Chapter 667: Follow Us

He tapped his toes, leapt onto the roof, crouched low on the ridge, moving swiftly like the wind, and soon arrived at the back gate of the Prince's Mansion.

He jumped down from the roof, bent over, and picked up Tuan Tuan.

"Uncle Seven!" Tuan Tuan's eyes sparkled, "You're amazing! They all believed it!"

"How could they not believe it?" Lu Qi laughed, "I went to the station early this morning and stole their horses and clothes."

Xiao Er laughed: "Let's go! Let's head home!"

He glanced at Chen Hao, pointed at the courtyard wall, and asked, "Can we get past it?"

Chen Hao looked up: "Sure!"

Xiao Er leapt up and jumped onto that large date tree.

Using the treetop for cover, he looked down from above into the Prince's Mansion courtyard.

In the courtyard, several servants were hurriedly gathering their belongings.

"I heard the rebel army has reached the outskirts of the capital; if fighting breaks out, can we still hold this place?"

"Shh! Keep it down! Do you want to lose your head?"

"What's there to fear? His Highness has entered the Palace!"

The chaos was good; Xiao Er waved at Lu Qi.

Lu Qi slightly bent over, turned Tuan Tuan behind him, and said, "Hold on tight, Miss."

"Mm-hmm." Tuan Tuan tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.

Lu Qi leapt onto the date tree and pointed at the roof.

Xiao Er nodded, Lu Qi jumped onto the roof and hid behind the ridge.

Xiao Er lowered his head and gestured to Chen Hao.

Chen Hao took a deep breath, gathered his energy, leapt over the courtyard wall, and landed with a "thud" on the ground.

It startled Tuan Tuan: "Wow! Is Chen Hao that heavy?"

Lu Qi covered his eyes.

Xiao Er smacked his forehead, thinking, "If I had known, I would have brought him in earlier; luckily it's chaotic now, so no one noticed."

Chen Hao didn't have time to blush, he sprinted into the dark corner of the nearby small house.

Xiao Er leapt down from the date tree, silently.

He cocked his ear to listen to the surroundings, then lifted his chin toward the small house where Chen Hao was hiding.

Chen Hao understood, and slipped out from the shadows.

The two kept close to the wall, one in front of the other, and hurriedly felt their way toward the rear courtyard.

After turning past a moon gate, faint voices could be heard ahead.

The two hurriedly hid in the shadow beside the side room.

The voices grew louder.

"You say, if the rebel army really breaks in, can we two still make it back alive?"

"Pah! His Highness has gone to the Palace to discuss strategies—what's there to fear?"

Two guards appeared, drawing nearer as they walked.

Lu Qi pulled out an iron lotus, gripped it in his hand, and stared intently.

Xiao Er glanced at Chen Hao, raised his hand and pointed at one of the guards, then pointed at himself.

He then pointed at the other guard, and pointed at Chen Hao.

Chen Hao nodded.

Xiao Er waited for the right moment, then darted out.

With one hand he covered the guard's mouth, and with the other he struck the side of his neck; the guard didn't even utter a sound before collapsing limp.

At the same moment, Chen Hao lunged from the shadows, grabbed the other guard's head with both hands, and gave a light twist.

"Click." a soft sound.

The guard's body stiffened for an instant, then went limp.

Chen Hao panted heavily, his arms trembling uncontrollably.

Xiao Er gave him a thumbs-up, dragged the guard on the ground, and pulled him into the side room.

Chen Hao came to his senses, hurriedly dragged the other guard and followed him inside.

On the roof, Lu Qi lowered his large hand that had been covering Tuan Tuan's eyes.

Tuan Tuan peeked out from his shoulder: "Uncle Seven, Chen Hao seems to be trembling."

Lu Qi chuckled: "He'll be fine after a few more times; this is his first attempt, and keeping up with Xiao Er is already not bad."

In the side room, Xiao Er stripped the guard of all his clothes.

He moved swiftly, in a few quick changes he had disguised himself, wearing a waist sword and a cap snapped onto his head—he looked exactly like an ordinary guard of the mansion.

Chen Hao fumbled trying to imitate him; his clothes were half a size too big, and he kept tightening the belt, barely managing to hold them up.

Xiao Er sized him up: "Fine, it'll do."

Chen Hao touched the brim of his hat, pressed it down, and said, "Let's go."

The two walked out of the side room, heads slightly lowered, and strode along the corridor toward the deeper rear courtyard.

On the roof, Lu Qi lightly patted Tuan Tuan's small hand: "Miss, let's follow them."

"Mm!"

Lu Qi crouched low, moving silently along the ridge, always keeping a moderate distance from the two on the ground.

Xiao Er walked and whispered, "Let's first check the private prison; the Ninth Prince is most likely held there."

Chen Hao halted his steps: "How do you know?"

Xiao Er's lips curled slightly: "Even the Prince Qing is going to use him as a sacrifice to the banner; there's no way we can be polite to him."

"What if he's not there?"

"Then we'll fight, but don't draw your swords—too noisy. Lu Qi will take care of them, and we'll keep looking."

Chen Hao nodded and quickened his pace.

The two passed through two courtyard gates and arrived at a secluded compound.

The compound wasn't large, surrounded by high walls on all sides, with only a single iron door tightly shut.

Two guards with swords at their waists stood before the iron door, pacing back and forth.

Xiao Er whispered, "This is the place."

He didn't rush forward, but slightly tilted his head, glancing with the corner of his eye toward the roof.

Lu Qi was lying on the ridge behind, and he nodded at him.

Only then did Xiao Er straighten up and stride toward the iron door.

Chen Hao followed closely, his palms sweating, yet his face remained composed.

"Who?" Both guards became alert, hands on their sword hilts.

Xiao Er lifted his face, revealing half a dark complexion under his hat brim: "By order of the Prince, I've come to take Xiao Ran."

Chen Hao's heart leapt to his throat.

The lead guard frowned: "Isn't the Prince inside the Palace? When was this order given?"

Xiao Ran really is here! Chen Hao's heart eased.

Xiao Er's expression unchanged: "The Prince sent someone back to give the order—aren't we about to fight?"

"Who are you? I don't recognize you." The guard sized him up, eyes falling on his waist sword, then on Chen Hao behind him.

Chen Hao struggled to keep his composure, wiping sweat from his hand onto his pants.

Xiao Er snorted: "I don't even know you—why all the nonsense!"

The guard hesitated a moment, then said nothing.

"Why ask so much?" the other guard interjected, "Where's the token?"

Chen Hao pulled a Jade Pendant from his bosom and handed it over.

The guard took it, turned it over twice, and his face changed: "This is the Prince's personal Jade Pendant!"

The other guard leaned in for a look: "Indeed, I've often seen the Prince wearing it."

Xiao Er's expression blank: "Open the door!"

The guard returned the Jade Pendant respectfully, his tone softer: "Does the Prince have any further orders?"

Xiao Er took back the Jade Pendant: "Hurry up, brother, lead the way."

"Yes, yes, please this way." The guard turned, produced a key, opened the iron door: "You stay here; I'll take them inside."

"Fine."

The two followed the guard into the iron door.

Along a narrow passage, oil lamps hung on the walls every few steps, their dim yellow glow barely lighting the path beneath their feet.

People were locked in the cells on both sides, staring blankly as they passed.

The air was thick with damp mildew, mixed with a faint smell of blood.

How could Xiao Ran live in such a place? Chen Hao's brows furrowed slightly.

At the end of the passage lay another iron door.

The guard produced a key, opened it, and continued leading the way.

Reaching the last cell, he unlocked the door, stepped aside: "Here, this is him."

Xiao Er strode inside.

The cell had no windows, only a corner of the wall strewn with dry grass.

In the dim light, a person lay curled on the dry grass, hair disheveled, clothes covered in dust.

Hearing the movement, he slowly lifted his head.

It was Xiao Ran.

Xiao Er lunged forward, grabbed his collar, and hoisted him up: "Come on, Ninth Prince."

He used his body to block the guard's view, lowering his voice: "It's me."

Xiao Ran's face was gaunt; upon seeing Xiao Er's face clearly, he froze.

Xiao Er bellowed: "What are you staring at? Come with us!"

Xiao Ran struggled to stand, but his legs gave out and he nearly collapsed back down.

Chen Hao stepped forward, seized his arm, throat tight: "Go!"

Xiao Ran lifted his head, meeting those familiar eyes.

His whole body jolted: "You?"

Xiao Er, a bit anxious, signaled Chen Hao with a glance, then hooked one arm under Xiao Ran's and began dragging him out.

Chen Hao understood, quickly taking hold of Xiao Ran's other arm.

The guard behind shouted impatiently: "Xiao Ran! Hurry up! Don't delay the Prince's errand!"

"At this point, still putting on princely airs!"

"Exactly! Move it!" Xiao Er also barked, and together with Chen Hao they hauled Xiao Ran outward.

Xiao Ran looked ahead; the passage was about to end, sunlight drawing nearer, his eyes narrowing.

Just then.

A man in the neighboring cell suddenly lunged at the iron door, thrusting his hand through the bars and shouting loudly:

He! He is Xiao Yuanhang's guard captain Xiao Er!