Chapter 70: Who Is the Honored Guest at Home?

The talk made the surrounding servants involuntarily glance sideways, wanting to laugh yet feeling it was untimely, so they forced themselves to hold back.

Cheng Ru'an also couldn't help but be astonished; this person's life experiences were truly unheard of, indeed incredible. Just as she was about to say a few comforting words, Tuan Tuan spoke up.

"That's not right, you're a person with great luck!"

Cheng Ru'an felt a stir in her heart, lifted her up, and asked softly, "Tuan Tuan, what did you see?"

Tuan Tuan answered crisply, "Mother! He has a red glow on him! But also a black one!"

Cheng Ru'an lightly furrowed her brows, "Mother... I didn't understand."

Feng Zhou was also startled by what he heard, and stared blankly at the child who, even standing, was not yet as tall as his leg.

Tuan Tuan explained, "You used to have great luck! But a very thick layer of black qi has covered it! Uncle, you must have been harmed by someone!"

"Wha... what?" Feng Zhou was completely stunned; hearing such words from a toddler was utterly absurd and hard to believe.

Cheng Ru'an looked at Feng Zhou with a hint of deeper meaning and said, "Young Master Feng, think carefully: when did your misfortune begin? Before that, did you do anything?"

"If all your affairs are so unsmooth, then you are unlucky; has anyone benefited because of that?"

Feng Zhou looked as if struck by lightning; his complexion turned ghastly white, his lips trembled, and he could not utter another word.

The things he had once ignored—his elder uncle's sudden concern, the decision to consult his own birth chart, after which his luck turned bad while his uncle's family sailed smoothly... all instantly linked together!

He jerked his head up, his gaze at Tuan Tuan filled with astonishment and expectation: "Miss, thank you for pointing the way! I would like to ask, what must I do to rid myself of this misfortune and return to how I was before?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head at him, thought for a while, and said nothing.

Feng Zhou's complexion darkened: "So... there's no way?" He gave a wretched smile: "If that's the case, who deceived me no longer matters."

Cheng Ru'an couldn't bear it in her heart: "Young Master Feng, don't be like that; things will turn around eventually..."

"Got it!" Tuan Tuan shouted suddenly, bent down, untied the small sachet at her waist, took out a prayer bead, and extended her little hand: "Here, take this! As long as you carry it, you won't be unlucky again!"

It was one of the Star Constellation Flow Pearls from the string that Immortal Xuanqing had given her.

Since Cheng Ru'an heard that she had on the street let her husband break the bead string and gave one to Mother of Lu Er, she simply crafted another small sachet for her, took all the beads apart and put them inside, and told her to wear it at all times.

First, because this string of Flow Pearls is known to all, a daughter wearing it out is too conspicuous; second, she worried that if she ever gave it to someone again, she might inadvertently lose the other beads.

She didn't expect that today it would come in handy.

Feng Zhou's trembling hands took it, "What is this?"

Cheng Ru'an answered for her daughter: "This is Immortal Xuanqing's Star Constellation Flow Pearl."

Immortal Xuanqing's Star Constellation Flow Pearl? What a treasure! With it, one can surely overturn the heavens and earth!

Feng Zhou was overjoyed, immediately knelt and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Madam! Your guidance is like rebirth!"

His excited voice trembled, and his once dim eyes lit up again: "Although I, Feng, am unworthy, my father once served as an Assistant Officer of the Ministry of Works; from childhood I was exposed to its affairs and know a thing or two about the Ministry's matters."

"Whether it's city and palace planning, forging weapons and armor, constructing waterworks and canals, or crafting various ingenious devices, I have some insight! If you do not reject me, I, Feng, am willing to serve you like a loyal dog and horse; if tasked, I will never decline!"

He spoke rapidly, a torrent of words, and Tuan Tuan, hearing this, scrunched her little face into a knot: "What are you talking about! I don't understand!"

Cheng Ru'an's heart leapt; the son of the Ministry of Works Assistant Officer surnamed Feng turned out to be him! Her husband had once said that child was extraordinary, talented, and would one day be capable of great responsibilities: "So you are the child from Master Feng's family?"

"It is rumored that you have an extraordinary talent; even at a young age you displayed brilliance in Ministry of Works affairs, becoming famous throughout Jingcheng, yet unexpectedly you have fallen to this state."

Feng Zhou's face darkened, and he gently shook his head: "My father was long ago demoted; I apologize, Madam."

Cheng Ru'an glanced at her daughter; this child, today, has saved a talent beneficial to the nation and its people.

"Grandma Liu, bring a silver note of one hundred taels for this young master."

Grandma Liu hurried forward, took out a silver note and handed it to Feng Zhou.

Feng Zhou waved his hands repeatedly: "I cannot accept, I cannot accept! I have already received great kindness; I do not take rewards without merit, and absolutely cannot take it."

Cheng Ru'an smiled faintly: "Young Master Feng, no need to be formal; today you were luckily saved, and my little daughter also helped you dispel misfortune, so it's destiny. Accept it; I hope you no longer wallow in self-pity, and never consider taking your own life."

"With all your abilities, you ought to serve the court, to provide stability and convenience for the common people of the world."

Feng Zhou solemnly bowed: "I will remember! May I ask, whose residence is this, Madam?"

Grandma Liu replied: "They are Princess Consort Ning and Princess Jiayou."

Feng Zhou respectfully performed a grand bow: "Thank you, Princess Consort Ning, thank you, Princess Jiayou! I take my leave."

Cheng Ru'an nodded, watching him turn and leave in high spirits.

Tuan Tuan clutched her neck: "Mother! Is this uncle a very capable person?"

Cheng Ru'an came to herself, kissed her little face and said, "Yes! Today you did a great deed, you saved a very useful talent!"

The mother and daughter boarded the carriage and returned to the Prince's Mansion.

Just as they got off the carriage at the gate, a servant hurriedly reported: "Reporting, Princess Consort, a distinguished guest has arrived at the residence, currently having tea at Yangzheng Pavilion; we have already sent someone to invite the Prince back to the mansion."

Cheng Ru'an asked, "Who is the visitor?"

The servants shook their heads: "We do not know, we have never seen him. But the other person who came, the Eunuch Cheng, is the one who came to announce an imperial decree."

Cheng Ru'an was startled: Eunuch Cheng? Someone from the Palace? Eunuch Cheng is close to His Majesty; for him to accompany, could it be...?"

She hurriedly instructed Grandma Liu, who was helping Tuan Tuan off the carriage: "A distinguished guest has arrived; take Tuan Tuan to stroll in the garden, I will go to the Quiet Orchid Garden to change clothes." She then rushed off.

"Yes," Grandma Liu replied, taking Tuan Tuan's hand: "Miss, shall we go with Grandma to the garden to play?"

Tuan Tuan nodded, a guest came to the house? Who is it?

Tuan Tuan followed Grandma Liu to the garden: "Grandma! Shall we play hide-and-seek?"

Grandma Liu laughed: "Alright! Grandma will go first; you face this artificial hill, count loudly to ten, I'll hide, and after you finish counting, come find Grandma. No peeking!"

"Okay! I promise not to peek! Grandma, you go quickly!"

Grandma Liu walked away with a bright smile.

Tuan Tuan began counting toward the artificial hill: "One, two, three—" she suddenly elongated her voice.

A moment later, she directly announced: "Ten!"

"Hahaha..." a man's hearty laugh rang out.

Tuan Tuan turned around and asked, "Who are you?"