Chapter 657

"Xiao Ran?" Cheng Jing asked, "He's also come to Jingcheng?"

The Masked Man nodded: "Xiao Ran and Chen Hao grew up together since childhood; these days, I've had people watching Chen Hao's residence."

"As expected, last night he went to find Chen Hao, and they started arguing as soon as they met."

"It's a pity he rushed in too early; they hadn't had a chance to say anything yet."

"But it doesn't matter; the person is already in my hands."

Cheng Jing smiled faintly: "This is truly a case of wanting a nap and having someone bring a pillow."

The Masked Man looked at him: "You must change your lodgings immediately; you cannot return to the original residence."

Cheng Jing nodded.

The Masked Man stood up: "I still have matters to attend to."

Having said that, he strode out.

Liu Guiyan helped Cheng Jing up and also followed him out.

Early the next morning, the little Daoist rushed into the quiet room.

Chu Yuan was reading a book: "What's the matter?"

"Master, something, something happened! The Ninth Prince, he, he's been captured!"

"The notice says the Ninth Prince is, is the vanguard of the Xibei rebels!"

"It also says he was captured yesterday in the great battle, and he has confessed that His Majesty colluded with Da Xia, intending to seize Jingcheng!"

"Those strange events in Jingcheng these past days were all done by the Ninth Prince bringing Xibei spies!"

Chu Yuan furrowed his brows: "Didn't say how to deal with him?"

The little Daoist shook his head.

"Where is he being held?"

The little Daoist wiped sweat from his forehead: "Nothing! That's all there is."

"Understood, you may go."

"Yes."

Chu Yuan sat quietly for a moment, rose, opened the hidden door, and walked toward the secret chamber.

Just as he reached the doorway, Xiao Feifei rolled to his feet.

Immediately after, Tuan Tuan rushed over: "Run fast, run fast! You're too fat, you need to run more!"

Chu Yuan caught her in one arm, Tuan Tuan flung herself into his embrace, lifting her rosy running face: "Master, you've come!"

Chu Yuan smiled, took her hand and led her inside: "Stop chasing, come over."

Tuan Tuan glanced back at Xiao Feifei, who was sitting on the ground panting: "Come over! I won't chase you anymore!"

Xiao Feifei tilted her little head, pondered a bit, then slowly followed over.

Xiao Ningyuan was seated at the table, pouring Chu Yuan a cup of tea: "National Preceptor, please sit; any matter?"

Chu Yuan held Tuan Tuan as he sat down, then repeated what the little Daoist had just said.

Everyone was startled.

"Ninth Brother!" Tuan Tuan exclaimed upon hearing, anxious: "Master! We must go rescue him!"

Chief Eunuch Cheng also grew anxious, stamping his feet: "How was the Ninth Prince captured by them!"

"If those rebels use him to threaten His Majesty, what can we do!"

"Don't be anxious, Chief Eunuch," Xiao Ningyuan mused, "I feel it might not be true."

"They didn't say where he's held, nor how to deal with him; they only listed the charges, with not a shred of substance."

"Oh, so it's fake!" Tuan Tuan scooped up Xiao Feifei, who was lying at her feet.

"Exactly! Ninth Brother follows the Imperial Uncle; why don't they say they've captured the Imperial Uncle too?"

Everyone: "……"

"Tuan Tuan, are you just dissatisfied that the excitement isn't big enough?"

Xiao Ningyuan helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Tuan Tuan, if His Majesty were captured, it wouldn't be this little commotion."

Xiao Er frowned: "What the Eldest Young Master says makes sense; the Ninth Prince is properly accompanying His Majesty, so how could he have entered Jingcheng early?"

Chu Yuan said: "At first hearing I was also startled, but upon reflection everything seems off; I don't know what trick they're pulling this time."

Lu Qi asked: "If only there were someone we could ask."

Feng Zhou interjected: "Ask? Who could we ask? The Guoshi Residence is under constant surveillance day and night."

"It seems those close to the Young Alliance Leader have likely already been watched."

"Right!" Upon mentioning this, Tuan Tuan became unhappy: "I still wanted to go see Lu Two and the teacher! Elder Brother won't let me go, fearing I'd cause them trouble."

Xiao Er snorted: "It's possible there's nothing to this at all; it's merely an attempt to regain some face lost a few days ago."

"If we want to know the truth," Xiao Ningyuan pondered, "we could still go ask someone."

Tuan Tuan asked: "Who?"

"The Marquis of Jinghai, Zhou Jinhua."

That evening, Xiao Er and Lu Qi brought Xiao Ningyuan and Tuan Tuan to the Jinghai Marquis's residence.

The gate of the Jinghai Marquis's residence was silent, with not a soul in sight.

Several people lay prone on the roof of Zhou Jinhua's bedchamber; Xiao Er, familiar with the task, lifted a tile.

Zhou Jinhua sat alone at the table, with no one else in the room.

Xiao Ningyuan pointed at the door.

Xiao Er startled, then whispered: "Enter through the door?"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Lu Qi and Tuan Tuan stay here; if anything happens, you must leave at once."

Tuan Tuan grabbed his clothes and refused to let go: "No, I'm going too!"

Xiao Ningyuan patted her little hand: "Be good, wait here with your Seventh Uncle; if anything happens, we can't let them wipe us out in one go."

Tuan Tuan pursed her little mouth and finally let go.

Xiao Er handed the Tuan Tuan on his back to Lu Qi, then he and Xiao Ningyuan leapt up and landed at the door, knocking lightly.

Zhou Jinhua shuddered all over, rose, and opened the door.

Seeing Xiao Er and Xiao Ningyuan, he stepped aside to let them in, and the two hurried inside.

Xiao Ningyuan cupped his hands and said: "Marquis, long time no see."

Zhou Jinhua looked him up and down: "So you are Young Master Xiao, please have a seat."

The three took their seats.

On the roof, Lu Qi supported Tuan Tuan on his back with his left hand, gripped a handful of iron lotus seeds in his right, and vigilantly overlooked the surroundings.

Zhou Jinhua asked: "Was the secret letter that day your doing, Young Master Xiao?"

Exactly.

Xiao Ningyuan again cupped his hands: "I still haven't thanked you, Marquis, for the armory affair."

Zhou Jinhua waved his hand: "I regret not acting earlier; although I now wish to assist His Majesty, I have no way in."

"Young Master Xiao is helping me; why bother with thanks?"

Xiao Er frowned: "What the heck is all this nonsense?"

Xiao Ningyuan, however, felt admiration: "Marquis Jinghai truly is an old fox who's been steeped in officialdom for years."

Clearly he had no choice but to rebel to save his grandson, yet he could still speak so righteously.

He did not expose it: "Marquis, your turning from darkness to light is a blessing for His Majesty."

Zhou Jinhua sighed: "Unfortunately, His Majesty may not spare me."

"If His Majesty returns to the capital to restore order, I, the Marquis, fear my career is over."

Tuan Tuan listened and grew sleepy, gave a little yawn, and Lu Qi smiled and patted her.

Xiao Ningyuan also couldn't be bothered to continue with formalities, speaking frankly: "Marquis, your faults will be investigated by His Majesty."

But please consider, Marquis: if your merits outweigh your faults, His Majesty will surely treat you leniently; it's up to you what to do.

He paused, then cut to the chase: "After all, as long as Prince Qing holds Jingcheng, the young master of your manor will never be able to return."

Zhou Jinhua's mouth twitched: "Young Master Xiao is really blunt-spoken."

"But I, the Marquis, am utterly at a loss as to what to do."

Xiao Ningyuan stared at his face: "I'm just a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, not His Majesty—what do you want me to promise?"

He grew impatient: "Marquis, if you have something to say, please speak frankly."

Zhou Jinhua smiled faintly: "I heard Princess Jiayou is in Jingcheng; surely she is with Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Ningyuan's heart jolted: "How does he know Tuan Tuan is here?"

Zhou Jinhua said leisurely: "If the Princess can promise to protect the Marquis's household before His Majesty, then I will have no more reservations."