Chapter 44

The Elder Princess was obviously emotionally stirred, and even called herself "I" before the mother and daughter.

Tuan Tuan walked to her side, lifted her tiny hand and wiped her tears: "No need to give it to me, Imperial Aunt, this originally belonged to Imperial Uncle; he won't be coming back, right?"

The Elder Princess's memory instantly returned to the time before Huo Junming set out on campaign…

"I'll leave this to you; if you can unlock it, it will be yours."

"What if you can't unlock it?"

"That won't do; if you can't unlock it, the item must return to its original owner!"

"Hmph! Stingy!"

"Fine, if you can't unlock it, I'll come back and teach you!"

But he never returned, and the Elder Princess wept as if rain.

Tuan Tuan, imitating her mother's soothing manner, patted the Elder Princess's arm: "Imperial Aunt, don't cry, Tuan Tuan will help you."

She picked up the little box and examined it carefully.

The Elder Princess held her breath, stared at her, feeling both hopeful and anxious, fearing that this hope might be dashed again.

Tuan Tuan turned the box over and over for a good while, but the box remained completely still.

The Elder Princess's complexion grew dull.

Tuan Tuan looked up, glanced around, and suddenly a handsome general painted on the screen caught her eye: "Who is this?"

Cheng Ru'an recognized Huo Junming and quickly replied, "That is your Imperial Uncle."

Tuan Tuan looked at the portrait, then at the box in her hand, grabbed it and ran to the screen, pointing: "Imperial Aunt, look!"

The Elder Princess stepped beside her, followed the direction of her finger, and saw in the portrait that Huo Junming wore at his waist a Jade Pendant engraved with auspicious clouds.

"This Jade Pendant? I gave it to him years ago. What's the matter, Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan turned the box over, exposing its bottom: "Here! It's the same!"

The Elder Princess examined it closely and only then realized that the pattern on the box's bottom was exactly identical to that on the Jade Pendant!

Could it be…? The Elder Princess's eyes lit up as she stared intently at Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan extended a tiny finger, looked at the Jade Pendant in the portrait, and traced the pendant's pattern onto the box, reproducing it fully.

The moment the trace closed, a crisp unlocking click rang from the box, the lid sprang open, and a neatly folded sheet fluttered to the floor.

Tuan Tuan picked up the paper, handed both the box and the paper to the Elder Princess, turned, clapped her tiny hands, and hopped into Cheng Ru'an's arms: "It's open! It's open! This box is so fun!"

Cheng Ru'an gently covered her little mouth: "Good girl, stay quiet so Imperial Aunt can look properly."

"Mm‑hmm!" Tuan Tuan nodded and fell silent.

The Elder Princess placed the box on the table, gently lifted the paper, and, trembling, unfolded it layer by layer, then burst into uncontrollable sobs.

The yellowed paper bore a portrait drawn by Huo Junming himself, depicting the two of them standing side by side.

"So," she choked out, "the one who can open this box is he himself."

Both husband and wife loved the art of mechanisms, often placing each other's gifts inside intricate contraptions for the other to solve.

The reason she frequently held treasure appreciation gatherings was to find someone capable of opening the box.

Today, her wish was finally fulfilled.

The figure in the painting stood tall, with handsome features and a smiling visage still vivid in memory, yet now all that can be touched is this cold sheet of paper.

Separated by yin and yang, the cruellest thing in the world is none other than this.

Cheng Ru'an recalled every time Prince Ning went on campaign, how she at home was filled with endless worry, fearing that a parting might mean never seeing each other again; sharing that feeling, she silently shed tears beside her.

Tuan Tuan glanced at the Elder Princess, then at Cheng Ru'an, curled into her mother's embrace: "Mother, don't cry; when you cry, I want to cry too." She too began to weep.

Cheng Ru'an held her daughter, feeling both sour and soft inside.

After a good while, the Elder Princess gradually stopped sobbing and beckoned Tuan Tuan: "Come, child."

Tuan Tuan walked to her front, the Elder Princess took her small hand, looked at Cheng Ru'an: "This child is very fated with me, fulfilling my lifelong greatest wish. This deep gratitude cannot be repaid with ordinary things."

Cheng Ru'an quickly rose: "Elder Princess, you speak too gravely."

The Elder Princess shook her head: "Princess Consort Ning, there is no need to be alarmed."

"I grant her a Chenhui Hall token; from now on, if she misses me, she need not follow those tedious rules and may come and go at any time."

"I also grant her a fine manor in the capital suburbs called Fangfei Garden; in leisure, Princess Consort Ning may take her to hunt in Muyu."

The Elder Princess patted Tuan Tuan's little head: "Good child, is there anything you wish for?"

Cheng Ru'an hurriedly replied: "Elder Princess, your generous gifts are already more than enough."

The Elder Princess shook her head: "Children have their own wishes; let her speak, Princess Consort need not say more."

Tuan Tuan tilted her head and thought for a moment: "I want that big cat!"

"Big cat?" the Elder Princess looked puzzled, glancing at Cheng Ru'an.

Cheng Ru'an thought for a moment: "Your son once took her to Wanlingyuan, where there is a foreign‑tribute snow leopard that Tuan Tuan really likes."

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "It also likes me! Let me pat its big head!"

The Elder Princess's face showed surprise: "When that snow leopard was first delivered, I also saw it; it was very fierce, the garden keeper reported it could not be tamed. How can you be so close to it?"

"Yes! It even eats the jerky I bring, brings things to me! Imperial Aunt, its ears are so soft, its paws are huge! Imperial Aunt, do you want to touch it? I tell it to be good, and it lets you pet it!"

The Elder Princess smiled and nodded: "I see, then Imperial Aunt will grant you that snow leopard, okay?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Really?" but she immediately pouted: "But where will I keep it? There's no big cage at home!"

The Elder Princess thought for a moment: "Not difficult. Keep it in Wanlingyuan as before; no need to send it to Ning Prince's Mansion. It will belong to you, and you may visit and play with it anytime, okay?"

Tuan Tuan bounced up: "Great! I have a big cat now!"

The Elder Princess looked at Tuan Tuan, unabashedly expressing her fondness: "This child's spirit is unmatched; Princess Consort is blessed."

Cheng Ru'an looked at her daughter: "The Elder Princess speaks truly; since we brought her back, all affairs in Ning Prince's Mansion have gone smoothly, and I, as a minister's wife, am very gratified."

"Is that so…" the Elder Princess said, gazing at Tuan Tuan with deep eyes.

"Come, convey my imperial decree: Princess Jiayou is clever and graceful, understands others well, and has won my heart. From now on, she shall be as I have decreed; henceforth I will personally oversee her upbringing and marriage. As long as I am alive, I will protect her completely each day."

Cheng Ru'an's heart leapt; this favor was overwhelming! He hurriedly took his daughter to the Eldest Princess and together performed a grand salute: "Thank you, Eldest Princess, for your generous favor!"

The Eldest Princess turned her gaze back to the painting, waved a hand and said, "Step back."

After bidding farewell to the Eldest Princess, on the way back to the Palace, Tuan Tuan excitedly kept recounting the events of the Treasure Appreciation Gathering to Cheng Ru'an; Cheng Ru'an smiled and listened, his eyes falling on the two brocade boxes in the carriage.

Inside the brocade boxes were the Xuanji Ruler and the Night‑bright Pearl.

Today Tuan Tuan's brilliance shone fully; she had been uneasy all along, but fortunately she earned the Eldest Princess's favor, gaining another person who could protect her daughter. Thank goodness, thank goodness!

The carriage stopped, the two just alighted, and a servant, panic‑stricken, reported, "Princess Consort! The young master has returned! He… he is coughing up blood! His life hangs by a thread!"