Pei Mingjie sat in the inn's main hall, watching the people coming and going take turns coaxing the Little Princess, who had cried herself into hiccups. Strangely, his mood grew calm.
He had no idea how to describe that change of heart. If he had to put it into words, it was like-
He was walking down the street when someone suddenly charged out and kicked him for no reason, putting every ounce of strength into the blow and leaving him in so much pain he could not straighten up.
Just as he was about to lose his temper, the attacker's companions grew even angrier than he was and rushed forward to grapple with the culprit...
And suddenly, he could not vent his anger anymore.
The little girl's cries in the hall finally softened a little. Only when the bald monk glanced back at him furtively, shifted to an angle that blocked his view, and pulled something from his robes to stuff into her hands did she finally smile through her tears.
Jiang Yingcheng blinked her tear-reddened almond eyes and stared down at the pouch for quite a while before realizing exactly what had been pressed into her hands.
[A t-treasure map?!]
She tilted her little face up, letting her beautiful imperial father gently wipe it with a handkerchief. Once he moved the cloth away, she reached into her sleeve, took out two pieces of candy, and placed one in each uncle's hand.
Sweetly and obediently, she said, "Are you tired, Uncles? Thank you for all your hard work!"
The seamless speed with which she switched between those two faces left everyone present marveling.
Liaochen reached out and swiftly gave her cheek a gentle pinch, seizing his opening to explain at the top of his voice-
"This Xun Xing spent