Chapter 827: Is It Different From Before?

Eunuch Cheng bowed forward and stepped closer, lowering his voice: "His Majesty, based only on this palace maid's one‑sided testimony, isn't it… somewhat flimsy?"

Cold sweat rose from his forehead.

He spoke extremely cautiously, weighing each word carefully in his mind.

He dared not let the Emperor think he was making excuses for the Seventh Prince, yet he could not remain silent.

The Seventh Prince would never do such a thing.

But this slander was poured so precisely that even this old man who has lived his whole life in the palace felt a chill down his spine.

Xiao Jieyun remained silent.

After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Liu Yun'er, die at once."

Liu Yun'er went limp, collapsing on the ground, unable even to cry.

Two eunuchs stepped forward, one on each side, lifting her and dragging her out.

Xiao Jieyun's gaze swept over the few eunuchs on duty outside the cell door.

Except for Eunuch Cheng, the others knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe, their minds as clear as a mirror; what they had just heard was enough to cost them their lives.

"All those on duty tonight in the Imperial Guard," the Emperor said calmly, "immediately report to the Imperial Tomb for duty, and for three years may not set foot outside the Imperial Tomb."

The several of them kowtowed together, as if granted a great pardon: "Thank you, His Majesty, for your grace."

Xiao Jieyun lifted his foot and walked outward, and Eunuch Cheng hurriedly followed.

Back to Zichen Hall.

Xiao Jieyun sat alone on the Dragon Throne for a long time, motionless.

Eunuch Cheng brought a cup of hot tea, placed it gently on the table, then stepped back, standing with his hands hanging, silent.

The Emperor lifted the tea cup, but did not drink.

His gaze fell on the clear yellow tea within the cup, as if looking at something far away.

After a while, he gently placed the cup back on the table: "Cheng Jinyan."

"The old servant is here."

"Do you think this matter," Xiao Jieyun paused, "was done by Lao Qi?"

Eunuch Cheng shivered all over, whispering: "His Majesty, you know the Seventh Prince best."

Xiao Jieyun gave a wry smile: "Indeed, I know Lao Qi's character."

He leaned against the chair back, gently rubbing the gilded coiled dragon: "But this chair, no one remains unmoved."

"I have also wondered, if one day Lao Qi sits on this chair, would he change?"

"But I did not expect that before he even sat, I was already guessing about him."

Eunuch Cheng lowered his head, daring not to reply.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and Xiao Jieyun spoke again, his voice much softer than before, as if talking to himself: "Why do I feel that Jingcheng is still not as good as Xibei."

Eunuch Cheng felt a sudden pang in his heart as memories of those years in Xibei flashed through his mind.

Back then, life was hard: the tents leaked, the meals were coarse,

yet His Majesty, Prince Ning, Tuan Tuan, the Seventh Prince, the Ninth Prince, the Twelfth Prince… everyone had no suspicion or jealousy toward each other, and laughter rang daily.

At that time, all we worried about was how to defend the Main Camp, how to endure the plague, and how to wait for Tuan Tuan to bring back the life‑saving Wu Jin Mud from the Western Regions.

Though bitter, everyone's hearts were united.

And all this was because Tuan Tuan was there.

Ah, Tuan Tuan!

Eunuch Cheng's mind suddenly stirred.

He raised his head, tentatively speaking: "Your Majesty mentioned Xibei, and this old servant recalls something."

"Oh?" Xiao Jieyun asked, "What matter?"

"Your Majesty, do you still remember when Chen Hao was suspected, no one dared to vouch for him, not even the Ninth Prince was unshaken."

"Only the Princess, from start to finish, insisted he was a good person."

"This old servant thinks that although the Princess is young, she has the ability to discern people."

"This matter… why don't Your Majesty ask the Princess?"

Xiao Jieyun's eyes flickered.

Early the next morning, Tuan Tuan rolled over, her little feet kicking out from the blanket, groggily reaching for Xiao Feifei.

But she only touched a cloud‑patterned sleeve.

She rubbed her eyes, opened them, and saw Xiao Jieyun sitting at the edge of the couch, his gaze gentle toward her.

Tuan Tuan was startled, then with a sudden movement crawled out of the blanket and plunged into his arms: "Imperial Uncle! Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to look at the little notebook?"

Xiao Jieyun caught the soft little child in one hand, cradling her securely, and couldn't help laughing: "You never come into the palace to see me, so I have to come see you."

Tuan Tuan felt a bit shy, snuggling against his neck: "I want to learn my lessons from you."

Xiao Jieyun raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead: "Don't try to fool me with that."

"Lord Song told me early on, you always skip lessons and spend the whole day thinking about wandering around."

Tuan Tuan, realizing she was caught, giggled and nudged further into his arms.

Beside the pillow, a snow‑white fluff stretched its body, shook its fluffy long hair, squatted up, and wagged its tail at the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun glanced at it: "Why is this fox getting fatter and fatter?"

"It's called Xiao Feifei already!" Tuan Tuan declared confidently, "Right? Xiao Feifei?"

Xiao Feifei let out a chirp, stood up, and revealed a golden thread coiled beneath its body.

Xiao Jieyun's pupils suddenly contracted; he snatched Tuan Tuan up and stepped back quickly, shouting loudly: "Help!"

"There's a snake on the Princess's bed!" he shouted, both urgent and angry, "Yuan Heng! How could you let her be cared for like this! The snake has crawled onto the bed!"

Eunuch Cheng and several eunuchs hurriedly ran in, faces tense: "Snake? Where is the snake?"

Xiao Er, hearing this, also hurriedly ran in.

Tuan Tuan, cradled in the Emperor's arms, kicked with her two short legs twice and shouted urgently, "Don't move, don't move! That's my little Jinjin!"

Everyone froze.

Xiao Jieyun lowered their head, looking at the child in their arms, and the surprise‑anger froze on their face: "Little… Jinjin?"

"Yes!" Tuan Tuan lifted her small face, beaming, "I brought it back from the East Sea!"

"Imperial Uncle, look, how beautiful it is!" she stretched out a little finger pointing at the couch, "Right?"

Xiao Jieyun stiffly raised their head and looked toward the couch.

The little Jinjin lay on the bedding, standing upright, raising its triangular head.

A pair of amber‑colored vertical pupils surveyed the suddenly enlarged crowd in the room.

The small crown scales on its head slightly rose, it flicked its tongue, emitting a soft hissing sound.

Xiao Feifei stood beside it, her fluffy big tail swaying leisurely, tilting her head toward the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun could not help but laugh and cry: "Beautiful? No matter how beautiful, it's still a snake!"

"Both a fox and a snake, can you sleep at night?"

"I sleep just fine; they all like to sleep with me."

"Big brother says I'm a nap bug; anyone who stays with me can sleep especially well."

Tuan Tuan clutched the Emperor's neck: "Imperial Uncle, are you sleeping well?"

"If not, I'll sleep with you! You'll definitely sleep especially soundly!"

Xiao Jieyun felt a warmth inside; they had not slept a wink the previous night.

Everyone stared at what the Throne had decided, whether there was an edict.

Even the Empress kept repeatedly asking Liu Yun'er whether she would confess.

Only Tuan Tuan knew to ask a single question: whether the Throne slept well.

Prince Ning and his wife walked in.

Cheng Ru'an smiled: "The morning meal is already prepared; if His Majesty doesn't mind, please help yourself."

Xiao Jieyun nodded.

Cheng Ru'an reached out to Tuan Tuan: "Come, mother will change your clothes, and you can have the morning meal with Imperial Uncle, okay?"

Tuan Tuan obediently slid out of the Emperor's arms, handed her hand to her mother, and nodded.

Xiao Jieyun leaned down, lifted a hand, and gently brushed the tip of her nose: "Little lazy bug, hurry over, don't keep me waiting."

"Got it!" Tuan Tuan grabbed her mother's hand and hopped away.

The Emperor turned and walked out, Xiao Yuanhang followed closely, while Eunuch Cheng and several eunuchs streamed out.

The group entered the Flower Hall and took their seats.

Xiao Yuanhang glanced at the two dark‑blue patches under the Emperor's eyes: "His Majesty didn't sleep well last night?"

"Hmm, I ran into a tricky matter, so I came to you."

Xiao Yuanhang waited a moment, saw the Emperor had no intention to continue, and did not press further: "His Majesty, please enjoy the meal."

Xiao Jieyun waved a hand: "Wait for Tuan Tuan."

A moment later, Cheng Ru'an led Tuan Tuan in.

Tuan Tuan changed into a goose‑yellow little dress, a matching ribbon tied in her hair, looking like a fresh bud just sprouting from morning dew.

As the two were about to bow, Xiao Jieyun waved a hand: "No need for formalities, sit."

Mother and daughter sat down.

Tuan Tuan immediately began eating fragrant food.

As she ate, she noticed the Emperor never lifted his chopsticks.

Her eyes twinkled: "Imperial Uncle, it's been ages since we competed who can eat more! Shall we have a match?"

Xiao Jieyun's lips curled, yet still did not pick up the chopsticks: "Tuan Tuan, I want to ask you something."

"Has Old Seven now… become different from before?"