Chapter 1198

Wen Chenghuan hurriedly entered the Yangxin Pavilion, Long Xuan'en lay sideways on the dragon bed, propping his head with one hand, his eyes half-open, half-closed. Hearing Wen Chenghuan's kowtow, he lazily hummed from his nose, then yawned and sat up straight: "Wen Qing, what matter is so urgent that you must see me?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Your Majesty, the Yongyang Princess just went to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about Yan Xuanning's case, and said she wants to retry it."

Long Xuan'en chuckled: "Indeed, as I expected, it must be Hu Xiaotian who got her to intercede."

Wen Chenghuan nodded and said: "Yan Xuanning's true identity is none other than the biological son of the pirate chief of Mangjiao Island, Yan Tianlu; this shows that Hu Xiaotian and the pirates of Mangjiao Island have long been colluding."

Long Xuan'en said: "If it weren't for your reminder, I would still be kept in the dark."

Wen Chenghuan said: "There are no walls that don't let the wind through; Hu Xiaotian is ambitious, and since taking charge of Dongliang Jun, his ambition has grown day by day, plain for all to see."

Long Xuan'en snorted coldly: "I ordered him to escort grain to the capital, yet he feigned illness and stayed away, secretly colluding with pirates."

Wen Chenghuan whispered his advice: "Not only that, I also heard that Hu Xiaotian outwardly claimed illness and stayed indoors, but in fact he secretly sailed out with the fleet to Mangjiao Island, aiming to cooperate with the pirate chief Yan Tianlu. According to the secret information I have obtained, Yan Tianlu will later help him blockade the sea routes, looting the grain ships that Da Yong sends by sea to Dakang, so that Dakang's famine cannot be relieved; only thus can his importance be highlighted, and he can seize the chance to expand his own territory."

Long Xuan'en raged: "Outrageous! Simply intolerable!"

Wen Chenghuan hastily bowed low, and only after Long Xuan'en's anger subsided did he say: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Long Xuan'en said: "Hu Xiaotian is truly a wolf-hearted dog-lunged wretch; his father betrayed me, spiriting away Dakang's finest fifty warships and ten thousand elite marines. Just this alone would allow me to exterminate the Hu clan, yet I not only refrained, I also betrothed the Yongyang Princess to him. He neither repays kindness nor serves the country, imagining himself in Bei Jiang. I am unable to contend, arrogant and self-willed, acting impulsively—does he really think I cannot deal with him? Angering me, I will have Su Yuchi destroy him!"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Your Majesty, please do not lose your temper; in fact, Hu Xiaotian's rise to this point is due to the support behind him."

Long Xuan'en's face grew ever darker. He picked up the Chazan beside him, took a sip, but—puff! —he spat it all out, glaring at the nearby little eunuch Yin Zheng: "Damned thing, this Chazan is so cold. How am I to drink it?"

Yin Zheng turned pale with fright: "Your Majesty, I will immediately rebrew it for you."

Long Xuan'en fiercely hurled the Chazan to the ground, where it instantly shattered into pieces, then he roared: "Get out! Get out of my sight!"

Yin Zheng and the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs were so scared they lost control of their bowels and bladder; without even bothering to pick up the shattered porcelain, they fled out the door.

Seeing Long Xuan'en suddenly fly into a rage, Wen Chenghuan also fell silent like a cicada in winter. For a moment he dared not speak; this old emperor's moods were unpredictable—if one touched on something he disliked, he might take it out on oneself. One must know when to stop; slander and provocation also need proper timing, otherwise it goes too far.

After the several eunuchs and palace maids had all left, Long Xuan'en's mood instantly calmed; his deep gaze swept over Wen Chenghuan's face as he said: "Here only we two remain; if you have anything to say, speak plainly."

Wen Chenghuan exhaled in relief and said respectfully: "I dare to utter a few words; I hope Your Majesty will not hold it against me."

Long Xuan'en nodded.

Wen Chenghuan said: "I believe Hu Xiaotian's arrogance, his contempt for all, and his daring to show disrespect to Your Majesty stem from the Yongyang Princess's support for him."

Long Xuan'en sighed: "I have also noticed this; Qiqi is young and inexperienced, having been bewitched by him, which is why she does such foolish things, and I too find it quite a headache."

Wen Chenghuan said: "Forgive my frankness, Your Majesty; if you indulge him out of familial affection, things will only become increasingly uncontrollable. Since Hu Xiaotian took office in Dongliang Jun, he has scorned the court, disregarded imperial edicts, risked dragging the whole of Dakang into war by launching the campaign against Dongluo Storehouse; he indeed won a few battles, but in those victories the only one who truly benefited was himself. Have you heard, Your Majesty, that the remnants of Jiang Zhengyang's forces have largely been gathered by him? Moreover, he is massively conscripting troops, continually expanding his forces, ostensibly to strengthen Dakang's northern defenses, but in fact merely bolstering his own power. Your Majesty! I know you tolerate him out of consideration for the Yongyang Princess, yet this lad not only fails to restrain himself, but grows ever more arrogant; once his wings are fully grown, it may be too late for you to rein him in."

Long Xuan'en said: "What do you propose?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Hu Xiaotian is now on Mangjiao Island; the person in Dongliang Jun must be a puppet impersonating him."

Long Xuan'en's brow twitched: "How can you be so certain?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Your Majesty, do not conceal it from me—Hu Xiaotian led twenty warships to Mangjiao Island to discuss cooperation; someone there, dissatisfied with his conduct, secretly reported to me, allowing me to determine that Hu Xiaotian has indeed gone to Mangjiao Island. This time the Yongyang Princess personally inquired about Yan Xuanning's case; it is clearly at his behest, for few know the connection between Yan Xuanning and Yan Tianlu, and the princess has never had any dealings with Yan Tianlu; were it not for Hu Xiaotian, why would she intervene on Yan Xuanning's behalf?"

Long Xuan'en slowly nodded.

Wen Chenghuan added: "Taking advantage of this opportunity, Your Majesty can just as well clip his power."

Long Xuan'en said: "Easier said than done; how would we clip it?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Yan Tianlu would do anything to protect his biological son Yan Xuanning."

Long Xuan'en instantly grasped his meaning and whispered: "But how can we get him to work for us?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Simply send the news to Yan Tianlu, and have him trade Hu Xiaotian's life for his son's life."

Long Xuan'en said: "Mangjiao Island lies far away; even if I had this intention, how could I get the message into Yan Tianlu's hands?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "I have a plan; Your Majesty need only entrust Yan Xuanning's affair to the princess, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear—even if Hu Xiaotian died, he would think it was the Yongyang Princess's doing, and never suspect it came from Your Majesty."

Long Xuan'en gazed at Wen Chenghuan, then after a while chuckled: "And then?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "Then send people to Dongliang Jun to expose the puppet's true face, seek justice for Hu Xiaotian, Hu Sir, and eradicate completely the rebel gang that killed Hu Xiaotian, used the puppet to deceive the court."

The supply ships dispatched from Mangjiao Island returned one after another, bringing five hundred soldiers; the remaining six thousand naval troops, under the leadership of Fan Fanqi, stayed garrisoned at the lagoon, awaiting the water rise so they could sail their fourteen warships out of the lagoon.

According to Yan Tianlu, the weather has been unstable lately; perhaps one must wait until the fifteenth of the month for a sea surge, giving Hu Xiaotian's warships a chance to leave the lagoon—though that works out to about seven days later; before the fifteenth, Dakang's these naval troops must remain stationed in the lagoon.

Yang Yuanqing brought five hundred men ashore; this visit was also to confirm Hu Xiaotian's safety. Although Yan Tianlu and Hu Xiaotian have already cooperated, given Yan Tianlu's suspicious nature, he would not permit more people to land.

Since Xia Zhangming's departure, Hu Xiaotian has also been anxiously awaiting his news; under the present circumstances, the only way to secure Yan Tianlu's full support for his fleet is to guarantee Yan Xuanning's life.

When Yang Yuanqing and company arrived, Hu Xiaotian was consoling Yan Nujiao; Yan Nujiao was worried sick over her brother's abduction, wanting to rescue him but having no leads.

Upon hearing the supply ships had returned, Hu Xiaotian said to Yan Nujiao: "Nujiao, why don't we go to the pier for a walk? The sunshine is splendid today; I'll keep you company to lift your spirits."

Yan Nujiao shook her head: "You go on your own; I'll stay here to rest."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, patted her shoulder, and stepped out; outside the door he met Hu Zhongyang, who laughed: "Hu Sir, the supply ships have returned; I hear our fleet suffered no major losses."

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as the soldiers are safe and sound, that's fine."

Hu Zhongyang had felt embarrassed these past two days to come explain to Hu Xiaotian; he apologized: "Hu Sir, I'm sorry; if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have endured the fatigue of travel and come to Mangjiao Island."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "No need for formalities among family." Speaking, he had already reached the pier; Yang Yuanqing led a group of soldiers over from afar, approaching hastily to bow: "Junior Officer Yang Yuanqing pays his respects to the lord; being in armor prevents a full bow, I hope the lord will excuse it."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "Seeing you all safe and sound puts my mind at ease—how come you brought so many people? Didn't General Chang come along?"

Yang Yuanqing quietly pulled Hu Xiaotian aside and whispered: "My lord, we originally wanted to bring more people, but they refused. General Chang insisted on staying garrisoned at the lagoon, so I came to report the situation to you in person."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "After all, this is their territory; one must guard against others. If we came with too many people, Yan Tianlu would suspect us of ulterior motives."

Yang Yuanqing nodded repeatedly, his face full of shame: "My lord, because we suddenly encountered a storm, to enter the lagoon we had to throw overboard the heavy items in the ship's hold; those fifty thunderous cannons were all cast into the sea by us."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Things lost can be remade, but lives lost cannot be revived—go rest! When the waters rise, we'll depart Mangjiao Island and return to Dongliang Jun."

"Yes!"

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