Chapter 823: Big Third Brother Keeps You Company

Xiao Ze jumped in fright: "Tuan Tuan! What are you doing in there?"

Lu Qingjia shouted: "Alliance Chief! Are you also going to the Western Regions?"

Xiao Er: "……"

Tuan Tuan lay on the thick bedding and tried it, then got up: "Thick enough! This way the snow leopard won't suffer."

Everyone: "……"

Tuan Tuan crawled out of the cage: "I want to go down."

Xiao Ze quickly reached out and held her to the ground.

Tuan Tuan walked up to the snow leopard and waved her little hand: "Come over! I've prepared the cage for you! Want to try it out?"

"The Western Regions are far away; you must be comfortable on the road."

The snow leopard looked at the carriage, then at the little person in front of it.

It lifted its legs and slowly walked to the beast cage door.

"Little one, open the door, it wants to come out."

The warden's head shook like a rattle-drum: "No, no, Princess, this is absolutely not allowed."

"If any mishap befalls these nobles, my whole family's heads wouldn't be enough to pay."

"I told you to open the door; who wants to chop off your head?" Tuan Tuan didn't understand.

Xiao Ze gave a slight smile: "Do as the Princess says; if anything happens, I, the Prince, will take responsibility."

The warden sighed and nodded at those strong men.

The strong men stepped forward gently and carefully unlocked the beast cage's bolt.

The iron door creaked open, and everyone's nerves tensed instantly.

Lu Qingjia stepped back two steps, and Xiao Er's hand silently rested on the sword hilt.

The snow leopard poked its head out of the open cage door, its big eyes silently scanning each person.

Finally, its gaze landed on Tuan Tuan's face.

"Let's go." Tuan Tuan reached out, gently scratched its chin, then turned and walked toward the carriage.

The snow leopard lifted its legs and walked beside her, person and leopard side by side as they reached the front of the carriage.

Tuan Tuan spread her little arms and hugged the snow leopard's neck.

She buried her face in its soft short fur, her voice soft: "You can go home now."

The snow leopard lowered its head and rubbed its nose against the top of her head.

"Don't forget me." Tuan Tuan let go: "When you return to the Western Regions and are with your family, you must be happy!"

The snow leopard tilted its head and let out a low purr from its throat, as if promising her.

Then it turned, leapt lightly, and landed steadily on the pile of thick, soft bedding, lying down.

The warden stood with mouth open for a long time, unable to close it.

The strong men looked at each other: "Is this still the snow leopard we feed every day?"

Xiao Er's hand left the sword hilt.

Xiao Ze stood to the side, watching the little person standing before the snow leopard, a warm feeling surging in his heart that he could not put into words.

Tuan Tuan reached out and gently stroked the snow leopard's ears: "Does it feel good?"

The snow leopard rolled on the bedding, then settled back down, eyes half-closed, as if saying, "Very comfortable."

The warden suddenly snapped to attention and waved his hands: "Quick! Lock the cage! Quickly lock it!"

Several strong men rushed forward, fumbling with their hands to close the cage door, which clicked shut with a lock.

Tuan Tuan turned to the warden: "Little one, did you bring all the things it likes to eat? You need to bring enough, don't let it go hungry."

"Please rest assured, Princess!" the warden nodded repeatedly, "We've prepared plenty of dried meat, enough for it to eat all the way to the Western Regions with some left over."

Tuan Tuan nodded, slipped her hand into the cage's gap, and gently touched the snow leopard's paw.

"Let's go, head home."

The carriage began to move slowly.

The snow leopard lay still on the bedding, its eyes fixed on the shrinking figure outside the railing.

Tuan Tuan stood in place, watching the carriage go farther and farther, her mouth pouting as tears swirled in her eye sockets.

Xiao Ze walked over, bent down, and lifted her up.

"Tuan Tuan," he said softly, "you did very well."

"It must be happy to leave that tiny cage and go home."

Tuan Tuan leaned against his neck, her little arms tightly around his neck, and murmured: "I just... I'm a bit reluctant."

Lu Qingjia hurried over, smiling: "Alliance Chief! Want to come to my manor to see Xiao Hua Mei?"

"It hasn't seen you in a long time; it surely misses you terribly!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head from Xiao Ze's shoulder, wiped her eyes, and nodded: "Okay."

Several people arrived at Lu Manor, and Xiao Hua Mei flew from the corridor toward Tuan Tuan, circled her head a few times, then landed steadily on her shoulder.

It tilted its little head, opened its beak, and squawked: "I know this! I know it well!"

Lu Qingjia laughed and scolded: "What do you know? You just know!"

Tuan Tuan giggled, extended a finger, and lightly tapped Xiao Hua Mei's head: "Xiao Hua Mei! Do you miss me?"

Xiao Hua Mei flapped its wings frantically, bouncing back and forth on her shoulder, and shouted again, "I know this!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Several people had lunch and dinner at Lu Manor; Tuan Tuan and Xiao Hua Mei played happily until dusk, when they reluctantly said goodbye and left.

Xiao Ze returned to his mansion and sat alone in the study.

He imagined the snow leopard walking quietly into the cage, lying on the thick mat and rolling around, and recalled Tuan Tuan's small hand gently stroking its chin; the corner of his mouth slowly curved upward.

The old steward walked in carrying tea, saw the smile on his face, paused a step, and said, "Your Highness, you finally smiled today."

Xiao Ze took the teacup, nodded slightly, and said, "Yes, as long as Tuan Tuan is here, I can always be cheerful."

Ning Prince's Mansion, in Jinglan Garden.

Tuan Tuan lay on the bed refusing to sleep, still chattering to her parents about today's events.

The snow leopard is so well-behaved, the little plum keeps shouting nonsense, Elder Brother Three protects me, the fish from the Lu mansion is really delicious…

She spoke while yawning, her eyelids growing heavier, yet she was reluctant to stop talking.

Cheng Ru'an gently tucked in the blanket corner for her and said softly, "Tuan Tuan, from now on, if you want to go somewhere to play, invite your Elder Brother Three along."

"Isn't he busy?" Tuan Tuan asked in a daze.

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "Your Elder Brother Three hasn't been busy lately."

"All right." Tuan Tuan rolled over, scooped Xiao Feifei into her arms, and closed her eyes.

The next morning, Xiao Ze sat alone in the courtyard, staring blankly at that unfinished game of chess.

Although those white stones still had life, they remained trapped in the corner, unable to find a way out.

"Elder Brother Three!" a plump little dumpling rushed in, without a word flung herself onto him, "Let's go to the Jinghai Marquis's mansion to see that little brother, okay?"

"Tuan Tuan, how did you come?" Xiao Ze's face lit up with surprise as he caught her in his arms, "To the Jinghai Marquis's mansion?"

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "That little brother is so adorable, will you come with me?"

"All right." Xiao Ze wore an indulgent expression, lifted her to her feet and headed out, "Elder Brother Three will accompany you."

The carriage stopped at the gate of the Jinghai Marquis's mansion.

Upon seeing the Seventh Prince and the Princess arrive in person, the gatekeeper hurried inside to report.

Zhou Jinhua came out trotting, straightening his robes as he bowed, "Seventh Prince? Princess? What wind blew the two of you here?"

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around Xiao Ze's neck and declared righteously, "We're here to see that little brother, not you."

Zhou Jinhua's mouth twitched, he stepped aside, "Yes, yes, please follow me, Marquis."

Soon after, Tuan Tuan, satisfied, took Xiao Ze's hand with one hand and Xiao Er's with the other, walked out of the marquis's mansion, climbed into the carriage, and said, "Where shall we go next to play…"

Her eyes lit up: "Elder Brother Three! Will you accompany me to Fangfei Garden?"

"I went hunting there with Uncle Ji and even roasted rabbits!"

"Sit steady," Xiao Ze said with a laugh as he steadied her, "All right."

In the hunting grounds of Fangfei Garden, Xiao Ze held Tuan Tuan while riding a horse, drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed at a rabbit that darted out.

He deliberately tilted, and with a whoosh, the arrow flew out.

"Elder Brother Three, you missed again!" Tuan Tuan laughed in his arms, doubling over.

"Then you try?" Xiao Ze handed the bow to her.

Tuan Tuan pretended to pluck the bowstring, then said solemnly, "Hmm, that rabbit really runs fast."

Xiao Ze threw his head back and laughed loudly.

Xiao Er also laughed beside them, unable to close his mouth.

As the sun set westward, Xiao Ze held Tuan Tuan and leaned against a big tree.

Xiao Er, with the accompanying guards, roasted the hunted hares on the side.

"Elder Brother Three."

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy today?"

Xiao Ze lowered his head, gazing at her small face, his voice very soft: "Happy. With Tuan Tuan here, Elder Brother Three is happy every day."

In the mountains there are no cyclical signs; when the cold ends, one does not know the year.

Xiao Ze stayed in Fangfei Garden for several days at a stretch.

In Zichen Hall.

The Emperor quietly examined the memorial before him: the Seventh Prince frequently uses visiting friends as a pretext to come and go from the Jinghai Marquis's mansion, the Minister of War's residence, Fangfei Garden, etc., suggesting he may harbor disloyal intentions.