Chapter 1930: [Let Me, Let Me] (Part 1)

The arrival of Hu Xiaotian's group immersed the entire Kangdu in an ocean of joy, with every household hanging lanterns and tying ribbons, dragons and lions dancing in the streets, bustling with excitement. On the court's side, Yongyang Princess did not personally come to greet them; instead she sent Hong Beimo, perhaps knowing Hong Beimo would arrive, and the consort Long Xi Yue also did not come out of the city to welcome.

After Hu Xiaotian met Hong Beimo, Hong Beimo first offered insincere flattery and pleasantries, then told Hu Xiaotian the main purpose of this reception: it was actually Qiqi who asked Hu Xiaotian to go directly to the imperial palace to meet.

Unable to defy the superior's order, Hu Xiaotian had the others return first to the Zhenhai Prince's mansion, while he himself went to the imperial palace together with Hong Beimo.

Boarding Hong Beimo's carriage and riding together, Hong Beimo said: "Congratulations, Prince, congratulations, Prince, for conquering the Lan Region and establishing an unparalleled merit!"

Hu Xiaotian showed no trace of pride, calmly saying: "Conquering merely a trifling Lan Region, what's so great about that unparalleled merit?"

Hong Beimo said: "Not arrogant in victory, not discouraged in defeat; the Prince's realm is indeed extraordinary."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing such praise from Hong Beimo for the first time, couldn't help laughing: "Master Hong rarely smiles; today he's completely changed—what's the reason?"

Hong Beimo said: "Times change; though I may not count as a contemporary talent, I still understand the words 'current affairs.' Although he spoke reluctantly, reality is reality: now Hu Xiaotian not only controls over half the land within Dakang's territory, but his relationship with the court has also renewed into a honeymoon period. If the rumors are true, he has returned this time to propose to Yongyang Princess, making him undoubtedly the sovereign of Dakang."

Although Hong Beimo acknowledged Qiqi's ability, compared to Hu Xiaotian, Qiqi falls short in both strength and tactics, not only in wit and scheming but also in her retinue—those around Qiqi are mostly mutually exploitative, including himself. Hu Xiaotian, however, possesses a miraculous charm that makes his subordinates willingly go through fire and water for him, devoted unto death.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "How is the progress at the imperial mausoleum?"

Both of them know the secret inside the imperial mausoleum.

Hong Beimo smiled, then lowered his voice: "All is ready, only lacking the east wind!" As he spoke, he felt uneasy; this state had persisted for a long time, always just a step shy of success. He seemed to have seen success, only one step away, yet that step was extremely difficult. He harbored many doubts—about Fan Yin Si, about the two missing skulls. Since the skulls disappeared, it's been like a stone sunk in the sea, with no news; Hong Beimo firmly believes the key to solving the airship's final problem lies entirely within those skulls.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Hong, just rest assured; this matter will surely be resolved!" Actually he himself didn't know how to resolve it. Since the battle at Fan Yin Si, Ji Feihua, Liu Yuzhang, and even Master Yuanmu have all lost trace; Ji Feihua told him to relax and attend to his own affairs, while she took charge of finding those two skulls. As of now it's late April, less than three months from Liu Yuzhang's agreed date of July 7th; who knows if Ji Feihua can succeed in retrieving the skulls?

Hong Beimo nodded and said: "I believe the Prince can accomplish it!"

The carriage stopped; Hu Xiaotian lifted the curtain and found they had arrived outside the imperial city, not at the main gate. Apparently Qiqi had made arrangements beforehand; after confirming the identities inside, the guards immediately allowed passage.

Hong Beimo merely saw Hu Xiaotian to the Dongxiang Gate; after Hu Xiaotian got down, he saw the young eunuch Yin Zheng already smiling and waiting at the gate.

Hong Beimo smiled at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Your Highness, I won't delay your important affairs today; I will personally visit your mansion tomorrow morning."

Hu Xiaotian returned the salute: "I await Master Hong's esteemed arrival!" He felt odd inside; Hong Beimo personally seeing him off—was it to show goodwill or something else? He sensed this old fellow had something unsaid.

Turning his gaze to the young eunuch Yin Zheng, Yin Zheng smiled ever more flirtatiously, bowing low: "Young Yin pays respects to the Prince; the Prince grows ever more handsome and graceful, his bearing lofty, a jade tree in the wind—such a beautiful man is truly rare in the world!"

Hu Xiaotian grinned and hehe-laughed: "Is that foul mouth of yours cursing me or damning me?"

Yin Zheng hastily explained: "Young Yin's feelings are pure admiration and praise from the heart; if I harbor even a shred of disrespect, may I meet a bad end."

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Don't lightly swear poisonous oaths; if they come true, it'll be worse." He led the way through Dongxiang Gate, Yin Zheng hurrying after, beaming: "The Princess is currently waiting for you in the Diligent Governance Hall, Your Highness!"

Hu Xiaotian slightly startled, having expected Qiqi to receive him at Zilan Palace; instead it was at the Diligent Governance Hall. The distances from here are about the same; choosing the hall suggests official business? This girl's temperament is truly hard to fathom.

Yin Zheng hurried a few steps ahead to lead Hu Xiaotian, with no other palace attendants around.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "What interesting things have happened lately?"

Yin Zheng said: "Nothing major, just the consort often wandering the palace; oh, the Princess has recently become enamored with embroidery, neglecting court affairs somewhat compared to before—probably nothing big is happening in the court."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Nothing happening in the court?"

Yin Zheng laughed: "I'm just a lowly eunuch; I dare not manage outside affairs, merely hearing rumors."

Hu Xiaotian casually said: "What have you heard?"

Yin Zheng said: "I've heard the Grand Tutor doesn't bear the surname Wen; supposedly he's surnamed Li, even the legitimate son of the Jingguo Duke Li Xuan'gan of Da Yong."

This news wasn't much of a surprise to Hu Xiaotian; he laughed: "Tell me something fresh!"

Yin Zheng slyly replied: "For fresh news, you'd better ask the Princess directly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm afraid she won't tell me."

Yin Zheng laughed: "If not to you, who else would she tell? You forgot to congratulate the Prince!"

"What joy is there?"

Yin Zheng said: "Who in the world doesn't know that the Prince has returned this time to propose to the Princess?"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but smile: "I didn't even know you knew that."

Yin Zheng said: "Everyone's saying it, so I dared to speak up; however, the Princess obviously knows this too—surely the Prince won't let her down?"

Hu Xiaotian inwardly bitterly smiled: this commotion has grown so large; if he doesn't propose to Qiqi, she'd surely be extremely disappointed, perhaps even turn angry and sever ties, becoming enemies—love and hate truly lie in a single thought.

Arriving at the Diligent Governance Hall, Yin Zheng didn't go in to announce, merely gesturing for Hu Xiaotian to enter directly; throughout Dakang, only Hu Xiaotian possesses such prestige.

Hu Xiaotian entered the Diligent Governance Hall, finding the vast hall empty; as he wondered, footsteps sounded behind a screen. Looking up, he saw Qiqi in a plain white long dress, like a village girl, slowly walking toward him.

Hu Xiaotian thought he was mistaken; in such a place, when had Qiqi ever not worn splendid attire? This outfit would be unremarkable at Zilan Palace, but in the Diligent Governance Hall it seems odd, and this white long dress looks rather thin for the season—she certainly isn't lacking clothes! He suddenly recalled that when he first met Qiqi at Lanruo Temple, she wore exactly the same attire.

Watching Qiqi's graceful sway as she approached, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but admit the girl had grown and developed, her beauty captivating; of course, if her bust had a bit more curve, she'd be even more perfect.

From where his gaze fell, Qiqi already knew what he was thinking; her cheeks flushed, she silently cursed him as shameless—not blaming his lecherous stare, but his thoughts, which surely magnified her flaws.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Your humble servant Hu Xiaotian kowtows to the Princess, may you live ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!" His tone was exaggerated, yet he made no gesture of salute.

Qiqi snorted: "If you're kowtowing, why aren't you kneeling?"

Hu Xiaotian replied: "If I kneel, you'd have to help me up; I'm being considerate, worried I'd tire you out."

Qiqi said: "Your confidence is full, your wings have hardened!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hardened…" paused, then added: "I have no wings!"

Qiqi's face flushed completely; she raised her hand to strike him, but her descent was exceedingly slow. Hu Xiaotian effortlessly seized her white wrist, intending to pull her into his embrace—unexpectedly, Qiqi lifted her long leg to kick his ****. Hu Xiaotian blocked with his leg, astonished: "Just met, must you be so vicious?"

Qiqi snapped: "Let go of me!"

Hu Xiaotian indeed released her and stepped back.

Qiqi obviously hadn't expected him to be so obedient; previously he always came forward with a thick-skinned grin, so this behavior was quite beyond her expectation.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your martial arts have improved? It seems while I wasn't in Kangdu, you secretly learned quite a bit!"

Qiqi meaningfully said: "Relying on others is inferior to relying on oneself; since Eunuch Quan is gone, I must learn some self-defense skills, lest you, this wicked person, bully me!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Indeed aimed at me; from childhood you've seemed to exist solely to oppose me—if I were gone, what meaning would your life have?"

Qiqi sighed: "I too just realized this problem, yet I find I've never gained the upper hand; you're a man, after all, and much older—why don't you know how to yield to me?"

Hu Xiaotian thought, if you count the pregnancy period, your actual age would be greater than mine; this fellow didn't consider adding the years from his past life. He laughed: "Generally speaking, a woman's mental age far exceeds a man's; from a physiological standpoint, you ought to let me have my way!"

Today my little universe burst forth—I wrote three chapters, shouting for a few monthly tickets; if you have tickets, please vote for me!