Chapter 75: Uncle Is Just Uncle

Everyone saw her blunder and were all stunned, mouths agape.

In the Palace, a woman in red? Could it be… the late Empress?

Everyone in the hall knows the late Empress died early and was famous in life for her fondness for red robes.

Because the late Emperor once praised her "Red garments blaze, outshining all blossoms," and even composed a poem for it:

Crimson cheeks blaze brighter than spring blossoms,

Her steps drag Xiang clouds, concealing the emerald gauze.

It is not a mundane earthly color,

but that of a divine maiden descending to the mortal realm.

Since then the late Empress favored red even more, wearing it almost exclusively. The palace consorts, to show respect and avoid clashing with the Empress's attire, chose garments of other colors, including the current Empress Dowager.

Yet the late Empress has long passed; how could she appear? Even if she did, why would she follow the Empress Dowager?

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to behind the Empress Dowager—where could anyone be?

Cheng Ru'an had already held Tuan Tuan tightly in his arms, with only one thought in his heart: no matter what, he must protect her!

The Empress Dowager clutched the handrail so tightly her nails seemed about to dig into the wood.

She strained to suppress the turmoil within, her complexion pallid and wavering, trying to utter a few words to steady the scene, yet not a single syllable escaped her.

Elder Princess furrowed her brows, looking at her with worry: "Mother Empress? Is the phoenix body ill? Should we summon the imperial physician?"

Eunuch Cheng, at some point, entered: "His Majesty has ordered that Princess Jiayou be summoned to Zichen Hall for an audience."

The Empress Dowager's expression changed again; why would the Emperor summon this maid alone? Could it be…

His Majesty summons! Cheng Ru'an felt a sigh of relief, released his grip, and Tuan Tuan trotted to Eunuch Cheng: "Grandpa, where is Imperial Uncle?"

Eunuch Cheng, beaming, bowed to the Empress Dowager and Elder Princess: "Your humble servant will now take the princess away."

Tuan Tuan took his hand, turned back and greeted her mother: "Mother! I'm going to play with Imperial Uncle!"

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Go quickly, be good, and don't cause trouble for His Majesty."

"Got it!" Tuan Tuan replied, taking Eunuch Cheng's hand and leaving the main hall.

The Empress Dowager stared straight at the disappearing tiny figure, then regained composure, glanced at Elder Princess: "I am indeed a bit weary, I shall rest for a moment. You nobles may continue. Anhe, I now entrust this to you."

Elder Princess and the others rose together: "Respectfully see off Mother Empress!"

Murong Yuyiao and Huo Wenxuan exchanged a glance, completely not understanding what was happening, why the Empress Dowager suddenly left her seat.

Cheng Ru'an watched the Empress Dowager exit the hall, then gently exhaled, turned, met the comforting gazes of Meng Xin and Lu Qingjia, and gave a slight nod.

Eunuch Cheng carefully led Tuan Tuan into a side chamber of Zichen Hall.

The Little Princess, His Majesty truly kept her in mind; knowing Miss Wenxuan and Miss Yuyiao would trouble her, he ordered that she be taken out.

At the hall entrance, Eunuch Cheng reported: "His Majesty, Princess Jiayou has arrived."

"Dad!" Tuan Tuan saw her own father, flung her legs and rushed over, "You came too! Dad!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled warmly, embracing the girl: "Come, Tuan Tuan, first pay your respects to His Majesty."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan was about to bow when Xiao Jieyun waved his hand: "Never mind, no need for formalities; whenever I see her bow, I worry she'll hurt herself."

Xiao Yuanhang couldn't help but laugh: "Indeed, Tuan Tuan is far too young."

Tuan Tuan dutifully replied: "Thank you, Imperial Uncle!" Then she climbed into her father's arms and sat down comfortably.

"Hey, Dad, what are you looking at?" Tuan Tuan, seeing Xiao Yuanhang holding a sheet, clung to his big hand and looked over.

The paper showed a sketch of a granary, annotated with dimensions "square ten zhang, circle eight zhang, height five zhang," with dense calculation symbols below, ending with a blot of ink that seemed stuck.

Beside them, an elderly man in a Confucian robe, vigorous, stroked his long beard and said: "Prince, this 'Heaven Round Earth' granary must be calculated according to the Nine Chapters method."

"For the square we use the 'Direct Technique', for the circle the 'Circular Technique', then combine the numbers. Yet at the junction of square and circle, the grain consumption is uncertain; it truly requires precise calculation, not easy."

The speaker was none other than the current Guozijian Jiziu, Cui Daisheng.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, stared at the lines on the drawing, and suddenly pointed a little finger at the junction of square and circle.

"Dad, this looks like a big square box with four rounded corners cut out, and a round lid placed on top!"

Her childish words made Cui Daisheng pause slightly.

Tuan Tuan's little finger kept pointing on the paper, her tiny mouth chattering nonstop:

"A square ten zhang by height five zhang equals five hundred cubic zhang; that's inside the big square box."

"A circle eight zhang, diameter four zhang, is inside the round lid; four zhang is the diameter, circumference is twelve zhang, multiply twelve to get forty‑eight, then multiply by height five zhang… two hundred forty cubic zhang?"

She furrowed her tiny brows hard, as if noticing an error, and shook her head:

"No, no, the 'Zhou three radius one' isn't necessarily accurate; the round lid should contain less than the square box, so it should be one hundred sixty cubic zhang?"

"As for those four rounded corners that were cut out…" Tuan Tuan's little hand drew in the air, "Each is about a little less than the round lid… four together amount to roughly… the same as one round lid?"

She lifted her head and announced a conclusion that left everyone stunned: "So, the contents of this granary are roughly the big square box minus one round lid, three hundred forty cubic zhang!"

While she kept talking, Cui Daisheng stared at her intently, striving to follow her reasoning; when she finally reported the result, his gaze shone brightly, as if he wanted to whisk her away.

"Sss—" A chorus of awe rang out, and Xiao Jieyun wore an intrigued expression as he looked at him and Tuan Tuan.

Even Xiao Yuanhang was stunned: When did Tuan Tuan learn all this? I don't understand any of it!

An'er taught her? Impossible, An'er wouldn't know any of this!

Cui Daisheng twirled his beard, still savoring Tuan Tuan's calculation process, which simplified the complex to its core—brilliant!

Especially her earlier remark, "The Zhou three radius one isn't necessarily accurate," which struck his mind instantly! This has long been a puzzle in the field of arithmetic.

"Little Princess, may I ask… who is your teacher?" Cui Daisheng's voice trembled.

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes: "Uncle taught me. He said arithmetic should be 'lazy'—use what you can see to calculate, otherwise your head will explode."

"Your uncle? What is his name?" Cui Daisheng asked eagerly.

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "Uncle is just Uncle, how would I know his name! He never told me."