Chapter 821: Third Elder Brother Will Accompany You

Congratulations, His Majesty! The Empress has given birth to the heir, mother and child are safe!

Xiao Jieyun sprang to his feet, his sleeve knocked over the tea cup on the desk, tea splashed across the table, yet he remained oblivious.

"Good! Good! Good!" he exclaimed three times, his voice full of unrestrained joy.

He strode toward the hall's exit, but stopped abruptly at the doorway: "Cheng Jinyan! Draft the edict!"

"Present." Eunuch Cheng, tears streaming down his face, voice trembling, "This old servant congratulates Your Majesty, blessed with a qilin son!"

Xiao Jieyun broke into a smile: "Convey my edict."

He took a deep breath: "The Empress Murong has given birth to the heir, her merit lies in the state; it is fitting that all under heaven celebrate together, grant a general pardon!"

"All prisoners not guilty of the ten unforgivable crimes shall be released and allowed to return home!"

"Additionally, grant each widow, widower, orphan, and solitary elder over seventy one dan of rice and one bolt of cloth; hang red silk at the nine gates of Jingcheng for three days, hold a grand feast in the palace for seven days, with all officials joining in celebration!"

Eunuch Cheng prostrated himself and shouted: "Your Majesty is sagacious!"

The news spread, and the entire court was shaken.

Universal celebration, a general pardon—according to ritual law, this can only be done when appointing a crown prince.

The officials instantly understood: His Majesty's regard for this heir far surpasses that for the other princes.

"After all, there is still a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate!"

"His Majesty truly values this heir of the central palace greatly."

Xiao Ze, upon hearing the news, hurried to the palace to offer congratulations.

He maintained a normal expression, observed all proprieties; no one could detect any hint of disappointment in him.

Yet the more composed he appeared, the more complex the officials' gazes toward him became.

The next day, Song Jingxian's carriage stopped before the gate of Prince Jing's mansion.

The servants hurried inside to report, then led him to the garden.

Xiao Ze sat alone in the pavilion, before him a half-finished game of chess, black and white interlocked, already at a deadlock.

Seeing Song Jingxian approach, he hastily rose: "Master Song, please sit."

"I came uninvited; am I disturbing Your Highness's tranquility?" Song Jingxian said with a slight bow.

Xiao Ze smiled: "These days I have been perfectly tranquil here; your visit, Master Song, is most welcome."

Song Jingxian gave a slight smile and sat down opposite him.

Xiao Ze ordered: "Serve tea."

Song Jingxian glanced at the chessboard: "Your Highness, do you think this position still has a solution?"

Xiao Ze reseated himself, his gaze fixed on the tangled mass of pieces, and after a moment said: "No solution."

Song Jingxian reached out and picked up a white stone, which clicked softly as it landed in a corner of the board.

"Your Highness, please look here." He raised his hand to point at that white stone: "This spot looks like a dead end, but actually hides a path."

Xiao Ze stared at that white stone for a long time, then slowly nodded: "Master Song, this stone of yours has opened my mind."

Song Jingxian smiled, lifted his teacup: "Speaking of which, the other day I gave lessons to Tuan Tuan, and she nearly drove me to death with anger."

"Tuan Tuan?" Xiao Ze raised his head: "What new antics has she come up with now?"

Song Jingxian shook his head, his face full of resignation: "She dislikes studying, so I only lecture her, never insisting she write; even so, she still skips class countless times."

"That day I taught her the 'Tribute of Yu', reaching the line 'Pengli is now a marsh, where the yang bird dwells.'"

"She tilted her head, pondering for a while; I thought she was grasping its subtlety, about to praise her, but instead she seriously asked..."

He mimicked Tuan Tuan's tone: "Teacher, what kind of bird is the yang bird? Is it tasty?"

"I once ate a bird called sand half-chicken in Xibei, it was fragrant! How does this yang bird taste?"

Xiao Ze froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

His hearty laughter echoed continuously in the garden, startling the koi in the pond to scatter.

It took Xiao Ze a good while to stop laughing; he shook his head: "The 'Tribute of Yu' is about Yu the Great taming the waters, yet she managed to twist it into a question about eating birds. This is exactly the sort of thing only Tuan Tuan could come up with."

Song Jingxian watched Xiao Ze's hearty laugh, gently set down his teacup, his face kind: "It seems only Tuan Tuan can ease Your Highness's heart."

Xiao Ze's smile faded a little; after a moment of silence he said: "I haven't seen her for some days; Father Emperor has ordered me to visit the Ning Prince's mansion less often."

"What difficulty is there?" Song Jingxian smiled: "His Majesty is protecting you, which is why he doesn't let you call on the mansion."

"But must one go to the Ning Prince's mansion to see her?"

"As far as I know, Tuan Tuan runs around Jingcheng all day causing chaos."

"Suijin Pavilion, Qiaosu Pavilion, Baiwei Xuan, and Fulun Teahouse are her usual haunts."

"If Your Highness goes out more often, you'll naturally run into her."

Xiao Ze fell into thought.

The next day.

Xiao Er rode Red Cloud, following alongside a carriage, proceeding slowly.

Just as he turned out of the street, he saw a familiar figure under the tree across the way.

"Whoa!" he reined in his horse and shouted: "Stop!"

The carriage halted, and Tuan Tuan lifted the curtain: "What's wrong, Second Uncle? Why did you stop?"

Xiao Er laughed and pointed opposite: "Miss, look who's coming?"

Tuan Tuan looked up and saw Xiao Ze striding toward her: "Third Elder Brother!"

Tuan Tuan scrambled out of the carriage, about to jump down, but Xiao Ze had already run up and grabbed her: "Be careful! You dare jump from this height? What if you fall?"

Tuan Tuan buried herself in his embrace: "Third Elder Brother, what are you doing here?"

Xiao Ze did not answer, but instead asked: "Where are you headed?"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her little arms around his neck: "I want to go to Wanlingyuan to see the snow leopard!"

"Snow leopard?" Xiao Ze's eyebrows lifted slightly, "The one that was presented from the Western Regions?"

"Right!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "Imperial Aunt gave it to me! But a lone leopard here is so lonely, oh."

"I'll have Third Brother write a letter to Da Da, asking to send it back to the Western Regions to find its family; Da Da agreed!"

"Today I'm going to see it off, Third Elder Brother, will you accompany me, okay?"

Xiao Ze looked at her bright, sparkling big eyes, and his lips curved involuntarily: "Alright, Third Elder Brother will go with you."

He turned back and ordered the two servants following him, "Return to the residence; you need not come along."

"Yes."

The two slipped into the carriage together, heading toward Wanlingyuan.

Just as they reached the gate, another carriage had already arrived.