Chapter 716: Who Did I Hit?

"Huh?" Tuan Tuan was stunned. "What about Little Eleven?"

Eldest Princess shook her head. "No one knows where he is."

"Absurd!" Xiao Ran shouted angrily. "How could there be such a ridiculous thing as not knowing where the Emperor is!"

"Could it be," Xiao Ningyuan said gravely, "that Consort Rong's feigned illness was uncovered?"

Eldest Princess nodded. "No one knows the origin of this matter, but the Palace has stopped making pickled vinegar and such; it must be because of this."

"Imperial Aunt," Tuan Tuan said anxiously, "where is Consort Rong locked up?"

"Huarong Hall is the place where she and Eleven used to live."

"I heard the Palace staff gossip privately," Eldest Princess said with a hint of regret, "that Consort Rong was dragged out by the Imperial Guard from Shuiyun Pavilion while crying."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance; the image of Consort Rong that day in Shuiyun Pavilion still lingered in their minds.

A mother like that, forced to leave her child, it would be strange if she didn't cry.

Sigh, the two shook their heads simultaneously and sighed.

"Imperial Aunt," Tuan Tuan waved her tiny fist, "I'll go find Consort Rong and ask where Eleven is."

"Tuan Tuan, she won't know," Eldest Princess sighed, "Separating mother and child deprives her of any chance to rescue Eleven, and she certainly won't learn Eleven's whereabouts."

Tuan Tuan instantly wilted, her little head drooping, and Xiao Feifei lifted its head and nudged her.

Xiao Ningyuan glanced at his sister. "Eldest Princess, there is something we must ask Consort Rong clearly: whether the fake‑death potion is in Prince Eleven's hand."

"If it isn't, we'll have to devise another method so he can escape during the siege."

Eldest Princess hesitated briefly. "Fine, you may go. But does Huarong Hall have hidden passages like the ones in my Palace that would let you come and go?"

The few exchanged glances and all shook their heads.

"But how will you get in?" Eldest Princess wore a worried expression. "Now that place is surely heavily guarded; it isn't easy to enter."

"What about the Imperial Garden? Is Huarong Hall close to the Imperial Garden?" Xiao Er asked.

"Imperial Garden?" Eldest Princess was startled. "Huarong Hall is right on the west side of the Imperial Garden, the nearest. Consort Rong has always loved flora, and His Majesty granted Huarong Hall to her back then."

"Great!" Lu Qi exclaimed joyfully. "The entrance to Tiger Cave is within the Imperial Garden! Going out from there lets us bypass the Imperial Guard to the Imperial Garden."

"Then we just have to find a way to slip inside."

Eldest Princess nodded. "Alright, when you go, bring this message to Consort Rong for me."

Tuan Tuan lifted her head and asked, "Imperial Aunt, what do you want me to tell her?"

Eldest Princess thought for a moment. "Tell her that every hardship she endures now, the imperial brother will avenge for her later."

"Let her wait calmly and not do anything foolish; Eleven is still waiting to reunite with his father emperor and mother consort."

Tuan Tuan clapped her hands. "Reunion! Yes! A family should be together and whole!"

Xiao Ningyuan said seriously, "Eldest Princess, rest assured, we will deliver this message."

Eldest Princess nodded. "Are you leaving today?"

She raised her hand and pointed at Xiao Feifei. "Take this fox great immortal with you?"

Tuan Tuan patted Xiao Feifei's round belly. "Xiao Feifei isn't going!"

She looked at Xiao Ran. "Jiu Gege, you take it back. My big brother, Second Uncle and Seventh Uncle will go together."

Xiao Ran pursed his lips. "My cultivation is average; it's fine if you don't bring me along."

He gave Xiao Ningyuan a sidelong glance. "He can't do it at all! Isn't he even worse than me?"

"Taking him along is a burden; why should I alone carry a fox spirit?"

"If we're going back, the two of us should return together."

"How did I become the burden?" Xiao Ningyuan rolled his eyes, yet felt a bit guilty.

It's truly a regret to have little skill when it's needed! If only I had trained hard like my second and third brothers when we were young.

But I'm honestly not that kind of material; I run away as soon as training starts.

Holding the horse stance for an hour—that's pure self‑torture!

Xiao Er and Lu Qi both smiled and bowed their heads.

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Ningyuan, then at Xiao Ran. "Alright, I'll go with Second Uncle and Seventh Uncle."

Xiao Ran nodded approvingly, and Xiao Ningyuan helplessly lifted Xiao Feifei from Tuan Tuan's arms. "Go quickly and return quickly."

He looked at Xiao Er and Lu Qi: "If the Imperial Guard are too many and you can't get in, come back; don't force it, protect Tuan Tuan."

The two clasped their fists and said, "Yes."

The group packed the food on the table, bid farewell to Eldest Princess, and went their separate ways from Tiger Cave.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi led Tuan Tuan along the tunnel's path until they reached the Taihu stones in the Imperial Garden.

Last time they came, Lu Qi had already removed the outer lock, so this time it was easy; a gentle pull opened the door.

Even though the iron door's creak was faint, it still sounded sharp in the silent deep night.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, hoping the patrolling Imperial Guard far away hadn't heard.

But then, not far away, faint voices began to be heard:

"What's that sound?"

"It's coming from over there!"

"Quick! Go check!"

The chaotic footsteps drew nearer.

Xiao Er, carrying Tuan Tuan on his back, stepped back a few steps and hid deeper inside Tiger Cave.

Lu Qi stuck his head out, picked up a small pebble from the ground and tossed it outward,

"Pat‑pat‑pat," a few crisp sounds as the pebble struck the blue bricks.

"Ouch!" A sharp yelp rang out, clearly from someone who was hurt.

"Someone! Over there!"

The footsteps suddenly halted, turning toward the direction where a stone landed.

"Who is it? Don't run!"

"Stop!"

The imperial garden instantly fell into chaos.

The three hiding in the cave, upon hearing the voice, were full of surprise: "How can there still be people outside?"

At this moment, shouts and cries blended into a clamor.

The three were perking up their ears to listen, when Xiao Er suddenly lifted one leg sharply.

"What is that?" he muttered, looking down at his feet.

Tuan Tuan poked its little head out from his shoulder and also fixed its gaze downward.

Moonlight streamed in through the crack in the door, and a completely snow‑white lion cat, having slipped in at some point, was circling around Xiao Er's feet.

It was clearly anxious; it stepped back, lifted its body, a small front paw clawed at Xiao Er's trousers, while the other paw reached up forcefully toward the Tuan Tuan on his back.

Tuan Tuan's eyes instantly brightened: "Snowball!"