Chapter 409: with translation of chapter title

Pfft——! Xiao Ran couldn't hold back this time; a mouthful of soup sprayed out, and he frantically wiped it.

Xiao Yuanhang suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and stuffed a piece of mutton into his mouth.

Tuan Tuan's little head shook like a rattle drum, face full of disdain: "I don't want to cry either!"

Xie Guzhou saw her opposition and immediately went along: "Okay, okay, okay! If you say no, then no, let's think of another way!"

After breakfast, Tuan Tuan had eaten and drunk his fill; seeing Xie Guzhou pull out the whistle again and blow a fluctuating tune, the distant horse‑band men followed suit, moving in orderly fashion, finding it extremely amusing.

She also pulled out her own whistle, imitating Xie Guzhou, and gave it a hard blow.

Whoo——pfft! Whee‑whee——dit!

It was still a sharp, piercing sound; she simply couldn't produce the same sound as Xie Guzhou.

The horse‑band men listened and kept shaking their heads.

Not far away, several horses of the horse band, originally leisurely lowering their heads to graze under the trees, upon hearing the whistle, flicked their ears back, becoming irritated enough to paw the ground with their hooves.

Xie Guzhou held back a laugh: "Little ancestor, blowing this whistle is about 'speech'; it takes skill, not just making noise—look, the horses don't even like to listen."

Tuan Tuan refused to concede: "I'll try again!"

She blew the whistle again toward those horses:

Whee‑whee——dit!

This time the tune was even stranger.

Only to see those few horses, which had merely been a bit irritated moments before, simultaneously turn their heads away, present their rumps to Tuan Tuan, and flick their tails in disdain.

Xiao Ran couldn't help bursting into laughter: "Hahaha……"

Xiao Ningxun turned his face away, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Xiao Ningchen's mouth curled up.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er looked at Tuan Tuan, thinking, "Miss, how can you be so adorable!"

Xiao Yuanhang rubbed his daughter's head: "You blew it well; it's just that they don't understand."

Gongsun Yue gazed at him admiringly: "Prince Ning treats Tuan Tuan so well! This is what a good father should be!"

Chu Yuan laughed and shook his head: "This disciple of mine!"

Tuan Tuan held up the whistle, watching the horses' indifferent backs, and pouted: "Why won't they pay attention to me?"

Xie Guzhou could no longer contain himself, burst out laughing, scooped up Tuan Tuan and perched him on his shoulder: "Your father is right, it's not your fault!"

"They just don't understand! Come on, Uncle Xie will take you horseback riding—let you see the horses of my Xiling Horse Band!"

After riding for a while, Xie Guzhou returned Tuan Tuan.

Lu Qi stepped forward: "Lord Master, let's go to Yunkejing for a walk; Tianji Pavilion should have news from Jingcheng."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Exactly! Let's go now!"

She pattered over to her father: "Dad! Tianji Pavilion has a teahouse here, Seventh Uncle said we should go there to ask for news from Jingcheng—can I take you?"

Xiao Yuanhang lifted his daughter, bumping his big head against her little forehead: "Looks like my Tuan Tuan hasn't wasted this journey through the jianghu at all!"

"Dad won't go; let your third brother and Xiao Er accompany you."

Tuan Tuan pursed her little lips and said nothing.

Xiao Ningxun came over and took his sister from his father's hand: "Be good, there are many bad people watching Dad; it wouldn't be proper for him to go, so big brother and Second Uncle will accompany you, okay?"

No wonder Dad isn't coming with me!

She nodded obediently: "All right! Dad, wait for me to come back and tell you!"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled and rubbed her little head: "Go quickly and return quickly, don't delay."

"Okay!"

Lu Qi approached a horse‑band man: "Sir, could you find a set of boys' clothes that my young lady can wear?"

"Also give us a few more, find a set of the usual attire the horse‑band brothers wear, we need to go into the city."

The man sized them up: "Alright, I'll go get them right away." Then he turned and left.

After a while, he returned with the clothing.

Several people changed into inconspicuous coarse‑cloth garments; Tuan Tuan was dressed as an ordinary boy, and they entered the city together.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er each took one of Tuan Tuan's little hands, Lu Qi led the way ahead, and soon they arrived at the entrance of "Yunkejing".

But the sight before them made everyone blink in surprise.

In memory, the façade was mottled, the eaves dilapidated—now there was no trace of that.

In its place stood a three‑story high building with flying eaves and dougong brackets, almost all glittering with gold—a tavern.

The patrons coming and going wore fine clothes, the staff greeted with smiling faces, and the business was booming, starkly out of place among the surrounding shops.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, gazing at the three freshly gilded characters of "Yunkejing": "Wow! It's been renovated beautifully!"

Xiao Er silently scanned the surroundings and said softly: "Third Young Master, the flow of people here is extremely mixed—merchants, jianghu folk, and even some in official attire—indeed a fine place to gather news."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, reflecting that Tuan Tuan's earlier remark had unexpectedly proven quite effective.

The four entered the main door; the shopkeeper behind the counter glanced up, instantly broke into a beaming smile, hurriedly rose, and greeted them without a trace of formality: "Please, honored guests, come inside!"

"We've been keeping a private room ready for you!"

The shopkeeper led them to a quiet private room on the third floor, closed the door, turned and performed a salute: "Your subordinate pays respects to the Lord Master!"

Tuan Tuan looked at him happily: "Uncle Shopkeeper, this place has been fixed up beautifully!"

Only then did the shopkeeper rise, clasping his hands to the others: "Gentlemen, we meet again."

Everyone returned the salute and took their seats.

This private room is extremely spacious; the street‑side windows are made of rare transparent glazed tiles, offering a full view of the outside scenery, while inside it remains tranquil and silent.

On the horizontal table lay seasonal fresh flowers; in the corner, the incense burner sent up a refined fragrance, indeed lending a touch of the luxurious elegance of Jingcheng's Suijin Pavilion.

The shopkeeper's face showed pride: "Lord Master, please look—everything here has been prepared according to your original instructions."

Tuan Tuan climbed onto the chair cushioned with a soft pad, curiously examining the freshly renovated room: 'It looks just like the Suijin Pavilion!'

She picked up a snack from the small plate on the table, took a bite: 'Delicious!'

Lu Qi asked, 'Shopkeeper, any news from Jingcheng?'

The shopkeeper then sat down: 'Yes. Jingcheng's Nine Gates have been shut for days, grain prices have multiplied several times, and the people's complaints are loud.'

'Perhaps that's why, more and more people privately distrust that notice.'

Xiao Ningxun exchanged a glance with Xiao Er.

The people's hearts have not been lost; there is hidden anticipation—this is good news.

'The palace is heavily guarded, hard to gather much. But I've vaguely heard that now the Empress Dowager presides over court, and the two Regent Kings handle affairs.'

'These two princes often argue at court, while that little emperor hardly ever shows his face.'

The Twelfth Prince stays unseen? The two princes are on bad terms?

Xiao Ningxun silently noted these; they are all weaknesses we can exploit after returning to the capital.

The shopkeeper continued: 'Our people have discovered that members of the Black Medicine Sect frequently come and go from the palace.'

'At Prince Chen's Mansion, whenever it's late at night, a convoy exits through the side gate, destination unknown.'

'Our people tailed them twice, but lost their trail outside the city each time.'

Xiao Ningxun praised: 'As expected of the Tianji Pavilion! This information is all very important. Anything else?'

The shopkeeper's face changed; he whispered, looking quite troubled.

Xiao Ningxun's heart sank: 'What else? Go ahead and speak.'

The shopkeeper sighed: 'The Ning Prince's Mansion...'

'Snap!' The snack in Tuan Tuan's hand fell onto the plate.

Xiao Ningxun quickly held her in his arms: 'Don't rush, Tuan Tuan, listen to uncle.'

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth: 'Everyone in the Ning Prince's Mansion has already been driven out of the residence.'

'They are temporarily held in the old barracks south of the city, guarded by Prince Ke's personal troops.'

'Our people once tried to scout it.'

'Inside it's extremely crude, and the guard is tight.'

He paused: 'Besides Prince Ke's personal troops, we also saw… members of the Black Medicine Sect.'