Chapter 1937: [Coincidence?] (Part 2)

July 7th? Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted. He recalled Liu Yuzhang's earlier agreement: on July 7th Liu Yuzhang would certainly not miss the annual opportunity, and Ji Feihua should also arrive on time. By then she should be able to find those two skulls. Actually the skulls might no longer be that important, after all Ji Feihua and Qiqi have each already grasped the information of a skull; as long as they join forces, opening the underground palace will no longer be an obstacle.

Why does Huo Xiaoru insist on coming on July 7th? The two stolen skulls should be in her hands, and the two scrolls of the Heavenly Man Myriad Forms Diagram are also now in her possession. What turned a once gentle dancer into the cold, ruthless woman she is now? Is the present Huo Xiaoru still the same as before? Did she change, or have I simply never understood her? In fact, she has always been like this.

The afternoon sun in Yongdu was pleasant, but Xue Shengjing's mood was somewhat gloomy. Walking into Ningqing Garden under the afternoon light, amidst a sea of flowers Huo Xiaoru stood still in a white long robe, her silhouette alone infinitely beautiful, as if all the blossoms had lost their color. Yet what Xue Shengjing noticed was not his daughter's peerless grace; his gaze fell on the shadow on the ground—no matter how strong the sun, there will always be places it cannot reach.

Huo Xiaoru didn't turn around, yet she seemed to have sensed his arrival, and she said softly, 'Father, even in your busy schedule you could find time to come here—there must be something important.'

A faint smile touched Xue Shengjing's lips, but the light in his small eyes was exceptionally clear: 'No matter how busy, I cannot neglect my precious daughter!' Yet his expression lacked the warmth expected between father and daughter.

Huo Xiaoru sighed and said, 'If you have something to say, just speak plainly!' She slowly turned to face Xue Shengjing, her gaze calm, lacking the usual admiration and respect a daughter shows her father, so composed it was almost as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

Xue Shengjing felt that each time he saw his daughter they grew a little more distant; her composure and wisdom surpassed his imagination. Since they recognized each other as father and daughter, her transformation had already exceeded what he could have imagined—if she weren't standing right before him, if he weren't observing her up close, he might even think the Huo Xiaoru before him was a total stranger.

Xue Shengjing said, 'Daughter, I heard you met Hu Xiaotian's envoy and gave him some Heavenly Man Pills?'

Huo Xiaoru smiled faintly and replied, 'You don't trust me, so you had someone watch me?'

Xue Shengjing said, 'It's for protection. Da Yong faces internal troubles and external threats; who knows how many wish us harm? I must take full precautions to guard against any unexpected mishap.'

Huo Xiaoru nodded and said, 'Zhou Ruizhen is seriously ill; Hu Xiaotian sent people to seek help. For now we are not enemies, so I must extend this favor to him.'

Xue Shengjing said, 'Heavenly Man Pills are made according to the markings of the Heavenly Man Myriad Forms Diagram; even I could only obtain one with great difficulty from Ren Tianqing, yet you gave Hu Xiaotian three at once.'

Huo Xiaoru said, 'Zhou Ruizhen's condition is different from yours.'

Xue Shengjing chuckled coldly, 'So my precious daughter cares so much about Hu Xiaotian!'

Huo Xiaoru said, 'You need not meddle in my affairs; you have already achieved your heart's desire. Even without ascending the throne, you in fact control Da Yong's power—the goal you've striven for all your life is fulfilled—so why worry about anything else?'

Xue Shengjing said, 'By rights I should be happy, yet I feel no joy at all, for I have suddenly realized I am merely being used. I thought others were fools, but I am the biggest fool—actually deceived by my own daughter and an outsider working together!'

Huo Xiaoru replied calmly, 'Contentment brings happiness; when will you learn to be content?'

Xue Shengjing snapped, 'Are you lecturing me? Don't forget I am your father—who gave you life, who gave you everything you now possess!'

Huo Xiaoru gazed at the furious Xue Shengjing, raging like a lion, and instead of fear she smiled, stepping toward her father and meeting his glare without fear: 'Since you abandoned that mother and child, you have no right to be a father anymore—don't speak of pressure or being forced. If you truly were willing to give up wealth and honor, how could later tragedy have occurred? I won't recount your foolish deeds; even after recognizing each other, when have you ever been willing to sacrifice for me? In your eyes anyone can be used, anyone is merely a tool for your ascent to the throne; to achieve that you would sacrifice anyone, including me.'

Xue Shengjing's heart felt as if struck by a heavy blow; his obese face drained of color, he stepped back and said, 'You've changed… you've changed…'

Huo Xiaoru said, 'I have never changed; I am myself, Huo Xiaoru. Apart from mutual use, I have no relation to you whatsoever!'

Xue Shengjing gritted his teeth and said, 'I can make you a princess admired by all, or I can cast you into the dust and take away everything you now possess.'

Huo Xiaoru smiled and said, 'A person's weight and the weight of their words are not necessarily equal. You're right—I gave Zhou Ruizhen three Heavenly Man Pills, while Ren Tianqing gave you only one; there is a reason behind this imbalance.' Her smile instantly faded: 'If I wanted you dead, you would never see tomorrow's sun.'

Xue Shengjing's heart twitched; he was actually shaken by the killing intent Huo Xiaoru displayed. He shook his head, hardly able to believe this fact—was this still his daughter? He whispered, 'Who are you? Who exactly are you?'

Huo Xiaoru gave him a cold glance and said, 'You may not know who I am, but I know who you are—in my eyes you are not even a speck of dust.'

'Do I not even count as a speck of dust in your heart?' Long Xuanjiao gazed at Hu Buwei, her eyes full of sorrow.

Hu Buwei remained elegant, his smile calm and warm, sitting opposite Long Xuanjiao. He had to admit that over the past year she had aged considerably; beauty fades easily, and during this time she had successively lost power and affection—the blows she endured are easy to imagine.

Hu Buwei responded with a smile and silence.

Long Xuanjiao was clearly dissatisfied with this reply; she shouted, 'From the very start you've been using me, you've always been using me!'

Hu Buwei sighed and said, 'Actually, a woman being a little foolish makes it easier for her to find happiness; you shouldn't have pulled a beam-switch behind my back, and since you won't even give me the most basic trust, how could you expect genuine affection from me?'

Long Xuanjiao cried, 'It's you who owe me! It's you who owe me! No matter what, Long Jing is our flesh and blood—you can treat me harshly, but you must not harm him!'

Hu Buwei said, 'There's something I've concealed and puzzled over for decades.' He locked eyes with Long Xuanjiao and said, 'I simply lack the ability to father children—so where would legitimate offspring come from? Why do you insist that bastard is mine?'

Long Xuanjiao's face flushed, her lips turned pale, her expression filled with despair; suddenly she shrieked, lunging at Hu Buwei with outstretched fingers, but he easily dodged. She lost her balance and crashed to the ground, her bones seeming to break, nose bruised and face swollen; she covered her face, lay prone, and sobbed softly.

Hu Buwei said, 'I know everything you've done; I only taught you to play the zither, and someone else taught you Buddhism—do you really think I didn't know about your affair with Minghuai?'

Hu Buwei rose, hands behind his back, gazing skyward: 'Perhaps even you don't know whose child is in your womb; I have endured humiliation and borne this blame, and now I can finally tell you plainly—guess what, if I were to tell this to your precious son, how would he view you?'

Long Xuanjiao screamed, 'No!' She threw herself at Hu Buwei's feet, clutching his ankles, her tear-streaked face full of pleading.

Hu Buwei sighed, knowing his words had utterly destroyed Long Xuanjiao's confidence and pride, and torn what little self-respect she had left: 'Between us it need not have come to this; in short, just do your duty as empress dowager, and that bastard can still be his emperor.'

Hu Buwei left the palace, boarded the carriage that had been waiting there all along; not long after departing the palace the carriage stopped. Hu Buwei lifted the curtain in surprise, only to see the coachman slowly turn his head, whereupon an elderly man with white hair gave him a meaningful smile: 'Sir, have you been well?' The old man before him was Liu Yuzhang.

Hu Buwei's heart gave a start, then he also smiled and said, 'You've finally deigned to show yourself.'

Liu Yuzhang pointed ahead, halted the carriage before a civilian residence, then pushed the door and entered.

Hu Buwei took a deep breath inside the carriage, lifted the curtain, and followed closely behind.

Liu Yuzhang was already seated at the stone table in the courtyard, tea ready; Hu Buwei sat down and deliberately picked up the teapot—not to pour, but to gauge its temperature to see if anyone else was present.

Liu Yuzhang saw through his thought and smiled, 'Someone's there, but they've gone outside to keep watch—you can relax.'

Hu Buwei filled Liu Yuzhang's teacup and smiled, 'Sir, your springlike countenance surely brings good news.'

Liu Yuzhang nodded and said, 'I have located the underground palace of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, and I have persuaded Hu Xiaotian to cooperate with me in opening its gate.'

Hu Buwei's brow twitched: 'You intend to cooperate with him?'

Liu Yuzhang said, 'The key to opening the underground palace lies with the Yongyang Princess; to have that girl work for me, the only way is through him.'

Though Hu Buwei's heart surged with turmoil, his exterior remained calm: 'What did you promise him?'