Chapter 72: The Empress Dowager's Niece and the Bad Sister

Xiao Jieyun was startled, then burst into a hearty laugh: "Hahaha! Yes! Yes! Cheng Jinyan!"

"I am here!" Eunuch Cheng bowed and replied.

"Transmit My decree: award Princess Jiayou a thousand taels of gold!"

He glanced at his waist, unfastened his Jade Pendant: "Here, Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan heard him call her name and walked over.

Cheng Ru'an saw this and hurriedly said: "His Majesty! This cannot be done! Tuan Tuan cannot bear it."

Xiao Jieyun shook his head, personally tied the Jade Pendant onto Tuan Tuan: "A rescue merit is worth more than a thousand taels of gold. This child is special; I like her. Henceforth, let her wear this Jade Pendant."

Xiao Yuanhang and his wife quickly pulled their daughter over and thanked together: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the generous gift!"

Tuan Tuan touched the Jade Pendant, wow! There was purple aura on it too! What a good thing! "Thank you, Your Majesty! This Jade Pendant is so beautiful, I love it!"

Xiao Jieyun also laughed: "From now on, call me Imperial Uncle, no need to be so formal as 'His Majesty, His Majesty' with others."

Xiao Yuanhang and his wife were even more shocked: Imperial Uncle! The Son of Heaven actually called himself my daughter's Imperial Uncle! This favor is as great as the heavens.

They hurriedly pulled their daughter to thank again.

Tuan Tuan shouted crisply: "Imperial Uncle!"

Xiao Jieyun smiled and replied: "Very well!"

He looked at the little child happily throwing herself into her parents' arms and said, "Xiao Yuanhang, Xiao Yuanhang, what fate have you walked into to get such a treasure!"

After a moment, he withdrew his smile and said seriously: "Today's matter is of great importance. Until I uncover the cause, not a single word may be leaked outward."

Xiao Yuanhang and his wife immediately bowed and answered: "Obey the edict!"

Tuan Tuan also called out: "Got it, Imperial Uncle!"

Xiao Jieyun then nodded slightly: "Return to the palace."

Early the next day, Xiao Ningxun returned home.

Tuan Tuan opened her eyes and saw her own Third Brother, so happy she waved her hands and feet, staying right behind him: "Third Brother! You finally came back!"

"You weren't home, no one could play with me! I missed you so much!"

Xiao Ningxun's heart was about to melt; he scooped her up and couldn't let go.

"Me too, Little Tuan Tuan! Yesterday I heard you came with mother, today there were no classes at the academy, I didn't go out with my classmates, so I hurried back, wanting to spend more time with you."

"What do you want to play, Tuan Tuan? Where do you want to go? Third Brother will accompany you!"

Tuan Tuan clung to his neck, her little face buried in his chest: "Third Brother is the best!"

The siblings finished breakfast together, happily snuggling in Xiao Ningxun's Xun Yu Study.

A servant reported from outside: "A young master named Feng Zhou has arrived, requesting an audience with the little miss!"

"Feng Zhou?" Xiao Ningxun looked up: "To see Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan remembered: "Ah! The person who gave him a bead yesterday!"

Xiao Ningxun instructed: "Does Tuan Tuan know him? Then let him in."

Feng Zhou, wearing a faded blue robe, strode in, his steps steady, eyes shining.

When he saw Tuan Tuan, without hesitation, he lifted his robe and solemnly knelt, bowing down:

"Feng Zhou, I bow to the Master. Thank you, Master, for yesterday's life‑saving guidance. Today I solemnly swear, in this life I will serve the Master like a dog or horse, obey any command, with no second thoughts!"

His voice was clear and firm, echoing in the quiet front hall.

Tuan Tuan was startled by his grand gesture, stepping back several paces, her little head shaking like a rattle: "Don't kneel! Get up! Get up! 'Master' is what? It sounds so terrible!"

Feng Zhou was taken aback, looked up, seeing the child's scornful face, his solemn expression almost faltered.

He readily stood up, tentatively asking: "Then… how should I address you?"

Tuan Tuan thought: "Right! I'm the Alliance Leader! Lu Er and the others call me that, you should call me Alliance Leader too! Alliance Leader sounds much nicer than Master!"

Feng Zhou laughed: "Very well! Alliance Leader above, please accept Feng Zhou's bow!" He knelt again.

Tuan Tuan, helpless: "No! Kneel again! If you call me Alliance Leader, you must obey me! Stop kneeling!"

Feng Zhou, obeying, stood, his gaze finally landing on Xiao Ningxun: "Who is this?"

Tuan Tuan pulled Xiao Ningxun's hand: "This is my Third Brother!"

Feng Zhou quickly clasped his hands in salute: "So you are Third Young Master. I am Feng Zhou, my father once served as an Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works."

Xiao Ningxun had heard of him before: "You are Feng Zhou?"

"Indeed, I am!" After speaking, he drew a pre‑prepared paper from his sleeve and offered it with both hands.

"This is Feng Zhou's current residence. If the Alliance Leader has any orders, just send a messenger, and Feng Zhou will arrive immediately, refusing no death."

Xiao Ningxun took it for his sister, carefully storing it: "Young Master Feng, you are too kind."

"You are welcome! You are welcome!" Feng Zhou waved his hands repeatedly, "All of this I do willingly!" He then took his leave.

Xiao Ningxun watched his departing back, then looked down at his sister, smiling faintly.

It seems that Tuan Tuan, without my knowing, has done another remarkable thing.

Tuan Tuan looked up at him: "Third Brother, what are you thinking?"

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Tuan Tuan, how did you become indebted to Young Master Feng?"

"He is really unlucky… I gave him a bead so he wouldn't be unlucky anymore. Oh!" Tuan Tuan opened her Sachet, took out a bead and handed it to him.

"Third Brother also has…"

Xiao Ningxun smiled as he took it: "I also have one?"

"Of course! You are my best Third Brother, you must have one!"

"Then Third Brother, thank you! Shall we go to Suijin Pavilion for roast chicken at noon? Their roast chicken is delicious, Tuan Tuan, do you want to go?"

"I want to!" The siblings reported back to Cheng Ru'an, then happily went to Suijin Pavilion.

After eating and returning to the residence, Tuan Tuan was overjoyed; Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningchen had both returned.

"Father! Second brother! You're back!" She spread her little legs and ran over.

Xiao Yuanhang, who had been talking with his son, turned his head at the sound, his face instantly blossoming into a smile, and scooped the rushing daughter into his arms, rubbing his stubbled chin against her little face: "Tuan Tuan is back! Do you want Father?"

"Want to! I can think of it, I can think of it!" Tuan Tuan giggled from his rubbing, clutched Father's neck and gave him a firm kiss.

Xiao Ningchen looked at her: "Where did Tuan Tuan go? Was she having fun?"

"Happy! Second brother, I just bought pine nut candy, here you go!" Tuan Tuan fished around in her lap, pulling out a small oil‑paper wrapper, and presented it to Xiao Ningchen as if offering a treasure.

Xiao Ningchen took it, couldn't help but pinch her little cheek: "Tuan Tuan is really sweet!"

Xiao Ningxun, who had been left aside, said: "……"

He silently stepped forward, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance: "Sister, don't I have any candy?"

Tuan Tuan let out an "ah", a flash of guilt crossing her little face: Ah! The pine nut candy went to second brother, and Third Brother got none!

She thought for a moment: "Third Brother has a bead! Second brother doesn't!"

Xiao Ningxun instantly laughed happily, "Right! Sister gave me the bead, didn't give it to second brother!"

Xiao Yuanhang, holding his fragrant, soft daughter, felt immensely satisfied, glanced at his two sons, and said, "Tuan Tuan, second brother has candy, Third Brother has a bead, what about Father?"

Tuan Tuan cupped her own father's big face, "Right, what should we give Father?"

Her eyes lit up: "Father has roast chicken! I just bought roast chicken from Suijin Pavilion! For Father to eat! And Mother too!"

Xiao Yuanhang, smugly raised his eyebrows at his two sons, the meaning obvious: I have one too!

The two brothers exchanged a glance, both couldn't help but hold their foreheads: "Father, could you stop being so childish!"

Cheng Ru'an walked over: "Come, Tuan Tuan, try on this outfit; tomorrow we're going to the Palace for a banquet, see if it fits."

Xiao Yuanhang set his daughter down and asked: "Is there a palace banquet tomorrow?"

Cheng Ru'an, while fitting her daughter with the new clothes, replied: "The Empress Dowager has returned from the temporary palace; tomorrow we're preparing a welcome banquet for her, it will be grand. So I made a new outfit for Tuan Tuan, so she can wear it to the banquet tomorrow."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, looking at his daughter, dressed like a little fairy, and gave an appreciative smile.

At noon the next day, mother and daughter arrived at the Palace on time.

"Mother! This place is even bigger than Imperial Aunt's! What is this place?"

Cheng Ru'an explained: "This is called Taiji Hall, a venue for large palace banquets. The Chen Hui Hall you visited last time is where your Imperial Aunt lives."

"Imperial Aunt? To be able to address the Eldest Princess as Imperial Aunt, she must be the legitimate daughter of the Ning Prince's Mansion," a crisp voice came from behind.

Cheng Ru'an turned around and saw Huo Wenxuan and the Empress Dowager's niece Murong Yuyiao walking up together.