Chapter 811: You never taught us that way before

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "This Emperor has been restrained by Yuan Guangyi for a long time; now the Conqueror General is gone, he hasn't even had time to thank you."

Xiao Er nodded: "Moreover, they lost a hundred thousand troops in Goryeo and almost all their samurai in Kamakura, so they're far too weak to fight any more."

"Right," Xiao Ningchen said, "Father sent you to lead troops there not to fight, but to intimidate."

"Even without fighting, we must let that Emperor His Majesty see with his own eyes the military might of our fiery nation, so he can be completely disheartened."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Exactly. If that Emperor hands you any imperial edict or the like, don't withdraw troops; just send someone to bring it back."

"Huh?" Zhang Wu'an said with a troubled expression, "Then, when can the junior return?"

Xiao Yuanhang said: "When the Nine Prince brings back His Majesty's edict, clearly stating how to deal with this Emperor, I will go to the capital."

"You go there to display our nation's power, to let him know that besides obeying His Majesty's command, he has no way out."

"Understood," Zhang Wu'an nodded forcefully, his voice booming, "Prince, rest assured, the junior will make him truly witness our great army!"

Lu Qi slapped him and pointed at Tuan Tuan.

The others turned and saw Tuan Tuan holding Xiao Feifei, her little mouth slightly open, already sound asleep.

Xiao Yuanhang waved his hand, the others understood and all stood up.

He suddenly remembered and whispered, "Is there any medicine the doctor brewed left?"

Xiao Er replied, "We still have plenty."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, "Scatter more outside the house, be careful of snakes."

The others nodded in agreement and quietly slipped out.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at the bare tatami and wondered, "Do Japanese people really sleep like this?"

"No bed, there must be a blanket, right? Need to ask someone."

He stepped out and ordered the guard at the door, "Send a Japanese over…"

He paused, "Just say that I, the King, wish to retire for the night."

"Yes!"

Soon, a Yin‑Yang Attendant hurried over: "Your Highness."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded and stepped aside to let him in.

The Yin‑Yang Attendant opened the cabinet, took out a mat and laid it on the floor, smoothing it, then fetched a blanket, shook it out and spread it over the mat: "Please, Your Highness."

So that's it!

"Step down," Xiao Yuanhang said with a faint smile, "Aren't you tired of this daily hassle?"

"Yes."

Xiao Yuanhang lifted the blanket, picked up his daughter, placed her on the mat, and covered her properly.

Xiao Feifei's eyes opened a sliver; seeing Tuan Tuan shift, she didn't stand but crawled step by step to Tuan Tuan's side, lay down right next to her, and closed her eyes again.

Xiao Yuanhang sighed inwardly, "Alas, even the fox is tired; my little girl has had it too hard."

Once this battle is over and peace returns, I'll take her everywhere to play, never letting her endure the hardships of marching and war again.

He glanced at the tatami, wondering, if Tuan Tuan sleeps too long and rolls off, what then? Not having a bed is really inconvenient.

He stood up, took another unknown mat-or-blanket from the cabinet, stacked it behind his daughter to block her.

Not bad; satisfied, he blew out the candle in the lamp, cradled his daughter, and fell into deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Xiao Ran and Chen Hao returned to the fiery nation, and Zhang Wu'an led twenty thousand elite troops toward the capital.

The people in the Yin‑Yang Hall completely relaxed, surrounding Tuan Tuan daily and accompanying her everywhere to play.

A few days later, Lu Qi returned from the street: "Miss, try this; it's said the children here love it most."

He spread a large bundle of items on the tatami.

The others saw it was a pile of small bamboo things.

Each consisted of a slender bamboo stick with a pair of spiral‑shaped bamboo slats inserted.

Tuan Tuan picked one up: "Uncle Seven, how do we play with this?"

"I've asked," Lu Qi said, glancing around, "it's too cramped here; let's go to the courtyard outside, Uncle Seven will show you how."

After speaking, he grabbed a bamboo dragonfly and walked out.

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan ran after him.

The others smiled and followed.

In the courtyard, Lu Qi held a bamboo dragonfly in his palm, pressed both hands together around the slender stick, twisted forcefully, then released it suddenly.

The bamboo dragonfly buzzed up into the air, its two bamboo wings spinning into a vague blur, soaring higher and farther until it finally landed on the ground a dozen steps away.

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head upward, her mouth forming a tiny circle: "Wow!"

She hurriedly ran over, picked it up, mimicking Lu Qi, clapped her tiny hands together and twisted hard.

The bamboo dragonfly flew out; although it didn't go as far as Lu Qi's, it rose higher.

Xiao Ningxun praised: "Tuan Tuan is great! She made it fly on the first try!"

Xiao Er nodded: "Miss, you're just clever!"

Tuan Tuan swayed her little head proudly.

"I'll try too," Xiao Ningchen, excited, ran back into the house and took out the whole bundle of bamboo dragonflies.

Tuan Tuan ran over, handed each bamboo dragonfly to the others: "Dad's, Master's, Uncle Two, Uncle Seven, Second Brother, Third Brother, Feng Zhou."

"Everyone try! Let's compare and see whose bamboo dragonfly flies the highest and farthest!"

The others each gave it a try.

Xiao Ningchen's flew the farthest, reaching the adjacent courtyard.

Xiao Yuanhang's rose the highest; everyone stared upward for a long time before the bamboo dragonfly finally descended.

Only Chu Yuan's failed to launch, wobbling and falling to the ground, leaving him with an embarrassed face.

Everyone laughed heartily.

Tuan Tuan joyfully waved her hands and kicked her feet.

Xiao Feifei was busy and delighted, running all over the ground to chase the bamboo dragonflies everyone dropped.

They kept playing until the sun set behind the western hills.

Xiao Yuanhang bent down and lifted his daughter: "Let's go eat; we'll play again tomorrow."

For several days in a row, everyone gathered in the courtyard to accompany Tuan Tuan in a bamboo dragonfly competition.

But Chu Yuan's skill remained unchanged, not a bit better; he was forever the worst.

Early that morning, Tuan Tuan hadn't even eaten, and she dragged everyone to the courtyard to play.

Xiao Ningxun coaxed her: "Be good, eat your meal first; after you're full, you can play."

"Right," Xiao Ningchen agreed, "If you're weak, your bamboo dragonfly won't fly far."

Tuan Tuan shook her head vigorously: "No! I know how to make the bamboo dragonfly fly better; come and see!"

Xiao Yuanhang, with a doting expression, said, "Bring the meal out, let her play for a while; what's wrong with eating in the courtyard?"

Tuan Tuan happily leapt into her father's arms: "Daddy, you're the best!"

The two brothers looked at their father together, both rolling their eyes in unison. "Father, you didn't teach us like this before."

Everyone arrived in the courtyard.

Tuan Tuan spread her two little legs slightly, straightened her back, assumed a stance, and with a forceful twist of her small hand, the bamboo dragonfly launched outward.

It flew high and far, taking a good half‑day before it finally landed in the grass dozens of steps away.

Everyone widened their eyes.

"Miss," Lu Qi exclaimed, "you really are covering a thousand miles in a day!"

Xiao Erdao said, "Miss, how does your bamboo dragonfly fly? It's flying so well."

Tuan Tuan hopped around happily, while Xiao Feifei circled her, jumping nonstop.

Xiao Ningxun carefully peeled an egg for her sister and handed it to her mouth: "Be good, have a bite first, don't starve."

Tuan Tuan snatched the egg in her hand and ran toward the grass.

Xiao Feifei followed behind her like a snowball.

Tuan Tuan ran into the grass, crouched, and reached out to pick up that bamboo dragonfly.

A crimson shadow shot out of the grass like an arrow, leaping straight toward her.