Chapter 381: then translation of title

The next morning, in Zichen Hall.

Xiao Jieyun's teacup clattered onto the table, spilling scalding tea that soaked the memorial before him.

He stared at the little Daoist who had come to report: "Has the National Preceptor already rushed to the frontier?"

"Yes, Master received the letter last night and set out immediately; please forgive His Majesty for not informing him."

Xiao Jieyun waved his hand: "You may go."

"Yes."

He leaned back slowly into the chair, closed his eyes, and lifted his hand to gently press his brow.

He recalled the first time he met Tuan Tuan in the Ning Prince's mansion garden; she took out her sachet, smashed the evil object, and allowed him, who had been unable to sleep for days, to rest.

Later, in this Zichen Hall, she saw through the talisman on the screen, preventing it from continuing to steal his dragon qi.

Afterward, she came to his aid in his darkest moment, praying for sweet rain and stabilizing the people's hearts.

And… there are so many more.

Now, however, Tuan Tuan is unconscious!

This matter is certainly not simple; otherwise, the National Preceptor would not have left in the middle of the night without even having time to bid me farewell.

Eunuch Cheng, worried, glanced furtively at the emperor: "Your Majesty, the National Preceptor has already rushed over—clearly the little princess has encountered great peril; what do you intend to do?"

Xiao Jieyun opened his eyes: "Summon Marquis Wu'an, Xiao Ningchen."

"Yes!"

An hour later.

"Your subject, Xiao Ningchen, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise," the emperor said, looking at him, getting straight to the point: "Tuan Tuan has met with misfortune."

Xiao Ningchen jerked his head up, his body swaying slightly.

Xiao Jieyun glanced at Eunuch Cheng, who hurriedly trotted over and delivered the note the little Daoist had brought to Xiao Ningchen's hand.

"The National Preceptor set out last night and is already on his way."

"The Prince of Ning will not let this rest; there will surely be a great battle on the frontier."

Xiao Ningchen looked at the familiar handwriting of his third brother on the note: "Da Xia launched a sneak attack; Tuan Tuan is unconscious; please hurry, National Preceptor." He clenched his lips tightly.

He knew his father too well; anyone who harmed Tuan Tuan would be as painful as digging out his heart.

"I request permission to lead troops north," he said, dropping to one knee, "Please grant it, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Jieyun's voice was steady: "I will give you a hundred thousand troops; set out with me in three days."

Eunuch Cheng jerked his head up: "Your Majesty, are you going yourself?"

Xiao Ningchen also started: "Your Majesty, are you going to personally lead the army?"

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "There's no need to bring this to court for discussion; otherwise those officials will never stop chattering."

"I have already ordered Wanlingyuan to send the swiftest carrier pigeon to the Great Khan of Xilu, Jifeng, asking him to dispatch troops and join the Lie State army in a pincer strike against Da Xia."

"Tuan Tuan is now the holy maiden of the grasslands; surely he will not stand idly by."

"Tomorrow I will issue an edict letting the Seventh Prince oversee the state, with the Imperial Teacher assisting him, to hold the capital."

"Tuan Tuan has called me Imperial Uncle for so long; I want the world to see the price of daring to lay a hand on her!"

"Before you leave, go to the Private Objects Workshop; Feng Zhou has made some useful things—see what you can use and take them all!"

Xiao Ningchen dropped to one knee: "Your subject receives the edict!"

He bowed and withdrew, returning to the Ning Prince's mansion and heading straight into the Jinglan Pavilion.

Cheng Ru'an sat by the window, sewing a new little dress for Tuan Tuan; seeing her son enter, she smiled gently and put down her needle and thread.

Xiao Ningchen felt a pang: "Mother is making new clothes for Tuan Tuan again?"

"Yes, we wait for her return; these clothes will surely be too small for her."

"I've made a few larger ones in advance; when she returns she'll have new clothes to wear, and she'll surely be delighted—she loves the clothes I make for her the most."

Xiao Ningchen knelt on both knees before his mother: "Mother, I have come to bid farewell; in three days, by imperial decree, I will lead troops to the frontier."

Cheng Ru'an's face changed: "Is the frontier in danger? Has Yuanheng met with mishap?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Xiao Ningchen hurriedly grasped his mother's hand, "It's only that His Majesty worries Da Xia has always harbored great ambitions; this war may drag on, so he has ordered me to lead reinforcements."

"You… are all leaving," Cheng Ru'an said, her eyes reddening, voice trembling, "Tuan Tuan won't come back either; this household will have only me left…"

"Elder brother isn't leaving!" Xiao Ningchen interjected quickly, "Mother, elder brother will stay in the mansion to keep you company."

"He will guard the mansion and guard you."

"When this war ends, I and Father will surely bring Tuan Tuan safely home, and our family will enjoy a reunion meal together."

Cheng Ru'an fought back tears, nodded, and said: "All right, I'll wait for you."

"You surely have much to attend to; go, I'll pack your belongings."

She rose and left; the mansion's servants immediately sprang into action.

Soon, Xiao Ningyuan rushed back to the mansion, hurrying to the Chen Needle Hall and shouting: "Second brother! What's going on? Why are you also leading troops into battle?"

"Keep it down! Don't let Mother hear!" Xiao Ningchen hurriedly stopped his shouting and whispered a full account of Tuan Tuan's situation.

"Tuan Tuan?" Upon hearing it, Xiao Ningyuan became frantic, his hands and feet at a loss: "No way! I must go too!"

Xiao Ningchen pressed him into a chair: "Elder brother, we are both away; you must stay to accompany Mother, so she is not left alone in the capital."

Xiao Ningyuan thought it over; his martial skills were lacking, and on the battlefield he would be useless—indeed it would be better to remain in the capital to keep Mother company, freeing Father and his brothers from worry.

He sighed: "All right, second brother, you must surely bring Tuan Tuan back safely."

Xiao Ningchen nodded: "Rest assured, I will."

That night, Gongsun Yue arrived at the Chen Needle Hall.

He wore a worried expression: "Today everyone in the mansion suddenly looks hurried."

"I heard that the Second Young Master is going to lead troops to the northern border? Is something wrong with Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Ningchen didn't hide it from him: "Yes, Tuan Tuan is unconscious, done by the people of Da Xia."

Gongsun Yue's breath caught—Da Xia people! Father Emperor or the National Preceptor?

He slowly lowered his head.

After a moment of silence, he knelt straight: "Second Young Master, please take me with you."

Xiao Ningchen looked at him: "You're a six-year-old child; what would I bring you to the front for?"

Gongsun Yue raised his head, looking at him: "I understand that place, and I am familiar with the methods of Father Emperor and Wu Luo. Second Young Master, I can be of help."

"Tuan Tuan is my only friend; I want to go help her, please allow me, Second Young Master!" After saying that, he knocked his head heavily on the ground.

Not hearing a response from Xiao Ningchen, he kept kowtowing without stopping.

Xiao Ningchen hastily reached out to support him, looking at his sincerity and determination: "All right, in three days you will go with me to the border pass."

"Thank you, Second Young Master!" Gongsun Yue kowtowed again, then rose and returned to Lin Feng Ju where he and his mother lived.

Consort Yun was anxiously waiting for him: "Did the Second Young Master agree?"

"Mm. The Second Young Master said that in three days, he would let me go with him to the northern border."

Consort Yun let out a long sigh: "Xiao Yueyue, Mother isn't trying to stop you; it's just that we barely escaped from there, Mother worries about you."

"If Father Emperor sees you," she shivered, "Mother won't be at ease."

Gongsun Yue helped his mother sit down and poured her a cup of tea: "But Mother, Tuan Tuan is the first person in this world, besides you, who treats me as a person."

"Without her, you couldn't have escaped from the Da Xia imperial palace, and I couldn't be as free as I am today," his voice choked: "I must go, I have to go."

Consort Yun's heart ached; she knew best how much suffering and hardship her son had endured, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

Gongsun Yue hastily raised his hand and gently wiped the tears from her face: "Mother, this is the first time I can choose the path I want to walk."

"It's not for survival, nor to curry favor with anyone, but for Tuan Tuan, solely for Tuan Tuan."

Consort Yun's tears fell even harder: "All right, Mother will wait for your return."

Gongsun Yue knelt down and kowtowed three times to her: "Son will definitely return safely."

The next morning, Xiao Ningchen arrived at the private workshop.