Chapter 90: Where's the Child?

Cao Songhui's face turned ashen, his back molars clenched, and he lowered his head to look at the Xiao Tuanzi before him.

He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, forced down a huge sense of humiliation, and painfully forced three words from deep in his throat:

"Grand... Master."

The voice was soft, yet clear enough for everyone present to hear it distinctly.

Tuan Tuan nodded satisfyingly, and with an air of composure replied:

"Mm, good."

Cao Songhui snapped his eyes open, his complexion drained of color, and without looking back he pushed through the crowd and fled in a disheveled rush.

The Inner Dormitory class students each slunk away quickly.

The Outer Dormitory group lifted their brows, exhaled triumphantly, cheered joyfully, swarmed around Wu Qilin and Xiao Fuzi, and grandly occupied the reclaimed painting hall.

"Ah! Bad!" Wu Qilin shouted suddenly.

Xiao Ningyuan turned his head and asked, "What's wrong?"

Wu Qilin lowered his head and searched around, "The silk rope that Xiao Fuzi gave me is missing!"

He grew anxious, even crouching to feel the ground, "It must have fallen just now! That was the lucky rope Xiao Fuzi gave me! Where did it fall?"

"It's just an old rope," Xiao Ningxun said calmly, "With so many people moving and crowding just now, even if it fell, we don't know which corner it was stepped on; it's not something important, stop looking."

The other students echoed, "Exactly, why look for it?"

"Come on, come on! Brother Wu, today you must teach me how this hammer ball hits the ball…"

Wu Qilin, though a bit regretful at the words, didn't dwell on it: "Fine." He walked forward with his companions.

Xiao Ningxun's gaze was deep as he lifted Tuan Tuan, "You're really amazing! Little Tuan Tuan!"

Tuan Tuan laughed proudly, her dimples deep.

Except for Xiao Ningxun, no one noticed that after Wu Qilin's final staff strike, the silk rope tied to his wrist suddenly vanished.

The next day, the sixth day of the sixth month, the Book Drying Festival.

All of Jingcheng was bathed in the bright midsummer sun.

According to custom, anyone with books or paintings at home today must take them out to sun‑dry, to prevent insects and dampness.

Ning Prince's Mansion was no exception; Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ningxun led the young servants, moving the study's collection to the corridor to air.

Tuan Tuan curiously followed, watching the brothers carefully arrange the piles of books that resembled little mountains.

"Why do we have to move them all out? Are we giving them a new home?" Tuan Tuan asked, puzzled.

Xiao Ningxun smiled and explained, "Every year on the sixth day of the sixth month is the Heaven's Gift Festival, also called the Book Drying Festival. Commoners sun‑dry clothing, temples sun‑dry sutras, scholars sun‑dry their collections to ward off insects; every household does so."

"Also, since everyone is drying books, today's Book Market Street will be especially crowded; many scholars and students will take the chance to look for rare books they seldom see."

"The market will also have many vendors setting up stalls—how lively!"

Tuan Tuan didn't hear much else, but the word "lively" made her eyes sparkle.

She immediately grabbed Cheng Ru'an's skirt, lifted her little face, and said, "Mother, mother! Shall we go out to play?"

Cheng Ru'an smiled in agreement.

Xiao Ningyuan waved his hand, "Mother, you go ahead. I have too many books here, none have been sun‑dried for years; today I must organize them properly."

Thus, Cheng Ru'an took Xiao Ningxun and Tuan Tuan, boarded a carriage, and arrived at the most bustling Nanjie Book Market in Jingcheng.

The carriage stopped at the street corner; the three alighted and walked slowly along the avenue, with Liu Mama following closely.

Today's market was indeed more bustling than usual.

Many bookshops along the street had moved their shelves outside; the dazzling array of scrolls spread under the sun, the scent of ink mingling with sunlight, drifting amid the noisy crowd.

Even more scholars and students lingered, critiquing and discussing, forming a small literary gathering.

Tuan Tuan, carefully cradled in Xiao Ningxun's arms, walked forward with the crowd, her big eyes darting around, finding everything novel.

Suddenly, a quarrel erupted ahead, drawing everyone's attention.

In front of the sizable bookshop Hanmo Zhai, the owner was scolding a Scholar clutching a scroll.

"You beggar, if you can't afford books, don't block the view here! You've been looking for half a day, and you've dirtied the book!"

The Scholar wore a faded Confucian robe, his frame thin, complexion gaunt, clutching an old book tightly, his face full of pleading and reluctance: "Shopkeeper, please grant me a moment, just a moment."

"The annotations in this book are exquisitely brilliant; I truly cannot put it down. I'll finish reading now and won't delay your business."

People around pointed and whispered, their discussions swirling.

"What's wrong with letting him look for a while? Anyway, your book has to be displayed for drying."

"Exactly, why make it hard for him."

"That can't be said like that; the shopkeeper is doing business. He can't afford it and won't let go; if someone else wants to buy it, how can the shopkeeper keep his business?"

Xiao Ningxun, thoughtful, whispered to Cheng Ru'an, "Mother, this Scholar appears extremely poor; he loves the book but lacks funds."

Tuan Tuan tugged at her brother's hand, looked up and asked, "Third Brother, that person looks so pitiful, what book is he reading?"

Xiao Ningxun glanced up, "It seems to be a rare solitary edition of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* annotated by a great Confucian of the former dynasty—truly precious."

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan tugged Cheng Ru'an's sleeve, "Mother, shall we help him?"

Cheng Ru'an, already kind‑hearted, saw that although the Scholar was destitute, a sense of integrity shone in his brow, unlike a sly person, and she nodded.

She stepped forward, "Shopkeeper, how much silver for the book this young gentleman is reading? I'll pay for him."

The shopkeeper, noting her distinguished attire and the servants behind her, immediately put on a smiling face, "Oh dear, madam, you are truly kind. This book was a treasured solitary copy the shop intended to sell for three taels of silver; since you offered, two taels will do."

The Scholar, hearing this, jerked his head up, surprise and gratitude flashing in his eyes, but quickly waved his hand, "No, no, I cannot accept a gift; one should not receive reward without merit, it's improper for you to spend…"

"Never mind." Cheng Ru'an signaled Liu Mama to pay, "Give him another twenty taels of silver."

Liu Mama, hearing this, produced a bulging Sachet and handed it to the Scholar.

Cheng Ru'an said, "Take this silver, find a good place to settle. If you can earn a degree in the future, that would be good too."

The Scholar repeatedly refused, unwilling to accept.

Cheng Ru'an smiled faintly: "Paper is pricey in Jingcheng; take it, it will help you study peacefully, and it's worth it."

The Scholar's eyes instantly reddened, his lips trembled, and he could not utter a word, only bowing deeply to the ground.

The surrounding crowd saw this and praised: "This madam is truly benevolent!"

"Young master, aren't you quick to thank the benefactor!"

"Now that's a family that accumulates virtue!"

"I, Liu Yunyi, thank madam for her great kindness! I do not know the benefactor's residence; if I one day pass the imperial exams, I will surely repay this kindness!"

Liu Mama smiled: "My madam is from the Ning Prince's Mansion."

Liu Yunyi etched the three characters "Ning Prince's Mansion" firmly into his heart, bowed repeatedly in thanks, then clasped the book and silver, weeping with gratitude as he vanished into the crowd.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Cheng Ru'an watched the Scholar's retreating silhouette, smiled and lowered her head: "Tuan Tuan, we also…"

Before she could finish, her smile froze on her face.

The Tuan Tuan who had just been tugging at her skirt and standing by her side was now nowhere to be seen!