Chapter 636: Is It Useful?

Xiao Ningyuan felt his heart tighten: "What is it?"

Eldest Princess hugged Tuan Tuan, gently patting her back: "Since last month, the guards of Zichen Hall have suddenly multiplied several times, and even many of my own guards have been reassigned there."

"Since those Ni Ze seized the capital, Zichen Hall has become their meeting place."

"I originally thought they were like doves occupying a magpie's nest, thieves feeling guilty, and didn't take it seriously."

"But now His Majesty is about to lay siege, and I wonder if this is related."

Tuan Tuan pouted: "Hmph! Big villain! You occupied my home, and even Imperial Uncle's Zichen Hall!"

Xiao Ningyuan asked: "Last month? Did anything happen at Zichen Hall?"

Eldest Princess shook her head: "I've never heard of it."

The few exchanged glances, Xiao Er said: "Sending extra guards, it must be for something, if not for a person, then for an object."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "If the palace added an important figure, with so many eunuchs and maidservants, it couldn't be kept secret."

"Since Eldest Princess doesn't know, it must be that they added something, not a person."

Lu Qi interjected: "What could it be? Could it be some rare treasure?"

"Is there any place in the world stricter than the imperial palace guards? Why need to assign so many extra guards?"

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Just go take a look and we'll know!"

Eldest Princess tightened her arm: "Don't joke! That's Zichen Hall!"

"Even when His Majesty is present, it's the most heavily guarded spot in the entire palace!"

"Even more so now, you must not go!"

Tuan Tuan looked up at her: "But Imperial Aunt, the last time I came to see you, I already went there!"

"Uh," Eldest Princess choked, patting her little bottom, "How dare you be so bold! I'm okay with this, but you even dare to trespass into Zichen Hall!"

Tuan Tuan chuckled, snuggling in her arms: "It's fine, Imperial Aunt, don't worry!"

She turned to Xiao Ningyuan: "Big brother, shall we go take a look?"

Xiao Ningyuan gave no answer, hesitating.

Tuan Tuan's eyes flicked: "Big brother, maybe we can find something that helps Imperial Uncle and Father!"

Xiao Er, always on Tuan Tuan's side, said: "Young master, last time I accompanied the miss, there were few people at night; it's fine to take a look."

He paused: "If there are many people now, then we shouldn't go in."

Xiao Ningyuan sighed and nodded: "Fine, then we'll take a look."

Eldest Princess wore a worried expression: "You really intend to go? Do you need me to do anything?"

Xiao Ningyuan clasped his hands and said: "Eldest Princess, please rest; everything can remain as usual."

Eldest Princess sighed lightly: "I can't help much either; be careful in everything."

"Who said that?" Tuan Tuan, fed up, hugged the Eldest Princess's neck, looking at her seriously, "Imperial Aunt, if it weren't for your Fragrant Garden, we wouldn't have been able to leave last time!"

"Imperial Aunt, you're the best! You helped a huge, huge favor!"

Eldest Princess felt a surge inside, couldn't help but kiss Tuan Tuan's little face: "Good child! What a good child!"

"Hearing you say that, my heart is very glad."

Xiao Ningyuan rose: "Eldest Princess, take care; we will take our leave now."

Eldest Princess nodded: "Go, and be sure to protect Tuan Tuan."

Tuan Tuan gave her a hug, and the group turned and retreated from behind the bronze mirror into the Tiger Cave.

After a while, they arrived at the secret passage entrance of Zichen Hall's study.

Xiao Er, familiar with the route, opened the wooden hidden door.

Everyone held their breath and listened quietly.

Inside the hall, only the occasional "crackle" of candle flames could be heard; moments later, Xiao Er peeked out.

The study had few candles, only a few everbright lamps in the corner, casting dim light.

He turned and nodded at everyone; the party slipped in one after another, moving silently inside.

Xiao Ningyuan placed Tuan Tuan on the ground, lowered his voice: "Xiao Er, Lu Qi, check the bookshelves."

The two nodded.

"Tuan Tuan, you come with me…"

He lowered his head and looked at his sister, "Where is she?"

He turned and saw that Tuan Tuan had silently slipped to the Dragon Throne.

Xiao Ningyuan: "…"

"Never mind, I'll check the Dragon Desk with Tuan Tuan."

"Alright."

He gently walked to the Dragon Desk, flipping through the memorial tablets on it, his heart pounding; he never expected that he would still have a night of covertly entering the Emperor's study.

Tuan Tuan had already climbed onto the Dragon Throne using hands and feet.

She nestled into the wide chair, curiously looking around, touching here and there.

Xiao Ningxun quickly skimmed: official transfers, local documents… all ordinary memorials of daily affairs, with nothing important.

He frowned, then flipped the wooden box on the desk; inside were only a few seals and half a box of cinnabar.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi, both tall, hurriedly searched the massive bookshelf.

Row after row of books, scrolls, boxes… their fingertips brushed over each item.

Occasionally they lifted items to weigh them, feeling them, checking whether something was hidden inside or if there was a mechanism or secret door.

However, the bookshelf had no hidden compartments, and the boxes contained only ordinary texts.

The two exchanged a glance; there was no rare treasure at all!

Could it be that nothing is hidden here?

Xiao Er pointed at the Duobao Pavilion, Lu Qi nodded, and the two resumed searching inside the Duobao Pavilion.

Xiao Ningyuan finished looking at a stack, set it aside, and opened the memorials that were pressed underneath.

Tuan Tuan perched on the armrest of the Dragon Throne, stretched out an arm and forcefully reached toward a small table beside the seat, pulling a delicate rosewood box into front of them.

The box was not large, and it was not locked.

"What a beautiful box!" she said, opening the lid; inside were several neatly stacked booklets.

Tuan Tuan casually picked up a volume, flipped it open, and handed it to Xiao Ningyuan: "Big brother! This looks like the map on Father's desk!"

Xiao Ningyuan took it, glanced at it once, and the pupils suddenly contracted.

It turned out to be the Jingcheng Defense Map!

The nine city gates, the troop deployments at each point, the rotation times, the bow and crossbow positions, the moat depths… were all written clearly and drawn plainly.

He quickly took out the other books from the box; inside were drawings of the garrison distribution around Jingcheng's outskirts, grain and fodder stockpiles…

He stared blankly for a moment—Prince Qing had actually left such an important item just like that on the small table beside the Dragon Throne?

But it makes sense; these items are for warfare, needing frequent reference, so they naturally belong where they can be grabbed easily.

So the extra several‑fold Guards were assigned precisely for this object!

Tuan Tuan whispered, "Big brother, what is this? Is it useful?"

Xiao Ningyuan inhaled deeply: "It's useful—extremely useful. It was definitely worth coming!"

He darted to the candle holder in the corner and began leafing through it by the candlelight.

He stared intently at the dense annotations, numbers, and diagrams, engraving each into his mind.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi, having found nothing, went to the windowsill, pressed their ears against the lattice, and listened to the sounds outside.

Tuan Tuan was just about to slip down from the Dragon Throne.

From outside the door came a crisp "Tap, tap, tap."—orderly footsteps.

It was a patrolling Guard!

Xiao Er and Lu Qi suddenly turned around and gave the two a hand signal.

Xiao Ningyuan swiftly closed the box, placed it back on the small table, scooped up the sister, took an Arrow step to the back of the Dragon Desk, and crouched down.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi pressed into the shadow of the hall pillar, merging their silhouettes with the darkness cast by the column.

In the next instant, the hall door was pushed open.

Two Guards stood at the doorway, leaning half their bodies inside, their eyes scanning the hall continuously.