Chapter 816: Alright, Pinky Promise

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his hand slightly: "But saying it doesn't matter."

Lu Qi smiled faintly: "I, Lu, am a jianghu person; I don't understand court etiquette and am used to drifting in the jianghu."

"When I left Yuzhou, I promised Su Wanyun that after the affairs in Jingcheng are settled, I would return to find her."

His smile softened considerably: "From then on I'll stay in Yuzhou, running the Liangjiang Hui Tea House together with her."

He surveyed everyone: "Now Jingcheng is stable, the miss won't face any more danger, so I intend to leave tomorrow."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tuan Tuan swooshed down from the stool, looped around the table, and threw herself into his arms, clutching his lapels with both tiny hands: "Uncle Qi! Don't go!"

She lifted her head, looking at Lu Qi's face, tears flashing in her eyes: "I just got back, please don't leave! Stay with me a bit longer, okay?"

Lu Qi clumsily set his wine cup down, his large hands cradling Xiao Tuanzi, gently patting her back.

He tried to say something to coax Tuan Tuan, his Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but not a single word emerged.

Xiao Er gripped his wine cup, remaining silent.

Lu Qi raised his head, locking eyes with him; after so many years of sharing life and death, the reluctance was palpable, yet nothing was spoken.

Xiao Ningyuan stood, carried his cup to Lu Qi's side, tipped the wine vessel and filled the cup: "These days, thanks to you staying by Tuan Tuan's side, Brother Lu, I toast to you." He then lifted the cup and drank it in one gulp.

Xiao Ningchen also lifted his cup toward Lu Qi, tipped his head, and downed it in a single swallow.

Xiao Ningxun let out a light sigh: "Lu Qi, you ought to settle down and start a family."

Cheng Ru'an glanced at the daughter in Lu Qi's arms, his eyes faintly reddening: "Throughout this journey, we've seen how you've treated Tuan Tuan."

"Now you speak so abruptly, saying you'll leave at once; our hearts truly can't bear to part."

Xiao Yuanhang raised his cup: "Because of you, Tuan Tuan can stay safe; I toast you."

Lu Qi quickly lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.

"Uncle Qi!" Tuan Tuan's two tiny hands still clenched tightly, "Stay a few more days, okay? Just a few days!"

Xiao Yuanhang looked at his daughter: "Since you're returning to Yuzhou to start a family, I'll give you a silver tael as a congratulatory gift."

He thought for a moment, realizing his daughter was reluctant: "How about this, His Majesty summoned me today and decided to pass the throne to the Seventh Prince."

"You may remain until the Seventh Prince's enthronement ceremony concludes before you leave, okay?"

The crowd was taken aback.

Xiao Ningxun exclaimed in surprise: "His Majesty will step down?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "The imperial decree will be issued shortly."

Tuan Tuan looked at her father: "Third Elder Brother is becoming emperor?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "Yes, your Third Elder Brother is becoming emperor."

Tuan Tuan tugged at Lu Qi's lapel: "Uncle Qi, then you'll stay until Third Elder Brother becomes emperor before you go, okay?"

Lu Qi lowered his head, seeing the tears in her eyes, helplessly nodded: "Fine, Uncle Qi will do as you say, staying a few more days."

Only then did Tuan Tuan loosen her grip, burying her little face into his chest, muttering: "Uncle Qi is the best."

Lu Qi was at a loss, raising his eyes to meet Xiao Er's gaze.

Xiao Er, seeing his consent to remain, felt joy inside, but said nothing, flashing a grin: "What do you think I'm doing? It's the miss who can't bear to see you leave, not me."

Lu Qi pursed his lips and laughed.

Xiao Ningchen looked at his sister: "Now that your Third Elder Brother has become emperor, you can't just climb onto his back whenever you wish."

"Why?" Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled, "Now that he's emperor I can't ride him?"

"Who says it's not allowed?" Xiao Ningyuan interjected, "We, Tuan Tuan, can climb whenever we wish, right?"

Tuan Tuan, earnest, said: "Yes! Even if Third Elder Brother becomes emperor, he's still my Third Elder Brother, not an imperial uncle."

Cheng Ru'an lifted his hand, covering his mouth with a soft laugh, while Grandma Liu simply turned away.

Lu Qi felt the wine catch in his throat, coughing hard several times.

Xiao Yuanhang gestured toward his daughter, and Tuan Tuan obediently walked up to him.

He reached out and rubbed his daughter's hair crown: "Indeed, Third Elder Brother will forever be your Third Elder Brother; you may ride whenever you wish."

The family chatted and laughed as they finished the reunion meal.

Tuan Tuan began to stick to Lu Qi's heels, never straying.

Lu Qi stepped into the courtyard for fresh air, and she trailed behind.

Lu Qi sat down to sip tea, and she placed a small stool to sit before him.

Lu Qi rose to inspect the snow‑cloaked robe in the corridor, and she tugged his sleeve to follow.

Lu Qi could no longer endure it, squatted and asked, "Miss, how long will you follow me? It's getting late; you should sleep."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "When you go, I'll stop following. Uncle Qi, if I can't see you I'll miss you so, so much."

She said the words "miss terribly" with particular emphasis.

Lu Qi's heart ached, he lifted her into his arms, placing her on his forearm: "Fine, Miss, if you wish to follow, you may; Uncle Qi will take you to the garden for a walk."

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan clutched his neck tightly, unwilling to loosen even for a moment.

Until Grandma Liu came to urge her back to her sleeping quarters.

Tuan Tuan returned to Jinglan Garden to change into nightclothes, but did not climb onto the bed: "Mother, wait a moment! I'm going to see Uncle Qi!"

"Miss!" Grandma Liu was about to follow, but Cheng Ru'an halted her: "Let her go; she has something to tell Lu Qi."

Grandma Liu glanced at Xiao Tuanzi's retreating figure and sighed softly.

Barefoot, Tuan Tuan sprinted to Lu Qi's side‑room door, pried it open a sliver, and poked half of her head inside.

Lu Qi was seated at the table sharpening a knife; hearing the noise, he lifted his head.

"Uncle Qi," Tuan Tuan's voice was soft, laced with a hint of sleepiness, "You haven't left yet?"

Lu Qi set the knife on the table, walked to the doorway and squatted, meeting her gaze: "How could I? Uncle Qi promised you I'd stay until the Seventh Prince's coronation; how could I slip away?"

Tuan Tuan extended her little finger: "That's what you said, our pinky promise."

Lu Qi was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly remembered the Border War, when Jifeng, at farewell, also made a pinky promise like this with Tuan Tuan.

At that time, he was only a bystander, never expecting that one day this little hand would reach out in front of him.

He extended his rough index finger, carefully hooked that pale, tender little finger, gave it a gentle shake and said, "Alright, pinky promise."

Tuan Tuan then, satisfied, withdrew the hand, yawned a little, turned and walked out the door.

But she immediately turned back, her sleepy eyes half‑open, saying, "Uncle Lu, get up early tomorrow, I want to play with you."

"Alright." Lu Qi stood where he was, watching the tiny figure disappear down the corridor's end.

He closed the door, walked back to the table, stared at the half‑wiped knife for a long, long time, without moving a muscle.

Cheng Ru'an stood at the doorway waiting, saw her daughter return, stepped forward a few paces, and lifted her into an embrace.

Tuan Tuan perched on her shoulder, her little hand pointing toward the direction where Lu Qi lived, mumbled indistinctly, "Uncle Lu, don't go."

Cheng Ru'an sighed, carried her daughter into the house, and placed her on the bed.

The next morning, the early court session.

Xiao Jieyun personally announced his decision to the ministers, and the hall erupted in murmurs.