Chapter 705

Everyone was stunned upon hearing that.

"Exactly!" Lu Qi slapped his forehead. "Miss, you hit the nail on the head! What's wrong with the water tank? Why are we all staring at it?"

"What we need to deal with are those archers, not the water tank!"

Xiao Ningyuan scooped up his younger sister and planted a firm kiss on her cheek: "Tuan Tuan, you're really smart!"

Lu Qi smiled at Tuan Tuan. "Miss, how do you plan to take care of those archers?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, thought, and said: "When we go, could we make them unable to see or hear us?"

"After we come out, they'll recover again—would that work?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Xiao Er slapped the table. "Let's go again tomorrow night!"

Xiao Ran muttered, "No wonder Father Emperor said I wish I had half of Tuan Tuan's talent, you little rascal—nothing can stump you."

Eunuch Cheng covered his mouth and kept laughing.

The next night, the four of them returned to the rooftop of a civilian house near Xuanwu Gate.

Xiao Er glanced around and whispered, "Those Imperial Guards are hiding really well—you can't even see where they are."

Lu Qi pointed at the eaves: "Most likely they're under the eaves, where the shadows blend together—perfect for hiding."

Xiao Ningyuan leaned close to Tuan Tuan's ear: "It's up to you now, Tuan Tuan."

"Mm." Tuan Tuan untied the embroidered pouch at her waist, pulled out a scrap of cloth, and whispered, "Let all the archers watching the water vat..."

Xiao Ningyuan looked toward the city wall, hastily patted his sister, and pointed to the guards on the wall.

Tuan Tuan looked up, and indeed, there they were!

"Let all the archers watching the water vat and the people on the wall neither see nor hear what we're doing!"

She paused, then added, "But they themselves don't know! They'll recover after we leave!"

After saying that, she loosened her little hand, and the scrap of cloth fell downward.

A faint light flashed, and the scrap of cloth vanished.

The four waited a moment, and everything around remained as before.

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "Why aren't you leaving?"

Xiao Er asked, "Miss, is it done?"

"All done!"

"Go!" Xiao Er lifted Tuan Tuan up, then jumped to the ground.

Lu Qi held Xiao Ningyuan and followed closely behind.

The group quickly reached the base of the wall.

Xiao Er handed Tuan Tuan to Xiao Ningyuan, and together with Lu Qi moved the water vat in front of the iron ring.

The water vat scraped the ground, making a dull sound that was especially clear in the silent night.

Xiao Er tensed all over, suddenly straightened up, and placed his hand on his sword hilt.

Lu Qi also stopped, slipped the iron lotus into his palm, and warily scanned the surroundings.

The guards on the wall walked back and forth, yet heard nothing.

Under the eaves in the distance, there was not a stir.

Xiao Er's tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and Lu Qi also put away his concealed weapon.

Tuan Tuan blinked her eyes, smiling at them: "It's fine! They can't hear us."

Xiao Er's lips curled slightly as he reached out and touched her little face.

Lu Qi exhaled, the two no longer hesitated, and moved the blocking water vats one by one.

Tuan Tuan pushed open the hidden door, and the group slipped inside.

Xiao Er walked last, turned back and shut the hidden door; instantly everything went pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Lu Qi had learned his lesson this time; instead of hastily striking a match, he first shouted loudly, "Lao Zhao! It's us! The Eldest Young Master and the Princess (Commandery) have come too!"

After saying that, he then lit the match and walked inside.

"The Princess (Commandery) has arrived!"

"And the Eldest Young Master and his group!"

From deep in the secret passage came several exclamations and a flurry of hurried footsteps; immediately, a pair of large hands reached out, snatched Tuan Tuan from Xiao Ningyuan's arms, and cried, "Tuan Tuan!"

It was Xiao Ningchen!

Tuan Tuan, face full of surprise and joy, flung her arms around his neck: "Second brother!"

Xiao Ningchen held his sister tightly, pressing Xiao Tuanzi into his embrace.

Being squeezed by him, Tuan Tuan let out an "eh" sound, patting his chest twice with her little hands: "Second brother! I can't breathe!"

Only then did Xiao Ningchen loosen his arms, lowering his head to look at the little one in his embrace.

A pair of bright, sparkling big eyes looked at him; his sister was still as lovely as ever!

Tuan Tuan reached out her little hand, touched his face, and said, "Have you lost weight, Second Brother? There's no meat here."

Xiao Ningchen felt a pang in his heart, burying his face in her small shoulder: "You've lost weight too—haven't you been eating properly lately?"

"Me? I eat just fine!" Tuan Tuan giggled, giving his face a "mwah" kiss: "I eat imperial meals every day!"

Xiao Ningchen had already heard Lao Zhao talk about this; he reached out and lightly flicked her forehead: "Mischief!"

Tuan Tuan touched her own forehead, hehe-laughed: "It doesn't hurt at all! Second Brother!"

Lao Zhao and the soldiers, faces full of surprise and joy, gathered around.

Eldest Young Master! Princess (Commandery)! We've been hoping you'd come!

Tuan Tuan lifted her head from her second brother's arms, waved at him: "Uncle Zhao! Uncles, are you all well?"

Lao Zhao laughed even more heartily.

Good! We're all fine!

So the Princess still remembers us!

Xiao Er! Brother Lu, you both look chubbier!

Xiao Ningchen turned and took a big stride: "Come on! Let's go inside and sit to talk!"

Xiao Ningyuan patted his own face and said, "Is my face not big enough? Didn't second brother notice?"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi both laughed.

Everyone went inside, Xiao Ningchen sat down holding his sister, and only then shouted toward Xiao Ningyuan, "Big brother."

Xiao Ningyuan answered mutely.

Lao Zhao, together with a few soldiers, lit all the torches, illuminating the small square of space brightly.

"Second Young Master," Lao Zhao rubbed his hands, smiling broadly, "I told you the Princess would definitely come!"

"Exactly!" another soldier replied cheerfully, "These past days and nights, no matter how busy Second Young Master was, he always returned here to wait for the Princess."

Xiao Ningchen glared at them: "You guys talk too much."

The soldiers chuckled.

Xiao Ningchen held his sister's soft little body, and all his fatigue and worry vanished in that instant.

Xiao Ningyuan recounted, one by one, the events of the past days.

Xiao Ningchen said gravely, "It's lucky you knew this beforehand; otherwise during the siege they'd truly catch us off guard."

Xiao Ningyuan asked, "How's the secret passage? Has it been cleared? How many can enter the city? When is the siege scheduled?"