Chapter 1830

Hu Xiaotian said: "In short, rest assured, I'll handle this matter; I will definitely help you settle it properly."

Qiqi sweetly smiled: "Finally I heard you say something human." This smile: spring flowers blossoming, this smile intoxicated the heart, peerless elegance made Hu Xiaotian also stunned for a moment; distance creates beauty, but if the distance is too great, one cannot fully appreciate the other's beauty; all along, being too far from Qiqi, this period the two have gotten close again, Hu Xiaotian began to discover more and more feminine charm on her.

Qiqi said: "Nothing much, I was just asking about last night's situation; no matter what, Black Hu and Da Yong are our guests, I don't want their envoys to run into trouble in Kangdu."

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly: "Rest assured, I've got it, I've got it."

Qiqi said: "I still have to go to the Diligent Governance Hall for affairs later, so I won't keep you company."

Hu Xiaotian heard her issue the eviction order, but he still had something unsaid, he gazed at Qiqi longingly.

Qiqi understood his meaning; Hu Xiaotian must be thinking about the Banruo Boluomiduo Xin Jing matter; she smiled faintly and said: "Tomorrow we'll go together to sweep the aunt's grave; you must not forget."

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly; Qiqi, on this point, did very well enough; even when their relationship was at freezing point, she every month would go to Fengyi Shan Zhuang to pay respects; previously when they had a marriage pact, her doing so could be said as in the capacity of future daughter-in-law; later after Hu Xiaotian tore up the marriage pact, Qiqi still could do that; just from this point, it should be that she still has lingering feelings for him. Hu Xiaotian thus also felt that this girl is not entirely without merit, she still has some shining points.

Hu Xiaotian still had no intention of getting up.

Qiqi laughed: "What? Are you planning to mooch off me today?"

Hu Xiaotian also embarrassedly laughed: "I still have one matter..."

Qiqi said: "The matter of the sutra?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

"After thinking it over, I still think I should personally go to Tianlong Temple for a trip."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in astonishment: "What are you going to Tianlong Temple to do?"

Qiqi said: "To fulfill a vow! Incidentally, go meet Master Yuanmu."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is Yuanmu still at Daxiangguo Temple?"

Qiqi smiled faintly: "He has already returned."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: It seems that after Qiqi learned that Yuanmu might know about Ling Jiazi's matter, she sent people to Daxiangguo Temple; Yuanmu likely chose to return to Tianlong Temple to avoid trouble.

Qiqi said: "Just decided like that; tomorrow afternoon we'll go to Fengyi Shan Zhuang, after paying respects we'll go to Tianlong Temple to burn incense and fulfill the vow; I plan to stay overnight at Tianlong Temple, then leave after offering incense the next day."

Hu Xiaotian heard she had already arranged everything; it seems Qiqi had already begun planning this matter; since she has decided, I also cannot well oppose; I just don't know whether Qiqi's from-memory transcription of the Banruo Boluomiduo Xin Jing is the one Tianlong Temple wants. Ji Feihua should still be trapped inside Tianlong Temple; if this time we still cannot get Yuanmu and others to back down, then the only option left is to forcefully break into Tianlong Temple to rescue people.

At noon, Hu Xiaotian came to the Return Flavor Building on Heaven Street; this visit was due to the invitation of Black Hu envoy Wanyan Liexin; one is to reciprocate courtesy, another reason is for yesterday's Tianji Bureau matter.

The history of Return Flavor Building is not long; it rose in Kangdu's catering scene, which is just the past two years; Hu Xiaotian had heard of it, but because each time he came and went in a hurry, he had never gone there.

Riding up to Return Flavor Building, I saw outside the building six Black Hu warriors standing left and right; however, today at noon they had booked the entire Return Flavor Building. Wanyan Liexin stood at the door awaiting Hu Xiaotian's arrival; seeing Hu Xiaotian's figure appear, his face showed a smile, he went forward to help Hu Xiaotian hold the horse's reins; it's not often seen that the Black Hu Northern Manor Prince would hold someone's horse for them.

Hu Xiaotian dismounted, smiling: "The weather is hot; Brother Wanyan, why stand under the scorching sun waiting here?"

Wanyan Liexin smiled: "To invite a prince to dine must show some sincerity."

The two laughed heartily; Wanyan Liexin handed the horse's reins to his attendant, making an inviting gesture.

Hu Xiaotian looked up at the Return Flavor Building, suddenly recalling that this place used to be the Mist Water Pavilion; after carefully examining the surroundings, he could confirm that the Return Flavor Building before him was indeed the former Mist Water Pavilion, likely rebuilt on the original foundation. Ahead is the Azure Water River; the Azure Water River winds its way connecting north and south of the capital; in the southeast of the capital, it connects with Heaven Water Bay and the Grand Canal; this stretch of water surface is the broadest part.

Standing upstairs, one can just see where the two water systems converge; the scene is magnificent and vast. This five-story wooden small pavilion has a history of over three hundred years; Hu Xiaotian still remembers that in the past, the front of the building hung the three large characters personally written by Emperor Taizong's Longyin Kong; now even the shop name has been changed, where that plaque went? Asking the waiter here, I finally learned that originally the owner of the Mist Water Pavilion was beheaded for breaking the law, his property confiscated, and that plaque bearing Emperor Taizong's handwriting was also seized into the national treasury; later a merchant bought this place, then redecorated it anew, changing it to Return Flavor Building to welcome guests.

Hu Xiaotian told Wanyan Liexin about the history of this place; Wanyan Liexin nodded and said, "I thought this place had always been Zhiwei Ju—looks like I'm ignorant and inexperienced. Turns out this is the renowned Mist Water Pavilion." In the past, Mist Water Pavilion, because of its unique location, became a gathering spot for literati, and countless poems, songs, and essays that have been passed down through the ages were born here. Wanyan Liexin is also talented and learned, so he had long heard of the name Mist Water Pavilion.

Wanyan Liexin invited Hu Xiaotian to sit on the fifth floor of Return Flavor Pavilion; Hu Xiaotian saw a young, handsome foreign youth standing by the window, recognized him as Black Hu Princess Xima—although she was still dressed as a woman, today she lacked the big beard—and Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I've never seen this young brother before."

Wanyan Liexin smiled and said, "Allow me to introduce you to the Prince."

Hu Xiaotian, without waiting for him to finish, clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Princess, your disguise technique is truly exquisite; I almost didn't recognize you."

Xima caught his implication, clearly saying her disguise technique wasn't good—she almost didn't recognize him but ultimately could; Hu Xiaotian's words were indeed cunning. Xima said, "I underestimated you; if I truly wanted to hide my identity, you naturally wouldn't recognize me." Her voice remained coarse and gruff—whether from taking a voice-changing pill or her natural tone, if the latter, it's a pity.

Compared to Xima before him, what stirred Hu Xiaotian's memories more was the past: recalling when he first came here, he had accompanied Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister Xu Zhengying to attend a poetry gathering; at that gathering he was imposing, humiliating the Ministry of Rites Minister Wu Jing Shan and his ilk of self-important talented scholars; it was also then that he first met Huo Xiaoru.

Thinking of Huo Xiaoru, Hu Xiaotian felt a pang of longing; the scenery before him remained unchanged, but where was that lovely one? Zan Buliu had once said she went to Lan Kingdom—whether true or false, no matter where she is, I only wish her safety.

When Wanyan Liexin had people serve the dishes, Xima came to Hu Xiaotian's side and softly said, "Thank you for last night's affair."

Hu Xiaotian smiled at her, then turned his gaze to where the three rivers converge; today the sky was somewhat overcast, and far off the river surface seemed shrouded in a thin veil of mist. He said softly, "It's just a trifle—nothing to worry about."

Xima asked, "Have you caught that thief?" She still worried about that golden dagger in her heart.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Highness, rest assured—I've had people investigate thoroughly; as soon as there's news, I'll inform you right away."

Xima nodded; at that moment, Wanyan Liexin invited them to take their seats.

After three cups, Xima personally got up to pour wine for Hu Xiaotian, but it was to thank him for resolving the siege last night. Hu Xiaotian is always courteous to beautiful women, and besides he has a huge capacity, so he naturally doesn't refuse anyone. This Black Hu Princess also has astonishing drinking capacity; after downing several cups with Hu Xiaotian, she actually found the cup too small and had them replace it with a larger one. In contrast, Wanyan Liexin's drinking capacity is average; he only drank two cups with Hu Xiaotian before stopping. Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, I had assumed this Black Hu Princess came to thank me, but I didn't expect she was just a drinking companion—Black Hu spared no expense to win me over; what comes after the drinking? Perhaps they even prepared a full package: singing accompaniment and even sharing a bed?

Hu Xiaotian was pondering how to strip the sugar coating off the shells and fire them back at them when he heard Wanyan Liexin say, "Just drinking is too monotonous; why not add some song and dance for fun?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Excellent! Just what I wanted!"

Xima said, "I happen to want to see Central Plains song and dance!" Speaking of singing and dancing, the Black Hu men and women, young and old, are all quite skilled; Xima's tone clearly carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

Wanyan Liexin clapped his hands; not long after, footsteps came from behind the screen—turns out he had prepared in advance. After the music troupe took their places, the venue fell quiet again, and soon the music began. Hu Xiaotian listened closely; just from the performance he could tell the troupe's standard was not low, which made him start to look forward to the upcoming show.

"The gentle rain on the capital streets is like butter; the grass looks green from afar but disappears up close. The finest springtime is nothing compared to the willow-lined imperial capital..." A soft, melodious voice floated from behind the screen; the sound seemed right beside me, yet also endless and ethereal, as if coming from a heavenly palace.

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted at the first line, his wine cup nearly slipping from his hand—this was precisely the poem "Early Spring Presented to Official Zhang Shiba of the Water Department" written by Han Yu. Singing this poem isn't rare; what's rare is that I was the first to bring this poem to this world. Back then, I and Huo Xiaoru, strolling along Capital Street, had blurted out this poem. Now the poem has been altered and expanded considerably, and set to music. Hu Xiaotian gazed at the silhouettes behind the silk screen, his heart pounding; he wished he could go over right away to see for himself whether Huo Xiaoru was among them.

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