Chapter 662

Tuan Tuan, who was chasing Xiao Feifei all over the ground, cried "Aiya!" and stumbled, nearly falling.

Xiao Er behind her stretched his long arm, lifted her up, and directly pulled her into his embrace.

Chen Hao's teacup in his hand made a "pa" sound as it smashed to the ground, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Xiao Ran!"

Xiao Ningyuan sprang up from his chair: "What?"

Eunuch Cheng's face turned deathly pale: "This, this isn't slapping His Majesty's face, is it?"

Feng Zhou and Lu Qi were also stunned: the Ninth Prince is a prince after all! How could he be whipped in public?

The only one still calm was Chu Yuan: "Where did you hear that?"

The little Daoist panted: "It, it's written on the notice!"

"Saying His Majesty colluded with Da Xia, treasonously selling out the country, and that they'll soon attack Jingcheng!"

"The Ninth Prince, as a vanguard, came to Jingcheng to confuse hearts, was captured by the Regent King—this is, is heaven's will!"

"In order to dampen the enemy's spirit, they will publicly whip the Ninth Prince in three days!"

"Then, then..."

Chu Yuan furrowed his brows: "Go on, what else?"

The little Daoist swallowed saliva: "On the day of battle, they will also, also use the Ninth Prince to sacrifice to the banner!"

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.

Tuan Tuan didn't understand: "What does 'sacrifice to the banner' mean?"

Chen Hao's face turned ashen: "That is, they want to splash Xiao Ran's blood on their battle flag."

Tuan Tuan's little face instantly turned pale: "Are they going to kill Ninth Brother?"

Xiao Er gently patted her small back: "Don't rush, Miss, don't get yourself worked up."

"If we just rescue the Ninth Prince, that'll solve it."

Tuan Tuan hastily nodded: "Yes, yes! Big brother, quickly think of a way! Let's go save Ninth Brother!"

Xiao Ningyuan was completely out of ideas: "I want to too! But now we don't even know where he is, how can we rescue him?"

"Zhou Jinhua is one of them, yet they didn't even tell the truth about him—who else could know where the Ninth Prince is?"

Eunuch Cheng trembled: "They, they dare treat the Ninth Prince like this—then, what about His Majesty's other princes and princesses?"

Everyone's hearts turned cold.

With the great battle imminent, Chen Wang and Qing Wang obviously have completely stripped off that layer of warm façade.

Tuan Tuan looked at everyone: "Isn't Xiao Shi Yi already emperor? He'll be fine, right?"

Xiao Ningyuan let out a soft sigh: "Tuan Tuan, if that day truly comes, they can support the Eleventh Prince to the throne, and naturally they could also abolish his emperorship."

Tuan Tuan grew anxious: "Then what about Xiao Shi Yi? Big brother, shall we go rescue Xiao Shi Yi?"

Xiao Ningyuan shook his head: "He won't have trouble for now, Tuan Tuan; we should first rescue your Ninth Brother."

Chu Yuan pondered for a moment, then told the little Daoist: "Go; if you hear any more news, report it promptly."

The little Daoist, however, stood there without moving, his lips murmuring.

Chu Yuan asked: "Anything else?"

The little Daoist glanced furtively at Chen Hao, wanting to speak but holding back.

Chu Yuan felt a stir: "Is there something at the Chen Prince's mansion?"

The little Daoist stammered: "Chen Wang has made his young son the heir apparent; he wants to hold a grand banquet for guests, and the news has already spread throughout Jingcheng."

Everyone turned their gazes in unison toward Chen Hao.

Chen Hao tugged at the corner of his mouth, not surprised: "He's long wanted to do this."

Feng Zhou understood: "No wonder he locked you in the great prison—he must be hoping someone will rescue you."

"That way you'd be lumped with the rebels, and he could then legitimately erase you, his eldest legitimate son, from the family register."

Chen Hao gave a bitter smile: "I've known this day would come; it's just a pity for my Mother Consort."

"Fortunately, the Mother Consort isn't in Jingcheng, so this news will take some time to reach her."

Tuan Tuan sighed: "Chen Hao, you're definitely not his biological son."

Everyone: "……"

Xiao Er bent over, placed the little Xiao Feifei, who was lying at her feet, into Tuan Tuan's arms, thinking, Miss, play with the fox, don't say more.

Chu Yuan shook his head: "Forget it; the most important thing now is to figure out where the Ninth Prince is, and if we really can't, we'll have to act that very day."

"We absolutely cannot let the Ninth Prince suffer public humiliation; otherwise, even if he saves his life, he will have no face to face the world."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Xiao Er, tonight go to the Jinghai Hou mansion and have Zhou Jinhua try to find out more."

"Yes!"

"I and Lu Qi will take Tuan Tuan tonight to ask the Grand Princess whether the Ninth Prince is in the palace."

"Big brother," Tuan Tuan suddenly thought: "Last night, Seventh Uncle hit Uncle Zhao Hu; should we give him some silver?"

Lu Qi recalled Zhao Hu's line "Brother, don't hit the face" and found it funny: "Right! Hehe, let's bring Zhao Hu some silver, so he doesn't suffer my slap for nothing."

Xiao Er smiled and nodded: "Good."

That night, several people entered the Tiger's Den and came to the hidden door outside the Grand Princess's bedroom.

Lu Qi gently opened the hidden door; Tuan Tuan crouched low, poked her little head out from behind the bronze mirror, just about to call Imperial Aunt, when she heard the Grand Princess's voice:

"Go away; I, the Grand Princess, am feeling vexed, no need for you to be here."

Tuan Tuan hastily covered her mouth, quietly retreated back into the Tiger's Den; Lu Qi left a crack in the hidden door, and the three listened silently.

An old granny's voice sounded: "Grand Princess, why must you make things difficult for this servant?"

"To stay by your side without stepping away is the Regent King's order; the servant is merely obeying orders."

The Grand Princess furrowed her brows: "Jiang Granny, haven't you been here these days?"

"Today is the prince consort's birthday; I just want to speak alone to his portrait— is that not allowed?"

"Jiang Grandma lazily leaned against a pillar inside the room: 'You say what you want; I, the servant, dare not disturb you— just treat me as this pillar, okay.'"

"\"You! \" The Grand Princess obviously flared with anger, 'You're relying on your master's power, not putting me in your eyes at all!'"

"Jiang Grandma couldn't be bothered to hide it: 'In three days, the Ninth Prince will be publicly punished; after that, the princes and princesses in this palace— oh, and even you, Your Highness— will all lose face.'"

"\"Your master's arrogance won't last many days anyway. \""

"The Grand Princess stared at her, her face ashen, yet she said nothing more."

"\"How dare they treat the Grand Princess like this! \" Xiao Ningyuan's gaze turned sharp."

"Even Lu Qi furrowed his brows; such insubordination, if it happened in the Tianji Pavilion, would land one straight in the punishment hall."

"\"You dare bully the Imperial Aunt? \""

"Tuan Tuan's little face puffed up with anger; she lowered her head, untied the small embroidered pouch at her waist, and pulled out a strand of Xiao Feifei's white fur."

"She muttered softly: 'You like being a pillar so much? Fine!'"

"\"Let that Jiang Grandma, every night at the Imperial Aunt's, be unable to see, hear, or move— like a great pillar! \""

"Having said that, she loosened her little hand, and the white fur fell toward the ground."

"A faint light flashed, and the white fur vanished."

"The next moment."

"Jiang Grandma, who had been leaning against the pillar, suddenly bolted upright, her whole body rigid, her gaze vacant, legs together, arms hanging down, like a wooden or clay sculpted column."

"The Grand Princess jumped in fright: 'Jiang Grandma? Are you... gone mad?'"