Chapter 487: We Must Not Remain in This Capital Any Longer

Xiao Er's steps halted.

Xiao Ningyuan staggered, almost losing his footing: "Tuan Tuan, what did you say?"

Tuan Tuan said confidently: "Save Twelve and Noble Consort De!"

Lu Qi still thought he misheard: "Miss, are you serious?"

"Of course!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "You all saw it, those two villains were so fierce, Twelve was terrified, Noble Consort De cried so sadly."

"But that's the Emperor!" Xiao Ningyuan raised his hand and rubbed his brow, "Tuan Tuan, you're planning to kidnap the Emperor!"

"Can't we? Only this way Twelve won't be bullied again!"

Xiao Ningyuan was at a loss for words.

Lu Qi let out a light sigh: "Miss, Seventh Prince hasn't been rescued yet…"

Tuan Tuan replied: "Then let's rescue together!"

Lu Qi: "…"

Tuan Tuan patted Xiao Er's shoulder: "Uncle Er, is that right?"

Xiao Ningyuan and Lu Qi both looked at Xiao Er.

"Uh…" Xiao Er, who was not good at speaking, didn't understand why he became the focus of everyone's eyes.

He thought for a moment: "Whatever Miss wants to do, I'll just accompany."

Tuan Tuan was overjoyed, hugged his big face and gave it a kiss.

Xiao Ningyuan and Lu Qi exhaled together, bowing their heads—how deadly!

Lu Qi, unwilling to give up, continued urging: "Miss, rescuing Seventh Prince was already difficult; adding the Emperor and Empress Dowager, how could that be possible?"

"Why not possible?" Tuan Tuan's little mouth pouted, "Didn't we just go in earlier?"

Xiao Ningyuan raised his hand and pinched the little cheek: "Be good, looking for things in the Palace is different from rescuing people."

"Rescuing Seventh Prince is far simpler than taking the Emperor away."

Tuan Tuan's little face gradually drooped: "But Twelve is being bullied like this, shouldn't we save him?"

"It's not a matter of should or shouldn't…" Xiao Ningyuan sighed lightly: "This matter still requires careful deliberation."

While speaking, they had already arrived at the end of the secret passage.

Exiting the secret passage, several guards, Eunuch Cheng and Chu Yuan both rose from their chairs.

"How is it?" Eunuch Cheng hurried forward, seeing Tuan Tuan unharmed, his heart instantly relaxed, but what happened to the Little Princess?

He extended his arm: "Hey, who bullied our Little Princess? That pouted mouth could even hang an oil bottle."

Tuan Tuan's face full of grievance, she stretched her little arm: "Ong Ong!"

Eunuch Cheng lifted her into his arms, gently patting her back: "Who bullied us? Grandfather will beat him for you!"

Tuan Tuan tucked her little head into his chest.

Xiao Ningyuan took three oil-paper packets from his arms, placed them on the table and carefully opened them, looking at Chu Yuan: "May we not bring disgrace to the command."

In candlelight, twenty-seven bronze pieces—nine hilts, nine blades, nine tips—each exquisitely crafted.

Chu Yuan assembled them respectively, forming nine miniature Heavenly Son Swords.

He picked up a hilt and held it near the candle to examine.

He saw that the tiny hilt bore two minuscule seal characters, which he softly read: "Stability."

"Stability Gate?" Eunuch Cheng blurted.

Xiao Ningyuan quickly inspected the other hilts: "De Sheng, Fu Cheng… these are the nine gates of Jingcheng!"

Chu Yuan nodded: "It seems these Nine Keys correspond to nine city gates."

"However, we still need master craftsmen to fuse and cast them, to forge the true keys that open the nine secret passages."

"Master craftsmen?" Tuan Tuan looked up, "Feng Zhou, he can make anything!"

Lu Qi, with a helpless expression: "Miss, Seventh Prince hasn't been rescued yet, now we also need Feng Zhou, plus the Emperor and Empress Dowager… how can we even leave the city?"

"Emperor and Empress Dowager?" Chu Yuan looked up, "What's going on?"

Xiao Ningyuan sighed and recounted the scene he saw in Shoucheng Palace.

Eunuch Cheng's eyes flashed with tears: "Prince Twelve was timid to begin with, what a tragedy, such a good child, and they treated him like this."

Chu Yuan remained silent.

Several guards were stunned, "That's the Emperor! How could he be treated like that?"

Tuan Tuan hugged Eunuch Cheng's neck: "Ong Ong, that villain Qing Wang lifted Twelve, scaring him so he didn't even dare to speak."

"Noble Consort De is heartbroken, and Prince Twelve just wants to protect his mother!"

Her eyes gradually reddened: "I can't watch him being bullied and run away myself."

Chu Yuan walked to Tuan Tuan, reached out and took her from Eunuch Cheng's arms, gently wiping her eyes.

"Tuan Tuan," he said softly, "you are right."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Master! You're so kind!"

Chu Yuan lifted his head, looking at everyone: "Though this task is difficult, it's worth trying."

"It's not just because of Tuan Tuan; think carefully, they forced the Emperor to attend court, isn't that because dissatisfaction in the court and among officials toward them is rising?"

"Noble Consort De and her child didn't want to collude with them, which made them angry; otherwise, they wouldn't need to be so aggressive and break with the Emperor."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Indeed, it's not that I don't want to save mother and child, but this matter is truly…"

Chu Yuan waved his hand, cutting him off: "If the Emperor suddenly disappears, the court will inquire, and when they find nothing, they can only claim the Emperor died of illness and install a new emperor."

"But they already lack legitimacy and proper speech; any fabricated reason will spark massive doubts, causing officials to become divided and the people to waver."

Eunuch Cheng's eyes sparkled: "National Preceptor is right! Then there will be quite a spectacle!"

Lu Qi clenched his fist: "Fine! Then let's rescue! Two big men bullying women and children, I can't stand it!"

Xiao Ningyuan sighed: "Lu Qi, you set out tomorrow and bring Feng Zhou back from the Charitable Estate."

"Yes!"

Bring more silver; if those artisans are still hiding there, give them the silver so they can make a living.

This deal isn't easy; we need to discuss it carefully.

We must rescue the Seventh Prince, Noble Consort De, and Xiao Shier together, then hurry back to Xibei with the Emperor and his mother; we can no longer stay in Jingcheng.