Chapter 1328

Hu Xiaotian coldly stared at Quan De'an; Quan De'an undoubtedly broke his earlier promise, saying that as long as Qiqi was cured he would let Xi Yan go and give her a way out, but now it's clear that was just empty talk to placate himself.

Quan De'an's expression also looked rather helpless; some things were beyond his control, and even he could see that there must be something fishy about this matter—Xi Yan might not be the poisoner—but since the affair has now alarmed the Emperor, it is no longer something he can influence.

Hu Xiaotian walked slowly to Mu Rongzhan's front and blocked his path.

Mu Rongzhan's silver eyes coldly fixed on Hu Xiaotian as he said, 'Sir Hu, do you intend to stop me?'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, 'Everything needs rules; Commander Murong, since you say you came by the Emperor's order, may I ask if you have an imperial edict?'

A faint cold smile curled Mu Rongzhan's lips: 'Sir Hu, if you don't believe me, just follow me to verify before the Emperor.'

Hu Xiaotian stood firm, not retreating an inch, his bright eyes flashing icy killing intent: 'I don't doubt the Emperor; I doubt you. If you hand the suspect over, I fear she won't live to see the Emperor.'

Mu Rongzhan's hand slowly rested on his sword hilt: 'Sir Hu, I am carrying out the Emperor's orders; please do not make things difficult for me.'

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: 'This concerns the princess's safety; I must investigate thoroughly myself, and I will not hand over the suspect until I uncover the true mastermind.'

Mu Rongzhan's pale hand clenched the sword hilt: 'Sir Hu, are you trying to make things difficult for me?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Commander Murong, everyone knows what you intend; just go report to the Emperor—I will take responsibility for any consequences.'

Mu Rongzhan chuckled: 'You will take responsibility? I doubt you can.' His smile vanished and he shouted sternly, 'Men! Take the suspect away!' Over ten palace guards behind him closed in on Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and scanned the guards; wherever his gaze fell, they avoided his killing intent. These guards were Mu Rongzhan's confidants, the few remaining from this personnel reshuffle, most of whom had worked with Hu Xiaotian before—how could they not know his character? No one wanted to offend him, knowing they could not afford to, yet as palace guards they could not disobey their superior's orders, leaving them momentarily torn.

Hu Xiaotian scoffed: 'Why bother making things difficult for a brother? If you want to take the suspect, just step over my body.' He not only did not retreat but stepped forward, powerful inner force surging from his dantian qi sea, instantly filling his meridians and emanating an invisible pressure that made everyone around hold their breath.

Quan De'an sighed: 'Gentlemen, we serve the same palace; why turn against each other over a single suspect?'

Mu Rongzhan sneered: 'Good! Let me test your skills, Sir Hu!' He slowly drew the slender sword at his waist, exposing an inch of blade. His icy killing intent spread over a radius of one zhang; the guards behind him retreated. He said word by word, 'Defying the edict, showing contempt for the court. Sir Hu, you can still regret and turn back.'

Hu Xiaotian smiled: 'Only the Emperor has the right to condemn me—you? You're not worthy.' Mu Rongzhan's actions today had already stirred Hu Xiaotian's inner anger. This man's stance is unclear, his motives suspect; handing Xi Yan over to him would likely bring more harm than good. Hu Xiaotian could not risk her life.

As the battle was about to erupt, a soft cough came from afar—it was Yongyang Princess Qiqi, supported by two palace maids, walking out; her face still somewhat pale, her body clearly not fully recovered.

Seeing the princess approach, everyone hurriedly bowed; Hu Xiaotian and Mu Rongzhan also abandoned the idea of fighting.

Qiqi's clear, bright eyes coldly fixed on Mu Rongzhan as she said, 'Commander Murong, you brought so many men and made such a show—what are you doing here?'

Mu Rongzhan respectfully said: 'Your Highness, I have come by the Emperor's order to take away the assassin.' He glanced at Hu Xiaotian and added, 'But Sir Hu firmly refuses.'

Qiqi turned to Hu Xiaotian and asked, 'Why do you not allow it?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The assassin surely has someone behind him pulling the strings; I do not trust Commander Murong. Just now outside the Storage Excellence Palace, if I had not intervened in time, the assassin would already have died under his sword. If the assassin died, I would have no hope of finding the antidote, let alone detoxifying the princess smoothly.' Hu Xiaotian's words were quite blunt, amounting to an open accusation that Mu Rongzhan wanted to kill and silence, nearly indirectly causing Qiqi's death.

Mu Rongzhan's face darkened: 'If one wants to add a crime, excuses are never lacking; Sir Hu, are you suspecting me?'

Hu Xiaotian nodded: 'In short, I will not hand her over to someone who cannot clear his own suspicion; the Emperor trusts you, I do not.'

You!

Qiqi sighed: 'Before the matter is cleared, our own people are fighting instead, mutual blame helps nothing; since this affair originated from my palace, I will investigate it thoroughly, Commander Murong.'

Your servant is here!

Qiqi glanced at him indifferently and said: 'No need for you to worry about this side; when you have time, patrol the palace more and don't let assassins slip in again.'

Mu Rongzhan was instantly speechless; Hu Xiaotian's obstruction he could still argue about, but now that the princess herself had appeared, he could not openly turn against her under the Emperor's banner, so for now he could only relent.

Mu Rongzhan said: 'Your Highness, I have a few words I wish to say to you alone.'

Hu Xiaotian interjected: 'The princess's poison has not healed; let's talk another day!' In his heart he loathed Mu Rongzhan intensely; previously he had shown him some deference for Murong Feiyan's sake, never expecting him to harbor ill intentions—judging by today's attempt to eliminate Xi Yan, this man surely has other motives.

Qiqi glanced at Hu Xiaotian with a hint of reproach and whispered, 'I will see Commander Murong off.'

Thank you, Your Highness!

Seeing Qiqi and Mu Rongzhan's group depart, Quan De'an let out a long sigh of relief.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Eunuch Quan, you really trust people!'

Quan De'an certainly heard the mockery in his words, gave an embarrassed cough, and said: 'Sir Hu, we merely promised her a way out, never said we would let her go; we lack the ability, and even more the courage.'

Hu Xiaotian couldn't be bothered to argue, and said softly: 'I'll go in and have a look.'

Quan De'an wanted to say something but held his tongue; just as Hu Xiaotian's hand touched the door, Qiqi's cold voice sounded from behind: 'You really do care about her, don't you?'

Hu Xiaotian stopped in his tracks, not expecting Qiqi to return so quickly, and unaware what Mu Rongzhan had said to her in that moment; he turned around, smiled, and said: 'Your Highness, the wind is strong outside; since your poison has not healed, you should rest—I will handle affairs here.'

Qiqi smiled, a smile that could not be described as anything but cold, and slowly approached the door, pushing it open and entering.

Hu Xiaotian silently thought, 'Not good,' although he had kept Xi Yan by his side, he did not know Qiqi's motive this time; he hurriedly followed her inside, and Quan De'an shook his head and also went in.

Two palace maids brought a chair for Qiqi to sit; she sat, lightly waved her hand, and one maid lit a candle, bringing it close to illuminate Xi Yan's face—Xi Yan met her gaze without fear.

After looking for a while, Qiqi then said: 'You are indeed of heavenly beauty and national fragrance; no wonder some people lose their wits over you, willingly risking their lives to protect you.' As she spoke, her beautiful eyes unintentionally glanced at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian's scalp tingled; it seemed matters were indeed becoming more troublesome. He knew Qiqi's nature all too well—cold, ruthless, unfeeling toward kin. If she decided Xi Yan had some grudge against him, he could not predict what cold-blooded measures she might take. Moreover, her tone clearly held jealousy; when this woman grows jealous, she is capable of any madness. Thinking of this, Hu Xiaotian felt a chill.

Qiqi said: 'Speak—why did you plot against me?'

Xi Yan smiled faintly: 'If I wanted to harm you, why would I have saved you?'

Qiqi said: 'Perhaps you were frightened, perhaps you used this method to save your own life, or perhaps you did it for certain people.'

Xi Yan said: 'Whether I save you or not, you will die either way; letting you, this delicate and precious princess, perish together would surely be far more worthwhile.'

Qiqi said coldly: 'What a sharp tongue—looks like I need to give you a lesson before you'll speak the truth. Come here!'

Hu Xiaotian chuckled from the side: 'Your Highness, you should go rest; I will handle matters here.'

Qiqi gave him a faint smile: 'How could I always trouble you with my affairs?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'It is my duty.'

Qiqi reached out and took Hu Xiaotian's big hand, lightly pressing her delicate face against the back of his hand; her lovely eyes full of pride fixed on Xi Yan, whose heart trembled at the sight and she unconsciously bit her cherry lip.

Hu Xiaotian knew Qiqi was deliberately using this intimate pose to provoke Xi Yan; recalling all Xi Yan had done for him, now being stimulated by Qiqi made him feel guilty, and he said softly: 'Your poison has just healed; you had better go rest, Eunuch Quan…'

'How? Are you in a hurry to chase me away? Is it that you still have something to say with her?'

Qiqi gripped Hu Xiaotian's big hand tightly, yet her palm gradually grew cold, her lovely eyes coldly fixed on him.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Yes! She agreed to save you because I accepted her terms—I promised to let her go, and thus she gave me the Black Ice Clam.'

Qiqi chuckled: 'You intend to let her go?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Yes!'

Qiqi violently flung off Hu Xiaotian's hand, stood up, eyes blazing, stared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Eunuch Quan, kill her!"

First Update delivered, thanks for everyone's support, during the Double Period again ask for Monthly Ticket, tonight Zhangyu will also provide an update! (To be continued~^~)