Chapter 613: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Ningchen lifted his head and only then saw his third brother and sister walking over.

Xiao Ningyuan also rushed over: "Second brother, what happened?"

Xiao Ningchen lowered his head to look at the bloodstains on his body, then ordered the soldiers: "Drag it away quickly! Clean it up!"

"Yes!"

Tuan Tuan obediently lay in Xiao Ningxun's arms and softly asked: "Third brother, what is second brother doing?"

Xiao Ningxun said softly: "Nothing, your second brother is scolding a disobedient... pheasant."

Tuan Tuan giggled: "Pheasant? Second brother is really fun!"

Xiao Ningchen glanced at the main tent and shouted: "Tuan Tuan, I'll go tell Mother you're back; I'll come see you later!"

Tuan Tuan replied: "Got it! Second brother, hurry up!"

Who is that person? Did something happen in the main camp?

Xiao Ningxun's doubts arose in his heart, but he showed no sign; just as he lifted his leg to leave, Xiao Yuanhang inside the tent heard the movement and came out.

"Tuan Tuan? You've finally come back!"

Tuan Tuan turned around, spread her little arms: "Father! I missed you so much!"

Xiao Yuanhang took Tuan Tuan from his son's hands, glanced at Xiao Ningchen, then turned and walked into the main tent.

Xiao Ningchen pointed at the bloodstains on his clothes toward his elder brother and third brother, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

The two brothers glanced at each other, understanding he was going back to change clothes.

Xiao Ningxun said: "Let's go, first go in to report to Father."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded, and the two entered the main tent together.

Xiao Yuanhang held his daughter, looking left and right, then hefted her: "You've gotten thin! Haven't you been eating properly outside?"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing with deep dimples: "Father! I eat plenty! Dada gives me meat every day, I've gotten chubby!"

Xiao Yuanhang blinked: "Dada?"

"It's the King of Kucha, Bai Boluo!" Tuan Tuan proudly shook her little head: "He likes me a lot!"

Xiao Yuanhang was very surprised: "Bai Boluo? After not seeing him for so many years, he's become the King of Kucha?"

"Indeed! This trip, we were greatly helped by Father's old friend." Xiao Ningxun laughed as he recounted the entire Western Regions journey.

Upon hearing that Tuan Tuan had become the chief of the scattered tribes and even taken a Sharden giant to follow her, Xiao Yuanhang couldn't help but burst into laughter: "You're really something! My good daughter!"

Upon also hearing that the three major states of the Western Regions had allied and pledged to send forty thousand troops to assist him, Xiao Yuanhang sprang to his feet: "Forty thousand? And among them there are ten thousand heavy armored soldiers?"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Yes, Father, Bai Boluo said that as soon as we set the date for our troop deployment, they will immediately send forces."

Xiao Yuanhang took a deep breath and hurled Tuan Tuan high into the air: "Good daughter! You truly are Father's little lucky star!"

Tuan Tuan giggled nonstop: "Father! You throw the highest! Throw even higher!"

Xiao Yuanhang planted a hard kiss on her little cheek and hefted her upward.

Just then, Cheng Ru'an and Xiao Ningchen walked in, startled: "Be careful, don't drop her!"

Xiao Yuanhang caught his daughter, then tossed her even higher: "Don't worry, even if I fall I won't drop her!"

Xiao Ningyuan continued: "Besides the sufficient raw Wu Jin Mud, there are also the remaining eight night pearls, all in the wagons outside."

"Father, Tuan Tuan has settled the Western Regions army's military expenses for them; otherwise, this allied troop dispatch couldn't happen so quickly!"

Xiao Yuanhang was overjoyed: "Good! Good! Good!"

"Let's go see His Majesty!" Having said that, he strode out holding Tuan Tuan.

Cheng Ru'an laughed: "You go ahead, I'll prepare some dishes Tuan Tuan likes for her; this child, how did she get so thin!"

Tuan Tuan lay on her father's shoulder, waving her little hand at her: "Thank you, Mother! I love the dishes you make the most!"

Xiao Ningchen watched his father walk out of the main tent, then grabbed Xiao Ningyuan who was about to follow: "Elder brother, what about the Old Valley Master? Did he come back with you?"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "He's back, what's up?"

Xiao Ningchen said softly: "Come, let's go together and ask him to look at someone."

Xiao Ningyuan, looking bewildered, was pulled out of the tent by his second brother.

Outside the imperial tent, the guard loudly reported: "Your Highness Prince Ning, Princess Jiayou..."

"Tuan Tuan's back?" Xiao Jieyun didn't let the guard finish, hurriedly saying: "Quickly invite her in!"

The tent curtain was lifted, Xiao Yuanhang strode in holding Tuan Tuan, with Xiao Ningxun following closely behind.

Xiao Yuanhang set Tuan Tuan down; as father and son were about to salute, Xiao Jieyun already opened his arms: "No need, no need, come quickly, Tuan Tuan, Imperial Uncle thinks of you every day!"

Tuan Tuan toddled over with her short legs and flung herself into his embrace: "Imperial Uncle! I miss you too!"

Xiao Jieyun laughed as he caught her, held her in his arms and hefted her, his face stern: "How come you're lighter than when you left?"

Eunuch Cheng also felt heartbroken: "Indeed, the little Princess's face has gotten pointed! How much must she eat to make up for it!"

"Not at all! Grandpa," Tuan Tuan pouted, "Dada has people make me lots of delicious food every day!"

She carefully examined Eunuch Cheng: "Grandpa, is your illness all better?"

Eunuch Cheng hastily replied: "Thank you, Little Princess, for thinking of me; I'm fine! All better!"

Xiao Jieyun, however, raised an eyebrow and pressed: "Who is Dada?"

No sooner had those words fallen than a voice came from outside the tent: "The little one's back?"

Xiao Ran pulled Xiao Ze, and without waiting for the guard to announce, they lifted the curtain and entered.

"Third Elder Brother! Ninth Brother!" Tuan Tuan was overjoyed: "I've missed you so much!"

Xiao Jieyun glared at his two sons: "Sit down, listen carefully."

"Yes." Xiao Ran stuck out his tongue, pulled Xiao Ze to sit, and whispered: "Whenever Father sees Tuan Tuan, we have to stand to the side!"

Xiao Ze laughed: "If you had Tuan Tuan's abilities, Father would dote on you just as much."

Xiao Ran hastily waved his hands: "No, no, no, having Tuan Tuan is enough for me."

Xiao Yuanhang also sat down and recounted Tuan Tuan's great harvest from the journey to the Western Regions.

Xiao Ran stared in amazement and said, "Forty‑thousand reinforcements? Little runt, you've subjugated all three great nations of the Western Regions!"

Xiao Ze beamed with surprise, "Tuan Tuan, you've done a great service for the Father Emperor!"

Tuan Tuan swayed their little head proudly, "It wasn't just me—big brother, Third Brother, as well as Second Uncle and Seventh Uncle, and those guard uncles, they're all great!"

"Huh, where are big brother and Second Brother?"

Xiao Ningxun's mind stirred, "They should have gone to help Mother; they'll be back soon."

Xiao Jieyun clutched Tuan Tuan tightly, not knowing how to express their affection, and could only plant a fierce kiss on their little face, "Truly worthy of being my nation‑stabilizing Princess!"

After a good while, he finally lifted his head to look at Xiao Yuanhang, "Forty thousand men and horses, plus the Main Camp's fifty thousand, makes ninety thousand."

"Over in Jingcheng, the forces that Prince Chen and Prince Qing can mobilize total at most around one hundred thousand."

"With that, our odds of taking the city have increased considerably!"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded silently.

Xiao Jieyun understood his concern and, without showing any emotion, lifted Tuan Tuan a bit higher, "Such a monumental piece of good news should be announced to the three armies, the decree sent out; tonight, I will host a grand feast for the three armies!"

"Yes!"

That evening, the Xibei Daying bonfire burned brightly.

The soldiers sat around the fire, wolfing down meat, gulping wine from big bowls, their laughter booming.

Tuan Tuan sat beside the Emperor, holding a leg of lamb in their hands, gnawing it until oil dripped from their mouth.

Eunuch Cheng occasionally wiped the corner of their mouth and refilled a bowl of hot lamb soup for them.

"Grandpa, you eat too!" Tuan Tuan picked up a piece of meat from their own small bowl and offered it to his mouth.

Eunuch Cheng quickly waved his hand, "I am not hungry, Princess, eat by yourself."

Tuan Tuan persisted, raising it even higher, "Eat! It's so tasty!"

Eunuch Cheng, helpless, lowered his head to eat the meat, feeling warm inside.

Xiao Jieyun's lips curled slightly; this child has always kept that old fellow in mind.

He stood up, and the clamor instantly quieted as everyone's gaze turned toward him.

"Soldiers!" Xiao Jieyun's voice rang out, "Today I have a great piece of joyous news to tell you!"

He reached out, lifted Tuan Tuan into his arms, and raised them high.

"Princess Jiayou's mission to the Western Regions has brought back forty thousand iron cavalry for me!"

"Kucha, Yutian, Shule—the three great nations of the Western Regions will fight side by side with you!"

After a brief hush, a roar of cheers erupted like a mountain‑and‑sea tsunami.

"Forty thousand reinforcements! Princess, you're amazing!"

"Our fiery nation will surely win!"

"Drive them back to Jingcheng!"

The waves of sound rose one after another, shaking the bonfire itself.

Tuan Tuan waved their little arms at the soldiers, "Everyone, eat more meat!"

The soldiers laughed loudly, "Alright! We'll follow the Princess!"

Gongsun Yue and Xiao Jin clapped their small hands vigorously beside them, their palms turning red, "Tuan Tuan is truly great!"

Night deepened, the bonfire gradually faded, and Tuan Tuan nestled in Cheng Ru'an's arms, so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open.

Cheng Ru'an gently patted them, "Sleep now, be good."

Tuan Tuan fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Ningxun finally asked softly, "Father, what happened? Who was the person Second Brother beheaded today?"