Chapter 1556

The Dakang imperial palace was shrouded in a pall of gloom; Qiqi stared expressionlessly at Hong Beimo: "Li Tianheng's troops from Xichuan are massing toward Yunyang, and according to reliable reports, Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou has already reached an agreement with Li Tianheng; they will soon launch a pincer attack on Yunyang."

Hong Beimo smiled and said: "General Su Yuchi employs troops like a god; Your Highness has recently allocated him many more troops, greatly increasing his strength, so Yunyang will not be so easily taken."

Qiqi said: "You are quite confident, but Li Tianheng is eager to find a breakthrough; this time he comes with great force, and Guo Guangbi is equally ruthless; Su Yuchi having to face two powerful opponents at once will not be easy."

Hong Beimo said: "What the Princess truly worries about is probably Hu Xiaotian, right?"

Qiqi said nothing; her long, black, curled lashes drooped, obviously acquiescing to Hong Beimo's remark.

Hong Beimo said: "If this battle is fought, what I fear most is someone wanting to reap the benefits; in my view, Hu Xiaotian will not act at first; he will wait until both sides are exhausted and wounded, then send troops to seize Yunyang, and perhaps even take Xingzhou in the process."

Qiqi said: "If it were not for Red Wood River falling into his hands, cutting off Li Tianheng's southern advance route, Li Tianheng would not be so eager to seek a breakthrough from the northeast."

Hong Beimo said: "If he gains control of Yunyang, Li Tianheng will be as if trapped in a sack in Xichuan." He paused, then added: "Actually, these matters are not important to the Princess."

Qiqi coldly retorted: "What is important? In your eyes, is only that imperial tomb important?"

Hong Beimo said humbly: "I do not mean that."

Qiqi said: "Yunyang must not be lost; I have just reinforced General Su Yuchi with twenty thousand troops, and I did not summon you here to hear these words."

Hong Beimo said: "Your Highness, this battle is actually not difficult; I have just developed two kinds of weapons, already produced in considerable numbers. If these weapons are allocated to General Su Yuchi, victory will be certain—let alone Xichuan and Xingzhou joining forces, even with Hu Xiaotian added it would be nothing to worry about."

Qiqi looked at Hong Beimo half-believing, half-doubting; Hong Beimo said: "The thunderbolt crossbow and tortoise-shell war chariots—I will have my subordinates deliver these weapons to Yunyang immediately. Once General Su Yuchi's troops are equipped with them, they will be invincible."

Qiqi said: "Really that powerful?"

Hong Beimo said respectfully: "These are derived from the Qiankun Kaiwu; there are many more powerful weapons within it. If I develop them one by one, relying on these weapons we could sweep the six directions and unify the realm without difficulty."

Qiqi said: "It would be best if you went yourself; I do not trust others with this."

"Yes!" Hong Beimo replied. Raising his head, he looked at Qiqi and asked: "I wonder how the Princess's progress is going?"

Qiqi's beautiful eyes suddenly turned cold: "Are you urging me?" Her aggressive, pressing aura enveloped Hong Beimo like a harsh frost.

Hong Beimo's heart trembled inexplicably; this was not the first time he felt this way before Qiqi. Heavenly majesty is unfathomable—even the late Emperor Long Xuan'en, while alive, had never exerted such overwhelming pressure on him. Qiqi is indeed no ordinary person. He also understands that his reverence for her stems solely from the fact that his fate lies in her hands, and only she can help him achieve his goal.

"I dare not!" Hong Beimo said in a low voice.

A hint of contempt curled Qiqi's lips: "You must see to the Yunyang affair properly; I will allow no mistake whatsoever."

Hong Beimo nodded and withdrew quietly.

Hardly had Hong Beimo left when Quan De'an led Yang Lingqi inside.

Seeing Yang Lingqi, Qiqi's expression softened considerably, and she said softly: "Sir Yang, have you recovered these past few days?" Yang Lingqi had previously caught a chill and had been resting at home for many days, which is why Qiqi asked.

Yang Lingqi replied gratefully: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern; I have already recovered."

Qiqi nodded and said: "Good then; you are a pillar of talent for Dakang—be sure to cherish your health."

Yang Lingqi felt a surge of emotion.

Qiqi said: "What is your view of the situation in Yunyang?"

Yang Lingqi said: "I believe the battle for Yunyang is now unavoidable. Li Tianheng must open a road in the shortest possible time, otherwise Xichuan will become a stagnant pool, with Shajia to the west, Dakang to the east, Red Wood River to the south, and Yunyang to the northeast. Anyone weighing these four places would willingly abandon the first two; Red Wood River has complex terrain and changeable climate, and Hu Xiaotian somehow won the hearts of the Red Barbarian tribe, who are brave and skilled in combat and even more adept at jungle ambushes. Li Tianheng's attempt to take Red Wood River is no easy feat, and previously, when he tried to seize it, his expedition failed and he lost two generals first. Thus his only remaining option is Yunyang."

Qiqi coldly said: "Does he think Dakang is a soft persimmon?"

Yang Lingqi said: "Dakang is not a soft persimmon, but he thinks Yunyang is the most likely and also most necessary persimmon to pick; if he can capture Yunyang, then Xichuan will regain an external route, with Guo Guangbi as reinforcement, and their chances of winning Yunyang will increase somewhat."

Yang Lingqi paused, carefully glanced at Qiqi's expression, then said: "Actually, Li Tianheng and the Xingzhou front are not worth worrying about; the real threat is still Hu Xiaotian."

Qiqi well understood; what she worried about most was precisely this: after Hu Xiaotian took Red Wood River, it was tantamount to seizing the throat of Xichuan's southern advance; as soon as the Yunyang campaign occurs, he will seize the opportunity to reap the greatest benefit, and given Hu Xiaotian's temperament he will certainly do so.

Qiqi said: "Do you have any way to eliminate this hidden danger?"

Yang Lingqi said: "Yes! Cooperate with Da Yong!"

Qiqi frowned slightly and said: "You haven't forgotten that Da Yong is at war with the Black Hu, have you?"

Yang Lingqi said: "The latest situation is that Da Yong has lost Yong Lan Pass, both sides are now stalemated, and with severe winter upon us, Bei Jiang has already ceased hostilities; renewed fighting should not resume until next spring."

Qiqi said: "Hu Xiaotian is a ferocious tiger, Da Yong is a vicious wolf; who can guarantee that if we cooperate with them, they won't seize the chance to bite us?"

Yang Lingqi smiled: "Cooperating with Da Yong does not necessarily require Da Yong to send troops; it suffices for Da Yong to spread rumors, making Hu Xiaotian believe that if he dares to interfere in Yunyang affairs, Da Yong and Dakang will join forces to destroy him, so he will surely not act rashly. Opportunity must not be missed; once lost, it never returns."

Qiqi said: "Empty bluster!" After saying that, she pondered a moment, then nodded and said: "Very well! Let's proceed with your method."

After Qin Yutong finished re-examining Tang Qingxuan and left the room, she saw Hu Xiaotian walking toward her head-on; unexpectedly, she showed no weakness toward him, preparing to brush past. Hu Xiaotian grinned and blocked her path: "Miss Qin! How have you been?"

Qin Yutong lifted her head to look at him: "Anything the matter?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nothing urgent; how is Miss Tang's condition?"

Qin Yutong said: "How could you not know how she is?"

That sentence left Hu Xiaotian speechless.

Qin Yutong said: "Please make way; I still need to go out for consultations today. You wouldn't be thinking I should go borrow the princess's green bamboo staff, would you?"

Hu Xiaotian could certainly hear that people were calling him a dog; but Qin Yutong, being a talented lady, scolds without uttering dirty words—admirable! Admirable! He also didn't take it to heart, hehe laughed: "I don't know where I've offended you; if I have, I apologize here."

Qin Yutong said: "I dare not accept; what lofty status you hold—how could a lowly commoner like me bear it?"

Hu Xiaotian stepped aside; Qin Yutong brushed past him, but Hu Xiaotian then followed behind her. Qin Yutong said: "Having people see you trailing behind me like this doesn't look proper, does it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "My heart is open and aboveboard; I fear no gossip."

Qin Yutong snorted, thinking to herself, "You also dare to say you're open and aboveboard? Utterly shameless." Actually, even she herself couldn't figure out why Hu Xiaotian had become so hateful in her eyes; perhaps it was because of Tang Qingxuan, although she also understood that if Hu Xiaotian didn't intervene to save Tang Qingxuan, the latter would surely die, yet she felt this matter was a bone stuck in her throat, yet she couldn't spit it out.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you understand Xuantian Guan?"

Qin Yutong blinked in surprise, not knowing why Hu Xiaotian suddenly asked this, she stopped and said: "Why are you asking about Xuantian Guan?"

Hu Xiaotian then recounted truthfully what had happened when he went to Kangdu; Qin Yutong listened but showed little surprise, calmly saying: "To slander my master, you've gone to considerable trouble."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why would I slander him? I have no grudge against him; he harmed me first!" Seeing Qin Yutong's expression, Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized: "So you've always known that Meng Zizai is Ren Tianqing!"

Qin Yutong said: "In your eyes I have never been a good person; I have always been harming you, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Don't you find your master strange?"

Qin Yutong said: "What he chooses to do is his own decision; as his disciple I have no right to interfere, and you'd better not expect to get any news about Xuantian Guan from me." She spoke these words with finality, leaving no room for retreat; after saying this she hurried away.

Hu Xiaotian watched her departing silhouette, could only shake his head helplessly; it seemed that his affair with Tang Qingxuan had ruined the good image he had painstakingly built in Qin Yutong's heart—she not only minded it but was also angry, yet her reaction surely shows she cares about him? Could this ice‑cold beauty have already taken a liking to him? Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian once again felt pleased with himself.

Huo Shengnan came over from the side, having just happened to see Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong part on bad terms, and she said softly: "What's up? Did you make Miss Qin angry?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Why must it be that I provoked her? Could it not be that she provoked me?"

Huo Shengnan wasn't in the mood to joke with him, and said in a low voice, "Just now I received news that Da Yong's Nanyang Water Stronghold has recently been reinforcing troops densely, as if intending to make some move." (To be continued~^~)