Lend Me Your Throne for a Few Days

Liu Wan hurried over and found that the once-gloomy Imperial Bedchamber was now peaceful beneath the bright moon.

She breathed a sigh of relief, then noticed a palace maid hiding beneath a tree, trembling as she looked at her.

She went over to help the maid up and asked what had happened.

"Madam, your daughter..."

"What happened to my daughter?" Liu Wan asked anxiously.

"Your daughter rode the female ghost's head like a horse."

Liu Wan stood rooted to the spot.

Behind her, Pan Chun and Wang Xia stared with wide eyes, their faces full of disbelief.

"It's true. She climbed onto the female ghost, pulled her head off, and rode away on it."

"The female ghost chased her into the Imperial Consort Dowager's Imperial Bedchamber, crying and calling her 'little ancestor.'"

"Madam, it was terrifying!"

The palace maid trembled all over as she recounted what had happened.

She had never seen a ghost in her life, much less a child more frightening than a ghost.

She dared not imagine how helpless she would be if she died and encountered a child like that.

Liu Wan came back to her senses and took out a pouch of silver. "Perhaps you were sleepwalking. When you have time, go to Golden Mountain Temple and ask for a protective talisman. The Imperial Consort Dowager will permit it."

Understanding suddenly dawned on the palace maid. Though frightened, she grasped Liu Wan's meaning.

"Yes, I understand. I was sleepwalking."

Before entering the Imperial Bedchamber, Liu Wan specifically instructed Pan Chun and Wang Xia not to speak of this to anyone.

Then she saw Xia Siheng coming out with the little one in his arms.

They were as affectionate as father and daughter.

"Thank you for lending me Wanwan, madam. My mother is all right now."

With that, he handed Xia Wanwan to Pan Chun, his gaze still lingering on the child.

Liu Wan curtsied. "The Prince has helped me so many times. At last, I have been able to help the Prince in return. But my child is still young, and certain things or rumors might harm her. I hope the Prince and the Imperial Consort Dowager will keep this matter secret, so that neither my daughter's reputation nor mine will suffer."

She was not referring only to her daughter dealing with the female ghost.

There was also the matter of mother and daughter visiting Consort Ling's Imperial Bedchamber at night for a private meeting.

Although there was nothing improper about it, it would inevitably sound unsavory if word got out.

This would be the only time. From now on, she would owe the Ninth Prince no favors, and she would never let her daughter take such a risk again.

Xia Siheng understood and nodded.

Watching Liu Wan's gentle figure recede, he felt his heart soften, his gaze deepening.

"Having a daughter like this is a blessing for Jing'an Marquis Manor. And Liu Wan, your blessings are still to come."

Later.

In the middle of the night, he headed for the emperor's bedchamber.

He hauled the sleeping emperor upright. "Hey, my daughter wants to be a princess. Lend me your throne for a few days!"

The emperor jolted awake!

Was he dreaming?

"Heavens, I dreamed of the Old Immortal! The Old Immortal told me that the child named Xia Wanwan could bring prosperity and glory to the Great Xia Dynasty."

"He told me to listen to Wanwan. If I dared treat her badly, he would go straight to my parents!"

"Oh, right. Did you just say you wanted Wanwan to be a princess? How could a princess's title be worthy of her? She could even be my own mother!"

The emperor rambled on at length, then glanced at Xia Siheng.

Xia Siheng hesitated before saying, "All right, my good grandson."

The emperor bristled!

The next day.

Liu Wan rose early to help the Fifth Princess dress and do her hair, while directing the palace maids and nannies as they bustled about.

The Fifth Princess had far too much dowry.

Several nannies could not finish checking the accounts, which was why Liu Wan's help was needed. At last, Liu Wan finished her work.

She would accompany the Fifth Princess's dowry back to the Minister's Residence ahead of her.

She dug Xia Wanwan out from beneath the Coral Tree, washed her clean, and boarded the carriage with her.

When they returned to the Minister's Residence, Liu Wan pushed open the door to her old bedroom. Everything was still arranged just as she liked it. Even her favorite pair of needlework scissors remained in their original place.

Warmth filled her heart. Lady Liu held her daughter's hand and said tenderly, "All these years, I've had someone clean your room every few days. At last, you're home again. Wan'er, marrying into the Marquis's Residence has made you suffer."

As she spoke, tears threatened to spill.

But Liu Wan would not let her cry. The baby was still asleep, so she drew her mother a little farther away.

"Mother, I haven't suffered. It's Eldest Brother's wedding day. You mustn't cry until your face looks like a little tabby cat."

Liu Wan smiled teasingly.

She had had no choice, either. Someone had to repay the debt owed for saving her father's life.

Over the years, she had shared only the good news and kept her troubles to herself, so everyone thought she was doing well.

If her mother had not noticed something amiss at the one-month celebration... she would have needed another explanation to keep her mother from being upset.

Lady Liu tilted her head back to hold in her tears and said, "Yes, we mustn't discuss these things on such a joyous day. Wan'er, since you're home, stay a few days and wait for your younger brother to return so you can see him. Mother has so much to tell you, and your father misses you dearly too."

Liu Wan nodded, suddenly feeling an aching sadness.

Her family thought of her so fondly, yet she had devoted herself entirely to the Marquis's Residence. She had even used her own dowry to cover its shortfalls, unable to bear seeing its coffers empty.

It was just as well that Madam Li had taken over management of the household. She could keep her own belongings now and leave everything to Wanwan in the future.

The Liu Residence was celebrating a wedding. After resting for a while, Liu Wan had Pan Chun dress Xia Wanwan up nicely.

Xia Wanwan was still yawning, her eyes damp with sleep.

Then her clothes were stripped off, and she was dressed in a festive red padded jacket, with her hair tied into two little tufts using red cords.

The tufts bobbed with her mood, each adorned with a fluffy pom-pom.

When she looked in the mirror, Mother kept praising her, saying she looked like a little doll of good fortune.

She covered her face with her two chubby little hands, buried herself in Mother's arms, and smiled shyly.

Outside, everyone who saw her praised how adorable and festive she looked. Some elders even insisted on stuffing red envelopes into her arms.

Xia Wanwan froze for a moment. Isn't this Eldest Uncle's wedding? Why are they giving me red envelopes? How embarrassing.

She made a show of refusing with her little hands, while the large pocket on her clothes just happened to fall open.

It was stuffed full of red envelopes.

Watching the bride and groom finish their ceremonial bows, Xia Wanwan thought that she could finally enjoy the feast.

Braised pork, braised pork.

The little one's eyes lit up at the sight of the braised pork. She pointed at it and cried, "Mama... eat... meat..."

Liu Wan had no choice but to pick up a small piece for her to suck the juices from.

Minister Liu studied her in surprise. He had never seen a child who could talk at such a young age.

"Wan'er, this little one can already call you Mama at only two or three months old. With her mind awakening so early, she might be ready to learn to read at two."

"Why don't we send her to school when she turns two?"