Chapter 1737

Qiqi furrowed her brows and said: "He's afraid he won't be that obedient."

Wen Chenghuan hehe laughed and said: "Princess, have you forgotten the matter of the Da Yong envoy? Princess, you can use helping him resolve this trouble as a condition! If he doesn't agree, once it's exposed, how can he stand before the world?"

Hong Beimo actually shared the same view as Wen Chenghuan on this point, he agreed and said: "I think Grand Tutor Wen's idea is not bad; regarding the matter in Xichuan, Hu Xiaotian and our side share the same interests. Even if we don't send him, he will surely want to get to the bottom of this."

Wen Chenghuan said: "Just say we send him to Xizhou to mourn Li Tianheng, to clear this up for Dakang, posthumously enfeoff Li Tianheng as a prince, and meanwhile persuade Li Honghan to surrender."

Qiqi said: "Do you think Hu Xiaotian is an idiot? To go to Xizhou at such great risk?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "In war between two countries, envoys are not killed; moreover, our troops are gathered at the border of Xichuan, and Li Honghan is no fool—unless he wants to seek his own death, he wouldn't kill an envoy."

Hong Beimo said: "Grand Tutor Wen is absolutely right, and Hu Xiaotian has always been ambitious; although he won't honestly serve the court, he has long coveted Xichuan, so he surely won't miss this rare opportunity."

Qiqi said: "You mean he will use the banner of serving Dakang as an envoy to pursue his own affairs?"

Hong Beimo smiled and said: "Princess, you are perceptive; Hu Xiaotian's greatest talent is using public office for private gain!"

Qiqi nodded, thought for a moment, then said: "In your opinion, who would be most suitable to send as an envoy?"

Hong Beimo said: "Mu Rongzhan!"

Hu Xiaotian had looked over Qiqi's this secret letter, paying special attention to the signature; the date was two days earlier, meaning Mu Rongzhan had traveled from Kangdu to Yunyang in just two days—such speed is truly fast. He didn't speak right away, but slowly organized the letter and tucked it into his pocket. Since the grand wedding, Hu Xiaotian has been going further and further in clothing design, making many improvements to garments; of course he wouldn't again wear a suit and tie as on the wedding day, but some humanized refinements in the details are still necessary.

Mu Rongzhan could also remain composed, his grayish-white eyes quietly fixed on Hu Xiaotian awaiting his reply.

Hu Xiaotian made an inviting gesture to Mu Rongzhan: "Commander Mu, please have tea!"

Mu Rongzhan nodded, his pallid face still showing no smile, he lifted the Chazan and took a sip. Then Hu Xiaotian said: "You surely know the contents of this letter, Commander Mu?"

Mu Rongzhan shook his head and said: "How dare I read the Princess's private letter to the Prince?"

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "Commander Mu is still as stiff as ever; if it were me, I definitely couldn't restrain my curiosity, I'd secretly open it, then reseal it with wax, satisfying my curiosity without leaving a trace."

Mu Rongzhan said: "As for adaptability, I am ashamed to be inferior; I am already at the age of knowing my destiny, and it's too late to change."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nature is hard to change, which can be good or bad; Commander Mu, you must be faithful in love as well."

Mu Rongzhan's white brows furrowed: "Thank you for your concern, Prince; my family affairs need no outside interference."

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "I'm only concerned about Murong Feiyan, not you."

Mu Rongzhan suppressed his anger; this guy is really too arrogant, clearly intending to provoke.

However, Hu Xiaotian didn't continue the topic, speaking softly: "Does Da Yong still think its troubles aren't enough? It even dares to send people to demand the Dongluo Warehouse? Back then I indeed said I would lend the Dongluo Warehouse for five years, but the contract was signed by the court; I never said I definitely had to return the Dongluo Warehouse to them."

Mu Rongzhan was both laughing and crying; this guy truly is thick-skinned and black-hearted, having planned from the start to renege on the debt. However, he doesn't care about the Dongluo Warehouse matter, and the Yongyang Princess sending him here wasn't for this reason.

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Princess is really interesting; if she wants me to do something for her, she could just directly order me, yet she also set conditions—do you know what conditions she set?"

Mu Rongzhan said nothing, appearing indifferent.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander Mu, you're really uncooperative!"

Mu Rongzhan said: "I don't know how the Prince wants me to cooperate."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Princess said she wants you to accompany me to Xichuan to mourn and meanwhile persuade Li Honghan to surrender—such a big matter, how could you know nothing about it?"

Mu Rongzhan said: "I've heard a bit, but the Princess didn't go into detail; she only said whatever the Prince orders, I will do as told!"

Hu Xiaotian saw his lifeless appearance and silently cursed, "I tell you to go die—will you go or not?" Though he disliked Mu Rongzhan even more in his heart, after all he is Murong Feiyan's father, his father-in-law, out of consideration for Murong Feiyan he couldn't let him lose face completely, so Hu Xiaotian said: "What if I don't go?"

Mu Rongzhan said: "Whether the Prince goes or not, I will definitely go on this trip."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander Mu, go rest first; I need to think carefully."

Mu Rongzhan rose to take his leave, and before departing he didn't forget to add: "I hope the Prince will give me a reply soon."

Even someone as simple-minded as Xiong Tianba could see the conspiracy, shouting: "Third Uncle, this is a huge plot! What kind of good person is the Yongyang Princess? She certainly wouldn't be so kind as to let you be an envoy, and even say she'll give you half of Xichuan's territory—she's trying to fool a three-year-old; there must be fraud here. Moreover, that Mu Rongzhan looks like a ghost; if you travel with him, who knows how he'll harm you along the way!"

Zong Tang said: "Since even a dimwitted child can see it, I'm too lazy to say more; the lord surely sees it clearly."

Liang Yinghao said: "I just feel puzzled; if even a dimwitted child can see the conspiracy, does she think she can fool the lord?"

Xiong Tianba nodded repeatedly: "Yeah, I can see it too; she naturally can't fool Third Uncle."

Xia Zhangming said: "Knowing it can't be fooled, why bother to deceive?"

Xiong Tianba said: "Women, you know—love turns to hate; Third Uncle married the Yingyue Princess but not her, so she naturally bears a deep hatred for Third Uncle and will use any means to harm him."

Everyone was quite amazed, discovering that the dimwitted child's brain today was unusually useful.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "The Yongyang Princess may be ruthless, but she is certainly not narrow-minded; she sees the big picture clearly." He stood up, paced a few steps slowly, and said: "She must think I want to obtain Xichuan; even without her commission, I would surely investigate the matter thoroughly, so she's using the scheme against herself."

Meng Guangxiong said: "Even if we want to investigate, we don't necessarily have to cooperate with her, nor does the Prince need to go personally; this matter would be better left to me to handle—I still have some confidence in handling affairs in Xichuan."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Don't look at Dakang massing troops at the border, but given their current national strength they cannot support launching a war against Xichuan, so they haven't launched an attack up to now. Li Tianheng's assassination will inevitably cause internal chaos in Xichuan; Dakang hasn't even grasped this opportunity, instead wanting to send envoys to persuade surrender, which shows they haven't prepared for war."

Meng Guangxiong said: "There's also another possibility: the Dakang court's internal opinions are not unified."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; perhaps the true focus of Hong Beimo and Qiqi is still the imperial mausoleum, and they don't regard Xichuan as highly as the outside world imagines. Given Qiqi's intelligence, how could she not have anticipated that she herself would arouse suspicion? Merely using the bait of giving half of Xichuan's land to oneself hardly moves the heart, let alone the excuse of helping oneself deal with Da Yong, which is even more laughable. Throughout history, those in debt are the bosses; Da Yong has recently been troubled inside and out, so where would they find the time to deal with me?

Li Tianheng's death was too sudden; outside, rumors spread everywhere that Dakang assassinated him. From Qiqi's reaction, this likely wasn't her doing, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to such trouble. But if Dakang is ruled out, who then is the true killer of Li Tianheng? Hu Xiaotian feels this isn't that simple; Qiqi undoubtedly understands him in this regard—she knows his curiosity, so she had Mu Rongzhan come.

Hu Xiaotian spoke softly: "Whether they seek me or not, I must go to Xizhou!"

Everyone fell silent; once Hu Xiaotian makes a decision, it's hard to change.

After a while, Liang Yinghao said: "What if it's a trap?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if it's a trap, I can still withdraw unharmed."

"I'll go with you!" Zong Tang was the first to declare his stance.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "No need, since the court has appointed me as an envoy, I'll just go with Mu Rongzhan."

Xia Zhangming said: "I'll go with the lord; having more companions makes it easier to look out for each other."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No need! This time I'm worried not about Dakang's side; regarding Li Tianheng's assassination, they're just as confused as I am, so any trouble would only arise after reaching Xizhou."

Xiong Tianba said: "Or I'll go with Third Uncle; as long as that Mu Rongzhan dares to make a move, I'll smash him to death with one hammer blow!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "With my current martial arts, he can't do anything to me; actually, the Yongyang Princess's letter to me showed considerable sincerity, I believe she truly wants to cooperate this time!"

Everyone looked at each other, no one knowing what was in Hu Xiaotian's letter.

Xiong Tianba said: "Third Uncle, that woman can't be trusted; be careful not to be deceived by her again!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Being overly wary is actually counterproductive; this trip to Xizhou, Mu Rongzhan and I should be united against a common enemy, so you needn't worry about my safety."

Meng Guangxiong said: "The road from Yunyang to Xizhou has been severed in multiple places due to the earthquake and remains unopened; to reach Xizhou in the shortest time, we must cross mountains and ridges. I know this road best; besides, I'm going with the Prince. Anyway, I also need to return to Xichuan. As for familiarity with Xichuan, none of the brothers present knows it better than I."

Two updates delivered (To be continued~^~)