On this day, Liang Sheng learned a phrase: "What is owed must always be repaid." He felt that he had made up for all the hard work he had done since taking office.
When he finally dragged himself back to the government office under the stars and moon, he saw a courtyard full of tigers of all sizes. After a scream, he was carried back to his residence.
Meanwhile, by the time Huo Chengche returned to the palace with the little boy, the news of today's events had already spread throughout the streets and alleys, and even the palace unsurprisingly knew about it.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has awakened!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince took a tiger out of the palace to attend Old Madam Qin's birthday celebration. On the way back, the tiger suddenly ran into a house and knocked down a wall?!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is kind-hearted. Although it was an unintentional mistake, he has ordered porridge to be distributed for five days and will find out the owner of that house and personally visit him to apologize on a chosen day."
"I heard that tiger is a sentient being. It appeared in the bustling city with a little girl before. It was docile and obedient, and never hurt anyone. Its sudden attack on that house might mean there's something unclean inside! It's said that when the soldiers rushed in, there wasn't a single person in the entire house!"
...
These words were passed around until there were almost no traces of the little boy and Xuandi. Huo Chengche nodded in satisfaction when he heard Fu Man's report.
Rumors are unpredictable; no one knows whether they'll be spread as good or bad. Huo Chengche wouldn't allow his little one to be scolded in the slightest. As for Mou Di, if it weren't for the little one, he wouldn't care even if he was scolded to death; he might even applaud it!
"Your Highness, a palace servant from Shouci Palace has come to deliver a message: Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requests your presence." Fu Man said from outside the gate as soon as the carriage entered the palace.
Huo Chengche nodded as expected. He felt the little soft bundle in his arms move. He looked down and saw that the little baby was awake. He was squinting sleepily, whimpering, and turned to snuggle into his arms, as always, loving to sleep.
The boy smiled faintly, picked up the little girl, let her wrap her little hands around his neck, and let her snuggle against his shoulder.
"Niannian is awake? We're back in the palace. We should go and pay our respects to your Empress Dowager and let her know we're safe. We've been away from the palace for so long, she must have been worried." The boy gently coaxed the little girl, inhaling her faint milky scent.
"Okay!" the little dumpling replied in a childish voice, the last syllable drawn out, looking as sleepy as if he had just woken up.
Huo Chengche smiled and patted her again. Afraid that she would fall asleep again and disturb her sleep at night, he specially sent a fast-moving eunuch to the imperial kitchen to bring over a plate of sweet but not cloying snacks.
As soon as the plate of snacks was brought into the carriage, the little baby who had been whining and unwilling to wake up immediately twitched his little nose and turned his head to look at the snacks. His dark, reluctant eyes blinked and quickly looked at the snacks.
Huo Chengche smiled, pinched one, pulled the little baby close to his chest, and fed it to her.
The little dumpling immediately woke up from her sleepiness after munching on a snack. She happily sank into her dimples, puffed out her cheeks, and chewed heartily, her bright, sparkling eyes reflecting the stars.
It was almost time for dinner, so Huo Chengche only had two small, chewy snacks brought out. After the little dumpling finished eating, they arrived outside Shouci Palace.
The little boy pouted, swallowed hard, and then snuggled into Huo Chengche's arms, nuzzling him affectionately. In a childish voice, he pleaded, "Crown Prince, Nian Nian still..."
"Hey, watch out! What's wrong with you?"
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