Chapter 1480: Sweet Words and Honeyed Speech (Part II)

Hu Xiaotian said, "Why have you come to Fire Tree City this time? Could it be merely to visit your senior sister?" After meeting, he had not yet asked Yan Nujiao the reason for her coming.

Yan Nujiao said, "I came to help my master deliver the offerings; my master is of the Red Barbarian tribe." She walked toward Hu Xiaotian, placed both hands on his shoulders, and with her clear, emerald‑like eyes fixed on him she said, "Xiaotian, my senior sister is not a bad person; she is merely deceived by that person. You must not harm her." She understood Hu Xiaotian's style of doing things—though he treated her well, he never dragged his feet in major matters and would never show mercy. She feared that if his senior sister infringed on his interests, Hu Xiaotian would strike at Tong Yun.

Hu Xiaotian affectionately patted her pretty face and whispered, "You need not worry about this. Why don't you first return to Heavenly Wolf Mountain? After we settle things here, I will immediately go to Heavenly Wolf Mountain to find you." He did not want Yan Nujiao to be caught in the middle, making things difficult.

Yan Nujiao said, "I don't want to leave."

Hu Xiaotian knew she was concerned for Tong Yun's safety, and he smiled, saying, "Rest assured, I promise you I will not harm her. However, I cannot let her abet evil, fabricate a false Spirit Maiden, and aid the Beggars' Sect in controlling Fire Tree City."

Yan Nujiao said, "What do you plan to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since there is no hope with your senior sister here, I can only first seek the City Lord's wife."

Yan Nujiao said, "Tomorrow she will come to the Divine Temple to offer sacrifices. If you wish to see her, this is indeed an excellent opportunity, but when she arrives her retinue will be large, and my senior sister will accompany her the whole time, so I fear you will not have a chance to meet her alone."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Then I will wait for her on the way."

Yan Nujiao shook her head and said, "Perhaps I can help you convey the message."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Yan Nujiao, knowing she would not leave for the time being. Since she had made up her mind, there was no need to force her; having her as an insider in the Divine Temple would make things much easier. He smiled and said, "Very well, I will do as you say. After we succeed, I will properly thank you."

Yan Nujiao said, "What will you use to thank me?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "How about promising myself to you?"

Yan Nujiao gave him a sideways glance and said, "I knew you'd say such nonsense, but I do have a request."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Just say it; I will grant any request."

Yan Nujiao smiled brightly and said, "After this matter is settled, I want to meet your precious princess!"

Hu Xiaotian surprisingly agreed readily, saying, "No problem!"

With Yan Nujiao present, everything proceeded much more smoothly. After Ga Nuo learned the news, she used the pretext of meeting Princess Yingyue of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom and naturally came to the Butterfly Garden. Her current status was the City Lord's wife, and visiting to meet distinguished guests was normal; no one suspected her actions.

Although Ga Nuo was the City Lord's wife, her comings and goings were always accompanied by attendants; City Lord Baheer did not trust her and had people follow her constantly. Only when she had a private audience with Long Xi Yue could it be possible to keep those attendants outside the courtyard.

Long Xi Yue came out to greet her. Seeing a Red Barbarian lady adorned with silver ornaments approaching gracefully, it was indeed the City Lord's wife Ga Nuo. Before the Princess of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, Ga Nuo showed considerable respect, saying respectfully, "Ga Nuo pays respects to Your Highness, the Princess."

Long Xi Yue smiled and said, "Madam, there is no need for formality. I invited you today merely to become acquainted, and incidentally to confirm something with you." She invited Ga Nuo to enter the room together; Ga Nuo's maid wanted to follow, but Zhan Peng stretched out his arm to block her, so she could only watch helplessly as the two went inside.

After they were seated, Ga Nuo lowered her head and brows and said, "I do not know what orders the Princess has for me today." She was a Red Barbarian noble, versed in many languages, so communication with Long Xi Yue posed no obstacle. In fact, Yan Nujiao had already informed her that this meeting concerned the disappearance of her daughter years ago; otherwise Ga Nuo would not have come of her own accord.

Long Xi Yue said, "I have heard of an incident: two years ago, near Coconut Breeze City, you were ambushed."

Ga Nuo sighed and said, "Princess, please do not blame me; I do not wish to mention these painful memories again."

Long Xi Yue said, "I originally did not want to bring it up, nor did I wish to stir your painful memories, but on our way to Red Wood Creek we encountered a little girl in Coconut Breeze City. She is called Xiao Ou and is about six years old."

Upon hearing this, Ga Nuo's emotions surged, and she trembled as she said, "She… she… where is she now?"

Long Xi Yue said, "Madam, I would like you to first agree to a condition."

Ga Nuo nodded and said, "Princess, please go ahead and speak."

"Today's matter also requires you, Madam, to keep it strictly secret; if it were to leak, it would benefit neither of us."

Ga Nuo said, "I understand, Princess; please rest assured, I will not divulge today's matter."

Only then did Long Xi Yue nod, signaling Hu Xiaotian to bring Xiao Ou out from behind the screen.

Two years is neither short nor long, yet it is enough for a child to undergo tremendous change, although facial features still retain traces of the past. Seeing Xiao Ou, Ga Nuo's gaze locked onto her face, tears streaming down; she strode toward Xiao Ou, but the girl, somewhat frightened, turned and clung to Hu Xiaotian's thigh.

Ga Nuo also realized that her overly agitated reaction might have frightened the child; she forcibly suppressed her inner turmoil and trembled as she said, "Let me see the tattoo on the back of her neck."

Hu Xiaotian opened Xiao Ou's collar.

Ga Nuo saw that the tattoo was already about seventy to eighty percent confirmed, and tears poured down as she choked, "She… she also has three cinnabar moles on her left shoulder…"

Long Xi Yue had once helped bathe Xiao Ou, so she knew this well; realizing that Ga Nuo was indeed Xiao Ou's birth mother, she nodded to Hu Xiaotian, who then released Xiao Ou.

Ga Nuo opened her arms, her face streaked with tears: "Jia Ou… you don't recognize Mother… I am your mother!" She spoke in the Red Barbarian tongue, which Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue could not understand, but from her expression one could guess a little of what she meant.

Xiao Ou pursed her lips, hesitated for a long time, then finally called out—in perfect Red Barbarian, a cry for mother—and threw herself into her mother's embrace, mother and daughter clutching each other and weeping bitterly.

Long Xi Yue, seeing the mother‑daughter reunion, could not help but think of her own mother; moved by the scene, her eyes reddened. Hu Xiaotian came to her side, put his arm around her fragrant shoulders, and softly comforted her.

Ga Nuo and Xiao Ou wept for a long time before speaking; Xiao Ou had largely forgotten the Red Barbarian language, so mother and daughter could only converse in Chinese.

Having heard of her daughter's experiences after separation, Ga Nuo knew she had been alone, suffering terribly on the streets; her guilt deepened, and she tightly embraced her daughter, saying, "Mother will never part from you again, never again…"

After her emotions steadied somewhat, she then thought to thank Long Xi Yue and Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian had Long Xi Yue first take Xiao Ou to the rear courtyard, as he had some words he wanted to speak privately with Ga Nuo.

Ga Nuo also realized that the other party might have further requests; she was no ordinary woman, and she said softly, "Master Hu, rest assured, Ga Nuo will never forget your great kindness and virtue; why not tell me what you would like me to do for you?" She had also heard the rumor that the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom would grant Red Wood Creek to the future prince consort, and she secretly guessed that this was most likely connected to the present matter.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have heard that Xiao Ou is a Spirit Maiden; I do not know whether this rumor is true."

Ga Nuo nodded and said, "Yes, in two years she will enter the Divine Temple to serve as Spirit Maiden for twenty years."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Is there only one Spirit Maiden?"

Ga Nuo said, "Of course!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have heard a reliable report that High Priest Tong Yun will soon introduce a new Spirit Maiden."

Ga Nuo shook her head and said, "Impossible; Jia Ou is still alive in this world, so a new Spirit Maiden cannot appear."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Xiao Ou has been missing for so long; perhaps others think she can never return, or they may declare her dead and select a replacement."

Ga Nuo, hearing him speak with such certainty, could not help but feel a secret alarm; she had never doubted High Priest Tong Yun, who had always comforted her over the years—perhaps her daughter is still alive, so why would he do this?

Hu Xiaotian said, "Madam, you will see the outcome in these two days. For safety's sake, I suggest you refrain from telling anyone that you have found Xiao Ou, lest it endanger her."

Ga Nuo solemnly nodded and said, "Master Hu, rest assured, I know what to do."

Qiao Fangzheng sat silently in the courtyard; although no one had told him what had happened, he already had a premonition deep inside. Then a dog's bark reached his ears—it was Xia Zhangming leading a black‑haired dog over to his side, smiling and saying, "Senior Qiao, I found you a dog; this dog is very spirited and can help you show the way…"

"Get lost!" Qiao Fangzheng had never before directed such anger at Xia Zhangming.

Xia Zhangming was left bewildered by him: "Before…"

Qiao Fangzheng raised the dog‑beating stick and roared, "Do you believe I won't break your dog's legs as well?"

The black‑haired dog was also startled by Qiao Fangzheng; its two eyes fixed on the blind old beggar, it whined and let out a low moan, feeling quite wronged.

Xia Zhangming shook his head helplessly, truly not knowing where he had touched the old beggar's berserk trigger; today he had actually flown into such a rage.

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue were also startled by Qiao Fangzheng's angry roar; Hu Xiaotian had wanted to go over to persuade him, but Long Xi Yue stopped him, whispering, "I'll go." She saw that even if Hu Xiaotian went over, he would inevitably end up getting a torrent of abuse, whereas if she went, it would be relatively better, and Qiao Fangzheng shouldn't lose his temper with her.

"Senior!"

Qiao Fangzheng's face remained gloomy, but hearing Long Xi Yue's gentle voice, he finally restrained himself from erupting, and sighed softly, saying, "Just let me be quiet for a while." (To be continued~^~)