Chapter 755: Dad Goes With You

Tuan Tuan hurriedly lifted her small hand, wiping Wang Jingning's tears, but the tears only increased.

"Oh dear, why can this missy cry so much! How can we soothe her?"

She lowered her head and saw Xiao Feifei slipping in, and her eyes instantly brightened.

She ran over, scooped up Xiao Feifei, and shoved it into Wang Jingning's arms: "Give it a hug! It's so soft!"

A soft, warm little thing suddenly appeared in Wang Jingning's embrace, and the crying stopped at once.

She looked down, her eyes widening: "Fox, a fox?"

"Yes, it's called Xiao Feifei, how clever!"

"Feel it, it won't bite, don't be scared."

Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin chimed in from the side: "Yeah, give it a try!"

Wang Jingning, looking at the snow‑white, supple little thing in her arms, tentatively touched it: "So soft!"

Xiao Feifei nudged in her lap, lifted its head, and let out a "yip" toward her.

Its big tail swished and brushed Wang Jingning's nose.

Wang Jingning sneezed loudly, "A‑choo," raised a hand to rub the little nose, and turned tears into laughter.

The children giggled.

Tuan Tuan looked at her earnestly and said, "Don't be afraid! You still have a brother and an uncle! We'll stay with you too!"

Wang Jingning lifted her head, her eyes red again, but this time she shed no tears.

She stared intently at Tuan Tuan, light sparkling in her eyes, then glanced at Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin, her lips barely moving:

"My brother said the Emperor of the Fiery Kingdom promised to help us. Thank you!"

Murong Jin sighed, gently brushed the top of her hair, and softly said, "From now on, this will be your home."

Wang Jingning, eyes reddened, nodded vigorously.

Tuan Tuan lifted Xiao Feifei from her arms and set it on the ground, then grabbed her hand: "Come! I'll take you to see the snowball! It's still hiding in the tree!"

"I'll call it down, and we'll play together!"

Xiao Jin immediately nodded: "Yeah! The snowball is so beautiful!"

Xiao Lin squatted, picked up the Xiao Feifei on the ground: "Let's go out and watch Xiao Feifei chase the snowball!"

Tuan Tuan and Xiao Jin: "……"

Although Wang Jingning didn't understand what a snowball was, looking at the three chattering little faces before her, she suddenly felt that this unfamiliar Palace wasn't as unbearable as she had imagined.

Four little figures pitter‑pattered out of the hall doors.

Eunuch Cheng looked at Wang Jingning, who was following behind Tuan Tuan.

The plain white dress fluttered gently in the sunlight, running for the first time.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Empress Dowager, as long as our little princess is here, no matter how dire the situation, anyone can smile."

Murong Jin nodded slightly: "Tuan Tuan truly has that ability."

Early the next day, a carriage slowly rolled down the long street, with several fine horses trailing beside it.

Tuan Tuan perched on the carriage window: "Father, why doesn't Da Da stay a few more days?"

Xiao Yuanhang cradled his daughter, soothingly saying, "Because he is the King of Kucha; Kucha has many matters waiting for him to handle."

"When will he be able to return then?"

"Father doesn't know either."

Tuan Tuan rested her small chin on her father's arm and fell silent.

The three brothers exchanged glances; their sister was about to be sad again, so they must keep her company today.

The carriage left the city gate, traveling west along the official road.

After about half an hour's walk, they saw a massive black mass of cavalry in the distance, armor gleaming, banners fluttering, standing solemnly in formation.

In front of the formation, atop a jet‑black steed, Bai Buluo impatiently tugged at the reins, pacing in circles.

Seeing the Ning Prince's Mansion's carriage, his eyes lit up, and he spurred his horse forward.

"Why did you just arrive?"

Xiao Yuanhang, holding his daughter, stepped down from the carriage: "Didn't you say to break camp at this hour?"

Bai Buluo hummed, dismounted, squatted, and opened his arms toward Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan slipped from her father's arms onto the ground and ran toward him: "Da Da—"

Bai Buluo caught her in one hand, stood, and lifted her high above his head, looking up at her:

"Oh my, my daughter today is all in red, dressed like a little chili!"

Tuan Tuan, suspended in mid‑air, giggled: "Mom made me this new outfit! Da Da, does it look good?"

"Looks great!" Bai Buluo set her down, hugged her tightly, and sat down in a long pavilion by the roadside.

This place is called Ten‑Mile Pavilion; beyond it lies the western road.

Bai Buluo placed Tuan Tuan on his knee and kissed her little cheek.

Xiao Yuanhang sat opposite him, his three sons standing behind him, while Xiao Er and Lu Qi remained by the carriage.

"If I had known this battle would go so smoothly, fifteen thousand of my own would have been enough," Bai Buluo said, still unsatisfied, "Not a bit of fun!"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "I didn't expect we could capture Jingcheng so easily, losing fewer than ten thousand."

"That's all thanks to my daughter!" Bai Buluo lifted his chin, his face beaming with pride.

"Indeed, indeed," Xiao Yuanhang couldn't help laughing, "your daughter."

"It's because it is!" Bai Buluo looked down at Tuan Tuan in his arms, "Tuan Tuan, when will you go back to the Western Regions with Da Da?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, blinking: "After I finish fighting the Eastern Seas with Father! Then I'll go find Da Da, okay?"

"Finish fighting the Eastern Seas?" Bai Buluo's brows knit into a knot as he glared at Xiao Yuanhang, "You're taking her to war again?"

Xiao Yuanhang's expression calm: "The Yin-Yang masters of the Eastern Ocean, only the National Preceptor and Tuan Tuan joining forces can have a chance to restrain them."

"Again with this!" Bai Buluo said, face full of impatience, "How can you be a father?"

"Why must I always bring my daughter to war? And still take her overseas?"

Tuan Tuan quickly reached out and tugged at Bai Buluo's collar: "Dada, don't blame Father, it's I who want to go."

"Father and the brothers are all off to war, I won't stay home waiting."

"Dada, I'm not afraid of those bad guys! Don't worry, Master is coming with me too!"

"When I come back, I'll go to the Western Regions to find you and keep you company!"

Bai Buluo looked at her bright, sparkling eyes, and remained silent for a moment.

"This child, how is she so endearing?"

He deliberately put on a fierce expression: "You said it yourself—you must stay with Dada properly, not just leave after a few days."

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "Exactly!"

"Like this: you promise me you'll stay at my place at least three months each year," Bai Buluo held up three fingers, "miss even a day and I'll come to Jingcheng to fetch you."

"Three months!" Tuan Tuan counted on her little fingers seriously, looked up and smiled at him: "All right!"

Bai Buluo was satisfied then, but upon looking up he saw the three youths standing behind Xiao Yuanhang, each with a strange expression.

Xiao Ningyuan was counting on his fingers, murmuring under his breath.

Xiao Ningchen frowned slightly, Xiao Ningxun lightly shook his head, rolling his eyes helplessly.

"What are you figuring out?" Bai Buluo asked.

Xiao Ningyuan blurted: "I'm calculating—Tuan Tuan goes to the Western Regions three months each year."

Xiao Ningxun said: "She is the Holy Maiden of the grasslands; Xilu also needs to go, and with Jifeng's temperament, he wouldn't let her return unless it's been three months."

Xiao Ningchen nodded: "From now on, Tuan Tuan this year can only stay in Jingcheng for half a year."

Xiao Ningyuan added slowly: "You haven't even counted the travel time; this round trip, I'm afraid only three months can be spent at the Prince's Mansion."

The three exchanged a glance, and their faces instantly fell.

Bai Buluo blinked, then threw his head back and laughed: "Who made my daughter so lovable that everyone adores her?"

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at the sky: "Seeing off a friend a thousand miles away, parting is inevitable—don't delay any longer. Your cavalry are waiting for you."

Bai Buluo stood up, gave Xiao Tuanzi a firm hug: "Be good, Dada has left. Remember, Dada has prepared the fattest sheep and sweetest melons in Qiuci for you, waiting for you to come eat!"

Tuan Tuan hugged his big face, kissing left and right nonstop: "I remember! Dada!"

Bai Buluo held her as he walked to the carriage, his rough large hand rubbing her head once.

He glanced at Xiao Er and Lu Qi beside him: "Keep her safe."

The two clasped fists, nodded solemnly: "Great King, may you have smooth winds."

Bai Buluo nodded, stuffed Tuan Tuan into the carriage, turned and strode toward his warhorse without looking back.

Tuan Tuan leaned against the carriage window, watching his back, and shouted: "Dada! Hurry back home! I'm waiting for you!"

Bai Buluo's steps paused, he didn't turn back, only raised his arm high and waved vigorously.

He leapt onto his horse's back, the saber slicing the air: "Warriors of the Western Regions! Set out!"

A mournful horn sounded, and over forty thousand iron cavalry slowly marched westward.

Dust rose, hoofbeats thundered.

Tuan Tuan kept waving her little hand until not a single cavalryman could be seen anymore, then slowly lowered it.

Xiao Yuanhang slipped into the carriage, gently holding his daughter in his arms.

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck, her small face buried in his shoulder, and murmured: "Father, I will miss Dada."

Father knows, when I return from the Eastern Ocean and the world is at peace, Father will accompany you—would that be all right?

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, clapped her hands: "All right! Then Dada will surely be even happier!"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "I don't think so."

Father and daughter both laughed.

After several months, everything was ready, the army set out on the eastern expedition, and Xiao Jieyun personally saw them off.