Chapter 99: Taken Away by the Empress Dowager

The guards checked his waist token and let him pass; Cui Daisheng led Tuan Tuan forward at a leisurely pace.

They met Eunuch Cheng face-to-face: "Jiziu sir, what brings you…?"

His gaze fell on Tuan Tuan, and he immediately broke into a grin: "Little Princess, how did you come into the palace?"

Cui Daisheng looked at him with a "you know what" resigned expression, just about to reply, when Tuan Tuan jumped in first: "Grandpa, I'm here to play with Third Elder Brother! Last time he said the imperial kitchen has lots of tasty food—I want to go there and try some."

"Grandpa, where does Third Elder Brother live? I'm going to find him."

Eunuch Cheng heard this, quickly bowed his head and spoke softly: "Little Princess, really unfortunate— the Seventh Prince left the capital on imperial orders two days ago and isn't in the palace right now."

"Huh? He's not here either?" Tuan Tuan's little face instantly fell, her mouth pouting, her big eyes full of disappointment.

Seeing this, Eunuch Cheng silently thought to himself.

His Majesty places great importance on this little princess; if he lets her go away disappointed like this, and His Majesty finds out later, he might well blame himself.

He immediately said: "How about this, Little Princess— Grandpa takes you to see His Majesty, alright?"

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "What's the point of seeing Imperial Uncle? He won't play with me."

Eunuch Cheng blinked: "His Majesty really can't accompany you in play, but you can't just leave like that."

"After all, she's a child— you just need to coax her: 'Little Princess, you came to see the Seventh Prince just to taste the imperial kitchen's cooking, right?'"

"Grandpa will tell you: in the imperial kitchen, the most exquisite and delicious pastries and dishes made each day are all sent straight to His Majesty! So what's in His Majesty's palace is truly the best of the best!"

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, thought it over, and nodded: "Alright then."

Eunuch Cheng felt relieved: "Let this old servant take you to see His Majesty? If His Majesty knows you've come, he'll surely be pleased."

Cui Daisheng felt as if pardoned, hurriedly handed this "hot potato" over to Eunuch Cheng, then turned and left.

Arriving outside Zichen Hall, Eunuch Cheng reported: "Princess Jiayou requests an audience with His Majesty!"

Xiao Jieyun, who was reviewing memorials, heard this, set down his vermilion brush, and said: "Let her in."

Upon seeing Tuan Tuan, Xiao Jieyun's weariness vanished at once: "Tuan Tuan? Just you alone? What made you decide to come see Imperial Uncle today?"

"Imperial Uncle!" Tuan Tuan let go of Eunuch Cheng's hand, ran over, and flung herself forward: "Third Elder Brother promised last time to take me to his place to eat the tasty food from the imperial kitchen.

"Grandpa said he's not in the palace, so I came to see Imperial Uncle!"

"Ah, you're just a little greedy cat come to beg for food at my place!" Xiao Jieyun laughed heartily at her undisguised greedy-cat manner.

He scooped Tuan Tuan up in one arm: "Come on! Let's eat together, Imperial Uncle! Cheng Jinyan, order the imperial kitchen to prepare several extra dishes today, suitable for the Little Princess's palate."

"Yes! This old servant will see to it right away." Eunuch Cheng secretly rejoiced, glad he'd coaxed the Little Princess over— look, His Majesty likes her!

Soon, a large table of exquisite imperial dishes was set out.

Knowing the princess is young, the imperial kitchen prepared mostly easy‑to‑digest, flavorful dishes— crab‑powder lion's head, steamed venison, and so on— everything one could wish for.

They also prepared a variety of exquisite, cute pastries.

Tuan Tuan gave a earnest critique of every bite she took.

"This meat is soft and tender— delicious!"

"This soup is sweet and not cloying— so fragrant!"

"This fish is sweet and sour— really refreshing!"

Xiao Jieyun watched, amused: "If you like it, eat a few more bites— that's how you grow up fast!"

Seeing Xiao Jieyun eat slowly, barely moving his chopsticks, Tuan Tuan lifted her rice‑smudged little face: "Imperial Uncle, why are you eating so slowly? Aren't you hungry?"

Xiao Jieyun smiled and shook his head.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Imperial Uncle, let's have a eating contest— see who can eat more!"

Hearing this, Eunuch Cheng hurriedly protested: "Little Princess, you mustn't do that— you can't urge His Majesty while he's dining."

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "I wasn't urging him at all!"

Eunuch Cheng choked slightly, about to explain.

Xiao Jieyun waved a hand, thinking he had never before dealt with such a lively, lovable child, and found the little tot before him especially amusing.

The children in the palace, upon seeing him, all behaved properly, each just like the next.

He answered in a single bite: "All right! Imperial Uncle, I'll compete with you!"

The big and the small really got into it, mouthful after mouthful, unable to stop.

Xiao Jieyun unconsciously ate far more than usual.

Eunuch Cheng watched from the side, his heart blooming with joy— who says His Majesty has a poor appetite? Beside him, they really lacked a child like the Little Princess.

Soon, Tuan Tuan had eaten until her little belly was pleasantly round.

Seeing many dishes still untouched on the table, she asked: "Imperial Uncle, may I take all these home?"

Xiao Jieyun laughed: "Tuan Tuan, aren't you full yet?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I'm full! But Grandma, Dad, and Mom haven't had any yet!"

"When there's something good, of course we have to share it with the family!"

Xiao Jieyun felt a stir in his heart, a warm, faint current and a touch of envy rising.

As a prince, he has had to observe the rules constantly since childhood; even to see his own father emperor he must seek an edict, and royal family affection is thin— such pure familial joy is rare.

He gently stroked Tuan Tuan's head, his voice especially soft: "Tuan Tuan is right— we should share with the family."

"To keep them constantly in your thoughts— you're truly a good child."

"Cheng Jinyan, tell the imperial kitchen to prepare an extra serving of each dish— no, make it double! Pack them carefully in food boxes for the Little Princess to take back to the Prince's Mansion."

"Thank you, Imperial Uncle! Imperial Uncle is the best!" Tuan Tuan cheered, laughing so hard her cheek dimples deepened.

After the meal, Xiao Jieyun chatted with Tuan Tuan for a while, then ordered Eunuch Cheng to arrange the palace's most comfortable carriage, to send the contented Xiao Tuanzi and several large food boxes of imperial fare back to the Prince's Mansion.

The carriage proceeded smoothly along the palace road leading to the gate.

Suddenly, several people reached out to block it.

The leading old matron, her face stern, said to the little eunuch in the carriage: "The one inside must be Princess Jiayou, right?"

Tuan Tuan heard someone calling them, lifted the curtain and looked out: "It's me. Who are you?"

The old woman's lips curled into a faint contemptuous smile: "The Empress Dowager has heard that Princess Jiayou entered the Palace, and has specially ordered this old servant to come. Please have the Little Princess sit briefly in the Empress Dowager's Shoucheng Palace."

In the Empress Dowager's Palace? No! No!

Tuan Tuan shouted loudly: "Old lady! I won't go! I want to go home!"

The young eunuch recognized that this old woman was someone close to the Empress Dowager, surnamed Qin.

He showed an uneasy expression: "Qin, His Majesty has just ordered that I, the servant, send the Little Princess out of the Palace back to the residence. Look, the Little Princess herself also …"

Qin's tone hardened a few degrees: "The Little Princess is still very young; how could you take her words seriously?"

"The Empress Dowager only wishes to have a word with the Little Princess. Could His Majesty possibly stand in the way of the Empress Dowager's affection for a junior?"

"The Empress Dowager has also prepared a reward for the Little Princess. You should return and report; the Little Princess will be looked after by the servants."

The young eunuch, helpless, could only jump down from the carriage.

Qin snatched the whip and reins from his hand with a swift motion and handed them to the young eunuch behind her: "Go!"

The young eunuch took them, scrambled onto the carriage: "All set!"

Qin and several other old women stood around the carriage; the carriage turned a corner and continued onward.

Tuan Tuan saw that the original young eunuch was still frozen in place, and stared at the carriage.

She stretched out a small arm, continuously pointing toward the direction of Zichen Hall, where she had come from.

The young eunuch instantly realized, bolted back: "Hurry back and report to His Majesty!"

The Little Princess has been taken away by the Empress Dowager!