Chapter 1683

Back then Hu Xiaotian initiated the break-off of the engagement; now the relationship between the two parties has just begun to show signs of easing, yet this fellow sends a wedding invitation, whose true intention is to humiliate Qiqi and provoke her. Quan De'an worries for Qiqi but also feels somewhat relieved—those in the thick of it are confused, while onlookers see clearly. He has always believed that Qiqi still harbors Lingering Feelings for Hu Xiaotian, a sensitive matter he dare not advise on, fearing to provoke this cold-hearted young master. Now Hu Xiaotian's action is tantamount to actively severing the love-thread, which for Qiqi may not be a bad thing.

After Shi Xuedong left the room, Quan De'an cautiously said, 'Your Highness, why not go out for a walk to clear your mind?'

Qiqi nodded, then walked down slowly; Quan De'an followed respectfully behind her, the two exiting the palace gate one after another. Qiqi gazed at the overcast sky and whispered, 'It looks like it's going to rain.'

'Spring rain is as precious as oil, beneficial for the crops; it looks like this year will be another abundant harvest.'

Qiqi said, 'I wonder if it will rain on the fifth day of the fifth month?'

Quan De'an did not yet know that the fifth day of the fifth month was Hu Xiaotian's wedding day, and he couldn't help but startle.

Qiqi said, 'He invited this palace to attend his wedding, his wedding with Princess Yingyue!' Although her tone was flat, each word she spoke felt like a knife twisting her heart; she clearly realized she was jealous, and Hu Xiaotian had successfully provoked her.

Quan De'an said, 'Your Highness, what do you intend to do?'

Qiqi said, 'You're right; this palace has been trapped in this palace for far too long—it's time to go out for a walk.'

Quan De'an's heart jolted: 'Princess, are you really preparing to attend his wedding?'

Qiqi said, 'If he can hold it smoothly!'

During this period Hu Xiaotian basically spent his time at the Zhouzhou Horse Farm, living carefree; he usually read and practiced martial arts, and in his leisure he rode together with Long Xi Yue, Tang Qingxuan, and Jian Rongxin, galloping and enjoying spring outings. Since leaving Da Yong, Jian Rongxin has become much more open.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse. Long Xi Yue and Jian Rongxin leaned against Hu Xiaotian on either side, sitting on the grassy hill of the Zhouzhou Horse Farm, quietly gazing at the starry sky.

Long Xi Yue said, 'Sister Shengnan has gone to Bei Jiang; by my reckoning she should have arrived by now.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Jian Rongxin said, 'I really don't understand why she won't let Mr. Xia see her off.' Having come here from Da Yong thanks to Xia Zhangming's escort, riding a snow eagle all the way, after experiencing that incredible flight, her conception of distance has been completely overturned.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'I always feel that Shengnan has something on her mind; her trip to Bei Jiang isn't just a simple visit to her foster father.'

Long Xi Yue bit her cherry lip and said, 'You saying that makes me worry about her a bit.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'No need to worry; Shengnan's martial arts are progressing swiftly, and her archery is outstanding. Her wisdom is exceptional—even if she encounters danger, she can protect herself.'

Long Xi Yue said, 'I truly envy Sister Shengnan for being able to stand on her own, without constantly causing you trouble.'

Hu Xiaotian burst into laughter: 'Your dog-beating staff technique is also not bad; you just have a bland disposition, uninterested in worldly strife. Otherwise, with your perceptiveness, becoming a top expert would pose no difficulty.'

Jian Rongxin secretly felt ashamed, thinking she was the one who caused Hu Xiaotian the most trouble. She hardly knew any martial arts, and had even been married before. What right did she have to stand on equal footing with others?

Long Xi Yue's thoughts were extremely meticulous; seeing Jian Rongxin's expression, she knew her words had made her overthink, so she reached out and took Jian Rongxin's hand, saying, 'Xin sister, let's go fetch some water by the spring. I'm a bit thirsty.'

Hu Xiaotian smiled as he watched the two women walk off together; deep down Jian Rongxin still harbored an inferiority complex, but Long Xi Yue treated others generously, and with her help he believed Jian Rongxin would soon resolve her inner knot.

At that moment a sudden clatter of hooves caught Hu Xiaotian's attention; he looked into the distance and saw a rider galloping like wind and lightning toward his position, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes with a fiery figure—it was Tang Qingxuan.

Hu Xiaotian secretly smiled; Tang Qingxuan had originally said she would join them for an outing, but she stayed behind due to a temporary matter at the horse farm, and now it seems she has finished her business—this girl is always so impatient.

But as Tang Qingxuan approached, Hu Xiaotian saw her face streaked with tears, his heart gave a start, and he rose to meet her.

Tang Qingxuan dismounted, tears streaming, and said, 'Xiaotian, my older brother… my older brother… he…' Before she could finish, she fainted.

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly embraced her, pressing his thumb on her philtrum; Tang Qingxuan then slowly regained consciousness, sobbing, 'My older brother was killed… even his head… was cut off…' Unable to continue, she buried her face in Hu Xiaotian's chest and burst into loud weeping.

Hu Xiaotian's heart was greatly shocked; since the Tang family took over managing the Zhouzhou Horse Farm for him, Tang Tiehan had mainly been responsible for horse trading, braving wind and rain over the years and earning merit for Hu Xiaotian; moreover, he was Hu Xiaotian's elder brother-in-law, yet unexpectedly he ended up decapitated.

After Tang Qingxuan's emotions stabilized, Hu Xiaotian continued questioning and learned that Tang Tiehan had this time gone to Yulan Country to trade horses; passing through the Ankang Grassland, his caravan unfortunately encountered bandits, who not only looted the horses they were transporting but also issued an order to kill all. Tang Tiehan led his men in a bloody fight, but was ultimately overwhelmed by superior numbers, struck down by random arrows, and his head was severed.

The few soldiers who managed to escape later returned to retrieve his corpse; of the three-hundred-strong caravan, only six escaped death, while the rest had their heads cut off by the bandits and their bodies abandoned in the wilderness.

Hearing this, Hu Xiaotian could not help but flare up in anger; he immediately returned to the headquarters of the Zhouzhou Horse Farm together with Tang Qingxuan. Tang Wen Zheng, an old man sending off his black-haired son, also wept tears streaming down his face; third son Tang Tie Xin was still away on business and had not returned, while second son Tang Tie Cheng was jumping with rage, his eyes red from crying, mustering men to march to the Ankang Grassland for revenge, and no one could dissuade him.

Although Tang Tie Cheng had a violent temperament, he was extremely deferential to Hu Xiaotian; seeing Hu Xiaotian return, he calmed somewhat, wiping his tears as he said, 'My lord, my older brother was killed, along with nearly three hundred brothers; I will go to the Ankang Grassland and exterminate those bandits to the last man.'

Hu Xiaotian reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, 'Tie Cheng, calm down first before speaking.' He then went to Tang Wen Zheng's side, seeing the old man suddenly appear much older, he softly sighed, 'Uncle Tang, mourn and adapt; please take care of your health.'

Tang Wen Zheng raised his head to look at Hu Xiaotian, and before he could speak, tears streamed down again; he turned away, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, and said sorrowfully, 'What kind of person is so ruthless as to not even leave a whole corpse…'

Hu Xiaotian whispered, 'Uncle Tang, for now settle Tang the elder's posthumous affairs; you need not worry about anything else—I will surely give you justice.'

After comforting the Tang family, Hu Xiaotian went outside and had the six survivors summoned; these six also bore bruises and swollen faces, but their injuries were not from the battle on the Ankang Grassland—they had been beaten by the violent Tang Tie Cheng after bringing back Tang Tiehan's headless corpse. Though innocent, they had risked their lives to escort the headless body back, receiving no reward but a beating instead; yet they bore no grudge, for Tang Tie Cheng, bereft of his brother, could understand his loss of control in grief.

Several people came before Hu Xiaotian and all knelt down, saying, 'My lord, we failed to protect Chief Tang; please punish us.'

Hu Xiaotian, seeing their state, already guessed what had happened; he sighed and said, 'This is not your fault—you painstakingly retrieved Chief Tang's corpse, braving dust and fatigue to escort it here; you have committed no fault, but rather rendered merit.'

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian say that, they finally relaxed; thinking of their fallen brothers and then of the injustice of the beating they had just endured, each one shed hot tears.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'You few, tell me the details of what happened, and also let me know whether you know the origins of these bandits.'

Their accounts were largely similar to Tang Qingxuan's; one of them said, 'Those bandits were all dressed in black with covered faces; we couldn't see their features clearly, and some spoke in barbarian speech.'

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brow—this was a clue—and pressed, 'Barbarian speech? Which nation's language is it that you can or cannot understand?' They all shook their heads simultaneously; the interpreter in their caravan had also died in this massacre, and none of them could tell which language it was.

Hu Xiaotian asked, 'Did you put up any resistance at the time?'

One of them replied, 'At the time we saw the enemy outnumbering us, Chief Tang said the goods could be abandoned, at least we could later try to seize them back, and he urged us to stay calm and not act rashly, indicating that the horses and property could be left to the bandits; yet we never imagined the bandits would actually massacre us to the last man. After they began their slaughter, we finally rose to resist… Chief Tang…'

Hu Xiaotian's fury blazed; the methods of this bandit gang were truly too cruel. Just a little thought shows this affair is anything but ordinary—his caravan had always conducted legitimate trade along the western route, where everyone knew his name, Hu Xiaotian, and no one would dare to scheme against his goods, let alone loot them and then exterminate his retainers; nine times out of ten this is a premeditated revenge.

The first thing that came to Hu Xiaotian's mind was Ji City; after Guo Guangbi fled defeat from Xingzhou, he led his remnants to settle in Ji City, relying on the Ankang Great Grassland to take up banditry, and having seized his old nest of Xingzhou, could it be that he orchestrated this massacre to take revenge on Hu Xiaotian? The more Hu Xiaotian thought, the more likely it seemed; he could not let Tang Tiehan's matter rest—not only because of his ties to the Tang family, but also to prove to the world that anyone who dares to move against Hu Xiaotian's people will suffer tenfold punishment and retribution! (To be continued~^~)