Chapter 1389

Rong Feiyan said: "Empress Dowager, so many people have poured into Fragrant Scent City in a short time, among whom there are certainly those with ulterior motives; wanting to guarantee that everyone remains safe and sound is indeed difficult."

Long Xuanjiao said calmly: "Have you heard something?"

Rong Feiyan nodded and said: "I heard that last night at Prince Fu's mansion, the Black Hu Prince and the Southern Yue Prince clashed on the spot, and they almost came to blows. With more than twenty days left until the ninth day of the ninth month, I worry that similar incidents will keep occurring."

Long Xuanjiao said: "Let them make a fuss if they want; as long as no lives are lost, let them handle the rest."

Rong Feiyan said: "I'm just afraid that many things will develop out of control."

Long Xuanjiao said: "Don't worry, everything is under my control."

Prince Fu Yang Long listened as strategist Liao Yuansheng finished explaining the latest situation, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously revealed a knowing smile.

Liao Yuansheng said: "Congratulations, Prince! Congratulations, Prince!"

Prince Fu chuckled and said: "What do I have to be happy about?"

Liao Yuansheng said: "It seems the situation will be even more interesting than we expected; I'm afraid that before the Double Ninth selection, these people will start fighting among themselves."

Prince Fu Yang Long said: "The livelier the fight, the better—drawing all these people into Fragrant Scent City, there's only one princess, and over ten thousand people are vying for her; does she really think this situation is easy to control? I see her inevitably ending up lifting a stone only to drop it on her own foot!" The "she" Prince Fu Yang Long referred to naturally is Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao.

Liao Yuansheng lowered his voice and said: "Actually, everyone understands that the final prince-consort candidate will be chosen from among those dozen or so people; in your opinion, Prince, who has the best chance?"

Prince Fu Yang Long said meaningfully: "Whoever can stay safe and sound until the day of the selection, we'll talk then!"

Liao Yuansheng said full of flattery: "Prince, you truly have high vision!"

Prince Fu Yang Long said: "Mr. Liao, what do you think I should do now?"

Liao Yuansheng said: "To respond to all changes with constancy—do nothing; in fact, the more one does, the easier it is to make mistakes. Prince, you just need to wait quietly for others to err."

On Mid-Autumn night, Hu Xiaotian prepared to go to the Moon-Gaining Pavilion for an appointment, to spend the festival with his cousin Xu Mu Bai. Just before leaving, someone delivered a letter; Hu Xiaotian opened it and was startled to see it read: "Be careful, someone has poisoned."

Hu Xiaotian had Zhan Peng go out to find the messenger, but when he went out to look, the messenger had already vanished.

This letter is rather strange, but the messenger should know about my attendance at the banquet tonight—someone poisoned? Whether true or false, we must be extra vigilant. Hu Xiaotian thought it over; although he had to go to the Moon-Gaining Pavilion, he saw no need to bring others along, so he had Zhao Wu Sheng and Zhan Peng stay behind and decided to go alone.

Zhao Wu Sheng and Zhan Peng felt strange, but after thinking, since it's just a gathering of cousins, tagging along might be inconvenient; given Hu Xiaotian's wisdom and martial skill, he could handle any danger.

Hu Xiaotian alone walked down the long street toward the Moon-Gaining Pavilion; today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yet there were not many pedestrians on the street, because of the recent assassination attempt. Security in Fragrant Scent City had been increased severalfold, with imperial guards patrolling everywhere; at this time, ordinary folk preferred to stay home for family reunions rather than go out and invite trouble.

The patrolling troops did not relax their vigilance because of the festival; whenever they encountered a suspicious person, they would step forward to question or even search them.

Hu Xiaotian also underwent several rounds of questioning in succession. Fortunately, he had the Phoenix Cry Token given by Prince Fu; when he showed it, the soldiers who had blocked his path immediately apologized and let him through. After this stop-and-go, he arrived before the Moon-Gaining Pavilion; today the pavilion's front was deserted, with few carriages and horses, a stark contrast to the usual scene of guests filling the doorway. Had he not previously taken on a few jobs, the shopkeeper would have wanted to close early and go home for the festival.

Hu Xiaotian tossed his mount to the stable boy, telling him to take it to graze; at that moment another troop passed by his side—it was the renowned Phoenix Feather Guard of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, led by none other than Murong Feiyan. Hu Xiaotian greeted her proactively: "Captain Murong, why are you working overtime during the festival?"

Murong Feiyan gave him a cold glance and ignored him.

Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly, thinking she must have suffered some mishap and thus forgotten him. Recalling what happened to Le Yao, wasn't it that Xumi Tian used the Demonic Seed Great Method to seize Le Yao's body? He hoped the same would not happen to Murong Feiyan.

He pointed at the Moon-Gaining Pavilion and said: "On this Mid-Autumn night, when the moon is full and families reunite, Captain Murong, why not give me face and share a drink together?"

Murong Feiyan refused without mercy: "No time!" After saying that, she spurred her horse and galloped past Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian watched her retreating back, shaking his head helplessly.

From behind came a light cough—it was his cousin Xu Mu Bai appearing outside the Moon-Gaining Pavilion, having just witnessed that scene. Xu Mu Bai smiled and asked: "Cousin, what were you and Captain Murong talking about?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Nothing much, just inviting her in for a couple of drinks."

The two brothers entered the Moon-Gaining Pavilion together; Xu Mu Bai whispered: "This Captain Murong is a disciple of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's Grand Tutor Su Yun Jin; cousin, you'd better not provoke her lightly."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Who is Su Yun Jin again?"

Xu Mu Bai said: "Su Yun Jin is the sworn sister of Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao, and also the enlightenment teacher of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom's King Yang Long Jing; she counts as one of the most powerful women in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your information is truly well-informed."

Xu Mu Bai smiled: "The Xu family has many holdings in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, so we can still gather some news." He had just noticed Hu Xiaotian coming alone and wondered, a bit surprised: "Didn't I tell you to bring those brothers along? Why are you coming alone?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "They all thought it was just a family gathering, and bringing them along would be inconvenient."

Xu Mu Bai found his words reasonable, nodded and said: "All right!" The two went up to the third-floor elegant chamber; besides Xu Mu Bai's four maidservants, there was also a short, stout middle-aged man present. Seeing the two enter, he smiled warmly and rose to his feet. Xu Mu Bai introduced him to Hu Xiaotian: "This person is no outsider; he is the manager of the Abundant Blessings Treasure Pavilion, Xu Mu Cheng, and also our clansman elder brother."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, clasped his fists, and said: "Junior pays respects to Brother Mu Cheng."

Xu Mu Cheng laughed: "Brother Tian, I've long heard of your name; today we finally meet, and indeed you are a youthful hero!" He is not a direct descendant of the Xu family, his status in the clan far below that of Xu Mu Bai, but Xu Mu Cheng is worldly and savvy, managing the Xu family's holdings in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, and these years he has run them with notable success.

Xu Mu Bai had the dishes served; Hu Xiaotian recalled the letter he had received before coming, warning about poison in the food and drink. Looking at the dazzling array of dishes before him, which appeared normal on the surface, he still hesitated whether to tell Xu Mu Bai the letter's contents.

Xu Mu Bai gave a glance; the maid behind him took out a white jade needle and probed each dish, seeing no abnormality with the white jade needle, she then smiled at Xu Mu Bai.

Xu Mu Bai said: "Better safe than sorry; when dining out, one should always exercise extra caution."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "Cousin, are you worried that the wine and food might be poisoned?"

Xu Mu Bai nodded: "Anything is possible; these past days, Fragrant Scent City has seen successive assassination attempts targeting those who came to compete for the prince-consort position, so we ought to be a bit more careful."

A maid opened a brocade box, inside were jade wine cups; Xu Mu Bai had her take out three cups, giving one each to Xu Mu Cheng and Hu Xiaotian, and said to Hu Xiaotian: "These are jade night-light cups, a family heirloom of the Xu clan; the cup's color changes with the liquor, and if the wine contains poison, the cup turns black."

Hu Xiaotian secretly mused: Xu Mu Bai's considerations are truly thorough; with his layered precautions, I hardly need to reveal the letter's contents. Yet his doing this clearly aims to put me at ease, seeming like a case of 'covering up only to draw more attention'—could it be that the one intending to poison me is him? Gazing at Xu Mu Bai's graceful, warm, and jade-like demeanor, I really cannot fathom why he would want to harm me.

The maid filled the three cups, yet the liquid grew ever more bluish-green and clear, waves of wine fragrance assailing the nostrils; looking up, a full moon had already slowly risen in the night sky.

Xu Mu Bai said: "It's rare for us brothers to gather like this to celebrate Mid-Autumn; come, come, come—let's drink!"

Hu Xiaotian raised his cup to his lips, but before the wine reached his mouth, the indoor candles suddenly went out; everyone startled, they looked toward the window and saw a solitary figure standing on the opposite eave, wearing a silver mask, a black robe fluttering in the night wind like a banner flying in the sky; though some distance away, it gave those inside an invisible pressure.

Xu Mu Bai leapt to his feet, tapping his toe and turning into a white light that shot toward the window; Hu Xiaotian, worried he might meet with mishap, hurried after him.

The masked stranger stood still, watching the two youths dive down from midair; unhurried, when they were still a zhang away from him, he made no visible move, yet the tiles beneath his feet suddenly lifted, hundreds of tiles falling like rain and striking Xu Mu Bai.

The stranger tapped his toe, his body shooting like a meteor along the eave toward the distance. Hu Xiaotian shouted angrily: "Where do you think you're going!" He employed the Art of Soaring, leaping and darting through the void, instantly covering dozens of zhang.

Xu Mu Bai was blocked by those tiles; after knocking them down, they fell onto the eave; he looked up again, but the figures of the stranger and Hu Xiaotian had already vanished from sight.

Recently, as the year-end approaches, various gatherings have increased; Zhangyu will try to keep updates coming, hoping everyone will understand! (To be continued~^~)