Chapter 1206

Long Xuan'en laughed and said: "Qiqi, where does this talk come from? I have always doted on you, never had any thought unfavorable to you. Even a vicious tiger does not eat its own cub, yet you doubt my feelings for you? Haha, perhaps you heard some rumor?"

Qiqi said: "Qiqi knows I have done wrong."

Long Xuan'en smiled and said: "What wrong have you done?"

I took Yan Xuanming out of the Ministry of Punishment without the Emperor's permission.

Long Xuan'en deliberately said: "Which Yan Xuanming?"

Qiqi said: "Yan Xuanming, the magistrate of Hai Prefecture, whose case of corruption and perverting the law was personally approved by the Emperor's imperial brush."

Long Xuan'en let out an "oh" and said: "Hearing you say that, I seem to have some impression."

Qiqi secretly sighed in her heart, the hypocrisy among relatives had reached such an extent, what affection could there be? Looking at the hypocritical Long Xuan'en before her, Qiqi felt a chill; perhaps from beginning to end, he had never regarded her as kin. Seeing through Long Xuan'en's true face, Qiqi's heart hardened: "I hope the Emperor will forgive Qiqi's transgression."

Long Xuan'en said indifferently: "Why bother taking such a trifle to heart? Since I have entrusted you with state affairs, I naturally trust you without doubt. Although you, this lass, have a little temper, I can see your hard work, and I can see your contributions to Dakang."

Qiqi said: "Qiqi has committed a grave error; Qiqi did not know that Yan Xuanming was the son of the bandit chief of Python Dragon Island, Yan Tianlu. This man is corrupt and perverts the law, his sins are deep, unforgivable!"

Long Xuan'en's expression changed slightly; this lass should have long known Yan Xuanming's true identity, yet he never expected she would dare to expose it to his face. He said in a deep voice: "What are you saying?"

Qiqi said: "I only just finished investigating this matter; I only now realized it is no small matter, and I have come specially to report to the Emperor."

Long Xuan'en said: "I didn't know about all this either. In that case, send Yan Xuanming back to the Ministry of Punishment."

Long Xuan'en smiled and said: "When have I ever blamed you? Rest assured, ignorance is no crime; I will not punish you."

Long Xuan'en blinked in surprise: "What?"

Qiqi said: "It's too late; Yan Xuanming has already been killed by me!"

Long Xuan'en sprang to his feet, eyes wide with anger, and said: "What are you saying?"

Qiqi said: "Yan Xuanming tried to flee. I killed him!"

"What?" Long Xuan'en's heart surged, but he soon calmed down; Qiqi's words might not be true.

Qiqi said: "The Emperor is magnanimous; I never imagined that Qiqi could commit such a great fault and still be forgiven."

"You……" Long Xuan'en was left speechless, having been outwitted by a little girl despite his lifelong cleverness; truly infuriating.

Qiqi said: "Qiqi also knows this is no small matter. Killing Yan Xuanming will surely provoke Python Dragon Island; I have heard they have captured many Dakang navy troops, and upon hearing this they will surely kill them to vent their anger. There are also rumors that Hu Xiaotian has been captured; Qiqi does not know if they are true. If they are, would not even his life be in danger? Your Majesty. Qiqi is still unmarried, her fiancé dead—how will others view her? Will they regard her as an omen of ill fortune?"

Long Xuan'en gritted his teeth, his face half-smiling: "Indeed, if Wen Chenghuan can obtain information from Python Dragon Island, then Qiqi can surely obtain it too. This lass is not to be underestimated; could it be that the true situation is not what Wen Chenghuan imagined?"

Qiqi said: "But Qiqi also knows Hu Xiaotian is not so easy to kill. He has always been blessed with great fortune; no matter how many times someone has tried to harm him, he has always come out unscathed. Your Majesty, do you think he will turn misfortune into fortune this time as well?"

Long Xuan'en gritted his teeth and sneered: "How could I possibly know about his affairs?"

Qiqi said: "No matter what others think of him, Qiqi's heart always feels that he is utterly sincere toward me. Recently there have been many rumors claiming Hu Xiaotian is feigning illness, actually taking his fleet to Python Dragon Island, but I know those rumors are completely false."

Long Xuan'en let out an "oh", suppressing the anger in his chest, and began to understand Qiqi's true purpose for entering the palace at night.

Qiqi said: "He has always been in Dongliang Jun; only with great difficulty has he secured the northern border for Your Majesty. How could he dare leave lightly? If any mishap occurred and treacherous men took advantage, would it not be too late to regret?"

Long Xuan'en said: "Hu Xiaotian's actions are always like a dragon showing its head but not its tail; I heard he was ill, and I specially entrusted Su Yuchi to go see him."

Qiqi said: "General Su is a renowned general of Dakang; with his ability he can completely take over Hu Xiaotian's duties."

Long Xuan'en's brows furrowed; every word this lass spoke hid mockery, essentially voicing her own thoughts.

Qiqi said: "Too bad he lacks Hu Xiaotian's cunning and deceit; when it comes to scheming, he falls far short."

Qiqi blushed slightly, seeming shy, and said: "In the past I did not understand him, but after Your Majesty betrothed me to him, I began to try to understand, for I will sooner or later become his wife; as the saying goes, to know a husband, consult his wife—if I do not even understand him, how can I be his wife?"

Long Xuan'en's face lost all smile: "In the past I often heard people say girls are outgoing, but I never believed it; I never expected even my precious granddaughter to be like this." His words were full of emotion; this lass had already made up her mind to stand with Hu Xiaotian on the same side.

Qiqi said: "Qiqi knows that if you want others to treat you well, you must first treat them well; in this world there is absolutely no such thing as giving without expecting anything in return." She gazed quietly at Long Xuan'en; these words seemed to speak of her relationship with Hu Xiaotian, but in fact she was telling Laohuangdi: if you want me to treat you well, you must first understand how to treat me well, and not merely regard me as a tool for your use.

Long Xuan'en chuckled: "You just said there are many rumors outside, and that Hu Xiaotian was captured by Python Dragon Island?"

Qiqi smiled sweetly, suddenly changed her expression, and cooed: "The Emperor himself said it's just rumors; how could someone as clever as Hu Xiaotian possibly be ambushed?"

Long Xuan'en said meaningfully: "Even a wind from an empty hole is not without cause!" He could not be sure whether Qiqi's or Wen Chenghuan's information was more reliable.

Qiqi sighed helplessly: "If the rumors are true, then Qiqi can only resign herself to fate; I will chop Yan Xuanming's corpse into pieces to feed the dogs, and send his head to Yan Tianlu, so he will know the consequence of opposing us."

"Aren't you afraid he'll kill Hu Xiaotian?"

Qiqi said: "What good would fearing do? Even if I released Yan Xuanming and sent him back, he would still not spare Hu Xiaotian's life; if Hu Xiaotian cannot even defeat a pirate, he is not worthy to be my future husband! How could I, for my own selfishness, bring shame upon the entire Dakang dynasty?"

"Er…… this……" The more Qiqi said this, the more Long Xuan'en doubted that Hu Xiaotian was even in Python Dragon Island.

Qiqi said: "I know Your Majesty must have reservations; although Python Dragon Island is merely a band of pirates, they are no rabble, and moreover their operational sea area is vast. Now Da Yong and Dakang have just reached an agreement, lifting the grain embargo, and half the grain shipped to Dakang must travel by sea. If Yan Tianlu stops at nothing to take revenge, then the safety of this sea route will surely be worrisome; yet even so, Dakang cannot bow to pirates—what honor does a great nation have?"

Long Xuan'en could not help but hear that she was speaking sarcastically, threatening him with the consequences of truly angering Python Dragon Island; he had originally intended to use the Yan Xuanming affair to manufacture a pretext, threatening Python Dragon Island to assist in eliminating Hu Xiaotian from the sidelines, but now it had become Qiqi's reason to coerce him; this lass actually had such confidence, it seems most likely Hu Xiaotian is safe and sound.

Qiqi also said: "Your Majesty need not worry about me; I and Hu Xiaotian are not yet married, this marriage was originally Your Majesty's proposal, and I actually have no deep attachment to him; but Your Majesty should pay more attention to the northern situation—the three garrisons of Yongjiang are currently under Hu Xiaotian's command, and the Yongjiang navy also wholeheartedly respects him. If those soldiers think we are standing by while he dies, deliberately killing Yan Xuanming and thus provoking Python Dragon Island to retaliate by killing Hu Xiaotian, then the situation may become uncontrollable."

Long Xuan'en said coldly: "Qiqi, are you threatening me?"

Qiqi laughed: "Your Majesty, why would you think that? Everything Qiqi said is for Your Majesty's consideration, for Dakang's consideration. Qiqi has said Hu Xiaotian remains in Dongliang Jun, yet Your Majesty believes some rumors that he was seized by Python Dragon Island's people; Qiqi is merely following Your Majesty's assumption, preparing in advance for possible developments and the countermeasures we need. Your Majesty! If the rumors are true, what would you do?"

Long Xuan'en said: "I have never believed rumors."

"Your Majesty, didn't you say, 'Even a wind from an empty hole is not without cause'?"

Long Xuan'en gazed at Qiqi before him; this lass had indeed grown up, and the distance between them seemed to be growing deeper. Long Xuan'en did not believe she would have killed Yan Xuanming for no reason; merely his heart began to waver, he began to doubt the source of Wen Chenghuan's information. Indeed, he had framed Hu Xiaotian many times, and Hu Xiaotian had always turned misfortune into fortune—how could he die so easily? He suppressed the anger in his chest and said softly: "Qiqi, tell me truly, do you like Hu Xiaotian?"

Qiqi didn't hesitate in the slightest, lightly nodding as she said, "I like it, but I can see that Your Majesty doesn't like it, so because of him it's become something even I don't like."

Long Xuan'en said, "For his sake, are you willing to do anything?"

Qiqi shook her head and said, "In Qiqi's heart, what matters most is always the ancestors' rivers and mountains; for Dakang, Qiqi can sacrifice everything!"

Long Xuan'en's heart trembled; he had once thought like Qiqi, but such generous passion had long been worn away by time, leaving no trace, having settled deep in his heart for too long—he could even no longer remember it. The land is as beautiful as a painting, so enchanting, yet no matter how splendid the possession, once the day of death arrives, all of this will drift away from oneself. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome you to come.)