Chapter 1117

Being so affectionately called by Hu Xiaotian in front of Xue Lingjun, Jianping's pretty face instantly flushed red, a bit embarrassed as she said, "Thank you for your concern, Sir Hu, but Jianping dare not aspire so high."

Xue Lingjun snapped, "What business do you have coming in?"

Jianping said, "The clothes and supplies Your Highness brought have been unloaded from the carriage; shall we send them in?"

Xue Lingjun waved a hand, saying, "Let's talk later; don't you see I'm speaking with Sir Hu?"

Jianping timidly stepped back.

Hu Xiaotian's eyes fixed on Jianping's retreating figure; seeing his lascivious look, Xue Lingjun chuckled and said, "How about it? Are you moved? If you like her, I'll give this little vixen to you."

Hu Xiaotian swallowed his saliva, secretly amused; Xue Lingjun didn't know to hold her tongue—after all, Jianping was her personal maid—was it really necessary to speak so venomously? But Xue Lingjun was deep‑minded; eight or nine out of ten of what she showed wasn't what she truly thought. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Elder Sister, can you bear to part with her?"

Xue Lingjun's beautiful eyes locked onto Hu Xiaotian's as she said, "I can bear it! Of course I can—don't mention a mere maid; whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but think further, he hehe‑laughed, "Elder Sister, you're really good to me."

Xue Lingjun let out a faint sigh: "It's a pity someone doesn't appreciate it."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Who is so oblivious to romance?"

Xue Lingjun couldn't help but chuckle, she extended a finger and lightly tapped Hu Xiaotian's nose, saying, "You!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed happily: "Elder Sister! You've just arrived; after your long journey you must be tired—I've specially had hot water prepared. Please bathe and rest first; I'll come see you later."

Xue Lingjun leaned closer to Hu Xiaotian, her eyes seductive, her breath like orchids, and said, "In such a hurry to leave? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Elder Sister, you certainly don't look like a man‑eating female ghost who doesn't spit out the bones!"

Xue Lingjun said meaningfully, "You may know a person's face but not their heart—how do you know what kind of person I am?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Elder Sister is a woman, and a very beautiful woman at that!"

Xue Lingjun laughed, "Your silver tongue could talk the dead into life—very well, I cannot refuse your kindness. I'll bathe and rest first; we'll talk later."

Hu Xiaotian took his leave respectfully, behaving throughout like a proper gentleman who observes propriety.

Xue Lingjun said, "I warn you now: when someone is bathing, you must not barge in suddenly!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; Xue Lingjun was constantly deploying her charms, but unfortunately she'd met her match. He said, "That's hard to say!"

Hu Xiaotian went outside. He met Guo Zhenhai, who was there directing the deployment; seeing Hu Xiaotian leave, Guo Zhenhai came up and said, "Sir Hu, I have a matter to discuss with you—for the Eldest Princess's safety. We want to put our own people in charge of guarding the relay station."

Hu Xiaotian secretly chuckled, wondering if they were worried he'd be unfavorable to Xue Lingjun; now he was on his own turf—if he really wanted to harm her, could their mere five hundred men stop him? He nodded, "No problem. I'll have them all withdrawn later."

Guo Zhenhai said, "Those warriors outside..."

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Also out of concern for the Eldest Princess's safety; since you don't need them, I'll have them disperse."

Guo Zhenhai clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Here, you actually don't need to worry about safety."

From behind came Jianping's voice: "Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian turned around, only to see Jianping approaching while dragging a silk bundle; he smiled and said, "Oh, it's Sister Jianping. What advice do you have?"

Jianping's cheeks were flushed red, showing some shyness; actually she had always been somewhat puzzled. Back when Hu Xiaotian was in Yongdu, she had once been ordered to test him, even personally serving him in his bath to verify his true status—this Hu Xiaotian was fundamentally a eunuch, but later rumors spread that he was a false eunuch. Jianping had thought the rumor was false, but not long after, Hu Xiaotian suddenly transformed into the fiancé of the Dakang Yongyang Princess; surely that couldn't be wrong, for even if the Dakang Emperor were muddle‑headed he would never marry his own granddaughter to a eunuch, meaning what she saw must have been fake. Yet at that time she clearly saw nothing between his legs—where did that rascal hide that thing?

Jianping presented the bundle with both hands, saying, "The Eldest Princess has brought you a fur coat; try it on to see if it fits."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "How courteous!"

Jianping softly said, "Let me help you put it on!"

Hu Xiaotian didn't stand on ceremony with her; he immediately took off his old robe, and with Jianping's help put on the fur coat—needless to say, the coat fit him as if tailor‑made, perfect in every way. It seems this Eldest Princess is also thoughtful; how could she know his measurements so well?

Jianping giggled, "Truly, a person needs clothes as a Buddha needs gold—Sir, wearing this fur coat has invigorated you immensely."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You're saying I lacked spirit just now?"

Jianping folded Hu Xiaotian's old robe and said, "Sir, your status is noble—why do you dress so plainly?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "These past two years Dakang has suffered successive harvest failures; the common folk tighten their belts, and as the city lord I too must share in their weal and woe." He stroked the fur coat and said, "This coat is too extravagant for me." Taking his old robe from Jianping's hands, he bade farewell and left, only saying he would come again in the evening to welcome the Eldest Princess with a feast.

Leaving the relay station, he saw Gao Yuan riding a horse toward him; upon seeing Hu Xiaotian emerge, Gao Yuan dismounted and came before him, saying, "Young master, another envoy has arrived to borrow grain."

Hu Xiaotian was somewhat torn between laughter and tears; he shook his head and exclaimed, "Damn it! When the fighting was going on they didn't come to help, but now that we've won they all show up to share the spoils."

Gao Yuan said, "This time it's different—it's an imperial envoy sent by the Emperor!"

A hint of a smile appeared on Hu Xiaotian's lips; he had long expected the old emperor to send someone, only he hadn't imagined the delay would last until today. He nodded and asked, "Do you know who it is?"

Gao Yuan replied, "It's a eunuch! Fan Zongxi!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian started; Fan Zongxi was indeed an old acquaintance—he had once served as a junior supervisor of the Imperial Horse Directorate, these years he had achieved nothing notable, merely marking time. Hu Xiaotian got along well with him, and there was another connection: Fan Zongxi is the nephew of Li Yuncong of the Cangshuge. However, given that Li Yuncong's true identity is now doubtful, the relationship between them may not be so simple either.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Let's go see him!" He mounted his horse, and together with Gao Yuan they spurred their mounts back to the manor.

Fan Zongxi had come this time in obedience to the Emperor's order; the Governor of Dongliang Prefecture, Li Mingcheng, was then chatting with him. After Hu Xiaotian arrived in Dongliang Prefecture, Li Mingcheng felt a greater sense of presence than before—at least Hu Xiaotian had entrusted him with many internal affairs to handle. Although Li Mingcheng lacked ability, he was an excellent executor, diligent and public‑spirited. Though he never said so, deep down he greatly admired Hu Xiaotian. Watching Hu Xiaotian arrive in Dongliang Prefecture and turn a losing position into a winning one, he finally realized how his own abilities paled in comparison.

From outside the door came Hu Xiaotian's hearty laugh: "Brother Zongxi! I never expected it to be you! My brother has failed to welcome you properly—please forgive me!"

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's laughter, Fan Zongxi rose to his feet; Hu Xiaotian entered the hall after his laugh, took two steps in place of three, came before Fan Zongxi, clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Brother Zongxi, I, your younger brother, offer my respects!"

Fan Zongxi returned the salute with clasped fists, saying, "Your humble servant pays respects to Sir Hu!" At that time, when they first met, Hu Xiaotian was merely a minor purchasing eunuch of the Imperial Gardens Bureau; now he is not only the fiancé of the Yongyang Princess but also a powerful official controlling three cities, a genuine man of real power, and Fan Zongxi must show him the proper respect in his presence.

In front of this old acquaintance, Hu Xiaotian put on no airs, smilingly inviting Fan Zongxi to sit.

After host and guest reseated themselves, Hu Xiaotian did not ask about the true purpose of Fan Zongxi's trip; instead they exchanged pleasantries and caught up, and he also inquired whether the journey had gone smoothly.

After chatting for a while, Fan Zongxi and Hu Xiaotian eventually brought the conversation to the point: "Sir Hu, this time the Zajia school has come bearing the Emperor's sacred edict."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "An imperial edict?" He had prepared to receive the edict, but Fan Zongxi lowered his voice and said, "It's an oral decree!"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows; an oral decree is hardly an official document—how could the old emperor be too lazy to write even a single edict? By rights he shouldn't be so careless; perhaps there is another meaning behind this.

Fan Zongxi finished speaking and glanced left and right; Hu Xiaotian waved his hand, signalling others to step aside temporarily. After everyone had left, Fan Zongxi then said: "The Emperor is very pleased with Sir Hu's recent winning streak and has decided to place the command of Wuxing Prefecture and the Yongjiang Navy under Sir Hu's management; however, because of the current relations between Dakang and Da Yong, this cannot be overly publicized, and I hope Sir Hu understands."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; Laohuangdi Long Xuan'en could also be said to have painstakingly planned. He himself had suffered two consecutive defeats against the Yong army, seized the Dongluo Storehouse, occupied Wuxing Prefecture. Given that everything has already become fact, Laohuangdi Long Xuan'en knows he cannot turn the tide, also cannot reach far, and can only tacitly accept this fact; to him it is merely a case of going with the flow. Although forced to reluctantly acknowledge his rule over the three regions, he is unwilling, even petty to the point of not wanting to publicly issue a single document. In fact, Laohuangdi Long Xuan'en's edict is already of little importance to Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian already has actual control over these three cities, an accomplished fact—why need the court's recognition?

Hu Xiaotian said hypocritically: "Thank you for your grace, Brother Zongxi, once you return to the capital you must help me properly thank the Emperor."

Fan Zongxi said: "Congratulations, Sir Hu, congratulations, Sir Hu; the Emperor has entrusted Sir Hu with an important responsibility, and both civil and military officials throughout the court praise Sir Hu without end; these two battles have displayed Dakang's military might and morale."

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