Chapter 481: Come with us

The night was like a waterfall.

Xiao Ningyuan leaned close to Tuan Tuan's ear and said, "Tuan Tuan, you haven't been to the Seventh Prince's palace, have you?"

"How can we get past from here?"

Tuan Tuan widened her eyes and looked around.

Only specks of starlight dotted the sky; she glanced at the nearby clumps of weeds, then at the distant, dark outlines of the halls—everything was a blur.

"I don't know!" Tuan Tuan muttered softly, a little embarrassed, "I only went once, and Third Elder Brother took me; I've completely forgotten!"

Xiao Ningyuan lowered his head: "There's nothing we can do; let's look."

Several people moved cautiously within the Leng Gong.

Xiao Ningyuan silently thought, the Leng Gong covered a large area; walking around like this, alerting the Imperial Guard was only a matter of time.

Or perhaps we should first retreat to the secret passage and discuss further.

He was about to speak.

"Cough... cough cough cough..."

A hoarse, elderly cough came from a dilapidated side room ahead.

Everyone stopped instantly and quickly retreated into the shadows at the base of the wall.

Immediately, a dim yellow candlelight flickered inside that room, casting a wavering glow on the broken window.

"Squeak—"

The wooden door was slowly pushed open.

A stooped figure, wearing a faded, whitish old robe, shuffled out slowly.

He held a small lamp in his hand; its weak light barely illuminated his feet.

Upon seeing him, everyone felt somewhat relieved—it was an old eunuch.

The old eunuch walked with unsteady steps, pacing back and forth in the desolate courtyard, taking a few steps, pausing, looking up at the sky, then bowing his head and coughing twice.

The night wind lifted the empty hem of his robe, making his gaunt, solitary figure even more apparent.

They exchanged glances: this old eunuch, awake in the middle of the night, wandering the Leng Gong—could he have gone mad?

Suddenly, Xiao Er felt a lightness on his back.

Tuan Tuan actually struggled and slid down from his back, lunging toward the old eunuch!

"Miss!"

Xiao Er was terrified out of his wits, reaching out to grab her, but fearing he might hurt her if he used too much force, he grasped at air.

Just that hesitation, and the small figure had already flung herself onto the old eunuch.

"Old one—!" Tuan Tuan's voice was very low but trembling with tears: "Old one! It's me, Tuan Tuan!"

Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Er were both startled—could it be... Chief Eunuch Cheng?

Lu Qi wore a puzzled expression, but seeing the two unmoving, he slowly lowered his hand that gripped the iron lotus.

The old eunuch's whole body shuddered violently.

He stiffly reached out and touched the little child clinging tightly to his leg.

"Prin—princess?"

It was Chief Eunuch Cheng Jinyan himself!

His lips trembled as he shakily raised his hand, as if wanting to touch her face, yet afraid it was merely a dream.

"Little Princess! Is it really you?"

His knees went weak, and he wanted to kneel and pay respects.

Tuan Tuan clung tightly to his sleeve, tears pattering down: "It's me! Old one! Tuan Tuan is back!"

Chief Eunuch Cheng could hold back no longer; old tears streamed down as he pulled her tightly into his embrace.

"Heaven has opened its eyes!" he choked, "I, your servant, thought I would never see you again in this lifetime."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi warily scanned the surroundings as Xiao Ningyuan hurried over: "Chief Eunuch Cheng, this place isn't suitable; is there somewhere we can talk?"

Chief Eunuch Cheng wiped his tears, took Tuan Tuan's small hand, and said, "Come, go to my quarters."

Everyone followed him into the dilapidated house.

Chief Eunuch Cheng blew out the candle: "A few garments went missing from the courtyard yesterday; I knew someone would try to enter, so today I tried my luck in the courtyard."

"I never expected it would be you who came."

"Wow!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed, "Old one, you're so clever! How did you know?"

Chief Eunuch Cheng smiled faintly: "I, your servant, have lived in this palace my whole life; I still have this bit of insight."

"Although losing things in the Leng Gong isn't unusual, taking items here and there like this clearly shows someone intends to sneak in, preparing to change clothes quietly to avoid detection."

Xiao Ningyuan couldn't help but admire: "Chief Eunuch, your perception is excellent!"

Chief Eunuch Cheng stared at him for a long while: "Which palace are you from? I've seen all the little eunuchs in this palace; how could I not remember you?"

Xiao Ningyuan: "……"

Tuan Tuan laughed: "Old one, he's my big brother!"

Chief Eunuch Cheng suddenly realized: "Ah, you're Young Master Xiao; dressed like that, you really look like a little eunuch—I, your servant, failed to recognize you."

Tuan Tuan nodded proudly: "Right, old one? I also said big brother looks cute in those clothes."

I thank you all, but I really don't want to wear these clothes!

Xiao Ningyuan felt gloomy: "You'd better not say that, Tuan Tuan."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi turned their heads elsewhere, their shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Chief Eunuch Cheng asked: "What brings you to the Leng Gong?"

Xiao Ningyuan hastily gave a brief account of why they had come to rescue Xiao Ze.

Eunuch Cheng nodded: "No need to go."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Huh? Why? Third Elder Brother hasn't eaten for days, he's just about to..."

Eunuch Cheng shook his head: "They're lying to you; Seventh Prince is indeed under house arrest, but he hasn't gone on a hunger strike."

"His Majesty, among these princes, Seventh Prince is the most like him; he wouldn't go on a hunger strike out of spite—he'd just bide his time, waiting to settle scores with these rebels."

Tuan Tuan immediately relaxed: "Third Elder Brother is awesome!"

Eunuch Cheng's face showed worry: "However, they are indeed wary of Seventh Prince; that part is true."

"If His Majesty really goes to war with these two rebels in Jingcheng someday, they will surely use Seventh Prince to threaten him."

"So you'd better take him away; that will also cut off these rebels' hopes."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "What you say is very reasonable. But since Seventh Prince is currently in no danger to his life, we might as well head back."

"If they can't find anyone, they'll naturally stop watching Seventh Prince; then coming to rescue him later will be twice as effective."

"All right!" Tuan Tuan took Eunuch Cheng's hand: "Grandfather, come with us."

Eunuch Cheng looked puzzled: "Where to? I'm old; it's already hard for you to hide everywhere. Bringing me would just drag you down—I'm not going."

Tuan Tuan protested: "Grandfather, we have a place to stay—come on!"

"I can't bear to see you living like this; if you don't go, I won't either—I'll stay here with you."

Eunuch Cheng's eyes reddened: "Good child, I've always known that the Little Princess is an excellent, excellent child."

Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Grandfather; everything Tuan Tuan said is true—come with us."

"By the way, Grandfather, is there a eunuch who usually bullies you, about your size?"

Eunuch Cheng blinked, then understood, and pointed: "There's one; he lives in the house behind that door, sent by Prince Chen and Prince Qing to watch me."

"He used to live with me, but I deliberately coughed and spat phlegm all night to annoy him, so he moved to that house."

"All right!" Xiao Ningyuan gave Lu Qi a look toward that house.