Chapter 490: You Made Them All Hurt

"Nonsense!" Xiao Ningyuan's face changed abruptly, "Don't speak recklessly! This is not a game!"

Xiao Er also became urgent: "Miss, this matter is no child's play! If any mishap occurs, heads will roll!"

Eldest Princess spoke softly: "Tuan Tuan, although your size and voice can still be confused with Twelve's, your appearance is not similar. Even if you are willing to replace him, how could you hide it from everyone's eyes?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes curved, revealing a sly smile: "Imperial Aunt, no need to worry, I have a way."

She said no more and brushed against Eldest Princess's bosom.

Eldest Princess looked puzzled but did not ask further: "The Zhuangzi Fragrant Garden I granted you is still retained."

"The stewards and servants are all old acquaintances from when the Crown Prince was alive; Tuan Tuan, with the token of the Celestial Radiance Hall I gave you, they will obey your orders."

"If you need a place to stay temporarily, you may go there; no one will pay attention."

"This matter is of great magnitude," Xiao Ningyuan remained silent for a long while, then finally spoke, "It still requires thorough deliberation."

"Your Highness, the rescue of the Seventh Prince is tentatively set for the day of the Heavenly Sacrifice; as for Noble Consort De and the Twelve Prince…"

He looked at Tuan Tuan, seeing his sister blinking big eyes at him, her gaze clear: "Let's return and consider it carefully."

Eldest Princess nodded slightly: "That works as well."

"These past few days the Palace has been preparing the grand ceremony; entry checks will likely be stricter."

"You may still come from here; after the Hai hour each night, I will wait here alone."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

A few people rose and saluted; Tuan Tuan slipped down from Eldest Princess's lap and grabbed her brother's hand.

The secret passage's door opened again, and Tuan Tuan only then slipped inside, then turned back and waved a small hand at Eldest Princess: "Imperial Aunt, wait for me."

Eldest Princess lightly nodded, the corner of her lips lifting slightly.

Returning to the secret room, everyone took their seats.

Xiao Ningyuan slowly began: "According to Eldest Princess, ten days later, King Chen and King Qing will hold the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony at the Circular Mound Altar in the southern outskirts; the Emperor and Empress Dowager will certainly attend in person."

He paused: "That will be the only opportunity; the Palace guards will be largely redeployed, making it perfect to rescue the Seventh Prince."

"But that also means we must rescue Noble Consort De and her mother and child on the same day." His throat moved, and he said no more.

The group exchanged glances: rescue the Emperor's mother and child at the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony?

That is simply too unbelievable.

Tuan Tuan lifted her small face from Eunuch Cheng's arms: "Let Little Twelve go first; I'll go in his place."

Xiao Ningyuan rubbed his brows: "Tuan Tuan, stop the nonsense."

He suppressed his anger, a blue vein appearing at his temple: "Do you know what place that is? It's the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony!"

"All civil and military officials, the Imperial Guard's ceremonial troops, King Chen and King Qing's eyes will all be fixed on the Emperor!"

"Under everyone's watchful eyes, how could you possibly escape?"

"Sure," Tuan Tuan said without fear, "Even if big brother gets angry, he won't be fierce to me. I'm the same age as Twelve, my size is similar, just wear the Thousand Faces!"

Xiao Er hurried: "What about gait and voice? Miss, this time listen to the young master; this isn't a game of hide-and-seek in the Prince's Mansion."

Tuan Tuan thought: "Little Twelve is timid, never likes to speak; I can speak less! I'm not as if I've never seen Imperial Uncle's Heavenly Sacrifice."

She gestured with her small hand: "That robe is so big, and a bunch of curtains on my head; no one can see me."

"Ahem," Eunuch Cheng cleared his throat: "Little Princess, the thing His Majesty wears on his head is not a curtain; it's called Crown Pendants."

"Oh!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, even Xiao Ningyuan couldn't hold back his grin.

Tuan Tuan slipped down from Eunuch Cheng's arms, walked to her brother, and stretched a small arm to hug him: "Big brother, don't worry, I won't be in trouble."

"Twelve was scared by them to the point he couldn't walk steadily; I just need to act even more frightened, right?"

Xiao Er asked: "Miss, even if you can replace the Twelve Prince, with so many people, how could you escape?"

Lu Qi nodded: "Brother Xiao is right; the hardest part is here. No matter the strategy, without manpower one cannot escape amid thousands of troops."

"The Tianji Pavilion is a martial arts sect; small skirmishes are manageable, but for matters this big, they are truly powerless and cannot help the Lord Master."

Xiao Ningyuan looked at his sister: "Did you hear what your two uncles said?"

"In this Jingcheng, we have no manpower; even if you can replace Twelve, this still won't work."

Tuan Tuan's little head drooped.

Big brother was right; it would be fine if we could find help somewhere.

People, I need many people who can help me!

Xiao Ningyuan saw his sister's dejected face, felt reluctant, but finally swallowed it down: "Fine, if this cannot be done, let's rescue the Seventh Prince and leave Jingcheng."

"Father and the others are still waiting for those keys; Feng Zhou still has to go back to test…"

Tuan Tuan's small hand touched the Sachet.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "Uncle Wang! How could I have forgotten him!"

She cheerfully pulled from the Sachet the Jade Bone Whistle Wang Mingrui had given her: "I have this whistle! As soon as I blow it, Uncle Wang's men will rush over in a flash!"

She held the Jade Bone Whistle high: "Doesn't that mean we have manpower now?"

Xiao Ningyuan was speechless.

Chu Yuan slowly rose and stepped before Tuan Tuan: "Heaven's way is merciless, yet it favors those pure and virtuous."

"Tuan Tuan repeatedly escapes death not by luck, but by destiny's favor."

"Ningyuan, let her go and do it; only she can possibly succeed in this."

The stone chamber was silent.

Xiao Ningyuan stared intently at his sister.

After a long while, he clenched his teeth and said: "Fine."

Tuan Tuan happily handed the Jade Bone Whistle to Chu Yuan: "Master, you blow it; when people arrive, tell Uncle Wang that on the day of the Heavenly Sacrifice, they should come as soon as I sound the whistle."

Chu Yuan took it over: "Good. The matter of Wang Mingrui, I'll handle it."

Xiao Ningyuan thought carefully: "Since it's come to this, we have only to think of every possible way, make the grand ceremony as chaotic as possible, so that Tuan Tuan can seize the right moment and act."

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands: "Great, great! I love causing trouble for bad guys!"

"Lu Qi." Xiao Ningyuan said solemnly, "We have many acquaintances in Jingcheng; we cannot move about freely."

"Tomorrow, you can make a slight disguise, go to Skillful Pastry Pavilion to meet Xie Yunshu, and ask her to arrange a caravan of the Cloud Sparrow Merchant Guild to wait in Fragrant Blossom Garden."

"In ten days, rescue the person, then immediately leave the city in batches, without stopping for a moment."

"Also take the token of the Grand Princess's Imperial Radiance Hall from Tuan Tuan's hand and give it to her, so she can come and go freely in the separate villa."

"Yes!"

"'Tomorrow I will go see the Grand Princess again.' Xiao Ningyuan's thoughts raced, 'Please have her find a way to summon Cui Jiziu into the palace, then have Cui Jiziu contact Liu Yunyi to mobilize all the scholars in Jingcheng.'"

"On the day of the Heavenly Sacrifice, we must make sure this group of scholars causes a great disturbance for Prince Chen and Prince Ke, leaving them no time to attend to anything else."

He paused, looking toward Eunuch Cheng: "Grandfather Gonggong, this matter still requires a prior meeting with Noble Consort De and her son; please think, are there any usable people left in Dezheng Palace?"

Eunuch Cheng wiped away tears: "All right, Little Princess! You must absolutely not come to harm; this old servant's heart, you've stabbed it sore."

Tuan Tuan hurried over to him, rubbing his chest: "Grandfather! Does it hurt here? I'll rub it and it won't hurt anymore!"

Everything having been arranged, the next day everyone sprang into action.

On the night of the ninth day.

Tuan Tuan entered Dezheng Palace, where Noble Consort De and Xiao Jin had already been waiting for a while.