Chapter 1160: [Flying Side by Side] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian asked about recent conditions; Dongliang Jun is all normal, the Xia Sha Gang side is still busy transporting grain to Wuxing Jun, and the three hundred thousand shi of grain Hu Xiaotian promised to the court has mostly been delivered to Wuxing Jun.

Hu Xiaotian said, "How is the morale of the people in the city?"

Li Chengming said, "Compared to before, it's much more stable. Since hearing that the lord and Da Yong have successfully negotiated peace, people are no longer panicked as before; the populace has calmed down, and many who had left have gradually returned."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded, "Have you distributed the grain to each household as promised?"

Li Chengming respectfully replied, "It has been done; now the city's people are very grateful to the lord." Hu Xiaotian had Li Chengming give each person in Dongliang Jun ten jin of grain for the New Year; this expense alone amounts to over a million jin, which is also one of Hu Xiaotian's measures to win over hearts.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't expect their gratitude; I just hope they stop cursing me as they used to."

Li Chengming laughed, "Who would dare..."

Hu Xiaotian's face darkened; Li Chengming realized he had misspoken and hastily corrected, "There's not even time to feel grateful."

Hu Xiaotian said, "How is the situation with Chang Fanqi and his mother?"

Li Chengming said, "The old lady's condition has worsened recently; I've summoned all the renowned physicians in the city, but there's still no sign of improvement."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but frown; this sounded seriously bad, so he abandoned the idea of returning home immediately and decided to first visit Chang Fanqi.

Chang Fanqi still lives in his former residence, and Hu Xiaotian did not send anyone to deliberately monitor him; after Princess Xue Lingjun came to Dongliang Jun for negotiations, both sides reached an agreement, Qin Yangming's captives were released one after another, and upon learning this Chang Fanqi's heart was filled with mixed feelings. He had aspired since childhood to become a hero worthy of admiration, a renowned general who could dominate the battlefield, yet now he has fallen into such a dire predicament. Hu Xiaotian coerced him with his mother's life, and in his helpless state he captured Qin Yangming and handed him over to Hu Xiaotian; to Dakang he is already a traitor, and even if he risked fleeing back to the country he would surely meet death.

Although Hu Xiaotian had repeatedly shown his intention to win him over, as the ancients said, a loyal minister does not serve two masters—how could he betray his principles? Chang Fanqi had several times wanted to seize the opportunity to flee with his old mother, but he worried she could not endure the jolting and fright. As the New Year approached, his mother unfortunately fell again, and thereafter she remained bedridden. He could not help but acknowledge that Hu Xiaotian had treated him well; during this period many physicians were sent, yet his mother's condition showed no improvement.

Chang Fanqi had just finished helping his old mother take her herbal medicine, rose, and went out to wash the medicine pot when he saw Hu Xiaotian enter accompanied by Li Chengming.

Chang Fanqi pretended not to have seen Hu Xiaotian and continued toward the kitchen. Hu Xiaotian understood his nature, was accustomed to his aloofness, and did not call out to him, instead heading straight to the room where the old lady resided.

Upon seeing this, Chang Fanqi immediately followed, blocking Hu Xiaotian's path at the door and whispering, "What do you intend to do?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "I thought you hadn't noticed me."

Chang Fanqi said, "Let's talk outside." He thought Hu Xiaotian had come to find him.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Let me first check on the old lady's condition."

"You don't need to concern yourself." Chang Fanqi believed all of Hu Xiaotian's concern was feigned, hypocritical benevolence.

From inside the room came the old lady's voice, "Is Little Tian back?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Old lady, it's me! I'm back!"

The old lady said, "Hurry in. It's been some days since I last saw you."

Hu Xiaotian triumphantly raised his chin at Chang Fanqi, who resignedly stepped aside; Hu Xiaotian entered the room, approached the old lady's bedside, saw her face glowing with health—she seemed even healthier than before, not at all like someone ill—and asked solicitously, "Old lady, what's wrong with you? Why have you suddenly become so sick?"

The old lady sighed, "With age, birth, aging, sickness, and death are unavoidable for anyone."

"Old lady, please don't say that; at a glance you are a person of deep blessings, surely destined to live a hundred years."

Chang Fanqi inwardly sighed upon hearing him speak like that; this fellow truly has a silver tongue, yet it's necessary to coax the old lady this way, and his feelings toward Hu Xiaotian grew a bit more favorable.

The old lady said, "I know my own condition; the blessing of longevity would never fall to me. I only wish to live a few more years, to see Fanqi establish a family and career, and if I could hold a grandchild in my lifetime, I would die content." As she spoke of this sorrowful matter, she choked up.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Old lady, this is no small matter; tomorrow I'll have someone arrange a good marriage for Elder Brother Chang."

Chang Fanqi stared wide-eyed in anxiety, thinking, "This fellow actually dares to meddle in my lifelong affair!"

Hu Xiaotian's words struck the old lady's heart; she seized his hand and said, "Really? You must not deceive me!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Old lady, I would deceive anyone but you; I and Elder Brother Chang are as close as brothers, and I have always treated his affairs as my own."

Chang Fanqi was torn between laughter and tears, thinking, "What bond do I have with him? He's nothing but an enemy, yet facing his mother I cannot expose his lie." Chang Fanqi said, "Mother, even if I don't marry, I can still fulfill my filial duty to you!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder Brother Chang, that's not right; among the three unfilial acts, having no posterity is the gravest. At your age, still unmarried, do you really intend to deny the old lady a grandchild?"

The old lady said, "Listen, listen—Xiaotian understands my thoughts best; you little rascal are the unfilial one!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly amused, thinking the old lady was probably feigning illness to urge her son to marry soon—how pitiful are parents' hearts everywhere—and he suddenly thought of his own mother, feeling a sudden pang of sorrow, for only when one loses something does one learn to cherish it.

Although the old lady's eyes were blind, she could still sense Hu Xiaotian's emotional shift, and asked solicitously, "Xiaotian, you've just returned; haven't you had time yet to pay respects to your parents?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, "Old lady, my parents are already gone."

The old lady gripped Hu Xiaotian's hand tighter, full of pity, "It's all my fault; I shouldn't have brought up these matters."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Old lady, it's nothing; in my heart I regard you as my own mother as well."

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Chang nodded repeatedly, moved, "Good child, good child, if you don't despise us, come tomorrow to spend New Year's with us two mother and son."

Chang Fanqi stared blankly at Hu Xiaotian with his big eyes; it's over, the old mother has been completely coaxed by this fellow, and she has no idea of his true background.

Hu Xiaotian, not without pride, glanced at Chang Fanqi and said, "Good! Old lady, I've noted it—I will surely come tomorrow to keep you company for the New Year's feast."

Old Lady Chang beamed, "By the way, are you engaged?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "For now it's a secret."

After cheering the old lady, Hu Xiaotian took his leave; Chang Fanqi saw him to the outer gate, estimating the old lady couldn't hear their conversation, then said, "Why bother with pretense?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Changqi, you're mistaken; as long as it makes the elderly happy, even telling kind lies is no problem."

"I cannot act with a double standard!" Chang Fanqi, although acknowledging Hu Xiaotian's words were indeed reasonable, refused to yield verbally.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Tomorrow I'll come for the New Year's meal; you need not go out of your way to prepare anything."

Chang Fanqi said, "I haven't invited you!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, patted Chang Fanqi's shoulder, and said, "What you say doesn't count!" Before departing he told Chang Fanqi, "Old lady asked me to find a match for you."

Chang Fanqi firmly refused, "Don't trouble yourself!"

Hu Xiaotian returned to his lodgings, where Wei Sa and Liang Da Zhuang had long been waiting eagerly; seeing Hu Xiaotian return, Liang Da Zhuang greeted him with a wide grin, "Young master, you've finally returned; we've been waiting for you to celebrate the New Year."

Wei Sa, although her longing for Hu Xiaotian surpassed Liang Da Zhuang's, nonetheless restrained herself in front of others.

Hu Xiaotian smiled at Wei Sa, intending to go over and tease her a bit, when Liang Da Zhuang interjected, "Young master, guess who's come!"

Hu Xiaotian blinked, "Who?"

Liang Da Zhuang pointed behind him; the two people hiding at the gate stepped out—Old Hu Fo and Liu Kuohai. Hu Fo had been entrusted by the Hu household servants to make a long journey specially to visit the young master, while Liu Kuohai came both to serve as his bodyguard and because he felt stifled staying at Fengyi Shan Zhuang, deciding to follow Hu Xiaotian's side, with no intention of returning.

Hu Fo and Liu Kuohai came before Hu Xiaotian, both kneeling, overwhelmed with emotion.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "It's good that you've come, good that you've come; for the New Year we need more people to make it lively."

After they rose, Liu Kuohai presented the handwritten letter that Huo Shengnan had written to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian received the letter, but did not open it immediately.

Liang Da Zhuang said, "Young master, go rest first; the bath water is all prepared for you, nice and warm."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, and as he walked past Wei Sa on the way to the room, Wei Sa, face flushed, said, "Master!"

Hu Xiaotian handed her a wooden box.

Wei Sa took it, blushing, and left.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the room, took off his clothes, entered the bathtub, lay in the warm water, feeling completely relaxed in body and mind to the utmost degree; although he had arrived at Dongliang Jun in less than half an hour by riding the Snow Eagle, the weather was cold and he was somewhat anxious inside, yet he still felt comfortable being on solid ground.

After a while, a knocking sound came from outside, but it was Liang Da Zhuang entering to add hot water.

Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes and said, "Da Zhuang, have there been any unusual circumstances in the city lately?"

Liang Da Zhuang laughed and said, "Everything's fine; it's just that Hu Zhongyang has come by a few times these past two days, as if he has something important to discuss with the young master."

Please cast a few monthly tickets! (To be continued~^~)