On their way to the dining room, Prince FengEr noticed that Prince Li kept walking beside him. However, every now and then, Prince Li would glance at TanTan, who was walking a short distance behind them. He seemed to be thinking about something.
Prince FengEr couldn't help teasing him, hoping to find out what was on his mind.
"Wei Di, are you worrying about MuTan Mei?"
"What? No... I'm thinking about someone else who might be a suspect."
"Who?"
"Minister Hua..."
"HuaMuTan's uncle?" Prince FengEr glanced briefly at TanTan.
"You don't think she might be involved as well, do you?"
"I don't know..."
"Well, we don't have any evidence yet. It's too early to jump to conclusions."
"You're right."
Prince FengEr said nothing more. However, deep down, he believed HuaMuTan was innocent. He simply didn't want to share that opinion with Prince Li just yet.
"YiFu!"
As they reached the entrance of the dining room, FangFang happily approached them.
However, when she noticed Prince FengEr accompanying her foster father, she suddenly remembered her manners and behaved as she had been taught. She stopped and greeted him politely.
"FangFang greets San Wang ShuShu!"
"Such a smart girl! How are you, FangFang? Shushu is very happy to see you again after such a long time."
Prince FengEr smiled and patted her head. FangFang seemed quite comfortable with him and happily accepted his affection.
Not long afterwards, TanTan and XiaoRue caught up with them. The moment FangFang saw TanTan, she happily rushed forward and hugged her.
"YangMu!"
"Ugh..."
TanTan couldn't help wincing slightly from the pain in her ankle. However, she quickly held herself back, allowing FangFang to continue hugging her. She tried to put on a smile for the little girl.
"FangFang, don't do that! Your YangMu is in pain. Her ankle is injured."
Prince FengEr gently pulled FangFang away from TanTan.
"YangMu, your ankle is hurt?" FangFang looked at her worriedly.
TanTan smiled and patted her head.
"Yes, FangFang, but it's only a little. Don't worry."
"Let FangFang help YangMu!"
FangFang immediately took TanTan's hand and carefully led her into the dining room.
Seeing what had just happened, Prince FengEr widened his eyes in surprise. He turned towards Prince Li and asked softly,
"Since when has FangFang become so close to MuTan Jie?
Wasn't she afraid of her after the burning incident?"
Prince Li could only sigh.
"Many things have changed lately in this household..."
He then gestured for Prince FengEr to enter the room ahead of him.
Inside the dining room, Aunt Tong and the other servants were already waiting for them.
They immediately began carrying out their duties, serving the dishes and arranging them beautifully on the round dining table.
The delicious food looked quite tempting to TanTan, although she didn't particularly feel like eating much. Nevertheless, she thought it would be nice to let FangFang join them for dinner.
As it turned out, having FangFang beside her also gave TanTan a convenient reason to keep herself occupied. She could spend her time taking care of the little girl instead of having to engage in too much conversation with the two princes.
Throughout dinner, Prince FengEr was the one who did most of the talking, making the atmosphere rather lively.
As usual, he praised Aunt Tong's cooking. He even recalled how, every time he visited the mansion, he was always satisfied with the meals she prepared.
Aunt Tong responded gratefully to his compliments.
Meanwhile, TanTan was behaving very much like a mother towards FangFang. She carefully cut the meat into smaller pieces for the little girl and made sure FangFang ate enough while also attending to her own meal.
FangFang, in turn, seemed equally attentive towards TanTan.
Although she didn't like carrots, she willingly ate the pieces TanTan offered her.
This surprised Aunt Tong greatly.
Just like Aunt Tong, Prince Li couldn't take his eyes off TanTan. It seemed as though he was carefully observing her every movement.
Both of them couldn't help having similar thoughts.
FangFang wouldn't be this obedient if she didn't genuinely like someone. What on earth has HuaMuTan done to make FangFang so attached to her?
And besides...
Even the way HuaMuTan eats has changed.
In the past, HuaMuTan was such a picky eater. She didn't like eating together with others, especially children like FangFang. Her table manners used to be much more elegant and refined than they are now.
TanTan was slightly surprised.
"Thank you, San Wang Ge."
She accepted the food and ate it to show her appreciation.
Seeing this, FangFang immediately followed his example.
"FangFang also wants to give something to YangMu!"
She picked up another piece of meat and placed it in TanTan's bowl.
"Thank you, FangFang."
TanTan pretended to enjoy the food, wanting to make the little girl happy.
"Hmm... yummy!"
FangFang beamed with happiness. Then, she innocently turned towards Prince Li.
"YiFu should give YangMu something too..."
TanTan was taken aback by FangFang's request. She glanced at Prince Li, who had been watching her.
"I've had enough meat, FangFang. Look, you've almost finished your food too. Why don't we finish dinner and then have a good rest?"
"Are you already tired, YangMu?"
"Yes. I need to rest a little earlier so my ankle can recover quickly."
FangFang seemed reluctant to leave. She still wanted to spend more time with TanTan.
After a moment, she turned towards Prince Li with a pleading expression.
"Hmm... YiFu, can I sleep with YangMu tonight?"
Prince Li's expression immediately darkened.
"What? No! You should sleep in your own room!"
Letting FangFang stay alone with HuaMuTan? That could be dangerous... couldn't it?
His immediate refusal made TanTan feel rather displeased.
Does he really think I'm still going to hurt FangFang?
However, FangFang wasn't ready to give up.
"But why, YiFu? YangMu's ankle is hurt. FangFang wants to accompany her. Please, YiFu... I want to sleep with YangMu!"
Prince Li couldn't find any reasonable excuse to reject her request. Instead, he turned towards TanTan and gave her a warning look, silently expecting her to refuse FangFang.
"Well, I don't think your YangMu will let you sleep with her!"
"YangMu, can I?"
Although she felt threatened by Prince Li's stare, TanTan decided to ignore it this time.
In fact, she felt rather pleased at the thought of going against his wishes.
"Why not? I'd be happy if FangFang could accompany me. But, FangFang, you have to finish your food first."
"Okay!"
FangFang immediately returned to her meal and hurriedly finished everything on her plate.
Afterwards, HuaMuTan and FangFang, accompanied by XiaoRue, excused themselves and returned to TanTan's room.
Prince Li could only stare angrily at their retreating figures.
That woman is deliberately going against me!
He picked up his glass of water and drank before putting it back on the table rather harshly, making his anger obvious.
Prince FengEr noticed his younger brother's irritation and tried to comfort him.
"Calm down, Wei Di. I don't think you need to worry so much.
Didn't you see how MuTan Mei treated FangFang just now? She was taking such good care of her. I don't think she will hurt FangFang again."
Prince Li let out a sigh, trying to calm himself.
"Do you really think HuaMuTan can change so easily? We both know what she was like in the past..."
Prince FengEr answered carefully.
"Well, from what I've seen so far... she does seem quite different. Anyway, don't think too much about it."
He paused before suddenly making a suggestion.
"Come to think of it, I feel like having a drink. Why don't we have one before I return to my residence? We can continue discussing the case while enjoying the beautiful night sky."
"Alright. But why don't you stay here tonight, San Wang Ge? It's already quite late for a long journey. I'll ask Aunt Tong to prepare a guest room for you. You can return tomorrow."
"If it's not too much trouble for you, Wei Di, then this elder brother would be most grateful."
With that settled, the two princes left the dining room to find a suitable place where they could enjoy some drinks and admire the night scenery.
Meanwhile, in TanTan's room, XiaoRue was helping massage her injured ankle with some medicinal oil.
FangFang wanted to help as well, but TanTan wouldn't allow her to. Instead, she insisted that the little girl get ready for bed and settle into the inner side of the bed.
"Does it hurt?"
"No... ouch! Not really, FangFang..."
TanTan's answer was immediately contradicted by her little wince.
FangFang looked at her with concern.
"How did YangMu hurt her ankle?"
"Hmm... YangMu was trying to catch some bad guys today. Unfortunately, they were stronger than YangMu, so they managed to escape."
TanTan thought this would be a good answer to give the little girl. She even found FangFang's surprised expression rather adorable.
However, instead of FangFang, it was XiaoRue who became worried.
"XiaoJie, please be more careful with your body! First, XiaoJie's back was injured, and now XiaoJie's ankle! XiaoJie has suffered so many injuries since she lost her memories..."
XiaoRue couldn't help complaining. She was so worried about TanTan that she didn't even care whether her mistress might scold her for speaking so boldly.
Fortunately, TanTan wasn't upset by her words. She understood that XiaoRue was simply being noisy out of concern for her well-being.
"I'll be more careful next time. Don't worry!"
After finishing the massage, TanTan thanked XiaoRue before letting her leave.
Once they were alone, TanTan prepared the blankets for herself and FangFang.
"YangMu should have told YiFu. Let YiFu catch the bad guys for you! YiFu is very strong. He won't lose to any bad guys!"
Yeah... as if he would help me.
TanTan couldn't help smirking at FangFang's innocent suggestion.
However, she quickly replied,
"Hmm... but I'm afraid your YiFu might be too busy to help me."
"YiFu will help you! FangFang will tell him to help you!"
"No, no, no! FangFang, don't do that, please..."
TanTan immediately stopped her.
Otherwise, Prince Li might think I'm deliberately influencing FangFang and using her to get what I want.
"Don't worry, FangFang. I can also be as strong as your YiFu!"
She smiled mischievously.
"You know what? Your YiFu and I are having a competition right now. Whoever catches the bad guys first will be the winner. So don't ask him to help me, because that would be cheating!"
"Hmm... alright!"
"Now, let's have a good night's sleep, okay?"
TanTan gently kissed FangFang's forehead before lying down.
"YangMu?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you sing for me again? That song?"
TanTan was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected FangFang to remember the lullaby from their previous encounter.
"Do you like that song?"
FangFang nodded.
"I want to hear it again."
"Alright. I'll sing it for you."
TanTan began singing the same lullaby once more, gently patting FangFang's shoulder as she sang.
Her soft voice gradually filled the quiet room.
Before long, FangFang's eyes grew heavy, and she finally drifted into a peaceful sleep.
TanTan continued patting her gently for a little while, making sure the little girl was completely asleep.
Looking at FangFang's peaceful face, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
For tonight, at least, she had a little companion to keep her company.
And somewhere else in the mansion, two princes were still enjoying their drinks beneath the clear night sky, unaware of how much the little girl's growing attachment to HuaMuTan might change things between them.
San Wang ShuShu: Third Prince Uncle (a respectful way for FangFang to address Prince FengEr).