The Imperial City: Wang Royal Manor

"Big brother Tián Qǔ you came," Little Dumpling yell in excitement running towards Liu Tián Qǔ. Little Dumpling threw himself at Liu Tián Qǔ, causing Liu Tián Qǔ to stagger back a few paces under the force of his weight as he hugged her tightly. Liu Tián Qǔ felt deep affection for the young boy well up in her heart as she returned his hug and patted him on the back.

"I missed you so much, Big Brother. I waited a very long time for you to come see me." Little Dumpling was completely ecstatic to see his new friend.

"Sorry it took me so long, Little Dumpling. Now that I have permission from the Emperor to come and visit you. I will stop by more often." Liu Tián Qǔ promised with a gentle smile.

Little dumpling squeezed Liu Tián Qǔ tightly one more time before finally releasing her and taking a step back.

"How have you been Little Dumpling?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked, looking him over carefully. For a person that has been eating vegetables for a month, Liu Tián Qǔ found it deeply perplexing that Little Dumpling didn't look to have lost any weight.

Releasing a long sigh, Little Dumpling said, "Bored, and sick of vegetables."

With a low chuckle, Liu Tián Qǔ asked, "Have you been sneaking meat from somewhere? How is it you haven't lost any weight if you have been eating only vegetables for almost a month?"

Little Dumpling jerked in shock before frantically quickly looking around to see if anyone was near. "Don't even mention such things if my mother finds out I'm dead."

Liu Tián Qǔ laughter grew from a light chuckle into a deep laugh. "Little Dumpling, there is no way your mother doesn't know. I would bet my last gold coin. She is just acting like she doesn't know."

Little Dumpling looked at Liu Tián Qǔ with a look of mild panic on his face. "Oh man, I'm in trouble. What if my mother decide to extend my punishment?"

Standing at the entrance to Little Dumplings courtyard. Liu Tián Qǔ shook her head wryly at Little Dumpling with a doting soft smile on her face. "A word of advice, Little Dumpling."

"What advice does big brother have?" Little Dumpling said looking up at Liu Tián Qǔ with a hopeful expression on his face, hoping that Liu Tián Qǔ could tell him the magic secret that would fix every one of his problems.

"First, it's rude to leave a guest at the entrance without inviting them in. Secondly, you don't discuss matters that you wish to remain a secret out in the open." The dumbfounded look that appeared on Little Dumpling face sent Liu Tián Qǔ once more into laughter.

Little Dumpling finally got a hold on himself. Indeed Little Dumpling and Liu Tián Qǔ was still standing at the moon gate entrance to Little Dumpling's courtyard. Little Dumpling bowed and said, "Sorry for the discourtesy Big Brother I got so happy that you came. I forgot about everything else."

Liu Tián Qǔ waved away Little Dumpling's apology as Little Dumpling escorted her into the chambers of his courtyard. Liu Tián Qǔ was escorted to a high table in a receiving/sitting room in the chambers of Little Dumbling's courtyard. Liu Tián Qǔ sat the large bag she was carrying by her feet. She then took a seat at the high round table that Little Dumpling gestured for her to be seated at. Liu Tián Qǔ couldn't help but inwardly smirk as she watched Little Dumpling turn into a well trained proper host.

Liu Tián Qǔ briefly looked around the receiving/sitting room that Little Dumpling escorted her into while Little Dumpling poured tea. Although decorated in a dark-colored minimalistic style, it was tastefully and elegantly well done. An opened hard partition opened into what looked to be a study with tall bookshelves that were stuffed to capacity with books and scrolls. In a corner of the room on the tripod that Liu Tián Qǔ had specially made for it was the telescopic spyglass.

Liu Tián Qǔ turned her attention back to Little Dumpling as he passed her a cup of tea. Liu Tián Qǔ took a sip of tea before placing the tea on the table before her. Little Dumpling waited until Liu Tián Qǔ finished taking a sip of tea. With that, he considered his host duties done and threw them out the window. With a beautiful grin on his face, Little Dumpling looked at Liu Tián Qǔ and asked, "So did you bring me anything good?"

Unable to restrain herself, Liu Tián Qǔ burst in a deep laughter. 'Aiya, this Little Dumpling is just too cute.' He reminded her so much of her Little Taro.

"I brought two toys for you to play with and something else special," Liu Tián Qǔ said, still smiling at Little Dumpling. Reaching down to the bag she had rested on the floor, Liu Tián Qǔ retrieved two small boxes from the bag. Liu Tián Qǔ reached over and placed both boxes on the table in front of Little Dumpling.

Eagerly Dumpling opened the first box. In the box was a marvelously expertly craft slingshot carved from wood. Little Dumpling eyes lit up when he saw the beautifully crafted slingshot. Inside the box was also a medium pouch of marbles.

"Aiya Big Brother, you got me something very good this time. I really like this slingshot." Little Dumpling said as he retrieved the slingshot from the box. Holding up the slingshot, Little Dumpling pulled back the sling testing the slingshot. He then checked out the marbles that came along with the slingshot. "Big Brother I've been to all the craft shops that sell slingshots in the imperial city. I've never seen one like this. Where did you get it?"

"I bought it from a peddler." Liu Tián Qǔ told Little Dumpling of the Peddler she had met outside of the bookstore. She also told Little Dumpling of a few of the good stuff she bought from the peddler. Both in front of the bookstore and when the peddler came to her house. Of course, she didn't tell him everything she bought. That would bring too much trouble and also would expose her as a female.

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It was not that she didn't trust Little Dumpling. However, when too many people knew your secrets. Then they were no longer secrets. Strangely enough, Liu Tián Qǔ was considering telling Wang Fèn Yǒng that she was a female.

One of the reasons Liu Tián Qǔ was considering telling Wang Fèn Yǒng was because she needed to build a close relationship with him. The Emperor set Wang Fèn Yǒng to supervise her residence. Liu Tián Qǔ already knew Wang Fèn Yǒng's personality. Wang Fèn Yǒng's personality was so similar to Nickolas from her previous life.

Once you deceived them and they lost trust in you, it was game over. Also, for some odd reason, Liu Tián Qǔ felt compelled to tell him. She had no worries about him running his mouth. Talking too much was not Wang Fèn Yǒng's problem. If anything, the problem was he hardly spoke.

"The next gift is something that I help make for you." Liu Tián Qǔ said, stirring Little Dumpling's curiosity. It prompted Little Dumpling to open the box that held the Yo-Yo quickly. Liu Tián Qǔ grinned and let a low chuckle escape when she saw Little Dumpling deep look of perplexity.

Retrieving the Yo-Yo from the box in which it was stored. Little Dumpling flipped the Yo-Yo back and forth, trying his best to figure out what it could possibly be. Finally, Little Dumpling looked up at Liu Tián Qǔ with a slight frown on his face as he questioned, "What is it?"

A grinning Liu Tián Qǔ held her hand out to Little Dumpling and said, "It's a toy, give it to me, and I will show you how to use it."

Accepting the Yo-Yo that Little Dumpling placed in her hand. Liu Tián Qǔ stood from the table. Liu Tián Qǔ threaded her middle finger through the loop in the thread. After this, she expertly flick downward with her wrist releasing the Yo-Yo. The Yo-Yo flew down the string that was twined between it. Liu Tián Qǔ caught the Yo-Yo as it rolled back up the string, returning to her hand.

A glimmer lit Little Dumpling eyes, and he felt his hand itch to try it. Liu Tián Qǔ watched Little Dumpling with a knowing look in her eyes. Little Dumpling eyes were glued to the Yo-Yo as it flew up and down the string. As Liu Tián Qǔ played with the Yo-Yo, it bought back memories of her youth in her previous life and her battle to concur the Yo-Yo.

Outside of the Wang Royal Manor, an Imperial Carriage pulled up in front of the Wang Royal Manor. Two men and a lady silently alighted from the carriage, each lost in their own thoughts. One of the men assisted the lady out of the carriage and up the Grand stone stairs leading up to the front gate of the manor. The second younger man followed from behind. It was the returning Lord, Lady, and Heir of Wang Royal Manor.

Dawn had found the trio in the palace meeting with the Emperor. Then along with tens of thousands of other people who were determined to bear witness. Bright and early that morning, they presented themselves in the punishment square to witness Minster Lan and Elder Chen's execution. It was only mid-morning. However, their day has already been too long.

The Grand Prince, The First Lady of Wang Royal Manor, and the Heir of Wang Royal Manor climbed the stairs of the Manor. The Commander of Wang Royal Manor awaited their arrival at the entrance to the front gate.

The Commander greeted the Grand Prince, the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor, and the Heir of Wang Royal Manor as they approached the front gate. After he greeted them, Commander of Wang Royal Manor said, "My Lord, My Lady, you commanded to be informed if Liu Tián Qǔ visits the manor. He has arrived, he is currently visiting Second Young Master in his courtyard."

"Oh?" The Grand Prince said as he cocked his head slightly to the right. With a slight smirk on his face, he said, "Then I should go take a look."

However, Wǔ Gāng Huā gaze was focused on Wang Fèn Yǒng. Upon hearing that Liu Tián Qǔ was visiting the Manor. Although there was no outward emotion, Wǔ Gāng Huā knew her son very well. She sensed the change in his aura and saw his eyes grow warm. With the Grand Prince in the lead, they quickly made their way to Wang Jǐng Jiè's courtyard.

"Little Dumpling, you're driving me crazy just pick one!" They heard Liu Tián Qǔ's voice say in exasperation as they approached the entrance to the chambers of Wang Jǐng Jiè's courtyard.

"But I don't know which one to pick. They are all beautiful. I wish I could go over and see them."

The Grand Prince paused by the entrance and gestured for his wife and eldest son to pause. He wanted to get a feel for the kind of person Liu Tián Qǔ was through Liu Tián Qǔ's interactions with Wang Jǐng Jiè.

"Well, you can't. Since you're so undecided, why don't you keep all the drawings of the horses and thinking on it some more. Don't take to long, or by the time you figure it out, all the horses might be gone." Liu Tián Qǔ warned Little Dumpling.

Little Dumpling had helped Liu Tián Qǔ spread out the drawing of nine of the horse that the Emperor gifted her on the floor of his receiving room. He carefully went from painting to painting, studying each horse.

He looked up from the painting of the mare he was admiring and asked, "You are giving away more horses? Are you going to give them all away?"

"I only gave one to my commander so far. Then I'm giving one to you and one to your brother. I'll tell you what I told my commander. I only have one butt, and I like my blind horse just fine. Must I lock all the horses the Emperor gifted me in my stables and let them die of old age? I prefer to share them instead."

"You mentioned this commander in your letter. Since when did you have a commander? Where did you find him? Is he someone who is trustworthy?" Little Dumpling questioned in concern.

"I found him in the Phoenix Medicine Shop." Liu Tián Qǔ answered

"The Phoenix Medicine Shop?" Little Dumpling asked in shock and with a look on his face that Liu Tián Qǔ couldn't quite understand.

"Yes," Liu Tián Qǔ said with a nod. She then gave a brief summary of how she met Jiang Tài Píng.

She concluded her summary by saying, "When I saw him kowtowing with such sincerity and desperation. With blood dripping down his face and tears pouring from his eyes doing all, he possibly could to protect his family. His sincerity moved my heart. My heart grew much admiration and respect for him. But that was not what made me hire him."

"Why did you hire him then?" Little Dumpling questioned seriously.

"There are two reasons I hire him. The first reason was I liked the way he moved."

"What do you mean? Explain it so I could understand." Little Dumpling was being to frustrated with his friend's incomprehensible explanations.

"He moved with the grace of a well experienced martial artist. He hides it well, but if you watch him closely and know what to look for, you could see that he carries an air of command. He also doesn't have the demeanor of a regular person. When you meet him, you will understand what I mean." Liu Tián Qǔ explained to Little Dumpling

"What do you mean he doesn't have the demeanor of a normal person?" Little Dumpling asked in a voice of irritation. "Explain so I can understand,"

"I suspect he was raised as a young master. For a person who knows how to discern these things, it's easy to tell, although he tries very hard to hide it." Liu Tián Qǔ said.

Little Dumpling nodded in understanding, then asked, "What was the second reason you hired him?" Little Dumpling

"He's a willow tree." said and laughed inwardly as Little Dumpling almost explode. Outwardly she kept an innocent expression on her face.

"Arggg," Little Dumpling growled in frustration. "Can you speak plainly?! How can a person be a willow tree!" A frustrated Little Dumpling practically yelled.