Chapter 8

Since that day when she went to Yangzheng Pavilion, Tuan Tuan has obediently followed the Princess Consort and Old Madam every day to visit the "sleeping father."

The formerly quiet and dull courtyard became full of liveliness because of her arrival.

"Father! Mother gave me a big house, my treasures now have a place to hide!"

"Father! The fish in the pond I've overfed!"

"Father! I taught the little birds in our courtyard to say 'Tuan Tuan'!"

Even without any response, she could keep muttering to herself beside him.

The Princess Consort occasionally felt a pang of sorrow, tears not yet fallen, but her childish words and speech made her lips curl up.

The Old Madam, being old, disliked noise, yet Tuan Tuan was noisy and clingy, but she felt no annoyance, instead developing a fondness: "With this child, I feel my spirit is much stronger than before."

The Princess Consort saw this and felt relieved in her heart.

The servants in the mansion also grew accustomed to this heaven-sent direct daughter of the prince's mansion.

"Have you seen? That newly arrived little girl is truly lovely!"

"Indeed! When she smiles, the two little dimples on her face look just like our Princess Consort!"

"Exactly! I love watching her smile; those little dimples look like they're filled with honey, sweet enough to kill."

"Not only is she good-looking, she has a good temperament! This morning I was fetching water, and on the road I met her; she actually gave me the way, and even smiled and greeted me, saying 'Grandma good,' truly well-mannered!"

"Exactly, that child goes about grinning everywhere, with no airs, truly endearing."

Thus, in just a few short days, Tuan Tuan became the beloved treasure of everyone in the prince's mansion, high and low.

Of course, except Defying Frost Pavilion.

Jin Xiu walked up to Fang Qingyan's side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Fang Qingyan smiled faintly: "Well done, no flaws left, I hope."

Jin Xiu shook her head: "No, you can rest assured."

That noon, Tuan Tuan was napping.

Cheng Ru'an sat beneath the window, sewing a new sachet for her.

Fang Qingyan entered Jinglan Pavilion.

She respectfully greeted: "I pay my respects to Elder Sister; I hope Elder Sister is well."

Cheng Ru'an put down her needle and thread, looked up, and asked: "Younger Sister, do you have something?"

Fang Qingyan spoke softly: "Today, visitors from my natal family came and mentioned a matter."

"A few days ago, by chance, our family met a wandering Taoist Priest from the four directions, whose Daoist arts are profound and who possesses considerable spiritual powers."

"Everyone in the family knows I am concerned about the Prince's illness, so I dared to ask the Taoist Priest for advice."

She paused: "The Taoist Priest said we need an object that has accompanied the Prince for years, soaked with his aura, which he will personally inscribe with blessings, making it into a peace-bringing seal; placed under the Prince's pillow, it may dispel illness and nurture the spirit and soul."

Cheng Ru'an, upon hearing this, hurriedly asked: "A peace-bringing seal? Does it really work?"

Fang Qingyan showed a troubled expression: "Sister, over these years we have tried many methods for the Prince's health; I cannot guarantee whether it works, but since we have this method, why not give it a try?"

Cheng Ru'an thought: "Alright, better to believe it may work. But, what object would be suitable for this purpose?"

Seeing Cheng Ru'an moved, Fang Qingyan secretly rejoiced: "I have thought it over; although the Prince has many old belongings, if we consider something that has constantly accompanied him, absorbed his aura, and is convenient for the Taoist Priest to inscribe, nothing is better than his 'Shouzhuo' seal stone."

"However, this object belongs to the Prince; I dare not decide on my own, so I specially ask you, Elder Sister, to make the decision."

Cheng Ru'an pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Younger Sister, you have good intentions. That seal is indeed an old item from when the Prince studied in his youth, and it has accompanied him for many years."

"Since it is now useless, yet beneficial to the Prince's condition, there is no need to be stingy with external objects; let's take it and use it."

She instructed Aunt Liu: "Go to the study once, fetch that 'Shouzhuo' seal, and give it to the concubine."

"Yes." Aunt Liu replied and turned to leave.

Fang Qingyan said gently: "Thank you, Elder Sister, for fulfilling this."

After a while, Aunt Liu returned, having gone and come back: "My lady, I have searched inside and outside the study, but could not find that seal."

Cheng Ru'an furrowed her brows slightly: "You've searched everywhere?"

Aunt Liu nodded: "I went back and forth three or four times, still couldn't find it."

Since the Prince fell ill, besides daily sweeping, no one goes to the study; that seal is not gold or silver jewelry, who would move it?

Cheng Ru'an slowly rose: "Let's go to the study."

Jin Xiu helped Fang Qingyan up, and she also hastily rose and followed.

The group arrived at the study.

Cheng Ru'an personally searched thoroughly, yet still saw no trace of that "Shouzhuo" seal.

"How strange," Cheng Ru'an frowned, "how could this thing just disappear?"

Fang Qingyan looked doubtful: "Elder Sister, the study sees few visitors; could it have been secretly taken by someone with unclean hands?"

Cheng Ru'an's face darkened, and she immediately ordered: "Summon all who have entered or exited the study recently, as well as the attendants on duty nearby, to the courtyard!"

In a moment, dozens of maids and servant women stood in the courtyard, each holding their breath and bowing their heads.

Cheng Ru'an spoke slowly: "In the Prince's study, an old seal named 'Shouzhuo' is missing."

"Among you, has anyone seen it? Or do you know where it went?"

The servants looked at each other, all bewildered, shaking their heads.

Cheng Ru'an's face turned completely grim: "The Prince's mansion will not tolerate thieves! Regarding today's matter, whoever it is, step forward now to explain; considering it a first offense, we may give a lighter punishment."

"If you conceal and do not report, it will be discovered later and you will face severe punishment, with no leniency!"

One auntie, as if suddenly remembering, raised her head: "In response to my lady, one day when I went to sweep the study, I saw the little miss coming out from inside, holding something in her hand that resembled a seal."

"Tuan Tuan?" Cheng Ru'an exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh!" Fang Qingyan gasped, covering her mouth with a handkerchief: "Tuan Tuan? That child usually likes to pick up little trinkets, but this seal is in the Prince's study—how could she have gotten it?"

"Elder Sister, why not summon her and ask her carefully?"

The servants exchanged glances; the young miss indeed liked to pick up little trinkets nobody wanted, something everyone could see.

Could it really be her, running to the study to play and taking that seal?

Cheng Ru'an scanned the crowd and ordered: "Liu Mamam, go check if Tuan Tuan has woken up. If she has, bring her over."

"Yes." Liu Mamam hurried away.