Chapter 1597

When someone else's scheme has already succeeded and their layout can be called perfect, relying on stratagems might break it, but a more direct method is simple violence; the plan Hu Xiaotian and Xue Shengjing devised is to cut off his claws and fangs, and when Li Chen Zhou focuses his main effort on operating the core and strengthening his control over Da Yong, they will disturb his layout and eliminate his aides one by one.

Jian Rongxin had been ill for three days, and when she finally had the strength to get out of bed, a heavy snow fell; as she stepped out of her room, she saw Qin Yutong outside admiring the snow, and these past few days Qin Yutong had been the one caring for her.

Qin Yutong's voice was flat, devoid of any warmth: 'If I were you, I'd stay in the room and rest properly.'

Jian Rongxin said, 'Lying in bed, I always feel as if I'm already dead.'

Qin Yutong turned her head and saw Jian Rongxin's beautiful face expressionless, as if she had suddenly lost the vitality of life.

A woman first abandoned by her husband, then personally witnessed her household exterminated and her kind father killed—a tragedy few can bear. Jian Rongxin still cannot understand why, after marriage, her husband, who had always been solicitous toward her, suddenly turned so cold; although they had been a nominal couple, they had treated each other with respect after marriage, and she had already resolved to follow him for life, yet reality turned out to be this cruel.

Jian Rongxin said to Qin Yutong, 'Thank you for taking care of me these past few days; I'm much better now, I'm leaving.' As she spoke, her gaze fell on the drifting snowflakes, making it seem like she was talking to herself.

Qin Yutong finally couldn't help reminding her, 'Where could you possibly go?'

Jian Rongxin said, 'Going home, I want to bury my father…' At that point she felt an urge to cry, but her tears had already dried up.

Qin Yutong said, 'You probably don't realize that many people in the court have been implicated in the Prince Yan's rebellion case, including your father.'

Jian Rongxin bit her lip, her gaze finally meeting Qin Yutong's eyes: 'My father could never have conspired with him. He is loyal to Da Yong; how could he join a rebellion?' Her gaze turned firm and stubborn: 'I will go out and make it clear; I will clear my father's name.'

Qin Yutong sighed and said, 'Some things simply cannot be explained.' At that moment she saw Hu Xiaotian walking into the courtyard; he must have just returned from outside, his body covered in drifting snow, his hair and eyebrows whitened. Even his newly grown stubble was dusted with snowflakes, making him look like an old man.

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the porch, and while still some distance from the two, he brushed off the snow on his body.

Jian Rongxin walked over to him and said, 'I want to leave this place!' In her mind, Hu Xiaotian was the leader here.

Hu Xiaotian nodded without hesitation: 'If you're willing, I can arrange for someone to send you away at any time.'

Jian Rongxin said, 'I want to go home.'

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Qin Yutong, his eyes full of question, as if questioning why she hadn't told Jian Rongxin the true situation.

Qin Yutong said, 'Miss Jian simply doesn't believe what I say.'

Jian Rongxin said, 'I will go out to seek justice and clear my father's name!'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Many things have happened in the past two days: the Grand Empress Dowager died, the Emperor died, Consort Dong Shu died, and even the Jingguo Duke Li Mingshu died!'

Jian Rongxin had been ill all along, and she had thought only her own family had suffered the tragedy, but she never expected the Da Yong dynasty to have experienced so many events. She exclaimed in shock, 'How could this be?!'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'According to news from the palace, Xue Daohong's ascent to the throne relied entirely on a forged abdication edict provided by the Grand Empress Dowager. When she saw through Xue Daohong's true nature, she feared what would happen after her death. Xue Daohong slaughtered the imperial clan, thus deciding to plot to correct this mistake. She allied with some senior officials who wanted to depose Xue Daohong, but the plan leaked; Xue Daohong struck first, eliminating the Grand Empress Dowager. Grand Secretary Jian also suffered collateral damage because of this.'

Jian Rongxin covered her cherry lips as tears fell; if everything Hu Xiaotian said were true, then her husband must have known long ago, and driving her out that night was his deliberate act—he harbored not a shred of feeling for her.

Qin Yutong could barely bear to listen any longer; she subtly signaled Hu Xiaotian with a look, reminding him that he need not reveal all the truth, for the truth is often cruel.

Hu Xiaotian continued, 'Although the truth is harsh, it is necessary for Jian Rongxin to know, since she will learn it sooner or later. Although what Hu Xiaotian knows is not the whole story, there are two points he must make clear to her: first, Jian Rongxin's father, Jian Xihe, died in political struggle, and Li Chen Zhou precisely used the pretext of the Jian family's extermination to break with Xue Daohong, openly siding with the so-called righteous side, thereby seizing loyalty and morality; second, the power in Da Yong is now jointly held by Li Chen Zhou and the Princess Imperial Xue Lingjun.'

Jian Rongxin's pretty face turned deathly pale; the cruel reality almost drove her to the brink of collapse.

Qin Yutong walked over and draped a white fur cloak over her, then said to Hu Xiaotian, 'Xia Zhangming has been looking for you; have you seen him?' In fact she was trying to get Hu Xiaotian to leave, for she could not bear to see Jian Rongxin continue to face this cruel reality.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and turned to leave.

Jian Rongxin whispered, 'So he's been deceiving me all along…'

Qin Yutong looked at Jian Rongxin with pity and said softly, 'At least you're still alive.'

Jian Rongxin turned to Qin Yutong with tears glistening and said, 'Living like this is no better than dying.'

Xia Zhangming and An Di were both in the neighboring courtyard; today the wind and snow raged, and since Hu Xiaotian had not arranged any special operation earlier, the two were sitting by the fire chatting indoors. When they saw Hu Xiaotian enter, bringing wind and snow with him, they hurriedly rose to greet him.

An Di said, 'Young master, you're back!'

Hu Xiaotian nodded, and Xia Zhangming offered him his seat, smiling, 'My lord, what news have you gathered?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Nothing particularly important; we'll just act when the time comes.'

Hearing the word 'action,' both men's eyes lit up as they leaned toward Hu Xiaotian. Since arriving in Yongdu they had made no progress, and lately, due to the upheaval in the Da Yong palace, the whole city had become tense and fearful; they had to choose concealment, and though they said nothing, they felt a burning frustration inside.

Hu Xiaotian handed a letter to An Di, who unfolded it and, unable to suppress a smile, asked, 'Is what's written here really true?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Never mind whether it's true; just spread the news far and wide—many mouths can melt gold, accumulated criticism can destroy bones.'

An Di nodded and said, 'This is easy, my lord; just leave it to me to handle.' He clasped his fists, turned and left, immediately setting to do what Hu Xiaotian had entrusted him with.

Xia Zhangming was indeed curious, but he knew Hu Xiaotian's temperament well enough to realize that asking about things he didn't want others to know would be pointless, so he said, 'My lord, what task are you assigning me?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Let's go capture Qiu Mubai!'

Xia Zhangming said, 'Isn't Qiu Mubai the young master of the Sword Palace?'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'Exactly him.'

Qiu Mubai escorted Xiang Qingyun back to the Grand Tutor's residence; Xiang Qingyun is the fourth daughter of Da Yong's Grand Tutor Xiang Linren, and also a disciple of the Sword Palace's master Qiu Xian'guang, making her Qiu Mubai's junior martial sister. She and Qiu Mubai have formally entered into a marriage pact, and they are returning to the Grand Tutor's residence because they heard her father was ill in bed, so she came specially to visit him.

After Qiu Mubai had visited Xiang Linren and confirmed he was fine, he then departed.

As the carriage approached the vicinity of Happy Forest, they saw a person standing in the middle of the road ahead, blocking their path. The Sword Palace's status in Da Yong is not comparable to an ordinary sect; its disciples are usually arrogant and overbearing. Seeing someone dare to openly obstruct their way near the Sword Palace, they flew into a rage and shouted, 'You blind rat, get out of the way—don't you see this is the Sword Palace's carriage and horses?'

Hu Xiaotian wore a bamboo hat, with black gauze hanging around to conceal his face; in truth the gauze merely added an air of mystery. Having undergone Tendon Changing Bone Shifting to alter his appearance, even without the black veil no one would recognize him. He slowly drew from his back a large sword mottled with rust, and in a deep voice said, 'I have long heard that the Sword Palace's swordsmanship is unrivaled under heaven; Senior Official Yun Chong has come specially to seek instruction.'

The carriage curtains stirred without wind, and a figure in black martial attire burst out from within—Qiu Mubai, whose whole person resembled a drawn sword. Since his defeat by Hu Xiaotian in Happy Forest, he had devoted himself to sword practice; his once-proud Thirty-Six Wind-Chasing Sword had first been simplified to eighteen moves, then to nine. Though the number of techniques was greatly reduced, the variations increased considerably, especially his drawing speed, which had become even greater than when he and Hu Xiaotian had crossed blades before. As the saying goes, in martial arts speed is unbeatable; Qiu Mubai moved, and his long sword shot forward like a meteor chasing the moon, straight for Hu Xiaotian's throat.

As the sword was drawn, man and blade became one; the weapon, infused with inner force, burst forth with a brilliant, snow‑bright gleam. Its slender body, seen from afar, appeared almost transparent, having already reached the realm of 'sword heart clear and bright' in superior swordsmanship. Qiu Mubai is indeed a rare talent among the younger generation of swordsmen; at his young age he has attained this level, and one step further would allow him to project sword qi outward, making him another genius of the Sword Palace besides Lin Baotao.

But talents come in grades; when talent meets talent, superiority is immediately apparent.

Hu Xiaotian shook his large sword; it was merely an ordinary iron sword, a bit thicker and broader than a common one. He pointed the blade at his opponent, pouring internal energy into it. As the snowflakes about to fall approached the sword's surface, they seemed to be repelled by an invisible force; the abundant internal energy caused the heavy blade to vibrate, emitting a low hum, and then the two blades clashed with a sharp 'duang!'

I can't bear this, I can't bear this—I don't want to be the Eleventh Lang, I don't want to be the Eleventh Lang; if you have a Guaranteed Monthly Ticket, vote for Zhangyu, let me break this curse; April Fools' Day, don't joke with me, okay! (To be continued~^~)