Just as Young Master Sun was about to pounce on Nangong Yunshang, a shadow darted forward and tangled with him in a brawl. Young Master Sun was no match for the assault and could only curl up with his head protected as the punches rained down.
Tao Chuyi’s eyes had turned red. “Bad guy! Don’t bully Fairy Sister!”
By the time the guards had the situation under control, she still hadn’t finished pummeling him. Young Master Sun’s face was already covered in blood, and he lay there gasping faintly for breath.
Councilor Sun’s pleas and shouts drowned out every other sound, but Tao Chuyi seemed deaf to them all. It was as if she had made up her mind to beat Young Master Sun to death right then and there.
“Prince Consort, Prince Consort, please stop!”
Only when Nangong Yunshang spoke up did Tao Chuyi finally halt. Her hands were red from the beating. She pouted, released her grip on Young Master Sun, and returned to Nangong Yunshang’s side.
“He’s a bad guy. I beat the bad guy for you.”
Tao Chuyi said, looking all aggrieved.
Nangong Yunshang smiled and reached out to pat her head. “Thank you, Prince Consort. Hand him over to Dali Temple, and he’ll receive the punishment he deserves.”
Under Nangong Yunshang’s gentle coaxing, Tao Chuyi finally abandoned the notion of beating Young Master Sun to death.
After days of interrogation, it turned out that everyone in the Sun Residence—aside from the guests—had been involved in harming those innocent women. The chief culprits were Councilor Sun and Young Master Sun. Since Young Master Sun was a fool, he couldn’t be sentenced to death and was merely confined to a cell for supervision for a time, after which he would be released.
Councilor Sun, the steward, and the manservants were all condemned to decapitation. The maids and old women who had aided them received prison sentences of varying lengths. Only the root of all the evil, Young Master Sun, escaped formal punishment.
When Tao Chuyi returned to the mansion, she wasn’t punished at all. Instead, she was rewarded with a big drumstick. Xichan and Fendie took turns tending to her, practically feeding her by hand.
“Young Master, come on. Open up—ahh…”
Fendie held up the bowl of porridge, scooped out a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to her lips.
Tao Chuyi dodged away and shook her head as she retreated. “Chuyi doesn’t like porridge. It has no flavor.”
Fendie set the plain congee aside, her eyes brimming with gentle affection. With great patience, she asked, “What would Young Master like to eat? This servant will go prepare it.”
She bit her finger and tilted her head, lost in thought.
“I want roast duck from Five Treasures Tower!”
“This servant will send someone to buy some.”
When Fendie turned to leave, Tao Chuyi lunged forward and grabbed her sleeve.
“I want to go too.”
In the face of Tao Chuyi’s coquettish pleading and her full-on tantrum of rolling around on the floor, Fendie caved without a shred of resolve.
The pair snuck out of the mansion and made a beeline for Five Treasures Tower.
When the fragrant roast duck was finally brought to the table, Tao Chuyi clapped her hands and broke into a foolish grin as she reached out to grab a piece.
“Young Master, don’t rush. Your hands will get all greasy.”
Fendie picked up a pancake and prepared a wrap for her. “Let this servant handle it.”
She laid out a pancake, added three slices of roast duck, tucked in some scallion shreds, dipped it in sauce, and handed it over.
Tao Chuyi took a big bite, and the sheer deliciousness nearly sent her soul flying right out of her body.
Happy times never last, always interrupted by unwelcome visitors. She had just finished two duck wraps when a certain big villain showed up.
“So the Prince Consort is here.”
Prince Ning traveled with all the pomp befitting imperial kin. His guards stood watch outside the private room as he strolled inside, exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries, and took a seat directly across from them.
“This King would like to ask the Prince Consort for a small favor.”
Tao Chuyi was still chewing, staring at him in blank confusion.
Prince Ning had one of his men bring over an ornate brocade box and place it in front of Tao Chuyi.
“As long as the Prince Consort puts in a good word with the Princess to have Young Master Sun released soon, the deed to this Five Treasures Tower is yours. From now on, whenever you crave roast duck, they’ll deliver it right to your door. They can even come make it for you on the premises if you like.”
Gold, silver, jewels, and high office might not tempt a simpleton who didn’t understand their worth. But food? No one could resist that—especially not a little glutton who loved to eat.
Sure enough, Tao Chuyi immediately yanked the box over and handed it to Fendie to hold.
Prince Ning smiled, right on cue. “Since the Prince Consort has agreed, this King will await the good news.”
Once Prince Ning and his men had departed, Tao Chuyi and her servant returned to the Princess Mansion. This time, they made it back without breaking curfew.
Tao Chuyi clutched the brocade box to her chest and went thump-thump-thumping off to the main chambers in search of Nangong Yunshang.
“Your Highness the Princess!”
Nangong Yunshang glanced up at her. “What brings the Prince Consort here?”
Tao Chuyi slapped the box down on the table. “Prince Ning gave this to me. It’s the deed to Five Treasures Tower. Now we can have roast duck right here in the mansion!”
Yinghong caught on at once. She stepped forward and opened the box. Sure enough, it was the deed to Five Treasures Tower.
“And what did he ask you to do in return?”
Nangong Yunshang cut straight to the chase.
She had asked directly, and Tao Chuyi answered just as frankly.
“He told me to tell Your Highness the Princess to let the bad guy from the Sun family go.”
Nangong Yunshang let out a cold snort. In her heart, she thought that Prince Ning truly doted on his concubine, going so far as to swallow his pride and seek the Prince Consort’s help for her sake.
“So why didn’t you do as he asked?”
At those words, Tao Chuyi blinked in puzzlement. “But I did exactly what he said. I already told Your Highness the Princess.”
Nangong Yunshang couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. She beckoned Tao Chuyi over. “What this Princess means is, why didn’t you trick me for once and say it was your own idea to let him go?”
Tao Chuyi scooted closer and plopped down cross-legged at her feet, gazing up with flushed cheeks.
“Liars are bad children. Chuyi is a good child.”
“Such a good girl.”
Nangong Yunshang patted her head, just as she would when praising Little Eight.
“Have someone pass a message to Minister Chu: It’s not so unusual for a fool to accidentally fall to his death in his cell.”
Once Yinghong had received the order and withdrawn, Nangong Yunshang reached out to toy with Tao Chuyi’s ear, giving it a couple of playful tugs.
“Does the Prince Consort think Young Master Sun deserves to die?”
Tao Chuyi nodded vigorously. “He’s a bad guy. Even fools who are bad guys are bad guys.”
Nangong Yunshang paused for a stunned moment before curving her lips in a smile. “Who calls the Prince Consort a fool? The people of this world can’t compare to one simple child.”
Three days later, the members of the Sun Residence met their fates at the execution grounds. At the same time, Young Master Sun succumbed in his cell to a sudden flare-up of an old ailment, leaving people to sigh in regret.
Prince Ning had lost both his lady and his troops. Not only had he failed to help his concubine, but he’d also forfeited an entire Five Treasures Tower.
“Roast duck is so yummy!”
Tao Chuyi dashed around the garden with a duck in her left hand and a chicken in her right. The maids and servants chasing after her couldn’t keep up.
Xichan only made it halfway before she doubled over, hands on her waist as she leaned against the railing and panted for breath.
“Ancestor, stop running already…”
Little Eight seemed to sense something and began hopping wildly about inside its cage.
“Ancestor! Ancestor!”
“How does the Prince Consort have such boundless energy?”
Yinghong fed melon seeds to Little Eight while gazing out the window in bewilderment.
Nangong Yunshang let out a sigh. She started to rise but suddenly felt a wave of panic and shortness of breath, forcing her to sit back down.
“Your Highness?”
Yinghong dropped the seeds and hurried over, hovering at her side in concern. “Haven’t you been getting enough rest these past few days?”
Nangong Yunshang didn’t reply. It was just her old affliction acting up. Every so often, nightmares plagued her nights, robbing her of sleep and leaving her drained even during the day.
“Your Highness the Princess!”
Tao Chuyi burst into the study, holding up the chicken and duck. “For you!”
“Oh dear, ancestor, please take these live creatures away quick!”
Yinghong’s head was spinning. She hurriedly took the birds and thrust them at Liuzi.
Nangong Yunshang’s face was ashen pale right then, her eyes rimmed red and shadowed with faint dark circles underneath.
Tao Chuyi lingered in the doorway for a moment before darting to the desk and staring intently at her.
“Your Highness the Princess, are you not feeling well?”
