Chapter 3 Yes, I'm home.

Huang Ying led Physician Li out of the palace. The nanmu door was gently closed, and Physician Li only caught a glimpse of the young man gently coaxing the little girl on the bed to sleep.

Huang Ying stepped in front of Physician Li, offering a respectful and polite smile: "Please, Physician Li."

In late autumn, most of the crape myrtle flowers in Yuqing Palace had already withered, but no one noticed that a new bud had suddenly sprouted on the highest branch.

As they approached the palace gate, Huang Ying stopped and whispered, "Our Highness knows that Imperial Physician Li is a favorite of the Imperial Concubine, but please, Imperial Physician Li, keep today's matter a secret for the time being."

Huang Ying was the head maid of Yuqing Palace, and Huang Ying's name naturally meant Xie Yunchuan.

The incident back then dealt a huge blow to Consort Rong. Now that the Second Princess has returned to her rightful place, it's not as simple as just letting her go back to the palace. There are still many things that need to be investigated.

Xie Yunchuan did this simply to avoid any mistakes and to help Sheng Sheng recover her health.

Physician Li naturally understood such a simple principle: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will obey Your Highness's orders."

Inside the hall, Xie Yunchuan had thought that the little dumpling would be scared by herself, and planned to go and deal with matters after coaxing the little dumpling to sleep. Unexpectedly, as he was coaxing the little dumpling to sleep, it was he who was reluctant to leave.

Sheng Sheng blinked her eyes, holding the usually majestic big dog in her arms, the two of them snuggled together in the blanket watching him.

The little dumpling leaned its head against Yan Hu, only its head peeking out, looking at him expectantly and shyly, its big, watery eyes seeming to be talking to him, pitiful and adorable.

Xie Yunchuan: ! My little sister is so cute!

Sheng Sheng tilted her head: "Brother?"

"Ahem." Xie Yunchuan coughed lightly, covering his face. "Shengsheng, your brother has some things to take care of later. How about I tell you a story before you go to sleep?"

Sheng Sheng obediently nodded: "Okay, Sheng Sheng, go to sleep."

Xie Yunchuan chuckled, tucked her in, thought for a moment, and then began to tell her the story in a slow voice.

"Once upon a time, there was a young boy who spent his days immersed in poetry, literature, horsemanship, and archery, but he found it all rather dull. Then one day, his younger sister was born. On the day of her birth, hundreds of magpies circled the roof and chirped in unison. People said it was an auspicious sign."

"Wow." Sheng Sheng imagined the scene. "Is it a fairy coming?"

"Yes, the little fairy has arrived." Xie Yunchuan looked at her gently. "The boy feels that his sister is his little fairy. She brings him a lot of joy, so much so that even those dry scriptures become interesting. The boy visits his sister every day, and their parents also love this little fairy very much."

Envy shone in Sheng Sheng's eyes. How wonderful.

Xie Yunchuan paused and smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead: "But suddenly one day, my sister disappeared."

"Ah?" Sheng Sheng also became anxious: "Where did my sister go?"

"My sister... was kidnapped by bad guys," Xie Yunchuan said in a hoarse voice, then smiled when he saw Sheng Sheng's worried expression. "But it's okay, that boy found his sister later."

"Really? That's wonderful! The little fairy is going home!" Clapping erupted.

"Yes, she went home."

Xie Yunchuan silently added in his heart that he would never lose his little fairy again.

"Yan Hu, stay with Sheng Sheng."

Yan Hu was raised by Xie Yunchuan from a young age; he is intelligent and perceptive.

Yan Hu let out a howl and scrambled to the foot of the bed to lie down next to Sheng Sheng's legs.

After the little dumpling closed its eyes and fell asleep obediently, Xie Yunchuan went to the side hall.

Thirteen was already waiting in the side hall. As soon as Xie Yunchuan stepped in, Thirteen knelt down and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. We only found out that it was someone from the Duke of Jingguo's mansion who abandoned the princess in the back alley last night. As for the rest... there was not a trace at all."

Xie Yunchuan's face was cold. The fifteen-year-old boy had already shown his sharpness, both fierce and composed.

"Prince Jingguo's Mansion?"

"Yes, Your Highness has already sent men to arrest one of the servants and is currently imprisoning him in a mansion in the northern suburbs. Would Your Highness like to interrogate him personally?"

The first Duke of Jingguo spent his life on the battlefield and was a founding hero personally appointed by the late emperor.

However, many years have passed, and the Duke of Jingguo's mansion has long since declined. The current Duke of Jingguo is an ordinary person with no outstanding achievements in the court.

How did this matter get involved with the Duke of Jingguo's mansion?

Xie Yunchuan pondered for a moment: "Prepare the horses, let's go to the northern suburbs now."

After Xie Yunchuan left for a while, Shengsheng opened her eyes.

Sheng Sheng stared blankly at the cloud pattern on the ceiling, feeling a strange emptiness in her heart.

"Does Sheng Sheng have an older brother now? Where was Sheng Sheng before?"

He muttered to himself, trying to grasp at the fragments in his mind, but he couldn't remember anything.

Yan Hu lay beside Sheng Sheng's legs, watching over her. Hearing her voice, he asked, "Sheng Sheng, what's wrong?"

Unable to fall asleep either way, Sheng Sheng simply lay down next to Yan Hu and started chatting with him: "Sheng Sheng doesn't know either, it's just... I feel like I've forgotten something. Never mind me, little puppy, little puppy, what's your name?"

"Yan Hu".

"Salt Tiger? Does that mean a very, very salty tiger?"

"...If you say so, then it is."

"Hehehe, my name is Shengsheng, um... I don't know why I'm called Shengsheng, but everyone calls me Shengsheng, so that's my name."

"Everyone? Who else is calling you Shengsheng?" Upon catching the key words, Yan Hu sat up abruptly.

Sheng Sheng was taken aback: "Oh right, who else calls me Sheng Sheng?"

The little dumpling blinked, looking puzzled.

Yan Hu wagged its tail twice, remembering what the imperial physician had said, and thought it would be good if she could forget what happened before.

Let go of all the pain from the past; happiness will surely follow.

"Keep your voice down. If you can't sleep, would you like to take a walk in the garden?"

"Okay, okay!" Sheng Sheng hesitated, "But what if my brother can't find me when he comes back? He'll be worried."

"It's alright, His Highness has gone out tonight and is not in the palace." Yan Hu jumped off the bed, shook his fur in the breeze, his golden fur glossy and shiny. "Let's take a shortcut to the Imperial Garden for some fresh air, no one will notice. The chrysanthemums there are in full bloom, you'll definitely like them."

"Hmm..." Sheng Sheng was a little tempted. "Sheng Sheng wants to see the flowers! Then, let's go for a little while, and come back after we see the flowers, okay?"

"Your body is still weak, so you can't stay outside for too long, lest you catch a cold." Yan Hu picked up a small oil lamp and put it in his mouth, wagging his tail as he went outside. "Come on, your brother Yan Hu will protect you."

The little dumpling put on her little shoes and followed Yan Hu. Knowing that she was still sick, she wrapped herself in a small blanket so as not to catch a cold and worry Xie Yunchuan.

Yan Hu led her away from the palace maids on night watch and slipped out through a small gate of Yuqing Palace.

The two little ones walked along the dimly lit path, with only the moonlight and the small oil lamp in their hands providing some light.

"Yan Hu, Yan Hu, how old are you? Are you Sheng Sheng's older brother too?"