Chapter 449

Xiao Ningyuan heard it and let out a soft sigh: "Dynastic change is ordinary. The fall of the previous dynasty was due to party strife and external relatives holding power, not the fall of the Xiao family."

"If governance and harmony persisted, the state would be prosperous and the people safe; even with the Xiao family present, they would not lose this splendid land."

The old man's expression shifted.

Xiao Ningyuan caught a glimpse of his expression, secretly thinking that this person was not unable to discern right from wrong; since that was the case, a strong dose was needed.

He continued: "I, the junior, did not come here for the Xiao family, but for the people of the world."

"Once war erupts, oppressive taxes will arise, the people will be unable to survive, and the disaster of broken families and death will be imminent."

"Are not today's people under heaven also the people of the former dynasty?"

Tuan Tuan's little head bobbed like a chick pecking grain: "Yes, Grandpa, my older brother is right!"

"Fighting is bad; when those uncles and aunts hear of war, they just want to take their families and flee elsewhere, not daring to return home—it's pitiful."

The old man lowered his head to look at her eyes: "Little one, is he your older brother?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Ningyuan took the sidearm from Xiao Er's hands and, with both hands, presented it to the elder: "Senior, you have guarded this imperial mausoleum to this day; you can be called loyal and commendable."

"I, the junior, am untalented; I am indeed the eldest son of Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang, Xiao Ningyuan."

The old man's face changed dramatically, his eyes widening: "You are the eldest son of Xiao Yuanhang?"

The people behind him also all changed color, instantly tensing up—members of the Xiao family!

"Exactly!" Xiao Ningyuan showed no fear, answering quickly and firmly, raising the knife in his hands a bit higher: "I, the junior, am indeed a member of the Xiao family!"

"If you, senior, must put the Xiao family to death to resolve your grudge, then I, a member of the Xiao family, stand before you."

"Please, senior, make your move."

The old man looked at him, his eyes flickering.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exclaimed in unison: "Young master!"

Before the words finished, they had already rushed forward, and together with the guards they drew their waist swords with a swish, the blades flashing coldly.

Seeing this, the people behind the old man did not retreat half a step; instead, they all stepped forward in unison.

Long spears, steel swords, iron rulers and weapons of every kind were drawn from their scabbards; the blades gave no inch of ground.

"Stop!" Xiao Ningyuan shouted loudly, "No one may move! Everything is my willing consent, unrelated to the seniors. Go back and tell my father that the child can no longer fulfill filial duties."

Tuan Tuan looked at this and then that, then leapt into Xiao Ningyuan's arms: "Big brother! What are you going to do?"

Xiao Ningyuan said softly, "Tuan Tuan, be good, listen."

He stared at the elder: "I, as a junior, only hope that after the elder's long‑held wish is fulfilled, the treasures here can be handed to my younger sister, so she may take them back to Xibei Daying and make the dimples on the Heavenly Son Sword blaze fully…"

"Heavenly Son Sword!" the elder exclaimed hoarsely, "How do you know about the Heavenly Son Sword?"

The crowd behind him also erupted in a clamor.

"The Heavenly Son Sword has appeared?"

"In their hands?"

"Impossible!"

Xiao Ningyuan felt something stir within, and when the voices subsided, he replied calmly, "The Heavenly Son Sword was obtained by my younger sister from the mirage in Da Mo."

The elder suddenly looked at Tuan Tuan: "Is it her?"

"Yes! It's me! That sword is very hard; it even bruised my little foot! Then Uncle Two and Uncle Seven helped me dig it out of the sand!"

The elder examined Tuan Tuan from head to toe: "He is your big brother; are you Prince Ning's daughter?"

Tuan Tuan patted her small chest: "Yes! My father is the war god Prince Ning!"

"I am also Princess Jiayou, the Immortal Envoy of the Fiery Nation!"

"Immortal Envoy of the Fiery Nation?" the elder's astonished expression deepened, "Are you the Envoy who ascended the stage to pray for rain and summoned the golden dragon?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Yes! It's me!"

The elder, increasingly bewildered, said, "Little child, then tell me, what does the Heavenly Son Sword look like?"

Tuan Tuan thought for a moment and drew a sketch: "It's this long, this wide; the grip has seven little dots—ah! And three of those seven dots are lit up!"

"Three of them lit?" the elder was even more shocked, his face full of astonishment, "How did they light? Besides the Heavenly Son Sword, what else have you found?"

Tuan Tuan proudly shook her little head: "We also have the box from Falling Eagle Ravine and the jars from Old Crow Mountain! I found those too!"

"Ah, right! When we left, three were lit; now it should be four! I also found many armor that cannot be pierced by swords and spears in the Snow Mountain!"

The elder staggered back a few steps, clutching his chest.

The clan members rushed forward to support him: "Grandfather!" "Uncle!" "Zongzheng!"

The shouting continued without end.

The elder waved his hand, and after a moment, with a "Wah" sound, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

He looked deeply at Tuan Tuan: "So it's you? I, of the Yuwen clan, have guarded the imperial tomb for generations, always awaiting someone who can obtain the Heavenly Son Sword to appear and lead us to reclaim the rivers and mountains."

"Never could we have imagined, it's you! Indeed, you! Prince Ning's daughter!"

Tuan Tuan, with a concerned expression, asked: "Grandfather, why are you coughing up blood? Does your stomach hurt?"

The elder shook his head, straightened his posture, and looked up to the heavens: "Absurd! Truly absurd!"

"She is Prince Ning's daughter, yet not only obtained the Heavenly Son Sword, but also already secured four of the seven!"

"Could it be that our dynasty's fortunes have truly run out, with no hope of restoration?"

Xiao Ningyuan placed the knife he was holding at the elder's feet, and embraced his sister: "The previous dynasty's bureaucracy was unclear, causing the people to suffer, and thus the Xiao family replaced it."

"If someday the Xiao family's realm becomes like the former dynasty, it will naturally be supplanted by others as well."

"Regardless of who rules this realm, the most important thing is that the people can live in peace and prosperity."

Tuan Tuan said brightly: "Yes! If everyone is not hungry, and can return home to be together with father and mother, that is truly happy!"

The elder's eyes suddenly flashed brilliantly upon hearing this; he crouched down, looked into Tuan Tuan's eyes, and asked, "Little child, do you truly think so?"

Tuan Tuan nodded, but her gaze fell on his jaw; his snowy beard swayed gently in the mountain breeze.

The old man's next sentence almost made Xiao Ningyuan fall to the ground: "Little one, do you want to be the ruler of the world?"

Xiao Er, Lu Qi, and the guards were so startled they all craned their necks, eyes wide like bronze bells.

Miss? Become emperor?

Tuan Tuan thought seriously: "Grandpa, I can't read!"

"I can teach you!"

"I'm only five!"

"You'll grow up someday; I can wait! Just tell Grandpa whether you want to or not."

Tuan Tuan's eyes rolled, she grinned: "Grandpa, can I touch your beard first before I answer?"

Xiao Ningyuan helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Tuan Tuan! We're talking about the fate of the world, and you're thinking about that?"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, smiled knowingly: "The miss is really adorable!"

The old man blinked, then burst out laughing: "Good! Good! Grandpa will let you touch it!"

Having said that, he lifted his beard and held it out to her.

Tuan Tuan reached out her little hand, stroking his beard happily: "So soft! So fun!"

The old man stared at her unblinking.

After a while of stroking, Tuan Tuan let go of her little hand: "Thank you, Grandpa!"

"I don't want to!" Tuan Tuan scrunched her nose: "Imperial Uncle, when he lived in the palace, was always too busy to play with me."

"I don't want to be like him! I still want to pick up my junk!"

The old man blinked: "Pick up junk? Truly a child's nature."

He stared at Tuan Tuan for a long while, patted her little shoulder, and stood up.

He glanced at the knife at his feet: "This young master Xiao, the treasure of this place is the Nine Gates Dragon Vein Map."

"It records nine secret dragon‑vein passages leading straight to the capital; obtaining it lets one move like a hidden dragon underground and slip into the city unnoticed."

Xiao Ningyuan's breath nearly stopped: "Slip into the capital! This is of utmost importance for my father to retake the capital."

He cupped his hands: "Many thanks for your guidance, senior; I wonder if you could bestow it upon me, your junior?"

The old man shook his head: "We've lived here for generations, yet we've never seen it."

Xiao Ningyuan was dumbfounded: "What does that mean?"

The old man turned and pointed to the end of the spirit road: "That Nine Gates Dragon Vein Map is right in this tomb!"