Chapter 1443: [Only You] (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's a pity I'm clapping with one hand, Feihua..."

Ji Feihua had long known his meaning, she said calmly: "You seem to be relying on me, even household matters you want me to help with?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "With such a close relationship, why be formal?" He didn't treat himself as an outsider.

Ji Feihua said: "For a relationship to last, it must be mutually beneficial, but lately it seems you're the one using me, while I seem to get nothing."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "A lifetime is neither long nor short; this time you help me, I'll repay you with the rest of my days—is that enough?" If it were someone else, he wouldn't know how to say such shameless words, but facing Ji Feihua he still had some reservations; deep down he still felt a bit of fear toward her—no! It should be respect.

Ji Feihua hehe laughed and said: "Such talk should be said to women! Our household doesn't like to hear it, nor are we interested." Although Hu Xiaotian had seen through her true identity, she still refused to admit she was a woman. After a pause she added: "However, I'm quite interested in the events of those years; meeting Master Xu wouldn't hurt."

The next morning, Hu Xiaotian came to the palace early; with the Empress Dowager's bestowed dragon tablet, entry and exit were smooth, no one dared to question him.

Arriving at the inner palace, he routinely changed the medicine for Consort Long Xuanjiao and her son; their injuries recovered ideally. Consort Long Xuanjiao cared for her son's safety, early on having palace attendants lift her to Yang Longjing's bedside to visit; Yang Longjing then learned his mother was also ill, seeing his mother bedridden yet still concerned for him, he was moved to tears.

After Hu Xiaotian changed Consort Long Xuanjiao's medicine, he re-bandaged her head.

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "I feel much better; it seems I'll be able to walk freely in a few days."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Empress Dowager, boundless blessings."

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "Don't talk about boundless blessings; my current state is entirely thanks to you, Lord Hu. After my wound heals, will there be a scar on my head?" Women's primary concern is appearance; even she is no exception.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "No, I applied Mo Jade Regenerating Ointment on the Empress Dowager's wound; even if a scar remains, it won't be too noticeable."

Consort Long Xuanjiao nodded and said: "Then I can rest easy."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: a woman beautifies herself for the one she pleases. Consort Long Xuanjiao cares so much about her appearance, yet for whom? Perhaps she never lost her memory; maybe she's deliberately saying this to show dissatisfaction with Hu Buwei. He probed: "Empress Dowager, think carefully about the past—is there anything you still forgot?"

Consort Long Xuanjiao sighed: "I can't be bothered to think; after this illness I suddenly understood—people don't need to live so exhaustively, knowing who they are. Living peacefully is enough; why crave more?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Empress Dowager, you're wise; this principle may be simple, yet most people can't achieve it."

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "Lord Hu, I once promised: whoever saves the king, I will betroth Princess Yingyue to them."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing her finally bring this up, couldn't help a secret joy; indeed it was time for her to fulfill her promise.

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "You not only saved the king, but also saved my life; by now it should be announced that Princess Yingyue will marry you."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, felt her tone off; it seems there may be backtracking. If Consort Long Xuanjiao dares to go back on her word, then don't blame me for being impolite.

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "Announcing this directly would surely upset others. So after thinking, I still plan to go through the motions; everyone knows who Princess Yingyue is, so let her choose—you'll surely win without doubt, thus I can explain to others; I wonder if Lord Hu can understand my predicament?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: what Consort Long Xuanjiao said does make some sense; after all, so many people are coming for the prince-consort selection, we can't give them no explanation, even a perfunctory one would do; if Consort Long Xuanjiao isn't playing tricks, it's not a big deal, we can go along with the formalities; Princess Xiyue can only choose herself, and Hu Xiaotian has absolute confidence in that. He then nodded and said: "Empress Dowager, I have a request: before the selection, I'd like to first meet Princess Yingyue."

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "It's a small matter; I'll have Eunuch Zhou arrange it for you later."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing her agree so readily, suspected no deceit, and gradually relaxed.

Consort Long Xuanjiao also said: "Thank you, Lord Hu, for understanding my predicament; I've decided to gift Redwood River to you as a token. As for future dowry, I'll prepare it separately." Her ability to control the power of Tianxiang Kingdom is no accident; she understands the bigger picture and knows when to advance or retreat. Redwood River is essentially a worthless region for Tianxiang Kingdom, so she simply extends a favor to Hu Xiaotian; behind giving him Redwood River, Consort Long Xuanjiao has another motive.

Hu Xiaotian was thinking about Redwood River when they unexpectedly offered it themselves; now he finally had a legitimate excuse to change course, and he rejoiced: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Consort Long Xuanjiao softly sighed: "Actually, you needn't be polite; before long we'll be family."

Hu Xiaotian knew what she said was true; besides, even if Long Xi Yue is her adopted daughter, even by kinship, Consort Long Xuanjiao is Long Xi Yue's proper aunt.

Consort Long Xuanjiao hesitated a moment, then asked: "Xiaotian, can you tell me if you've ever been to Qingxuan Temple?"

Hu Xiaotian was also startled; he hadn't expected Consort Long Xuanjiao to ask so directly; it seems her memory isn't lost, but she suspects Hu Buwei's motives.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xiaotian doesn't understand the Empress Dowager's meaning."

Consort Long Xuanjiao said: "Lord Hu Xiaotian, you needn't worry about what I think; after this incident I've already let go of everything, I just want to clarify some things. I'm not hiding from you: earlier, Qingxuan Temple lost some items, and Master Su Tian suspects you're involved."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "You catch a thief with stolen goods; baseless suspicions are best not believed. I'm not even familiar with that Master Su Tian; why would she frame me?" Saying this with an innocent face, this guy's acting skills are now top-notch.

Consort Long Xuanjiao sighed: "Since you won't speak, I won't force you, but I still want to ask: in your heart, do you still regard him as your father?" This statement amounts to showing that her alleged memory loss is merely a lie.

Hu Xiaotian stared into Consort Long Xuanjiao's questioning eyes, then firmly shook his head and said: "How could I regard as my father someone who killed my mother and abandoned me?" In fact, he had already verified through blood type that Hu Buwei shares no blood relation with him, and Yang Longjing is the same.

Consort Long Xuanjiao's eyes showed a faint loss: "It seems his actions back then must have caused you great pain."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's not bring up the past; Empress Dowager, just focus on recuperating; we can settle these matters after you recover."

Consort Long Xuanjiao nodded; Hu Xiaotian's words also made sense, her memory is absolutely unaffected. From this conversation Hu Xiaotian can infer that Consort Long Xuanjiao has developed suspicions about Hu Buwei's motives, which is a good thing for him.

Zhou Desheng personally brought Hu Xiaotian to Luming Pavilion, but upon arrival they found the guard duty of Luming Pavilion was actually Murong Feiyan, who greeted them with a cheerful smile, only to meet Murong Feiyan's cold stare; she ignored him and walked straight away.

Hu Xiaotian really felt both amused and exasperated; clearly last night she released his pigeon, yet now it seems he owes her; women's thoughts are truly hard to fathom.

Zhou Desheng went to explain the purpose, but soon returned with a grim face, reporting to Hu Xiaotian: "My lord Hu, Commander Rong said, for Princess Yingyue's safety, we refuse any visitors these two days." He then lowered his voice: "Master Su Tian is also at Luming Pavilion; perhaps we should go back and ask the Empress Dowager to issue an order."

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Murong Feiyan, seeing her also coldly staring at him; he realized that even with the Empress Dowager's edict, he might not be allowed in; it seems this isn't arranged by Consort Long Xuanjiao; anyway the formal selection is the day after tomorrow, so he needn't rush, mainly he's considering Murong Feiyan's feelings.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Never mind, thanks Eunuch Zhou; I'll just say a word to Commander Rong and leave."

Hu Xiaotian again approached Murong Feiyan; this time she didn't avoid him, waved her hand to signal her subordinates to step aside, and looked at him with mild contempt, saying: "Isn't what Eunuch Zhou said clear enough?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Understood, I'm just coming to ask." His voice suddenly lowered: "Why didn't you go last night?"

Murong Feiyan raised her voice: "Lord Hu Xiaotian, can't you even wait a day?"

Everyone turned to look at them; Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized Murong Feiyan must have gone, but likely after he left; he had waited desperately at Bibo Bridge yesterday for an hour before leaving; had he known, he should have waited longer, but lately there's too much going on, and he hardly has time for romance; the misunderstanding can only be cleared up when he finds a chance to explain.

Hu Xiaotian returned to Cuiyuan, only to see Prince Heldan of Shajia Kingdom already waiting inside; it turned out he was leaving today, so he came specially to bid farewell to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed: "Brother, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Didn't you receive the palace's notice? The prince-consort selection is the day after tomorrow."

Heldan hehe laughed: "What prince-consort selection? It's just a show to cover up. Big brother, we've all heard: you saved the Empress Dowager and the Tianxiang king; the Tianxiang prince-consort must be you. Originally staying to join the fun and give you face wouldn't hurt, but just now I got word that my father khan ordered me to return quickly, so I can't wait to join the fun; I came specially to bid you farewell."

Thanks to Fengzhong Wuling Sheng for continuous red packets, brother takes you Ctrip no bell sound, feeling a bit embarrassed, hereby thanks again! (To be continued ^~^)