Chapter 1784

Hu Xiaotian said: "Swords and blades have no eyes; be careful not to hurt yourself."

Qiqi said: "Even if I die, I will take you as my companion."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "Really unexpected; I didn't realize you loved me this deeply." He grabbed Qiqi's wrist, lightly took back the light sword, after extinguishing it, placed it on the table; the two faced each other, their eyes full of vigilance.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What I said tonight is just the tip of the iceberg; consider it a small deposit for my entry into Long Ling Shengjing."

Qiqi shook her head: "It still seems not enough!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, then suddenly reached out to hook her slender waist, domineeringly pulling her into his embrace, then lightly kissed her lips; Qiqi, somewhat panicked, pushed him away—this scoundrel, in order to deal with me, truly uses any means, daring to do such a thing.

Hu Xiaotian, knowing when to stop, acted as if nothing had happened, returned to his seat and sat down, leaving only Qiqi standing there, her phoenix eyes flashing with menace, her cheeks flushed. To attack the city is inferior; to attack the heart is supreme. Hu Xiaotian is employing a heart‑attack strategy; Qiqi's gaze was like two sharp daggers stabbing at his heart, she said word by word: "Hu Xiaotian, you had better not use such tactics on me, otherwise……"

"Otherwise what?"

Hu Xiaotian, with a calm demeanor, lifted his wine cup and drank a cup himself, saying: "Actually, I have always wanted to take revenge on you."

Qiqi said: "Why don't you give it a try?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The best way to revenge on a woman is to make her fall completely in love with you, utterly devoted, to fetch tea and water for you, warm your feet and massage your back, and even be willing to bear a child for this man."

Qiqi sighed: "It seems I underestimated your shamelessness."

"I have never been a noble person, but I will treat my friends, family, and lovers well; I will not betray them." Hu Xiaotian stood up, walked toward Qiqi again; Qiqi unexpectedly felt a little afraid, stepped back and said: "You……"

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: "Do you know that in this world, more than one person can read the information of that skull?"

Qiqi truly felt fear from the depths of her heart; the reason Hong Beimo and others obey her orders is entirely because she can read the skull's information, and she has always believed she is the only one who can do so; now Hu Xiaotian actually says that. However, Hu Xiaotian ultimately has his own motives—who knows if he is not alarmist, deliberately lying to add weight, undermine her inner resolve, and force her to submit?

Qiqi said: "So what?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you know why Da Yong was founded? The person responsible for filling Qixia Lake to bury that airship back then was Dakang general Xue Shangwu, who was also the father of Da Yong's founding emperor Xue Juerang; I can assert that the rise of the Xue family and Da Yong behind the scenes is entirely due to the support of the Heaven's Mandate ones."

Qiqi said: "You keep mentioning the Heaven's Mandate ones—what exactly are they?" Yet in her heart she already understood: in Hu Xiaotian's eyes, she must have an extremely close connection to the Heaven's Mandate ones, and he might even suspect she herself is one of them, though it cannot be known for sure.

Hu Xiaotian was about to speak when he heard Eunuch Quan's footsteps approaching from afar; he stopped talking and gave Qiqi a glance; Qiqi immediately realized someone was coming, she frowned slightly in displeasure—she had previously instructed that Eunuch Quan not come tonight, yet he still came to disturb.

As expected, not long after, Eunuch Quan's voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, the Bureau of Heavenly Secrets' Hong Beimo and Xuantian Guan's Ren Tianqing have arrived."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat—how coincidental? I just arrived at Zilan Palace, and the news already reached those two old scoundrels' ears? On second thought, my movements are secretive; even Eunuch Quan should be trustworthy; perhaps those two really came by chance.

Qiqi said: "It's so late; what matter can't wait until tomorrow?"

Eunuch Quan said: "They indeed seem to have urgent matters; please grant them an audience despite your busy schedule."

Qiqi's gaze turned to Hu Xiaotian; although he had not fully disclosed the truth just now, she still felt this matter was extraordinary; his earlier words had substance, not merely empty bluster and alarmism.

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: Since Ren Tianqing appears here, it proves he did not perish in the volcanic eruption at Zijin Mountain; if he is alive, the leader of the Wuxian Sect, Lady Meizhuang, most likely also escaped; after my escape I once encountered the Old Monster of Beizhe, and at that time I did not find that blue skull on him—could the skull have fallen into their hands?

According to what Granny Ying said about the past, the Wuxian Sect's growth is also related to the owner of that blue skeleton; as for whether she was the previous sect leader of the Wuxian Sect, it is unknown. Hu Xiaotian whispered: "There is another blue skull; it may now be in their hands."

Qiqi stared in shock: "What?" She secretly wondered: he just said the other skull was in Hu Buwei's hands, why say there is another one now? Could there truly be a third skull in this world?

Hu Xiaotian nodded; actually he was merely speculating based on his understanding of the situation; everything still needs Qiqi to prove it herself.

Qiqi bit her cherry lips and said: "Eunuch Quan, have them wait for me in the front hall." Her gaze fell again on Hu Xiaotian, thinking how to deal with this scoundrel.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'll go to the Si Yuan Bureau to wait for your news."

Qiqi's heart skipped a beat, not knowing how he could get to the Si Yuan Bureau, since the underground passages connecting it and similar places had been sealed by her; she did not know that when Hu Xiaotian previously infiltrated the palace to rescue Xi Yan, he had arranged for Liang Yinghao to sneak in, and Liang Yinghao, with Li Yuncong's help, had opened part of the secret passages and reset the entrance—for example, the Zilan Palace where she now resides has a secret passage entrance, only it lies beneath the well water.

After Hu Xiaotian gave a brief explanation, Qiqi, while astonished, also felt a lingering fear: given Hu Xiaotian's ability, infiltrating the palace, even her own sleeping quarters, would be no difficulty; if he harbored murderous intent toward her, she would likely already be dead; his refraining from doing so must be because he truly still has lingering feelings for her? Thinking this, Qiqi's cheeks flushed involuntarily; Hu Xiaotian's appearance tonight had completely unsettled her mind, and she actually entertained such a thought.

Eunuch Quan's face bore not a trace of smile; his mood was even graver than his expression, worry shadowing his brow; he held a lantern to light Qiqi's way inside the palace, not forgetting to remind her: "Your Highness, watch your step; be sure not to twist your ankle."

Qiqi naturally understood the implied meaning of his words; she replied calmly: "I am no longer the little child who needed your support to walk."

Eunuch Quan fell silent, his inner being weighed down by an indescribable oppression, as if a violent storm were about to break.

Qiqi suddenly stopped walking and asked: "Are you hiding many things from me?"

Eunuch Quan pressed his lips together and said softly: "Your Highness only needs to know that everything I have done is to protect you; don't keep the two gentlemen waiting."

Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing were both waiting in the front hall; the hall's lighting was dim; upon seeing Qiqi enter, they both bowed in salute, their faces completely hidden in shadow.

Qiqi had long since withdrawn from the confrontation with Hu Xiaotian; she was so calm it hardly matched her age. She lightly waved her hand, expressionless, and took her seat.

Qiqi said: "Two esteemed officials, coming to see me this late is unprecedented; I wonder what great matter has occurred."

Hong Beimon this time came accompanying Ren Tianqing; he glanced at Ren Tianqing.

Ren Tianqing respectfully said: "I report to Your Highness, I indeed have urgent matters; otherwise I would not dare to disturb Your Highness's grand carriage; please forgive my rashness."

Qiqi said: "Both officials serve the country wholeheartedly; I would not blame you; Minister Ren, please speak."

Ren Tianqing said: "We have some matters that can only be told to Your Highness." This clearly aimed at Eunuch Quan.

Before Qiqi could speak, Eunuch Quan snapped in a shrill voice: "Impudent! Are you saying Your Highness should not trust our household?"

Ren Tianqing smiled: "Eunuch Quan, there's no need to be angry; the court has its rules, and for some major state affairs, inner officials are not permitted to be present."

Eunuch Quan silently cursed: actually Ren Tianqing and Hong Beimo, though they call themselves officials, hold no real posts; certainly it is not that Qiqi refuses to appoint them, but rather both are adamant on this point, each pledging loyalty to the court while claiming to disdain fame and rank; thus their standing in the court has not diminished but rather acquired an air of superiority over other officials, especially Hong Beimo—even the current premier Zhou Ruizhen treats him with considerable courtesy when they meet. Ren Tianqing is more like a carefree cloud and wild crane; previously he paid little heed to court affairs, but since Qiqi took power he has become increasingly involved in governmental matters.

Qiqi smiled faintly: "Eunuch Quan, Minister Ren's words are not wrong; no one will doubt your loyalty to me; please withdraw first."

"Yes!" Eunuch Quan inwardly sighed; while Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian were conferring in private, he was strolling outside; now that Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing have arrived, he still must go out to avoid suspicion—it seems his position is truly low; of course he also understands that Qiqi does not dislike him, but certain matters are simply inconvenient for him to be present.

After Eunuch Quan left, Qiqi then said: "Minister Ren, what great matter have you made so mysterious?"

Ren Tianqing then respectfully took out a leather sack, opened it, and a pale blue light emanated from within; Qiqi's phoenix eyes widened involuntarily—it turned out that what Ren Tianqing brought was actually a skull; recalling Hu Xiaotian's earlier speculation, he was indeed correct; this should be the third skull Hu Xiaotian said came from the headquarters of the Wuxian Sect.

Recommendation: Steam-fried "Superior Heroic Doctor"/Book/Healer's Bodhi Heart, chivalry bears both shoulders, left hand upholds justice, right hand walks the world.

Urban youth laughs proudly at life, miraculous hand heals the world, the tale of the heroic doctor with arrogant bones. (To be continued~^~)