Chapter 706: Uncle Seven, You

Xiao Ningchen rolled his eyes: "Isn't this exactly what I was going to tell you, look how eager you are!"

Xiao Ningyuan scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.

Xiao Ningchen listed them one by one: "All the secret passages have been cleared; they're all small, but there are enough of them—nine passages can shelter four to five thousand soldiers in total."

"As a surprise attack and internal‑external coordination with the main army, the numbers are sufficient."

"Great!" Xiao Er finally relaxed upon hearing that, "Prince's plan can finally succeed."

"Second brother, they've burned everything outside the city," Xiao Ningyuan said worriedly, "If the army arrives with no cover, won't they become live targets?"

Xiao Ningchen hummed, "Father never intended to set up camp and confront them again; the army will rest elsewhere, and when it reaches Jingcheng, that will be the day of battle."

Xiao Er's blood boiled, "Prince has always been like this, never letting the enemy pull his strings."

Xiao Ningchen calculated, "If nothing unexpected happens, it will be at least ten days and no more than fifteen; you'll hear the war drums then."

"That's wonderful!" Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands happily, "Daddy's coming!"

"When you tell His Majesty about Prince Eleven's matter," Xiao Ningyuan winced at the topic, "make sure you explain it clearly."

"It's not that Tuan Tuan won't save him; she saved him along with other princes and princesses, so we can only use Divine Doctor Mo's fake‑death pill to get Prince Eleven out."

"Don't worry, I understand."

"I'm truly worried," Xiao Ningyuan sighed, "if Prince Eleven panics and refuses to take that fake‑death pill, all our earlier efforts will be wasted."

Xiao Ningchen said, "That's unavoidable; we'll improvise when the time comes."

"At least," he patted his sister's crown, "Tuan Tuan has already given them the medicine; it's enough that they know."

"As for the water jars under the city wall you mentioned, blocking our exit, that's actually convenient."

"Didn't Tuan Tuan discover the gunpowder in the secret passage? I'll order everyone, when they charge out, to blow the hidden door open directly."

"With smoke filling the air, even if they fire arrows, they won't know where to aim."

"Excellent plan!" Xiao Er praised, "Second Young Master truly inherited Prince's true teachings; if Prince were here, he'd do the same."

Lu Qi gave Xiao Ningchen a thumbs‑up: "Second Young Master, impressive!"

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Ningchen with admiration, "Second brother, you're awesome!"

Xiao Ningchen laughed and patted his sister's little cheek, "Good girl, when we storm the city, ten thousand troops will charge in—it's very risky!"

"You stay hidden in the secret room with your big brother and don't come out."

"No!" Tuan Tuan pouted, "You all are going to battle, I want to go too!"

"No way!" Xiao Ningchen's face darkened, "Swords have no eyes; this is not like your wandering the rivers. With so many people, we can't see you, how could we protect you?"

"Listen to second brother, be good."

Tuan Tuan pursed her little mouth, eyes watery, looking at her big brother.

Xiao Ningyuan curled his lip and looked away; he couldn't bear his sister's pitiful look any longer, fearing another glance would soften his heart.

Tuan Tuan glanced again at Xiao Er and Lu Qi.

The two exchanged a glance and lowered their heads together.

Xiao Er's Adam's apple bobbed, but he remained silent.

Lu Qi simply turned away, pretending to study the torch on the wall.

The lady's safety is paramount; war is truly not something she can partake in.

Xiao Ningyuan changed the subject, "By the way, how do you send messages to the army?"

Xiao Ningchen replied, "Uncle Wang's men relay messages between Jingcheng and the army; he has clouds of experts under him, this is nothing for him."

"Uncle Wang!" Tuan Tuan recalled Wang Mingrui's face, "I haven't seen him in ages."

Xiao Ningchen frowned, "Why does my sister keep thinking about Uncle Wang?"

"Alright," he stood, "you all hurry back; we still have to go through the Palace."

Xiao Ningyuan rose, patted his brother's shoulder, "Be careful in everything, may the banner rise in victory!"

Xiao Ningchen nodded, "Don't worry."

Tuan Tuan clung tightly to Xiao Ningchen's neck, refusing to let go, "Second brother, I finally got to see you; you can't push me away!"

Xiao Ningchen tossed her upward, then caught her securely in his arms, "Go, after we take Jingcheng, second brother will spend quality time playing with you!"

Tuan Tuan hugged his big face and kissed him hard a few times, "Don't get hurt, second brother!"

Xiao Ningchen's heart softened, he nodded, handing Tuan Tuan to Xiao Er, "Watch over her."

Xiao Er gave a solemn nod.

Tuan Tuan waved at Old Zhao and the soldiers, mimicking her big brother, "Uncle! May the banner rise in victory!"

The soldiers chattered back:

"Alright!"

"With the Princess's words, we can definitely win!"

"Great victory! Yes! Great victory!"

Xiao Ningchen turned and walked deeper into the secret passage, not glancing at his sister again.

A few walked outward, and Tuan Tuan stuck her head out from Xiao Er's shoulder, shouting at his back, "Second brother! I'm waiting for you to come home together!"

Xiao Ningchen halted his steps, raised his hand and waved.

Xiao Ningyuan looked back, shook his head, "Second brother still has that temperament."

The group emerged from the hidden door, closed it, and arrived on the main street.

Lu Qi looked at Tuan Tuan in Xiao Er's arms, his eyes flicked, and his mouth slowly curved upward.

He tiptoed to the eaves, leaned inside for a glance, then shouted hoarsely, "Wow! You really are hiding here!"

Dozens of archers stayed motionless, not even flicking an eyelid.

Some leaned against the wall dozing, some held their bows and stared blankly, and others were low‑head picking at their fingernails.

Lu Qi shouted again: "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Still no one paid him any attention.

One even yawned, shifted his posture, and continued leaning against the wall.

From beginning to end, not a single person glanced his way.

Lu Qi simply tiptoed, imitating a rooster's crow: "Oh—oh—oh!"

The archers remained completely still.

One even smacked his lips, turned over, and slept even more soundly.

Tuan Tuan burst out laughing with a "pfft": "Uncle Seven, you look just like a big rooster!"

Xiao Er laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Xiao Ningyuan covered his mouth, never having seen Lu Qi like this—where's the martial arts master now?

Lu Qi rubbed his nose: "Miss, you finally laughed."

Tuan Tuan opened her little arms toward him, and Lu Qi hurried over, holding her in his embrace.

Tuan Tuan planted a kiss on his big face: "Uncle Seven, you're so nice!"

Lu Qi's heart blossomed with joy: "Come on, Miss, let's go back and eat something good!"

At the same moment, inside Zichen Hall.

Candlelight illuminated the hall as bright as day; dozens of shadow blades stood soundlessly in the hall, ramrod straight, not even a corner of their robes moving.

The Masked Man sat behind the Dragon Desk, raised his hand, and pointed to the dozen or so people in the front row.

"Go pursue the Xibei rebels."

"Burn their grain and supplies, burn their siege engines—burn as much as you can."

"Remember, don't get bogged down in battle. Withdraw as soon as you succeed; don't linger a moment longer."

He then pointed to the remaining dozen or so.

"You, destroy the bridges they must cross, and burn all the ferries."

Dozens of shadow blades gave him a silent salute and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The hall fell silent once more.

The Masked Man picked up the portrait of Tuan Tuan on the table, looked at it for a moment, then gently placed it on the candle.

Flames licked the paper's edge; the portrait slowly curled, blackened, and finally turned to a pinch of ash that fell onto the table.