Chapter 1018

Xue Lingjun secretly praised, Hu Xiaotian's mind was indeed clear; although she hadn't personally seen everything that happened at the birthday banquet, she still grasped the key point from his account. In fact, Xue Lingjun had always harbored suspicions about Li Tianheng's assassination. She shook her head and said: "I don't know about the other matters."

Hu Xiaotian got up and was about to leave, Xue Lingjun called out: "Hey, don't rush off!"

Hu Xiaotian stopped his steps, turned to face her and asked: "What? Do you still have something?"

Xue Lingjun said: "If you trust me, I can help you leave Xizhou."

Hu Xiaotian showed a faint smile and said: "Are you genuinely helping me, or are you just worried I'll reveal your secret?"

Xue Lingjun sighed and said: "Don't you understand her feelings for you yet?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly sneered, Xue Lingjun's trick was already useless to him; he suddenly reached out and in one motion pulled off Xue Lingjun's robe. Xue Lingjun never expected this guy to pull such a stunt; in her panic, she hastily covered her chest with both hands, thinking Hu Xiaotian had suddenly gone berserk with lust, but instead Hu Xiaotian grabbed the robe, sniffed it near his nostrils, smiled and said: "Very fragrant! Sister Jun, has anyone ever told you that your two sides are unevenly sized?"

Xue Lingjun felt for the first time that her thoughts couldn't keep up with Hu Xiaotian's pace; a white flash flickered before her eyes—it was Hu Xiaotian throwing the robe back at her. She reached out and caught it, but by the time she looked again, Hu Xiaotian had already drifted away through the window. Xue Lingjun didn't even bother to put on the robe; barefoot she ran to the window, looked out, and could no longer see Hu Xiaotian's silhouette. A night breeze blew in through the window, making her feel a chill; she hurriedly shut the window, lowered her head, and bit her lip. She muttered softly: "Damn brat, obviously they're the same size!" In her heart she already understood that Hu Xiaotian had deliberately said those words to distract her.

Hu Xiaotian hadn't actually gone far; he had flipped onto the eaves of the house where Xue Lingjun lived. His hearing was extraordinarily sharp, and Xue Lingjun's mutterings all fell into his ears. Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but reveal a knowing smile. Yesterday he had been outmaneuvered by Xue Lingjun; today he finally turned the tables.

He was just about to leave the inn when he saw someone ahead carrying a lantern passing through the corridor; the guide was none other than Guo Zhenhai, deputy commander of the Jinlin Guard, with three people following behind. He only heard Guo Zhenhai say: "Your Highness the Prince, this way please!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a jolt, not knowing which prince had come to visit Xue Shengjing in the middle of the night. He looked up and saw that the man was exceptionally tall and sturdy, striding with tiger-like vigor; from his back he recognized him as Prince Huoge of Shajia. Behind him followed two people: one was a burly figure, presumably a guard tasked with protecting him; the other had a graceful figure, wrapped in a deep purple cloak, and was actually a lovely young woman.

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered why Prince Huoge had come to see Xue Shengjing while also bringing a woman. Could this lady be a gift he intended to give Xue Shengjing? He recalled that back when he was in Qingyun, the Shajia national master Momalili had once sent a slave girl to Prince Long Yefang. Later the prince had passed her on to him; this time it might be the same old trick again.

Hu Xiaotian's curiosity was fully aroused; after the group had walked away, he leapt onto roofs and scaled walls. Combining the Art of Soaring with the Golden Spider Eight Steps, he followed them silently and without a trace. Midway, he turned his head to glance toward the direction of Xue Lingjun's residence, seeing that her room still had lights on and she had not made a sound to warn anyone—proof that she was indeed guilty, afraid he would expose her secret. Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian felt a bit ashamed of himself; he shook his head, set aside thoughts of Xue Lingjun, and continued to tail Huoge to get to the bottom of things.

Huoge arrived at the gate and had his two attendants wait outside; at that moment Xue Shengjing had already come out to greet him, chuckling: "Your Highness the Prince, what brings you here?"

Huoge smiled and clasped his fists: "Greetings, Prince Yan; I came late at night hoping not to disturb your rest."

Xue Shengjing smiled at Huoge, secretly guessing that his late-night visit must concern an important matter, especially occurring at this sensitive juncture; he therefore made an inviting gesture: "Please come inside."

Huoge followed Xue Shengjing into the room, while the others remained outside waiting.

After host and guest were seated, Xue Shengjing picked up the jade teapot and personally poured Huoge a cup of tea.

After thanking him, Huoge lifted the teacup and played with it in his hand, then clicked his tongue in praise: "I've long heard that Your Highness loves collecting treasures, scouring the world for rare gems; this set of jade tea ware alone is extraordinary."

Xue Shengjing smiled calmly: "This tea set was a tribute from the Xichuan branch of Ju Bao Zhai; if Your Highness likes it, just have someone pack it up and send it over." Xue Shengjing's generosity was indeed remarkable.

Huoge chuckled: "As you Han people say, a gentleman does not take what another loves; I dare not take what Your Highness fancies."

Xue Shengjing smiled: "I have plenty of such things in the Da Yong armory; Your Highness's refusal must be because you look down on me?"

Huoge laughed: "Your Highness, that's not the case; since you've shown such generosity, I couldn't very well refuse, so I'll accept it. By the way, I've also brought a gift for Your Highness this time."

Xue Shengjing let out an "oh" and asked: "What gift?"

Only then did Huoge clap his hands; the door opened and the veiled lady in a purple cloak entered. Xue Shengjing, a veteran of the pleasure quarters, instantly recognized that the woman walked like a willow in the spring breeze, swaying gracefully and alluring to the extreme; he also understood Huoge's intention—this fellow clearly meant to present him with a peerless beauty.

Huoge waved his hand, signaling the lady to reveal her true face; she lifted her cloak, revealing a head of gleaming golden curls, skin as fair as snow, a high nose and deep-set eyes, and eyes like deep ocean blue—she was an exotic beauty.

Although Xue Shengjing had seen countless beauties, such an exotic beauty was rare; upon seeing her he couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder, his round face breaking into a grin, his narrow eyes already squinting into slits.

Huoge quietly observed Xue Shengjing's reaction; seeing his expression, he knew he had been moved, and whispered: "What does Your Highness think of this woman?"

Xue Shengjing smiled, eyes narrowed: "It has a different flavor, though I don't know how it differs from Central Plains women."

Huoge said with deep meaning: "Your Highness will know at once if you put it to the test tonight."

The two burst out laughing together.

The exotic beauty's ice-blue eyes were filled with bewilderment; Xue Shengjing summoned Guo Zhenhai and ordered him to take the exotic beauty to his bedroom first.

The beauty left the doorway, and the warrior who had accompanied her came up to her, muttering unintelligible words under his breath.

Hu Xiaotian, at this moment holding his breath and lying prone on the roof, by moonlight finally got a clear look at the exotic beauty's face—what shocked him beyond belief was that the exotic beauty was actually Weisa; initially Prince Long Yefang of Zhou had given her to him, and when he escorted the prince to Xiezhou he had placed her in Qingyun and entrusted her to Murong Feiyan's care, but after political changes in the court, ever since he left that time he never had a chance to return to Qingyun, thus losing track of Weisa; he never expected Weisa to end up in Huoge's hands. Huoge this bastard is truly hateful—on the surface he calls himself brother, but behind his back he conceals such an important matter from him; how dare he shamelessly reclaim the slave girl he had given away.

Weisa nodded; Guo Zhenhai summoned a subordinate and ordered him to take Weisa to Xue Shengjing's bedroom.

At that moment the Shajia warrior turned around; Hu Xiaotian hastily lowered his head, yet he saw the warrior's eyes flashing with an eerie blue light; although far away, it was like a magnet, and Hu Xiaotian almost couldn't help but keep staring at his eyes—fortunately the warrior then turned his gaze elsewhere.

After Xue Shengjing and Huoge exchanged gifts, their relationship became noticeably closer; Huoge said: "I and Hu Xiaotian are sworn brothers, and Prince Yan and Hu Xiaotian are also sworn brothers, so we are essentially brothers as well."

Xue Shengjing laughed: "Indeed, from now on we'll address each other as brothers—no need for such formality."

Huoge indeed didn't stand on ceremony: "Big brother, I came this time in the name of my father- and mother-in-law especially to apologize to you."

Xue Shengjing said: "The birthday banquet incident was truly an accident; as brothers, why bother coming in person to explain? I just don't know how the Grand Marshal is faring—could you give me an honest report?" Xue Shengjing was deeply concerned about Li Tianheng's current situation; Li Tianheng's safety bore significant weight on the future landscape. If Li Tianheng were unharmed, it would prove that this assassination was his own scheme, the true purpose being to find a noble pretext to break away from Dakang; if Li Tianheng were truly injured, the future situation would still be hard to predict. Although Xue Shengjing deep down suspected it was a ruse, without concrete news he could not set his mind at ease.

Huoge said: "To be frank, I have not yet seen my father-in-law; it was my mother-in-law who sent us off in different directions to give explanations."

Xue Shengjing nodded; even Huoge, his legitimate son-in-law, hadn't seen Li Tianheng, which further proved there was deceit afoot.

Huoge said: "I've heard that Da Yong has come this time seeking an alliance with Xichuan; I wonder if that's true."

Xue Shengjing did not rush to answer Huoge's question; this fellow indeed had ulterior motives for coming this time—his visit was not about forming an alliance, but chiefly aimed at crushing any possibility of Xichuan returning to Dakang. Now it seems the imperial brother's worries are superfluous; Li Tianheng harbors grand ambitions and will never kneel again as a subject, and Xichuan's independence has become inevitable—one could say his mission has already been accomplished. What then is Huoge's purpose in coming? He is the twelfth prince of Shajia and also Li Tianheng's son-in-law. A marriage founded on politics is in fact the most fragile; just as Shajia and the Black Hu have long coveted the Central Plains' territory, it's not something that can be achieved overnight. Could it be that while he outwardly acts as a dutiful son-in-law to Li Tianheng, inwardly he is plotting an invasion of Xichuan? Xue Shengjing smiled and said: "Brother, who told you that?"

Huoge said: "There are many rumors outside, all saying that Da Yong and Xichuan will join forces to deal with Dakang." (To be continued~^~)