Chapter 1241

Hu Xiaotian looked at Li Mingju with some sympathy; from the first time Hu Xiaotian saw Li Mingju, he knew this person was clever, his deduction had already approached the truth. If Li Changxing were not the Minister of Justice, if it were not for the Prince of Bohai assigning this case to him, if he were not so conscientious in his work, perhaps he would not have ended up in this situation. Li Changxing had no enemies, nor had he done anything wrong; the fault lay only in his position being wrong.

Li Mingju said with feeling: "My father was loyal to the sovereign and patriotic, self-disciplined and devoted to public service, with clean sleeves; I never imagined he would end up like this. A few days ago he arranged for me to leave Bohai; he had already anticipated that someone would act against him… This foolish ruler is actually so vicious!"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "Although he doesn't care about your father's life or death, he certainly did not personally do the deed; based on the information I have, Sir Li's death was not directly caused by him."

Li Mingju's handsome face twisted with pain; the hatred for his father's killer, an irreconcilable enmity, he wanted to avenge his father, to demand repayment of this blood debt from all his enemies, but relying solely on his own strength it was utterly impossible. Li Mingju's gaze turned to Hu Xiaotian; his intuition told him that this person before him could help him fulfill that wish. Li Mingju said: "Did you come to Bohai to thwart their plot?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Li, your wisest choice now is to leave Bohai as soon as possible; Sir Li has been killed, and for the time being you pose no threat to them. I believe Sir Li, in the afterlife, also wishes you to live out your life in peace."

Li Mingju's emotions suddenly flared: "As a son, if I can turn a blind eye to my father's murder, then I am no better than a beast; what right do I, Li Mingju, have to live in this world?" His chest heaved violently, his eyes burning with fury.

Hu Xiaotian calmly gazed at Li Mingju, able to understand his feelings at this moment.

His gaze only further enraged Li Mingju. Li Mingju growled: "I know, in your eyes I am merely a scholar unable to truss a chicken, a good-for-nothing with no use whatsoever!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Li, you misunderstand; I admire your character and understand your feelings. But when it comes to revenge, we must plan carefully; we must not act rashly, or else only the innocent will die."

Li Mingju said: "I know, I will endure, but I will not let any opportunity slip. Since they want to make an issue out of Yuan Tianzhao's case, I will not let them have their way. In all of Bohai, few know the criminal statutes better than I; I have every case my father reviewed etched in my mind. I know every blade of grass and tree in the Ministry of Justice; there are those in the Ministry who owe my father favors. I can call those debts in."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up; he understood Li Mingju's meaning.

Li Mingju stepped forward and said: "You surely want to rescue them, don't you? I can help you!"

Hu Xiaotian reached out and lightly patted Li Mingju's shoulder, then whispered: "Bury Sir Li properly; when the time comes, I will find you!"

Li Mingju nodded firmly, pressing his lips tightly together, holding back the tears that threatened to spill; even if it meant sacrificing his life, he would not hesitate—he would have his revenge!

Hu Xiaotian returned to Zhichunyuan; steward Xiao Lizi hurried up and said softly: "Sir, the Grand Princess left early this morning and has not yet returned."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; everything was under his control. If all went well, Xue Lingjun should now have been taken by Yan Tianlu's people, and together with her the Bohai Grand Princess Yan Dongqing would also be taken, though their treatment would be worlds apart.

Xiao Lizi asked: "What should we do?"

Hu Xiaotian calmly said: "Wait a bit longer! What about the Jinying Guards?"

Xiao Lizi replied: "They said they went out to meet the princess, but they haven't returned yet."

Hu Xiaotian told Xiao Lizi: "Let the brothers eat and drink their fill; tonight we have a play to perform."

Xiao Lizi smiled and said: "Just give the orders, sir; we'll follow your command."

At that moment, the sound of wheels and hooves came from outside the gate; it was an old friend visiting. The visitor was Hu Zhongyang, a merchant from Dongliang Jun who had just arrived in Haiwangcheng; he had already made contact with the Mangjiao Island side, so he learned of Hu Xiaotian's whereabouts.

Hu Zhongyang admired Hu Xiaotian's uncanny ability to appear and disappear, having set out first himself, yet still ending up behind Hu Xiaotian; this lord of Dongliang Jun truly possessed unfathomable powers.

Hu Xiaotian had food and drink prepared and invited Hu Zhongyang to sit. After dismissing the others, Hu Zhongyang hurriedly rose and bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian, saying: "Zhongyang pays respects to the lord!" He sincerely admired Hu Xiaotian; from the outset this statement showed his attitude— in his mind, the only lord was Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Brother Zhongyang, no need for formalities; hurry and sit down, let's have a good drink."

Only then did Hu Zhongyang sit down, sharing a cup with Hu Xiaotian; his gaze fell on the table, where he saw a gilt openwork flying phoenix tablet, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't this the Da Yong's Phoenix Soaring Nine Heavens token?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded: "Brother Zhongyang, you really know your goods."

Hu Zhongyang said: "This is the Da Yong Empress Dowager's token! Seeing it is like seeing the Empress Dowager herself; my lord, where did you obtain it?" After asking, he immediately realized he had been too forward, and laughed: "If it's inconvenient for you to say, never mind."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nothing inconvenient about it; this token was temporarily entrusted to me for safekeeping by the Da Yong Grand Princess. I, Hu Dafu, am merely an ordinary merchant, lacking any hard currency to back me up, and how could I let these Bohai officials run up a tab?"

Hu Zhongyang said: "This Phoenix Soaring Nine Heavens token was specially made by Da Yong's Xue Shengkang for his mother; I've only heard of it, never seen it, and it's said that Da Yong's Empress Dowager Jiang never used it either."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "The Empress Dowager certainly had no use for it, so she gave it to her precious daughter." In any era there are limitations; a single token can deter many people, and Hu Xiaotian understood that what awes them is not the token itself but imperial authority.

He curled a finger at Hu Zhongyang, who leaned in and asked: "My lord, what are your orders?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Haiwangcheng here will soon fall into turmoil; I want you to arrange an escape route as soon as possible."

Hu Zhongyang nodded: "Rest assured, my lord, I will do it promptly."

Hu Xiaotian added: "You must keep your escape‑route preparations secret from everyone, including the Mangjiao Island side."

Hu Zhongyang blinked in surprise: "Isn't Hu Xiaotian currently cooperating with Yan Tianlu? Does he not trust Yan Tianlu?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not that I distrust the island lord Yan; it's that many of his subordinates may not be reliable, so we must make thorough preparations."

Hu Zhongyang said: "My lord, your foresight is profound; I, Zhongyang, am impressed!"

Outside came a hurried patter of footsteps; Hu Xiaotian, seeming offhand, said: "It's time!" He picked up the Phoenix Soaring Nine Heavens token from the table, rose, and opened the door; Xiao Lizi appeared outside: "Sir, the Jinying Guards sent to gather news have returned."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How so?"

Xiao Lizi whispered: "They say the Grand Princess left early to keep an appointment with Zou Yong, but she still hasn't returned; we went to Jing Shui Xingyuan and asked, and Zou Yong is still out on business."

Hu Xiaotian coldly replied: "It's not that she hasn't come back; she's likely deliberately concealing the Grand Princess's whereabouts, Steward Xiao!"

Present!

Summon the Jinying Guards' brothers; I will personally go to Jing Shui Xingyuan to see whether the Grand Princess is there or not!

Hu Xiaotian led, including the Jinying Guards, twenty‑plus men to the outside of Jing Shui Xingyuan; from afar he saw the gate tightly shut. He gave a glance; one Jinying Guard dismounted, approached the gate, seized the ring, and knocked loudly.

Soon the gate cracked open a slit, and a warrior peered out with one eye, saying coldly: "It's deep night—who's making a racket outside?"

The Jinying Guard said: "We have come specially to request an audience with Master Zou!"

Before he finished speaking, the other side slammed the gate shut, and a voice drifted out: "Our master is not here."

The Jinying Guard got the door shut in his face, somewhat helplessly turned to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian gave a cold snort, dismounted, and stepped toward the gate; his gaze flicked to the mighty bronze lions before the door, a faint cold smile curling his lips. He reached out, channeled his inner strength, and with both arms actually lifted the bronze lion weighing over a thousand jin, raising it slowly over his head. The Jinying Guards and attendants stared, dumbfounded, as Hu Xiaotian raised his hand and thrust forward with force, sending the bronze lion flying sideways into the gate—Boom! —the heavy gate of Jing Shui Xingyuan was smashed open by the lion. The few warriors hiding behind the gate to eavesdrop were frightened and scrambled aside; luckily they escaped in time, otherwise they would have been pulverized.

Hu Xiaotian appeared like a deity before the shattered gate; under the moonlight his eyes were icy as frost, his blade‑sharp gaze sweeping over the warriors swarming from the Zou mansion, making them feel a chill from the depths of their hearts.

The leading warrior pointed at Hu Xiaotian and shouted angrily: "Bold madman, do you know where this is? You dare to force your way into Jing Shui Xingyuan, smash the Zou mansion's gate—do you have no regard for the law?"

Hu Xiaotian coldly replied: "Have Zou Yong come out; if you're sensible, hand over the Grand Princess!"

"The Grand Princess is definitely not in our mansion."

Hu Xiaotian gave a cold snort and said: "Search!"

"I'd like to see who dares!" said the leading warrior, already having drawn his saber halfway; the other warriors followed suit. Zou Yong enjoys favor in Bohai, and his retinue of warriors is extraordinarily arrogant; usually they refrain from bullying others, which is fine, but who would have thought someone would dare today to come to the door and provoke them?

Hu Xiaotian strode forward; two warriors swung their blades to block his path, a flash of cold light shot from his waist, clang! —it severed the blades in their hands; then they felt a chill on their faces, followed by burning pain, for Hu Xiaotian had struck them hard across the face with the blade's body.

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