Before the last word could fully leave her mouth, Tangtang’s lips were tightly covered by Yun Jingshu, who simultaneously raised her voice to dismiss everyone in the courtyard.
Tangtang blinked her big eyes. Why did Mother’s face look even paler than it had a moment ago?
Oh no! She had been so busy playing with and coaxing Mother that she hadn’t brewed the talisman water for her to drink yet!
At that thought, Tangtang anxiously pulled Yun Jingshu’s hand away and spoke in her crisp voice, “Mother, you need to drink the talisman water, or else you’ll fall into a deep sleep again!”
Gu Yanzhao’s eyelids twitched. Taking his wife and daughter by the hand, he hurried into De’yin Hall.
Inside the vast hall, only the sound of the three of them breathing could be heard. It was a long while before Gu Yanzhao spoke with great difficulty.
“Sweet Tangtang, tell Father—what happens when that black mist grows too heavy?”
Tangtang snuggled in Yun Jingshu’s arms, tilted her head to think for a bit, and then whispered, “The people at home will get sick and unlucky, and over time, they will die!”
Just like Mother—if she hadn’t crossed paths with Tangtang, she would have quietly passed away in her sleep without anyone ever knowing.
Hearing this, Gu Yanzhao’s body went taut, his fingertips turning white from tension.
If what his daughter said was true, was the entire imperial palace enveloped in this mysterious black mist?
Furthermore, although Tangtang was a young Taoist practitioner, she was only three years old after all. If even she could see the black mist, could the State Preceptor truly not see it?
His imperial father and the Crown Princess had suffered from these strange illnesses for far more than a day or two. Given the State Preceptor’s mastery of divination, could he really be ignorant of where the affliction originated?
This string of suspicions caused Gu Yanzhao’s expression to turn increasingly grim.
He raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose before softly instructing her, “Tangtang, you must not tell anyone besides Father and Mother about your ability to see the black mist, do you understand? Tangtang is still small and doesn’t know how malicious human hearts can be!”
“What about Uncle Feng? The black mist on him was eaten by Yaya like candy drops…” At the mention of Mo Feng, Tangtang’s small face couldn’t help but puff up in anger.
She had gone through all that trouble to save Uncle Feng, asking for only two copper coins, yet he had been too stingy to pay up, trying to trick Tangtang with two pieces of paper instead!
Uncle Feng was the definition of malicious human hearts!
“Uncle Feng still owes me two copper coins! Father, remember to ask for them back!” Tangtang looked at him with an utterly serious expression, repeating herself for fear that her father might forget.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Tangtang slid down from her mother’s lap in complete contentment.
Her tiny hand reached into her dingy gray pouch and pulled out a stack of yellow talismans. “Mother, burn one to ashes, mix it with water, and drink it! Just drink one a day!”
After downing a bowl of talisman water, Yun Jingshu felt a warm sensation spread through her entire body, and even her groggy, heavy head cleared up significantly.
She scooped up her little daughter, kissed her small cheek, and said in a voice so tender it could melt hearts, “My sweet baby is so amazing!”
Tangtang giggled, her tender pink face filled with pride.
In the past, her friendly ghost pals used to praise her like this too. After all, she was the all-powerful King Tangtang.
After lunch, Tangtang snuggled in Yun Jingshu’s arms, her eyelids starting to flutter shut.
Before long, soft, faint snoring sounds began to echo.
Yun Jingshu gazed at the little child in her arms, the warmth in her eyes threatening to overflow.
Her sweet baby only needed to live happily without a single care; everything else could be left to her and His Highness.
“Hongyu, take Tangtang for her afternoon nap! Cuiyu, take a few servants to Jinxiu Workshop to fetch a few sets of clothes for Tangtang! Have the small kitchen simmer some snow pear soup so Tangtang can drink it when she wakes up!”
Since Tangtang was going to meet the Emperor tomorrow and there wasn’t enough time to tailor new outfits, Tangtang would temporarily have to wear off-the-rack clothes from outside.
Her own dowry held plenty of fine fabrics, so in a few days, she would have many new outfits made for Tangtang. At her age, she ought to dress up prettily.
On the other side, at the guards’ quarters.
Mo Feng was rummaging through drawers and trunks inside his room, hunting for the savings he had accumulated over the years, when Gu Yanzhao walked in silently. “What are you searching for?”
Startled, Mo Feng spun around immediately and dropped to one knee. “Greetings, Your Highness!”
His master walked without making a single sound—even he, the top secret guard in the Imperial Capital, hadn’t noticed a thing!
Was His Highness part cat or something?
While complaining internally, Mo Feng maintained an utterly respectful expression on his face.
Just as he was dazed in thought, Gu Yanzhao suddenly extended his hand toward him.
Mo Feng was completely baffled. After a moment’s hesitation, he offered his own hand, only for a sharp slap to land right on the back of it the next second.
“Master?” Mo Feng was thoroughly shocked, staring at his master in disbelief.
Why beat him out of nowhere?
Hadn’t His Highness extended his hand to pull him up?
And what was with that look on His Highness’s face? Why did it feel like he was looking at him with disgust?
“I’ve come to collect a debt on Tangtang’s behalf—give me the two copper coins!” Gu Yanzhao demanded in a cold voice, his face dark.
Had Mo Feng gone mad? How dare he try to hold hands with him!
A wave of revulsion swept through Gu Yanzhao’s heart. Tomorrow, he would definitely have the imperial physician prescribe a few extra doses of medicine for Mo Feng to drink.
Only then did realization dawn on Mo Feng. So His Highness was here to collect the debt for the little master!
Phew, what a relief—just a false alarm.
Mo Feng hurriedly proffered a stack of banknotes. “Master, this is my entire fortune—I offer it all to the little master!”
Money was merely a worldly possession to him. As a secret guard living on the edge of a blade, he might lose his life on any given day.
If he died before spending all his money, he wouldn’t even rest easy as a ghost, so it was far better to give it all to the little master to spend.
Gu Yanzhao raised an eyebrow, casting a cool side-glance at him as he remarked casually, “Exchange one hundred taels into copper coins and send them over to Tangtang. Keep the rest for yourself!”
His daughter didn’t recognize banknotes, and he had no desire to be rejected and looked down upon like Mo Feng was.
Hearing this, Mo Feng silently tucked the remaining banknotes back into his chest pocket.
Ah well, he would find another opportunity to spend it on the little master in the future.
…
As the sun gradually drifted west, Tangtang rubbed her eyes and scrambled up from the bed.
“Young Mistress, are you awake?” Fuquan’s deliberately softened voice sounded nearby.
Tangtang let out a yawn before calling out in a soft, sweet voice, “Uncle-Auntie Fu?”
Hearing this title, the corner of Fuquan’s eyes twitched. Though he was still somewhat unaccustomed to it, he had no mind to correct her.
His whole head was currently filled with thoughts of that yellow talisman the little master had given him.
Speaking of which, it was truly miraculous. Last night, he had casually placed that talisman at the head of his bed, and not only had he slept peacefully straight through until dawn, but he hadn’t experienced a single nightmare either!
In the past, Fuquan wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a thing…
At this thought, Fuquan’s demeanor grew all the more respectful.
“Little Master, are you hungry? This servant had some pastries prepared—would you like to try them?”
The moment she heard there were pastries to eat, Tangtang’s eyes rounded instantly. She reached her tiny hands out toward Fuquan. “Carry me~”
Fuquan hurriedly scooped her up, his chubby face beaming so widely his teeth showed.
Forget about carrying the little master—even if she wanted to ride him like a horse, Fuquan would be more than happy to oblige.
The instant the pastry hit her mouth, Tangtang squeezed her eyes shut in pure bliss.
Noticing Fuquan staring at her expectantly, Tangtang blinked, reached out, grabbed a piece of pastry, and held it out to him. “Uncle-Auntie Fu, you eat too!”
Good things had to be shared with good friends!
Fuquan stared blankly at the pastry in his hand, a flood of mixed emotions washing over his heart.
Not only had the little master given him a talisman to ward off evil, but she even remembered him when she had delicious food. *Sob sob…* An eunuch like him, whose sole purpose was to serve others, was actually being treated with such warmth and respect by the little master.
Fuquan’s knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor with a loud *thud*, knocking his head three times in deep gratitude.
Tangtang was so startled that she slid right off her chair, ignoring the pastry that had tumbled onto the ground. “Uncle-Auntie Fu, get up quickly~ Tangtang is still little, you can’t kneel to me…”
After much pleading and coaxing, Fuquan finally stood up. However, he made a silent resolve in his heart: from now on, if the little master ordered him to chase a dog, he would never chase a chicken!