Chapter 908: Take good care of her

In Zichen Hall's main chamber, Xiao Jieyun sat upright on the dragon throne above the vermilion steps, his expression solemn and calm.

The Crown Prince's golden palanquin came to a stop before the hall.

Xiao Ze carried Tuan Tuan down from the golden palanquin, and Xiao Yuanhang stepped forward quickly.

Xiao Ze stroked Tuan Tuan's hair, then placed her in Prince Ning's arms.

He adjusted his robes and strode into the hall.

Prince Ning held his daughter, waited a moment, then followed inside with steady steps.

Soon, all officials arrived, filling the hall in a dense crowd.

The ritual official loudly proclaimed: "The Crown Prince receives the investiture—"

With music and rites sounding together, Xiao Ze knelt on both knees, bowed his head to the ground, then rose.

Eunuch Cheng announced loudly: "The Crown Prince Xiao Ze is granted the seal and scroll, taking his place in the Eastern Palace!"

Having said that, he handed the golden seal and the scroll to him.

Xiao Ze received them with both hands: "Thank you, Father Emperor, for your great grace!"

Xiao Jieyun looked at his son, his voice deep and solemn: "The Crown Prince cultivates brilliant virtue and can inherit the great mandate."

Xiao Ze kowtowed again: "Your servant, I receive the edict and give thanks!"

The officials knelt and shouted in unison: "Long live the Crown Prince, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, myriad myriad years—"

Xiao Jieyun's gaze swept past the kneeling officials and fell on Tuan Tuan, who stood beside Xiao Yuanhang.

Xiao Tuanzi's lips were pushed out far, her big eyes reddened—clearly she had just been crying.

The Emperor frowned slightly, looking at Xiao Yuanhang after he rose from the rites, his eyes full of question: What happened to Tuan Tuan?

Xiao Yuanhang took his daughter into his arms, met the Emperor's gaze, and gently shook his head.

Xiao Jieyun furrowed his brows, not pursuing the matter further.

The ritual official sang loudly: "The Crown Prince proceeds to the Eastern Palace—"

Xiao Ze left the great hall, mounted the golden palanquin again, and the procession headed east to the Eastern Palace, with officials following behind.

The Emperor rose and withdrew into the inner hall.

Xiao Yuanhang did not retreat with the officials; instead, holding his daughter, he stepped to the side and gave Xiao Ningxun a glance.

Xiao Ningxun understood, paused his steps, and stayed behind.

Xiao Yuanhang looked down at the unhappy Xiao Tuanzi in his arms, strode up to him, and said, "Give her to me."

Xiao Ningxun took the silk handkerchief from his bosom and pressed it into his father's hand.

Xiao Yuanhang placed his daughter in his arms, tucked the handkerchief away, and said: "You need not attend the palace banquet; first take Tuan Tuan back to the mansion, while I go to see the Emperor."

Xiao Ningxun took Xiao Tuanzi.

But Tuan Tuan clung tightly to her father's lapel, refusing to let go.

Xiao Yuanhang gently patted the back of her hand, pointed toward the inner hall, then pointed to the embroidered pouch at her waist.

Tuan Tuan lowered her gaze to look at her own embroidered pouch, then lifted her eyes toward the direction of the inner hall,

just where the Imperial Uncle had gone moments before.

She understood: Father was going to see the Imperial Uncle, and he wanted her to go back to find Mother.

She released her grip, and her two little arms obediently wrapped around Xiao Ningxun's neck.

Xiao Yuanhang ruffled her head with his big hand, then leaned down to kiss her cheek, saying, "Take good care of her." After speaking, he turned and walked into the hall.

Xiao Ningxun nodded, held Tuan Tuan, slipped out of the great hall, mounted the sedan chair, and returned to the Ning Prince's Mansion.

He had just stepped through the gate of Jing Lan Garden when Cheng Ru'an came out from the main house to meet him.

As soon as she saw her daughter, she halted abruptly.

Tuan Tuan stretched out her two little arms toward her mother, her mouth pouted so far it could hang several oil bottles.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Ru'an hurried forward, took the girl from Xiao Ningxun's arms, and gently rubbed her cheek, asking, "Didn't you go with your father to watch the ceremony?"

"What happened? Why did you come back like this?"

Tuan Tuan opened her mouth to call for Mother, but her throat was blocked tight—no sound could come out.

Watching her mother's lips move, saying something she could not hear.

Anxious, Xiao Tuanzi flailed her little hands, gesturing at her mouth and ears, tears dropping patter by patter.

Cheng Ru'an's face turned pale; she seized the girl's small hand, pressed it to her chest, and looked at Xiao Ningxun: "What on earth happened to Tuan Tuan?"

"Mother, don't worry," Xiao Ningxun hurriedly said, "on the way from the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the Imperial Palace, someone attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince."

"An assassination attempt?" Cheng Ru'an gasped softly: "What about the Crown Prince? Is he hurt? And your father?"

"The Crown Prince is unharmed; he said it was thanks to Tuan Tuan's intervention that he was saved. Father has gone to see His Majesty."

"At the time, my son was behind and did not see the details; he only knew that after Tuan Tuan rescued the Crown Prince, she suddenly lost the ability to speak and hear."

"Father said it should be like the previous times—rest for a day and she'll be fine."

Cheng Ru'an held her daughter tight, looked at her red-rimmed crying eyes, feeling heartbroken: "Be good, don't worry—Mother is here, everything's all right."

Tuan Tuan buried her face in her chest, rubbing back and forth without cease.

"No, I still can't rest easy," Cheng Ru'an gently patted her daughter's back, then turned and ordered: "Liu Mama, send a swift runner to fetch the National Preceptor at once."

"Yes!" Liu Mama turned and ran out.

Xiao Feifei sat at Cheng Ru'an's feet, lifting her head to stare at Tuan Tuan.

It could not hear Tuan Tuan calling it, and its little paws did not rub its head as usual.

Anxious, it circled Cheng Ru'an's legs, endlessly chirping.

Xue Tuan also jumped down from the windowsill, raising her head and meowing nonstop.

Xiao Jinjin darted after Xiao Feifei, swimming swiftly.

Tuan Tuan lowered her head, saw them, and slid down from her mother's arms.

She crouched down and lifted Xiao Feifei.

Xiao Feifei extended a tiny front paw onto her chest, cocked its little head and stared at her face.

Xiao Jinjin rose to his feet, spat out a seed and lightly tapped her chin; Snowball also brushed her leg with its little head.

Tuan Tuan pressed her face into Xiao Feifei's fluffy long hair and snuggled mutely.

Xiao Feifei whined, its big tail looped around and wrapped her neck.

Xiao Ningxun stood nearby, watching his sister crouch on the ground holding the fox in silence, his heart souring.

He opened his mouth, intending to say something to comfort her, but suddenly recalled that Tuan Tuan couldn't hear! What could he do? This was truly a death sentence.

Cheng Ru'an poured a cup of honey water and placed it at her daughter's lips; Tuan Tuan took it and drank it dry.

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly took a snack from the table and offered it to his sister's mouth; Tuan Tuan ate it silently.

"National Preceptor, you have arrived! Please come in!" Liu Grandma's voice echoed from the doorway.

Tuan Tuan looked up; Chu Yuan, clad in a plain Taoist robe, hurried inside.

She tried to call Master, opened her mouth, then closed it again, disappointed.

She gently set Xiao Feifei on the floor, then with her short legs sprinted toward Chu Yuan and plunged into his embrace.

Chu Yuan leaned down, caught her, and gently lifted her: "Master already knows, you did well."

"It's all Master's fault; I never expected the Crown Prince to be so venerated by the populace, yet there are still assassins."

Tuan Tuan couldn't hear his words, but read the guilt on his face, shook her head, and tucked her little face into the hollow of his neck.

Chu Yuan looked at Cheng Ru'an: "Today, this humble monk saw an abnormal heavenly sign, and knew it must be my little disciple who acted again."

Cheng Ru'an said: "National Preceptor, please look at Tuan Tuan to see if she is injured. Xun Er brought her back but cannot explain what happened; I am genuinely uneasy."

"Princess Consort, do not fret; I will know as soon as I probe," Chu Yuan nodded, sat at the side of the table, and set Tuan Tuan on his lap.

He extended his right hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and lightly tapped Tuan Tuan's brow.

The next moment, a wisp of soft azure light rose from his fingertip, slowly permeating like water ripples.