Chapter 1448

"It's not your fault; after all, he's your good brother, your elder brother—I never even imagined he would betray you." The person she spoke of is Zhou Mo; originally, it was Zhou Mo who took advantage of Hu Xiaotian's trust in him, which led to their long separation, worlds apart.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Later I learned the truth, knowing you were trapped in Tianxiang Kingdom, but I failed to come in time to rescue you, letting you suffer in that cage for so long—this is my fault."

Long Xi Yue spoke softly: "I know you must have your own difficulties; at that time your situation was dire, if circumstances allowed you would surely have come to save me. You bear so many burdens; every move affects the lives and safety of many, so naturally one should prioritize the greater good—how could one act on whim or self-indulgence? How could I blame you?"

The gentler and more considerate she was, the more guilty Hu Xiaotian felt; compared to that, it would have been better if Murong Feiyan had faced him with a cold stare, even scolded him a few times.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xi Yue!" He reached out to lift the bead curtain, but Long Xi Yue exclaimed in alarm: "You may not enter!"

Hu Xiaotian puzzled in his heart: since she said she didn't blame him, why did she refuse to see him? He whispered: "Xi Yue, may I speak with you face to face?"

Long Xi Yue said: "Better not to meet; just hearing your voice again already leaves me content."

Hu Xiaotian found her words very strange, and laughed: "Xi Yue, why do you say that? We've finally reunited after great difficulty; now no one can stop us from being together. I can marry you openly and aboveboard, and I can escort you with dignity."

Long Xi Yue sighed faintly: "We can never go back."

Hu Xiaotian's heart startled: "Xi Yue, what exactly happened? Tell me!" He lifted the bead curtain and entered, only to see Long Xi Yue still behind the screen.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xi Yue, no matter what happened, let's face it together, okay?"

Long Xi Yue sighed dimly: "Go away; at least in your heart I will forever remain as I was in the past."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xi Yue! I won't leave; no matter what you become, I will not change my feelings for you!" His heart surged with excitement; he took a big step and rushed behind the screen, only to see a masked girl sitting silently in a wheelchair, her clear, beautiful eyes shimmering with tears.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's figure appear before her, Long Xi Yue's hot tears could no longer be held back and streamed down.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your legs..."

Long Xi Yue raised her hand and slowly lifted the veil, only to see that the once flawless, stunning face was now covered densely with knife scars. She spoke through tears: "Better not to meet; I thought I would never see you again in this life. After hearing that your name had been struck out, I… I slashed my face and jumped from the small tower… You have seen me. I am content… Go!"

Hu Xiaotian walked toward her, but after taking a step, Long Xi Yue stretched out her hand to stop him: "Don't come over; let me keep a shred of dignity, please? Just let me live and die on my own; I don't want to be a burden to you. Moreover, I don't want you to feel disgusted…"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, gazing at Long Xi Yue with boundless tenderness: "Xi Yue, listen well: in my heart, whether past, present, or future, you are always the most beautiful; you have never changed in the slightest in my heart. I will marry you; I will treat you well for a lifetime."

Long Xi Yue shook her head and said: "I believe you, but I am no longer worthy of you!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's actually I who am not worthy of you; you are so pure, so kind, so beautiful." He spoke with deep affection, his eyes reddening; Long Xi Yue becoming like this is entirely his fault.

Long Xi Yue said: "But… I… I can no longer accompany you running over the mountains…"

Hu Xiaotian approached her, knelt down, one hand on her knee, the other stroking her face, and said earnestly: "No matter where you go, I will be with you."

Long Xi Yue's tears fell uncontrollably; Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt something off in his hand, Long Xi Yue's skin was clearly abnormal—he immediately realized she was wearing a mask, definitely a mask. Good heavens! The kind, pure Long Xi Yue would actually deceive him; Hu Xiaotian really had been fooled by her this time.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled.

Long Xi Yue didn't yet know why he was laughing when he suddenly scooped her up from the wheelchair and then domineeringly gave her a hot kiss, leaving her almost breathless, making her reflexively straighten her legs, toes pointed stiffly, until she was nearly out of breath; her pink fists pounded Hu Xiaotian's shoulders, her heart overflowing with joy, but Hu Xiaotian suddenly ripped off her mask, revealing her flower-like beauty and moon-like countenance fully before his eyes.

Long Xi Yue's face flushed crimson, hiding the moon and shaming flowers; embarrassed to be discovered by Hu Xiaotian, she buried her face in his embrace and coquettishly said: "You rascal, turns out you already knew."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Clearly you were the one deceiving me, yet you call me a bad person—just wait and see how I punish you."

Long Xi Yue was not afraid of his punishment; separated by heaven and earth, after long days of anxious thought, she finally reunited with her lover, and having just heard his deeply affectionate words, even though she still harbored some grievances, they had long been cast to the clouds; she wrapped her arms around Hu Xiaotian's neck, her forehead resting on his shoulder, and whispered: "Long Xi Yue is not afraid of you."

Hu Xiaotian wore a mischievous grin: "Really not afraid?" Long Xi Yue's cheeks reddened as she bit her cherry lips, feeling a bit nervous inside, she whispered softly: "Let me down first, then we'll talk."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It was so hard to find you; letting go won't be easy—I want to turn you into a female monkey and have you bear a troop of little monkeys for me."

Long Xi Yue blushed so much even her neck turned red.

At that moment, a panicked cry came from outside: "Princess!"

This shout snapped the two, lost in their passionate intimacy, back to awareness; Long Xi Yue signaled Hu Xiaotian to set her down, and after he agreed, the leader of the Phoenix Feather Guard, Ying Tianhong, led several Phoenix Feather Guards inside; seeing Long Xi Yue unharmed, she finally relaxed, clasped her fists and said: "I report to the Princess, just now an intruder barged into the Green Shadow Pavilion; we feared for the Princess's safety and thus disturbed you—please forgive us."

Hu Xiaotian heard this news and was startled: "What kind of person has the audacity to dare intrude into the Green Shadow Pavilion?"

Long Xi Yue instinctively gripped Hu Xiaotian's big hand, feeling his palm's strength and warmth; her heart felt especially reassured, with not a trace of fear, she softly said: "You go outside to help; here I have Lord Hu protecting me." Her words brimmed with reliance and trust in Hu Xiaotian; a woman's trust in a man is also an invisible aphrodisiac—upon hearing her words, Hu Xiaotian longed to pull her into his arms and lavish affection upon her.

Ying Tianhong said: "Master Su ordered us to guard the Princess."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly thought of Murong Feiyan, his heart involuntarily tightening with worry; outside seemed to have calmed down, so Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue went out together to check the situation, only to see Yuan Zhisheng and Wang Qiezhi rushing over in a panic to inquire about the Princess's condition; upon learning that Princess Yingyue was safe, they relaxed, but their feedback shocked Hu Xiaotian deeply: earlier someone had forcefully broken into the Green Shadow Pavilion, apparently targeting Princess Yingyue, yet while everyone went to protect the Princess, that strange person feigned an attack eastward to strike west, actually abducting Murong Feiyan.

After confirming this news, Hu Xiaotian's face changed; Long Xi Yue already knew about his and Murong Feiyan's affairs, she quietly took his hand, and they went to a secluded spot; Long Xi Yue said: "Quickly go find Sister Feiyan."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, yet worried someone might attack Long Xi Yue: "What about you?"

Long Xi Yue said: "Don't worry, there are plenty of people protecting me here; nothing will happen."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tell them I'll have Zhan Peng and a few others come over to help with the watch."

Long Xi Yue nodded: "Sister Feiyan has always cared deeply for you; her kindness toward you is no less than mine; no matter what, you must rescue her this time."

Hu Xiaotian had Zhan Peng and a few others come to the Green Shadow Pavilion to help protect Long Xi Yue; although he was eager to find Murong Feiyan's whereabouts, he didn't know where to begin.

Hu Xiaotian had just stepped out of the Green Shadow Pavilion's gate when he met the gloomy-faced Su Yujin; knowing Su Yujin's connection with Murong Feiyan, he asked concernedly: "Master Su, have you found the whereabouts of Deputy Commander Rong?"

Su Yujin shook her head: "By the time I got the news, it was already too late; the other side was clearly making a feint east to strike west—their true target was Feiyan."

Hu Xiaotian grew even more worried: "How could this be? Did they leave any clues?"

Su Yujin shook her head: "There are no clues at all."

"Does Feiyan have any enemies in the Tianxiang Kingdom?"

Su Yujin furrowed her brows, she looked at Hu Xiaotian, and Hu Xiaotian also looked at her; both thought of the same thing: if Murong Feiyan had no enemies, could this abduction have happened because of them?

Su Yujin secretly thought: I have hardly any enemies; if I must name one, Hu Buwei could count as one. But now that skull is almost certainly in his hands—why would he still seek revenge on me? Could it be because of Hu Xiaotian? After all, Hu Buwei knows clearly about Hu Xiaotian's and Murong Feiyan's relationship.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Su, let's think of a solution together."

Su Yujin said: "I will go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager and have her mobilize the imperial guards to help search." Although her martial arts are formidable, it's impossible for one person alone to scour the entire Piaoxiang City in a short time; she must rely on the court's power. She paused, then said to Hu Xiaotian: "Think about it—who in the Tianxiang Kingdom bears us a grudge?" Su Yujin's remark essentially suspects that Murong Feiyan's abduction is related to Hu Xiaotian. (To be continued~^~)