Chapter 1847

Hu Xiaotian said: "Yeah, as a slave, even one's life isn't one's own, what else could belong to oneself?"

Mu Rongzhan said: "Prince, please go back; really too dirty here, if you want to visit, wait until it's cleaned up."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander Mu actually issued an expulsion order; I almost thought this place belonged to you."

Mu Rongzhan furrowed his brows; although he didn't want to talk more with Hu Xiaotian, he indeed had no authority to issue an expulsion order, after all the Cangshuge wasn't under his jurisdiction.

Hu Xiaotian looked around the room and said: "Seeing objects stirs thoughts of people, making me feel deeply moved; actually, Li Gonggong originally bore the surname Mu, his original name was Mu Yuming, and he was the full brother of Monk Bu Wu."

Mu Rongzhan felt Hu Xiaotian's remarks were truly abrupt, yet he also sensed Hu Xiaotian had another deeper meaning; this guy wouldn't say such things for no reason, and he didn't stop Hu Xiaotian from speaking.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, many things about you I heard from the Wuxian Sect's Shadow Granny."

Mu Rongzhan's gray-white eyes locked onto Hu Xiaotian; he realized this kid was recounting his own origins, Hu Xiaotian had already revealed some unknown past events, and Mu Rongzhan began to believe Hu Xiaotian should know his own background. If those secrets were all told by the Wuxian Sect's Shadow Granny, wouldn't that mean she had a great connection to him? Mu Rongzhan wanted to ask but couldn't get the words out.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You should recognize her, right? When you were with Su Yujin, she opposed your union."

Mu Rongzhan didn't speak, but his expression already acknowledged everything Hu Xiaotian said.

Hu Xiaotian said: "She clearly knew Su Yujin was a member of the Wuxian Sect, so how could she be willing to let her son get into trouble?"

Mu Rongzhan's lip muscles twitched slightly; he whispered: "You mean..."

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Mu Rongzhan said: "Where is she now?" He didn't doubt Hu Xiaotian's words; since Shadow Granny told him these things, asking her directly would be best.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Killed by Ren Tianqing and Meizhuang working together!"

Mu Rongzhan's pupils suddenly contracted; a trace of inexplicable sorrow flashed across his pale face. Although he still couldn't confirm Shadow Granny was his mother, all signs indicated Hu Xiaotian deceiving him was highly unlikely; moreover, the feeling of blood ties and close kin cannot be severed.

Hu Xiaotian said: "This is Li Gonggong's home; he once fell for a woman named Hongying, which brought disaster, and to escape his enemies he had to enter the palace, only before his death did he learn he still had a son in this world."

Mu Rongzhan's heart felt as if struck by a heavy hammer—Li Yuncong was his father? Li Yuncong had interacted with him countless times in life, yet neither knew who the other was. Mu Rongzhan's expression darkened; finally he understood why Hu Xiaotian had sighed earlier—everything in this room had been used by his biological father, and now as a son he must discard all of his father's belongings.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Actually I didn't want to say." He rose and left, and as he passed Mu Rongzhan's side, he lightly patted his shoulder.

Mu Rongzhan stood there motionless, lost and dispirited.

When Hu Xiaotian returned to Zilan Palace, Yinzheng greeted him with a smile: "Your Highness, you just left, and the Princess has already returned, waiting for you."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Have you been waiting impatiently?"

Yinzheng looked around, lowered her voice: "Looks like you're in a bad mood."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, said nothing more, and walked slowly toward Zilan Palace. Before the study, two palace maids hung their heads, standing on either side like frost-bitten eggplants; seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, they were about to report, but he shook his head, signaling them not to make a fuss. He came to the door, lightly knocked, then pushed it open—just as the door swung open, an inkstone flew straight at his face; Hu Xiaotian turned his head, the inkstone brushed past his nose and flew out, and before it could land, his left hand had already caught it.

Immediately after came a vase; Hu Xiaotian reached out with his right hand and caught it. This vase was a fine official ware piece, valuable, and Hu Xiaotian silently sighed, "What a waste—such precious stuff thrown away just like that." Only the royal household, wealthy and grand, could withstand such turmoil.

Swish! This time a genuine dagger came flying, cold air hissing, light flashing, straight for Hu Xiaotian's face. Hu Xiaotian had both hands occupied, so he clenched the dagger between his teeth, then flicked his head; the dagger flew out and with a "thud" lodged into Qiqi's desk, startling Qiqi greatly. Looking at the still-trembling dagger, he silently thought, "This guy's martial arts are superb—actually holding a dagger with his mouth." Qiqi of course knew she couldn't hurt him; otherwise she wouldn't have thrown a flying knife at him.

Nevertheless, the reasoning always stood on Qiqi's side; Qiqi said: "Bold, you dare assassinate me!"

Hu Xiaotian put the vase and inkstone back, sighed, and said: "Forget it—if I really wanted to assassinate you, you'd be headless by now." He flopped onto the carved rosewood chair, picked up the teacup on the desk, didn't care whether Qiqi had drunk from it, and gulped it down.

Qiqi said: "Poisoned! I've poisoned the tea and the dagger."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No matter how toxic, it's not as poisonous as your heart; if you really wanted to kill me, you'd better dig out your own heart and steep it in wine for me—I'd die after one sip."

"Pah! Stop disgusting me." Qiqi, hearing this, wasn't angry but felt her spirits calm considerably.

Hu Xiaotian sized up Qiqi: "How come? You seem in a bad mood today?"

"What's it to you?" Qiqi retorted unhappily.

"I don't care who manages you; I don't care if anyone else cares about you." Hu Xiaotian said confidently.

Qiqi said: "Where did you just go? Why were you gone so long?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I heard you went to the Qinzheng Hall for affairs; I was idly loitering here with nothing to do, so I wandered around, enjoying the scenery of the inner palace, and by the way checked whether the Jade Pool had restored its original appearance."

Qiqi harbored no suspicion, reached out and pulled the dagger from the desk; the gleaming dagger swayed before Hu Xiaotian's eyes.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is something big happening today?"

Qiqi nodded: "Yes, a group of officials have banded together to impeach you."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing, stood up, walked behind Qiqi, and placed his large hands lightly on her shoulders; Qiqi pursed her cherry lips but didn't blame him. Hu Xiaotian's technique was just right as he kneaded her fragrant shoulders; although it had a hint of taking advantage, Qiqi couldn't deny that his massage felt incredibly soothing, and her fatigue vanished instantly under his skillful touch.

Hu Xiaotian said: "How many?"

"Not few!"

"Is it a bunch of old fogeys led by Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan?"

Qiqi looked somewhat surprised, turned her face, glanced at Hu Xiaotian: "How do you know? Did you also plant spies inside the Qinzheng Hall?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and cried: "Can't you think of me in a better light? Do I really need to plant that many spies? Even if I have a few friends in the palace, it's to protect you, not to surveil you."

Qiqi said: "Sounds nice, but they're saying someone is relying on favor to act arrogantly, wanting to disrupt the court."

Hu Xiaotian said: "That old coot Wen Chenghuan has always been at odds with me; it's normal for him to rally a few people to speak ill of me."

Qiqi said: "Who made you so hateful!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wen Chenghuan blames his son's death on me; this grudge probably can't be resolved."

Qiqi said: "Back then you and Wen Boyuan served as marriage envoys; Wen Boyuan's death remains a case to this day." She paused: "Princess Anping's death was originally a case too, only recently solved—actually back then someone concealed the truth and abused their position." That remark naturally referred to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Some cases are destined never to be solved, but I can guarantee with my own character that I had nothing to do with Wen Boyuan's death."

"You still have character?" Qiqi snorted.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Speaking of the time escorting Princess Anping for the marriage alliance, along the way Wen Boyuan repeatedly schemed to harm her; he seemed unwilling for Dakang and Da Yong to achieve the alliance."

Qiqi said: "I now realize that a man turning love into hatred is also a terrifying thing." The implication is that if a woman turns love into hatred, it's equally terrifying for the soldiers, and this naturally includes herself; only through personal experience can one truly grasp this feeling.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You seem to feel the same toward me." As he spoke, his thumbs lightly pressed against Qiqi's delicate, fair neck; Qiqi blushed from his pressure.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If Wen Boyuan had succeeded back then, the Dakang-Da Yong marriage alliance would naturally have fallen through; but what would destroying the alliance gain him? Pure love-turned-hatred? Can't have it, so destroy it?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Unlikely, but back then Wen Chenghuan was indeed a supporter of the Dakang-Da Yong peace talks, and over the years he has remained a steadfast pro-peace advocate between the two states."

Qiqi nodded; Wen Chenghuan's political stance was no secret.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wen Boyuan becoming the marriage envoy also came from his father's recommendation; later I analyzed that he likely intended to kill Princess Anping en route to pin the blame on me."

"So it's hatred toward you, then?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not that simple; we only focused on the event itself and overlooked the situation in Da Yong. At that time, the struggle for the Da Yong**** position was extremely fierce. If Xue Daoming and Princess Anping were to marry smoothly, his influence would completely surpass that of the Crown Prince Xue Daohong, meaning that the Da Yong**** position would almost certainly fall into his hands. Therefore, if Princess Anping were harmed, then Xue Daohong would be the ultimate beneficiary." (To be continued~^~)