As the belly of the sky turned fish-belly white, Tangtang woke up to see Yun Jingshu sitting by the bedside with a soft smile.
“Mother!” The little girl’s voice was sweet and milky as she grooggily reached out her tiny hands to clutch Yun Jingshu’s collar.
Seeing her daughter rely on her so deeply, Yun Jingshu’s eyes grew even more doting and gentle.
She pulled the yawning little girl into her arms and coaxed her softly, “Darling, it’s time to get up and have breakfast. You still have to go into the palace to meet your Imperial Grandfather soon!”
At the words “Imperial Grandfather,” Tangtang’s sleepy eyes snapped wide open. Her dark, almond eyes sparkled with pure anticipation.
Back in the village, she used to be so envious of all the other children who had grandfathers!
Dazhuang’s grandfather could pull a cart, Erdan’s grandfather bought him candy to eat…
She wondered if her own Imperial Grandfather would be easy to get along with…
Thinking of this, Tangtang slid out of her mother’s arms in a flash. “Will my brothers come with Tangtang to see Imperial Grandfather too?”
Ever since returning home, she hadn’t seen her three brothers yet…
Yun Jingshu’s hands paused as she dressed her. Forcing a tight smile, she said, “Only you and your father are going. Your three brothers aren’t feeling very well and need absolute rest…”
Her three sons had been frail and sickly since childhood. They had seen famous doctors all over the world to no avail, relying entirely on medicine and quiet rest just to stay alive.
Whenever she thought of her three poor sons, Yun Jingshu’s heart twisted in sharp pain.
Noticing her mother’s sadness, Tangtang wrapped her arms around her and coaxed her in a soft, milky voice, “Don’t be scared, Mother! Tangtang will protect you, my brothers, and Father!”
Her three brothers must be affected by the black mist too, which was why they were so weak and sickly.
She was definitely going to find a way to get Mother, her brothers, and Father all lively and full of health!
Once she got back from seeing Imperial Grandfather, she would go check on her three brothers and study hard through the ancient texts her Master had left behind.
Yun Jingshu felt a pang in her heart. She tightened her hold on her little daughter. “Mother only wishes for you to be safe and happy. As for everything else… we’ll talk about it later…”
Though she worried deeply for her three sons, she couldn’t bear to let her little daughter walk into unknown dangers either.
“But… Tangtang wants Father, Mother, and my brothers to be safe, happy, and healthy too…” Tangtang nuzzled against her chest, her little voice soft and sweet.
She loved Father and Mother, and she knew how painful it was to lose those closest to her. She didn’t want them to feel as sad as she had once felt.
Yun Jingshu’s eyes grew moist. She tapped Tangtang’s forehead lightly with her delicate finger. “You little rascal, did you rub honey on your lips today? Even if the sky falls, your father will be there to hold it up!”
The mother and daughter shared a moment longer before Yun Jingshu finally brought Tangtang out to eat.
The moment they walked into the dining hall, Tangtang’s eyes were drawn to several large, neatly placed boxes.
“Mother, is breakfast in there?” Tangtang pointed at one of the large boxes, asking in confusion.
Her brothers weren’t coming to eat, leaving only her, Mother, and Father—there was no way the three of them could finish so much food!
Gu Yanzhao let out a soft chuckle upon hearing her. Sensing his daughter’s gaze shift toward him, he explained, “Those are the copper coins Uncle Mofeng got for you!”
Tangtang’s pupils dilated in shock, and she gasped in disbelief, “Uncle Mofeng gave them? It takes this many boxes just for two copper coins?!”
Then just how big were those copper coins?!
Even if there were five Tangtangs put together, she wouldn’t be able to carry a copper coin that huge, let alone take it out to spend!
Gu Yanzhao chuckled softly. Pinching his daughter’s little cheek, he felt the urge to tease her. “A copper coin that huge—even Father can’t hold it! Tangtang needs to eat well and grow up big and strong if you want to hold such a big coin!”
Tangtang gasped in horror, her almond eyes opening wide as saucers.
A coin so big that even Father couldn’t hold it… just how huge was it…?
She looked down at her tiny arms and legs, then looked at the massive chests in front of her. Dropping right onto her bottom, she burst into loud tears.
In an instant, her earth-shattering cries echoed through the entire dining hall, “Waah… I can’t hold it! I can’t hold it… Uncle Mofeng is picking on a child…”
“Darling, don’t cry, your father is just teasing you…” Yun Jingshu scooped up her little daughter and coaxed her softly, giving Gu Yanzhao a harsh glare. “I’ll settle the score with you later!”
Tangtang’s crying paused. With tear-filled eyes, she looked at her mother and asked, “Really?”
Receiving an affirmative nod, Tangtang immediately buried her head back into her mother’s arms, whispering her grievance, “Father is bad! He lied to Tangtang!”
Good thing she was smart and knew how to use crying to make Mother expose Father’s lie!
Hmph! Tangtang wasn’t fooled by Father at all!
“In a little bit, Father will have someone buy candied haws for Tangtang. Will my darling stop being angry now?” Gu Yanzhao coaxed her humbly.
Candied haws? Tangtang’s little ears twitched. She turned her small head to the side, puffing out her cheeks angrily without saying a word.
The hurt Father caused her was not something a single stick of candied haws could fix!
“How about Father buys Tangtang two sticks of candied haws?” Gu Yanzhao coaxed again.
Tangtang sat up straight instantly. As if afraid he might go back on his word, she said loudly, “Two sticks of candied haws, Father better not forget!”
Hehe~ Tangtang really is a genius, and Father is way too silly.
For breakfast, Tangtang miraculously drank two bowls of chicken thread porridge and ate three meat buns. Her little tummy was stuffed round and plump, causing her to hiccup continuously.
“Mother, Tangtang is going to eat this much every day from now on so I can grow tall and protect Mother!” The little girl rubbed her belly, her tone deadly serious.
Next time Father tries to lie to a child, she’ll scoop him up and throw him right out!
…
Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Mingde was reviewing official memorials when the Head Eunuch, Wang Zhong, hurried inside and reported, “Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience!”
Emperor Mingde raised a hand to rub his temples before replying indifferently, “Let him in!”
Hmph! He wanted to see just what kind of extraordinary origin this little girl they picked up actually had!
“Your humble son pays respects to Royal Father!”
“Tangtang meets Imperial Grandfather!”
A sweet, milky voice resonated through the Imperial Study. Emperor Mingde put on a stern face and looked over, only to see a little girl dressed in a pink dress with two small flower buns styled on her head. She was blinking her bright, dark almond eyes and grinning brightly at him, showing off her tiny baby teeth.
Emperor Mingde’s heart softened instantly, and an inadvertent fondness for her bloomed within him.
Hmm~ Her eyes are clear, obedient, and endearing. Giving her the title of a Commandery Princess wouldn’t be out of the question.
While Emperor Mingde was lost in thought, Tangtang had already tottered over to the imperial desk on her short little legs. Tiptoeing, she offered ten paper talismans toward him. “So you’re Imperial Grandfather~ For our first meeting, this is Tangtang’s gift to you: Cool-Cool Talismans! Stick one on, and cool breezes will blow all over your body. It’s super refreshing~”
Father said Imperial Grandfather manages a vast country and tires his mind and body. Whether in the freezing winter or scorching summer, Imperial Grandfather always works diligently and tirelessly—it’s just way too hard on him…
Emperor Mingde glanced at the talisman paper. Seeing the chaotic, ghost-like scribbles drawn on them, his eyelids twitched.
He had heard of peace talismans and mind-soothing talismans, but this was the first time he had ever heard of a “Cool-Cool Talisman.”
Seeing the little girl looking at him expectantly, Emperor Mingde let out a helpless sigh.
Ah, well. For the sake of her filial devotion, he would reluctantly accept these ghost scribbles.
Emperor Mingde gestured for her to come closer. Tangtang walked over obediently and tilted her head up to look at him. “Imperial Grandfather?”
Strange, why was Imperial Grandfather’s head pitch-black too? It was even blacker than Uncle Mofeng’s and Mother’s…
The little girl blinked her eyes and leaned in a bit closer.
Huh? How come inside Imperial Grandfather’s black mist, there were a few strands of twinkling golden light mixed in? It looked as if the golden light was struggling and crying out for help.