Chapter 703: Please don't be scared!

Lu Qi tightly gripped two iron lotus seeds in his hand.

Xiao Er gently patted Tuan Tuan's back.

A moment later.

"Not even a ghost in sight," someone complained.

"Come on, let's go, stop making a fuss."

"It's just a few birds, is that necessary?"

Footsteps left the stage.

But from afar it was still noisy, a sound faintly transmitted:

"Nobody here!"

"Nothing on the water!"

"Alright, alright, everyone go back!"

Xiao Er exhaled lightly, and Lu Qi put the iron lotus seeds away.

After waiting a while longer, with no sound around, Lu Qi finally said softly, "Can't go through the trees; let's go via the ground and get on the roof when we arrive."

Xiao Er nodded.

Tuan Tuan was quite puzzled: "Seventh Uncle, why do you like getting on the roof so much?"

Lu Qi laughed: "Because you can see more clearly from the roof, Miss."

Xiao Er whispered: "Lu Brother's hidden weapons are more effective from high up; the nickname Eight-armed Vajra is not for nothing."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan nodded, understanding.

The three climbed up the secret staircase to that middle level of the stage.

Lu Qi listened for a moment, pushed open a small door, poked his head out to glance, then leapt out first; Xiao Er followed closely behind, carrying Tuan Tuan.

The three jumped off the stage, stepping quietly on the grass as they sneaked toward the dozen or so houses they had just seen.

A moment later, upon approaching, they discovered that this place was actually a courtyard.

The courtyard gate was shut, with two guards wearing sabers at their waists standing at the entrance.

The three darted behind a large tree.

After waiting about the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, a patrol of guards carrying lanterns came along the courtyard wall.

"Stay alert, keep a close watch these days."

"Don't worry, all sides are water; who could get in?"

The guards gradually walked away, and the three, using the tree shadows for cover, silently reached the courtyard wall.

Lu Qi signaled Xiao Er, leapt up, touched the walltop with his toes, and landed silently on the roof.

He crouched, looked around, then waved at Xiao Er.

Xiao Er leapt up and landed steadily beside him.

The courtyard's layout was orderly: a row of north‑south facing buildings stood at the front, with a row of side rooms on each east and west side.

Several lanterns hung under the corridor, casting the courtyard in half‑light, half‑dark.

The nearest several windows were dark; only the innermost row still had two or three candlelights flickering.

Xiao Er lightly patted Tuan Tuan's leg and pointed to the main hall where candlelight shone through.

Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck, her small face pressed against his shoulder, and nodded.

The three sneaked onto the ridge of the main hall; two eunuchs leaned against the doorframe, dozing.

Lu Qi carefully moved aside a tile.

Candlelight seeped up through the gap.

Several people looked down.

The room's furnishings were simple: a desk with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone all present.

On a table lay a tea set and a candle lamp.

Not far away stood a large bed; behind it was a screen, and behind the screen a small bed.

On that large bed, Consort Rong wore an outer robe, leaning against the headboard, holding Xiao Lin in her arms.

Mother and son leaned together; the candlelight cast their two shadows on the screen, indistinct and swaying.

"Mother Consort," Xiao Lin said, his voice tired and muffled, "what was all that noise just now?"

Consort Rong snorted: "Night birds took flight; they feared a mishap, searched everywhere, found nothing, and only ended up disturbing our sleep."

She paused, then gave a cold chuckle: "Why didn't they scare them to death?"

Xiao Lin fell silent for a moment: "Mother Consort, when will Father Emperor return?"

Consort Rong's hand paused slightly.

"I don't want to be emperor," Xiao Lin whispered, as if afraid of being heard, "not at all."

Consort Rong gently patted her son's back, over and over, with utmost tenderness: "I don't like you being emperor either."

"We should just live comfortably. Alas, now treacherous villains hold power, leaving us no choice."

She tightened her fingers, gripping the corner of the blanket: "When your father returns, I wish I could personally behead those two traitors."

Xiao Lin curled into her embrace: "Mother Consort, can I skip getting up early tomorrow? I'm so sleepy."

Consort Rong held him tighter, her voice soft yet full of helplessness: "No can do; morning court is that early, and your father attends it at that time."

Xiao Lin sighed like a little adult: "Father Emperor is truly pitiful."

Consort Rong smiled: "After court ends you can sleep again; anyway, you don't need to listen to what they say."

"Forget about lessons; health is what matters most."

Xiao Lin nodded.

Tuan Tuan softly called out: "Xiao Shiyi! It's me! Tuan Tuan!"

Mother and child both froze; the Mother Consort glanced at the door, then looked around.

Xiao Lin also stared with big eyes, searching around.

I'm up here! Look up!

The two jerked their heads up; Xiao Lin's eyes lit up instantly, and his mouth opened to shout.

The Mother Consort clapped a hand over his mouth: "Don't make a sound!"

Xiao Lin's eyes widened as he saw that pale, chubby little face peeking through a crack in the roof, grinning at him, two tiny dimples sinking deep.

Tuan Tuan!

Xiao Lin's eyes turned red all of a sudden.

"Princess?" the Mother Consort's face hardened with caution. "How did you come? Where have you been these days?"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi frowned involuntarily. "The miss took such a risk to come save you—why do you still doubt her?"

Tuan Tuan, however, didn't care: "I've been to plenty of places!"

"I went to Jiangnan and the grasslands! After that I stayed in Xibei with the Imperial Uncle, and my parents are together."

The Mother Consort startled: "Your Majesty?"

"Exactly! The Imperial Uncle and my father are heading to Jingcheng; battle will start soon!"

The Mother Consort remained doubtful: "In the middle of the night, the guards at Water Cloud Pavilion are tight—how did you get in yourself?"

Tuan Tuan tugged Xiao Er, pulling his face into the crack: "This is my second uncle."

She tugged Lu Qi as well: "This is my seventh uncle."

Tuan Tuan grinned proudly: "With them with me, I can go anywhere!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi swept away their earlier displeasure and both laughed.

Tuan Tuan lowered his head, drew a small porcelain bottle from his sachet, and held it in his hand: "Mother Consort, those two villains plan to make Little Eleven sit on the city wall when the Imperial Uncle attacks the city!"

The Mother Consort gasped, clapped a hand over her mouth, and only after a moment lowered it: "Really?"

"Really!" Tuan Tuan nodded. "They're setting up a platform on the wall, and they're going to place the dragon throne on it!"

Xiao Lin's little face turned deathly pale as he shook his head hard at the Mother Consort; she moved her hand aside: "Mother Consort, I want to stay with you! I don't want to sit on the city wall!"

The Mother Consort glanced at her son, then sprang up from the bed, bent down, and lifted him: "Princess! Take Lin'er and go—now!"

Tuan Tuan froze: "I came to deliver medicine to Little Eleven, not to take him away!"

The Mother Consort's expression darkened; she drew her arm back, sat back on the bed: "Medicine?"

"You want Lin'er to fake illness?" she shook her head. "Those two Ni Ze won't fall for it."

"No!" Tuan Tuan explained the fake-death medicine's use: "Little Eleven, don't be afraid—take it, sleep, and when you wake up you'll be fine!"

"This medicine was sent to me by my master, Divine Doctor Mo!"

"Healing Hand Mo Zhanggeng?" the Mother Consort's eyes flashed with a spark of light—that was the master ancestor of Guo Taiyi, chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau! A world-renowned Divine Doctor!

"He's your master?"

"Exactly! I threw it down, then—" Tuan Tuan flicked his little hand, tossing the porcelain bottle onto the bed.

The Mother Consort picked up the bottle and clenched it tightly in her hand.

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Lin, feeling guilty: "Sorry, Little Eleven—I rescued Twelve, but I never expected you to become emperor again."

The Mother Consort was even more astonished: "Twelve isn't dead?"

"No! Twelve and his mother have been with the Imperial Uncle all along!"

The Mother Consort's eyes shone brighter, and Xiao Lin beamed: "Mother Consort! Little Twelve isn't dead!"

The Mother Consort pondered a moment, then suddenly understood the crux: "I see."

"If Lin'er left, they'd just replace him with another prince or princess—that's why you had him fake his death."

"Exactly!" Tuan Tuan nodded firmly. "Little Eleven, you must see the Imperial Uncle again—don't be afraid at all!"

Xiao Lin nodded: "I know!"

He lifted his head to look at his mother: "Mother Consort, Tuan Tuan is the best—she won't harm me; let's listen to her, okay?"