Chapter 1199

Yan Tianlu silently stared at the stranger before him, who should be one of the Dakang navy soldiers who had just returned with the supply ship to Mangjiao Island; after examining him for a moment, he whispered lowly: "You are..."

I am Yang Yuanqing, the deputy commander of Sir Hu's expedition fleet this time.

Yan Tianlu's eyes filled with suspicion: "So it's General Yang; I don't know what urgent matter brings you to see me?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled and presented a letter, saying: "I was entrusted to deliver this letter personally to Island Master Yan."

Yan Tianlu nodded, reached out and took the letter, opened it in front of Yang Yuanqing, unfolded the paper, and discovered a strand of red hair hidden inside. His eyes widened; he pressed his lips, suppressing his inner agitation, finished reading the letter, then carefully examined that strand of red hair for a while before his gaze returned to Yang Yuanqing's face: "Are you someone from the Dakang Court?"

Yang Yuanqing clasped his fists and said: "The Emperor can guarantee Yan Xueming's life, but it is a life for a life."

Yan Tianlu rose to his feet; his sturdy physique carried an innate kingly aura. Yang Yuanqing felt his breath catch, and he dared not meet Yan Tianlu's gaze, lowering his eyes.

Yan Tianlu said: "I never expected there to be a traitor like you beside Hu Xiaotian!"

Yang Yuanqing said: "What are loyalty and treachery? I receive stipend from the Dakang Court; my loyalty is to the Dakang Emperor alone. Besides the Emperor, I will not be loyal to anyone."

Yan Tianlu gave a hollow cold laugh, raising the letter in his hand: "How can I believe your words? How can I know you will surely keep your promise?"

Yang Yuanqing said: "Island Master, please forgive my frankness, but you seem to have no other choice."

Yan Tianlu tossed the letter aside and said disdainfully: "Hu Xiaotian also promised me; he has already sent people to rescue Yan Xueming, and news will come in these two days."

Yang Yuanqing said: "In Kangdu, his words carry no weight. Island Master Yan, you are worried about your beloved son's safety, so you are prone to the error of desperation. Perhaps you do not know that Hu Xiaotian and the Emperor have always been at odds; it is precisely the Emperor who ordered the investigation of Yan Xueming's case, and no one but the Emperor can save Yan Xueming. Moreover, Hu Xiaotian has sent people to seek the Yongyang Princess this time. Island Master, if you are willing to stake Yan Xueming's life and fortune entirely on the Princess, I have nothing more to say."

Yan Tianlu gazed at the strand of red hair in his hand, his heart hesitant.

Yang Yuanqing said: "Even in cooperation, one must choose an ally that helps oneself. If Hu Xiaotian's side goes smoothly, news of Yan Xueming's release will soon arrive, and the Emperor will temporarily turn a blind eye. Hu Xiaotian will think he has succeeded, but he is gravely mistaken; the Emperor's indulgence of the Yongyang Princess releasing Yan Xueming is merely to numb them, and Island Master can seize this moment to strike at Hu Xiaotian."

Yan Tianlu silently cursed Yang Yuanqing as treacherous and crafty, yet he also realized the mastermind behind this was the Dakang Emperor.

Yang Yuanqing said: "If Island Master wants the Emperor to remain oblivious to this forever, then it depends on what Island Master does next."

Yan Tianlu said coldly: "After I help him accomplish this, what benefit do I gain?"

Yang Yuanqing said: "Yan Xueming will enjoy lifelong safety, and the Emperor can still guarantee his reinstatement to office. The Emperor also promised that, as long as Island Master lives, he will never invade Mangjiao Island."

Hearing the seemingly tempting offer, Yan Tianlu felt a wave of nausea: "Invade Mangjiao Island? With Dakang's current strength, what capability does it have to invade?" He whispered: "If you are sincere, send my son to Mangjiao Island; I will find a way to seize Hu Xiaotian and trade his life."

Xia Zhangming arrived at Mangjiao Island at dusk, bringing news of Yan Xueming's release. Hu Xiaotian was certain that Yan Xueming had been taken from the Ministry of Punishment by Qiqi and was now staying at the Yongyang Prince's residence; he breathed a sigh of relief and, carrying Qiqi's handwritten reply, went to see Yan Tianlu.

Yan Tianlu had been waiting for this news; after hearing Hu Xiaotian finish, he frowned tightly and asked: "Can you be certain?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Of course I can be certain; this is a personal letter from the Yongyang Princess to me. Island Master Yan, if you doubt it, you may examine it yourself. Yan Xueming is currently temporarily housed in the Yongyang residence under the Princess's protection, and his safety is absolutely guaranteed." This matter turned out far smoother than Hu Xiaotian had anticipated.

Yan Tianlu took the letter Hu Xiaotian handed over, read it from start to finish, felt assured his son was temporarily unharmed, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Island Master, you need not worry; the Princess has already promised that, once the situation eases, she will arrange for Yan Xueming to leave the capital, and then you and your son can be reunited."

Yan Tianlu nodded and said: "I never expected things to go this smoothly this time."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nor did I."

Yan Tianlu said: "In a few days, when the tide rises, Sir Hu's fleet will be able to break free, and you will be able to return to Dongliang Jun."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "This time we owe it to Island Master Yan's help; otherwise we would be in trouble."

Yan Tianlu glanced at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Not bad; you are indeed in great trouble."

Hu Xiaotian sensed hidden meaning in his words, his heart on alert, and he said in a low voice: "Island Master, do you have something you want to say?"

Yan Tianlu slowly rose, took two steps toward Hu Xiaotian, fixed his gaze on his eyes, and said: "Someone wants me to kill you!"

Hu Xiaotian felt a chilling killing intent surround him from all directions; his heart sank, but his expression remained calm as he quietly looked at Yan Tianlu and asked: "Island Master, have you agreed?"

Yan Tianlu said: "I have agreed! But just because one has agreed to something does not mean it must be done!" He handed over the letter Yang Yuanqing had given him: "After you read it, you will understand."

Hu Xiaotian took the letter and examined it carefully from beginning to end; upon finishing, cold sweat broke out on his back. He had previously felt the matter was proceeding too smoothly, but he had not expected so many conspiracies hidden behind it; Qiqi was clearly kept in the dark as well, and the old emperor had staged a ploy of 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Had Yan Tianlu not voluntarily revealed the truth of this affair, Hu Xiaotian would truly have believed everything was settled, and he would have been off‑guard; in such a situation, if Yan Tianlu schemed against him, there would be an eighty‑to‑ninety percent chance of success.

Yan Tianlu extended his hand and lightly patted his shoulder, saying: "Kid, you misjudge people!" He then returned to his seat and sat down.

Hu Xiaotian's expression grew grave as never before; evidently a traitor lurked in his ranks, likely from the moment he left Dongliang Jun, his every move having been under the court's control. He suddenly recalled the imposter who had posed as him in Dongliang Jun; perhaps everything had been laid bare to Long Xuan'en. Hu Xiaotian quickly mentally scanned for suspects, and the face of that person gradually became clear in his mind: "Yang Yuanqing?"

Yan Tianlu nodded.

Hu Xiaotian sat opposite Yan Tianlu, his face still composed, looked at him, and a hint of a meaningful smile touched his lips: "Island Master, why are you telling me all this? Are you not afraid that Long Xuan'en will act against Yan Xueming?"

Yan Tianlu said: "The Yongyang Princess is your fiancée; if I killed you, I would offend not only her but also your tens of thousands of troops. Even if the Yongjiang Navy spared no expense to come to Mangjiao Island for revenge, I would lack certainty of victory. Moreover, I have always been a man who keeps his word; having promised to cooperate with you, I will not go back on it."

Hu Xiaotian smiled without speaking, yet he understood that Yan Tianlu's abandonment of the plot against him was actually a result of weighing pros and cons; he said softly: "Long Xuan'en is treacherous and deceitful, acts without scruple, and has no integrity; even if you were to follow his instructions, in the end he might not keep his promise."

Yan Tianlu said: "That is not a problem; I can first seize you, then use you to exchange for my son's safety."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Island Master, do you think this can succeed?"

Yan Tianlu sighed and said: "At first I did consider this, but after thinking it over, I lack confidence in my ability to overcome your martial skill and wit; if I killed you, it would merely fulfill Long Xuan'en's wish, and I would have nothing left to bargain with him. I despise being blackmailed more than anything in my life."

Hu Xiaotian said: "There is no impenetrable wall under heaven; the secret of your son is not well guarded, so Long Xuan'en can now use him to blackmail you into killing me, and next time he could use him to blackmail you into doing something else."

Yan Tianlu nodded and said: "Precisely for that reason I have abandoned the idea of helping him frame you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as he is in the Yongyang Princess's hands, I can guarantee his safety!"

Yan Tianlu's tiger eyes blazed: "I hope you are worthy of my trust."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It seems we must put on a good act together, making everyone believe you will move against me, using my life to exchange for Yan Xueming's safety."

Yan Tianlu said: "Tonight I will hold a celebration feast; I will drug the wine, seize you and your troops, and lock them up in prison. Then, using your lives as leverage, I will have Yang Yuanqing report to Kangdu, ordering them to release my son; only when I am certain my son is safe will I eliminate you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I must leave tonight, immediately return to Kangdu, and personally rescue Yan Xueming."

Yan Tianlu said: "Will you make it in time?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Don't forget, Zhangming Xia has two snow eagles."

Yan Tianlu said: "Will you deceive me?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: "Compared to Long Xuan'en, I am more trustworthy!"

Yan Tianlu said: "If my son suffers any misfortune, the several thousand under your command will all have to die with him!"

Hu Xiaotian extended his hand to Yan Tianlu: "As long as Long Xuan'en believes I am still detained by you in Mangjiao Island, your son will naturally be safe!" (To be continued~^~)