Chapter 492: Both princes and the civil and military officials are all waiting

Inside the Jade Carriage, Tuan Tuan lifted her hand and pulled aside the curtain before her face, and immediately saw that annoying old eunuch from earlier.

How did he get in?

Eunuch Gao looked up, saw Tuan Tuan lift the Crown Pendants, and his face instantly darkened: "His Majesty, this is the Ritual Crown, it concerns the heavenly visage and must never be moved!"

Tuan Tuan was irritated to her core; how dare he lecture me? Do you think I'm twelve?

No, I'm twelve right now!

No way! I can't wait any longer; I have to vent on the twelve!

She lowered her hand, her mouth puckered, her little face instantly wrinkled into a knot, tears flashing in her big eyes, she whined: "It's so itchy! Unbearable!"

Eunuch Gao cursed inwardly, "So many things!" but said aloud: "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven, please endure a bit, wait until we reach the Circular Mound Altar…"

"But it's itchy right here!" Tuan Tuan interrupted him, her little hand rummaging into the collar of her ceremonial robe, "Did a bug get in? Come and take a look!"

Eunuch Gao's temple vein spiked, he forced himself forward: "His Majesty, don't panic; this robe has so many layers, how could a bug get in?"

Just as he approached, Tuan Tuan suddenly let out a wailing cry, tears streaming down in strings: "Mother Empress! I, the Emperor, want to find Mother Empress!"

"His Majesty! The Empress Dowager cannot come right now!" Eunuch Gao hurriedly stepped back.

Why is this little Emperor so troublesome today? Could he really be frightened?

"I am thirsty!" The crying hadn't stopped when Tuan Tuan hiccuped, "I want honey water! Right now!"

Eunuch Gao kept his patience: "His Majesty, we are on the road now, this old servant cannot fetch honey water, perhaps you should…"

"I don't care!" Tuan Tuan stamped her leg forcefully, the heavy hem of her ceremonial robe rustling noisily, "I will drink! Otherwise I won't go! You go perform the Heavenly Sacrifice!"

Whether the matter was great or small, Eunuch Gao's complexion changed; he gritted his teeth, pulled aside the side curtain of the Jade Carriage, and shouted low to the outside: "Quick! Bring honey water!"

The attendant young eunuch hurriedly responded and ran off.

Tuan Tuan calmed a bit, curled into a ball and sobbed softly, her shoulders trembling, looking utterly pitiful.

The honey water was brought, and Eunuch Gao hurriedly handed it to her.

Tuan Tuan took it and took a sip.

Eunuch Gao finally exhaled a half breath of relief.

Tuan Tuan suddenly opened her mouth with a "wah" and spat it all over him: "Too cold! I need warm!"

Eunuch Gao: "…"

He lowered his head, looking at the large wet stain on his chest, his inner fire flaring, and had to order again: "Go! Bring warm honey water!"

After much difficulty, the warm honey water was finally presented.

Tuan Tuan drank in small sips, smiling inwardly.

"I am hungry!" Tuan Tuan clutched her belly, eyes watery, "My stomach is growling, I can't stand it!"

Eunuch Gao felt the fire in his heart nearly scorching up to his forehead, almost uncontrollable.

He inhaled deeply, pulled out a sesame candy biscuit he had prepared for himself, and stiffly handed it over: "Your Majesty, a little something first?"

Tuan Tuan took it, broke off a small piece and put it in her mouth, chewed a couple of times, then suddenly opened her mouth with a "wah" and spat it onto him: "Hard! It hurts my teeth! Boohoo!"

"I want Mother Empress! I want Mother Empress! Boohoo!"

Eunuch Gao looked down at his clothing; the spot that was just wet was now covered with chewed fragments, together forming a sticky clump.

His vision darkened for a moment, his fists clenched, his teeth roots almost grinding to pieces, and he barely managed not to roar.

Not far away, in the accompanying Phoenix Palanquin, Noble Consort De vaguely heard intermittent cries from ahead, her heart rising to her throat.

She clutched her handkerchief tightly, "Princess (Commandery), you be careful; if Eunuch Gao gets angry and ashamed, how would it be good for you?"

She quietly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain; Eunuch Gao's hushed coaxing and Tuan Tuan's relentless weak cries grew clearer.

Noble Consort De wanted to laugh, then worried, and finally could only let out a long sigh.

Inside the Jade Carriage, Eunuch Gao had been drenched at his back by Tuan Tuan's endless demands.

He was originally sent by King Chen and King Qing, to accompany the little Emperor all the way.

Now he only has endless irritation and fatigue, wishing this road would end quickly.

Tuan Tuan peered through the gap in the Crown Pendants at his pallid, panting face, and her heart had already blossomed with joy, though tears still clung to her little face.

She sobbed and delivered a final strike: "I, the Emperor, need to use the restroom!"

Eunuch Gao's whole body stiffened, as if struck by lightning.

He gasped several times, then tremulously said: "Here, here is the Portable Toilet for His Majesty!"

Soon, a compact Portable Toilet was handed over; Eunuch Gao set it down and said: "Your Majesty, please."

Tuan Tuan rubbed her belly: "I'm fine now, no need."

Eunuch Gao was about to explode in anger, but couldn't; after all, that's the Emperor!

He could only silently endure: "Someone! Take it out for me!"

After all the commotion, Tuan Tuan was also exhausted, collapsed and closed her eyes.

This, this, this, what a disgrace!

Eunuch Gao was about to speak to restrain, but thinking of what mischief the little Emperor might cause if awake, he quickly shut his mouth.

Fine, sleep, just don't trouble me any more.

The procession swayed all the way, and finally the honor guard came to a slow halt.

King Chen and King Qing, the civil and military officials, and the scholars of the bureaucracy had long been waiting.

Seeing the Emperor's Jade Carriage stop, King Chen and King Qing hurried forward, knelt and saluted: "Welcome, Your Majesty!"

Countless people immediately knelt, awaiting the Emperor's emergence.

Eunuch Gao hurriedly leaned beside Tuan Tuan, whispering: "His Majesty! His Majesty! Wake up, Your Majesty!"

Tuan Tuan was sleeping soundly, but a voice buzzed around her ear like a mosquito, irritating her, and she slapped outward.

"Snap!" a crisp sound struck Eunuch Gao's face, knocking him off balance.

Everyone outside the Jade Carriage also heard it.

Chen Wang and Qing Wang exchanged a glance—what's going on?

Chen Wang whispered, "Who is in front of His Majesty? Come out and answer!"

Eunuch Gao, helpless, could only crawl out and salute the two princes: "Your Highness."

Chen Wang looked at the mess on his chest, his brows furrowing: "What state are you in! What's wrong with His Majesty?"

Eunuch Gao, full of grievance: "His Majesty fell asleep! All along the way…"

Qing Wang raised his hand and dealt him a hard slap across the face: "Clumsy servant! What's the situation today? How could you let His Majesty fall asleep? And you didn't even remind him from the side?"

Eunuch Gao had suffering he could not voice, yet could not distinguish—after all, the young Emperor only wanted water, food, and to use the toilet, and had done nothing out of the ordinary.

He gritted his teeth and replied: "It's this old servant's fault! Please, Your Highness, calm your anger!"

Chen Wang glanced at the Empress Dowager's Phoenix Palanquin following behind and gave him a meaningful look.

Eunuch Gao understood, hurriedly got up, ran to the Phoenix Palanquin and whispered: "Empress Dowager, please hurry over to take a look—His Majesty has fallen asleep."

The two princes and all the civil and military officials are waiting, aren't they?

Asleep? Noble Consort De almost laughed out loud.

She raised her embroidered handkerchief to cover her mouth, endured for a moment, then said: "Help this palace over."