company."

Cheng Ru'an's heart skipped a beat: "Tuan Tuan, what is extraordinary about this wooden wedge?"

Tuan Tuan placed the wooden wedge on the table and kept turning it over, fiddling with it.

Cheng Ru'an examined it closely; the wedge was dark in color, ordinary in shape, appearing quite commonplace.

"Mother! Look here…" Before she finished speaking, Tuan Tuan's finger touched it and pressed down firmly.

"Hum——"

A low, pleasant hum suddenly rang out, clear and lingering, instantly drowning out the puppet's melody and cutting off all the whispers in the hall.

In the astonished gazes of the crowd, the wedge suddenly unfolded, layer upon layer rolling upward to reveal the pure, warm wood inside; gold‑thread‑like patterns flowed within the grain, faintly forming an arcane design, and a strange fragrance began to permeate the hall.

"What… this is…!" An elderly white‑haired consort sprang to her feet, staggered to the table, and exclaimed: "Gold‑thread agarwood! The Celestial Armillary Ruler of the Lu clan from the former dynasty!"

The consort's excited voice trembled: "The Artisan's Canon records that Master Lu made three Celestial Armillary Rulers, used to tune tones and regulate mechanisms; the gold threads on them are naturally formed, in harmony with the heavenly cadence! Lost for ages. How… how could it have been used as a mere pad?!"

In an instant, all eyes turned to Wei Qingcheng and her daughter.

The puppet, just moments ago admired as a marvel of craftsmanship, now appeared utterly vulgar before this true peerless treasure.

And the Needle Guo Marquisate, which had used it as a stand, became the laughingstock of the age!

Wei Qingcheng's face turned ashen, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word; Zhao Qilan flushed crimson, wishing she could sink into a crack in the ground.

Cheng Ru'an smiled faintly, lightly patting her daughter's head: "This child not only has a unique eye, her fortune is truly heaven‑defying."

Tuan Tuan, oblivious to the uproar she had caused, cheerfully lifted her head to look at her mother: "Mom, does it look nice? It smells wonderful!"

"Beautiful! Truly beautiful!" Cheng Ru'an glanced at Wei Qingcheng and her daughter, not wanting to prolong their embarrassment: "Put it away, Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan nodded, fiddled with it twice, her big eyes fixed on a spot as she murmured: "Here…" She pressed with her little finger; the music stopped abruptly, the wedge folded back layer by layer, returning to its former unremarkable appearance.

"Mom, the embroidered pouch is too small—I can't fit it in." Tuan Tuan tugged at her waist pouch, looked at the wedge, and fretted.

Cheng Ru'an was momentarily speechless: such a peerless treasure, originally belonging to the Needle Guo Marquisate, although Wei Qingcheng had said beforehand she would give it to Tuan Tuan.

But now the treasure has revealed its true form, under everyone's gaze—could it really be that we just let Tuan Tuan take it away?

Just as he was hesitating, Tuan Tuan bounced over to Wei Qingcheng, lifted his little head, and asked seriously, "This thing, do you really have a lot more at home? Can I go take them all?"

Cheng Ru'an was speechless, and only by exerting all his strength to hold his breath did he manage to keep from laughing.

She managed to hold it in, but others couldn't; recalling what Wei Qingcheng had just said—"These common things, we have plenty in our marquis manor; if the princess likes them, she can take them all"—everyone burst into laughter, "hahahaha..."