Chapter 1050

Hu Xiaotian had Weisa summon Yang Lingqi; Yang Lingqi had been staying at Fengyi Shan Zhuang all this time, and upon hearing Hu Xiaotian was looking for him, he came quickly, bringing a map he had drawn himself. Since receiving treatment from Weisa, the function of Yang Lingqi's right hand has improved considerably, though it cannot fully return to normal; holding a brush and writing poses little obstacle now, but to regain his former skill in painting would likely require another surgery plus long‑term functional training.

Hu Xiaotian's purpose in summoning Yang Lingqi was precisely this matter; previously he had been too busy to find time for Yang Lingqi's surgery, but now he finally has a temporary opening and, taking advantage of this period, intends to reconnect the partially torn tendons in Yang Lingqi's right hand, hoping to help his right‑hand function recover as soon as possible.

Yang Lingqi, hearing that Hu Xiaotian had summoned him for this matter, smiled faintly and said: "Sir, there's no need for you to worry about my affairs; to have recovered to this point is already a blessing from heaven, being able to hold a brush and write or paint, my aspiration has long been satisfied—I dare not harbor any further extravagant hopes."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at his palm; Yang Lingqi's little finger and ring finger still could not extend freely, the tendons there likely severed. If we operate and reconnect them, it will surely greatly improve his right‑hand function. Hu Xiaotian said: "I am confident I can restore your right hand to about eighty percent of its former ability."

Yang Lingqi's right hand now functions at only about fifty percent, which for him is already an unexpected blessing; he had never even dared hope for eighty percent. Seeing Hu Xiaotian's earnestness, Yang Lingqi nodded and said: "Since you show such kindness, Sir, I cannot refuse."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I will operate on you tomorrow."

"Surgery?" Yang Lingqi, having known Hu Xiaotian for a while and grown accustomed to his constant stream of novel terms, was no longer surprised.

Yang Lingqi did not dwell on the surgery, which could greatly improve his quality of life; he unfolded the map before Hu Xiaotian. This map of the realms' territories was drawn by his own hand. Before his disability, he could finish such a map in at most half an hour, but this time he spent an entire day and night on it. Even so, the map is still not entirely satisfactory—his disabled right hand's control over brushwork has markedly deteriorated. Nevertheless, it is far better than before Weisa's treatment.

Hu Xiaotian looked at the map and smiled: "Not bad!"

Yang Lingqi said: "This is a map I drafted, marking all the territories of Dakang that cannot be abandoned."

Hu Xiaotian glanced at it and said: "You guess—if the Emperor were to adopt this suggestion, how would he treat the Yongyang Princess?"

Yang Lingqi blinked, not understanding why Hu Xiaotian would ask that.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Think back carefully—everything the Emperor has done these years has been for himself alone; he doesn't even consider the state of Dakang. Do you think he would care about the Yongyang Princess's life or death?"

Yang Lingqi nodded: "That's right—this is exactly what I've puzzled over. Even if an emperor does not think of his descendants, he would still, to some extent, attend to the ancestral legacy handed down through generations. His attention simply isn't on state affairs."

Hu Xiaotian said: "For an emperor, what is most important?"

Yang Lingqi replied: "For a wise ruler, the most important thing is the land and the state, the myriad subjects; for an ambitious ruler, it is hegemony and conquest. If he is a foolish ruler, his eyes may hold nothing but wine, meat, and women."

Hu Xiaotian added: "The Emperor is also a person; for a person, what is most important?"

Yang Lingqi thought a moment and answered: "To live!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly—just to live. Long Xuan'en is already on his deathbed; when a person knows he is about to die, he will usually reflect on his life and do some good deeds to make up for past shortcomings, but what has Long Xuan'en done?"

Yang Lingqi said: "Perhaps he is simply greedy and wicked by nature."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "According to the information I have, this past month the Emperor has added another thirty thousand laborers to the mausoleum; according to feedback from the Ministry of Revenue, he has just allocated an additional three hundred thousand taels of gold for its construction. Since the last uprising of the mausoleum workers, the entire mausoleum project has been taken over by the Bureau of Heavenly Secrets, with Hong Beimo coordinating all mausoleum affairs. Guard posts have been set up eighty li outside the mausoleum, and heavy troops stationed fifty li out. Unless the Emperor and Hong Beimo grant special permission, no one may enter without authorization—otherwise, they will be killed without mercy."

Yang Lingqi: "The people of Dakang are displaced, starving, and poorly clothed, yet the Emperor still uses the state treasury to build his tomb. I cannot fathom his thinking—does he intend to lose the people's hearts entirely and drive Dakang to ruin sooner?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have been wondering why he trusts Hong Beimo so much—is it because Hong Beimo helped him regain the throne?" He shook his head and continued: "For a man on his deathbed, imperial authority is obviously not essential. At first I thought Hong Beimo was another Ji Feihua, aiding Long Xuan'en in order to seize absolute power and dominate court and countryside. But later I realized Hong Beimo is not keen on power; if a man is not after money, he is after profit, yet Hong Beimo lives frugally and disciplined, and despite seeking neither money nor power, he remains utterly loyal to the Emperor—something Long Xuan'en lacks in personal charisma."

Yang Lingqi said: "Sir, you are right—Hong Beimo must have some ulterior motive."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It should be said that he and the late Emperor share a secret unknown to others, each needing the other and using each other. I recall that at Tianlong Temple, Hong Beimo once sent people into the temple to seek the 'Dan Ding' chapter of the Qiankun Kaiwu. I have heard that this chapter records the methods for cultivating the elixir of immortality."

Yang Lingqi said: "An elixir of immortality? Could such a thing really exist in this world?" He blinked his eyes, clearly disbelieving.

Hu Xiaotian also does not believe it, but whether they believe or not is irrelevant; the key is that the old Emperor believes it. If Long Xuan'en accepts the claim of immortality, Hong Beimo could easily deceive him by producing an elixir of immortality. Not to mention this foolish and wicked ruler—even Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi could not overcome the hurdle of immortality.

Hu Xiaotian said: "There must certainly be a secret hidden within the mausoleum."

Yang Lingqi sighed and said: "The Emperor is actually so muddle‑headed; if a person single‑mindedly pursues immortality, he will not care about anything else."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Therefore, the Emperor can sacrifice anyone; the Yongyang Princess is merely a tool he uses to divert the people's attention and ease popular anger. If he truly wanted to promote the Princess as his heir, he would not need to make it so obvious."

Yang Lingqi said: "Sir, are you worried that he might act against the Princess?"

Hu Xiaotian did not answer his question, but asked in a low voice: "If the Princess herself proposes the enfeoffment of feudal lords, what do you think he would think?"

Yang Lingqi said: "He would most likely suspect the Princess of having ulterior motives." He then lifted his head and said: "Sir, will this matter bring trouble to the Princess?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hong Beimo controls the Bureau of Heavenly Secrets; now the hundred thousand Feathered Forest Guards are also under his command, and Mu Rongzhan is among his followers. With our present strength we cannot yet match them."

Yang Lingqi said: "Sir, why not take this opportunity to leave Kangdu, the center of power, and lay low for a while? Now is not the time to contend with Hong Beimo."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I would like to leave, but I fear the Emperor may not let me go." He certainly does want to go, but the late Emperor has long borne a grudge against the Hu family; were it not for Qiqi's sake, he might have already moved against him. Of course, if Hu Xiaotian abandoned everything and slipped away quietly, his present martial ability might allow it, yet he is unwilling. Though Hu Xiaotian appears worldly and indifferent, deep down he possesses an unbending stubbornness—he will not easily give up, nor will he readily admit defeat. Since his mother's departure, he has felt a stronger resolve to uncover everything and a wish to see those who have plotted or are plotting against him and his mother receive double retribution.

Yang Lingqi said: "Sir, why not marry the Yongyang Princess as soon as possible?"

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Yang Lingqi; his sharp gaze made Yang Lingqi immediately realize that his intention had been completely seen through by Hu Xiaotian, and he felt a bit embarrassed, lowering his head. All that remains for Hu Xiaotian now is the future status of prince consort; that marriage pact, if the Emperor wishes, can be torn up at any time. But if the marriage becomes fact, it is another matter entirely—holding the title of prince consort, the Emperor might, out of consideration for Qiqi, abandon the idea of harming Hu Xiaotian. Moreover, marriage would allow Hu Xiaotian to conquer the Princess's body and thereby utterly win her heart.

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Emperor will not care about anyone's life."

Yang Lingqi said: "The Princess is different; the Yongyang Princess's present political standing is entirely due to the Emperor's own doing. Given Dakang's current situation, the Emperor still needs her."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am merely curious—what exactly is hidden in the mausoleum?"

A hint of a helpless smile appeared at the corner of Yang Lingqi's lips; Hu Xiaotian evidently did not wish to answer his question, and he said in a low voice: "It is nothing more than a lavish project that wastes the people's labor and wealth. Throughout history, many rulers have built their tombs magnificent and splendid, imagining corpses that will not decay and dreaming of one day returning to life—but who has truly obtained the chance to return to the world of the living?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Long Xuan'en's construction of this mausoleum has exhausted the people's labor and wealth; the reason Dakang's economy has sunk into a mire is related to his reckless spending on the tomb. Laborers have been conscripted nationwide, and those who have died unjustly because of the mausoleum number in the hundreds of thousands, deepening popular resentment. Yet in this situation he remains obstinate, persisting in building the mausoleum—it appears the mausoleum has become Long Xuan'en's spiritual mainstay. (To be continued~^~)