Chapter Forty-One: Reciprocity (Part Two)

It took quite some time before the Seventh Prince finally noticed the soft, glutinous chopsticks he'd never seen before, and he inwardly berated himself for how much his powers of observation had diminished. He glanced at Tao Ming and saw her pulling out a snow-white, light, and supple item to wipe the sauce from the mouth of one of the little ones. After wiping, she balled it up and tossed it onto the low table. He wanted to ask what it was, but thought better of it—no need to appear as if he’d never seen the world.

After the meal, the Seventh Prince summoned people to clear the low table. Tao Ming watched the six maids working quickly and silently, feeling a bit puzzled.

Once they had withdrawn, Tao Ming asked, “Your Highness, why not have them stay to attend to you?”

The Seventh Prince grinned mischievously. “I am so handsome—I'm afraid they might fall for me.”

Tao Ming played along. “A fair point.”

The Seventh Prince was about to continue, but remembering the two little ones, he turned and saw them both looking up at him intently. Changing the subject, he said, “I don’t even know their names yet.”

Tao Ming pointed to each child in turn. “This is Rou Rou, and this is Nuo Nuo.”

The Seventh Prince beamed. “Rou Rou, Nuo Nuo, call me Uncle, and I’ll give you something nice.”

The two little ones looked at Tao Ming for guidance. She looked at them, then at the prince, unable to figure out his intentions.

If you don’t understand, just ask: “Your Highness, isn’t this a bit improper?”

The Seventh Prince placed two items on the low table. “Cousin, what’s improper about it?”

Tao Ming grew even more suspicious. Two hours ago, the prince had wanted her dead, and now he was trying to get close—what exactly was he planning?

Seeing Tao Ming’s uncertain gaze, the prince suppressed his emotions and said, “I should have given these when we first met, but it slipped my mind. Besides, we’re family. It’s only right to give a token upon meeting.”

Tao Ming scrutinized him for a long while but still couldn’t read his intentions. She thought to herself that the people on this side of the Wei River had all become sly; you could never tell what they were thinking from their faces.

Rou Rou and Nuo Nuo exchanged glances, silently communicating:

“There’s something off about this man!”

“You’re right, definitely something off!”

...

A cup of tea’s time passed in silence; Tao Ming still said nothing. The prince, seeing her unmoved, addressed the two children, “Call me Uncle, and I’ll give each of you a protective amulet carved from millennia-old stone.”

No sooner had he spoken than the little ones pulled out their own amulets from their collars—gifts from their ancestor—and said, “We already have these.”

The prince looked from the table to their chests, then quietly put the amulets away, producing two more items. “Then how about a glass mirror for each of you? I paid a hefty sum for these.”

Tao Ming leaned forward and saw the two palm-sized mirrors in his hands, barely able to stifle her laughter.

The little ones also came closer. Rou Rou declared, “I’ve already broken more than a dozen prettier mirrors than these.”

That was true—every time Tao Ming bought something online and received a complimentary mirror, it ended up with Rou Rou, and most met a shattered fate.

The prince took a deep breath and looked at Tao Ming. “Aren’t you going to do something about this?”

Tao Ming couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

The prince’s face darkened as he packed away the mirrors in annoyance. “Then what will it take for you to call me Uncle?”

After her laughter subsided, Tao Ming replied, “What other rare treasures do you have? Show me.”

The prince pondered for a moment, then produced two more items. “You’ve just returned from another world, so you probably don’t have a Hundred-Treasure Bag. How about one for each of you from your uncle?”

The two little ones exchanged glances and looked at Tao Ming. Tao Ming knew Nuo Nuo already had one, so she silently asked Rou Rou if she wanted one, and Rou Rou nodded. Tao Ming said, “Then go ahead and call him Uncle.”

Together, the two children called out, “Uncle!”

“Ah!” The prince’s face lit up, and he handed each of them a Hundred-Treasure Bag.

Tao Ming took them from the children. They were just small white silk pouches. She said, “I’ll keep these safe for you for now.”

Rou Rou pouted. My New Year’s money always disappears like this!

Tao Ming noticed Rou Rou’s expression and patted her head with a smile. “This time I’m really just keeping it safe for you. Once I figure out how to use it, I’ll give it back.”

Rou Rou pouted. “Then where did my New Year’s money go?”

Tao Ming blinked. “I put it in the bank for you, don’t worry. How could Mom ever take your money!”

The ignored Seventh Prince coughed and asked, “What is a bank?”

Only then did Tao Ming remember the outsider in their midst, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to answer. The four fell silent.

Nuo Nuo whispered to Rou Rou, “I really think there’s something wrong with this man!”

“I think so too!”

“Should we warn Mom?”

“Mom is very clever—smarter than either of us.”

...

The awkward silence didn’t last long. Outside, a guard’s voice called, “Your Highness, we are about to arrive at Xin Feng Town.”

The prince rose and walked to the door, ordering, “Send word to the town governor to come and receive us. Also, recall all the scouts who were sent ahead, just in case.”

The guard responded and quickly departed.

The prince returned to the low table and saw Tao Ming cradling the two little ones in her arms. He couldn’t help but laugh. “There’s no need to be so tense.”

Tao Ming made no comment.

Seeing her silence, the prince said, “If you’re worried, just stay in the carriage. I’ll handle anything outside.”

Rou Rou pouted and whispered, “Mom, I need to pee.”

Tao Ming glanced at the prince, who replied, “There’s a chamber pot in your room.”

Tao Ming remembered that the room only had a cushion and nothing else. “It was empty—there’s nothing inside.”

The prince stood up at once. “That was my oversight. Come with me.”

Tao Ming took each child by the hand and followed him to the sleeping chamber. The prince pointed to a spot on the wooden wall beside the cushion and said, “This is the washroom.”

He pointed to another spot. “Here you’ll find the necessary supplies.”

Tao Ming examined the two markings. One was a five-petaled flower, the other a small fish. Among so many birds and flowers painted on the walls, they weren’t obvious at all.

She pursed her lips. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just put in a door? Why so secretive?”

The prince smiled. “It’s both discreet and elegant this way. If a villain ever broke into the carriage and someone hid in here, the villain wouldn’t find them right away.”

Tao Ming touched the markings, but nothing happened.

The prince smiled and handed her a round sphere. “You need this to open it.”

Tao Ming took the sphere and tapped it against the little fish. Sure enough, the wall slid aside to reveal a doorway a meter wide.

The prince turned to leave, saying as he went, “Take your time.”

Once he’d gone, Tao Ming led the two little ones into the washroom.

Inside, they found many utensils: a wooden bathtub, a wooden stand with a basin on it, a covered bucket with a ladle for clean water, and most importantly, a commode resembling a modern toilet.

Rou Rou quickly pulled down her underpants, and Tao Ming helped her onto the commode, holding her arms so she wouldn’t fall.

Once all three had finished, they left the washroom. Tao Ming hesitated, unsettled by the prince’s odd behavior—how should she face him now?

Rou Rou and Nuo Nuo exchanged a look, then pulled Tao Ming to sit on the cushion. Nuo Nuo leaned against her and whispered, “Mom, that man is a little strange.”

Tao Ming hugged them tightly. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll always protect you.”

Rou Rou and Nuo Nuo said in unison, “We’ll protect you too, Mom.”