Chapter 1267

Although Xue Lingjun knew this bastard was shameless, she never expected him to be such a petty villain taking advantage of an opening, doing such despicable shameless things. She forced herself to stay silent, but Hu Xiaotian then went ahead and lifted her skirt; Xue Lingjun could no longer restrain herself, raising her palm and slapping his thick‑skinned face.

Hu Xiaotian, quick‑eyed and quick‑handed, grabbed Xue Lingjun's wrist in one motion, smiling cheekily: "Elder sister, why are you hitting me for no reason?"

Xue Lingjun bit her alluring red lips, her beautiful eyes fixed on his hateful hand: "What did you just do?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I just felt the palace was near, wanted to wake Elder Sister up."

Xue Lingjun said: "Quibbling, what were you just feeling me for?"

Hu Xiaotian's next words nearly killed Xue Lingjun with anger: "Touching won't get you pregnant, why are you so petty?"

Only Hu Xiaotian could take advantage of someone and still speak so righteously.

Xue Lingjun, dressed in splendid palace robes, entered the Tianyue Palace; instantly the hall fell silent, and almost all the men's eyes gathered on her. This Yongyang Princess of Da Yong is famed far and wide, yet only when truly facing her does one understand why countless people would willingly die beneath her pomegranate skirt. Xue Lingjun's beauty is not the fresh elegance of an orchid in a secluded valley; her beauty is fierce and alluring, her bearing lofty, yet from her bones emanates a bewitching charm that ensnares the soul, easily arousing men's desire to conquer. Even the Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng, as a landlord, felt his heart flutter a little; compared to Xue Lingjun, his six palaces' beauties pale in color.

Equally eye‑catching was Hu Dafu; this bastard walking beside Xue Lingjun was a stark contrast—weasel‑headed, mouse‑eyed, full of the air of a merchant, swaying as he walked, looking utterly like a self‑satisfied petty man. It's truly unknown why the lofty Da Yong Yongyang Princess would favor this fellow, and moreover he's a married man.

Only those who have truly matched strength with Hu Xiaotian know the extent of his power; Zou Yong gazed at Hu Xiaotian, his eyes devoid of any jealousy. He is someone good at self‑reflection; several clashes have ended in his defeat. His father has clearly told him not to try to be an enemy of Hu Xiaotian, for he is an opponent he cannot possibly defeat.

Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng and Yongyang Princess Yan Dongqing came forward together; Yan Dongqing chirped, "Elder sister, you are truly beautiful!" Although Yan Dongqing knew her disappearance and abduction were directly related to Xue Lingjun, and in her heart she wished to tear the other apart, on the surface she showed not a trace of hatred. Politics makes people hypocritical.

Xue Lingjun grasped Yan Dongqing's hands, putting on a show of deep concern: "Dongqing, you have no idea how worried I've been about you." Women's false performance makes men feel ashamed.

Hu Xiaotian bowed respectfully to Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng, who returned a faint smile. Yan Dongqing took Xue Lingjun's hand and led her to the chief seat; Hu Xiaotian naturally could not follow.

Chief Steward Fu Yanshou led him to the right‑hand guest seats, where he happened to sit with Zou Yong; Hu Xiaotian somewhat suspected Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng had deliberately arranged this, and Zou Yong laughed, "I never expected Hu Cai Dong to come."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just joining the fun. Broadening my horizons."

At that moment he felt someone across the way gazing at him; he looked up and saw Li Chen Zhou sitting opposite, his sharp eyes fixed on him. Hu Xiaotian returned a faint smile, and Li Chen Zhou smiled as well, revealing a mouth of neat, white teeth. Although Li Chen Zhou's plan this time had been thwarted by Hu Xiaotian, he showed no trace of dejection. Looking at the transformed Hu Xiaotian, Li Chen Zhou secretly admired him, for Hu Xiaotian truly had extraordinary courage, daring to venture alone into Bohai State.

Before the banquet began, Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng routinely gave a hypocritical speech, naturally about the friendship between Da Yong and Bohai, welcoming Yongyang Princess Xue Lingjun and envoy Li Chen Zhou and the like. His speech naturally had plenty of people to play along, and applause and cheers occasionally rang out.

Zou Yong's thoughts were not on this; he lowered his voice to Hu Xiaotian: "Hu Cai Dong, have you heard that the king has halted the investigation into the Gathering Treasure Pavilion and is preparing to return all seized goods to the Gathering Treasure Pavilion?" Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng's decision amounted to declaring that the plot against Prince Yan Xue Shengjing was completely over; he would not continue to involve himself in Da Yong's royal family infighting.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and asked: "Master Zou, are you feeling disappointed?"

Zou Yong smiled: "This matter originally had nothing to do with me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Being able to withdraw unscathed is actually a cause for celebration."

Zou Yong caught the implication in his words and smiled: "Indeed, I recall the previous events and indeed feel fortunate; but I don't understand why Hu Cai Dong, who has no connection to this side, is so enthusiastic about this." He glanced toward Xue Lingjun in the distance and said: "Could it really be that you came for the Yongyang Princess?"

Hu Xiaotian also glanced at Xue Lingjun, who was happily chatting with Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng, and said: "When it comes to understanding women, Master Zou is far stronger than I."

Zou Yong sighed: "Ashamed! Ashamed!" In the past he might have felt smug or even accepted Hu Xiaotian's remark with equanimity, but now he has a completely different feeling. The reason he was defeated so thoroughly this time was not because he was bewitched by Xue Lingjun, thinking he could conquer her with charm; instead, Xue Lingjun turned his own scheme against him, staging a hurtful ploy, and even nearly pinned the crime of abduction and kidnapping on him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let me give you a piece of advice: if you want to achieve great undertakings, you must never stake all your chips on women."

Zou Yong blinked, hesitated a moment, then said: "Without the Yongyang Princess, Hu Cai Dong would have to expend much effort to achieve his present great undertaking."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, really felt both amused and exasperated: "Damn it, I've struggled hard to get to where I am today, which is no easy feat. Do outsiders think I'm living off a woman? Is everything today thanks to Qiqi?" He lifted the Golden Goblet before him: "Not everyone necessarily has my kind of luck." This statement amounted to admitting he himself was Hu Xiaotian, while not denying Qiqi's help.

Zou Yong secretly sighed in his heart: "Indeed, not everyone has Hu Xiaotian's luck." He raised his cup, clinked it with Hu Xiaotian's, and drained it first.

Hu Xiaotian saw this, secretly amused: Zou Yong attributed his defeat to bad luck—shouldn't he look for the cause within himself? After drinking this cup, Hu Xiaotian added: "When two people's strengths are vastly unequal, only a relationship of use and being used exists; there is no possibility of mutual benefit. Master Zou, do you think the Da Yong emperor would sincerely help you?"

Zou Yong said: "Human feelings are warm and cold, worldly sentiments shift." This was an indirect answer to Hu Xiaotian's question.

At that moment the hall suddenly fell silent; Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng clapped his hands, and two beautiful swordswomen entered from outside the hall—this being the most common pastime in Bohai's court, beautiful women dancing with swords for entertainment.

The two beauties took wooden swords and began to duel before the crowd; although their swordplay was more for show than actual combat, they moved in perfect harmony, their postures graceful, their performance splendidly varied, and everyone cheered at the impressive parts.

Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng also felt his face lit up, smiling narrowly at Xue Lingjun: "Your Highness, how do you find it?"

Xue Lingjun smiled faintly: "Although splendid, it lacks heart‑pounding excitement; in Da Yong there are also sword dances for entertainment, but usually they are duels between men, not women."

Bohai Sea King said: "If I get the chance to go to Da Yong, I will certainly take a good look."

Xue Lingjun giggled: "Why wait until later? If the king wishes to watch, my palace can have someone demonstrate right now."

"Oh?" Bohai Sea King showed keen interest.

Xue Lingjun's gaze swept toward Hu Xiaotian; though far apart, he heard her words clearly. Seeing her glance his way, he inwardly groaned: "Xue Lingjun, Xue Lingjun, I merely touched you twice in the carriage, just teasing you—you wouldn't want me to make a fool of myself in public, would you?" He hastily turned his face away, deliberately avoiding her look.

Zou Yong also noticed Xue Lingjun's gaze; feeling guilty, he dared not meet her eyes, yet he heard her say: "Hu Dafu, the king wishes to see a genuine swordsmanship demonstration—why don't you come out and give a performance?"

Being called out by her in public, Hu Xiaotian could no longer pretend not to notice; he forced himself to rise, smiling: "Your Highness the Princess, today is such a joyous occasion, and at the king's banquet it would hardly be proper to brandish swords."

Xue Lingjun said: "No problem, just perform a set of sword techniques for everyone to see."

Hu Xiaotian said: "My swordsmanship isn't pretty to look at!" He almost added that his sword art was for killing, not for your performance—"Xue Lingjun, Xue Lingjun, do you want to make a monkey out of me?"

Bohai Sea King said: "Exactly, a little practice wouldn't hurt, but it would be dull for Mr. Hu to sword‑dance alone; better to find an opponent to accompany him." His gaze turned to Zou Yong, who had already lowered his head; Zou Yong, too, was exceptionally clever, his heart pounding—could this be a ploy to embarrass him publicly? Given Hu Xiaotian's martial skill, he certainly wasn't a match for him.

Bohai Sea King Yan Dongsheng thought he would give Zou Yong a public lesson, but Xue Lingjun had another plan; she whispered: "General Li!"

Li Chen Zhou sat there unperturbed, his gaze not avoiding Xue Lingjun's intent in the slightest, and smiled: "I am here, Your Servant."

"How about you spar with Hu Dafu? It would be a fine chance to display Da Yong's swordsmanship!"

Only now did Hu Xiaotian realize Xue Lingjun's true target was Li Chen Zhou—she intended to use him to give Li Chen Zhou a lesson; if he won, that would be gratifying, but even if he lost to Li Chen Zhou's sword, she would suffer no loss. Good grief, Xue Lingjun's talent for scheming is top‑notch; earlier, how I helped you, you've completely forgotten!

Before Hu Xiaotian could speak, he heard Li Chen Zhou say: "Since Your Highness has spoken, how could I refuse?" He had already risen to his full height and was walking slowly toward the center of the hall.

Hu Xiaotian had expected Li Chen Zhou to decline, but he never imagined he would agree so readily; since the other had already taken the field, Hu Xiaotian could not shrink back like a turtle, and moreover, judging by his present martial ability, he was certain he was not inferior to Li Chen Zhou. (To be continued~^~)