Chapter 15 Little Fisherman's body has developed fish scales!
The young palace maid lay paralyzed on the ground, trembling like a leaf, unable to utter a single word.
Mu Fang's heart skipped a beat. He rushed to his daughter's side, picked her up, and his fingers trembled as he reached for her mouth.
"Little Yu'er, hurry! Spit it out!" His voice was distorted.
Mu Yu was startled by his nervous appearance. Her little face scrunched up, and she spat out two loud "Ptooey!" sounds, sticking out her tongue: "Daddy, I already spat it out! It tasted awful!"
One sentence made Mu Fang both anxious and want to laugh.
"Guards!" Chu Yuan's voice rang out, devoid of any warmth. "Drag him away and send him to the Imperial Prison! Interrogate him inch by inch! I want to see whose hand dares to reach into my Imperial Study!"
As soon as she finished speaking, two expressionless imperial guards walked in and dragged the palace maid, who had already fainted from fright, out like a chicken.
Steward Li bowed to Chu Yuan and followed him out with a livid face.
Only the Emperor, Mu Fang and his daughter, and Princess Jianing, who was still holding a hibiscus pastry and was stunned, remained in the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty!" Mu Fang, holding his daughter, suddenly knelt on one knee. "My daughter is unwell and has accidentally ingested something unclean. I beg Your Majesty to summon the imperial physician immediately!"
All he wants to do now is find out what his daughter ate and whether she'll be alright.
"Get up." Chu Yuan waved his hand, his gaze falling on the two bowls of cherry jelly on the small table.
One bowl was almost untouched, while the other had a spoonful scooped out, with tiny teeth marks still remaining on it.
His eyes were unfathomable.
This child can not only see fortune, but also discern the danger hidden in food with the slightest precision.
Auspicious omen, indeed an auspicious omen!
He looked at the little one in Mu Fang's arms who was still smacking her lips, savoring the strange taste, and softened his voice: "Minister Mu, there's no need to panic. She herself said it was 'bad cherry jelly,' so she probably didn't swallow much."
He then turned to Princess Jianing, who was practically disappearing into the ground, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Jianing."
"Your subject is here..." Princess Jianing's small body trembled.
"You've seen it too," Chu Yuan said. "From this day forward, you will stay by the little princess's side, never leaving her side. Wherever she goes, you go. With her here, I don't think anyone in this palace will dare to touch you."
Princess Jianing looked up blankly at Mu Yu, who was peeking her little head out of Mu Fang's arms.
Mu Yu made a face at her, then pointed to herself like she was showing off a treasure: "That's right! I'll protect you from now on! If anyone bullies you, I'll... I'll pull their hair!"
Princess Jianing looked at her, her tense little face finally relaxing slowly, and she nodded heavily.
Mu Yu was a restless person, squirming in Mu Fang's arms, and finally pouted impatiently: "Grandpa Emperor, it's so stuffy here, let's go out and play?"
Her big eyes darted around, full of anticipation.
Looking at her, Chu Yuan was genuinely infected by her vibrant energy, and the chest tightness and fatigue he had been experiencing for days seemed to lessen somewhat.
He actually smiled and said, "Okay. What does Little Yu'er want to play?"
"Kick the shuttlecock!" Mu Yu immediately perked up, waving her little hand with great enthusiasm, "My daddy used to be the number one shuttlecock kicker in the army! Isn't that right, Daddy?"
Mu Fang, whose name was called, froze, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
When did he ever say such a thing!
But faced with his daughter's bright, adoring gaze, he could only grit his teeth and give a vague "hmm."
Chu Yuan burst into laughter, amused: "Good! Li Fu! Go and fetch the best shuttlecock! Today, I want to see the might of the Duke of Protectorate!"
Soon, the group moved to the open space outside the Imperial Study.
Manager Li brought over a shuttlecock made of colorful pheasant feathers; it was extremely beautiful.
Mu Yu was immediately delighted when she saw it and snatched it to hug.
"Daddy, you kick it first!" She shoved the shuttlecock into Mu Fang's hands, her face saying, "Hurry up and start your performance."
Under the emperor's amused gaze, Mu Fang felt a chill run down his spine.
He's a general who used to charge into battle, and now he's going to perform shuttlecock kicking here?
But with his daughter's expectations and the emperor's "decree" both in place, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed.
He took off his outer robe and stretched his muscles. The shuttlecock bounced lightly and steadily on his toes, knees, and shoulders, showing that he actually had some skill.
"Wow! Daddy is so amazing!" Mu Yu clapped her hands, her face full of pride.
Princess Jianing stared wide-eyed, her little face full of envy.
Chu Yuan leaned back on the soft couch, watching this rare moment of relaxation, a faint smile on his face.
Mu Yu's playful nature was aroused, and she clamored that she wanted to play too.
She grabbed the shuttlecock and, imitating Mu Fang, lifted her short leg and kicked it hard!
Instead of the shuttlecock flying, she ended up sitting on the ground with a thud.
"Ouch!"
She didn't cry. She got up by herself, patted the dirt off her bottom, and giggled nonstop.
She then handed the shuttlecock to Jia Ning: "Poor little thing, you should try it! This is so much fun!"
Jia Ning timidly waved her hand, not daring to step forward.
"Why don't you give it a try!" Mu Yu shoved the shuttlecock into her hands without waiting for a reply. "It won't hurt if you fall!"
With her encouragement, Jia Ning finally mustered up the courage to kick it cautiously.
The shuttlecock flew off crookedly, but she smiled so happily that her eyes crinkled.
Two little girls, one boisterous and the other quiet, chased each other around in the sunlight, their clear laughter carrying far.
Even Chu Yuan couldn't help but stand up and, with the help of Steward Li, gently kicked the shuttlecock that flew towards him.
Although he was followed by a suppressed cough, the smile in his eyes became much more genuine.
Mu Fang stood aside, looking at his daughter's carefree smiling face, and his unease eased a little.
Perhaps, this is for the best.
Mu Yu chased after a shuttlecock that flew very high, her face flushed and fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
The previous fatigue, mixed with the strange taste of that "bad cherry jelly," gradually made her feel a little dizzy.
She laughed and jumped up to reach the shuttlecock, but stopped abruptly the moment she landed.
He froze on the spot, and the smile on his face vanished.
"What's wrong, Xiaoyuer?" Mu Fang noticed his daughter's unusual behavior immediately and quickly went over to her.
Mu Yu did not answer, but slowly and somewhat blankly raised her hands.
She stared blankly at her own two fair, chubby little hands.
"Father..." Her voice was very soft, with a hint of panic that she herself was unaware of.
Mu Fang knelt down and took her hand: "Father's here. What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Father, look..."
Mu Yu turned her hand over and brought it close to Mu Fang's eyes.
Beneath her smooth and delicate skin, faint, translucent, strange patterns could be seen.
The patterns were neatly arranged, and under the sunlight, they refracted a few tiny, iridescent halos.
It looks like... fish scales.
Mu Yu's large amber eyes filled with tears; she was about to cry, and she whispered in a nasal voice, her voice trembling with sobs:
"Father... Little Yu'er... seems to be growing scales..."
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