Chapter 1429

Xiao Tianmu sat quietly in the study, hearing the door open, he softly asked: "Master, have you come?"

Xu Fengmei said: "No need to get up, just stay seated!"

Xiao Tianmu asked: "What did he say?"

Xu Fengmei sighed softly: "He wouldn't admit it, but I suspect he's up to something."

Xiao Tianmu said: "Hu Xiaotian always likes to seek victory in danger; he has been passive lately, and given his temperament he will surely look for a chance to turn the tables—this is most likely his doing."

Xu Fengmei asked: "Was the Beggars' Sect's information leaked to him by your adoptive father?"

Xiao Tianmu nodded: "He probably didn't expect Hu Xiaotian to strike at the root, daring to move against Yang Longjing."

Xu Fengmei couldn't help laughing: "Why are you so sure that Yang Longjing's affair is definitely Hu Xiaotian's doing?"

Xiao Tianmu said: "I know him! Although he seems frivolous, he values feelings deeply; he would never ignore his father's affairs." As he said this, a hint of guilt suddenly welled up in his heart.

Xu Fengmei said: "He certainly has a lot on his plate; I heard the palace announced that whoever safely rescues Yang Longjing will become the prince consort."

Xiao Tianmu smiled lightly: "No one would want to be the one to stick their neck out; even the people of Tianxiang State can't find him, and if outsiders found him, wouldn't that prove he did it?" He paused: "I'm a bit worried about my adoptive father; I don't know how he's feeling now."

Hu Buwei was accompanying Long Xuanjiao; from his calm expression, his mood seemed not greatly affected; he handed her the bird's nest porridge: "Eat something, don't let yourself starve and ruin your health."

Long Xuanjiao said: "No need to urge me, I can't eat!"

Hu Buwei could only set it down. He reached out to hold her hand, softly comforting: "Put your mind at ease; a fortunate person enjoys heavenly favor..."

Long Xuanjiao suddenly shook off his hand: "Don't say such things! What does 'a fortunate person enjoys heavenly favor' mean? If it weren't for your advice, you wouldn't have made such a fuss about recruiting a prince consort—would Longjing have gotten into trouble? Tianxiang State was originally living peacefully, the country prosperous and the people safe. Longjing was fine as king—what's wrong with that? What else am I dissatisfied with? It's your ambition that harmed him!"

Hu Buwei remained silent, then said softly: "I am also thinking of him; even a tiger does not eat its own cub..."

Long Xuanjiao snapped: "You may not care about Hu Xiaotian's life, but you can equally disregard Longjing!"

Hu Buwei's cheek muscles twitched violently, his gaze grew gloomy, he drew a deep breath. His face showed a pained, tormented expression as he said softly: "If you think of me this way, I have nothing more to say."

Long Xuanjiao said: "No matter what you think, I only want my son; I want Longjing to return safely!" Her emotions were overly agitated. Suddenly she felt a splitting headache, clenched her right fist against her brow, her expression anguished.

Hu Buwei asked anxiously: "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Long Xuanjiao shook her head.

Hu Buwei said: "I have mobilized all forces to search; I believe we will have results soon."

Long Xuanjiao waited until her headache eased before saying: "Have you considered how much effort I put into helping Longjing ascend the throne, and how many want to eliminate us mother and son? If Longjing suffers misfortune, who will sit on Tianxiang State's throne? If something happens to him, I cannot live on..." She said this and burst into tears.

Hu Buwei said: "Just rest assured, Longjing will come to no harm!"

Long Xuanjiao let out a long sigh, seeming to have finally calmed: "I suspect this is likely the work of Prince Fu. If Longjing comes to harm, he stands to gain the most, and he has always harbored ambitions to replace him."

Hu Buwei said: "I advised you long ago to get rid of him early, but you wouldn't listen."

Long Xuanjiao said: "If it is proven related to him, I will certainly not let him off."

Hu Buwei said: "Regardless of whether this matter concerns him, it is an opportunity to eliminate him."

Long Xuanjiao did not understand Hu Buwei's meaning, she murmured: "Are you saying to investigate his guilt?"

Hu Buwei shook his head: "Pinning the blame on him might not convince everyone; His Majesty is missing, and if Prince Fu were to have an accident now, no one would suspect you."

Long Xuanjiao could not help admiring Hu Buwei's scheming, yet at the same time she felt a chill from her heart; even now, Hu Buwei could keep such a clear mind, proving his actions are utterly unaffected by emotion, his inner strength immense. Long Xuanjiao asked herself she could not be like him, she painfully closed her eyes: "I only want Longjing safe." She even had a thought: as long as her son returns safely, even yielding the throne to Yang Longyue would be no matter. Perhaps only when truly faced with such a trial would Long Xuanjiao recognize herself—her ambition and ambition are far less important than her son, but what about Hu Buwei? She did not know; since this incident, he has become somewhat alien in her heart.

Hu Xiaotian left Abundant Blessings Manor, seeing Zhan Peng and Zhao Wusheng already waiting outside, he couldn't help laughing: "What? You're worried about me?"

The two also laughed at once: "Not that we're not worried, just being careful; these days won't be peaceful, one hero needs three helpers—our martial arts may not match the lord's, but we're hardly superfluous, right?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, swung onto his horse, riding between them. Zhao Wusheng said: "Just now, Zhu Ba of the Beggars' Sect came over!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Is he still here?"

Zhao Wusheng shook his head: "He asked me to pass a word to the lord."

"What words?"

"Long nights bring many dreams!"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled; counting Zhu Ba, tonight already two people have advised him to leave. It seems the Beggars' Sect and the Xu Clan have an inexplicable relationship; if so, why would the Beggars' Sect deal with Xu Lingkong? And why would Hu Buwei provoke him to point his spear at the Beggars' Sect? It appears there is also trouble between them. His hijacking of Yang Longjing should have upset everyone's plans, throwing all sides into chaos. This feeling of manipulating the big picture, making others revolve around him, is really not bad.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow will be the most crucial day; he will use this to deal a heavy blow to the Beggars' Sect, forcing them into a completely passive situation in Tianxiang State.

Hu Xiaotian suddenly reined in his horse, halting; Zhan Peng and Zhao Wusheng also stopped, both looking at him, wondering why he paused. Hu Xiaotian gazed at the distant outline of Tranquil Mountain Cottage and said softly: "Ahead is Tranquil Mountain Cottage; I'd like to swing by and see Mr. Lan."

Mr. Lan is Hu Buwei; Hu Xiaotian's visit is not out of concern for him, but to gauge his condition—one leaf reveals the autumn; from Hu Buwei's demeanor we can infer the palace's general state. In fact, Hu Buwei should also be testing him; the earlier meeting with Xu Fengmei, perhaps he already knew, or perhaps it was done at his behest.

When Hu Xiaotian arrived at Tranquil Mountain Cottage, Hu Buwei had just returned from the palace; his mood was not good. After the ongoing affair with Yang Longjing, Long Xuanjiao's performance truly disappointed him—he had thought her strong enough, yet she suddenly lost her composure. Hu Buwei realized he must find Yang Longjing quickly, otherwise Long Xuanjiao would sooner or later collapse, and since her future plans are closely tied to his, he absolutely cannot let her come to harm.

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's late-night visit, Hu Buwei had him ushered in and led straight to a room near the pond.

Under the lamplight, Hu Buwei sat alone at the table, sipping lightly; his tightly knit brows fully revealed his present gloomy mood.

Hu Xiaotian noticed that a set of bowls and chopsticks had been placed opposite him, untouched—apparently just prepared for him.

"Sit!" Hu Buwei's voice was rather solemn.

Seeing Hu Buwei's current appearance and hearing his low voice, a feeling of vengeful satisfaction rose deep in Hu Xiaotian's heart: "You once abandoned us mother and son, causing my mother to die resentful; now you finally taste the pain—doesn't losing loved ones feel awful?"

Hu Xiaotian picked up the wine pot, filled his own cup, raised it and said: "I toast you with a cup!"

Hu Buwei gazed at Hu Xiaotian, a hint of sorrow at the corners of his mouth: "We haven't sat together like this for a long time, have we?"

Hu Xiaotian no longer regarded him as his father in his heart; of course he also understands that Hu Buwei does not see him as his son. He said softly: "Life is like this—when affinities gather we stay together, when they part we go; some people far apart yet share hearts, some close as neighbors yet are strangers; you have experienced more than I, and you understand these truths better than I."

Hu Buwei sighed, drained his cup in one gulp, set the empty cup down; Hu Xiaotian helped refill the cup before him, deliberately saying: "Do you and the King of Tianxiang State ever have a chance to drink together like this?"

Hu Buwei shook his head; he could tell Hu Xiaotian was deliberately provoking him, rubbing salt in the wound—this kid lacks conscience, but when has he ever been conscientious? Perhaps he is feeling pleased right now.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Ruler and subject are different; monarchs usually must bear the sorrow of being alone and widowed; perhaps he never gets a chance to share a light drink with you."

Hu Buwei said: "Whoever abducted him made a bad move; many people are actually not as important as everyone imagines." He suspected this matter involved Hu Xiaotian, yet found no evidence; Hu Xiaotian's movements these past two days are entirely under his grasp, and the people around Hu Xiaotian he knows well—no one could have silently taken the monarch from the Summer Resort; this is truly suspicious.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "To a selfish, cold-hearted person, no one matters more than himself."

Hu Buwei nodded: "You have always held a grudge against me in your heart."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not really a grudge; after so long, I've forgotten everything." He paused: "Do you know who I just went to see?"

Hu Buwei shook his head.

"Xu Fengmei! Manager of the Jinling Xu Clan; perhaps I should also call her aunt."

Hu Buwei said: "What does she want you to do?" (To be continued... ^~^)