Chapter 489

Xiao Er whispered, "This door is different from the doors of the other tiger caves; it's much heavier, the lock is different, and it's actually locked from the inside."

Xiao Ningyuan rolled his eyes; this is the place the Emperor used for his whims, so it naturally had to be locked from the inside, and only he could open it.

Lu Qi drew a dagger, and using the glow from the fire‑folded paper in Xiao Er's hand, he leaned close to the keyhole and examined it for a moment, lowering his voice: "The lock is different too; it's a Nine‑Turn Mandarin Duck lock."

"Can it be opened?" Xiao Er asked.

Lu Qi replied, "It can, it just takes a bit of effort." The dagger in his hand kept shifting angles, probing the keyhole.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted Tuan Tuan from Xiao Er's back, set her on the ground, and whispered in her ear, "Good girl, the door's open; go in first, and be careful not to let anyone see."

"Check where your Imperial Aunt is; if a night‑watch palace maid is by her bedside, come back and tell us."

"If not, go directly to your Imperial Aunt, but don't speak loudly; be careful not to frighten her."

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "Got it!"

After a moment, a light "click" sounded, and the latch sprang open.

Lu Qi removed the lock head, reached out to push, but the door didn't budge, leaving him startled.

Xiao Ningyuan couldn't help but roll his eyes again, pulled the door, and it opened inward a thin slit.

Candlelight from outside seeped in.

Through the slit, one could see that outside the door was the back of a person‑height floor‑to‑ceiling copper mirror.

A narrow gap remained between the mirror and the wall, just enough for a person to slip through sideways.

Tuan Tuan, being small, slipped through the gap, crouched on the floor like a kitten, and stuck her head out from behind the copper mirror to look outward.

Inside, the candlelight was dim and yellow, casting a tranquil glow over the whole room.

The Eldest Princess sat alone beside the table, holding the yellowed painting left by the Prince Consort, her gaze fixed on it, her expression melancholy.

Tuan Tuan looked left and right; there was no one else in the room.

She pursed her lips and called softly, "Imperial Aunt! Imperial Aunt?"

The Eldest Princess trembled slightly, slowly raised her eyes, and paused for a moment, "Tuan Tuan?"

She shook her head and muttered low, "How could that be? I must be dreaming again."

"Imperial Aunt, it's me," Tuan Tuan's voice was thin and soft, "I'm behind the mirror; I can't let anyone see!"

The Eldest Princess's painting thudded onto the table.

She steadied her breath, and slowly turned her head to look at the copper mirror.

A pair of jet‑black, sparkling large eyes stared at her from behind the copper mirror.

Their gazes met.

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes.

The Eldest Princess inhaled deeply, sat up straight, and said calmly, "Everyone, step back."

The palace maids waiting outside answered in unison, "Yes."

"Today I miss the Prince Consort, my thoughts are unsettled, and I wish to be alone in silence," she paused, "No summons may be issued; no one may enter."

"I understand."

The hall door was gently closed, and the faint footfalls gradually faded away.

Only then did Tuan Tuan crawl out from behind the copper mirror and rush straight into the Eldest Princess's arms, "Imperial Aunt!"

The Eldest Princess caught her warm, soft little body, her voice trembling, "How did you get here? Alone?"

Tuan Tuan hugged her neck, "There's also big brother, Uncle Two and Uncle Seven! They're all behind the mirror."

The Eldest Princess lifted her gaze toward the copper mirror.

Xiao Ningyuan's voice came from behind, "An outsider has rashly entered the inner curtains; please pardon us, Eldest Princess."

The Eldest Princess was silent for a moment, the candlelight flickering in her eyes, "My imperial brother is no longer in this palace."

"I, the Eldest Princess, am now nothing but a widowed woman with an empty title. No need to observe those empty rites; just come in."

The copper mirror was pushed open completely.

Xiao Ningyuan stepped aside, with Xiao Er and Lu Qi close behind; the three wore solemn expressions and together bowed deeply to the Eldest Princess.

The Eldest Princess's gaze swept over the three, finally landing on the dark entrance to the secret passage behind them.

She led Tuan Tuan, and slowly walked to the copper mirror, "When did you manage to tunnel through here?"

Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly replied, "This is a secret passage left by the previous dynasty's emperor; we merely stumbled upon it."

"This warm pavilion… I've lived here for over ten years, yet I didn't know there was such a device behind the wall."

She looked up at Xiao Ningyuan, "Do you have any news about my imperial brother? Never mind, sit down first."

The three took their seats as instructed at the Eldest Princess's feet, and Tuan Tuan obediently leaned against her bosom.

Xiao Ningyuan gathered his thoughts, lowered his voice, and detailed the situation in the northwest, the Emperor's recent condition, and their plan to infiltrate Jingcheng to rescue Prince Qi and Noble Consort De's mother and child.

The Eldest Princess listened quietly, her fingers resting on Tuan Tuan's shoulder gradually tightening.

When Xiao Ningyuan finished speaking, a sudden sheen of water appeared in her eyes, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, "I knew it; my imperial brother would not give up, nor would he abandon them."

She raised her hand to wipe away a tear, then said earnestly, "You have arrived at the right time."

"Yesterday, King Chen and King Qing agreed that ten days from now, at the South Suburb Circular Mound Altar, a grand Heavenly Sacrifice will be held to pray for the nation's fortune and soothe the people's hearts."

The Eldest Princess's lips curled with a hint of sarcasm, "Calling it a Heavenly Sacrifice is merely a ploy to deceive the world and steal fame."

"When the time comes, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will attend in person, the ceremonial guards will leave the palace, and most of the palace guards will be redeployed. If you wish to rescue Prince Qi, that day will be the best opportunity."

Lu Qi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "The palace is empty; indeed, a perfect chance!"

The Eldest Princess shook her head gently, "But to rescue Noble Consort De and her child on the same day would be extremely difficult."

She gently stroked Tuan Tuan's hair, her voice resigned, "Since the twelfth emperor ascended the throne as a child, the palace where Noble Consort De lives, Shoucheng Palace, has been guarded like an iron bucket."

"Even I have not seen them alone; now in Dezheng Palace, the two princes have countless eyes and ears."

"Moreover," she paused, a look of pity in her eyes, "the twelfth child has always been timid; now he's like a startled bird, crying and shrieking at the slightest movement."

"Even if you possess sky‑piercing abilities, how could you make him calm down and obey you to pass through the many palace prohibitions?"

The room fell silent, and only the faint crackle of the candle could be heard.

Tuan Tuan suddenly lifted her little face: "Then just let the twelfth go first, right?"

Xiao Ningyuan was startled: "What?"

"Let the twelfth go first," Tuan Tuan said as if it were obvious, holding up her small hand, "I'll become the little twelfth, and then I'll go together with Noble Consort De."