Chapter 1829

Gang Bada Duo was publicly rebuked by Hu Xiaotian, and he flew into a rage. He wasn't afraid of Hu Xiaotian; even though Hu Xiaotian was Dakang's King of Zhenhai, he had no right to rebuke himself. He stepped closer to Hu Xiaotian and said: "I clearly saw that thief sneak into the small building; why aren't you willing to search? Are you worried the plot will be exposed?" He thought everything tonight was fundamentally a trap.

Hu Xiaotian didn't want to argue with Gang Bada Duo, because Xi Ma and Gang Bada Duo had special statuses; they definitely couldn't be arrested and interrogated. Moreover, there were many doubts about this matter, and the two of them hadn't entered the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion.

At this moment, Baobao came to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered: "The Black Hu envoy has arrived."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said to Fu Yuhong: "Commander Fu, I want to take them away first; I'll take responsibility for tonight's affairs. I will personally explain things to the Princess and Mr. Hong."

Fu Yuhong naturally couldn't refuse, and said softly: "It's naturally best if the Prince is willing to handle this."

Hu Xiaotian smiled slightly, turned and said to Xi Ma: "Please follow me." Although Xi Ma was unwilling, he also understood that today was not the time for a thorough investigation; the only proper course was to leave the Heavenly Secrets Bureau. Before departing, he couldn't help but glance back at the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion, still doubtful; since the thief entered, he hasn't seen him come out, so the thief must still be inside.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What was lost?"

Xi Ma and Gang Bada Duo didn't respond; Hu Xiaotian let out a hollow laugh. He had come in the middle of the night to help them out of trouble, yet they couldn't even say a polite word?

The three left the Heavenly Secrets Bureau, but saw that outside the gate there were already dozens of people waiting; the leader was the Black Hu Northern Courtyard Great King Wanyan Liexin, whose expression was still relatively calm, while the other members of the Black Hu envoy all wore angry faces—in their view, their national preceptor and princess being detained by the Heavenly Secrets Bureau was a great disgrace, yet few realized that they themselves had been in the wrong first. The Black Hu people have always been fierce and bold, and if Wanyan Liexin were not present to control the situation, his followers would have already rushed in and killed.

Seeing Xima Princess and Gang Bada walk out unharmed, everyone immediately relaxed, and the resentment in their hearts gradually subsided.

Wanyan Liexin strode up to Hu Xiaotian, clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Prince, I have troubled you with tonight's affairs."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "It's nothing major, just a small effort."

Wanyan Liexin is extremely experienced in handling affairs; he did not ask what happened tonight, and since he had already received the people, other matters could be discussed later. After thanking Hu Xiaotian, he and his entourage escorted the Xima Princess away.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help shaking his head as he watched the Black Hu envoy depart; Liang Da Zhuang came to his side and smiled, saying, "Young Master, what happened inside?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Mind your own business."

Liang Da Zhuang chuckled and said, "Is that big-bearded one really the Black Hu princess?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Ask Wanyan Liexin; you'll know then."

The next morning, Hu Xiaotian was summoned to the palace to see the Yongyang Princess; it turned out that what had happened the previous night at the Heavenly Secrets Bureau had already reached Qiqi's ears. Hu Xiaotian went to Zilan Palace, where he met Shi Xuedong, who had come specially to deliver breakfast.

In front of those little eunuchs, Shi Xuedong respectfully said, "Your servant pays respects to the Prince, Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Years."

Several little eunuchs, being tactful, carried the food boxes and trays away first; only then did Shi Xuedong break into a smile and say, "Prince, you're early today!"

Hu Xiaotian pointed inside and said, "How could I dare not come when summoned by the Princess?"

Shi Xuedong said in a low voice, "It seems that little slut finds it hard to part from you, brother."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled; although Shi Xuedong's words were coarse, the three words "little slut" were indeed very fitting for Qiqi. He then said in a low voice, "Big brother, has there been any special movement in the palace lately?"

Shi Xuedong nodded repeatedly and said, "Nothing much, just that the water in the Jade Pond has been restored." After saying that, he suddenly recalled something: "By the way, that Yin Zheng has been frequently visiting the Imperial Garden Bureau lately, trying to cozy up to me." Speaking of this person, Shi Xuedong's face showed disdain; initially, Yin Zheng was the close attendant eunuch of Laohuangdi, arrogant and disregarding everyone else, but now that Laohuangdi has claimed illness outwardly, Yin Zheng has been transferred away from his side and is now doing poorly.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You shouldn't be too heartless either; fortunes shift, and maybe one day he'll regain power."

Shi Xuedong nodded repeatedly, accompanying his words with a smile, "I won't keep you from your business, brother; just don't keep the Princess waiting."

Hu Xiaotian entered Zilan Palace and saw Qiqi standing in the palace garden, admiring the flowers in the morning light; against her presence, the blossoms throughout the garden seemed to lose their color, the orange‑red morning light enveloping her delicate form, making her radiance shine even brighter, her beauty surpassing that of the flowers.

The palace maid beside her first spotted Hu Xiaotian, quietly reporting to Qiqi, who then turned her body; beneath her curved, graceful eyebrows, a pair of eyes clear as autumn water swept over Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, his brows relaxing, and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Princess, Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Years!"

Qiqi gave a faint smile and said, "Whether there are outsiders here or not, cut the false pleasantries—what's with all this 'Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Years'? Who in ancient or modern times have you seen live to a thousand years?"

The palace maid beside her quietly withdrew; she still had the sense to know how to attend to the Yongyang Princess.

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's merely a kind wish, like when friends meet and ask, 'Have you eaten?'"

Qiqi said, "I haven't eaten!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Man is iron, rice is steel; miss a meal and you'll hunger fiercely—even if you don't care for yourself, think of me."

Qiqi snorted and said, "What does my not eating have to do with you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's you who's hungry, it's me who's worried—your stomach suffers, my heart aches; every time I see you neglecting your own body, my heart feels as if cut by a knife."

Qiqi said, "Enough, you can't be more sincere, always spouting empty pleasantries; if you're really that distressed, then fine, keep me company while I eat."

"I've eaten!"

Qiqi said, "Then watch me eat."

Qiqi quickly realized that being stared at while eating was unpleasant, and she glared at Hu Xiaotian, snapping, "What are you looking at? What's there to see?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, "No wonder they say serving a ruler is like serving a tiger—attending to you is truly not easy; it's neither this nor that, neither looking nor not looking; in short, if your mood is off, whatever I do is wrong."

Qiqi couldn't help laughing and said, "Well then, tell me—what exactly is wrong with my mood?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Have you heard something?"

Qiqi said nothing, silently drinking her porridge with extreme grace; eating in front of Hu Xiaotian, she had to hold herself properly—normally she needed only seven‑tenths of her usual decorum, but now she must muster her full ten‑tenths, and Qiqi realized she still cared about Hu Xiaotian's gaze.

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Heavenly Secrets Bureau incident last night?" Actually, he had already guessed why Qiqi had summoned him so early.

Qiqi feigned ignorance and said, "What happened at the Heavenly Secrets Bureau last night?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Boring! Since straight people don't speak in riddles, shouldn't we be frank between us? Ask whatever you want directly—beating around the bush and hiding things isn't your style."

Qiqi set down the Jingtai Lan small bowl, took a spotless white handkerchief from the palace maid, wiped her mouth, placed it on the tray, and softly said, "Alright, explain why you released the Hu person who sneaked into the Seven Treasures Linglong Pavilion."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The ones who sneaked into the Heavenly Secrets Bureau last night were the Black Hu Xima Princess and the Black Hu State Preceptor Gang Bada. Given their status, detaining them would be hard to justify, and it might even affect relations between the two countries."

Qiqi said, "I don't know what their status is, but these two are not on the list of the Black Hu envoy this time."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Concealing their identities was probably to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"You're quite good at making excuses for them—did you secretly take their benefits?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I just feel this matter is a bit suspicious; if their target was the Seven Treasures Linglong Pavilion, they should have made preparations beforehand, not show up dressed like that."

Qiqi said, "Wasn't that Black Hu princess in disguise?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head; he naturally knew that Xima's disguise was not meant to conceal their entry into the Heavenly Secrets Bureau: "I have already preliminarily understood the ins and outs of this matter; from what I have gathered, it seems someone deliberately lured them to the Seven Treasures Linglong Pavilion."

The news that a skull was hidden inside the Seven Treasures Linglong Pavilion was spread outward by Qiqi herself; originally the aim was to lure Ren Tianqing over, but judging from the current situation, it seems to have had little effect—who in the world doesn't know that the Heavenly Secrets Bureau is full of intricate mechanisms, and those daring to infiltrate it are already rare, let alone the bureau's most vital Seven Treasures Linglong Pavilion.

Qiqi said, "According to you, who exactly lured them into the Heavenly Secrets Bureau?"

"Hard to say!" Hu Xiaotian appeared unfathomable and profound.

"What's there that's hard to say? Here it's just the two of you—just speak up."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Indeed hard to say; anyone who could get their hands on that skull is a suspect, and it's not ruled out that someone wants to use this incident to frame them and sabotage the alliance between the Black Hu and us."

Qiqi raised her eyebrows slightly, stared at Hu Xiaotian's eyes, and said softly, "You mean you suspect Da Yong?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "I didn't say that; I merely mean suspicion cannot be ruled out. If Xima isn't lying, then the thief is so familiar with the route……" He didn't finish his sentence, and with Qiqi's intelligence and wisdom she naturally could understand his meaning.

Qiqi said, "You mean the Heavenly Secrets Bureau also cannot rule out suspicion? You suspect Hong Beimo?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "It might not be him; perhaps someone inside the Heavenly Secrets Bureau did this."

Qiqi said, "According to your reasoning, you also have suspicion."

Hu Xiaotian burst into laughter: "Everyone has suspicion, but suspicion remains suspicion; without evidence, any suspicion is nonsense."

Qiqi glared at him, blaming him for speaking too rudely. (To be continued~^~)