Chapter 1679

Zhuge Guanqi has newly obtained a daughter, Hong Lingxue is in confinement, although a postpartum nurse was hired to attend, as Hong Lingxue's sworn sister Weisa still insists on coming every day to help, Long Xi Yue also joined in.

Hu Xiaotian had just arrived at Zhuge Guanqi's gate when he heard an infant's crying; entering the courtyard, he saw someone hanging diapers to dry on the clothesline—it was Zhuge Guanqi himself.

Hu Xiaotian did not disturb him, standing to the side with a smile; after Zhuge Guanqi finished drying the diapers, he noticed Hu Xiaotian's arrival and couldn't help but laugh.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I've never seen Brother Guanqi laugh so happily."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Having a daughter is enough! I now finally understand why many people willingly become slaves to their daughters—raising a child makes one know parental gratitude."

Hearing Zhuge Guanqi's blissful words, Hu Xiaotian felt a sigh arise in his heart; he himself had been diligent all these years, with many beautiful confidantes, yet had never taken any precautions, diligent as he was, yet to this day he had reaped nothing, which he estimated was due to his special physique—could it be that he is destined to die without offspring? Thinking this, he felt a faint sense of loss.

Hearing the sound outside, Long Xi Yue came out from the room, seeing the precious princess, Hu Xiaotian immediately showed a knowing smile; however this was not the place to pour out one's heart, Long Xi Yue gave a faint smile, her infinite affection all in her gaze, and softly said, "You're back!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "You're back—would it be convenient to take a look at the little one?"

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "Of course it's convenient! I've been waiting for the lord to bestow a name."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I wouldn't dare take on this task; Brother Guanqi, you are versed in heaven and man—I would not presume to show off my skills before an expert, and besides, you are the child's father, so this opportunity should naturally be left to you."

Zhuge Guanqi chuckled.

Long Xi Yue said, "I have already taken Baobao as my foster daughter."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Then I will be the unreserved foster father!" He took out a gift box containing a purple-gold bracelet and a longevity lock, and had Long Xi Yue put them on the child. Before coming, Hu Xiaotian had already prepared the gift. Zhuge Guanqi secretly felt grateful; Hu Xiaotian had shown him kindness in recognizing his talent, and his care was meticulous.

Everyone entered the room together; Hong Lingxue was in the inner chamber, and by custom one cannot see people during confinement, so Weisa brought out the baby. Hu Xiaotian took it and saw that it was indeed a delicately carved infant; the child had a affinity with him, having just been crying, but as soon as Hu Xiaotian held it, it stopped crying. Hu Xiaotian teased it, saying, "Do you know me? I am your foster father, and she is your foster mother."

Baobao naturally could not understand what he was saying, but she broke into a smile with her little mouth.

Weisa rejoiced, "Baobao truly has an affinity with the master; she never smiles at anyone else, only at the master."

Hu Xiaotian reached out to touch the baby's tender little face, then handed her to Weisa.

Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said, "My lord, let's go to the study to drink tea and chat; this room is full of milky smell."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and went with Zhuge Guanqi to the adjacent study.

Zhuge Guanqi took out coarse pottery tea ware, brewed a cup of tea for Hu Xiaotian, and the two sat by the brazier. Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted his journey to Yongdu.

Zhuge Guanqi nodded and said, "I've also heard many things about Yongdu lately; my lord, you sympathize with heaven and pity the people. At critical moments you can put all under heaven first—such breadth of mind is truly admirable."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Sympathizing with heaven and pitying the people is only part of it; to speak frankly, I am not entirely selfless. At the time I thought that if Xue Daoming really died, the power of Da Yong would fall entirely into the hands of Li Chenjiang and Xue Lingjun."

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "For my lord, a Da Yong plagued by constant internal power struggles would naturally be safer."

Hu Xiaotian said, "However, as things stand now, the greatest threat to Da Yong is not Li Chenjiang but Xue Shengjing!"

"Oh?" Zhuge Guanqi exclaimed in surprise; when it comes to familiarity with Da Yong's political situation, he is far inferior to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian had previously told Zhuge Guanqi about the matters of Long Ling Shengjing; in his view Zhuge Guanqi is erudite and his insight exceeds the ordinary, so he recounted to Zhuge Guanqi in detail the encounter with the ghost doctor Fu Luo in Da Yong, even not concealing the matters of the Heaven's Mandate One, Emperor Jingde of Da Yong, and the tattoo on Empress Jiang's back.

After hearing this, Zhuge Guanqi couldn't help but frown, and he whispered, "My lord, do you still remember when you entrusted me with the Dan Ding chapter?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; that Dan Ding chapter was something he found in Ling Jiazi's portrait, and then he passed it to Zhuge Guanqi.

Zhuge Guanqi turned and went to the bookshelf, took out a drawing, returned to the desk, spread it flat, and Hu Xiaotian walked over to look—only to see that what was drawn on it was a celestial chart.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "This celestial chart was drawn by me based on the content of the Dan Ding chapter; many parts of it differ from the celestial chart passed down from my ancestors."

Since Hu Xiaotian learned that the Heaven's Mandate One can transmit through memory, he has doubted the authenticity of the Dan Ding chapter in Ling Jiazi's portrait; the celestial chart Zhuge Guanqi produced further proves that the Dan Ding chapter is likely a forgery.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Brother Guanqi, what do you think? Do you believe that a Heaven's Mandate One truly exists in this world?"

Zhuge Guanqi nodded and said, "Since seeing my lord's light sword, I have been firmly convinced of these matters."

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, "According to what the ghost doctor Fu Luo said, if we could find the tattoo on Empress Jiang's back, perhaps we could follow its clues to locate the Heaven's Mandate One, and also enable that Heaven's Mandate One to step forward and stop his descendants from running amok in this world."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Based on what my lord just said, the airship that crashed years ago is very likely in the imperial mausoleum. If we destroy the airship, then Hong Beimo and the like will naturally be unable to contact their fellow clansmen, and the danger will collapse on its own."

Hu Xiaotian said, "That airship is so important to them that its defenses must be stringent; Hong Beimo hides extremely deeply, and his strength may be far greater than what we have seen."

Zhuge Guanqi nodded in deep agreement and said, "The Battle of Xingzhou already fully demonstrated his strength; without the aid of the tortoise-shell chariots and thunderclap crossbows, Su Yuchi might not have been able to defeat the many with few, easily routing the Xichuan army."

Hu Xiaotian said, "These weapons all come from the designs of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "But if Hong Beimo possesses such great strength, why did he lose in his contest with Ji Feihua?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It must have been deliberate, or perhaps he simply did not want to reveal his own strength, so as to avoid attracting too much attention."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Hong Beimo, Ren Tianqing, and Mu Rongzhan are all individuals of extraordinary ability; why would they be so respectful toward the Yongyang Princess? Do they intend to use her to conceal their true aims, or has the Yongyang Princess already seen through everything and formed a tacit understanding with them?"

Hu Xiaotian remained silent, but in his heart he already understood: given Qiqi's temperament, she would hardly allow herself to be used; this girl is deep‑minded and ambitious, cold‑blooded and ruthless—she could even bring herself to harm her own fiancé, let alone others. Perhaps Qiqi herself is the Heaven's Mandate One, or perhaps she, like Ji Feihua, can receive the information hidden in the Blue Skull.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "Now I finally understand why the Yongyang Princess took the initiative to seek peace with my lord; her ultimate goal is not to unify the realm, but to destroy everything here."

Hu Xiaotian's gaze showed a hint of bewilderment, and he said softly, "Perhaps all this still needs verification."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "If the Yongyang Princess truly is the Heaven's Mandate One my lord spoke of, then eliminating her would be enough to thwart Hong Beimo's plan."

Hu Xiaotian slowly nodded; Zhuge Guanqi's words were sound—Hong Beimo has not yet activated the airship to this day because he encountered obstacles in the repair process, whether technical difficulties or a lack of star charts; if Qiqi is the Heaven's Mandate One, she could receive information through the skull, and that information is exactly what Hong Beimo needs, which is why those people are so wary of Qiqi.

From Hu Xiaotian's solemn gaze, Zhuge Guanqi already knew they faced a grave situation; the real trouble is not merely these powerful enemies, but that when such enemies arrive, the vast majority of people are unaware, and many are still busy with internal strife.

Zhuge Guanqi said, "What exactly does the Yongyang Princess mean?"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows and said, "I am not clear about it."

Zhuge Guanqi said, "My lord ought to quickly ascertain her stance; if she truly intends to destroy this place, then my lord should also make an early decision."

Hu Xiaotian understood Zhuge Guanqi's meaning; he wanted to crush the opposing plan, and Qiqi might be its weakest link. Judging from the current situation, Hong Beimo should not yet have succeeded in repairing the airship; if Qiqi truly is the Heaven's Mandate One, eliminating her would cause the enemy's plans to collapse naturally. However, Zhuge Guanqi cannot fathom Hu Xiaotian's attitude, given that the Yongyang Princess and Hu Xiaotian once had a marriage pact; although they had once severed contact, the court recently extended an olive branch to Hu Xiaotian, which must be due to the Yongyang Princess's influence.

Hu Xiaotian did not wish to continue discussing this matter, and changed the subject: "By the way, is there a way to counter the tortoise‑shell chariots and thunderclap crossbows?"

Zhuge Guanqi laughed and said, "I have recently also developed several weapons, their diagrams are already drawn, and I am preparing to discuss them with my lord."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I am not capable in this area; it is not my specialty. Before long, Zong Tang will arrive, and with his help you will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Zhuge Guanqi had also heard of Zong Tang's reputation, and he rejoiced, "If Master Zong can come, that would be perfect!"

Tonight there are a few things; the second update will likely be later, Zhangyu, try not to drink too much! (To be continued~^~)