Chapter 910

After the palace banquet at Taiji Hall ended, the night was already deep.

Xiao Jieyun and Xiao Ze quietly came to the Ning Prince's Mansion together.

Except for Tuan Tuan, no one in the family rested.

Upon hearing that His Majesty and the Crown Prince had personally arrived, Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly welcomed them inside.

The two entered Jinglan Garden, and everyone performed the salute: "Greetings, Your Majesty, Crown Prince."

Xiao Jieyun waved his hand: "Don't stand on ceremony, how is Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Yuanhang replied: "The National Preceptor has already examined her; he said it's fine, she just needs to rest for two days to recover."

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "I and the Seventh Prince will go see her."

"Please." Xiao Yuanhang led them to the bedroom.

All that could be seen was Tuan Tuan, a small ball, curled up in the brocade quilt, fast asleep.

Xiao Feifei and Snowball lay on either side of her pillow, while Little Gold coiled at the head of the bed.

Just as they had taken a few steps to the bedside, the three little creatures noticed the movement, suddenly all lifted their heads, six eyes glittering as they stared at him.

Their steps involuntarily halted; in the dim candlelight, they observed the creatures' appearance.

Xiao Jieyun couldn't help but smile faintly: "They certainly know how to guard their master."

He slowly approached and sat down at the bedside, with Xiao Ze standing beside him.

Xiao Feifei and Snowball sat up, Little Gold climbed onto Tuan Tuan's head and raised its body.

Xiao Ze silently gazed at Tuan Tuan: "Prince, has Tuan Tuan been crying again since returning to the mansion?"

Xiao Yuanhang stood to the side and nodded.

Xiao Jieyun reached out his hand, about to pat Tuan Tuan's head.

Snowball arched its body, letting out a low growl from its throat; Xiao Feifei bared her teeth at him, and the scales on Little Gold's crown bristled.

Xiao Yuanhang said: "They are all very clever; ever since Tuan Tuan returned to the mansion, they have guarded her constantly, never leaving her side."

Xiao Jieyun helplessly withdrew his hand: "Not bad, keep guarding her well."

He turned his head to look at Xiao Yuanhang: "Not seeing Tuan Tuan with my own eyes, I truly cannot rest easy."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiao Yuanhang said: "Please, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, proceed to the study."

"Good."

The three entered the study, and the candlelight remained unextinguished all night.

The next morning, Tuan Tuan was awakened by a sweep of Xiao Feifei's tail.

Fluffy white fur swept slowly across her face, then dragged back.

She closed her eyes and reached out to grab, but grasped at nothing; opening her eyes, she looked.

Xiao Feifei was crouched on the pillow, tilting her little head to stare at her.

Snowball nestled at her feet, its tail lightly patting the blanket.

Little Gold coiled at the edge of her pillow, flicking its tongue at her.

Tuan Tuan sprang up and shouted, "Mother!"

There was no sound.

She froze for a moment, then recalled: right, Master had said it would take two days to recover.

She felt utterly wronged, her mouth pouting, just about to tear up, when Xiao Feifei darted into her embrace, its big tail sweeping over to rest on her shoulder.

Snowball meowed and leapt off the bed, scampering away.

Moments later, Cheng Ru'an hurried in, with Xiao Yuanhang close behind.

Cheng Ru'an sat at the bedside, said nothing, merely reached out to gently draw her into his embrace and kissed her forehead.

Tuan Tuan lifted her face to look at her mother; Cheng Ru'an picked up a brand-new pale green outfit from the bedside and personally dressed her in it.

Cheng Ru'an examined her daughter from head to toe and burst into laughter.

Tuan Tuan lowered her gaze to her clothing, understood: Mother was saying she looked pretty.

Xiao Tuanzi broke into a grin.

Cheng Ru'an washed her little face, combed her hair, and pinned on that pearl hairpin.

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his daughter and the family walked out of Jinglan Garden.

All the servants they met along the way wore smiles, yet upon seeing them they fell silent, merely performing a respectful bow and greeting.

An old lady pointed at Tuan Tuan's clothing, gave a thumbs-up, and nodded happily.

The three entered the Flower Hall, where the whole family had already gathered.

Xiao Yuanhang placed Tuan Tuan in a chair.

Xiao Ningchen pointed toward the stables, then rose, bent at the waist, and held his arms out front and back in a horse-riding pose.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Little White! Second Brother is going to take me horseback riding!"

She nodded, and Xiao Ningchen smiled.

Xiao Ningyuan took out a colorful paper kite from behind him, crafted into a butterfly with outstretched wings.

He raised the kite above his head, made a pulling motion; when the wind blew, the butterfly's wings fluttered loudly.

Tuan Tuan understood: Big Brother wants to take me to play with the paper kite!

She clapped her little hands, her small body swaying back and forth in the chair.

Gongsun Yue handed her a bouquet of fresh wildflowers glistening with dew, vividly colorful and very lovely, tied neatly with a blade of grass.

Tuan Tuan took it, sniffed, and exclaimed, "How fragrant!"

She handed the bouquet to Aunt Liu, pointing to the vase on the window.

Aunt Liu smiled and nodded, took it, found a suitable small vase, and inserted the bouquet inside.

Xiao Ningxun took out a thin booklet from her sleeve and waved it in front of her eyes.

On the cover were three large characters written neatly: the "Three Character Classic".

Tuan Tuan frowned at the sight; after reciting it for so long, those three characters still looked very familiar.

She was about to shake her head, but Xiao Ningxun opened the book and placed it before her.

She lowered her head and her eyes widened instantly.

On each page, tiny ink lines drew crooked little figures.

On the first page, a group of children sat properly reading, while an adult beside them tapped the table with a ruler.

Tuan Tuan recognized it: this was "At the beginning of life, human nature is good".

She burst into laughter; though she made no sound, her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

She hurriedly flipped to the page about "Mencius' mother chose a neighborhood", where a woman was depicted chasing a child with a rattan switch, the child's head sporting two little buns.

Tuan Tuan laughed until she doubled over—this was exactly the "beating Mencius" she had memorized!

Xiao Ningxun gazed at her sister with a face full of affection, the corners of her mouth lifting.

He closed the book, placed it in Tuan Tuan's arms, and pointed to the table.

"Third Brother told me to eat first; this book was a gift from Third Brother!"

Tuan Tuan hugged the book, rubbing it eagerly, "Third Brother is so fun!"

Cheng Ru'an personally served a bowl of red bean porridge before Tuan Tuan, Xiao Yuanhang moved each dish closer to her, patted his own belly, and sat up straight.

"Father told me to eat more!" Tuan Tuan nodded, understanding!

She picked up a piece of date-paste cake from the plate and stuffed it into her mouth.

After the fragrant breakfast, Xiao Ningchen took Tuan Tuan's hand and headed toward the stables.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi had long been ready, placing Xiao Tuanzi on the horse's back.

Tuan Tuan rode Xiao Bai, with Xiao Ningchen leading the horse ahead, Xiao Er and Lu Qi flanking Xiao Bai on both sides, and they strolled around the Prince's Mansion for most of the day.

In the afternoon, Xiao Ningyuan took her to the open ground in the garden and launched the paper kite.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, chasing the paper kite all over the ground; Xiao Feifei trailed behind her, while Snow Tuan leapt onto the artificial hill, staring at the kite and meowing loudly.

Little Gold lay to the side, eyes half-closed, basking in the sun.

Gongsun Yue helped pull the string, Xiao Er and Lu Qi followed behind Tuan Tuan, fearing she might fall.

After dinner, Tuan Tuan leaned against her father's embrace, holding the "Three Character Classic" Xiao Ningxun had given her, turning page after page with relish.

Xiao Yuanhang gently patted his daughter's small body, one tap at a time.

Tuan Tuan unknowingly closed her eyes and drifted into dreamland.

The Prince's Mansion was utterly tranquil.

The next morning, in the Fengyi Palace.

Si Yu clutched a slip of paper, her face ashen, dismissed the palace attendants from the sleeping chamber, and walked to the edge of Murong Jin's couch.