Chapter 1214

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, "Big brother, you're so sharp—how could you do something so stupid? Please tell him for me: never let your accomplishments eclipse the lord. Though he means well, if people misinterpret it, it'll be terrible."

Ma Qingyun replied, "The Prince always acts with discretion, but I will certainly deliver Sir Hu's message."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Liang Da Zhuang stepped forward to pour tea. Hu Xiaotian took a sip and asked, "Master Ma, you didn't come just to say hello, did you?"

Ma Qingyun smiled, "By the Prince's command, I'm here to pay my respects and to give Sir Hu a special gift." He then presented the scroll he had brought.

Hu Xiaotian took the scroll, unfurled it, and saw a painting of a beautiful woman with elegant bearing. He had seen this very painting before in the Buddha Laughing Pavilion of Prince Yan's mansion—the woman was Huo Xiaoru. Why would the Prince of Yan go to the trouble of sending Huo Xiaoru's portrait all this way? Hu Xiaotian recalled the last time Huo Xiaoru had tried to assassinate the Prince of Yan, and how he had rescued her from the prince's mansion, though doing so had come at a great personal cost.

Thinking of Huo Xiaoru, Hu Xiaotian felt a wistful ache. Since their farewell in Yongdu, there had been no word from her. Gazing at her portrait, he imagined her standing among a sea of flowers, turning back with a bewitching smile that made the blossoms lose their color. Remembering her peerless beauty, his heart fluttered.

Ma Qingyun quietly watched Hu Xiaotian's expression shift, knowing that emotions are hard to hide—even someone as deep as Hu Xiaotian sometimes reveals his true feelings. He grew ever more impressed by the Prince's decision, feeling that others would not resort to using intermediaries to solve the immediate problem.

Hu Xiaotian carefully rolled the portrait back up and set it aside, then said calmly, "Master Ma, you must have come to give me news about Miss Huo, right?"

Ma Qingyun said, "Miss Huo is in Bohai Kingdom and is currently facing difficulties."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Ma Qingyun and asked, "If she's in trouble, why didn't she contact me directly? Why go through you?"

Ma Qingyun chuckled, "Sir Hu might not know the connection between Miss Huo and the Prince. Earlier, the Prince himself had wanted to kill Miss Huo, but later he discovered she was the daughter of an old friend, and someone had slandered the Prince, leading to her parents' deaths—prompting Miss Huo to try to assassinate the Prince."

Hu Xiaotian had long sensed that Xue Shengjing was being overly cooperative about releasing Huo Xiaoru; given Xue Shengjing's vengeful nature—Huo Xiaoru had nearly killed him—it was no surprise that neither Xue Shengjing nor Huo Xiaoru had been honest with him.

Ma Qingyun said, "The Prince also asked me to deliver a letter to Sir Hu." He then drew the letter from his sleeve and respectfully handed it over.

Hu Xiaotian first checked the envelope, satisfied that the wax seal was intact, then opened the letter. Inside were just three names: Li Tianheng, Li Wuyou, and Hu Xiaotian.

At first glance, Hu Xiaotian felt puzzled. What could Li Tianheng and Li Wuyou possibly have to do with this? Li Tianheng had nearly become his father-in-law, and Li Wuyou had once been his fiancée. Could they be involved in the Bohai Kingdom matter? No—Xichuan is far from Bohai Kingdom, so Li Tianheng stirring up political change there would hardly benefit him. Xue Shengjing certainly didn't have Ma Qingyun deliver these three names across such a distance for no reason.

Hu Xiaotian silently reflected, putting aside the Li family's father-daughter connection to himself. Just from these two names, he saw they were father and daughter. Realizing this, he suddenly understood—and then was shocked by his own thought: Good heavens! Could Xue Shengjing be hinting that he and Huo Xiaoru are actually father and daughter?

The more Hu Xiaotian thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. No wonder Xue Shengjing let off the dancer who had plotted to kill him, and no wonder Huo Xiaoru stayed silent about what happened at Prince Yan's mansion—even leaving without a word—while Xue Shengjing knew her whereabouts like the back of his hand. But why list Li Tianheng and his daughter, then add his own name? He pondered silently: Xue Shengjing must be hinting that he could reestablish the kind of relationship he once had with Li Tianheng. Surely that would amount to a promise to give his daughter to him in marriage?

Ma Qingyun asked, "Sir Hu, is there any message you'd like me to take back?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Please tell my older brother that I understand."

Ma Qingyun beamed and said, "I will certainly deliver Sir Hu's words." He then clasped his hands before Hu Xiaotian and said, "Farewell!"

Hu Xiaotian calmly replied, "No need to see me off."

After Ma Qingyun left, Hu Xiaotian fell into deep thought. It seemed almost certain that Xue Shengjing and Huo Xiaoru were father and daughter. Surely it was clear that Huo Xiaoru had encountered serious trouble, likely caused by Xue Shengjing. Why would Xue Shengjing not act himself? There must be some unavoidable hardship behind it, suggesting internal problems within the Da Yong dynasty.

While Hu Xiaotian was lost in thought, a guest arrived at Mangjiao Island—the Enforcement Elder Yang Zongtong. In fact, when Hu Xiaotian had left Mangjiao Island, Yang Zongtong had already been dispatched by Island Lord Yan Tianlu to Dongliang Commandery. Although news of Yan Xuanming's safe release had reached Mangjiao Island, Island Lord Yan Tianlu needed to see with his own eyes that his son was unharmed before he would allow Hu Xiaotian's troops to depart. Returning with Yang Zongtong was also Hu Zhongyang.

Yang Zongtong had just seen Yan Xuanming, and seeing that the young master was unharmed, he was all smiles. Upon meeting Hu Xiaotian, his first words were: "Sir Hu, rest assured—I have already sent a pigeon message to the Island Lord; he will receive my word within two days at the latest, and will see your forces off with honor."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "My brothers have been imposing on Mangjiao Island for so many days—no doubt they've caused you plenty of trouble."

Yang Zongtong burst out laughing and said, "Sir Hu, you're too modest. If it weren't for your righteous intervention, Mangjiao Island would have faced serious trouble this time. The Island Lord said that from now on, he and Sir Hu would be friends."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Mr. Yang, you should certainly stay a few more days in Dongliang Commandery so I can properly fulfill my duties as host."

Yang Zongtong replied, "No, it's not that I don't wish to stay, but the Island Lord has urgent business in Bohai Kingdom and must go there; I, too, must head to Bohai Kingdom to meet him."

Hearing this, Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred, but he and the pirates of Mangjiao Island had not yet reached a point of mutual trust. He smiled and said, "Since Mr. Yang has pressing business, I won't insist he stay. Let's have lunch first, then I'll have people prepare to see him and the Young Island Lord's party off with honor."

Yang Zongtong laughed and said, "Better to obey than to show mere respect. I'll go first and consult with the Young Master to see how preparations are coming along there."

Hu Xiaotian saw Yang Zongtong out the door, but Hu Zhongyang did not follow him; instead, he accompanied Hu Xiaotian back to the hall. He said nothing, then dropped to his knees before Hu Xiaotian with a thud. Hu Xiaotian hastily reached out to grab his arms, hoping to lift him up, and exclaimed, "Brother Zhongyang, why are you doing this? Why give me such a great salute—it would be the death of me!"

Hu Zhongyang's face flushed with shame as he said, "Sir Hu, I have brought disaster upon the troops for my own selfish gain, causing you to endure hardship and danger on your long journey, bringing you numerous perils and troubles. I truly deserve death and cannot beg for mercy; please punish me, Sir Hu—even if you were to behead me, I would not utter a word of complaint."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Brother Zhongyang, there's no need to dwell on the past. This time you went to sea for trade, and you never meant me any harm. The Mangjiao Island incident was purely accidental and beyond your control."

Hu Zhongyang said, "Sir, to be frank, for over ten years I have had close ties with Mangjiao Island, helping them resell looted goods and profiting from it; most of my family's wealth has accumulated this way."

Hu Xiaotian said, "All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit; merchants pursue gain by nature. Brother Zhongyang, what you've done isn't really wrong. Please rise—there are important matters I need to discuss with you."

Hu Zhongyang felt reassured that Hu Xiaotian bore him no grudge over the Mangjiao Island affair, and so he set his mind at ease, secretly sighing that Hu Xiaotian's breadth of vision and insight were beyond ordinary people. He resolved to be more frank with him in the future, for to play petty tricks and schemes against a man of such talent and strategy would be tantamount to seeking his own death.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Just now I heard Mr. Yang say that Island Lord Yan is heading to Bohai Kingdom—could something urgent have happened there? Has the whereabouts of Yan Boguang finally been found?" Hu Xiaotian probed indirectly, hoping to glean some information from Hu Zhongyang. Although Hu Zhongyang appeared fearful and loyal in his presence, Hu Xiaotian still could not be certain where Hu Zhongyang's loyalties lay—whether he would side with Yan Tianlu or with him, or perhaps try to profit from both sides.

Hu Zhongyang said, "Sir Hu, do you understand Island Lord Yan's background?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "I've heard rumors that he is the paternal uncle of the current King of Bohai, Yan Dongsheng, and fled to Mangjiao Island after failing in his bid for the throne."

Hu Zhongyang said, "Sir, you're quite right—Island Lord Yan is indeed the paternal uncle of the current King of Bohai, Yan Dongsheng. Rumor has it he lost the throne struggle, but the truth is different: the former King of Bohai, Yan Tianzheng, sensing his own demise, passed the throne to his son Yan Dongsheng, yet worried that Yan Dongsheng could not control his several imperial uncles. On his deathbed, he launched a massacre against several of his brothers; two princes got wind of it and fled in advance—one was Island Lord Yan, the other now resides in Heavenly Wolf Mountain in Xichuan, where he is also a regional tyrant and hegemon, Yan Kui."

Today I feel a bit better; after waking up this afternoon I typed a chapter, tonight I will continue typing, I will strive to write at least one more First Update, thanks for the understanding, brothers, Zhangyu will work hard! (To be continued~^~)