Chapter 482: Looks Like It

Lu Qi understood, slipped out the door, and silently slipped into the room Eunuch Cheng had indicated.

The interior was pitch black, but one could vaguely see a curled human shape on the bed, snoring heavily.

Lu Qi covered his mouth and nose with one hand, and with the other hand clamped his throat like iron tongs.

The eunuch startled awake, his eyes wide open.

Lu Qi whispered, "Shut up! If you dare to shout, I'll kill you right now!"

The eunuch trembled all over, nodding desperately.

"I'm here looking for someone. Is there a newly dead eunuch in the palace? Where is the corpse?"

The eunuch made a "hoho" sound in his throat, and Lu Qi's grip loosened slightly.

"Yes…yes!" the eunuch's voice trembled, "Yesterday an elderly eunuch died of illness; the corpse is at the Transformation Factory, and it hasn't been burned yet. I don't know if it's the person the good man is looking for."

"Transformation Factory? Where is it? Is there anyone guarding it?"

"It's just west of the Leng Gong, right beyond the wall; at night, no one watches it."

Lu Qi twisted his wrist with force.

"Kak."

A crisp sound rang; the eunuch's body stiffened, then collapsed limp.

Lu Qi slipped to the western wall of the Leng Gong, climbed over and entered; the so‑called "Transformation Factory" was merely a small hut, stacked inside with several corpses covered by straw mats.

He lifted the straw mats one by one, found an elderly eunuch's corpse, slung it onto his back, and retraced his steps.

Back in front of Eunuch Cheng's room, he hesitated briefly—he couldn't frighten the young lady—so he hid the corpse in the shadow under the eaves, entered, and nodded at everyone, "Done."

Xiao Ningyuan helped Eunuch Cheng to his feet: "Let's go."

Tuan Tuan climbed onto Xiao Er's back, and the group quickly retreated to the Dry Well.

Xiao Er jumped in first; Lu Qi ushered Eunuch Cheng and Xiao Ningyuan one by one into the Secret Passage, then turned and leapt out of the Dry Well.

He placed the elderly eunuch's corpse into Eunuch Cheng's room, covered it with a quilt, took out a fire‑fold and lit the mattress on the bed.

"Sss—" the flames surged, quickly spreading.

Seeing the fire already rising, Lu Qi did not hesitate and briskly leapt into the Dry Well.

The party followed the Secret Passage back to the Secret Chamber.

Chu Yuan was waiting anxiously, and Tuan Tuan poked her head out from Xiao Er's shoulder: "Master! Guess who we rescued?"

Chu Yuan was startled: "Wasn't it the Seventh Prince?"

Tuan Tuan giggled: "Third Elder Brother is fine, it's Grandpa!"

Eunuch Cheng staggered out, bowed and said, "National Preceptor, long time no see."

Chu Yuan quickly reached out to help him up, smiling, "Eunuch Cheng, it's been a while."

Xiao Er set Tuan Tuan down; Xiao Tuanzi's foot touched the ground, then she ran to Eunuch Cheng's side, tiptoed and brushed the dust off his robe: "Grandpa, is this place okay?"

Eunuch Cheng surveyed the surroundings, lowered his head to see Tuan Tuan's upturned little face, and his eyes suddenly turned red: "Good! Very good, you have a place to settle here, this old servant can finally rest easy."

Xiao Ningyuan walked to Chu Yuan's side and gave a brief recount of what had just happened.

Chu Yuan nodded slowly: "Replacing the dead with fresh, well done."

"Since the Seventh Prince is safe and the Leng Gong has just been burned, we shouldn't re‑enter the palace for a few days."

"Wait until the rumors die down, then go back to the palace to rescue the Seventh Prince; that will be safer."

He looked at Eunuch Cheng: "You've suffered, old man, take a good rest."

Eunuch Cheng's face broke into a long‑missed smile: "Thank you, National Preceptor."

Tuan Tuan took out a piece of snack and shoved it into his hand: "Grandpa, eat quickly! You're too skinny!"

Eunuch Cheng took it, bit it carefully, and smiled even more comfortably.

In the following days, the Secret Chamber began to have a hint of a "home" feeling.

Chu Yuan sent refined meals daily, letting everyone replenish their vigor.

After a few days of rest, Eunuch Cheng was in great spirits, polishing the Stone Chamber daily until it shone like a mirror.

He changed into new robes, cut up his old clothes, asked Chu Yuan for a few cushions, tore out the cotton stuffing, and spent the whole night stitching, making a crooked little rabbit for Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan hugged the rabbit, ran around the Stone Chamber, showing it to everyone like a treasure: "Grandpa sewed it for me! Look, look, the ears are long!"

The others smiled as they watched her hop about, and couldn't help feeling that being in this deep underground Stone Chamber wasn't so unbearable after all.

Every other day, Chu Yuan would bring desserts from the Delicate Crispy Pavilion.

Tuan Tuan always presented them to Eunuch Cheng first: "Grandpa, you eat first!"

Eunuch Cheng couldn't refuse; each time he broke off half a piece to taste, then handed it to her mouth.

This afternoon, the group sat around chatting, and Eunuch Cheng gently patted Tuan Tuan curled at his feet.

Xiao Ningyuan asked, "Eunuch Cheng, in your opinion, where in Longevity Palace might the key be hidden?"

Eunuch Cheng thought for a moment: "Longevity Palace was the former empress dowager's residence, but before she moved in, His Majesty had a major renovation to make her comfortable."

Xiao Er frowned: "Major renovation?"

"Yes," Eunuch Cheng nodded, "His Majesty said old items bring bad luck, so almost all the furnishings in the hall were replaced."

The Secret Chamber fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Ningyuan's complexion shifted slightly: "All replaced? Then anything hidden in the palace could have been discarded as waste."

Lu Qi looked worried; unable to find the key, could this trip to Jingcheng have been in vain?

Xiao Ningyuan pondered briefly: "Gonggong, do you recall anything in Longevity Palace that hasn't been moved?"

Eunuch Cheng squinted, recalling carefully: "If I were to say which thing hasn't been moved…"

His eyes brightened: "There is indeed a place! On the east side of Longevity Palace lies the Sanqing Hall, where the empress dowager meditates and chants; the three Sanqing statues inside have never been moved."

Lu Qi asked further: "Really?"

Eunuch Cheng nodded: "Those statues of the Three Pure Ones have an extraordinary origin; they were personally consecrated by the Temple Master of Xuanqiong Temple back then. It is said they were placed here according to the patriarch's decree to stabilize Earth Tranquility."

Xiao Ningyuan sprang to his feet and paced two steps in the stone chamber: "In that case, the most likely hiding place for the key is none other than these statues of the Three Pure Ones!"

Light footsteps sounded as Chu Yuan walked in, and Tuan Tuan hopped down from the chair: "Master! What else is there to eat?"

Chu Yuan set down the oil‑paper bundle in his hands: "Little glutton, your nose is sharp!"

Tuan Tuan grinned as he opened the paper bundle: "Wow! Roast chicken! Thank you, Master!" He reached out to grab it.

"Whoa, wait, Little Princess!" Eunuch Cheng hurriedly rose to wash his hands: "Grandfather will cut it into small pieces for you, so don't move!"

Chu Yuan chuckled: "The rumors about the Seventh Prince on the streets have ceased to be mentioned."

Xiao Ningyuan's face showed mockery: "It seems that a few days ago they were spreading everywhere that the Seventh Prince would vomit blood and die, but after these days, with no funeral announced in the palace, this lie can't be sustained."

Xiao Er snorted: "That's all you've got—you can't even concoct a long‑lasting lie."

Lu Qi looked at Xiao Ningyuan: "Eldest Young Master, may we proceed?"

"Yes, it's time. Everyone's full, so we'll go tonight."

Tuan Tuan looked up and asked: "Big Brother, are we going to look for the key or to rescue Third Elder Brother?"

Xiao Ningyuan replied: "First we find the key."

"They know nothing about that key; if it were lost, no one would notice."

"But if the Seventh Prince were to disappear, this Jingcheng would surely fall into chaos for a while."