Chapter 509: Sir, May I Try

Xibei Daying.

Inside the main tent, everyone's expression was heavy; no one had expected that the matter of the key had already been known to the other side.

Tuan Tuan looked here and there: "What's wrong with you?"

Xiao Ningyuan couldn't smile, but he gently explained to her: "Tuan Tuan, they know the key exists; that secret passage into the capital is probably no longer usable."

Feng Zhou lowered his head silently; he had been neglecting sleep and food for those keys for so long, and now they were about to be completed—could it all have been for nothing?

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "Why? That villain didn't know anything, did he?"

Xiao Ningyuan, full of frustration, said: "He just doesn't know, Tuan Tuan; it's hard to say whether the people who sent him already knew everything."

Thinking that he and his sister had risked their lives to obtain these items, only for them to be useless, his chest felt tight with distress.

Tuan Tuan was unfazed: "If they know, they know. Without the key, they can't get in."

"Why did King Chen and King Qing send someone to the northwest to deliver this inconsequential imperial decree?" Xiao Ningxun mused, "They clearly know we can't possibly accept the order."

"And they even deliberately revealed that they know Feng Zhou is making the keys?"

Xiao Ningyuan was startled: "Yes, why?"

Xiao Ningxun said: "If they truly knew the secret passage into the capital, they could simply wait for us, so why go through this extra step?"

Xiao Yuanhang's eyes flickered at the words: "Xun Er is right. His Majesty, I surmise they act this way for two reasons: first, to make us think the key is useless; second, to urge us to dispatch troops to the capital quickly."

"They indeed know the key and that it relates to the siege, so they worry that once we are fully prepared, they'll be caught off guard."

"Hence they provoke us this way, hoping we act hastily."

"With the great battle imminent, whoever can stay steady gains a greater chance of victory."

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "Yuanhang, your words are sound."

He looked at Feng Zhou: "Feng Zhou, keep assembling those keys and don't overthink it."

"Just remember, now the empire's fate rests entirely on you."

Feng Zhou frowned: "His Majesty, even if they can't get in, they could still set an ambush outside the secret passage! Wouldn't that mean I'm endangering everyone?"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "You need not worry about that. No matter how much they know, as long as the key is in our hands, they are helpless."

"When the first key is finished, I'll send a small elite squad to scout the capital first; if indeed someone has set an ambush, we needn't engage directly—just return."

"I understand! Prince." Feng Zhou's eyes lit up again; he knelt and saluted: "His Majesty, I obey the decree! I'll go back to refining those keys right away!" He turned and left.

Tuan Tuan waved a tiny fist behind him and shouted: "Feng Zhou, go for it!"

"Imperial Uncle's empire is a chicken! It's all tied to you now! Don't let it run away!"

Feng Zhou stumbled, glanced back at Tuan Tuan, and with a helpless expression said, "Oh, I get it," then walked out of the main tent.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Jieyun, both laughing and crying, pinched Tuan Tuan's nose and said: "You!"

Xiao Ningxun said seriously: "How exactly they learned about the key is what we should investigate."

"Regarding the key, only a few people in this Main Camp truly know the details."

"Who would let the news slip? It even reached the capital?"

Xiao Er suddenly recalled: "Miss, do you remember that sand‑half chicken that was watching you that day?"

Tuan Tuan's mouth watered at the mention: "I remember! It was so tasty!"

Xiao Er: "…"

Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly asked: "What chicken?"

Xiao Er gave a brief recount of that day's events.

The group exchanged glances, and Xiao Ningxun said: "Could it be that they hired a master like Wu Luo who can command birds as scouts?"

Wu Luo! The horrors of the border war are still vivid in memory.

Tuan Tuan suddenly understood: "Third Brother is really clever! Fortunately Uncle Er knocked that chicken down for us to eat."

Xiao Yuanhang frowned tightly: "If that's truly the case, it's indeed hard to defend against; we can't just stare at the birds in the trees and shoot each one as it appears."

"Moreover, besides the key, what else do they know? How much?"

He thought for a moment: "Xun Er, have Feng Zhou immediately forge a replica of the Heavenly Son Sword and place it in plain sight; the real Heavenly Son Sword, you must keep it carefully, never letting it leave your side."

"If they already know about the Heavenly Son Sword, they'll surely strike, and we can also set a trap for them!"

"Yes!" Xiao Ningxun hurriedly stood, saluted, and withdrew.

A personal guard entered the tent, holding an object: "Your Majesty, this was retrieved from that imperial envoy by the brothers before burial."

He bowed and walked to the table, placing the item on it.

Everyone looked up and saw a tiny, crystal‑clear glass sphere about the size of a pill.

The glass sphere rolled slightly on the table, its surface lit by the tent's light into a dazzling rainbow, truly beautiful.

Xiao Jieyun, recalling the imperial envoy's anger, shouted: "What a nuisance, throw it out for me!"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "How pretty!" She stretched her arm from the Emperor's embrace and managed to grasp it.

She held it up to her eyes and, through the sphere, looked at the Emperor: "Imperial Uncle, this little ball is so bright! I can even see the little pouches on your face!"

Xiao Jieyun awkwardly touched his cheek; the northwest sandstorm was strong, indeed leaving a few small bumps on his face.

Tuan Tuan nuzzled around in his arms: "Imperial Uncle, that envoy was a villain, but the ball isn't! No one wants it now, can you give it to me?"

Xiao Jieyun smiled indulgently: "Fine! Since my Princess wants it, why not? Take it, it's yours now."

"Thank you, Imperial Uncle! Imperial Uncle is so kind!" Tuan Tuan shouted happily, slipping the glass sphere into her little Embroidered pouch.

She grew bored, slid from Xiao Jieyun's arms onto the floor: "Emperor, Imperial Uncle? I want to go find Shi Er and Xiao Yueyue to play!"

Xiao Jieyun gently brushed the top of her head: "Go."

"When you play in the mud, be careful not to get covered in mud again; Noble Consort De has already complained to me, saying that whenever Jin Er plays mud with you, you look like a mud monkey."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh again.

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan's little face flushed, "Got it!" she hopped and ran out of the big tent.

Xiao Er stood up, "I'll go follow!"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, Xiao Er hurriedly followed out.

In Jingcheng.

Teng Qingxing showed a satisfied smile, "After all, it's just a child, nothing more than that!"

Masked Man asked, "Has the gentleman's plan succeeded?"

Teng Qingxing, with a pleased expression, "As I told you, those who bear great destiny must keep their original heart pure."

"Seizing ownerless things as one's own is giving in to greed."

"And once greed arises, good fortune will depart; this is the Way of Heaven, and no one can escape it."

"Children are the hardest to resist temptation; now that child has lost great luck and is merely an ordinary child."

Masked Man pondered for a moment, "Sir, may I try?"