Chapter 671: with translation of chapter title

"Second brother also came?" Tuan Tuan twisted her head out of Xiao Er's embrace, smiling, "That's great!"

Xiao Ran shook his head: "He didn't come."

"Father Emperor ordered me to inspect the secret passage together with him; we've cleared the first one."

"The inside isn't spacious, and there are quite a few collapses; it took a lot of effort to clear it out."

"Then," he lowered his head somewhat sheepishly, "I said I wanted to go to the Guoshi Residence to find you, but your second brother stopped me and I didn't listen."

He lifted his head and scanned everyone: "I just wanted to go find you!"

"But, thinking of Chen Hao made me angry, the more I thought the angrier I got, so I went to find him first, wanting to get things straight."

"I never expected to be caught by them."

Chen Hao hurriedly interjected: "You can't blame it all on yourself; it's all my father's fault. If he hadn't come to Jingcheng, none of this would have happened."

Xiao Ran felt guilty: "Alright, no need to say more—you've come to rescue me, what else is there not to understand?"

"It must be someone imitating your handwriting to frame you on purpose."

"I shouldn't have doubted you, and certainly shouldn't have acted so rashly, putting you at such great risk for my sake."

Chen Hao laughed; this childhood friend who grew up together with him has finally returned.

Xiao Ran asked: "By the way, why aren't we going straight back to the Guoshi Residence, but coming here instead?"

Tuan Tuan pouted: "Because Master's place also has someone watching all the time!"

Lu Qi nodded: "Exactly, with so many of us, returning in daylight would be too risky, so we arranged to bring you here first after rescuing you."

"Miss," Xiao Er gently swayed Tuan Tuan, "aren't you sleepy? No one will come anymore; we have to wait until night to return, so go ahead and sleep if you want."

"Uncle Second, you're really nice!" Tuan Tuan grabbed his shirt at the chest, lifted her head, and kissed his chin.

Xiao Er smiled, satisfied.

Lu Qi looked at Xiao Ran: "You don't know yet? If we hadn't rescued you today, tomorrow you'd be publicly whipped."

Xiao Ran's face turned white in an instant.

"I'm a prince after all! How could I suffer such utter humiliation!"

"If I were whipped in public, the only way to atone would be death."

Tuan Tuan snorted: "They still plan to use you as a sacrifice when Imperial Uncle arrives—sacrifice what, again?"

Xiao Er interjected lightly: "The flag."

Xiao Ran's head buzzed, and a chill shot from his back straight to the crown of his head.

"Flag sacrifice?"

"Turns out, my momentary impulsiveness almost caused such a huge disaster!"

"If the two armies face off and I'm dragged to the front lines, my head would fall before Father Emperor..."

He couldn't bear to think further.

"Ninth brother," Tuan Tuan looked at him, "we just can't think of any good way to rescue you."

"Chen Hao even wanted to go alone to the gate of my house to curse that wicked Qing Wang, lure him out, so we could sneak in and rescue people!"

"Look, how good he is to you!"

Xiao Ran turned his head to look at Chen Hao, his lips moved a few times, but in the end he said nothing.

"When he was locked up in the cell, he never even considered what consequences his actions might have."

"His mind kept going over and over why Chen Hao would harm him, how he could be so stupid to have trusted him for so many years."

"But now, looking at Chen Hao before him, his heart felt only a sore softness."

He opened his mouth: "You……"

"Chen Hao was about to speak when Tuan Tuan's little mouth went 'babble': 'Big brother doesn't agree, that's why he came up with this good idea again.'"

"By the way, Ninth brother, after you were arrested, Chen Hao went to ask his non-biological father where you were, and even got himself thrown into the heavenly prison!"

"I see!" Xiao Ran's face showed sudden realization as he examined Chen Hao up and down.

"No wonder he treated you like that! Turns out you aren't his biological son?" He patted Chen Hao's shoulder: "Brother, that's a good thing!"

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously: "I think so too!"

Xiao Ran asked solemnly: "Have you written a letter to ask your Mother Consort……"

Chen Hao clapped a hand over his mouth, helplessly looking at Tuan Tuan: "Tuan Tuan, you should just go to sleep."

Tuan Tuan: "Oh."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi both laughed; the miss is too adorable.

At the same moment, Qing Wang returned to the Ning Prince's mansion with a dark, grim face.

"Who doesn't value his life, daring to impersonate a courier and falsely relay military news?"

"It caused me to rush into the palace in a panic, and I also discussed it at length with Prince Chen."

"As a result, after waiting half a day, not a single person from the Ministry of War showed up!"

"When the Minister of War was summoned to the palace and questioned, the Ministry of War had never received any report!"

"Only after inquiring at the relay station did they learn that this morning a set of horses and clothing had indeed been lost, with no military communication arriving at all."

"Although he ordered a citywide manhunt, after exhausting most of the day they still couldn't find that fake courier."

"Now it has left the populace panicked, and they must urgently post a notice to calm the people."

"He sat in the study with his brows tightly furrowed."

"He has thrown Jingcheng into chaos—what is Xiao Yuanhang trying to do? Disturb military morale?"

"Never mind, these are all empty."

"Tomorrow, we'll publicly beat Xiao Ran half to death, so that Xiao Jieyun's descendants lose all face—that's the real deal."

"This move of the Venerable Lord is truly poisonous—attacking the heart is supreme!"

He picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and slowly relaxed himself.

Right, how is Xiao Ran doing now?

I should ask; a couple of days ago the Guard apparently came to report, saying he refused to eat, lest he starve to death.

Humph, he's already my prisoner, yet he still puts on the airs of a prince!

Tomorrow he's going to get whipped; just don't die in my hands.

"Come here!"

The Guard outside hurried in: "Here!"

"Go, give Xiao Ran a good meal, watch him finish it, then tie him up until before tomorrow's execution!"

"Yes!"

After a moment, the Guard hurried back: "Your Highness, Xiao Ran..."

Qing Wang impatiently said: "What? Don't like the food you prepared? Still won't eat? Tell him, if he ever thinks..."

"No! Not! Your Highness!" the Guard stammered, "I took the food, but the prison guard said Xiao Ran had already been taken away by someone you sent."

"What?" Qing Wang jumped up, and his tea cup fell to the ground with a "pa" sound.

"When did I send someone to fetch him?"

"I asked, and it was today."

"They said that shortly after you left the Prince's Mansion, someone went to the prison and, holding your personal Jade Pendant, took him away."

"Jade Pendant?" Qing Wang roared: "Which Jade Pendant? My Jade Pendant..."

He suddenly stopped.

I indeed have a Jade Pendant I used to wear that's missing, but what does that matter?

I have plenty of Jade Pendants!

"Come on! Follow me to see!"

"Yes!"

He strode quickly to the prison, rushed straight into Xiao Ran's cell, which was empty, the door wide open, only a patch of dry grass left on the floor.

Qing Wang's vision darkened, his body swayed, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.