Chapter 701: Let Weng Weng Think It Over

Everyone's gaze turned toward her.

Tuan Tuan pulled a small porcelain bottle from the sachet, held it up high and said, "Use this!"

Xiao Ningyuan fixed his eyes on it and asked, "Is this… the fake-death pill 'Cicada Molt' that Divine Doctor Mo gave you?"

"But Tuan Tuan," he said, his brows not relaxing at all, "whether we rescue him or make him feign death, it won't stop them from plotting against the other princes."

"Sure, big brother," Tuan Tuan put the small bottle away, "Master said this fake-death pill can keep one under control for a whole day after taking it."

"We'll send this to Prince Eleven, have him sit on that chair and then take it, and it'll work!"

"Exactly!" Xiao Er sat up straight abruptly, "If the Emperor dies on the spot, the spectacle will be huge."

Xiao Ran slapped the table, "Little one's idea works!"

"They use Prince Eleven only to make Father Emperor tiptoe, and to boost their own influence."

"If Prince Eleven dies before the two armies, their morale will plummet."

Lu Qi looked at his own miss with a doting smile, "My miss is so clever!"

"Exactly!" Xiao Ningyuan got excited, "We must quickly tell Second Brother, have him relay this to His Majesty."

"Fortunately Little Princess is here," Eunuch Cheng said, his heart settling, "His Majesty can then rest easy."

Tuan Tuan swayed her little head proudly, lifted Xiao Feifei, and said, "Then we'll go find Prince Eleven tomorrow night! But which palace does he live in now?"

"Prince Eleven used to reside in the Huarong Hall together with Consort Rong," Eunuch Cheng recalled, "I no longer know where he lives now."

"But Little Princess, you could ask Eldest Princess."

"Yes! That's great! I can go see Imperial Aunt again!" Tuan Tuan was very happy.

"Alright," Xiao Ningyuan nodded, "After delivering the medicine to Prince Eleven, we'll go find Second Brother."

That night of the next day, Xiao Er and Lu Qi, with Tuan Tuan and Xiao Ningyuan, arrived at Eldest Princess's sleeping chamber.

Eldest Princess's expression changed completely after hearing the story, "You intend to find Prince Eleven? How can that be done?"

Tuan Tuan asked curiously, "What's wrong, Imperial Aunt?"

"Eldest Princess, please rest assured," Xiao Ningyuan thought she was worried about their safety, "We have come and gone in this palace countless times."

"Even if Prince Eleven's residence lacks a tiger's den, we can still get in."

"You are unaware," Eldest Princess shook her head, "Since Noble Consort De and Prince Twelve disappeared, Chen Wang and Qing Wang moved Prince Eleven and Consort Rong to the Water Cloud Pavilion to prevent him from being rescued again."

"Water Cloud Pavilion?" Xiao Er asked, "Where is it? Not inside the palace?"

"It is within the palace," Eldest Princess sighed lightly, "The Water Cloud Pavilion is a water pavilion in the Taiye Pool, surrounded by water on all sides, connected to the shore by a single Nine-turn Stone Bridge."

She hugged Tuan Tuan, looking helpless, "It was originally a tranquil summer retreat for admiring lotus flowers, but now it has become a cage imprisoning mother and child."

Xiao Ran frowned, "Are there many guards posted on the bridge?"

"Not only the bridge, Imperial Guard patrols the area around Water Cloud Pavilion day and night," Eldest Princess nodded, "Even the small boats on Taiye Pool have been taken away, none left."

She paused, "I also heard they drove wooden stakes into the water around the pavilion and stretched a net to prevent anyone from passing through the water."

She gently touched the top of Tuan Tuan's hair, "That place is far harder to reach than Dezheng Palace."

"If it were elsewhere, I could visit using Eldest Princess's status, but at Water Cloud Pavilion only Chen Wang, Qing Wang, and the eunuchs and palace maids who deliver daily provisions may enter."

"So Prince Eleven can only stay there, unable to go out and play, right? Imperial Aunt?" Tuan Tuan asked gloomily.

Eldest Princess shook her head, offering no answer.

Xiao Ningyuan, Xiao Er, and Lu Qi exchanged glances, wondering what to do.

Lu Qi asked, "Shall we go see it with our own eyes? Then we can devise a plan back home."

Xiao Ningyuan shook his head, "It's better to return and ask Eunuch Cheng."

"We're unfamiliar with the place; if we alarm the Guard, wouldn't we be startling the snake in the grass?"

He rose, bowed, and said, "The great battle is imminent, Eldest Princess, please take great care."

Eldest Princess nodded, "You may go."

The few of them took their leave from Eldest Princess and returned to the secret chamber.

Eunuch Cheng's wrinkles deepened after hearing, "Water Cloud Pavilion? That place isn't even a palace; aside from a few simple rooms, there's only a stage."

He sighed, "How can Consort Rong and Prince Eleven live there? They must be suffering."

Chen Hao fell silent, "How could Father Emperor imprison the Emperor in such a place!"

"That damned place has nothing," Xiao Ran sneered, "Whenever Father Emperor holds a banquet there, I never want to go."

"They even drove stakes into the water and stretched a net? They're trying to make Prince Eleven unable to escape."

Tuan Tuan huffed, "Those two villains love bullying children!"

"Little Prince Eleven can't go out to play; how distressed he must be!"

She set down Xiao Feifei, walked to Eunuch Cheng, slipped into his arms, and looked up at him, "Weng Weng, think of a way quickly—how can I get inside?"

"I must deliver Master's medicine to him! I can't let him be… "

Eunuch Cheng's heart softened; Little Princess got along best with Prince Eleven and Prince Twelve when she was in the palace, and the three often rode a small dog cart around the palace.

He never expected that after finally rescuing Prince Twelve, Prince Eleven would suffer again—what a misfortune.

"Little Princess, don't be impatient; let Weng Weng think it over," Eunuch Cheng recalled the palace in detail.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, "That stage!"