Chapter 674: What Is Calling?

Guoshi Residence, in the secret room, all was silent.

A low, rumbling sound of stone scraping came from deep within the stone wall.

Immediately afterward, a corner of the hanging silk star chart on the stone wall was lifted.

Lu Qi poked his head out to look; everything was as usual.

His nose twitched, and he turned back, saying, "There's a hint of smoke, but it's not strong."

Having said that, he walked out.

Xiao Er handed Tuan Tuan to Xiao Ningyuan, saying, "Young Master, I'll go check things out too; you stay put in the secret passage for now."

Xiao Ningyuan held Tuan Tuan tight and nodded.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi walked around the secret room.

Xiao Er frowned and said, "Stuffy."

Lu Qi touched the stone wall: "It's not hot anymore, but still warm; let the young lady stay in the secret passage a bit longer. Come on, let's go up and see."

The two went up the stone steps; the higher they went, the stronger the smoke smell, and the hidden door felt hot to the touch.

Helpless, they had to return to the secret room.

After another hour, the smoke had faded to a trace, and the stone wall was no longer warm; they then lifted the star chart on the wall, opened the hidden door, and said, "Come out, it's all clear."

Everyone returned to the secret room, sat by the table, and took a sip of water.

Tuan Tuan poured a bowl of water for Xiao Feifei, watched it drink it all, then hugged it and gave it a big kiss, saying, "Xiao Feifei, you're great!"

Xiao Feifei let out a few happy chirps, very pleased.

Eunuch Cheng laughed, "Exactly! If it weren't for the commandery princess's clever little fox waking up early and yelling nonstop, we'd still be asleep."

"Who would have thought this fine Guoshi Residence would catch fire?"

Xiao Ran stretched his arms: "Sitting in a chair is still the most comfortable!"

"I don't know how Master is doing," Tuan Tuan worried, "I want to go see him."

"Don't worry," Xiao Ningyuan patted her head, "When the fire first broke out, didn't the National Preceptor come by once to tell us there was a fire?"

"What kind of person is your master? He wouldn't stay in the residence while a big fire burns!"

"He must have already taken those little Daoists and run outside."

"We just don't know what the outside looks like after the fire."

"The upper floors have been burning for at least an hour and a half," Feng Zhou sighed, "The Guoshi Residence was repaired by the Ministry of Works, mainly wooden structures, using fine timber."

"No matter how thick the beams and columns, they can't withstand burning this long; even if not completely burned down, there's little left."

"However," he frowned, "this isn't right."

"In an ordinary fire, at most it starts from one spot; how could it have burned like this?"

Xiao Er, who had just relaxed, suddenly sat up straight: "Feng Zhou makes sense."

The Guoshi Residence fire means the Water Dragon Bureau must have been fully mobilized.

Logically, it shouldn't have burned down completely.

Lu Qi said bluntly, "Unless someone deliberately set the fire."

Everyone looked at each other, wondering who would dare to burn the Guoshi Residence in the capital.

Xiao Ningyuan's heart skipped a beat as he pulled Tuan Tuan into his arms: "Could it be aimed at us?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Oh dear!" Eunuch Cheng exclaimed.

Everyone's gaze turned to him.

Eunuch Cheng paced anxiously: "If what you say is true, the food and water here, no matter how frugal, will last at most a day or two—what are we to do?"

Xiao Ningyuan snorted: "That must be their goal."

"Burn the Guoshi Residence to leave us without food or drink, to force us out."

Xiao Ran, having been scared of hunger in prison, said, "But what are we to eat? Are we going to have no food again?"

Chen Hao chuckled: "Look at you, scared."

Xiao Ran scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

"Ninth Prince," Tuan Tuan's eyes shifted, "Who said we have no food? We can go to the palace to find something to eat!"

"Uncle Cheng, where is the place that prepares meals for the Imperial Uncle? Let's go there to get food!"

Eunuch Cheng froze: "Go to the Imperial Kitchen?"

Tuan Tuan laughed: "Right! We can also go to the Imperial Aunt's palace!"

Xiao Ran slapped the table: "Exactly! The little kid's idea is the best!"

"The palace's food is the best in the world, they have everything!"

"They want to starve us, but we won't have it—we've got to eat until we gain a few pounds!"

Tuan Tuan clapped her hands: "Great! Ninth Prince, you lead the way—we'll go tonight!"

"Uh," Xiao Ran choked, "I, I don't know where the Imperial Kitchen is."

"You don't live in the palace?" Tuan Tuan wondered, "How can you not even know where your own dining hall is?"

"Little Princess, the Ninth Prince's meals are delivered by little eunuchs to his palace," Eunuch Cheng laughed, "He doesn't need to fetch them himself, so naturally he wouldn't know."

"I know, let me draw it for you, okay?"

"Mm-hmm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "Uncle Cheng is the best! I still remember eating with the Imperial Uncle in the palace—it was delicious!"

Lu Qi laughed heartily: "Good, thanks to the young lady's blessing, I've never eaten imperial cuisine in my life!"

"This time, we'll really feast!"

That night at midnight, Xiao Er carried Tuan Tuan on his back, Lu Qi held Xiao Feifei, and Xiao Ran followed closely behind.

They sneaked into the Imperial Palace from the dry well of the Cold Palace.

Several people slipped in during a gap in the Imperial Guard's patrol, following Eunuch Cheng's map, and quickly reached the door of the Imperial Kitchen.

The door was ajar, and a dim yellow light leaked out.

Several people crouched low and came to beneath the window.

Xiao Er poked his head inside to take a look.

The firelight from the stove illuminated the four walls, casting mottled shadows.

On the long table, several rows of bamboo steamers were stacked high, and a few plates of snacks were placed at the corner.

Three eunuchs were sitting around a small table in the corner, chatting idly.

"Should we send the lotus root starch today? Tomorrow we still need to make lotus root cake."

"It was ordered early; it was delivered before dawn, no mistake."

"Those few jars of goose that went bad the other day should be ready by now; don't forget to scoop them out tomorrow morning."

Xiao Er squatted down and let Tuan Tuan down.

Tuan Tuan took Xiao Feifei from Lu Qi's embrace and patted its little head:

"Be good, go to the doorway and call twice to lure the people inside out."

"Lead them far away, run a few loops, then come back to find us."

Xiao Feifei's amber eyes rolled around.

"Don't let them catch up!" Tuan Tuan said anxiously, "You must not suffer a loss."

Xiao Feifei licked her little paw, its four short legs wobbling, and it silently slipped to the doorway.

It sat properly at the doorway, raising its neck.

"Ying ying ying—"

The soft, delicate call was especially clear in the night.

The three eunuchs simultaneously raised their heads.

"What sound?"

"It sounds like something is calling."

"Where is it?"

One eunuch stood up and walked two steps toward the doorway.

Xiao Feifei called a few more times: "Ying ying ying—"

"Yo! It's a fox!" that eunuch widened his eyes, "When did we have foxes in this palace?"