Chapter 410: You Have to Sit on It to Know

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly asked, "Black Medicine Sect? What are they going there for?"

The shopkeeper shook his head, "Can't find out, the guard is just too strict."

Tuan Tuan immediately buried herself in her brother's chest, tears quickly soaking Xiao Ningxun's clothes: "Mother! Wuwu, Third Brother, I want to go to Jingcheng to rescue mother and they!"

"Now go! Leave immediately!"

Xiao Ningxun hugged her sister, gently patting her back: "Good girl, little Tuan Tuan, don't cry."

"Listen, Third Brother told you, mother and they really have suffered."

"But rest assured, as long as father doesn't appear, they won't do anything to them."

Tuan Tuan lifted her little head: "Why?"

Xiao Ningxun used her sleeve to wipe her sister's tears: "Because, you see, the bad guys want father, not mother and they."

"So, don't worry too much; as long as father doesn't return to Jingcheng for a day, they will be fine."

Xiao Er looked at Tuan Tuan with pain: "Miss, stop crying, listen to the Third Young Master's words."

Lu Qi looked at the shopkeeper: "Tianji Pavilion has many people in Jingcheng; can we try to rescue?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "Although there are many people, if we want to rescue people intact under heavy troops, it's truly beyond our ability."

"Those are all official soldiers; our Tianji Pavilion's influence is in the jianghu, not in the court."

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Is that all, shopkeeper?"

"Yes." The shopkeeper replied: "That's all we know."

Xiao Ningxun lifted her sister and stood up: "Thank you, we take our leave."

The shopkeeper saw them out of the tavern.

The few of them returned to the Main Camp.

Tuan Tuan, upon seeing Xiao Yuanhang, cried and leapt into his arms: "Father! The villains locked mother and they up!"

"I want to find mother! Wuwu, father! I want to rescue them all!"

Xiao Yuanhang felt a shock in his heart and looked at his son.

Gongsun Yue's small face instantly turned pale: "Mother Consort!"

Chu Yuan patted his shoulder: "Don't rush, first listen to what's happening."

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly recounted what the shopkeeper had said.

Xiao Ningchen's face turned ashen after listening, and the hand gripping his sword hilt trembled slightly.

Xiao Ningxun extended a hand, covering his: "Second Brother, don't act rashly."

"They are using mother and they as bait, waiting for us to walk into the net."

"Otherwise, sealing the Prince's Mansion would suffice; why relocate elsewhere?"

"If they're uneasy about the Prince's Mansion, they could simply lock it in the Heavenly Prison."

"But they didn't; instead they locked the people in that place, which must already be sealed with a sky‑and‑earth net."

"Just waiting for us to take the bait."

Xiao Yuanhang held his daughter, gently rocking her small body: "Good girl, don't worry, father will definitely find a way to rescue them."

Tuan Tuan nodded gloomily.

A few days later, cart after cart of jerky, cheese, flatbread… and hemp cloth for bandaging and medicinal herbs were brought into the Main Camp.

The soldiers, having filled their stomachs, changed into clean clothes, received a thorough rest, and their gazes became sharp again.

This afternoon, Xie Guzhou rode in on a fast horse.

Seeing Xiao Yuanhang, he leapt off his horse: "Prince!"

"Brother Xie? What's the matter for such haste?"

Xie Guzhou wiped sweat from his face haphazardly: "Something's happened! To the northeast, over a hundred li away at Luoyan Slope! A large army suddenly appeared and is setting up camp!"

"Luoyan Slope?"

"Yes! That's the main route from the northwest to Jingcheng!"

The crowd instantly gathered, everyone's hearts lifted.

Xiao Yuanhang's expression was solemn: "Can we identify the banner?"

"From afar, it's not clear."

"But the numbers are huge! The messenger who returned said the Main Camp stretches for more than ten li!"

Xiao Ningchen was startled: "Ten li? That must be at least a hundred thousand troops!"

Xie Guzhou asked: "Is it the Emperor's army?"

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "His Majesty's troops aren't that many; it must be rebels."

Xie Guzhou was stunned: "Rebels? Why set up camp here?"

Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningxun exchanged a glance, and Xiao Ningchen also realized: "Father! The only possible reason rebels could be stationed here is…"

Xiao Ningxun said together with him: "His Majesty is here!"

Tuan Tuan's eyes brightened: "Imperial Uncle is coming? Father, then let's go find him quickly! And then rescue mother!"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, looking at Xie Guzhou: "Brother Xie, please send two people to guide us; we will march day and night to reach Luoyan Slope as soon as possible!"

Xie Guzhou thought: "From here to Luoyan Slope there is an ancient mountain path that the Horse Guild often uses; it can avoid all official checkpoints, though it's a bit tough. If we march nonstop, we can arrive within two days!"

"Good!"

Xiao Ningxun said: "Brother Xie, we will march at full speed and shouldn't carry those provisions; could we ask the Horse Guild brothers to deliver them later?"

Xie Guzhou smiled: "Isn't that what our Horse Guild does! Don't worry, you go first; we'll deliver them in a few days!"

Xiao Ningchen clasped his fists: "Thank you, Brother Xie!"

Xiao Yuanhang shouted: "Issue the order! Fill the Water Bags, each person takes three days' rations! In one hour, the whole army sets out!"

"Yes!"

The military order was as heavy as a mountain, and the atmosphere tightened in an instant.

The soldiers hurriedly organized their gear and inspected the horses.

Xiao Yuanhang bent down, cradling Tuan Tuan in one arm and Gongsun Yue in the other.

Gongsun Yue tensed all over; Prince Ning could actually hold me?

Xiao Yuanhang placed the two little ones onto the carriage and said, "Xiao Er, look after them and the National Preceptor. Load them with more food."

"Yes!"

Xiao Er said nothing further, went to pack a large sack of dried meat and cheese into the carriage.

An hour later, Xiao Yuanhang lifted his whip, pointed forward, and shouted, "Set out!"

At the same time, Jingcheng, the imperial palace.

In Xiao Jieyun's Zichen Hall.

Sunlight slanted through the window lattice, bathing the gleaming golden bricks in a soft, muted gold hue.

King Chen stood with his arms crossed before the Dragon Desk, gazing at the empty carved dragon throne before him.

He was slightly stout, and the short whiskers on his chin were meticulously trimmed.

"This chair," he began slowly, "to sit upon—what might it feel like?"

King Qing was a few years younger than him, with a towering build.

He sneered at the remark, patted the armrest of his own chair, and said, "Feeling? You'll only know by sitting down."

King Chen withdrew his gaze, glanced at him, and sat down in a chair opposite him.

The two stood east and west, facing each other across the void, forming a standoff.

King Chen stared at the golden bricks on the ground, fell into recollection, and said, "Back then, when Xiao Jieyun first ascended the throne, you and I were not without opportunity."