Chapter 1382: [Stone Probe Path] (Lower)

Liang Yinghao, being a bandit by birth, blurted out rudely: "What the hell does this old woman want to do?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "In any case, it's not good. On the way I saw many fights and brawls; even before the son-in-law selection began, countless similar incidents have already occurred. If the selection officially starts, their disputes will surely be many. I think Long Xuanjiao might use this to stir up conflicts among all sides and create hatred."

Zhao Wusheng said: "An innocent man who possesses a precious jade incurs guilt; whoever becomes the prince consort will surely become the target of everyone's anger."

Several people simultaneously looked at Hu Xiaotian; they were all worried about him. His goal for this trip was very clear: he was determined to win Princess Yingyue; as for the prince consort position, he didn't care.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I suddenly thought of something. If someone knows who is most likely to become the prince consort, what would everyone do before the official result is announced?"

The three said nothing. Hu Xiaotian said: "Everyone would gang up and kill the person most likely to become the prince consort before the result is revealed."

Everyone knows the principle that outstanding timber invites the wind's destruction; the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's prince-consort selection is far from the romantic beauty it sounds like, and the truth behind it is bloody and cruel.

After the banquet, Zhan Peng accompanied Hu Xiaotian back to his room, closed the door, and whispered: "My lord, I saw Miss Murong."

Hu Xiaotian's expression instantly turned grave; the disappearance of Murong Feiyan had always been an inexplicable mystery to him. He didn't understand why Hu Buwei would leave Murong Feiyan behind. Given Murong Feiyan's martial skill, she clearly had a chance to return to Dakang, so why did she ultimately choose to stay in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom? He nodded and said: "What did she say?"

Zhan Peng sighed: "She seems to have forgotten me."

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted, and he blurted: "What?"

Zhan Peng said: "I can be certain I'm not mistaken, but when she passed me face-to-face, she seemed not to know me at all."

Hu Xiaotian frowned. Perhaps Murong Feiyan deliberately avoided recognizing Zhan Peng, after all this is within the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom; maybe she has unavoidable difficulties. He whispered: "Do you know where she is?"

Zhan Peng said: "Now she has been appreciated by the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's Empress Dowager and appointed as Deputy Commander of the Phoenix Feather Guard." The Phoenix Feather Guard is the Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao's personal guard stationed beside her, numbering over three thousand. It consists entirely of female martial experts; the fact that Murong Feiyan could become a member of Long Xuanjiao's personal guard shows she should have already gained Long Xuanjiao's trust. This makes the situation even more perplexing; Hu Xiaotian really can't fathom what exactly happened. If it was said that in the past Murong Feiyan didn't leave because she was being controlled, now as Deputy Commander of the Phoenix Feather Guard she is already a free person, and as long as she wishes she could at any time leave the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom and return to his side, yet she hasn't left for a long time. Could it truly be as Zhan Peng said, that she has lost her memory?

Hu Xiaotian pondered for a long time before saying: "Any news about others?"

Zhan Peng said: "Besides Murong Feiyan, we haven't yet encountered the others, and our activities are limited to Fragrant Scent City. Perhaps they aren't all here."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "You've worked hard."

Zhan Peng laughed: "There's nothing toil about; my lord, you've come a long way, I won't disturb your rest." He rose and took his leave.

Hu Xiaotian, however, fell into a prolonged silence. The matters in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom finally came to a point where they needed resolution; many past grudges would have to be settled here, but Zhan Peng's earlier words cast a shadow over his heart. Just how many secrets did Hu Buwei's original departure still hold?

The news of Hu Xiaotian's arrival in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom first reached Prince Fu Yang Longyue's ears, yet Yang Longyue dared not come openly to meet him, for every move of Prince Fu is now under the Empress Dowager's surveillance. If he were to contact Hu Xiaotian too frequently, letting Long Xuanjiao notice, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Prince Fu sent his confidant, his chief strategist Liao Yuansheng, to pay a visit.

Hu Xiaotian received Liao Yuansheng in the Emerald Garden.

Liao Yuansheng first conveyed Prince Fu's greetings to Hu Xiaotian, then explained why Prince Fu could not come in person.

Hu Xiaotian's main purpose this time was to bring Long Xi Yue and Murong Feiyan back from the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, and preferably to settle old grudges as well.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I heard that many people have come this time."

Liao Yuansheng nodded and said: "The Empress Dowager has spread the news of the prince-consort selection throughout the world, and not only that, she promised that whoever is fortunate enough to be favored by Princess Yingyue and become an attendant will receive a generous dowry from the Empress Dowager."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Just how generous is this dowry?"

Liao Yuansheng leaned in and lowered his voice: "The Empress Dowager has decided to grant the Redwood River region, located between the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom and Southern Yue Kingdom, to Princess Yingyue as her dowry."

Hu Xiaotian was startled upon hearing this; he had heard of the Redwood River before, knowing that this region lies between mountains and sea, with a southern wide and northern narrow terrain. In terms of area alone, it is twice as large as the area he currently controls. Historically, the fate of the Redwood River has always been ambiguous; it originally belonged to Dakang, but later, because the region was remote and inhabited by many tribes, Dakang paid insufficient attention to it, so its administration existed in name only. When the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom rose, its forces entered the Redwood River, and Southern Yue Kingdom also sought to seize this land, leading to nearly a century of conflict between the two kingdoms over the Redwood River. Only thirty years ago did they finally sign an agreement: the Redwood River would be nominally administered by the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, but Southern Yue Kingdom's citizens could enter and leave without restriction, making it effectively a shared territory, and they also reached a tacit understanding that neither side would unilaterally alter the status quo. Now, by granting the Redwood River as a dowry, the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom is about to break this balance single-handedly.

Liao Yuansheng said: "If this news becomes public, I fear heroes from all over will flock to it even more eagerly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Empress Dowager is trying to provoke a worldwide conflict!"

Liao Yuansheng said: "As far as I know, Shajia, Southern Yue, and Xichuan all covet the Redwood River."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Empress Dowager's intentions are so obvious that others would surely see through her true motives."

Liao Yuansheng sighed: "So what? Who knows if they won't go with the flow and use her plans against her? If the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom continues to be tossed about like this, its downfall is not far off." As a subject of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, he couldn't help but feel deep concern for the kingdom's fate.

Hu Xiaotian suddenly recalled an old saying: "When women rule the household, walls collapse and houses fall." It seems women indeed have innate limitations in politics—shortsightedness and narrow vision—and even Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao cannot escape her own limitations. He then inquired about Mr. Lan, that is, Hu Buwei.

Liao Yuansheng said: "Mr. Lan has not been in Fragrant Scent City recently; according to our information, he has been staying in South Sun Bay during this period."

"South Sun Bay?" Hu Xiaotian frowned. South Sun Bay lies at the southernmost tip of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom; beyond it is the vast ocean, and the distance from South Sun Bay to Fragrant Scent City is six hundred li. Could Hu Buwei be deliberately avoiding this prince-consort recruitment?

Liao Yuansheng said: "South Sun Bay has gathered the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's finest naval forces."

Hu Xiaotian, upon hearing this, recalled the ten thousand elite naval troops that Hu Buwei had brought from Dakang—power grows from the barrel of a gun, and in any era or society this truth hardly changes. Perhaps Hu Buwei had long realized that only by firmly controlling the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's military power could he guarantee Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao's rule. He whispered: "Mr. Liao, have you heard the names Zhou Mo and Xiao Tianmu?"

Liao Yuansheng shook his head in confusion: "I have never heard of them."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself: Zhou Mo had once used the name Zhou Batian while in Xichuan; since that worked before, it could still work now. After arriving in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, perhaps he and Xiao Tianmu have both changed their names.

Hu Xiaotian took out the sketches he had drawn from memory of the two men; his past drawing skills actually came in handy. Liao Yuansheng took the sketches, looked at the two figures, and exclaimed in shock: "This person is Di Zhen Tian! He has been heavily relied upon in recent years and is the commander of the South Sun Bay navy." He was referring to Zhou Mo.

Hu Xiaotian had long been prepared for this: Zhou Mo, Zhou Mo, you have deceived me terribly—from sworn brothers to now, I still don't know your true names; I once trusted you completely, even regarding you as my own brothers, but in the end you betrayed me, and this wound is deep.

Liao Yuansheng only recognized Zhou Mo; as for Xiao Tianmu, he had no impression of him.

Liao Yuansheng also told Hu Xiaotian that, although they had arrived in Fragrant Scent City, they still needed to hurry to register, for the deadline to apply for the prince-consort position is August 15. He had specially brought a Phoenix Cry Plaque, which serves as a special pass for entering and exiting various government offices; with this plaque one can directly enter all official departments and avoid queuing. Hu Xiaotian examined it and found it useful—it is equivalent to a modern VIP card, showing that privilege exists in every society and every state.

After Liao Yuansheng left, Hu Xiaotian summoned Zhao Wusheng and together they went to the Honglu Temple. Upon arriving at the Honglu Temple, they immediately understood why Liao Yuansheng had specially delivered the Phoenix Cry Plaque: outside the Honglu Temple crowds gathered, all coming to apply for the prince-consort position. Since the registration deadline was still two days away, many had spent the night queuing at the gate.

The Honglu Temple also served as the first checkpoint for screening: first, those who did not meet the age requirement were eliminated—according to regulations, applicants must be between eighteen and forty years old; then, those cross-dressing as men were eliminated—though this seemed unlikely, quite a few tried to sneak in, and in just the past three days twelve women disguised as men were caught; those with disabilities or ugly looks were also eliminated; finally came identity verification, which was actually the most stringent step—without proper identification, even if all other conditions were met, one could not succeed in registration. (To be continued...)