Chapter 423: This Dog Face Grew Out on Its Own

The cabin was warm and quiet.

Cheng Ru'an leaned against the couch; her face was still pale, but her spirit had clearly improved a lot.

Xiao Ningyuan leaned by a low table, just shoveling the last mouthful of rice into his mouth; in front of him the coarse porcelain bowl was already stacked five high.

"Big brother!" Tuan Tuan rushed into Xiao Ningyuan's arms, hugging his neck and rubbing, "Why did you eat another bowl! That's six bowls already!"

Xiao Ningyuan laughed as he answered, "I've been starving these past days, so when I see food… Burp!"

"Burp! Burp!" He started a hearty belch.

Tuan Tuan giggled, and everyone in the room laughed.

Cheng Ru'an shook her head, "Your older brother hasn't been short of suffering these days."

Xiao Ningxun felt a pang, "Older brother, when they went to the Prince's Mansion, did they trouble you?"

Xiao Ningyuan was silent for a moment, "That day, Qing Wang personally led men to storm the Prince's Mansion."

"After mother and grandmother were taken away, Qing Wang said to me, 'Xiao Yuanhang's fate at the border pass is still unknown; that I can let you live a few more days is already a great grace.'"

Cheng Ru'an's hand trembled slightly.

Xiao Ningyuan's voice grew cold, "He also said, 'From today onward, this residence belongs to me; you bereaved dogs are only fit to live in the barracks.'"

Tuan Tuan clenched her little fist, her face flushed, "That's my home! How can he claim it!"

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly waved, "Tuan Tuan, come to mother."

Tuan Tuan walked over.

Cheng Ru'an pulled her into her arms, gently patting her back, "Good girl, don't be angry, don't be angry."

Tuan Tuan's eyes reddened, "That's dad and mother's place! It's also Xiao Yueyue's home! There's the little white that Second Brother gave me, and the Snow Garment that Third Brother gave me!"

"He just says he occupies it and it's taken! I still want to go back!"

Princess Yun's heart trembled, and she said softly, "Princess, don't be impatient; they've only taken a dove's nest from a magpie's, and one day it will be returned."

Tuan Tuan popped out of mother's arms, thumping "thump thump thump" to her, and said, "Auntie! Let me tell you, Xiao Yueyue is really awesome this time!"

"He killed that rotten National Preceptor!"

Princess Yun's face was full of astonishment: Who did her son kill? The rotten National Preceptor? Wu Luo?

Heaven, really?

She hurriedly asked, "Where is he? Is he injured?"

Tuan Tuan's little mouth kept talking, "No! He's fine! Imperial Uncle said he's no longer a hostage prince, and can stay in the Prince's Mansion forever as my study companion!"

Princess Yun was stunned again, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.

She reached out, gently stroked Tuan Tuan's hair, "Auntie, thank you. Since you came, Xiao Yueyue finally feels that living is happy."

Xiao Ningyuan looked at his younger sister, sighed lightly, "I just don't know when we can return. Since Qing Wang has occupied the Prince's Mansion, he won't relinquish it easily."

Tuan Tuan's little mouth pouted again.

Cheng Ru'an glared at her eldest son, knowing her younger sister was upset, yet she said!

"Come, Tuan Tuan, you didn't sleep all night yesterday; come to mother, mother will coax you to sleep."

Grandma Liu hurried forward and tidied the bedding.

Tuan Tuan crawled into the quilt, but still glared at the cabin ceiling, still sulky.

Cheng Ru'an gave the others a look, and everyone slipped out quietly.

She gently patted her daughter; after a while, the little body slowly relaxed.

Tuan Tuan closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep.

Huh, I'm home?

She stood before the gate of Prince Ning's Mansion.

Oh, I dreamed again? This dream is good! I haven't been home for so long!

She ran in happily.

She entered the Quiet Orchid Garden, and the few pots of orchid grass that mother loved were gone, and the makeup box on the dressing table was missing.

The needle-and-thread basket was still there, and inside was a half‑sewn little skirt, obviously made for herself; she felt a pang of sadness.

She wandered around, where are the weapons hanging in Second Brother's room?

Ugh! They've taken my home and even stole my things!

Tuan Tuan pursed her lips, walked to the corridor, and Snow Garment stood quietly on the rack.

She climbed onto the corridor bench, tiptoed, and gently touched Snow Garment's feathers: "Snow Garment, it's me! I'm back to see you!"

Snow Garment didn't cry out; its little head tilted, as if sensing something.

She went into the stable again, and Little White was lying on straw, sleeping.

Tuan Tuan hugged it: "Little White, be good, don't let anyone bully you."

The horse shifted a bit, but didn't open its eyes.

Tuan Tuan entered Yangzheng Pavilion, and Qing Wang was lying on the couch, snoring like thunder.

She came to the bedside and stared at his face for a while.

"It's you, you villain, who occupied my home! No, I have to bully you!"

She, familiar with the place, slipped into the kitchen, lifted a jar and sniffed it—soy sauce!

Her eyes lit up instantly.

She picked up the jar and returned to Qing Wang's couch.

Tuan Tuan dabbed her fingertip in soy sauce and carefully drew on his face.

Three whiskers on the left, three on the right, and a circle on the tip of the nose,

Ah! This spot is still empty, so I'll draw a dog for you.

Then, a crooked little dog appeared on Qing Wang's forehead.

After finishing the drawing, Tuan Tuan took a look and nodded in satisfaction.

She then fetched a rope, tying one end around Qing Wang's left ankle and the other end firmly to the bedpost.

Hmph! Let you not get out of bed!

Huh? What's this? Beside the bed, on Qing Wang's clothes, lay a small jade pendant.

Tuan Tuan muttered, "Hey! Bad guy! Do you still want this?"

The snoring continued.

She picked up the jade pendant, happily tucked it into her small embroidered pouch, saying, "I asked you—you didn't say you wanted it, so it's nobody's."

She clapped her hands, pleased, and ran out of the Prince's Mansion.

Early the next morning.

"Your Highness, it's time to get up."

Qing Wang mumbled a response, turned over and sat up.

"Ouch!"

Something grabbed his left ankle, throwing him off balance; he fell heavily from the bed, hanging sideways at the side, his head thudding against the footboard.

The guards outside heard the commotion and rushed in, calling, "Your Highness!"

A sharp pain shot from his ankle; Qing Wang winced, looked back, and asked, "What is this?"

The guards hastily drew their daggers, cut the rope, helped him sit back on the couch, and as they lifted their heads, they came face‑to‑face with Qing Wang.

"Pfft!" one guard couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

The others bit their lips or pinched their thighs; though they managed not to laugh, their shoulders kept trembling.

Qing Wang sensed something was off and demanded, "What are you laughing at?"

He reached up, felt his face, and wondered, "What's this smell? Soy sauce?"

"What's wrong with my face? Bring a mirror!"

"Yes!"

A guard hurriedly handed him a bronze mirror.

Qing Wang looked at the mirror and saw a face covered in beard, with a little dog perched on his forehead.

His face twitched violently, turning from red to blue, then to black.

A roar erupted, shaking the beams: "Who did this? Who came in last night?"

The guards fell to their knees with a thud: "Please calm your anger, Your Highness! We've been guarding the door all night—no one entered or left!"

"No one came in or out?" Qing Wang pointed at his face, trembling with rage, "Did this dog face grow on its own? Did I tie this rope myself?"

He looked at the bronze mirror; the little dog was grinning at him foolishly.

The surge of anger nearly made him vomit blood.

The passenger boat rocked gently on the water.

Xiao Ningxun sat by the window and took out the Mountain River Mineral Marrow Atlas.