Chapter 1818

Qiqi said: "The 'spiritual rhinoceros Buddha bone' he mentioned—could it actually be the Skull?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

"How would he know about the Skull?"

Hu Xiaotian concealed the matter of the light sword, shook his head and said: "I'm not entirely clear either, but this old monk ought to know quite a bit."

Qiqi said: "Although that Heart Sutra was destroyed, I do remember its content in my memory, and compared to the version we usually see now, there are still many differences." She closed her eyes, fell into thought, after a while she added: "I should be able to transcribe the Heart Sutra handwritten by Emperor Taizong back then, word for word."

Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed: "Really?"

Qiqi nodded and said: "I also don't understand why; it seems that Heart Sutra has always been imprinted in my mind."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps it's a memory left by your mother."

Qiqi, upon hearing him mention her mother, fell silent; in the midnight reverie, her mother's image often appeared before her eyes, yet she knew too little about her mother. Hu Xiaotian had once said her mother was an extraordinarily remarkable person; if that were true, how could she have died with resentment? And why has she left no trace at all in Dakang's history?

Outside the door came Liang Da Zhuang's voice; he was delivering clothes as Hu Xiaotian had instructed. Although the prince's residence is not small and there are plenty of women's clothes, none were suitable for Qiqi to wear, and the servants' clothing naturally would not be sent. After consulting Hu Xiaotian's opinion, they sent the clothes prepared for Hu Xiaotian—although they are men's attire, they are all new.

Hu Xiaotian opened the door a crack, took in the clothes, and Liang Da Zhuang whispered: "Young Master, someone from the palace has come, saying there is an urgent matter to report."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, first passed the clothes to Qiqi, then he went out to the wind-and-rain corridor and asked Liang Da Zhuang: "Who came over?"

Eunuch Yin Zheng!

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Yin Zheng was not an outsider—this little eunuch used to follow Long Xuan'en and often reported news to him, and he was quite worldly. Taking advantage of Qiqi changing clothes, he happened to meet this little eunuch first; he didn't know what urgent matter this fellow had come for this time.

Hu Xiaotian had Liang Da Zhuang bring Yin Zheng to the front flower hall; Yin Zheng entered the hall, his body already soaked with rain, looking somewhat disheveled; just as he arrived before Hu Xiaotian, with a thud he knelt on the ground, shouting in a sharp voice: "Your servant Yin Zheng kowtows to the Prince, Thousand Years, Thousand Years, ten thousand years!"

Hu Xiaotian had spent some time in the palace, so he knows these eunuchs' behavior all too well; although their status is low, their ability to read the situation is absolutely top-notch—who is in power, who must not be offended, who has fallen out of favor, who should be kept at a distance—they know it all clearly; this group of eunuchs can be called the palace's barometer.

Today is not a formal occasion, and Liang Da Zhuang is his confidant; logically Yin Zheng need not make such a grandiose display, yet he insists on behaving so obsequiously; Hu Xiaotian quickly figured it out: not only because Yin Zheng is used to being a servant, but this fellow has always served the old emperor; now Long Xuan'en is dead, and merely under Qiqi's direction they have suppressed the news of his death, so Yin Zheng, someone who used to be close to the emperor, naturally has fallen out of favor; this fellow probably still doesn't know the deeper secret, otherwise he would have been silenced long ago.

Hu Xiaotian guessed right; Yin Zheng is no longer the emperor's personal little eunuch; since the old emperor fell seriously ill, he has been reassigned elsewhere, and his status in the palace has naturally plummeted; although eunuchs have been castrated, they still regard power as more important than life, so Yin Zheng has tried every means to get close to the Yongyang Princess, to regain his former status, but lacking opportunity, today he finally got a chance to pass along a bit of news; the matter he came to report isn't major, but being able to come to the Zhenhai Wang Fu and see Hu Xiaotian, this newly risen acquaintance, he naturally won't miss this rare opportunity.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Who did I think you were? It's Eunuch Yin; we're old brothers, why all this ceremony? Get up!"

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian still call him an old brother, Yin Zheng's heart surged with emotion he could hardly express; he rose and said: "Your Highness Prince, what lofty status you have—how dare I, a servant, call you brother?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Adversity reveals true feelings; we met in humble times, and that friendship is most precious."

Yin Zheng said: "Prince, you are truly righteous beyond compare; just for those words, I would go through fire and water for you, without hesitation, even ten thousand deaths would be no regret."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just be loyal to the emperor."

Yin Zheng thought to himself that the old emperor probably no longer knows what he's become; although everyone says the old emperor is recuperating in the Lingxiao Palace on Mount Piaomiao, no one has ever seen this old man's face; he likely is already dead, but he dare not mention the old emperor's affairs, merely nodding.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Yin, what urgent matter brings you from the palace?"

Yin Zheng said: "It's like this; just now on Mount Piaomiao there have been some discoveries."

"What discoveries?"

"They found a corpse; judging by the clothing and personal effects, it should be Eunuch Quan."

When Quan De'an was killed, Hu Xiaotian was on the scene; he naturally wouldn't be surprised, but what he truly worried about was Qiqi's reaction; although he had already told Qiqi of Quan De'an's death, since there was no body, now that a corpse has been found, Qiqi will inevitably suffer another blow.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and asked: "Any other discoveries?"

Yin Zheng said: "For now only a corpse has been found; after verifying the identity, they let me come to report." He paused and said: "Her Highness the Princess..." He was actually seeking Hu Xiaotian's opinion on whether he should report directly to Qiqi.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'll handle this; you go back first, and have them properly protect Eunuch Quan's corpse."

"Yes!" Yin Zheng actually still had something to say, his expression wanting to speak but stopping.

Hu Xiaotian knew this fellow was calculating in his heart; he patted his shoulder and said: "In the palace you must learn to endure; from now on you'll surely get your share of benefits."

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's words, Yin Zheng's brows relaxed and eyes smiled; he bowed and said: "Thank you, Prince, thank you, Prince! I will loyally serve the Prince with all my life to repay your kindness."

Hu Xiaotian had Liang Da Zhuang see him off; after thinking, he decided he should still tell Qiqi the news. He turned back to his quarters, saw that Qiqi had already changed clothes, standing at the wind-and-rain corridor watching the rain; although Qiqi is tall and slender, his own robe is still somewhat large for her.

Hu Xiaotian came to her side; Qiqi's gaze remained fixed on the gently falling rain outside, and she softly asked: "What's the matter?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Someone from the palace has come, saying there's a new discovery on Mount Piaomiao."

Qiqi asked: "Is it that Eunuch Quan's remains have been found?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Yes!"

Qiqi's long black lashes fluttered, and two crystal tears slid down her fair cheeks.

Hu Xiaotian comforted her: "Everyone must die; some deaths are lighter than a feather, heavier than Mount Tai. Although Eunuch Quan has passed, he did not fail his original promise to raise you to adulthood."

Qiqi said dimly: "I owe him so much."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: Quan De'an treats Qiqi this way, devoting his life to protecting her and even sacrificing his life, not because of Qiqi herself but because of Ling Jiazi; without Ling Jiazi, Quan De'an might have died long ago and would never have attained his later status and glory; in fact Quan De'an is merely repaying a debt of gratitude, and from this perspective he deserves the epithet loyal and righteous. No matter what past wrongs Quan De'an may have done to himself, his motive was always to safeguard Qiqi's interests; in the Dragon Ling Holy Realm, if it weren't for Quan De'an preserving Ren Tianqing at his deathbed, Hu Xiaotian would not have found it so easy to sever one of his arms, and deep down Hu Xiaotian still admires this old man.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you feel you owe him, then you should live well; only when you are happy will Eunuch Quan smile in the grave."

Qiqi turned to Hu Xiaotian and asked: "Did he, before his death, ask you to look after me?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; it was indeed so, he saw no need to conceal it, and he said softly: "Actually, even if he hadn't said so, I would do the same!"

Qiqi shook her head: "I don't believe it!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Time reveals true intentions; time will prove everything." He wasn't rushing to declare his feelings, yet this attitude left Qiqi with nothing to say. In fact they both lack trust; although their relationship has eased somewhat, in the short term they cannot achieve mutual understanding.

Qiqi said: "I want to return to the palace."

The rain was still pouring heavily; Hu Xiaotian understood her intention, nodded and said: "I'll accompany you."

Qiqi's carriage drove into the imperial capital in the storm; all along the way she remained silent, Hu Xiaotian knew she was upset, so he did not disturb her, merely staying quietly by her side; what Qiqi needs now is not comfort, perhaps just someone to accompany her, to let her calm down and give her emotions a sufficient buffer.

As Qiqi was about to enter the palace, she suddenly changed her mind and told Hu Xiaotian: "I'm not going; you handle it for me."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; he could imagine Eunuch Quan's miserable state—if Qiqi saw him, it would undoubtedly be another severe torment to her heart; by letting him go, she also showed her trust in him; Hu Xiaotian reached out to take her hand and comforted her: "Go rest now; I will see to Eunuch Quan's aftermath properly."

Qiqi, somewhat weary, closed her eyes and leaned her head on Hu Xiaotian's shoulder; at that moment she suddenly realized her inner self was still fragile, and in such a moment she especially needed a sturdy shoulder to lean on; fortunately, Hu Xiaotian was right beside her.

Another update, Zhangyu begs everyone for one thing: don't quarrel over whether there were several updates yesterday or today; Zhangyu will write as much as he can—if he's in good shape, write more; if not, write less; in the final month's ranking battle, everyone just throw all their monthly tickets in; countless waters and mountains are always affectionate—without monthly tickets it truly won't do! At midnight I'll post another update; if you don't vote again, the breath Zhangyu has painstakingly gathered may loosen; brothers and sisters, give some encouragement, okay? (To be continued~^~)