Chapter 725

In the secret chamber, Xiao Feifei, who had been lying quietly at Eunuch Cheng's feet, suddenly lifted its head, its two little ears standing straight up.

Its amber eyes widened and stared straight toward the stone steps.

"What's wrong, little thing?" Eunuch Cheng lowered his head and glanced at it.

Xiao Feifei stood up, its four short legs tensed, and its white fur bristled slightly all over.

The next moment, it sprang its legs and darted up the stone steps.

"Hey—don't run!" Eunuch Cheng reached out to grab it, but only caught a tuft of its tail tip.

Xiao Ningyuan and Xiao Ran stood up at the same time.

"What's wrong with it?" Xiao Ran stared at the white flash.

Xiao Ningyuan had already sprinted after it: "Come on! Xiao Feifei wouldn't just run off for no reason!"

The two followed Xiao Feifei all the way up the stone steps.

Xiao Feifei stopped on the topmost stone step, lifted its little head, stared at the hidden door, and let out a low "woo-woo" from its throat.

Xiao Ran cocked an ear: "What's the commotion?"

Xiao Ningyuan listened for a moment, his face suddenly changing: "Horn blasts! Father is about to attack the city!"

He scooped up Xiao Feifei in one grab, turned and ran back to the secret chamber, with Xiao Ran close behind.

As the two just entered the secret chamber, Xiao Ran shouted: "The horns are blaring outside! His Majesty's great army has arrived!"

Eunuch Cheng sprang to his feet, his hands trembling slightly: "Your Majesty! You have finally come."

He muttered a phrase, then his face shifted: "The Little Princess is still outside!"

Xiao Ningyuan's brows knotted into a big lump: "Tuan Tuan, tens of thousands of troops are about to charge in—where on earth are you!"

The surprise on Xiao Ran's face turned to fear and worry: "Little Eleven!"

"Good heavens! Is that fake-death drug in his hand or not? If it isn't, will he…?" He clenched his fists: "If it is, would he dare to take it?"

Everyone stared at each other.

What a coincidence!

Tuan Tuan and the others had just gone to ask Consort Rong last night, and yet at this very moment the great army showed up.

Chen Hao rose slowly, looked at Xiao Ran, and said: "Xiao Ran, only you and I know martial arts here—you stay and guard this place; I'll go into the palace."

Xiao Ran blinked: "Go into the palace? What are you going there for? To look for Tuan Tuan?"

Chen Hao's voice steady: "When Tuan Tuan last went to Shuiyun Xie, she personally promised the Eleventh Prince that she would definitely find a way to save him."

"She won't go back on her word; since she hasn't returned, she must be going to help the Eleventh Prince."

He paused, his gaze firm: "So, what I can do now is go protect Consort Rong."

"As long as we keep her safe, the father king cannot use Consort Rong to threaten the Eleventh Prince, and when Tuan Tuan helps him, there will be fewer obstacles."

Xiao Ran stared at him for a long moment, then snatched the sidearm leaning against the wall, slipped it onto her waist, and declared with heroic vigor: "Exactly! Little Pipsqueak never goes back on a promise!"

"She's helped us many times; we ought to return the favor!"

"In that case, I'll go with you!"

Xiao Ningyuan glanced at Chen Hao, then at Xiao Ran: "You two are both leaving?"

Eunuch Cheng's face full of worry: "Ninth Prince, you…"

Xiao Ran waved a hand: "Don't worry, Grandpa Cheng; even if fighting breaks out outside, you'll be perfectly safe staying in here."

Eunuch Cheng shook his head: "That's not what I mean, old servant; at my age, even if I went right now, what could I do?"

He paused, then said: "I'm worried, Ninth Prince—don't fall into the hands of those two traitors again."

"Saving the Little Princess alone is already exhausting; I fear there won't be time to come rescue you as well."

Xiao Ran: "……"

Feng Zhou couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Grandpa Cheng, you're absolutely right!"

Xiao Ran rolled her eyes: "Don't worry, Grandpa Cheng; they're surely up on the city walls waiting for His Majesty right now, so they have no time to bother me!"

"Exactly." Chen Hao nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "At this moment the palace is surely empty—it's the perfect time to strike, and we'll naturally be careful."

Xiao Ran adjusted her collar, patted the sidearm at her waist, lifted her chest, turned and headed deep into the secret passage; Chen Hao turned and followed without hesitation.

The three remaining watched their receding backs step by step as they went deeper into the secret passage.

Xiao Ningyuan suddenly shouted: "Xiao Ran!"

Xiao Ran's steps halted, and she turned her head.

Xiao Ningyuan opened his mouth, swallowed the words he'd meant to say about a safe return, and said: "Your dagger is on backwards."

Xiao Ran: "……"

Chen Hao lowered his gaze, glanced at it, and silently turned Xiao Ran's dagger to the proper orientation.

Xiao Ran, fuming, rolled her eyes again, waved a hand casually, and strode off toward the depths of the secret passage without looking back.

The two figures gradually faded into the darkness.

Before the three could avert their gazes, Xiao Ningyuan murmured: "You say, they…"

Before he could finish, a snow-white blur shot out, its four little legs pumping furiously as it darted straight into the secret passage.

"Xiao Feifei!" Xiao Ningyuan's eyes nearly popped out: "Where are you off to!"

Xiao Feifei didn't even turn its head, ears pressed flat against the back of its skull, tail sticking straight up, and vanished into the darkness in an instant.

Xiao Ningyuan sprang after it.

Eunuch Cheng and Feng Zhou exchanged a glance.

Feng Zhou furrowed his brow, did a quick calculation, and said solemnly: "Xiao Feifei has four legs, while the Eldest Master has only two."

"Based on its stride, if it runs at full speed, the Eldest Master stands little chance of catching up."

Eunuch Cheng: "……"

He raised his hand to his forehead—everything's gone wrong! Totally wrong!

Soon after the bugle sounded, Chen Wang and Qing Wang went up onto the city wall and stood shoulder to shoulder.

Both wore military uniforms, golden helmets and armor, spirited.

The bugle calls rose and fell in their ears, merging into a continuous sound.

The guards lined up along the battlements, rolling logs and stone shots neatly stacked; archers half-kneeled behind the battlements with arrows nocked.

On the inner open ground of the city wall, two heaven-fire tubes glowed with a dim, cold light.

Qing Wang braced his hands on the battlements, watching the distant cavalry raise dust, his eyes gleaming sharply.

He licked his lips, turned to Chen Wang beside him: "Brother Prince, today is the day we secure our realm and launch our grand ambitions!"

"Xiao Yuanhang has roamed the battlefield for years; he never imagined he'd one day be burned to a stray dog by heaven-fire tubes beneath Jingcheng!"

Chen Wang's gaze swept the city wall, and he asked in a deep voice: "Are all eighteen heaven-fire tubes filled with fierce fire oil?"

The guard commander stepped forward, clasped his fists, and replied: "Report to Your Highness, they are all filled."

He pointed: "Each city gate also has twenty mysterious-glaze vats ready for replenishment at any time."

Qing Wang waved his hand: "Good! Everyone, cheer up for me!"

"When I give the order, all eighteen will be ignited at once!"

"Yes!"

Chen Wang nodded slightly: "And His Majesty?"

The guard commander replied: "Someone has been sent to fetch him; he should already be on the way."

Qing Wang turned, his gaze falling on the newly built high platform at the center of the city wall.

The high platform is entirely joined with thick wooden mortise-and-tenon joints, its surface spread with a vermilion felt carpet.

In the center of the felt carpet sits a gold-lacquer carved-dragon dragon chair.

Qing Wang stared at the dragon chair for a moment, his mouth almost splitting to his ears: "I can't wait any longer!"

"I really want to see with my own eyes how Xiao Jieyun, after great effort reaching the city below, will look when he sees his son seated up there!"

Chen Wang's lips curled slightly, then his face sank: "And what about the Grand Empress Dowager?"

Qing Wang asked: "Consort Rong?"

"'Yes,' Chen Wang said flatly, 'send someone to bring her as well.'"

Qing Wang frowned slightly: "Brother Prince, why bring her?"

"You know her temperament well enough—she's basically a stinking, hard stone."

"What would she do here? She'll surely shout and spout nonsense—wouldn't that disturb the army's morale?"

"'No problem,' Chen Wang said calmly, 'just gag her.'"

He glanced over the dragon chair: "No need to let her come up."

"Just let the little emperor, before ascending the high platform, glance at her from afar."

"Knowing his mother consort is in our hands, and understanding that if he disobeys, her fate will be clear, is enough."

He curled his lips: "If needed, we can also let Xiao Jieyun watch a fine play of deep mother-son affection."

"'Wonderful! Too wonderful!' Qing Wang exclaimed, suddenly realizing: 'The little emperor is naturally timid as a mouse; seeing his mother consort gagged and bound below the city will surely make him more obedient than a lamb!'"

"'Before the armies, distraction is the greatest taboo; Brother Prince, this move will surely throw Xiao Jieyun's heart into chaos!'"

He produced a token missing a corner and handed it to the deputy general beside him: "You, take my token and go at once to the imperial palace, gag the Grand Empress Dowager and bring her down to the city!"

"'Yes!' The deputy general turned and strode away."