Chapter 729

The dragon throne was huge, big enough for Xiao Lin to lie down on it as a bed.

He looked at the troops outside the city, still increasing in number, and recalled Mother Consort's words.

"When the time comes, tens of thousands of troops will be brimming with killing intent, and you alone will sit lonely on the city wall; Mother Consort will think of it and feel heartache."

Tears instantly burst from his eye sockets.

He lowered his head to look at the cloth tiger, and asked, "Tuan Tuan?"

Why isn't she speaking? Is she still there?

He raised the cloth tiger to his face, leaned in, and murmured softly: "Tuan Tuan?"

The cloth tiger remained completely still, silent, without a hint of response.

Xiao Lin's heart suddenly leapt up.

He was about to ask again when he suddenly noticed, out of the corner of his eye, the little eunuchs standing on either side of the dragon throne.

Tuan Tuan had said, "No one must know she's inside the little tiger!"

Xiao Lin blinked, and his heart slowly settled back down.

It must be because they're here that Tuan Tuan isn't speaking.

He hugged the cloth tiger back to his chest, cleared his throat, and said, "I, I am thirsty."

The little eunuch on the left hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what would you like to drink? I'll get it ready right away."

"I want to drink… honey water. It must be the kind I usually drink; nothing else will do!"

The little eunuch stared, answered "Yes," and quickly stepped down the platform to report to Chen Wang and Qing Wang.

Chen Wang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the city outskirts; hearing this, he didn't turn his head and waved his hand impatiently.

Qing Wang snorted and said, "Just get it for him. Let him sit up there steadily, don't cause trouble."

The little eunuch received the order and left.

Xiao Lin watched his retreating back, then turned his gaze to the little eunuch on the right.

"I, I am hungry."

That little eunuch hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, what would you like to eat?"

"I want to eat… osmanthus cake. It must be the kind I ate yesterday, the delicious one."

The little eunuch blinked, his face showing difficulty: "Your Majesty, that's a snack only available in the palace; where am I supposed to find it now?"

Xiao Lin bit his lip, gathered his courage, and said, "I, I don't care! I just want to eat!"

"If you don't go, I, I will go get it myself!"

Having said that, he held onto the dragon throne as if he were about to stand up.

"I'll go right away! Your Majesty, please sit still and don't move!" The little eunuch, frightened, didn't dare say another word, turned and ran down the platform at a quick pace.

He ran up to Chen Wang and Qing Wang and reported Xiao Lin's words exactly as they were.

Chen Wang's brows furrowed as he looked at the little emperor in the dragon throne.

"First honey water, then osmanthus cake—what is the emperor putting us through?"

Qing Wang waved his hand nonchalantly: "It's just a request for some food and drink."

"It's just a child—when he's hungry he looks for food, when he's thirsty he wants water; what's so strange about that? Just give it to him."

Chen Wang fell silent for a moment, then took another careful look at Xiao Lin.

Xiao Lin was lowering his head, his little hand repeatedly rubbing the cloth tiger's ears, seemingly still muttering something.

He was merely a child who still talked to a cloth tiger.

He smiled and said, "Never mind, go get it."

"Yes!" The little eunuch turned and ran down the city wall.

Xiao Lin watched from afar as both little eunuchs left; with no one else on the platform, he softly called out, "Tuan Tuan, are you still there?"

His eyes stared unblinkingly at the cloth tiger, afraid he would never hear Tuan Tuan's voice again.

A crisp voice came from inside the cloth tiger: "Of course I'm still here!"

Xiao Lin's eyes instantly lit up, and he broke into a grin.

"Eleven, you're so smart! You thought of sending those two annoying eunuchs away!"

Xiao Lin's face flushed instantly; Tuan Tuan praised me!

He couldn't help but pat the cloth tiger's head, his voice brimming with undisguised delight and excitement: "Really? Tuan Tuan."

"Of course it's true! You managed to send off both of them at once—how impressive!"

Xiao Lin happily held the cloth tiger in his hands and shook it.

"By the way, Eleven, did you see Imperial Uncle?"

Xiao Lin lifted his head and looked toward the city outskirts; a dense crowd of people filled the open space below the walls, making it impossible to distinguish anything.

He shook his head: "No."

"Then lift me up higher—I want to see where my father is."

Xiao Lin immediately raised the cloth tiger with both hands over his head, facing the city outskirts, moving it left a bit, then right a bit.

"Tuan Tuan, did you see it?"

Inside the cloth tiger, there was a moment of silence.

Tuan Tuan's muffled voice said, "No. There are too many people; I can't tell who is who."

At the same moment, in the Fortune Tea House.

Lu Qi sat at the table, gripping a teacup in his hand, his face full of worry.

The tea in the cup had long gone cold, yet he hadn't taken a sip.

He let out a sigh, his gaze falling on the cold dishes left on the table.

Tuan Tuan's bowl and chopsticks are still there, and the rice remains about half a bowl.

Miss, you must be safe; seventh uncle is here waiting for you to come back.

He slowly lifted the teacup and drank the ice‑cold tea in his hand in one gulp.

Outside Xuanwu Gate, on the rooftop of a civilian house not far from the city wall.

Xiao Er crouched tightly in the shadow behind the roof ridge, his gaze fixed on the densely packed water jars beneath the city wall.

He gripped the knife handle tightly, his palms slick with sweat.

Soon, that place will be blown open.

Then, Lao Zhao will lead the brothers in the secret passage to burst out.

He has followed the Prince in battle for half his life; this time, though he cannot fight alongside the brothers from Main Camp, at least he can meet them here.

Miss, wait for second uncle to take the first city gate for you and welcome the Prince into the city!

Outside the city, wind whirls the yellow sand.

The 90,000‑strong army has arrived, arrayed at the foot of Jingcheng.

The massive black army formation spreads out, endless to the eye.

Banners flutter, iron armor like scales, warhorses snort, hooves churning the charred earth.

"Brother Xiao." Bai Buluo, clad in silver helm and armor, sat upright on his horse, gazing at the towering city wall, then suddenly asked, "How many years has it been?"

Xiao Yuanhang, in dark battle armor, stroked his Dragon‑Whisper Spear: "Counting from the year you left, it's nearly twenty years."

Bai Buluo laughed: "I never thought that now both you and I have families and sons, yet we still have the chance to fight side by side."

Xiao Yuanhang's lips curled slightly: "I also didn't expect Tuan Tuan to actually accept her as her adoptive father."

Bai Buluo roared with laughter: "Who would let Tuan Tuan be so lovable! When I think of her, I become joyous."

"You must protect her well; otherwise, I will definitely find a way to bring her back to Kuiz!"

Xiao Yuanhang turned his head and gave him a look: "Then you can't do it."

Xiao Jieyun, clad in bright yellow battle robes, urged his horse to leap over them and arrived at the front.

He stared coldly at the high platform on the city wall, saying nothing.