Chapter 83: Burning the Dragon Desk as Firewood? That's Over the Line!

"Third Elder Brother!" Tuan Tuan let go of Eunuch Cheng's hand, pattered off, squatted in front of Xiao Ze, tilted her head, eyes full of curiosity: "Why are you kneeling here? Is it fun?"

Xiao Ze looked up at the sound, saw her, and his originally stern face softened: "Not fun, I was punished."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan nodded half‑understanding, then reached out a small hand to tug his arm, "If it's not fun, stop playing, get up."

Xiao Ze's body remained perfectly still, gently brushed aside her hand, and whispered, "Don't be silly, Father Emperor is in a temper, and you might get implicated and be punished along with me."

"I'm not scared at all," Tuan Tuan pouted.

Xiao Ze, also puzzled, asked, "How did you get into the palace?"

Tuan Tuan, hearing that, puffed out her little chest, pointed at the towering hall doors, and declared confidently, "Someone asked me to come!"

Xiao Ze's face was filled with astonishment: "……"

Father Emperor's Zichen Hall?

Who? Asked her? To come to this Zichen Hall?

Beside them, Eunuch Cheng broke into a cold sweat, seeing the little brat wouldn't leave and was lingering at the door chatting with the Seventh Prince, fearing the Emperor might grow impatient, he quickly bowed and said, "Little Princess, hurry inside."

Tuan Tuan waved her hand, adopting a "I get it, don't rush me" big‑kid demeanor, and simply wouldn't go.

Eunuch Cheng hurriedly slipped into the hall to report.

A moment later, the heavy hall doors were suddenly slammed open from inside!

Xiao Jieyun's expression was unsettled as he strode out, his gaze first landing on his kneeling son, his face still bearing lingering anger.

Then he turned to the little child beside him, the ice on his face melting instantly: "Tuan Tuan, why aren't you going in yet? I am waiting for you."

Tuan Tuan raised her hand, pointing at him, and said to Xiao Ze, "He was the one who asked me to come!"

Xiao Ze froze completely, his mind a blank, Father Emperor, asking… her?

Xiao Jieyun ignored his son's shocked gaze, slightly bowed and said, "Ignore this wayward son, go in with Imperial Uncle."

"No!" Tuan Tuan shook her head, lifted her little face: "Third Elder Brother, get up, then I'll go in."

Third Elder Brother? What kind of title is that? When did the Seventh Prince learn about Tuan Tuan?

Xiao Jieyun raised an eyebrow, glanced at his kneeling son, then at the little Xiao Tuanzi with a face that said "I keep my word!", feeling both annoyed and amused.

He waved helplessly, said to Xiao Ze without goodwill, "Fine, what are you still kneeling for?"

"Get up! If it weren't for Tuan Tuan pleading on your behalf, you'd still have to kneel here for several hours for me!"

Xiao Ze, with mixed feelings, thanked and rose, his knees already a bit numb.

Tuan Tuan, satisfied, spread her little arms: "Imperial Uncle, carry me! The palace is too big, my little feet are tired from walking."

"Little Princess, let me carry you," Eunuch Cheng hurried forward, reaching out to lift her.

But the Emperor bent down without hesitation, scooped her into his arms, turned and walked into the hall, his mouth opening in astonishment.

In this palace, aside from a few princes and princesses when they were young that His Majesty has held a few times, no one else ever receives such favor.

Tsk tsk, this Little Princess truly holds a special place in His Majesty's heart!

Eunuch Cheng was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed.

Xiao Ze, standing aside, was even more shocked, "That little runt! Impressive!"

Tuan Tuan roamed the inner hall, while Xiao Jieyun ordered Eunuch Cheng to follow her, and he sat before the Dragon Desk reviewing memorials.

Tuan Tuan looked here, glanced there, and finally stopped in front of the Emperor's Dragon Desk.

The Dragon Desk was carved from a single block of rosewood, its coiling dragons lifelike, exuding solemn weight.

Tuan Tuan reached out and touched it: "Burn it, then."

"What?" Xiao Jieyun was startled.

"It has absorbed too much stolen qi," Tuan Tuan said, looking at him with bright eyes, "that's why so many people can't get food and become refugees."

Boom—!

The words struck like a bolt of thunder, slashing into Xiao Jieyun's heart!

So the great drought in the north, the displaced refugees, the empty treasury… all these calamities traced back to this very spot!

Right above the Dragon Desk where he spends each day buried in state affairs!

He muttered to himself, "So that's how it is? I see…"

After the shock came a raging fury and lingering fear!

"Attendants! Move this Dragon Desk out for me! Shatter it! Burn it immediately! Leave not a single piece of wood!"

"His Majesty!" the inner attendants were stunned, looking at each other, doubting whether their ears were playing tricks.

Burn… burn the Dragon Desk? That's an imperial item, symbolizing the dragon's might and imperial authority!

"Didn't you hear my command?!" Xiao Jieyun barked loudly.

"Yes! Yes!" the attendants finally snapped out of their stupor, hurried forward, and with many hands lifted the heavy Dragon Desk out of Zichen Hall.

Soon, the news spread through the palace like a creature with wings.

"Did you hear? His Majesty issued a decree to burn the Dragon Desk in Zichen Hall!"

"Heaven's Father! What major incident has occurred?"

"Burn the Dragon Desk as firewood? That's beyond the limit!"

The entire court was stunned, eyes wide, by this earth‑shattering decree.

In the Chen Hui Hall, the Elder Princess chatting casually, along with Cheng Ru'an, naturally also heard.

The Elder Princess, uneasy, ordered, "Go see what happened to the Emperor."

Cheng Ru'an guessed in his mind that such an inconceivable act was probably still linked to Tuan Tuan.

At this moment, Tuan Tuan, as if inspecting her own domain, had walked through every corner of Zichen Hall.

"Alright! Don't worry! Imperial Uncle, there's nothing bad here." She lifted her chin proudly.

Xiao Jieyun was relieved, ordering Eunuch Cheng to send her to Chen Hui Hall to find Cheng Ru'an.

Tuan Tuan had just left Zichen Hall and saw Xiao Ze.

Tuan Tuan happily ran over: "Third Elder Brother! Why are you still here?"

"I've been waiting for you!" Xiao Ze looked at Eunuch Cheng. "I'll take her away; you go back to attend to Father Emperor."

Eunuch Cheng hesitated a moment, but Tuan Tuan had already grabbed Xiao Ze's hand: "Grandpa! I'm going to play with Third Elder Brother!"

Eunuch Cheng could only bow and say, "Yes," then turned and left.

Xiao Ze lowered their head to look at her and said, "Let me take you around. In this palace, where have you been?"

Tuan Tuan thought for a moment and said, "Imperial Uncle, in Imperial Aunt's palace, and also… oh right, Taiji Hall!"

"This palace is quite big; I'll keep you company as we wander around. There's plenty of good food in the Imperial Kitchen; if you're hungry, come to my place and let them make you a nice meal, okay?"

"Okay!"

The two wandered aimlessly and slowly arrived near a dilapidated hall.

Tuan Tuan looked up and exclaimed, "Wow! Even the palace has such a run-down place!"

Xiao Ze replied, "Because this is the Leng Gong!"

"The Leng Gong?" Tuan Tuan ran over and touched the wall, "It's not cold!"

Xiao Ze laughed, "The Leng Gong doesn't mean it's actually cold; it's where concubines who have committed crimes reside."

"'Oh!' Tuan Tuan understood, their big eyes looking around, then suddenly pointed and asked, 'Third Elder Brother, who is that old lady?'"