Headcanon: After Changning is rescued by Zheng, no one acts differently around her because no one realizes that she doesn’t know Zheng is the Marquis, and that’s because Ning is a practical child and doesn’t ask too many questions. And because Zheng has proven that he will risk his life for Ning, everyone understands that this girl is to be protected at all costs. So everyone just treats her as if she’s a VIP.
Ning doesn’t understand exactly what’s going on, but she knows that Zheng is smart and brave and capable and she just accepts that he is a valuable person and of course people will defer to him.
Also, Ning is the only child in an actively-besieged military camp and assigning her a babysitter is not a priority. She’s a good kid who can entertain herself without causing trouble (or, at least, not too much trouble), so she’s been given free run of the camp.
With that, enjoy this vignette:
CAMP – EXTERIOR – NIGHT: General Xie Wu is walking when he overhears two guards. Wu pauses outside of their sightline.
GUARD 1: Hey, what’s the Marquis’ daughter doing up so late?
GUARD 2: Who knows. Why do you care?
GUARD 1: I just think someone should be watching out for her. It’s not safe for a little girl to be running around a military camp alone.
GUARD 2: Who would be stupid enough to risk the Marquis’ wrath by touching her? Even if she isn’t his daughter.
GUARD 2: I heard a rumor that she calls him “Brother-in-law.”
GUARD 1: That’s ridiculous. We would have heard if His Lordship had gotten married.
General Wu steps purposefully in front of them, eyeing the two guards. They snap to attention and look nervous.
WU: Which direction did the child go?
Both guards hurriedly point and Wu eyes them again before striding off.
Wu finds Ning wandering and calls to her.
WU: Little miss! What are you doing up at this hour?
NING: I had a bad dream and I want Brother-in-law. Can you help me find him?
Wu nods and Ning reaches her arms up to him. Unable to resist, he gathers Ning to his chest and carries her off to the Marquis’ quarters.
ZHENG’S QUARTERS – INTERIOR – NIGHT: Xie Zheng and Gongsun Yin are seated and looking over papers.
Wu enters, carrying Ning. Zheng and Gongsun look up.
WU: Sir, Changning had a bad dream and requested to see you.
NING: (lifting her sleepy head from Wu’s shoulder) Can I sleep with you?
Gongsun’s eyes light up because he’s been trying to find a diplomatic way to say that Zheng looks terrible and needs to rest.
GONGSUN: That’s an excellent idea!
ZHENG: (bewildered and slightly frightened) What?
Wu sets Ning on her feet. Ning walks over to Zheng and places her head on his shoulder as Gongsun launches into his speech.
GONGSUN: Changning has been through a harrowing ordeal! Of course she needs the safety and comfort of being with someone she knows and trusts. How can you possibly expect her to sleep alone in this strange, unknown place and not be fretful? You must recline with her until she can fall asleep.
NING: (looking up at Zheng) Please?
Zheng looks at Ning and his face softens as he feels a consuming affection; this precious child is his sister now and he can deny her nothing.
ZHENG: (softly) All right.
Gongsun oversees the tucking-in process, making appropriate mother-hen clucking noises. Ning has settled in, hugging Zheng’s arm to her chest and effectively trapping him.
ZHENG: (to Gongsun) Just until she falls asleep, we still have work to do.
GONGSUN: Of course, of course!
NING: Goodnight, Strategist.
GONGSUN: Goodnight, little one! I’ll just extinguish these candles.
Before Zheng can argue, Gongsun has blown out the candles and exits the darkened space with Wu.
Zheng looks mildly uncomfortable, unsure of the whole situation.
A wistful smile creeps across Zheng’s face.
CAMP – EXTERIOR – IMMEDIATELY AFTER: Gongsun and Wu are walking away.
WU: How long until you return?
GONGSUN: What? No, I’m not coming back tonight. I’m going to bed.
WU: But you promised the Marquis—
GONGSUN: (waves Wu off) They will both be asleep imminently and His Lordship requires rest. A sound sleep will serve us all well. Goodnight!
Gongsun walks away looking smug. He might not be able to employ this tactic every night but he will have to discuss with Ning about when it might be convenient for her to have another bad dream.
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