Chapter 723: Run Quickly!

Xiao Er and Lu Qi were both startled, then immediately overjoyed.

"Yes! Of course it can!" Lu Qi laughed, "If that's the case, the Prince would be like a tiger with wings?"

After his great joy, Xiao Er fell silent, lowering his head to stare at the dishes on the table.

"Uncle?" Tuan Tuan stuck out a little finger and poked him, "Is it not good?"

Xiao Er lifted his head, his gaze gentle as he looked at her: "Even if it could be delivered, miss, the Prince would not use it."

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head: "Why? Didn't you both say that thing was powerful?"

"Impossible!" Lu Qi furrowed his brows, "Xiao Er, what's wrong with you?"

"Such a weapon, wouldn't using it to assault a city be twice the result with half the effort? Why wouldn't the Prince use it?"

"Precisely because it's too powerful, the Prince wouldn't use it," Xiao Er said slowly, "You saw it last night; once that fire is spewed out, both jade and stone burn together."

"If it were sprayed on a person? It would probably turn them to charcoal in an instant."

Tuan Tuan recalled the tree that instantly turned into a torch, her little face paling a bit.

Xiao Er raised his hand to touch the top of her hair, turned his head toward Lu Qi: "Once that thing burns, it spreads over a large area; once it sticks, it won't go out."

"If used, Jingcheng would be ablaze everywhere, filled with wails. Those water barrels are useful, but if the fire grows, they're only a drop in the bucket."

"The guards on the city walls are also citizens of the fiery nation, and those living inside the city are all innocent civilians."

"I've followed the Prince for years and know he never holds back against enemy troops. But for the civilians, he tries to spare as many as possible."

He paused, then shook his head firmly: "The Prince definitely wouldn't use this thing."

Lu Qi was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Tuan Tuan lowered her head, staring at the rice in her bowl, the chopsticks stuck among the grains, not moving for a long while.

"Miss," Lu Qi picked up a piece of stewed meat and placed it in her bowl, "Eat first; once you're full you'll have the strength to think."

"Right," Xiao Er also scooped a handful of vegetables and added it, "Don't rush, think slowly."

"Isn't there Feng Zhou? He's the one called the Ministry of Works Shen Tong at a young age; tonight when we go back we can ask him if he has any good ideas."

Tuan Tuan's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Uncle Xiao Er, Uncle Lu Qi," she waved at the two, "Come over here."

Xiao Er and Lu Qi leaned their heads forward.

Tuan Tuan, with one hand on each, pulled the two big faces beside her, her little mouth close to their ears, lowered her voice and whispered a few words.

Xiao Er's brows suddenly relaxed.

Lu Qi's eyes widened more and more, his mouth slowly stretched to the roots of his ears.

After Tuan Tuan finished, she released her hands, looking at them smugly.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance and burst into laughter together.

"Hahaha! Miss, your idea is truly brilliant!" Lu Qi slammed the table, causing the bowls and chopsticks to jump.

"Indeed!" Xiao Er laughed, shaking his head, "I really want to see their faces then!"

"They might die of anger!" Lu Qi lifted his tea bowl and took a sip.

Tuan Tuan shook her little body, her face buried in the rice bowl, and began eating large mouthfuls again.

The waiter pushed the door open, brought in a tray of dishes, walked to the table and placed them: "Lord Master, is that enough?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her head from the bowl and looked: "Mm, that's enough for us! Thank you!"

"Get me some more, find a box; I want to take them back for big brother and the others!"

"Alright! I'll be right back!" The waiter stepped out.

With the problem solved, the three felt relaxed and ate especially sweetly.

Suddenly, "Wooo—"

"Wooo— Wooo—!"

A low horn sound came from outside.

Each call grew more urgent and louder, echoing from all directions.

Immediately, the main street descended into chaos, with shouts and running sounds nonstop.

"What is that sound?" Tuan Tuan set down her spoon, "What's happening outside?"

Lu Qi's chopsticks froze midair.

He was chewing a big piece of stewed meat, his cheeks still puffed, but his eyes were fixed.

"It's the horn," Xiao Er shouted, sprang to his feet, rushed to the doorway, flung it open and dashed out.

Tuan Tuan bounced off her chair, just about to chase out, but Lu Qi grabbed her: "Miss, don't move, wait for Xiao Er to come back."

Xiao Er peered out through the crack in the door.

The main street had already become a tangled mess.

The civilians were panicked, scattering in all directions:

"Fight! Go home quickly! Into the vegetable cellar!"

"Where is it? Outside the city?"

"Run quickly! Who has time to worry about all that!"

Xiao Er took a deep breath, his palms sweating, heart racing.

He returned to the house, his face a mix of shock, excitement, and worry...

"They're coming?" Lu Qi guessed from his expression.

Xiao Er scooped Tuan Tuan from Lu Qi's arms and said, "Yes, the Prince's army has finally arrived!"

Tuan Tuan's face lit with surprise: "Daddy's here!"

Xiao Er nodded: "Quick, let's go! Take the miss back to the secret room!"

Lu Qi was startled: "How do we go back now? Wandering on the palace walls in broad daylight?"

Xiao Er: "…But in a moment tens of thousands of troops will clash; how can we hide here?"

At that moment, the room door was flung open violently.

Xiao Er stumbled in, shouting incoherently: "Lord, Lord, Lord…"

Tuan Tuan saw he was really struggling and added, "Lord!"

"Ah? Right! Lord Master! War's started! Run quickly!"

Lu Qi rolled his eyes, lifted his teacup and walked to him, pouring a cup of tea for him: "Don't panic, is there any underground wine cellar or pantry here?"

Xiao Er steadied himself: "Yes, there's a wine cellar!"

Xiao Er asked: "Is it big? How many people can fit? Are there any people inside the building?"

"Not, not big; inside it's all huge wine jars, the empty space can only hold four or five people."

"Those who came for tea and meals just heard the signal and all fled," Xiao Er suddenly remembered something, stamped his foot, "I still have three tables' bills not collected!"

Lu Qi patted his shoulder: "It's that time already, don't worry about that little tab, what about the other comrades?"

"There are three more, all ahead."

Xiao Erdao said: "Go quickly tell them, lock the gate, place things on top, then all hide in the wine cellar!"

"Take some fresh water and food, wait until it's quiet outside before coming out!"

"Alright!" Xiao Er turned and ran out, but after a few steps came back, "Lord Master, what about you?"

Xiao Er hugged Tuan Tuan tightly, kissed her little face: "Miss, once they've all sorted things out, you go hide with them!"