Chapter 1205

Hu Xiaotian said: "General, can't you still not see that we are merely pawns of the court? The real problem still lies in the palace, so why must we wade into this muddy water?"

Su Yuchi's lips curled with a hint of bitter smile: "Palace affairs, I know nothing about, and it's not my place to intervene." At this moment he could already be certain that the person before him was undoubtedly Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "General, if you truly have such insight, it would not be a bad thing for the people of Dakang." He lifted the chazan, took a sip, and said: "I harbor no intention of harming you, General, but since you have come, I wish to keep you in Dongliang Jun for three days; after three days, I will personally see you off."

Su Yuchi could not fail to understand his meaning: "Sir Hu, are you intending to place me under house arrest?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Sir, didn't you say that even if you guarded my bedside for two days, you must deliver the emperor's words? Since this is our first meeting, why not take this opportunity to increase our mutual understanding and trust, and talk over drinks? How delightful."

Qin Yutong wore a thick cotton robe, hugging her knees as she sat in the room. Seeing Hu Xiaotian return unharmed, she immediately went back to the Hall of Benevolence. Yang Fanxu's martial arts are far from ordinary; he used the Xuanming cold qi to invade her meridians. Qin Yutong, comparatively inferior in martial arts, was ultimately wounded by him. After returning to the Hall of Benevolence, she immediately prepared a medicinal bath to circulate her qi and expel the cold toxin. Despite this, her body remained weak; the indoor brazier burned fiercely, yet she still wore the thick cotton robe, wrapped in a blanket, and continued to shiver.

From outside came Hu Xiaotian's familiar voice: "Yutong, are you there?"

Qin Yutong bit her cherry lip. She whispered: "I'm resting!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I give you a choice: either you open the door and let me in, or I will break the door down myself!"

The door creaked open, and Qin Yutong stormed into Hu Xiaotian's presence, still with a veil covering her face, her clear beautiful eyes visibly flashing with anger.

What Hu Xiaotian noticed, however, was her trembling delicate frame; he asked feigning ignorance: "Are you cold?"

Qin Yutong gave him a sideways glance, turned back to the brazier, and immediately wrapped the blanket around herself again.

Hu Xiaotian approached her with a smiling squint. Since there was no extra chair, he could only stand, and asked concernedly: "Have you been afflicted by Yang Fanxu's cold toxin?"

Qin Yutong replied irritably: "You know full well..." Her teeth nevertheless chattered.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you need my help?"

Qin Yutong shook her head: "Just let me be alone quietly... I... I..." She trailed off, unable to continue.

Hu Xiaotian reached out and grasped her delicate hand; his palm felt icy cold.

Qin Yutong shuddered involuntarily; this time it was not from cold, but because of Hu Xiaotian's bold move.

Hu Xiaotian indeed considered using his qi to help Qin Yutong expel the cold toxin, but his void skill excels at absorption; drawing out the toxin would inevitably drain her internal energy as well. The Sun-Shooting True Classic could help her, yet even if Hu Xiaotian were thick-skinned, he would not dare use that method on Qin Yutong. Moreover, even if he were willing, Qin Yutong would not agree.

Although Hu Xiaotian had not used his qi to help Qin Yutong expel the toxin, she felt her palm warm and comforting, and seeing that she did not pull her hand away, he pressed further, grasping her other hand and saying: "It's quite cold; my inner fire is strong, let me warm you."

Qin Yutong said: "A gentleman does not take advantage of a dark room. You, always, are a petty person who exploits others' misfortune!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am trying to help you out of goodwill. Please, can't you stop thinking ill of me?"

Qin Yutong said: "How did you suddenly come back?" Strangely, after Hu Xiaotian grasped her hands, she felt she was no longer cold, for a warmth rose from deep within her heart.

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "It's a long story."

Then let's not speak of it; I have no interest in your scheming and intrigue.

Hu Xiaotian fixed his gaze on Qin Yutong's beautiful eyes, inwardly thinking: her hands are soft and boneless, her eyes so captivating; I wonder what her true face looks like. Although I have seen Qin Yutong's appearance, I am convinced she has disguised herself as ugly to face me, not wanting me to see her real visage.

"You've worked hard!" Hu Xiaotian said sincerely. Seeing his pained expression, Qin Yutong felt a surge of agitation, but quickly regained composure. She gently freed her hands from his grasp, turned her beautiful eyes toward the blazing brazier, and whispered: "To leave such a major matter in the manor unattended and rush to my side—this truly makes me feel overwhelmed by favor."

Hu Xiaotian said: "From your tone, you don't seem moved by me."

Qin Yutong raised her clasped hands toward the brazier and whispered: "You rushed back in haste; you must have heard news that something happened in Dongliang Jun, and you suspect someone deliberately leaked the information…" She paused, her long black lashes flickering, then said: "You suspect me!"

Hu Xiaotian still wore a smiling face, yet inwardly he could not help but admire Qin Yutong's wisdom.

Qin Yutong said: "You surely harbor many doubts in your heart—why would I suddenly appear in Dongliang Jun? Only a few know your secret, and I am precisely the one you trust the least. Therefore, you suspect today's incident is related to me; my current cold toxin affliction is merely a ruse to throw people off the scent."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I haven't said anything at all."

Qin Yutong said: "Although you haven't spoken, that is exactly what you think; I can answer all your doubts with a single word."

Hu Xiaotian tilted his ear to listen.

"Get out!" Qin Yutong snapped through gritted teeth; her usually gentle and modest beautiful eyes now revealed unprecedented ferocity.

Just after the first month ended, Yongdu was drenched in continuous drizzle. Huo Shengnan braved the night rain, battling the cold wind, arrived at the Yongyang Prince's mansion, entered Qiqi's study, and respectfully said: "I pay my respects, Your Highness the Princess."

"What urgent matter brings you rushing to see me?"

Huo Shengnan handed a letter to Qiqi. Qiqi opened it; the familiar handwriting met her eyes—this letter was Hu Xiaotian's own hand. After reading it, she was shocked to her core: the old emperor had long known of Hu Xiaotian's journey to the Python Flood Island; Yan Xuanming was merely a bait he offered. She had gone out to rescue Yan Xuanming, thinking the emperor would turn a blind eye, never imagining he had secretly done this behind her back. Her heart filled with uncontainable anger, not because of the emperor's cruel tactics toward Hu Xiaotian, but because the emperor had utterly used her as a pawn.

Qiqi clenched her cherry lips, and only after a while did she recover from the shock: "Where is the messenger?"

Huo Shengnan said: "He has been properly accommodated; this time he came with an additional important mission."

Qiqi lifted the letter in her hand, indicating she already knew; Hu Xiaotian had written clearly that she must immediately arrange for Yan Xuanming to leave Yongdu, with the retreat route already marked. Qiqi said: "Since the emperor harbors the intention to find a pretext, he will surely keep the prince's mansion under tight surveillance; once Yan Xuanming leaves the mansion, they will take action."

Huo Shengnan said: "If he does not leave, death is certain!"

Qiqi pondered, then said: "If he leaves now, he will be even harder to escape death."

Huo Shengnan said: "Your Highness the Princess, what do you intend to do?"

Qiqi held the letter over the candle flame and lit it, watching as it slowly turned to ash; her gaze grew steadfast and resolute: "Do you know what plan Hu Xiaotian has given me?"

Huo Shengnan shook her head; she did not know the detailed contents of this secret letter.

Qiqi said: "He wants me to go confront the emperor!"

Long Xuan'en had already anticipated Qiqi's late-night visit; very likely it was about Hu Xiaotian, and he even guessed that something might have changed, but then he reflected that this plan had been meticulously devised and should be foolproof—Yan Xuanming was still inside the Yongyang Prince's mansion, and as long as Yan Tianlu's son remained under his control, he would have to obey his orders. Earlier, Wen Chenghuan had just come by, saying he had received the latest news: Yan Tianlu had already seized control of Hu Xiaotian, demanding the release of his son before he would hand over Hu Xiaotian's head.

Thinking of Hu Xiaotian already imprisoned, Long Xuan'en felt genuine gladness; as long as it could be confirmed that Hu Xiaotian was on the Python Flood Island, other matters would not concern him. What he truly needed was time. Su Yuchi should already have reached Dongliang Jun; with his abilities, he ought to have already uncovered the truth and taken control of the situation there. In the three cities of Yongjiang, without a leader, the generals would have no one to command the overall situation.

Senior Eunuch Wang Qian reminded from the side: "Your Majesty, the Princess is waiting outside."

Long Xuan'en nodded: "Let her come in; with her explosive temper, if I don't let her in now, I fear she might burst through the palace gates."

Wang Qian couldn't help but laugh; among the many princes and princesses, the Emperor's treatment of the Yongyang Princess is absolutely the most lenient.

Qiqi entered the palace, still catching a whiff of lingering perfume and powder in the air. She glanced around, vaguely seeing a shadow flicker behind the curtains, and involuntarily furrowed her brows; the Emperor had recently selected a batch of beauties and had neglected court for many days.

Long Xuan'en smiled: "Qiqi, it's so late—what urgent matter brings you to see Me?"

Qiqi said: "I have come especially to ask Your Majesty for a favor!"

Long Xuan'en laughed: "What favor?"

Qiqi said: "I beg Your Majesty, out of familial affection, to let me go."

Upon hearing this, Long Xuan'en's heart gave a start; he had thought Qiqi came to plead for Yan Xuanming, or perhaps for Hu Xiaotian, but no matter how he considered it, he never imagined she was speaking for herself. What did Qiqi mean? Had the conspiracy he and Wen Chenghuan had hatched behind the scenes already been revealed to her? This girl's information is astonishingly well-informed.

First update delivered, today's goal ahead! (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, please come)