Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Visiting Uncle Lin
Inside the Imperial Study, the emperor was radiant with joy.
“Hahaha! Good! As expected of my Sweetie! First place in the entrance exam, straight into Sun-Chasing Class!” He leaned forward, delighted. “Tell me—what reward do you want? Imperial Father will grant anything!”
Sweetie blinked, not hesitating at all. Her baby voice came out clear. “Imperial Father, Tian Tian wants to go to the Dali Court and see Uncle Lin Chong!”
First place in the entrance exam still wasn’t enough to release Mother, but at least she could see her uncle.
Two birds with one stone. Fix Uncle’s problem first.
The Dali Court’s prison was dark and damp.
Lin Chong curled in the corner on a pile of straw, hair tangled, beard untrimmed. His once-handsome face was gray with despair as he murmured over and over, “Framed… I was framed…”
His prison clothes were filthy, the smell sharp and sour.
“Lin Chong! You’ve got a visitor!” the jailer barked.
Lin Chong lifted his head numbly, cloudy eyes turning toward the cell door.
Backlit by the dim corridor, a small figure stood there—delicate as carved jade, dressed in embroidered palace clothes, staring at him with curious dark eyes.
A hallucination…?
He squeezed his eyes shut hard, then opened them again.
The little figure was still there.
The jailer unlocked the door, threw Lin Chong a warning look, then retreated.
Sweetie walked in on short legs, fearless. “Uncle?” she asked brightly. “Are you still alive?”
Lin Chong froze.
After a long moment, he rasped, hardly daring to believe it, “You… you are Consort Li’s daughter?”
Sweetie nodded hard, face serious. “Mm! Tian Tian is the real niece! Not that fake Bad Sister! Mother said Tian Tian looks like her!”
Lin Chong stared at the child—snowy-cute, with a familiar shadow of his sister in her brows and eyes. His dead-still heart felt like a pebble had been dropped into it.
A ripple spread, faint but real.
He’d heard about the baby-swapping turmoil. So this was his true niece.
Lin Chong and Consort Li had always been close.
Even though Consort Li was a concubine-born daughter, Lin Chong had treated her like his real sister. The big madam cared about legitimate versus concubine-born lines, but in Lin Chong’s eyes, none of that mattered.
In the gloomy cell, the moment he heard Consort Li had been sent to the cold palace for pleading on his behalf, Lin Chong’s body jolted.
For the first time, fierce emotion cracked through his gray face. “What?! It… it was me who dragged Your Ladyship down!”
He shut his eyes, voice hoarse with pain.
“Uncle, don’t be sad!” Sweetie tiptoed, struggling to reach his drooping shoulder so she could pat it. Her big eyes glittered with mischief. “Tian Tian has a way to help you!”
Lin Chong opened his eyes and looked at the little bean who wasn’t even as tall as his leg. He gave a bitter shake of his head. “Sweetie, be good. This matter is too big. You—”
“Isn’t it just that the disaster-relief silver went missing?” Sweetie interrupted, cheerfully outrageous. “Tian Tian has silver! Lots and lots! Enough for Uncle to fill the hole—and enough to feed the disaster refugees!”
Lin Chong’s pupils shrank. He sat up straight in a flash. “W-what did you say? Silver… where did you get it? Could it be Your Ladyship she—”
Sweetie wagged a little finger mysteriously. “Uncle, don’t worry about where it came from! The most important thing is you have to get out—fast.”
Lin Chong dragged in a breath and forced down the storm in his chest. “Right. Right! I… I asked to be jailed myself. As long as I submit a memorial to His Majesty, explain I can solve the relief problem, and sign a military pledge, His Majesty should allow me to redeem my guilt through service!”
“That’s great!” Sweetie clapped happily. “Uncle, write the letter, quick! Once you’re out, Tian Tian will put the silver right into your hands! I promise you’ll handle this assignment beautifully!”
Inside Yang Qing Hall, the Retired Emperor listened to Eunuch Teng’s animated report, clapped his hands, and laughed until the sound shook the room.
“Hahaha! Good! Good! As expected of my Sweetie! This cleverness, this boldness—exactly like me when I was young!” The more he spoke, the more excited he became. He slapped the table hard. “No! My precious darling suffered so much. Now she’s this impressive—this must be celebrated properly! Teng An, go call the emperor here at once!”
The emperor hurried over. The Retired Emperor’s face was glowing, and he made the decision with absolute authority.
“Emperor! Sweetie brought huge honor to the royal family! It pains me to see it—she’s been back for so long, yet she hasn’t enjoyed any blessings. Instead she suffered with Consort Li in the cold palace!” He leaned forward, voice rising. “This time, we must throw a grand celebration banquet! Let the entire court—ministers and nobles alike—see just how outstanding my Ninth Princess is!”
“Even if the Empress Dowager has not returned, the rites cannot be neglected! Give this to the Empress. It must be done beautifully—best banquet, brightest palace lanterns, liveliest opera troupe!” He laughed, delighted. “I want Sweetie to become the capital’s most dazzling little lucky star!”
The emperor, seeing his Imperial Father in such high spirits, smiled and agreed. “Imperial Father, rest assured. Sweetie is outstanding. This son will have the Empress spare no effort. I will not let my pearl gather dust.”
Sweetie rode back toward the palace in her carriage.
“Whoa! The road ahead—make way!” Old Chen the coachman shouted anxiously.
“What are you yelling for?” a spoiled boy’s voice snapped. “Can’t you see our Heir Apparent and Commandery Princess’s carriage is here? Get lost and wait on the side!”
Sweetie lifted the curtain corner, curious.
In the middle of the road, a lavish carriage bearing the crest of Prince Gong blocked the narrow lane completely.
Before it stood a boy in brocade, about eight or nine, and a girl dressed like a flower, around the same age. Both held their chins high, as if the road had been built for them alone.
Not far from their feet, a girl in rough cloth sat on the ground, disheveled and shaken. She clutched a little girl who was wailing loudly.
The older girl’s arm was scraped and bleeding. A battered medicine basket lay overturned beside her, herbs scattered like spilled secrets.
Shi Mei You planted her hands on her hips and shrieked at the girl. “Blind trash! You startled this Commandery Princess’s horse. I should charge you for the fright! And you still dare demand medical fees? Dream on!”
Shi Zhi chimed in, then kicked the medicine basket over again for emphasis. “That’s right! Take your little tagalong and get lost! Don’t block our way! Keep talking and I’ll send you to the authorities!”
The girl on the ground trembled, angry and scared, tears wobbling in her eyes. “It was clearly… clearly your carriage going too fast…”
“Stop!”
A clear baby shout rang out.
Everyone turned.
A tiny girl, delicate as carved jade and dressed in fine palace clothes, hopped down neatly from the carriage behind.
Chu Tian Tian ran over on short legs—thump, thump, thump—and crouched beside the injured girl. She gently touched the bleeding arm, brows knitted. “Sister, does it hurt? Tian Tian will blow on it for you.”
Then she stood, lifted her face, and stared straight at the Shi siblings without the slightest fear. Her baby voice carried unquestionable authority. “Your carriage hit someone! You didn’t apologize, you didn’t help treat the injury, and you even cursed and kicked things. Didn’t your parents teach you right and wrong?”
Shi Zhi choked on the sudden little intruder, then flared in angry embarrassment. “Where did this wild brat come from? You dare meddle in this Heir Apparent’s business? Get lost!”