Chapter 1786: [Observing People Through Paintings] (Part 1)

Quan De'an took the skull Qiqi handed him and said respectfully, "Your Highness, did someone just pull a substitute trick?" He admired Qiqi's wisdom wholeheartedly.

Qiqi snorted, "How could such a simple trick fool two old foxes? What you sent back is naturally what Ren Tianqing brought."

Quan De'an asked, puzzled, "Your Highness the Princess, why would you do this?"

Qiqi said, "Their thinking must be the same as yours—they think I substituted something with an object, so Hong Beimo would never open the leather pouch in front of Ren Tianqing to verify which skull it is."

Quan De'an said, "Why are you so certain? Don't forget, Your Highness, they came together."

Qiqi laughed, "Some secrets can't be shared together. Ren Tianqing wants to use Hong Beimo, Hong Beimo wants to use my palace, and I won't get too close to Ren Tianqing—I make everything go through Hong Beimo so they suspect each other."

Quan De'an rose in respect. Though Qiqi is young, she handles political tactics with ease. Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing are both outstanding; if they joined forces, few in Dakang or even the world could match them.

Qiqi said, "If I'm not mistaken, Hong Beimo might come back."

Quan De'an said, "It's so late… he…"

Qiqi said, "He's realized I'm wary of my relationship with him and Ren Tianqing, thinks I gave him the skull as a test, so of course he'd come." Qiqi didn't spill everything; although she's cautious about her ties with Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing, it hasn't reached the point of breaking ties. Today's move is to probe. Hu Xiaotian said more than one person can gain information from the skull, so she must confirm whether anyone else knows. If even Hong Beimo knows, her situation becomes dangerous; if he knows nothing, she can keep her deterrence.

Qiqi was right—Hong Beimo returned, bringing the skull he'd been entrusted to keep. Qiqi didn't wait for him; she had Quan De'an stay to receive whatever Hong Beimo sent. Seeing Quan De'an already understood everything, Hong Beimo, with his scheming, saw no need to ask further.

The wine cellar of the Bureau of Sacrifices was unchanged from before, the furnishings just as when Hu Xiaotian left, the stored wine hardly diminished. Lamps lit the cellar; a slender little eunuch sat beneath the light, seemingly waiting for someone—this eunuch was Qin Yutong in disguise. She and Hu Xiaotian had sneaked into the palace together, but tonight Hu Xiaotian chose another route to Zilan Palace to confront Qiqi face to face.

Hu Xiaotian had once promised Qin Yutong to take her to Long Ling Shengjing to see everything herself, but now Long Ling Shengjing has been remodeled by Hong Beimo; without a guide, it's hard to enter smoothly.

After Hu Xiaotian left, Qin Yutong kept waiting in the Bureau of Sacrifices' wine cellar; seeing him return, she rose to meet him.

Hu Xiaotian joked, "Where did such a handsome little eunuch come from?"

Qin Yutong asked, "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's a long story!" He plopped down, waved at Qin Yutong, and said, "I'm exhausted—help me rub my shoulders."

Qin Yutong's eyes widened; this rascal really knows how to seize any opportunity for advantage.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't you want to hear about Long Ling Shengjing?"

Qin Yutong gave him a sideways glance, then came behind him and obediently massaged his shoulders.

"Harder… ah, harder… yes, that feels good…" Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes, thoroughly enjoying it.

Qin Yutong asked, "Do you want that demoness to stay asleep forever?"

After her threat, Hu Xiaotian restrained himself a bit, sighed, and said, "If you say that, I'll think you're refusing to save someone who's dying."

Qin Yutong said, "For those deserving death, even if I don't save them, my conscience won't trouble me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your master has come to Kangdu."

Qin Yutong fell silent, her hands still on Hu Xiaotian's shoulders; after a moment she resumed massaging and asked, "Any news about Meizhuang?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since Ren Tianqing is here, I suspect Meizhuang isn't far either, and they probably brought the Heaven-Chosen One's skull."

Qin Yutong pondered, then whispered, "Quite likely—they can't read the skull's secrets, so they must rely on the Yongyang Princess."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Qin Yutong shared his view on this point. He closed his eyes, seeming to enjoy her shoulder massage, but actually was pondering his next move.

Qin Yutong asked, "What did the Yongyang Princess say?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't know, but for now we can only wait for her reply."

Over the next two days, Qiqi kept her forces still, neither contacting Hu Xiaotian nor summoning Hong Beimo. Though Xichuan's situation gradually calmed, this calm was only superficial; undercurrents stirred across the world, and it wouldn't be long before a storm erupted.

These two days Qiqi didn't attend court; she stayed in the study of Zilan Palace, painting and writing. She even secretly sketched a portrait of Hu Xiaotian, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't satisfy herself, so she finally balled up the drawing and cast it aside.

This morning Yang Lingqi entered the palace specially to report the latest situation to Qiqi; entering her study and seeing paper scraps everywhere, he inferred her agitated state of mind.

Qiqi waited for him to enter, then immediately set aside her brush, took the clean cotton cloth Quan De'an brought, wiped her hands, and said, "Mr. Yang, so early?"

Yang Lingqi respectfully said, "I just heard some things, so I came to report."

Qiqi nodded, "Let's talk later!" She currently had no mind for idle chatter.

Yang Lingqi's gaze swept over the drafting table; he saw an unfinished portrait, the features not yet done.

Qiqi keenly noticed where his eyes went, and softly said, "Mr. Yang, you're a master of painting; I can't get this portrait right no matter how I try—why don't you help me finish it?"

Yang Lingqi said with trepidation, "How could my humble skill possibly enter the Princess's discerning eye?"

Qiqi's expression showed slight displeasure: "You don't want to?"

Yang Lingqi gave a wry smile, "It's not unwillingness; painting is to depict what's in one's heart, to sketch the ideal realm of the mind—I, a humble official, would dare not overstep."

Qiqi said, "I permit it! Even if it's badly done, it's no matter—I won't blame you!"

Yang Lingqi had no choice but to approach the drafting table, pay his respects to Qiqi, then pick up the brush and say respectfully, "I don't know whom Your Highness wishes to paint?" He secretly guessed who Qiqi wanted to portray.

"Hu Xiaotian!" Qiqi did not hide it.

Yang Lingqi nodded, not daring to ask more about Hu Xiaotian. A master's hand is naturally extraordinary; with a few strokes, Hu Xiaotian's vivid likeness leapt onto the paper.

Qiqi gazed at the portrait, and her expression softened.

Yang Lingqi gently set down the brush and tactfully stepped aside.

Qiqi said, "To paint someone so lifelike, you must have poured deep feeling into him."

Yang Lingqi's heart sank; he whispered, "Actually, the deepest feeling in this world is hatred!"

Qiqi chuckled, "Love and hate are hard to tell apart!" She turned her gaze to Yang Lingqi and said, "If you hate someone, their image in your mind becomes ugly and sinister, yet I see not a trace of that in this portrait."

Yang Lingqi's expression remained calm: "Your Highness, painting and martial arts are the same; upon reaching a certain level, one must set aside love and hate—only with an undisturbed heart can one calmly face anything."

Qiqi smiled, "Every time I hear Mr. Yang speak, I gain deep insight. Well, what do you have to report?"

Yang Lingqi said, "In Xichuan, Li Honghan has inherited everything from his father; meanwhile, the Shagha side has just reached an agreement with the Tianxiang Kingdom, halting their invasion of the Nanyue Kingdom."

Qiqi scoffed, "Just a temporary expedient. The Shagha people have always wanted to march into the Central Plains; their ambition rivals that of the Black Hu. They'll likely wait and see, making a decision once things stabilize." She paused, then added, "How is the refugee situation in Xichuan?"

Yang Lingqi said, "Recently their numbers have greatly decreased, even seeing refugees return. There are many rumors that the Tianxiang Kingdom refuses to sell grain to the King of Zhenhai, instead aiding Xichuan; thus, after weighing their options, many displaced people choose to go back to Xichuan to rebuild their homes."

Qiqi asked, "Who's spreading this news?"

Yang Lingqi shook his head.

Qiqi said, "In your view, how should my palace respond? If I recall correctly, your ancestral home is Qingyun in Xichuan, so you ought to see that situation clearer than anyone."

Yang Lingqi said, "I feel unworthy, but I'll venture a few words. Li Tianheng's death threw the world into upheaval; the Tianxiang Kingdom rose unexpectedly. As I know, Li Honghan lacks popular support; his smooth succession to Li Tianheng's post is entirely due to backing from Yang Haoran. Yang Haoran himself has played a key role in several Xichuan upheavals; I suspect he leans toward Tianxiang, making him a Tianxiang-planted piece in Xichuan, while Li Honghan is his pawn."

Qiqi said calmly, "A pawn? Use it if it fits, discard it if not—looks like Li Honghan's demise isn't far away."

Yang Lingqi said, "Shajia gave up military action against Nanyue, yet it allowed Tianxiang Kingdom to shake off the shadow of southwestern warfare; I think Tianxiang Kingdom's next goal is to head north."

Qiqi said, "Challenge Dakang? They likely don't even have the capability yet."

First Update presented (to be continued~^~)