Chapter 1263

Tang Jiu Cheng's expression was extremely complex; Hu Xiaotian forced himself to use Condensing Qi into Arrow, yet his own trump card still could not put him in a deadly situation. Hu Xiaotian's rash strike aimed to tell him a fact: even if he gave his all, Hu Xiaotian could still escape from his hands.

Tang Jiu Cheng did not continue his attack; Hu Xiaotian slowly sheathed his blade and said unhurriedly, "Senior, your martial arts have opened my eyes—no one would want an enemy like you." His words were very tactful; though he was proactively friendly, he remained neither humble nor arrogant. Had it not been for their earlier bout, Tang Jiu Cheng would surely have taken it as a sign of weakness, but now that he fully recognized Hu Xiaotian's strength, he no longer thought so. Once you regard someone as an opponent, you won't despise their respect for you.

Tang Jiu Cheng said softly, "Anyone who has an enemy like you must certainly have a headache."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "In this world, having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."

Tang Jiu Cheng said, "Let me treat you to a drink!" The invitation was very sudden; even after becoming the master of Falling Cherry Palace, he rarely made such invitations, especially to a junior.

Hu Xiaotian showed no hesitation whatsoever, nodding and saying, "Good!"

Upon entering this rundown tavern, Hu Xiaotian realized Tang Jiu Cheng had prepared in advance—the dishes were already on the table, the wine warmed. The small tavern had only the two of them as guests; the stooped, hunchbacked shop owner, sensing the mood, left the room to go outside and play with birds.

Hu Xiaotian proactively picked up the wine jug and filled Tang Jiu Cheng's cup before him.

Tang Jiu Cheng said, "I have only one condition."

Hu Xiaotian raised his cup and clinked it against Tang Jiu Cheng's.

Tang Jiu Cheng did not rush to finish the cup: "Spare Zou Yong."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The path the young master wishes to take is not the Yangguan Grand Road."

Tang Jiu Cheng drained the cup before him in one gulp: "Everyone has their own choices; the child has grown up, I can't control him."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if you wanted to, you couldn't control him for a lifetime."

Tang Jiu Cheng sighed, looked at Hu Xiaotian and refilled his own cup: "He greatly admires you, saying you are a person of both wisdom and courage."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "He's not bad either. He just gets hung up on some things; I spoke with him earlier, hoping that even if we can't become friends, we won't become enemies."

Tang Jiu Cheng's eyes showed a hint of bewilderment: "I have no interest in politics."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you were burdened with too many distracting thoughts, you wouldn't have achieved today's martial arts prowess."

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Tang Jiu Cheng's mouth: "In the past I didn't believe it, but after seeing you I do—talent really is important." In his view, Hu Xiaotian undoubtedly had achieved extraordinary accomplishments in both politics and martial arts; everything Hu Xiaotian possessed before him was exactly the direction his son had always wanted to strive toward.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You have no idea how much bitterness and hardship I've endured behind the scenes."

Tang Jiu Cheng said, "I can't persuade him to change his mind; I can only support him."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Let me give you a piece of advice, senior: although the young master enjoys temporary glory, beneath the surface glory lie endless hidden dangers; building one's fate and ambition on others' shoulders is never solid."

Tang Jiu Cheng's eyes lit up.

"Da Yong's national strength may be strong, but the imperial court is not at peace. Xue Daohong's actions in Bohai have already offended Prince Yan and the Grand Princess; from now on, it's hard to say who will win the deer."

Tang Jiu Cheng said, "You really ought to say these things to him."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Even if I were willing to say them, he might not take them to heart."

Since his ascension, Xue Daohong had never visited Cien Garden before; Empress Dowager Jiang summoned him, and after much deliberation he decided to come in person. Only upon arriving at Cien Garden did he discover that Empress Dowager Jiang had summoned not only him but also Prince Yan Xue Shengjing.

Xue Daohong had already guessed Empress Dowager Jiang's purpose in summoning him; he couldn't help but feel some regret. If he had known why the old empress dowager called him over, he would not have come no matter what. Could it be that the Bohai Kingdom affair had already reached her ears, and Prince Yan, under pressure, persuaded Empress Dowager Jiang to mediate?

Although Xue Shengjing was Xue Daohong's close uncle, hierarchy still mattered. He respectfully said, "Your Majesty has arrived!"

Xue Daohong grunted noncommittally and reluctantly said, "The Imperial Uncle is here too!" Then he turned to Empress Dowager Jiang and asked, "Grandma, how is your health?"

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and said, "Good, very good. Today there's nothing special; I just missed you, so I had someone invite you over. I never really expected you to come, after all your status is different now—as the ruler of a nation you have too many state affairs to attend to, leaving no time for an old woman like me."

Hearing her displeasure, Xue Daohong smiled and said, "Grandma, please don't say that—no matter how important the affair, it cannot compare to you. I'm here, aren't I?"

Xue Shengjing, standing aside, flattered: "Your Majesty has been filial since childhood; Empress Dowager, you cannot expect everyone to be idle like your servant, loafing about."

Empress Dowager Jiang chuckled and said, "To be old and disrespectful—I feel embarrassed scolding you in front of Xue Daohong. Look at yourself; you hardly resemble an uncle anymore. Xue Daohong is busy with state affairs all day, and since he ascended the throne he has grown thin, yet you not only fail to help him, you're even more idle than before—what can I say about you?"

Xue Shengjing took the opportunity to say, "I, your subject, am ashamed; I simply dislike state affairs by nature. Even when the former emperor was alive, he said I was neglectful of my limbs and lacked ambition—truly a useless lump of wood."

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "Quite right, you are indeed a useless lump!"

Listening to the mother and son harmonize, Xue Daohong remained unmoved; Xue Shengjing must be panicking over the Bohai Kingdom affair, for him to summon Empress Dowager Jiang voluntarily—clearly he's already afraid. Xue Daohong said, "Grandma, the Imperial Uncle isn't as useless as you claim; he simply hasn't applied his mind where it counts, and his intellect is actually something even I, the Emperor, feel inferior to."

Xue Shengjing silently cursed, "You brat, you've only been on the throne a few days! If it weren't for my strong backing, you might not have ascended smoothly. I never expected that, once you secured the throne, you'd turn on me—your fickleness even exceeds your father's."

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed and said, "Your Majesty, that's not wrong—Xue Shengjing is indeed clever, but he just doesn't apply his mind where it counts. Among Da Yong's many princes and grandsons, who doesn't think of the realm and the altars? Only you spend all your time collecting rare treasures and exotic jewels. If people understood your nature, they'd know you merely like these things, and that you're amassing wealth for Da Yong. But those who don't understand you might think you're exploiting the situation to extort wealth and line your own pockets."

Xue Shengjing feigned alarm and said, "Empress Dowager, please don't say that—I have never harbored such greed."

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "What kind of person are you? I certainly know. When your elder emperor was alive, didn't you say yourself that all your wealth belonged to Da Yong, and that whenever he wanted to use it, he could just take it?"

Xue Shengjing said, "I, your son, still think that way; I never dare forget my original intention." As he spoke, his gaze furtively drifted toward Xue Daohong.

Xue Daohong acted as if he hadn't heard, his gaze turned elsewhere, as if what was happening before him had nothing to do with him at all.

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "I summoned you today for another reason as well. Lately I've heard many rumors and gossip. Xue Shengjing, although we insiders know your character, outsiders do not; many say you use public resources for private gain, harming the public to benefit yourself, and over the years you have amassed countless rare treasures and exotic jewels—rich enough to rival a nation."

Xue Shengjing gave a bitter smile and said, "Empress Dowager, I have never thought of taking it for myself."

"If that's the case, then hand over all your properties to the Emperor."

Xue Shengjing's heart jolted—the Empress Dowager had not mentioned this when she summoned him. In fact, the situation in Bohai Kingdom has already begun to turn, everything moving in his favor; he was on the verge of having the wherewithal to challenge Xue Daohong, yet the old empress dowager now demands he surrender all his properties. What game is she playing? Is she on his side or on Xue Daohong's? She has openly set a trap for him. By now, if he refuses to comply, it would seem disloyal, suggesting ulterior motives; yet even if he does comply, Xue Daohong may not abandon his intention to deal with him.

Empress Dowager Jiang straightened her face and said, "What? You're not willing?"

Xue Shengjing hurriedly said, "Empress Dowager, I, your subject, am willing, I am willing—I'll go back now to have the storehouses inventoried and hand over all my properties and wealth to the Emperor for unified management."

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and said, "At least you understand the bigger picture."

Xue Daohong, however, said, "No need—putting those things in the Imperial Uncle's hands is not the same as putting them in mine. As long as the Imperial Uncle treats me as he would his own father, I will trust him completely."

Xue Shengjing respectfully said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust……"

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "In my view, we should still follow Xue Shengjing's wish—indulging in playthings to the point of losing one's ambition. If he weren't immersed all day in those jewels and antiquities, he wouldn't have become like this. Your Majesty, just go along with him this once."

Xue Shengjing silently cursed, "Are you really my mother? Are you helping me? You're clearly screwing me over!"

Xue Daohong slowly nodded and said, "All right, since the Imperial Uncle is intent on proving his innocence, I suppose I have no choice but to agree."

Xue Shengjing wished he could punch Xue Daohong's front teeth out—damn it, this is trying to ruin his foundation! His mood plummeted, and upon hearing Empress Dowager Jiang say, "Xue Shengjing, there's nothing for you to do here right now; go back and handle this matter quickly,"

After Xue Shengjing left, Xue Daohong said, "Grandma, you really don't need to do this; I also don't want to make things difficult for anyone."

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed softly and said, "Xue Daohong, although I'm old, I'm not senile; I see some things clearly."

Xue Daohong said, "Grandma, if you have something on your mind, please feel free to speak up." (To be continued~^~)