Chapter 1416

Hu Xiaotian gave a slight smile and said to the several subordinates filled with righteous indignation: "Please stay calm, do not be agitated. The Fragrant Kingdom has always called itself a land of rites. The Empress Dowager was once a princess of Dakang; speaking of it, she is not an outsider, and she always reasons." He said to Ying Tianhong: "Commander Ying, look, I haven't bathed in several days, my attire is disheveled; I cannot see the Empress Dowager like this. How about this: I'll go in first to bathe and change clothes, then come with you to see the Empress Dowager. That would be more solemn, and also a sign of respect for your Empress Dowager. What do you think?"

Ying Tianhong pondered for a moment; Hu Xiaotian's request was actually not excessive, so he nodded and said: "Sir Hu, please go quickly and return quickly."

Hu Xiaotian was then able to enter the Cui Garden; he had his subordinates prepare hot water, and also had someone prepare food. This guy comfortably took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and then drank wine together with Zhao Wusheng and a few others.

Just as they sat down, Ying Tianhong had someone come in to urge them, but Hu Xiaotian ignored her, having the Phoenix Feather Guard report back to Ying Tianhong; they were eating, and after finishing their meal they would go over. Indeed it was already lunchtime, Hu Xiaotian had been hungry for so many days, he definitely needed to eat a proper meal—no matter what the Empress Dowager says, I'll first fill my stomach before talking.

At the banquet he briefly recounted his experiences of the past two days, of course only mentioning the infiltration of the Pure Mystery Temple, and not uttering a word about Ji Feihua.

Xia Zhangming, hearing this, couldn't help but feel a bit startled, and said in a low voice: "That Su Yujin is clearly an expert in driving poisonous insects; offending her will likely bring trouble for our lord."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I think she must have guessed my identity; those people outside may be connected to her."

Zhao Wusheng said worriedly: "In that case, the palace is even more off-limits; if the Empress Dowager wishes harm upon our lord, how can you, alone, cope in the palace?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "There's nothing to worry about; the Empress Dowager also has to reason, and moreover, the one trying to cause me trouble this time is not the Empress Dowager, but Su Yujin."

Zhan Peng said: "My lord, should we go inform Prince Fu?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "There's no need to drag him into this; moreover, his own situation isn't great either." Hu Xiaotian knew in his heart that Hu Buwei would not stand idly by on this matter.

Zhao Wusheng said: "Or I could go again to the Yuching Treasure Manor." He worried that this matter could not be conveyed in time to Hu Buwei's ears.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Don't worry; even if you don't go, whatever happens here will still reach their ears in time. The Phoenix Feather Guard will temporarily not let you leave; for now we can only respond statically to their moves, and I know exactly what they want from me."

Ying Tianhong waited a full hour, just about to lose patience, when he finally saw Hu Xiaotian walk out of the Cui Garden. Ying Tianhong had someone fetch him a fine horse. Hu Xiaotian mounted and, turning to Ying Tianhong, smiled and said: "Commander Ying, have you been waiting anxiously?"

Ying Tianhong said coldly: "I have plenty of patience!" He understood that Hu Xiaotian was deliberately delaying to make things difficult for him.

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily, shook the reins, and slowly proceeded toward the palace.

At this time Hu Buwei was with Long Xuanjiao; he explained the purpose of this trip to her. Long Xuanjiao, hearing this, exclaimed in astonishment: "What? You want me to add Hu Xiaotian's name back into the palace?"

Hu Buwei nodded and said: "Not bad!"

Long Xuanjiao said, bewildered: "Earlier you had me strike his name from the record; now you want me to add it back. Buwei, what exactly are you up to? Don't forget, I am the Empress Dowager of a nation. To go back on your word—how will others view me?"

Hu Buwei laughed: "Don't forget the purpose of this summoning of prince consorts. To deal with Dakang, we must find the most worthwhile partner, setting aside their origins; looking over these candidates, who could be more suitable than Hu Xiaotian?"

Long Xuanjiao said: "The Seventh Prince of Da Yong, Xue Daoming, is stronger than him in every way, right?"

Hu Buwei said: "Da Yong is currently being dragged into war by the Black Hu, leaving no spare capacity for other matters; moreover, the current emperor of Dakang is Xue Daohong, who hates Xue Daoming to the point of wanting him dead. Becoming a prince consort would hardly help the Fragrant Kingdom at all."

Long Xuanjiao said: "If Li Honghan of Xichuan becomes the prince consort, when we march on Dakang they can conduct a flanking maneuver from the west; surely pacifying Dakang would be as easy as turning over one's hand."

Hu Buwei chuckled: "In the whole world, nobody knows Li Tianheng better than I do. This man shuts himself off after achieving success, selfish and self-interested; although he sits on the excellent terrain of Xichuan, he clings to conservatism, wasting a great opportunity in vain. Even if you become in-laws with him, when you later send troops against Dakang, he may not necessarily help you."

Long Xuanjiao said: "Even so, the Beggar Sect's Shangguan Yun Chong is far more reliable than Hu Xiaotian; at least the Beggar Sect's influence spreads across the world, and its strength is inferior to none of the nations."

Hu Buwei said: "Although the Beggar Sect's strength is not small, unfortunately Shangguan Tianhuo within the sect is not enough to convince the masses; according to what I know, it is likely that someone will soon move against them father and son. You wouldn't want Princess Yingyue to have just married there and become a widow, would you?"

Long Xuanjiao snorted coldly: "All this talk, you're not doing it for your own son's sake; deep down you're still protecting Hu Xiaotian!"

Hu Buwei said: "Do you still doubt my sincerity even to this day? Setting aside my relationship with Hu Xiaotian, his current status and ability are indeed the most suitable assistance; if he could become the prince consort of the Fragrant Kingdom, and we join forces, attacking Dakang from south and north would be effortless."

Long Xuanjiao said: "Buwei, I always thought I understood you well, but now it seems I may have been mistaken."

As Hu Buwei was about to speak, Long Xuanjiao reached out and covered his mouth, gazing at him affectionately, and said: "You know I won't refuse; forget it, then let it be as you say."

Hu Xiaotian was brought to the Dao Origin Palace; upon entering its main gate, he felt something was off. This should be the Daoist hall inside the palace, not the living quarters or administrative offices, and the air was filled with the scent of incense. Hu Xiaotian had beforehand thought this matter might be related to Su Yujin, but he never expected her to be so bold as to forge an imperial edict and trick him into entering the palace.

Gazing at the snowy-white-haired figure in the courtyard, Hu Xiaotian already understood everything. He nodded meaningfully toward Ying Tianhong, who said nothing and quietly withdrew. In the empty courtyard only Su Yujin and Hu Xiaotian remained.

Hu Xiaotian took a stick of incense from the nearby offering table, went to the incense burner, lit it, bowed, and inserted the incense.

Su Yujin slowly turned around, her eyes calmly fixed on Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian had infiltrated the Pure Mystery Temple not only by changing his appearance but also by wearing a mask; his current build and looks are completely different from before, so judging solely by outward appearance one would never think it's the same person. However, experts of Su Yujin's caliber always perceive the essence through phenomena and are not easily deceived by appearances.

Su Yujin said: "Praying for blessings, sincerity brings efficacy; if a person cannot even manage the most basic sincerity, what's the point of going through the motions, deceiving oneself and others?"

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Su Yujin with a smiling squint and said: "What this old lady says makes sense!"

Su Yujin knew he was deliberately addressing her that way to provoke her anger and disturb her mind; she gave a slight smile and said: "It seems you don't care about her life or death."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please forgive my ignorance; I don't understand your meaning." Ji Feihua had already inferred earlier that Su Yujin was the mother of Murong Feiyan, so Hu Xiaotian naturally did not take her threats to heart.

Su Yujin, unwilling to beat around the bush, said: "Return whatever you took from the Pure Mystery Temple, or else Murong Feiyan will lose her life because of your actions."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Still not clear!"

Su Yujin said: "Even if you don't understand, you surely know Murong Feiyan, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I know her, but you seem to have mistaken the person; I have never been to the Pure Mystery Temple, nor have I taken anything of yours."

Su Yujin shouted angrily: "Nonsense! You dare to lie!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The lying is on your part; I thought it was really the Empress Dowager summoning me, but it turns out you forged an imperial edict to trick me into the palace—deceiving the sovereign and superiors is a capital offense, need I remind you?"

Su Yujin glared at Hu Xiaotian, her eyes practically shooting fire.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since Feiyan is with you, please hand her over to me; otherwise I won't let you off."

Su Yujin shouted: "Bold!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "My courage has never been small!"

Seeing that force wouldn't work, Su Yujin changed tactics, softly sighing and said: "Hu Xiaotian, I know what you want in my heart; as long as you return that item to me, I can help you become a prince consort."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I had it, I would certainly give it to you, but how can I give you something I clearly don't possess? Why must you make things difficult for me?"

Just as Su Yujin was about to say something more, Ying Tianhong hurried in from outside, leaned close to her ear and whispered something; Su Yujin's expression shifted, she gave Hu Xiaotian a cold glance, and swept her sleeves as she left.

Ying Tianhong said to Hu Xiaotian: "The Empress Dowager wishes to see you!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Commander Ying, you won't deceive me again this time, will you?"

This time Ying Tianhong indeed did not deceive him; even Ying Tianhong himself did not know how the Empress Dowager learned of Hu Xiaotian's entry into the palace.

Su Yujin's threat using Murong Feiyan also shows, from another angle, that Feiyan is likely safe and sound; moreover, their true relationship is mother and daughter, and Su Yujin has no firm proof that it was definitely Feiyan who released her. The earlier conversation shows she still cannot be certain that it was she who stole the skull; she is mainly just testing.

Hu Xiaotian followed Ying Tianhong to the Virtue Trust Palace, and indeed Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao was right here.

Hu Xiaotian was still seeing Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao's true appearance for the first time; he shouted aloud: "Empress Dowager, Thousand Years, ten thousand years! Xiaotian offers my respects!" Given his current status, there is no need for him to perform the kowtow before Long Xuanjiao; a respectful bow with clasped hands already gives her great honor. (To be continued~^~)