Pei Qingci gazed toward the direction of the tightly shut mansion gates.
“Perhaps she’s a pitiful child missing her mother. If she comes again, lead her inside. Do not drive her away anymore.”
“Yes! The princess is truly merciful!”
The two servants promptly responded.
Prince’s Manor, main hall.
The gold-painted ivory chopsticks paused above the silver-edged jade bowl.
Xiao Lin took two tasteless bites, his gaze repeatedly sweeping toward the courtyard.
That Little devil… why hasn’t she come rolling back yet?
Though she’s quite troublesome, she’s only three years old after all. Having left the golden nest of the prince’s manor, where could she possibly go?
Steward Liu Bo had long been like an ant on a hot pan, rubbing his hands together as he paced back and forth in the hall.
“Your Highness! The little princess has been out for almost half an hour! The streets are filled with all sorts of people, this… how can this old servant rest easy! I beg Your Highness to permit this old servant to take people out to search for her!”
Beside him, Su Yuyao picked up her silk handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her mouth.
“Your Highness, it’s all my fault for speaking out of turn. Why not send the guards to look for her? When Luo Luo is found, Your Highness… can comfort her?”
She was certain that the words “apology” would be the best fuel to add to Xiao Lin’s fire.
“This prince will go personally!”
Xiao Lin suddenly stood up, his black gold-woven brocade robe stirring a gust of wind.
He almost couldn’t wait to rush out of the main hall, his steps swift as thunder.
The two personal guards Yun Ying and Xuan Ying reacted with lightning speed, turning like shadows to follow him. In an instant, the three disappeared at the end of the manor’s corridor.
Leaving only Su Yuyao frozen in place with astonishment, her jade-like hands clutching the silk handkerchief so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Xiao Lin…
He actually went?
What’s so good about that little brat.
That he would trouble himself to go personally!
Her carefully calculated chess game had been completely disrupted by Xiao Luoning’s unconventional move. Su Yuyao felt a stifling anger in her chest.
Streets and alleys.
“Reporting to Your Highness, the East Market has been thoroughly searched, no trace of the little princess!””
“The West City has been checked too, we haven’t found the young mistress!”
Liu Bo came running from another direction, panting heavily, his old face pale: “Your Highness! We’ve searched several alleys to the south too, nothing there either!”
Xiao Lin stood in the center of the street, his face dark like water.
He had just conducted a carpet search of North Street, yet Xiao Luoning remained missing without a trace.
Anxiety wrapped around his heart like vines tightening instantly.
Could his words “get out” this morning have been too harsh?
“Dispatch more men! Even if we have to turn the entire capital upside down, we must find the little princess!”
“As you command!”
Bustling market.
Luo Luo wandered along the street like a deflated little ball, head drooping and dispirited.
The surroundings were filled with bustling crowds, various hawkers’ cries creating a deafening noise.
When steamers were opened, the aroma of steaming buns filled the air; golden, oily roast ducks dripped with honey sauce.
“Gurgle…”
A loud stomach rumble came from her little belly.
Having argued with her scummy father early in the morning, she hadn’t eaten breakfast at all.
Now, tempted by these enticing smells, the greedy worms in her stomach collectively rebelled.
Luo Luo gazed longingly at the steaming meat bun stall, drool nearly escaping from the corner of her mouth. She quickly wiped it with her small sleeve.
Her little face scrunched up, she mustered courage and approached the white-bearded bun seller. Tilting her face up, her milky voice was soft and pitiful:
“Grandpa, can Luo Luo… beg for a bun to eat?”The old man looked at the small child before him – dressed in fine clothes but with a face full of grievance – and felt a deep sense of compassion.” He took oiled paper and wrapped a steaming large meat bun, stuffing it into her hands.
“Ah, pitiful child, eat quickly and warm your belly.”
“Thank you, grandpa! Grandpa is such a great person!”
Luo Luo treated it like a treasure, holding the bun that was larger than her face with both hands, taking a big “chomp” bite.
The hot meat filling burned her mouth, making her blow on it repeatedly, but she didn’t care about the heat as she wolfed it down. Soon, her little mouth was circled with grease.
“Young mistress, I’ve finally found you!Yun Ying’s figure swept to the front of the stall like a whirlwind, heaving a long sigh of relief as if unloading a heavy burden.
“Your Highness! The little princess is here! Safe and sound!”
Xuan Ying’s booming voice followed closely behind.
The crowd parted as if by an invisible authority. Xiao Lin, dressed in black martial attire with a face cold as frost, strode over with large steps.
Luo Luo’s bun-chewing paused. She raised her greasy little face, her dark, bright eyes completely skipping over her father and landing on Yun Ying, blooming into a smile.
“Uncle Yun Ying, this old grandpa gave Luo Luo the bun. Can you help Luo Luo give him money?”
( ′ )
Little Luo Luo pointed at the bun seller, her little calculations clicking away, just not looking directly at a certain someone.
Xiao Lin’s sword-like eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly: Is this little thing getting bold?
Daring to treat this prince as if I don’t exist?
Suppressing his emotions, he personally took a full five-tael snowflake silver ingot from the brocade pouch at his waist and handed it to the bun seller’s rough hands.
“Y-Your Highness! This… this won’t do! How much is a bun worth? It doesn’t deserve this much!The old man was about to kneel in fear.
“Keep it.Xiao Lin’s voice was deep and heavy, “The bun she ate is worth more than a thousand gold.””
This money was both thanks and peace of mind.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s grace!”
The old man clutched the silver ingot, both shocked and delighted.
Only then did Xiao Lin lower his gaze, his eyes heavily falling on the little oil bottle who was focused only on eating her bun and pretending not to see him.
“Had enough fun? Let’s return to the manor.”
Xiao Luoning twisted her small body around, leaving only a stubborn, proud, and round back of her head for a certain someone.
Her small voice raised high: “Not going back! Not going back! You were the one who told Luo Luo to get out!Xiao Lin looked at this little thing full of drama, suppressing his helplessness, he said淡淡:
“In the manor, freshly steamed crab roe soup dumplings, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, osmanthus sugar rice cakes.”.. are all prepared and about to get cold.”
Luo Luo’s bun-chewing instantly stopped.
Delicious foods danced in her mind, and the greedy worms in her stomach reappeared.
For the sake of so many delicious foods, she’d reluctantly give Xiao Lin a way out.
The next second, the little princess decisively stretched out her greasy, fragrant little paw toward her father.
“Luo Luo wants to go home now.”A flash of helpless yet doting dark light passed through Xiao Lin’s eyes.” His large hand reached out, very naturally avoiding the oily paw, and steadily picked up this “oil bun spirit” who had finished causing trouble and now wanted to go home.
Not caring at all that the grease might stain his priceless brocade robe.
Oh well, his own little ancestor – could he really abandon her?
*
Su Yuyao had long adjusted her posture, forcibly maintaining a flawless, dignified smile as she stood up to welcome them.
But when she saw Xiao Lin personally carrying Xiao Luoning, with the little thing comfortably nestled in her father’s arms, the Little devil, taking advantage of being carried, actually turned her head and accurately made a super big face at Su Yuyao – sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes.
The arrogance was simply against the heavens.
Su Yuyao was so angry she nearly fell backward, her carefully maintained nails almost breaking in her palm.
This bastard had actually come rolling back completely unscathed again.
Xiao Lin directly settled the little girl back onto her exclusive gold-painted low stool.
Before her on the white jade plate were various delicious foods that had long been replenished.
Amber, oily roast chicken glistened temptingly; delicate, translucent lotus pastries were pink and adorable; and a bowl of milk-rich custard steamed hotly.
“Eat.”
Luo Luo didn’t need any urging from him. One oily paw (somewhat cleaned by wiping on her scummy father’s sleeve) accurately reached for the largest roast chicken leg.
“Crunch” – she took a bite that dripped with juices, happily squinting her large eyes.
“Mmm! So delicious, so delicious ′!”
Her little face looked as satisfied as a little bear cub that had just stolen honey.
Although the scummy father’s eyes were blinded by the Fox spirit, for the sake of this entire table of delicious foods, Luo Luo, being magnanimous, would reluctantly forgive him today.
Xiao Lin subsequently took his seat, his gaze never leaving the “little glutton.”” He actually personally tore off a plump piece of duck leg meat from the other side of the plate and placed it in the white porcelain small dish before Xiao Luoning.
“Slow down.The low voice carried a warmth even he himself hadn’t noticed.
Across from them.
Su Yuyao’s hand holding the chopsticks nearly snapped the slender ivory chopsticks.