Chapter 637: with translation of chapter title

Inside the hall was quiet, the candlelight dim, and no one was present.

They watched silently for a moment, then withdrew and shut the hall doors again.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Xiao Ningyuan slowly exhaled, set his sister down, and pointed at the case.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi nodded, then hurried back to the window.

Xiao Ningyuan's heart had not yet steadied; trembling, he took the map from the case and spread it on the Dragon Desk.

He dared not approach the candle stand in the corner, so he lay on the map and examined it piece by piece.

Tuan Tuan climbed onto the dragon throne opposite him, ran her fingers over the back's pattern and said, "Imperial Uncle sitting here doesn't feel cramped?"

Xiao Ningyuan: "……"

His Majesty sits upright in the dragon throne; how could he possibly lean back!

Xiao Er and Lu Qi laughed at the words, "Miss is really cute!"

Silence reigned all around; Xiao Ningyuan focused his energy, eyes fixed, staring intently at the map before him.

After a while.

From outside the door came a shush shush shush of tiny footsteps.

Xiao Er hurriedly turned and gestured to the two of them.

Another person coming?

Xiao Ningyuan snapped his head up to look at his sister, pointed at the Dragon Desk, Tuan Tuan nodded, turned her small body and slipped under the table.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted the whole map, with a cat‑like waist, and also squeezed under the Dragon Desk.

In the darkness, the brother and sister collided with each other.

Tuan Tuan raised her little hand to cover her brother's mouth, but covered his eyes instead.

Xiao Ningyuan: "..."

Tuan Tuan, isn't it dark enough down here?

Tuan Tuan almost laughed out loud, hurriedly moved her hand down, and finally covered her brother's mouth.

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

Three figures entered one after another, steps light—they were eunuchs.

The senior eunuch at the front held a palace lantern, its dim yellow glow wavering before him.

Two junior eunuchs followed: one cradling a candle, the other bearing an incense box.

The senior eunuch bent before the incense burner, muttering, "Why does this incense keep burning out?"

The two junior eunuchs deftly swapped the candles and replied, "Indeed, it's been costing a lot lately."

Another eunuch said, "These past few days we don't know what important matters there are; the two princes sit here half the day every day."

"Alright, alright," the senior eunuch straightened up, "stop chatting, finish the swap and leave quickly."

A junior eunuch walked to the side of the Dragon Desk, legs pressed against the table edge, and asked, "Is some paint flaking off the edge of this Dragon Desk?"

"Is that so?" the senior eunuch asked, walking over, raising the palace lantern in his hand.

"Here, take a look."

Another junior eunuch also came over; the three of them stood before the Dragon Desk, scrutinizing the corner of the table edge.

The two beneath the table dared not breathe, waiting silently.

Tuan Tuan buried her small face in her brother's chest, her tiny hands clutching his clothing tightly.

Xiao Er's hand gripped the hilt at his waist, his palm sweating slightly.

Lu Qi slowly drew out an iron lotus seed and pressed it into his palm.

If any of these eunuchs dared to glance under the table, they would have to act.

After a moment, the senior eunuch said, "It's a bit dark; tomorrow morning tell the Prince."

"If the two princes find any flaw, we won't keep our heads."

"Yes."

The two junior eunuchs turned, lifted their respective items, the senior eunuch held the palace lantern, and the three walked out quietly.

The hall doors shut again, and the tiny footsteps faded farther away.

Everything returned to silence.

Xiao Ningyuan held his sister, waited a moment, then crawled out from under the table.

Tuan Tuan poked her head out of his arms and whispered, "It was suffocating!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi emerged from behind the pillar.

Xiao Er said, "Young Master, we must hurry."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded, spread the map again, and leaned over it once more.

After a while, Xiao Ningyuan finally lifted his head, folded the map neatly, and placed it back into the case.

He surveyed the surroundings carefully, found no trace of movement, and whispered, "Let's go!"

Xiao Er scooped up Tuan Tuan, and the group returned through the secret door to the hidden passage, heading toward the secret room.

Tuan Tuan then asked, "Big brother, what are those? You've been looking at them so long?"

Xiao Ningyuan grinned, finally able to rejoice, "Jingcheng deployment map."

"What?" Xiao Er exclaimed, "Is it true?"

Xiao Ningyuan took Tuan Tuan from his hand and said, "Of course it's real!"

"Tuan Tuan said she might not find anything useful for father, but she really did!"

Xiao Er was overjoyed: "Excellent! The Prince already commands troops like a god; with this, it's like adding wings to a tiger!"

Lu Qi was a jianghu person; he didn't understand these things, but seeing them so excited, he also laughed along: "This is indeed a good thing!"

"This is a tremendous good thing!" Xiao Ningyuan kissed Tuan Tuan's face hard several times, then said: "Tuan Tuan, you are truly the blessing star that Old Heaven Lord sent for Father!"

Tuan Tuan laughed heeheehee from his kisses: "Does that mean Father will surely win?"

Xiao Ningyuan pinched her little cheek: "With you here, we will surely succeed."

Returning to the secret room, he had no time to rest, and overnight he wrote out from memory the deployment diagram he had kept in his mind.

Every stroke, every line, not a hair's breadth off.

He drew for over two hours straight before Xiao Ningyuan set down his brush, then carefully checked it once more, and only then gently folded it, saying: "Lu Qi, this must be delivered to Father as soon as possible."

"Go to Qiaosu Pavilion and find Xie Yunshu; ask her to figure out a way to get you out of the city."

"You are quick on your feet and skilled in martial arts; I can rest easy."

"Okay!" Lu Qi took it and carefully tucked it into his bosom.

He glanced at the sleeping Tuan Tuan, then patted Xiao Er on the shoulder: "Guard the young lady well."

Xiao Er nodded: "Go quickly and return quickly; be careful on the road."

"Don't worry." Lu Qi turned and left.

At the same moment.

The Masked Man walked into a deep dungeon: "Master, the formula and preparation method you gave me still haven't produced your secret elixir."