Chapter 1681

Hu Xiaotian's relationship with Dakang had eased somewhat; outwardly he submitted to Dakang and accepted the title of King of Zhenhai bestowed by Dakang, but in reality there was no subordinate relationship between him and the Dakang court. Since Quan De'an and Wu Jing Shan last came to confer the kingship, there has been no contact between the two sides, merely maintaining a state of mutual respect. Externally Hu Xiaotian did not declare independence, but in fact his territory remains an independent kingdom, refusing any dispatch from the Dakang court.

This time the envoy sent was Hu Xiaotian's sworn brother Shi Xuedong, which came as somewhat of a surprise to Hu Xiaotian, after all Shi Xuedong had previously been implicated by him, driven out of the palace by Qiqi, and returned to his hometown together with his father Shi Bu Chui. Hu Xiaotian had also sent someone to deliver a letter inviting him over, but Shi Xuedong never came; in fact it was not that he did not want to come, but his father Shi Bu Chui, after experiencing the great rises and falls of officialdom, had grown distant from the bureaucracy, established a family precept, and strictly ordered his sons not to involve themselves in politics.

But some things are not up to him to decide; Qiqi issued another edict recalling Shi Xuedong, still summoning him to the palace to resume his former post, responsible for the Imperial Gardens Bureau and the Imperial Food Directorate.

Hu Xiaotian also welcomed the arrival of this sworn brother, having Long Xi Yue go ahead to the Sanzhou Ranch while he himself remained in Dongliang Jun to receive this long-unseen sworn brother.

Shi Xuedong saw Hu Xiaotian making to kneel and said, "Your humble servant Shi Xuedong pays his respects, Prince, Thousand Years, Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Years!"

Hu Xiaotian helped him up before he could kneel, laughing, "Elder brother, why bother with all these formalities with me? You're being distant, aren't you?"

Shi Xuedong smiled broadly and said, "There is a distinction between rank and brother; you are now Prince, Thousand Years, while I am merely a chief eunuch in the palace, so basic etiquette must be observed." Over these years he has fully adapted to the role of a eunuch; few could imagine that this fellow was once an arrogant and domineering bully.

Hu Xiaotian took his hand and said, "We are friends in adversity; I don't give a damn about etiquette, brother—in my heart you will always be my good elder brother."

Hearing those words from Hu Xiaotian, Shi Xuedong was moved to the brink of tears; he and Hu Xiaotian could be said to have become friends through conflict—due to changes in the court and the decline of their family fortunes, they were punished and made eunuchs, though one of them was truly a eunuch while the other was only pretending. To say Shi Xuedong is not really a good person and has no true friends, Hu Xiaotian once said well that true feelings are revealed in adversity; they are friends in adversity. Such feeling is rare and precious. Shi Xuedong sincerely lamented, "Wealth and status are not forgotten; brother, this righteousness of yours is unmatched under heaven."

After they sat down, Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Elder brother, didn't you previously say you would stay away from the court and lead a simple life?"

Shi Xuedong gave a wry smile and said, "If it weren't for my father's coercion, how could I, your humble brother, have made such a choice? This world is so turbulent; wanting to keep a patch of tranquility is nothing but a luxury."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Shi Xuedong with some surprise, not expecting this poorly educated sworn brother to utter such a pretentious literary youth's lament. Indeed, after three days apart, one should view a person with new eyes.

Shi Xuedong said, "Brother, let me be frank—even my father has been reappointed."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "How wonderful! When you go back, convey my congratulations to Uncle Shi and congratulate him on being restored to his former post."

Shi Xuedong sighed and said, "What restoration to office? My father went to the imperial prison to become a wardenship, nominally given the authority to oversee officials, but in fact it amounted to locking him up."

Hu Xiaotian secretly smiled, thinking Qiqi really had enough tricks up her sleeve; it was definitely a mistake for Shi Xuedong and his father not to have come to his territory seeking refuge. Though they posed little threat to Qiqi, and logically she had no need to move against them, Hu Xiaotian asked, "Elder brother, what brings you here this time?" After exchanging pleasantries, they should get down to business, especially since Shi Xuedong still bears the identity of an imperial envoy—in fact this is not his first time serving in such a role; this time he is merely coming to act as Qiqi's mouthpiece.

Hu Xiaotian noticed that Qiqi often sends people like Quan De'an when discussing major affairs, whereas if she sends Shi Xuedong over, eight or nine times out of ten it is to talk about private matters.

Shi Xuedong looked around; this was a habit he had developed over many years in the inner palace—"caution makes for a long voyage."

In fact Hu Xiaotian had already dismissed everyone else; only the two of them remained in the room. He smiled and said, "Elder brother, rest assured—here you may speak freely; nothing will be transmitted to a third ear."

Shi Xuedong smiled embarrassedly; he was obviously being overcautious, for how could Hu Xiaotian's intellect make such a low-level mistake? He picked up his Chazan, took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said, "Actually this time I am acting on the Princess's commission; she entrusted me to deliver something to you." He carefully took out a silk brocade box and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian took the silk brocade box, opened it, and saw inside the jade pixiu that can forecast the weather; this item was originally given to him by Prince Yan Xue Shengjing, and later he passed it on to Qiqi, which could be considered their love token. Qiqi's returning it to him might mean that from now on their feelings are completely severed, with no further entanglement.

Shi Xuedong lowered his voice and said, "The Princess also has a message for you to relay."

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Shi Xuedong said, "I was wrong!"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows.

Shi Xuedong perhaps thought his remark had caused Hu Xiaotian to misunderstand, and hastily explained, "She asked me to tell you that she was wrong."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, his expression full of skepticism.

Shi Xuedong said, "She first waived your guilt, then made you a king, and now through me she apologizes—it seems the Yongyang Princess still likes you."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Do you believe she will be sincere?"

Shi Xuedong laughed and said, "I am not you, little brother—you are handsome and suave, tall and mighty, graceful as a jade tree in the wind, suave and debonair; you are absolutely the Lü Bu among men, the Red Hare among horses. How could any woman resist your charm? If it were me, I would regret endlessly, be heartbroken beyond compare; not to mention admitting fault, even if you harshly punished me, as long as I could earn your forgiveness I would be willing and content."

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "After all this time, you're still as despicable as ever!"

Shi Xuedong heeheed with laughter, feeling no shame but rather pride. Once one gets into the habit of flattery, complimentary words come out naturally.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Speak frankly; based on your understanding of the Yongyang Princess, is she someone who acts on feeling?"

Shi Xuedong thought carefully, then shook his head firmly.

"In your opinion, what is her purpose in sending you over?"

Shi Xuedong said, "What need to ask? Surely it is to improve relations with you; given your current strength, she must be wary of you, so she is trying to win you over and keep you from opposing Dakang."

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Shi Xuedong added, "Don't be fooled by her young age; her thinking is meticulous, she is ruthless and cold-hearted—brother, definitely do not fall for her tricks."

Hu Xiaotian said, "She clearly knows we are sworn brothers, yet she still sends you over—what is her purpose? With her intelligence, she should be able to guess that I will certainly speak freely in front of you, and perhaps even anticipate whatever you might say cursing her right now."

Hearing this, Shi Xuedong turned pale with fright, turned around, and anxiously looked behind him, as if Qiqi were really standing there.

Seeing his panicked and uneasy expression, Hu Xiaotian could not help bursting into laughter, rose, patted Shi Xuedong on the shoulder, and said, "Don't be scared; your analysis is not bad. If she really thinks that way, how should I respond?"

Shi Xuedong said, "Better not mention my meager insight, lest you laugh at me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Speak!"

Shi Xuedong said, "Actually in this matter you ought to be an expert; dealing with women is nothing but a matter of coaxing. Whether she is deceiving you or not, you must deceive her. Since she has taken the initiative to apologize, you might as well act magnanimous, say you forgive her, then arrange a meeting to see whether she dares to come."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Shi Xuedong with a narrow smile; this guy had no good ideas, just a bunch of bad ones, but hearing them out wouldn't hurt.

Shi Xuedong said, "If she dares not keep the appointment, that proves her apology is utterly insincere; if she does dare to go, you should find an opportunity to make a forceful move—once you turn the uncooked rice into cooked rice, she will naturally be obedient to you."

Hu Xiaotian hypocritically asked, "Isn't doing that too despicable?"

Shi Xuedong said, "Those who achieve great things do not quibble over trifles; though some women appear noble and haughty outwardly, the more aloof and cold a woman is, the more lascivious she is to the core—once one gets a taste of the pleasure of sex, hehe…" He trailed off, his face full of suggestiveness and vulgarity.

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, fortunate that this fellow had been made a eunuch, otherwise who knows how many virtuous women his past nature would have harmed.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Then help me relay something to her."

Shi Xuedong gleefully nodded.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Tell her that the eighth day of the fifth month this year is my wedding day; I am preparing to go to Cloud Marsh to hold the wedding, and I hope she will grace us with her presence."

After hearing his words, Shi Xuedong's heart turned cold halfway; even if he racked his brains he could not imagine that Hu Xiaotian would have him deliver this news—if Qiqi learned of Hu Xiaotian's wedding, she would likely be ashamed and enraged, and in her fury might even cut off his own head. With a mournful face he said, "Brother, you are pushing me onto a dead end."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "How so? How does my getting married cause you trouble?"

Shi Xuedong said, "You are getting married, and the bride is not her—how could her disposition possibly swallow this slight?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It is she who announced to the world the cancellation of our marriage pact; she is the one who does not want me."

Shi Xuedong gave a wry smile and said, "Brother, don't you understand women's minds? When a woman encounters something she loves, she would rather destroy it than let someone else have it cheaply." (To be continued ^~^)】