Chapter 1012

Hearing this, Li Tianheng couldn't help but laugh, but his mood was not as relaxed as he appeared. Previously, he knew nothing about the Grand Princess of Da Yong, Xue Lingjun, coming here, and he was completely unaware of the assassination attempts on Hu Xiaotian and Xue Lingjun. If everything Hu Xiaotian said was true, then this series of events was definitely not that simple. Orchestrating these things in Xizhou, the true target must be himself. Li Tianheng remembered the rebellion orchestrated by Lin Zefeng and Zhao Yanjiang. According to preliminary interrogations, the two had confessed that this matter was related to secret subversion by Dakang.

Li Tianheng's gaze fell on Hu Xiaotian's face again. The purpose of the Dakang Emperor sending Hu Xiaotian here made him speculate a lot. Hu Xiaotian, bearing the identity of the future son-in-law, looked triumphant on the surface, but now it seemed that this kid was just a pawn of the imperial court. If something really happened to him in Xizhou, the Dakang court could use this opportunity to blame him. Li Tianheng gradually understood the Emperor's intention. Although the old man was old, his scheming was rare in the world. This time, he was playing a game of killing two birds with one stone. Li Tianheng said, "Have you offended anyone? Think carefully. If such a thing happens within Xichuan, I will definitely get to the bottom of it."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have offended countless people. Come to think of it, I still owe you an explanation, Uncle Li."

Li Tianheng picked up his teacup, took a slow sip of tea, and said, "What explanation? Nephew, you have me a bit confused."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Regarding the marriage between me and your daughter, I unilaterally broke off the engagement without informing you, Uncle Li. I hope you can forgive me."

Li Tianheng was not angry. He put the teacup back down, stood up, paced the room a few times, and sighed, "This matter is not your fault. At that time, the imperial court was in turmoil, your Hu family was in trouble, and I was dedicated to serving the King. Long Yelin naturally wanted to kill me as quickly as possible. It was truly a helpless choice for your Hu family to make such a decision to protect yourselves."

Hu Xiaotian didn't think much of it at first, but hearing the end, he couldn't help but feel a bit depressed. What do you mean "your Hu family to protect yourselves"? After all, you, Li Tianheng, still think the responsibility for breaking off the engagement lies with us. Hu Xiaotian cupped his hands in salute, "This matter has nothing to do with my parents; it was my own decision. It was because I chose to enter the palace to atone for my father's sins, and I was afraid of delaying your daughter's youth. Indeed, under those circumstances, I had to show my attitude to the imperial court under pressure and draw a clear line with your family, Uncle Li. Forced by the situation, many decisions were made out of helplessness."

Li Tianheng heard the implication in the kid's words, turned to look at him, and said, "Nephew, you are not wrong. The situation is always stronger than the people. In fact, I repeatedly told Honghan to make sure to keep you in Xichuan."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I appreciate your good intentions, Uncle Li, but my parents were in the capital at the time. How could I watch them suffer and sit idly by? A person can be disloyal in life, but never unfilial!"

Li Tianheng was stunned by Hu Xiaotian's words. In the current era, everyone considers loyalty and filial piety to be extremely important, and loyalty to the monarch and patriotism seem to be ranked before filial piety. It was precisely because of this that Li Tianheng did not want to be branded with eternal infamy. Xichuan's self-reliance had always been kept half-hidden, and it had not been publicly announced to this day. Hu Xiaotian had actually said it so bluntly. Could this kid be implying something about me?

Li Tianheng said, "Buwei should feel gratified to have a son like you."

Hu Xiaotian took out the edict the Emperor had entrusted him to bring. He didn't put on the airs of an envoy or put on a show by asking Li Tianheng to receive the edict. He presented it to Li Tianheng with both hands, "Uncle Li, you might as well take a look at the Emperor's edict."

Li Tianheng had been waiting for this moment. Although he had long guessed the contents of the edict, he hadn't seen it with his own eyes after all. According to common sense, he should kneel to receive the edict, but Li Tianheng did not do so. He just extended his hands to take the imperial edict and slowly unfolded it.

Hu Xiaotian quietly watched Li Tianheng's every move, knowing in his heart that Li Tianheng's determination to secede was firm. He would never accept the investiture of Dakang, and he might not even do it for show.

Li Tianheng finished reading the edict, closed it, placed it on the coffee table, walked slowly to the window with his hands behind his back, looked out the window, and was silent for a long time before saying, "The Emperor wants to appoint me as a king of a different surname!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Congratulations, Uncle Li! Congratulations, Uncle Li!"

Li Tianheng turned around abruptly, his deep eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, "What is there to congratulate?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "In the nearly two hundred and thirty years of Dakang, there has never been a history of appointing a king of a different surname. The Emperor truly favors you, Uncle Li. It is truly something to be happy about!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "None of them are good birds. The Emperor asked me to come to Xichuan as an envoy, which was basically a trap for me to drill. The assassination of Li Tianheng was designed by him, putting me here, wanting to use Li Tianheng's hand to get rid of me, making Li Tianheng lose morality and be pointed at by thousands of people. One stone and two birds, his heart is punishable."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Promotions and titles are never a bad thing."

Li Tianheng smiled, "Very good!" His gaze swept over the edict, "I will accept this edict for now."

Hu Xiaotian said, "How does Uncle Li intend for me to reply to the Emperor?" Li Tianheng hadn't given him a clear answer until now.

Li Tianheng said, "I haven't thought about it yet. Anyway, you are not in a hurry to leave, so let's talk about this later." He paused and added, "Regarding this edict, do not spread it for now."

Hu Xiaotian understood that Li Tianheng did not intend to accept this investiture. However, he still did not publicly draw a line with Dakang. This ambiguous attitude was not what Hu Xiaotian wanted to see. He would rather Li Tianheng give a clear answer—whether to submit to Dakang or draw a clear line—so that he could have an explanation when he returned. Of course, this was on the premise that Li Tianheng would let him return smoothly.

At this moment, an old voice came from outside, "Grand Marshal, most of the guests have arrived." It was the mansion's steward, Qiu Yuanchang, urging Li Tianheng to go over and meet the guests.

Li Tianheng said, "Uncle Chang, I'm coming."

Hu Xiaotian stood up to say goodbye, but Li Tianheng said, "Xiaotian, don't be in a hurry to leave. Wuyou wants to see you."

Hu Xiaotian was startled, "What?"

Li Tianheng nodded, "She has some things she wants to ask you in person."

Hu Xiaotian squeezed an awkward smile on his face, "This doesn't seem very convenient, does it?"

Li Tianheng said, "Even if the marriage doesn't work out, based on the relationship between our two families, we shouldn't turn into enemies. Uncle Chang!"

The white-haired Qiu Yuanchang walked in from outside and said respectfully, "What are your orders, Grand Marshal?"

Li Tianheng said, "Take my nephew Hu to see Wuyou. She has been waiting for him all these days." Calling Hu Xiaotian "nephew" clearly meant he didn't treat him as an outsider.

Qiu Yuanchang nodded, "Yes!"

Hu Xiaotian could never have imagined that Li Tianheng would have such an arrangement. It wasn't that he was afraid, but he felt it was truly awkward to meet Li Wuyou.

Li Tianheng clearly didn't care about Hu Xiaotian's thoughts, straightened his clothes, and walked away.

Qiu Yuanchang made an inviting gesture to Hu Xiaotian, "Young Master Hu, please!"

Hu Xiaotian felt like he was riding a tiger and couldn't get off. It seemed that this meeting with Li Wuyou was unavoidable. Since that was the case, it wouldn't hurt to meet this former fiancée. It was said that Li Wuyou had been paralyzed for many years and was ugly, but he didn't know the truth. However, thinking that he was also a foolish idiot at the time, she was more than a match for him, and the two families could be considered well-matched.

Following Qiu Yuanchang to the backyard of the Grand Marshal's mansion, Hu Xiaotian could judge from Qiu Yuanchang's steady pace and long breathing that this steward should be a martial arts expert. Li Tianheng's dominance in Xichuan for many years was inseparable from the help of these capable people around him. Although his martial arts were strong now, he was alone after all, and he still needed to be careful in Xichuan.

Hu Xiaotian took the initiative to break the silence, "Do the young lady and the others usually live here?"

Qiu Yuanchang shook his head, "Usually, only the Grand Marshal and the eldest young master live here. The young lady and the madam all live in Yingyue Villa. Because today is the Grand Marshal's birthday, the madam and the young lady have come over."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The madam is here too?"

Qiu Yuanchang said, "The madam has gone to greet the guests. Currently, only the fifth young lady is in the garden."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Li Wuyou was the fifth in line and Li Tianheng's youngest daughter. Li Tianheng's other daughters were already married, and she was the only one currently waiting to be married.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Is the fifth young lady's leg inconvenient?"

Qiu Yuanchang looked up at him, his eyes full of vigilance, "Young Master Hu has heard?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although the fifth young lady and I were once engaged, we have never met, so everything I know about her is hearsay."

Qiu Yuanchang sighed, "The fifth young lady was healthy and lively when she was a child, until she suddenly fell ill with a strange disease when she was seven. The Grand Marshal searched for famous doctors to treat her. Although she luckily saved her life, her legs have been paralyzed ever since, and she can no longer walk freely. How cruel this is for a girl." He pursed his lips and said, "However, our fifth young lady is the smartest, most gentle, and kindest woman in the world. Whoever can marry our fifth young lady is the blessing he cultivated in his previous life."

"Uh..." Hu Xiaotian was speechless when he heard Qiu Yuanchang's words. Didn't Qiu Yuanchang know his identity? How could that be? It must be that this old steward was angry that he had broken off the engagement, so he said this on purpose, simply to stand up for his master.

Qiu Yuanchang seemed to feel that it wasn't enough to vent his anger, "Although our fifth young lady's legs are paralyzed, her heart is more transparent and pure than anyone else's. There is really no man in this world who can catch her eye."

Hu Xiaotian sighed in his heart. Qiu Yuanchang was indeed protective of his master. In his eyes, his master was naturally perfect. In fact, Hu Xiaotian also felt a trace of guilt toward Li Wuyou, his former fiancée whom he had never met. Whether he admitted it or not, his unilateral destruction of the engagement might have caused her some harm.