Chapter 731

"Ah? Wh‑what about Mother Consort, what should we do?" Xiao Lin looked timidly at Chen Wang and Qing Wang, hesitating, "I…".

Xiao Jieyun stared straight at his young son; the child had never seen such a grand scene and was probably already frightened.

Lin'er, even if you say nothing, I will not blame you.

As long as you take the fake death pill that Tuan Tuan gave you and can get out, that's fine.

Xiao Ze tightened his warhorse, his face tense as he stared at Xiao Lin, "Little Eleven, you must not be afraid!"

White Cloth Luo approached Xiao Yuanhang: "Hey! Let's bet—does the young emperor dare to take the pill Tuan Tuan gave him?"

Xiao Yuanhang rolled his eyes at him: "What era is this! You still want to gamble?"

White Cloth Luo smiled indifferently, a wicked grin: "The battle must be fought one way or another; why talk so much? Whether the young emperor takes that fake death pill or not is irrelevant."

Xiao Yuanhang shook his head: "This is not a dispute of words but of right and wrong; only victory makes the cause legitimate."

"The righteousness of this matter must be known to all under heaven; otherwise, even if we win, people will later criticize the cause and its consequences."

On the high platform, Xiao Lin whispered low: "Tuan Tuan, what do you want to say?"

"Of course I'm filing a complaint! Your Father Emperor is back; shouldn't we report them?"

"B‑but," Xiao Lin stammered, both nervous and scared, "Mother Consort…"

"It's for your Mother Consort," Tuan Tuan interrupted, "Consort Rong is not afraid at all; she even dares to fight the old hag sent by the villains!"

"You must help your Father Emperor, Eleven, help him break into Jingcheng; then those villains who bully you will be captured."

"Then you and your Mother Consort can be like before!"

"So don't be afraid, just follow what I say!"

Xiao Lin hesitated a moment, raised his eyes, and through the Crown Pendants in front of his face glanced at Xiao Jieyun.

Yes, Mother Consort has said many times, when Father Emperor returns, we won't have to be afraid!

I will help Father Emperor! Then I can be with Mother Consort forever, never separated again.

Seeing Xiao Lin still silent, Qing Wang could no longer wait: "His Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to speak quickly, so the world may discern loyalty from treachery!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Chen Wang's tone was far less gentle than before, "Surely the Empress Dowager is now in the Palace, anxiously awaiting you!"

"Attendants! Prepare the imperial carriage! We will send Your Majesty back to the Palace shortly!"

"Yes!"

Send me back to the Palace? And lock me up with Mother Consort again? I don't want that!

Xiao Lin made up his mind: "Fine, Tuan Tuan, you speak."

Tuan Tuan cleared his throat: "First shout loudly 'Imperial Uncle', with all your might! We're too far from him; if you speak softly he won't hear."

Xiao Lin sat up straight, lifted his head, gathered courage, and shouted with all his strength: "Imperial Uncle—!"

Tuan Tuan: "……"

Xiao Jieyun was startled; Imperial Uncle? He is only called that by Tuan Tuan!

He quickly scanned the surroundings of the high platform: Tuan Tuan, are you by Lin'er's side?

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ze were startled simultaneously, both looking toward the city wall: Tuan Tuan! Is that you?

Xiao Yuanhang's face changed dramatically, and he blurted out: "Tuan Tuan!"

White Cloth Luo was taken aback, a puzzled look on his face: "Tuan Tuan? Where is she? Did you see her?"

The two lifted their heads together, their gazes sweeping the city wall.

Xiao Yuanhang whispered: "Only Tuan Tuan calls His Majesty Imperial Uncle."

White Cloth Luo's complexion changed instantly: "Nonsense! What is she doing here?"

He turned his head and glared at Xiao Yuanhang: "Xiao Yuanhang! How could you take care of her?"

"After the battle I'll take her back to Kucha!"

Xiao Yuanhang: "……"

Chen Wang and Qing Wang exchanged looks; the young emperor must be going mad? How could he call his own father 'Uncle'?

"You said it wrong, Eleven, try again!" Tuan Tuan hurriedly reminded: "It's Father Emperor!"

"Oh," Xiao Lin's face flushed, and he quickly shouted again, "Father Emperor—!"

Following Tuan Tuan's instructions, Xiao Lin shouted phrase by phrase: "Father Emperor! They both bully me! They locked me and Mother Consort in the Water‑Cloud Pavilion, not letting us leave!"

"Later… later they even captured Mother Consort!"

"I… I haven't seen her for many days!"

At this point Xiao Lin's tears could no longer be held, dripping down and splashing onto Cloth Tiger's body.

Xiao Jieyun clenched the reins, the muscles in his arms tensing like iron blocks.

The soldiers on the city wall looked at each other in bewilderment.

"They, they even force me to attend morning court before dawn every day!"

"I, I am exhausted, there are so many people below, I can't understand anything they say!"

Xiao Lin's grievance burst forth like a flood released from a broken dam.

Xiao Jieyun's eyes reddened, and his hand holding the reins trembled slightly.

That was his son, pressed onto a chair he should not sit in, suffering a punishment unfit for his age.

Qing Wang's face turned extremely sour: "You are talking nonsense!"

Chen Wang furrowed his brows; why is the young emperor so abnormal today? Who is feeding him advice?

"Eleven, you're great, now quickly look around you!"

Xiao Lin sniffed and sobbed, looking toward the guards on the city wall, and continued shouting with Tuan Tuan: "Uncles, you're all good people!"

The guards all widened their eyes, full of surprise, "What does the Emperor call us? Uncle?"

Xiao Jieyun, hearing this, sharply turned to look at Xiao Yuanhang; their gazes met. Tuan Tuan! It must be Tuan Tuan beside Xiao Lin! Only Tuan Tuan would call the soldiers "Uncle"!

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ze also glanced at each other, Tuan Tuan! She really is here!

Xiao Lin's voice was swept by the wind on the city walls to every corner: "You shouldn't be helping the bad guys; you should help my Father Emperor!"

"My Father Emperor keeps his word; he won't let you suffer a loss!"

He looked at Chen Wang and Qing Wang: "Unlike them! Not a word of truth!"

Qing Wang furious: "You! You're crazy!"

Chen Wang's face was as still as water.

He stared fixedly at the little emperor in the dragon throne, his voice low: "Your Majesty, who exactly taught you to say these words?"

"Tell me, this prince, has someone instigated you to speak nonsense here?"

Xiao Lin startled, quickly tightened his arms, and hugged the cloth tiger tightly.

Uh-oh! Does he know that Tuan Tuan is in my little tiger?

Tuan Tuan didn't care at all, snorted: "Eleven, ignore him!"

Take off that heavy hat on your head and throw it away.

Xiao Lin gently placed the cloth tiger on the dragon throne, raised both hands, and snatched off the Ritual Crown on his head, throwing it away forcefully.

The Ritual Crown smashed onto the platform, making a crisp 'clang' sound.

Chen Wang and Qing Wang simultaneously changed their faces: "Your Majesty!"

Xiao Lin picked up the cloth tiger.

Eleven, quickly hide under the chair.

Xiao Lin slid down from the dragon throne, lay flat, and shrank into the space under the dragon throne.

Chen Wang could no longer hold back, quickly ran up onto the platform: "Your Majesty!"

Xiao Lin screamed: "Don't come over!"

Chen Wang's footsteps halted.

Xiao Lin hid under the chair, poked out his little head, and shouted a line that Tuan Tuan hadn't taught him to say: "I don't want to be emperor! My Father Emperor is the emperor!"

Tuan Tuan praised: "Wow! Eleven, you said that really well!"

Quick! Take out the fake-death pill and eat it, tell them not to think they can use you to bully your Father Emperor!

Then just stay here and don't move; later when the fight starts, you must not suffer a loss.

Xiao Lin heard her praise, his confidence doubled, he gently pulled the thread on the cloth tiger's tail, and tightly grasped the fake-death pill that had fallen out.

You guys want to use me to bully my Father Emperor.

I... I'd rather not live!

Chen Wang's face changed drastically, he strode forward: "Stop him! Come on! Quick!"

Several guards leapt up and jumped onto the platform.