Chapter 915: Not Finished Yet

The next day, Li Zhong, the chief eunuch of Fengyi Palace, held a rosewood box and stood respectfully in the main hall of the Ning Prince's Mansion.

Cheng Ru'an smiled faintly and walked gracefully into the hall.

Li Zhong hurriedly bowed and said, "Your servant has seen the Princess Consort."

He presented the box with both hands: "The Empress has ordered me to present this white jade ruyi made of mutton fat to the Princess Consort, as a token of goodwill."

He opened the lid, revealing a jade ruyi lying quietly inside; its jade hue was warm and smooth like congealed fat, flawless throughout, clearly a rare treasure.

Cheng Ru'an glanced at it, smiled faintly, "I, your servant, thank the Empress for the generous gift."

"However, this ruyi is too valuable," she said, her smile unchanged, "My fortunes are meager; I truly dare not accept such a grand gift."

Li Zhong's smile froze for an instant.

He took a half step forward: "Why does the Princess Consort say that? You are Prince Ning's principal consort and mother of the Protector of the Nation Princess; it's merely a ruyi—how could you refuse?"

He paused: "The Empress also said, please bring the princess with you into the palace."

"The Empress misses the princess and wishes to speak a few personal words with you."

Cheng Ru'an's heart gave a slight jump.

The Empress is still entangled in the matter of the Crown Prince's assassination, which remains unresolved.

At this moment, not only does she send a lavish gift, but also asks me to bring Tuan Tuan into the palace—there must be a deeper meaning.

If she only ordered me to enter the palace, it would be fine to go take a look, but involving Tuan Tuan… caution is advisable.

Her smile grew warmer, her voice softer: "I am deeply grateful in my five inner organs for the Empress's grace."

"However…" she showed difficulty, "Receiving such a gift without merit, I truly dare not accept it."

"Please, Li Gonggong, convey that I appreciate the Empress's kindness, but I could never accept such a precious item."

She paused, coughed lightly twice, her tone becoming even more deferential: "These past few days my health has been poor; I fear I might transmit illness to the Empress, making it truly inconvenient to enter the palace. I hope the Empress will understand."

Li Zhong opened his mouth, glanced at the box in his hand, and understood: the Princess Consort of Prince Ning had made up her mind—not to take the item, nor to step into Fengyi Palace.

The Ning Prince's Mansion now flourishes like the midday sun, long no longer the dilapidated state it was when the Prince was ill; the Princess Consort's refusal cannot truly be forced.

He closed the box and laughed, "If so, please focus on recuperating, and we will faithfully report to the Empress."

Cheng Ru'an slightly raised her hand.

Liu Mam understood, hurried forward a step, and handed a sachet to Li Zhong: "Li Gonggong, you have worked hard; please accept this small token, and have a cup of tea."

Li Zhong took it, weighed it, and found the sachet heavy.

He felt a joy in his heart, bowed and said, "Thank you, Princess Consort, for the gift; we shall take our leave."

"Liu Mam, see that Li Gonggong is escorted out properly."

"Yes."

Cheng Ru'an watched Li Zhong's receding back, sighed lightly, noting how pitiful the Empress's current situation truly is.

Yet, concerning Tuan Tuan and the safety of everyone in the mansion, this is the only way.

By the way, where is Tuan Tuan?

"Servant, where is the miss?"

"She is in the garden playing with Young Master Gongsun and General Xiao."

Cheng Ru'an smiled, just as she was about to turn back toward Jinglan Garden.

"Mother!"

Cheng Ru'an's steps halted; her daughter had already rushed in from outside, colliding into her arms.

She quickly bent down to catch her: "Why are you running so fast? Aren't you afraid of falling!"

Gongsun Yue, panting heavily, followed and ran in.

Xiao Feifei rolled in at his feet like a ball.

Xue Tuan perched at the doorway, poking out half a head and mewed, while a small golden tray lay beside it, lazily swaying.

Xiao Er stopped, standing respectfully at the doorway.

Cheng Ru'an lifted her daughter into her arms, raised a hand to smooth the tangled strands: "Weren't you playing with Xiao Yueyue in the garden? How did you end up here with mother?"

Tuan Tuan's little face flushed, eyes sparkling, voice crisp and sweet: "Mother! I'm going to the teacher's residence for class!"

Cheng Ru'an's finger paused.

Class?

This child usually frowns at the words "class," yet today she is so enthusiastic.

At a glance, she doesn't look like someone going to study.

She looked at Xiao Er: "Miss, are you really going to Song Residence for class?"

Xiao Er bowed and replied, "Yes, Princess Consort, indeed. Song Residence just sent someone to invite the miss to attend a lecture."

Cheng Ru'an nodded slightly, "Lord Song has indeed gone to great lengths for you."

"Since your teacher called you, then go." She adjusted her daughter's clothing, gently saying, "Listen attentively, and don't anger Lord Song."

Tuan Tuan pouted, her face full of defiance: "I wouldn't!"

Cheng Ru'an's lips curved slightly, she brushed her little nose lightly: "Come back early."

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan slid out of her mother's arms, turned and ran outward, shouting as she ran, "Xiao Yueyue! Help me feed Xiao Feifei and the others!"

Gongsun Yue nodded vigorously, shouting back, "Don't worry, Tuan Tuan! Study well!"

Tuan Tuan stumbled at her foot.

Xiao Er's eyes flashed, his hands swift, and he scooped her up, holding her securely in his arms.

Xiao Tuanzi perched on Xiao Er's shoulder, making a funny face at Gongsun Yue.

Gongsun Yue bent down, lifted Xiao Feifei, and waved its little paw at Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Er looked down at the child in his arms and said, "Miss, let's go."

Tuan Tuan hugged his neck and said, "Hmm."

Xiao Er strode toward the gate outside the Song Residence.

Cheng Ru'an gazed at the retreating backs of the big one and the little one, smiled, and shook his head.

Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan to the Song Residence, just as they entered the Moon Gate of the rear courtyard; before he could set her down, Song Zhulin leapt down from a stone bench.

He was holding something in his arms and, excitedly, ran toward them.

"Tuan Tuan! Why are you just arriving! I've been waiting for you so long!"

Tuan Tuan looked down and asked, "Ball?"

"Yeah! This ball is so fun! Sister covered it with leather, and it can be kicked really far!"

Tuan Tuan slipped out of Xiao Er's arms, took the bamboo ball, weighed it in her hand, and said, "So light!"

Song Zhulin grabbed her hand and ran toward the garden, "Come on, let's see who can kick it the farthest!"

"Alright!" The two little hands held each other and ran away.

Xiao Er couldn't help but sigh, then laughed again.

Miss Song of the Song family truly was a lady; knowing she disliked studying, they now deliberately arrange for someone to invite her when Lord Song is absent.

So that's just great—she can't attend a single class, the miss is merely playing elsewhere.

Crickets, paper kites, marbles… she has played them all.

He turned around, intending to wait at the doorway, when a gentle voice from behind said, "General Xiao, please stay."

Xiao Er turned his head and saw Song Shujun walking slowly toward him, followed by a maid with a screen, holding a teapot and two tea cups.

Song Shujun sat on a stone bench, and the screen placed the teapot and tea cups on a stone table.

She lifted her hand, poured a cup, and smiled as she pushed it to the opposite seat.

"General Xiao, please sit. The border frontier battlefield you spoke of last time hasn't been finished yet."