Chapter 1702

Wen Chenghuan said, "Princess, I heard Hu Xiaotian will be married on the eighth day of the fifth month, and he even sent you an invitation!"

Zhou Ruiyuan gave Wen Chenghuan a look, obviously thinking Wen Chenghuan lacked tact in bringing this up; everyone knows the relationship between Yongyang Princess and Hu Xiaotian, and their marriage pact dissolution is common knowledge. Hu Xiaotian's wedding this time is widely known, and he specially invited the Yongyang Princess to attend, clearly out of spite, deliberately provoking the princess. Everyone understands this, so they all avoid mentioning it carefully, but Wen Chenghuan brought it up in front of Qiqi; given his experience, he must have considered these concerns, so he did it deliberately.

Qiqi wasn't angry, just gave a faint smile: "Is that so?"

Seeing her so calm and unflappable, even the scheming Wen Chenghuan secretly admired her; this girl has truly cultivated to perfection, no wonder she can control Dakang's court with such a strong mindset, or perhaps she never had any feelings for Hu Xiaotian.

Wen Chenghuan asked, "Will Your Highness go?"

Qiqi said, "After the Qingming Festival, I will set out; Hu Xiaotian is after all the King of Zhenhai, and I will give him this face no matter what."

Wen Chenghuan bowed and said, "Your Highness, I think it's better not to go."

Qiqi lightly smiled and said, "Tell me your reasons."

Wen Chenghuan said, "Hu Xiaotian harbors great ambition, occupying Dongliang Jun, Wuxing Jun, Dongluo Warehouse, and Baiquan City, controlling the lower Yong River, and even half of the Wangchun River and Yunze waters; he recently gained Xing Prefecture as well. Although he accepted the princess's investiture, he remains unchanged and never obeys the princess's orders. I believe he will surely rebel someday. If Your Highness attends his wedding, would you not be putting yourself in danger? Should he harbor ill will toward you, what then?"

Qiqi chuckled, "Grand Tutor Wen, you're boosting others' morale while destroying your own prestige; I can see Hu Xiaotian has ambition, but his current strength is still insufficient to oppose Dakang. If I don't go, he will surely say that my ennobling him as king is a trap and that I lack sincerity."

Zhou Ruiyuan also realized Qiqi had decided to go to Yunze to attend Hu Xiaotian's wedding; he hurried forward and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Highness, this is absolutely out of the question; even if the court wishes to show favor to the King of Zhenhai, there's no need for you to go in person—I think Grand Tutor Wen can go in your stead."

Upon hearing this, Wen Chenghuan silently cursed Zhou Ruiyuan: "Zhou Ruiyuan, you're clearly scheming against me—who doesn't know I have a grudge against Hu Xiaotian? Recommending me to go in the princess's place is practically handing Hu Xiaotian an opportunity to strike at me." Still, he couldn't refuse at this juncture. Wen Chenghuan declared passionately, "Your Highness, this humble subject is willing to go in your place." He secretly thought, I'll agree for now and feign illness in a couple of days; I can't very well go while sick.

Qiqi glanced at Wen Chenghuan and said, "Grand Tutor, your loyalty is evident; I appreciate it. But Hu Xiaotian invited me, not you."

Wen Chenghuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, Not going is fine; do you think I want to go? He glared fiercely at Zhou Ruiyuan and said darkly, "Actually, Chancellor Zhou and the Hu family are old friends. Having Chancellor Zhou go in the princess's place would also be a good choice."

Zhou Ruiyuan smiled faintly, knowing Wen Chenghuan was retaliating, and said respectfully, "Grand Tutor is right; what does Your Highness think?"

Qiqi said, "I know what you two are thinking; as officials serving the same throne, even if you have past grudges, you must set them aside when facing major affairs. What I least want to see is ministers scheming against each other, deceiving and betraying. Don't think that because you are senior officials I won't punish you!"

Both Zhou Ruiyuan and Wen Chenghuan flushed with embarrassment, simultaneously bowing to the ground: "Your Highness, we acknowledge our fault!"

Qiqi waved her hand and said, "Whether I go to Yunze is my private matter; from now on, unless I ask, you are not to bring it up in my presence. Do you understand?"

"We understand!" they replied in unison.

Qiqi gave a hehe cold laugh and said: "Since you understand, why ask me like this on purpose? What's your motive?" Her beautiful eyes coldly stared at Wen Chenghuan, making his heart turn cold and sweat bead on his forehead; this little girl is really too sharp. He panicked and said: "Princess, I am loyal and devoted to Your Highness, I am wholeheartedly loyal to Dakang, I..."

Qiqi raised her right hand to stop him from continuing his explanation, and softly said: "Step down, why would someone who understands need to say such hypocritical words? You speak forcefully, but I have no interest in listening."

Wen Chenghuan's old face turned bright red with shame; in this situation saying more was useless, so he could only bid farewell to Qiqi, and Zhou Ruizhen also retreated at the right moment; staying then would yield no good fruit.

Qiqi however kept Zhou Ruizhen behind: "Zhou Aiqing, wait a bit before leaving."

Zhou Ruizhen forced himself to stay, and after Wen Chenghuan left, Zhou Ruizhen bowed and apologized: "My conduct has been improper; I hope Princess will not hold it against me."

Qiqi said: "Lately I haven't seen Sister Yutong, have I?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ruizhen's expression grew even more tense, his throat moved, and he whispered: "Reporting to Princess, my daughter has already severed ties with me; where she went is something I will never know."

Qiqi gave a slight smile and said: "As a father, don't you care about your own daughter?"

Zhou Ruizhen gave a bitter smile and said: "It's not that I don't care, but she refuses my concern."

Qiqi nodded and said: "Although you don't know, I do know her news; I heard she is now in Yongdu, busy reorganizing the Shennong Society, and last year when Yongdu was plagued by a rat epidemic, it was largely thanks to her intervention that Da Yong managed to quell this crisis."

Although Qiqi's tone was plain and unremarkable, to Zhou Ruizhen it sounded terrifying; he fell to his knees with a thud and trembled: "Your subject knows his guilt; please, Your Highness, mete out punishment!"

Qiqi gave a hehe laugh, slowly rose to her feet, step by step descended the stairs, came before Zhou Ruizhen, and did not immediately let him rise, but looked down on him; this Grand Chancellor of Dakang, who stands above ten thousand and below one, could only lower his head and beg for mercy before her.

Qiqi said: "What guilt is there?"

Zhou Ruizhen said: "I failed to discipline strictly, indulging my daughter too much! To not educate is the father's fault; everything is entirely my responsibility."

Qiqi sighed softly and said: "How pitiful the hearts of parents everywhere; you truly have been good to Sister Yutong." She paused and then said: "Are you willing or not to die for her?"

Zhou Ruizhen's heart shook violently; could it be that Yutong's matter truly angered this witch, prompting her to punish him for it? Without hesitation he said: "Willing! I am willing to die for her."

"Is it because you feel guilty toward Dakang, or for some other reason? You must not deceive me; speak the truth!"

Zhou Ruizhen said: "I haven't thought that much; merely as a father I am willing to die for my daughter!"

"You don't regret it?"

Zhou Ruizhen shook his head.

Qiqi softly said: "Rise, I so wish I had a father like you."

Zhou Ruizhen secretly let out a breath of relief, and only then dared to rise from the ground.

Qiqi said: "Originally this epidemic could have added frost to Da Yong's wounds; unexpectedly, Sister Yutong extended a hand to help them, and I also heard that Hu Xiaotian once appeared in Yongdu." She fixed her gaze on Zhou Ruizhen's eyes and asked: "Does Hu Xiaotian actually know or not know Sister Yutong's true identity?"

Zhou Ruizhen said: "He probably wouldn't know."

Qiqi laughed: "Should? There are far too many things that 'should' happen in this world; what ought to occur often doesn't, and what shouldn't often does." Her long black lashes drooped as she softly said: "Chancellor, I will personally attend Hu Xiaotian's grand wedding; you must keep watch over Kangdu for me."

Zhou Ruizhen startled, raised his head, then immediately lowered it again: "Actually, my view on this matter coincides with that of Wen Taishi." He tactfully explained that he also disagreed with Qiqi's attending Hu Xiaotian's wedding.

Qiqi said: "I originally didn't want to go, but after thinking it over, some people ultimately cannot escape!"

After Zhou Ruizhen left, Qiqi had Quan De'an summon Yang Lingqi; Yang Lingqi had been waiting outside the Qinzheng Hall for quite some time, and upon appearing before Qiqi he originally intended to kowtow, but Qiqi waved her hand and said: "No need!" She also had a little eunuch bring a chair for Yang Lingqi, which for him was already a great honor.

After Yang Lingqi sat down, Quan De'an waved his hand, and all the palace attendants withdrew.

Yang Lingqi handed a ledger to Quan De'an, who then passed it to Qiqi; Yang Lingqi said: "According to my calculations, the list of items purchased for the mausoleum over the past six months and the funds you allocated differ only slightly."

Qiqi nodded, unfolded the ledger, and skimmed through it once.

Yang Lingqi added: "However, the items he bought are very strange, mostly unrelated to construction. Moreover, he has recently recruited many ironworkers, saying they are to build bronze walls and iron barriers in the Huangling Digong."

Qiqi said: "You have worked hard."

Yang Lingqi said: "I would gladly devote myself to the point of exhaustion, even to death, for the Princess."

Qiqi said: "I have just heard that Guo Guangbi and his father from Jicheng died in tribal vendetta, and his followers followed Xie Jian together in surrendering to Hu Xiaotian."

Yang Lingqi said: "This is good for Hu Xiaotian, but not necessarily good news for Dakang."

Qiqi raised her brows slightly: "How so?"

Yang Lingqi said: "Although Jicheng is small, it lies on the frontier, an important gateway to the Ankang grasslands and the sole fortress surrounding the Ankang grasslands; thus whoever controls Jicheng controls the Ankang grasslands. Hu Xiaotian has already occupied Xingzhou and now also seized Jicheng, effectively controlling the entire trade route to the Western Regions, which not only lays the foundation for his future development but will also greatly affect other countries' trade with the Western Regions."

First Update sent (to be continued~^~)