Chapter 27

Ignoring her, she inched even closer until their noses touched, her face looming enormously close.

Nangong Yunshang gave her a push. “Stop fooling around.”

Tao Chuyi did not cry or throw a tantrum at being pushed away. Instead, she squatted cautiously off to the side, her big eyes sparkling as she gazed at Nangong Yunshang, brimming with concern—like a puppy fretting over its sick owner, staying quietly by her side and impossible to shoo away.

Fairy Sister was sick. She had to stay quiet.

Tao Chuyi deliberately covered her mouth so she wouldn’t make a sound.

Nangong Yunshang caught sight of the scene. The usually lively girl had suddenly fallen silent, likely on her account. So the little fool knew how to worry about others.

“No need to worry, Prince Consort. Why don’t you go play outside for now?”

But Tao Chuyi would not budge. She stayed firmly squatted in place, even as her legs went numb. She watched as Nangong Yunshang’s complexion worsened, her entire body radiating frailty. And yet the woman at the desk still reached out for a booklet.

“You need rest! Sick people have to rest!”

Before Nangong Yunshang could react, Tao Chuyi leaped up, hoisted her onto her back, and dashed straight to the bedroom.

“Tao Chuyi! Put me down right now!”

All resistance proved futile. Once through the door, Tao Chuyi stuffed her into the bedding in short order, removed her shoes, and perched on the edge of the couch to watch Nangong Yunshang sleep. If the other woman refused to sleep, she would stare at her until she did, her eyelids finally drifting shut.

Suddenly remembering something, she fished out her rattle drum from her usual playthings and shook it in front of Nangong Yunshang. The drum swayed back and forth—thump-thump-thump—the sound just like a hypnosis aid.

Nangong Yunshang could not fend it off, and she truly was sleepy besides. In no time at all, she lost consciousness.

Tao Chuyi’s coaxing techniques were growing ever more skilled. Once Nangong Yunshang’s eyes closed, the motions of her hands gradually lightened, the rattle drum’s noise softening along with them. The faint, rhythmic patter proved even more soporific; even she began to feel drowsy.

She had once seen Aunt Li from the Tao Mansion lull her own granddaughter to sleep using a rattle drum while singing nursery rhymes. Tao Chuyi had not learned any new rhymes, but she was quite adept at shaking the drum.

Gently, Tao Chuyi set the rattle drum aside and patted Nangong Yunshang’s arm with great care, imitating the motions to perfection.

“Baby be good, baby go sleepy, little baby turn big baby tomorrow!”

Just then, Yinghong entered with some tea. At the sound, Tao Chuyi’s ears twitched. She whipped around and pressed a finger to her lips, urging Yinghong to be quiet.

Yinghong caught on at once and crept forward on tiptoe, careful not to make a sound. When she beheld her princess slumbering soundly on the couch, surprise flickered across Yinghong’s face. It had been ages since the princess had napped so deeply and peacefully in the middle of the day. The prince consort proved useful after all.

After a brief pause, Fendie and the others came looking for Tao Chuyi from beyond the door. Yinghong relieved her of guard duty at Nangong Yunshang’s bedside, allowing her to step out.

Tao Chuyi was loath to leave the bedroom. She wanted to watch over Fairy Sister.

“Young Master, these winter jujubes we just picked are crisp and sweet. Have a taste.”

Without giving her a choice, Fendie tugged her over to the swing and presented a dish of winter jujubes.

Tao Chuyi sampled one, and sure enough, it was just as Fendie described. She reached into the crystal dish again and again.

“Jujubes may be tasty, but you shouldn’t eat too many.”

Xichan stood guard on the other side, holding an empty dish to catch the pits Tao Chuyi spat out.

“Young Master, there will be more tomorrow.”

As the winter jujubes were carried away, Tao Chuyi craned her neck after them.

“All right, Young Master. Let this servant push you on the swing.”

Fendie cooed while wiping the corner of her mouth.

Next, the two maids pushed the swing from either side. It swung higher and higher, and Tao Chuyi grew all the happier for it.

“Wheee! I’m flying! I can fly!”

They took turns pushing for a spell, after which Fendie straightened Tao Chuyi’s hair ornaments—tending to her just like one would a child, overseeing every little thing.

Once the merriment faded, Tao Chuyi remembered the person back in the room. Her radiant smile vanished, replaced by a worried frown.

Fairy Sister was sick. Sick people felt sad. If Fairy Sister was sad, then she was sad too.

She mumbled to herself at length before suddenly asking, “Xichan, how do you cheer up someone who’s sick?”

When it came to caregiving, Xichan knew her business.

“Why, prepare something to whet the appetite, of course—like sour plum porridge. It’s flavorful and opens the stomach right up.”

At those words, Tao Chuyi’s eyes lit up. She clutched Xichan’s sleeve with a death grip.

“I want to learn!”

The maids could not fathom her abrupt desire to cook, but a master’s command was to be obeyed. They shooed the kitchen staff aside for the moment and escorted Tao Chuyi to the kitchen to learn how to make sour plum porridge.

They had scarcely entered when—boom!—a tremendous crash rang out. The kitchen door, windows, and walls had been blasted open in a massive hole.

The three barreled out, covered head to toe in ash, their grimy faces impossible to recognize.

The explosion set the entire Princess Mansion abuzz. Tao Chuyi looked as if she had tumbled straight out of a mud pit, filthy from head to toe, her face streaked with soot.

Nangong Yunshang had already risen. At the sight of the coal-blackened prince consort standing in her bedroom, she betrayed open disgust.

“Wasn’t the backyard enough for your games? You had to go and blow up the kitchen?”

Tao Chuyi swiped at her face a couple of times, but it did little to improve matters.

“I wanted to cook porridge for Your Highness the Princess.”

No need to imagine the catastrophe she must have wrought in the kitchen.

Nangong Yunshang felt not a shred of being moved, only the impulse to seize this little disaster and knead her into a ball.

Before she could act on it, a shadow flitted past the window. Her eyes sharpened, and she rose to approach the sooty Tao Chuyi.

Thinking Fairy Sister meant to tug her ears again, Tao Chuyi hurriedly clapped her hands over them. But far from pinching, Nangong Yunshang steadied her on her feet instead.

“Look at you—so naughty once more.”

Unlike her usual demeanor, Nangong Yunshang’s tone brimmed with indulgence, her touch gentle. She accepted a soft cloth from Yinghong and wiped Tao Chuyi’s face until those exquisite features shone through once more.

“You—never do this again, understand?”

Tao Chuyi stared in a daze. Today’s Fairy Sister was so gentle, so beautiful—she wanted nothing more than to take a bite.

Nangong Yunshang led her forward, and Tao Chuyi’s spirit seemed to float right out of her body. She nodded along to everything said, not understanding a word.

Nangong Yunshang caressed her cheek lightly, then her forehead, before rubbing her earlobe twice.

“The prince consort is growing ever more mischievous. Don’t you agree, Yinghong?”

Yinghong dared not so much as raise her eyes. She dipped her head. “As Your Highness says.”

With that, Nangong Yunshang reclined languidly on the couch and crooked a finger. Tao Chuyi’s eyes went wide, unblinking; without the slightest hesitation, she was reeled in—and promptly nipped at Nangong Yunshang’s lips. Soft candy was as delicious as ever. She wanted to savor it every day.

The instant her teeth made contact, Nangong Yunshang’s cheeks flushed crimson, her gaze flashing with murderous intent—maidenly bashfulness veiling cold steel.

The shadow beyond the window vanished in a flash. Nangong Yunshang shoved her away, rose, and dabbed at her own lips.

“Tao Chuyi, go wash yourself clean. If you ever set foot in here looking like this again, I’ll break your legs.”

The voice was ice-cold; all prior tenderness had evaporated, as if it had been nothing but a dream.

Fairy Sister did not like her anymore.

Tao Chuyi sniffled, on the verge of tears.