Chapter 491: I

The two of them saw Tuan Tuan and couldn't help but stare in amazement; that face, isn't it Xiao Jin!

Tuan Tuan chuckled, "How about it? Does it look like him?"

Noble Consort De and Xiao Jin nodded dumbly, "It does, way too much!"

A nearby young eunuch urged, "His Majesty, you should leave quickly! Someone is about to come in right away!"

Tuan Tuan hurried, "Right, right, Twelve, you hurry and go with my second uncle, quickly!"

Xiao Jin's mouth twisted, and looking at Noble Consort De, tears fell, "Mother Consort! When will you come to fetch me?"

Noble Consort De hurriedly pushed her son to Xiao Er's side, "Jin'er, don't cry or make a fuss, listen to this second uncle, Mother Consort will be here soon, you mustn't cause trouble!"

Xiao Er scooped Xiao Jin up, and gave a deep glance at his own Miss, "Miss, be extremely careful, you must remember, you cannot exceed six double‑hours."

Tuan Tuan was unconcerned, "Got it! Don't worry, nothing will happen to me, you all hurry and leave."

Xiao Er carried Xiao Jin away.

Noble Consort De looked at Tuan Tuan, knelt and prostrated, "Little Princess, this palace bows to you; as long as Jin'er can leave here safely, you will be his reborn parents!"

Tuan Tuan quickly pulled her up, "Noble Consort De, please stand, Little Twelve is my friend, I ought to rescue him!"

She paused, "Imperial Uncle and you are his parents, I don't want to be."

Noble Consort De wiped her tears, rose, and gently lifted Tuan Tuan's small hand, "In one more double‑hour the sky will brighten, someone will come in right away to change your clothes."

The nearby young eunuch wiped cold sweat from his face, "The matter Eunuch Cheng ordered, I finally handled it."

Tuan Tuan looked at him, "What is your name? Old man likes you a lot."

The young eunuch hurriedly bowed and replied, "Replying Princess, I am called Xiao Fuzi, when I first entered the Palace I was constantly bullied, Eunuch Cheng saved me and healed my wounds."

"After Chen Wang and Qing Wang entered the Palace, they specifically selected newborns to send to this Dezheng Palace; I happened to be chosen, which also repays Eunuch Cheng's kindness."

Tuan Tuan stood on tiptoe and patted his shoulder, "Xiao Fuzi, you're great! When the Emperor returns, I'll have him promote you! Okay?"

Xiao Fuzi's body stiffened, hesitated a moment, "I do not wish to rise in rank or gain wealth; if the Princess truly wishes to reward me, could His Majesty permit me to return to my hometown?"

"My hometown still has my parents, I want to return to honor them, I don't want to spend my whole life here in the Palace."

Tuan Tuan nodded, "Alright! Then go home! A home should be round and complete!"

Xiao Fuzi was overjoyed, "Thank you, Princess!"

Tuan Tuan thought for a moment, opened the Sachet, took out a gold ingot and thrust it into Xiao Fuzi's hand, "Take this! Use it at home to buy your parents tasty food!"

Xiao Fuzi stared steadily at the gold ingot in his hand, it weighed a full ten taels! Not just enough for food, it's enough to open a shop back home.

He fell with a thud, knelt and prostrated, "Thank you for the great grace, Princess! Thank you, Princess!"

Tuan Tuan pulled him up, "Quickly get up! You have to call me His Majesty!"

Xiao Fuzi scrambled up, "Yes, yes! His Majesty, it's time to wash your face and comb your hair."

Tuan Tuan frowned, "Wash my face? No! I've already washed!"

"Alright! Then I will comb your hair."

Noble Consort De took Tuan Tuan's small hand, walked to the dressing table and sat down, when a string of footsteps came from outside the hall, "His Majesty! It's time to rise."

Noble Consort De steadied herself, "Come in."

Palace maids and eunuchs entered one after another, carrying robes, hair crowns, wash basins… and other items.

Seeing Xiao Fuzi combing Tuan Tuan's hair, the leading elder eunuch slightly startled, "His Majesty is getting up unusually early today."

Noble Consort De coldly glanced at him, "Wasn't it Qing Wang who ordered that His Majesty should rise early today?"

The elder eunuch bowed and said, "It was the Empress Dowager who said so."

Tuan Tuan sat on the brocade stool, her little head bobbing, almost falling asleep.

The elder eunuch stared coldly at her, his contempt unmistakable.

Xiao Fuzi called softly, "His Majesty, His Majesty? It's time to change clothes."

Tuan Tuan opened her eyes, "Hmm."

She rubbed her eyes, stood up, and walked to the robes.

Xiao Fuzi gently lifted her small arm, letting her spread her arms.

Tuan Tuan stretched her arm with the motion and yawned.

The elder eunuch, with an impatient face, said, "His Majesty, it's getting late, let us quickly change your clothes; if we miss the appointed time, Qing Wang will be angry."

Noble Consort De's heart leapt; the Princess never takes a loss, so be sure not to clash with him.

Tuan Tuan was about to glare at the elder eunuch, then remembered, "No, I'm Little Twelve now; he wouldn't have the nerve to stare down these villains."

She hurriedly lowered her head, honestly letting Xiao Fuzi dress her in the robes.

Hmph! Another villain!

Seeing you like this, you must have scared Twelve countless times; I'll make a note of you in my little notebook!

When the Emperor returns, I'll settle the score with you!

Noble Consort De's heart slowly settled, only then noticing her palms were already slick with cold sweat.

Tuan Tuan put on layer after layer of robes, and wore a hair crown studded with Crown Pendants.

She looked just like a well‑behaved little emperor doll.

Noble Consort De stepped forward, took her hand, "Let's go."

The elder eunuch shouted, "His Majesty, rise and depart!"

The robes were heavy, the hem dragging on the ground, and the veil over her head blocked her sight; Tuan Tuan's first step out staggered, nearly causing a fall.

Noble Consort De hurriedly leaned down and steadied her, "Jin'er!"

Xiao Fuzi's face turned pale, but he dared not speak.

The elder eunuch let out a heavy hum from his nose, "His Majesty, this is the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony; you should be more careful."

"Since this is in Dezheng Palace, if you act so disrespectfully before the officials, Qing Wang and Chen Wang will surely be enraged."

He paused, his tone grew more arrogant: "You also don't want your days with the Empress Dowager to get worse, right?"

Tuan Tuan snorted inwardly, you think only you can hum?

I'll add another mark against you!

Noble Consort De's face turned cold: "You want to scare His Majesty so he can't attend the grand ceremony?"

The old eunuch then restrained himself, bowed and paid respects: "Empress Dowager, please calm your anger, this servant dare not."

Noble Consort De took Tuan Tuan's hand and slowly walked out of the palace gate.

The Emperor's Jade Carriage was already waiting outside; Noble Consort De brought Tuan Tuan to the carriage and said: "Jin'er, the Empress Dowager can't accompany you anymore, don't be afraid, we'll arrive soon."

She paused: "If you need anything, just call someone."

Tuan Tuan nodded, gripping Noble Consort De's hand tightly with his small hand, meaning: "Don't worry."

Noble Consort De understood, suddenly wanting to laugh: if it really were her own Jin'er riding alone in such a large carriage, she'd truly worry he'd be scared and start crying.

Now that it's the Little Princess, there's really no need to worry about that; I just hope these servants don't provoke her again.

She patted Tuan Tuan's hand on the back, then turned and entered the Phoenix Palanquin that the Empress Dowager was riding in.

The old eunuch carefully inspected the procession of the Son of Heaven and the Empress Dowager, nodded satisfied, and loudly chanted: "Sound—whip—!"

After the whip struck the stone slabs three times in succession, a huge roar followed.

"Rise—proceed—!"

After the chant, he scrambled onto the Jade Carriage, lowered his head, and ducked inside.

Xiao Fuzi beside the Phoenix Palanquin shouted: "Madam! Eunuch Gao has entered His Majesty's Jade Carriage!"

Noble Consort De was startled, but it was already too late.

The grand procession slowly moved forward, heading out of the imperial palace.