Chapter 932

Prince Ning and his wife personally greeted them, and host and guest took their seats.

"Serve the tea."

A moment later, Song Jingxian lifted his teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly: "This tea is not bad; is it this year's newly picked pre‑rain Dragon Well?"

Cheng Ru'an smiled: "Exactly, His Majesty just bestowed it a few days ago."

Song Jingxian took another sip, gently set down his cup: "Regarding that day's matter, I have asked Shu Jun."

Cheng Ru'an leaned forward slightly and hurriedly asked: "What did Miss Song say?"

Song Jingxian gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "That silly girl, she just kept her head down looking at her handkerchief and didn't say a word."

"I asked her to nod, but she didn't."

Xiao Yuanhang frowned slightly, exchanged a glance with his wife, looking puzzled: "Miss Song... does she actually consent or not?"

Cheng Ru'an, however, smiled, lightly pressed her husband's arm, and looked at Song Jingxian: "A young lady's feelings are like this."

"Lord Song, has she ever shaken her head in refusal?"

Song Jingxian startled: "No, she hasn't."

He sighed helplessly: "I, too, can do nothing about it."

"Before I left today, I told her I was going to the Prince Ning's mansion, and only then did she nod her head."

Cheng Ru'an overjoyed: "That means she agreed!"

Xiao Yuanhang froze for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed loudly: "A young lady's heart is truly hard to fathom! I, the Prince, have fought half my life and still can't figure it out!"

Song Jingxian shook his head with a bitter smile, then composed himself: "Since Your Highness can acknowledge General Xiao as a brother and even enter him into the clan register, I naturally trust his character."

"However," he paused, "I have a presumptuous request."

Xiao Yuanhang raised his hand slightly: "Lord Song, speak freely."

"After my daughter marries, may she reside in the Prince Ning's mansion?" Song Jingxian looked at Prince Ning and his wife: "At the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Tuan Tuan stepped forward to protect Shu Jun; I am deeply grateful."

"As long as Tuan Tuan is there, Shu Jun will surely have no one daring to bully her."

"Moreover, if she resides in the mansion, tutoring Tuan Tuan would be convenient, eliminating the need to travel back and forth daily between the Song Residence and the Earl of Loyalty and Righteousness's mansion."

After hearing this, Xiao Yuanhang exchanged a glance with Cheng Ru'an, and both laughed at once.

Xiao Yuanhang's brows rose with delight: "Lord Song, this is exactly what I had in mind! Come, let's go take a look together."

The three left the Flower Hall, walked along the bluestone path, passed through two moon gates, and arrived at the southeast corner of the Prince's mansion.

Here, trees screened the area, forming its own secluded space; a pink‑wall, gray‑tile courtyard gate bore a plaque with the two large characters "Return to the Garden."

Xiao Yuanhang pushed open the gate, revealing a small, exquisite courtyard before his eyes.

The main hall consists of three rooms, the east and west wings each have two rooms, and an old tree with lush foliage stands in the center of the courtyard.

Under the tree stands a stone table with four stone stools; a clump of bamboo grows in the corner, its leaves rustling softly in the wind.

"Tuan Tuan doesn't want Xiao Er to leave the mansion, and she is close to Miss Song." Cheng Ru'an pointed to the east wall: "After they marry, they can live here; opening a door in that wall would allow them private access."

Song Jingxian slowly entered the courtyard and looked around.

He walked to the tree, lightly patted its trunk, then went to the east wall and examined the section where a door would soon be opened.

"'Return to the Garden'—what a fine name!" he murmured: "Xiao Er hanging up his armor to return to the garden, and Shu Jun's heart finding its home here—how fitting."

After a long while, he turned, nodded to Prince Ning and his wife: "This place is excellent, Yuanhang; you've put thought into it."

"If so, I have no further worries."

Xiao Yuanhang laughed: "Then this marriage is settled."

"Tomorrow, the Prince and Xiao Er will go together to present the betrothal gifts."

Song Jingxian said: "I will await you both at the residence." Having spoken, he turned and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Prince Ning and his wife exchanged a smile and followed him side by side.

Three days later, Xiao Yuanhang took Xiao Er to the Song residence to deliver the betrothal gifts.

Sixty‑four bearers carried the lavish betrothal gifts into the Song mansion's main gate—gold and silver silks, dragon‑and‑phoenix wedding cakes, a pair of live geese—everything was complete.

Lord Song personally welcomed them at the gate, invited them inside, and accepted the betrothal letter.

The next day, in the Jinglan Garden, Cheng Ru'an was bustling about, busy.

Tuan Tuan hugged Xiao Feifei, playing with its big tail, looking puzzled: "Mother, why have these past few days Miss Song not let anyone come call me to play?"

Cheng Ru'an, busy to the point of barely touching the ground while managing this marriage, hurriedly replied: "Because your Miss Song is about to move in."

Tuan Tuan's eyes widened: "Who is Miss Song going to marry?"

Cheng Ru'an blinked: "Your second uncle! According to propriety, before the wedding she cannot meet him privately, so naturally she won't call you over anymore."

Tuan Tuan pouted: "No one told me at all."

Cheng Ru'an then realized she had been so preoccupied that she had, it seemed, never told her daughter.

She couldn't help but laugh: "It's all Mother's fault for not saying a word to you."

"You, just stay honestly in the mansion; before long you'll be able to see Miss Song every day here."

Tuan Tuan set Xiao Feifei on the ground, sprang up and ran outside, shouting as she went: "Second Uncle! Are you getting married?"

Xiao Er's ears turned bright red, and he turned to flee.

Tuan Tuan lunged forward, grabbed his sleeve: "You'd better say it!"

Xiao Er, helpless, crouched and nodded: "Yes, Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan flung herself into his arms: "Great! Second Uncle, once you bring Miss Song into the mansion, I won't have to keep going to the teacher's house!"

"Nor will I have to worry each time that the teacher might suddenly return."

"Tuan Tuan," Xiao Er shook his head, "Miss Song is being taken in as a bride."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, "Shall we go to the Blessing Luck Teahouse to tell Seventh Uncle?"

Xiao Er froze; these days he felt as if he were walking on cotton, his mind in a jumble.

He slapped his forehead: "How could I have forgotten! Alright, Second Uncle, I'll take you there right now!"

He lifted Tuan Tuan in his arms and strode out the door.

As the two entered the Fuyun Tea House, the place was bustling with clamor and extraordinary liveliness.

Lu Qi was busy greeting the tea guests.

Seeing them enter, he immediately came to meet them: "It's been so long since you came!"

"Quick, go upstairs; only one private room remains. If you're late, I'll have to ask you to sit in the back garden."

Tuan Tuan shouted crisply, "Uncle Qi!"

"Hey!" Lu Qi replied loudly.

"So many people here!" Tuan Tuan looked around: "Where's Sister Su?"

Lu Qi mumbled, "She… is resting at the back."

Tuan Tuan tilted his little head: "Resting? Is Sister Su ill?"

"No, not ill." Lu Qi turned and left, "Let's go upstairs first."

Tuan Tuan poked his small body out of Xiao Er's arms and grabbed his clothing: "Uncle Qi, I want to go see Sister Su!"

Lu Qi turned around, and an embarrassed flush rose on his face.

He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and finally managed only one word: "She…"

Xiao Er furrowed his brows: "Brother Lu, what's really going on with Shopkeeper Su?"

Lu Qi was stared at by two pairs of eyes, his ears turning bright red.

Lu Qi pulled Xiao Er into a corner, leaned close to the two, and whispered low as if committing a theft: "Wan Yun… she's pregnant."

"We just invited a physician yesterday; she's always dizzy, so she rested at the back…"

Tuan Tuan's eyes widened instantly, and he shouted, "Sister Su has a baby?"

Lu Qi hurriedly waved his hand: "Lower your voice! Lower your voice!"

His neck was red, and his big hands didn't know where to place themselves.

Xiao Er smiled: "Congratulations, Brother Lu!"

Lu Qi gave him a punch.

Tuan Tuan persisted: "Sister Su has a baby, I want to go see her!"

Lu Qi, helpless, could only lead them to the back garden.

Lu Qi grabbed Xiao Er: "Miss, you can go in; Wan Yun is shy and feels embarrassed to meet people."

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan hopped and pushed the door, entering: "Sister Su, I'm here!"

Lu Qi and Xiao Er had barely exchanged a couple of words outside when Tuan Tuan ran out.

She blinked her big eyes, smiling as she looked up at Lu Qi: "Uncle Qi! Do you want to know whether Sister Su's baby in her belly is a boy or a girl?"