Chapter 1789

Qiqi felt a sudden panic in her heart, thinking this bastard would again force himself on her, she lowered her head, adopting a defensive posture, but Hu Xiaotian made no further move, just quietly held Qiqi, neither spoke, each could clearly hear the other's heartbeat and breathing.

Qiqi suddenly felt a long-lost warmth, yet also a pang of sorrow.

Hu Xiaotian's gentle voice came from beside her: "I know these past years you've endured alone must have been hard; from now on I'll share the burden with you."

Qiqi clearly knew his words were insincere, yet she couldn't help but well up with tears; this scoundrel had pinpointed her weakness, deliberately saying that, Qiqi suddenly lifted her head and kissed Hu Xiaotian's lips, but just as he was about to respond, she bit him hard, breaking his lip and drawing blood.

At that moment Quan De'an's concerned voice came from outside: "Your Highness..." His tone showed worry, yet he dared not rush in.

Only then did Qiqi release Hu Xiaotian, calmly saying, "I'm fine!"

The candle was relit, their silhouettes cast upon the latticed window; Quan De'an gazed at the two distant figures and felt somewhat relieved.

Qiqi's lips were stained with blood, all Hu Xiaotian's; her tender tongue licked the blood on her lips, tasting salty and astringent.

Hu Xiaotian's lips were also bloody, but all his own; the blood hadn't stopped, still flowing, yet this bastard wore a smile as if nothing had happened.

Qiqi took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips, then approached Hu Xiaotian and covered his lips with it; his eyes calmly met hers, and his first words were: "My blood might be poisonous."

Qiqi said: "That still doesn't compare to your heart!"

Hu Xiaotian inwardly sighed, women are always like this; even someone as clever as Qiqi rarely faces reality, clearly it's her own fault yet she pushes blame onto the other; of course her blaming you doesn't mean she wants to harm you, perhaps it even shows she deep down acknowledges you; women often take small advantages and suffer big losses, while men are the opposite.

Gazing at the blood mark on Hu Xiaotian's lips, Qiqi felt no guilt, instead a hint of pride.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Initially I only saw you as a child; though I liked you, it wasn't romantic affection. When I held you just now, I realized you've truly grown up, no longer a child."

Qiqi said: "So?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "So I began to regard you as a woman."

Qiqi couldn't help laughing; this bastard's excuse sounded far-fetched: "So you're saying your past annulment of the engagement was also for this reason?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Marrying an undeveloped child always brings a sense of guilt."

Qiqi came to his side and sat down again, her eyes still fixed on his lips.

Hu Xiaotian glanced at her flat chest and said: "Of course, you don't seem to have developed much either."

"Do you know why I bit you? Because your mouth always spouts nonsense."

Hu Xiaotian put his arm around her fragrant shoulders; this time Qiqi didn't struggle, instead she leaned onto his shoulder, closed her eyes and said: "You may be hateful, but I can't forget you."

Hu Xiaotian blinked, thinking this girl was likely using his own tactics against him, seeing his emotional offensive, she turned the tables, so he said: "Perhaps we are just the classic love-hate relationship."

Qiqi said: "Just how many secrets are you still hiding from me?"

"Whatever you have, I have just as much."

Qiqi giggled, opened her beautiful eyes, her clear gaze showing an unprecedented allure; she lifted her head and lightly imprinted a kiss on Hu Xiaotian's wounded lips, like a dragonfly touching water, and he didn't dodge.

Qiqi said: "Aren't you afraid I'll bite you again?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Anyway, I've already been bitten; I don't mind another bite."

Qiqi said: "If you want to take something from me, you must pay a price." She handed him one of the keys.

Hu Xiaotian hadn't expected it to go so smoothly; he whispered: "Won't you come with me?"

Qiqi shook her head: "I thought about it, but decided against it; Hong Beimo already suspects me, and if I went he might learn of our relationship."

Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile; though he said nothing, everything was understood without words. Speaking of their relationship, he and Qiqi once had a marriage pact; now are they enemies, friends, or lovers? Even he couldn't say.

Qiqi then took off the Seven-Star Chain from her wrist and gave it to him; Hu Xiaotian knew that after entering Long Ling Shengjing, the chain could open the inner secret passage; seeing Qiqi show such sincerity, he began to trust her a little.

Qiqi added: "By the way, let me show you something." She stood, went behind the screen, and returned holding a scroll; she unfurled it before Hu Xiaotian, revealing a painting of a handsome, graceful man—Hu Xiaotian instantly recognized himself, lifelike in both form and spirit; he hadn't expected Qiqi's painting skill to advance so rapidly in these years, and asked: "Did you paint this?" The scroll bore no signature, prompting his question.

Qiqi said: "Yang Lingqi!" gazing at Hu Xiaotian with deep meaning in her beautiful eyes.

Hu Xiaotian gave a light smile, his expression unperturbed. Qiqi producing this picture now was certainly not merely to express her feelings for him; there was another motive.

Qiqi said: "You think you can hide many things from me, but it's not as simple as you imagine."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "At last I believe you still have lingering feelings for me."

Qiqi said: "If I were ruthless, do you think Shi Xuedong and his ilk could have lived peacefully till now?"

Hu Xiaotian reached out, placing the back of his hand on her forehead, and whispered: "Thank goodness you're clear-headed enough to tell who treats you well and who treats you ill."

Qiqi said: "I've been so good to you, yet you hide so much from me—do you even have a conscience?"

Hu Xiaotian slipped the Seven-Star Chain onto his wrist, smiling: "When I return from there, I'll tell you some things." As he turned to leave, Qiqi added: "Those two skulls—please reseal them where they were first found."

Hu Xiaotian blinked in surprise; he hadn't expected Qiqi to trust him so much. Yet at the same time a doubt arose: could her cooperation be a trap set for him to fall into?

Qiqi had already guessed his thoughts, and whispered: "Hong Beimo is deeply scheming, and Ren Tianqing is no ordinary figure; I fear they've grown suspicious of me and may have laid an ambush there—you can still regret coming."

Hu Xiaotian gave a light smile: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you get its cub? I'm not afraid of them."

Qiqi said: "Tomorrow at the Xu hour I'll set a banquet at Yunyao Terrace, inviting those two; I can detain them for over an hour, then I'll stage an ambush on Eunuch Quan."

Hu Xiaotian fully grasped her meaning; though Qiqi wouldn't accompany him, Quan De'an would bring the blue skull to Long Ling Shengjing. But considering Quan De'an is her confidant, obedient to her, he wouldn't betray her; Qiqi's banquet for Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing also serves to detain those formidable foes.

Qiqi said: "So when you act, you'd best keep track of time; the key isn't only the one in your hand—Eunuch Quan holds another." She fixed her gaze on Hu Xiaotian's eyes and asked: "Are you worried I might harm you again?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "This time I can't think of any reason you'd have!"

Qiqi gave a strange smile: "Harming someone never needs a reason. Go, and remember: tomorrow at the Xu hour you and Eunuch Quan must meet at the entrance. Moreover, absolutely no third party may be present."

For Hu Xiaotian this was a dilemma, since he had promised to bring Qin Yutong along; his reason for going to Long Ling Shengjing was precisely that promise to Qin Yutong, yet he couldn't explain it to Qiqi, so he tentatively agreed, deciding to play it by ear.

Night fell; the lamps on Dakang's Yunyao Terrace blazed bright, for it was the Yongyang Princess who had specially invited Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing to a feast, together with Dakang's Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan and Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan.

After everyone was seated, Qiqi whispered a few words to Quan De'an at her side, then in front of all handed him a key.

Hong Beimo's gaze was sharp; he instantly recognized the key as the one he had previously given Qiqi, his heart twitched slightly, but he pretended not to have seen it.

Quan De'an turned and left.

Ren Tianqing said: "I don't know why the Princess has invited us today."

Qiqi smiled: "The relentless heat has been hard to bear; finally we've enjoyed a cool evening. Lately, due to illness I've neglected state affairs, and this period you officials have labored hard, so I've specially prepared this banquet to enjoy lotus-viewing and moon-watching with you, to express my gratitude."

Zhou Ruiyuan laughed: "Your Highness is truly too courteous; even amidst your busy schedule you attend to these matters; serving the state is our duty."

Wen Chenghuan also chimed in from the side.

Qiqi gave a faint smile, lifted the golden goblet, and said: "This cup of wine is my thanks to all of you for your continual support; I'll drink first as a toast."

Although everyone had obeyed her for many years, being invited by her to drink here was still a first for them; each hurriedly raised their cup and drank with her.

Qiqi's gaze fell on Ren Tianqing's face, and she softly said, "Mr. Ren, I have discussed it with Mr. Hong; it would be best for me to keep that thing you brought, and I will have Eunuch Quan store it safely, so you need not worry."

Hong Beimo couldn't help but wryly smile; this girl clearly intends not to let him off the hook, dragging him into trouble, but for now he still can't do without her; recently she gave him a booklet that let him solve many problems, and he should tolerate her for a while longer. (To be continued... ~^~)