Chapter 1939

Hu Xiaotian said: "Everyone will age this day, everyone will grow old, just as everyone will die, no one can escape!"

Wen Chenghuan looked at Hu Xiaotian, his face showing an extremely strange smile: "Yes! You will also die, you will die sooner or later!" His voice was full of resentment.

Hu Xiaotian was not affected by his gaze, still respectfully handed over the second cup of wine. Wen Chenghuan also took it without hesitation and drained it in one gulp: "Good wine, I never expected to be able to drink such fine wine before my death."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If the Grand Tutor likes it, I will have someone send it to you every day."

Wen Chenghuan shook his head: "No need. The more beautiful things a person encounters before death, the more attached they become to this world, the more they fear death. I have already resolved to die; why bother trying to shake my conviction?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It is not to shake the Grand Tutor's conviction, but out of respect for him."

Wen Chenghuan burst out laughing: "Respect? The victor becomes king, the loser becomes bandit; a victor actually respects a loser? Hu Xiaotian, are you humiliating me?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Grand Tutor, you didn't summon me just to hear me insult you, and regardless of right or wrong, victory or defeat, in my heart you are worthy of respect."

Wen Chenghuan nodded, seeming to believe Hu Xiaotian's words, he pointed at the empty cup and said: "Pour the wine!"

Hu Xiaotian again filled his cup with wine.

Wen Chenghuan reached out, his trembling hands lifted the cup, but the wine spilled because of his shaking; he poured all the wine onto the ground, sighing: "Such fine wine, my two sons can no longer drink it..."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Wen Chenghuan with sympathy; an old man sending off a young man, Wen Chenghuan in his later years repeatedly suffered the pain of losing his sons, a blow that ordinary people could not bear.

Wen Chenghuan raised his eyes, whispered: "Did Bo Yuan die at your hand?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Although I had the intention to kill him, he did not die by my hand."

Wen Chenghuan nodded: "Then the killer must be someone else! Who is it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Grand Tutor, what meaning is there in investigating this now?"

Wen Chenghuan let out a long sigh: "Yes, what meaning is there in investigating this now? If I hadn't sent him to be some marriage envoy, he wouldn't have encountered this disaster; if I hadn't ordered him to kill Long Xi Yue on the way, he wouldn't have faced death; the one who killed him is me! It's me!" Saying this, he couldn't help but shed old tears.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Grand Tutor, even now you still can't let go?"

Wen Chenghuan shook his head: "I can't let go, how could I? I'm not afraid of death, but because I caused the death of my two sons, and brought shame upon the Li ancestors, how could I resign myself?" He paused, looking at Hu Xiaotian: "I beg you for one thing!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I can do it!"

Wen Chenghuan said: "If you can do it, let me die happily!"

Hu Xiaotian fell silent, he was about to nod, which for him was not difficult, but Wen Chenghuan misunderstood his meaning, and said in a deep voice: "Don't rush to refuse; if you agree to my request, I will give you Da Yong!"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh: "Is Wen Chenghuan senile? A prisoner like him, how could he have the ability to do such a thing?"

Wen Chenghuan said: "You don't believe me? I hold in my hand a personal letter from Xue Shengkang from back then, which clearly states the reason I abandoned my wife and children to come to Dakang. Once this letter is made public, everyone will know that Da Yong is the one harming me!"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help reminding him: "The current Da Yong is already under the rule of Prince Yan Xue Shengjing!" His meaning was obvious: the one who killed Li Chenzhou was Xue Daoming, and Xue Daoming has now also been killed by Xue Shengjing. Even if we could prove that Xue Daoming once framed him and treated him as a pawn, it's already too late, moreover Li Chenzhou's rebellion is plain for all to see, impossible to overturn the case.

Wen Chenghuan said: "You've misunderstood my meaning. Da Yong has been unkind to me, so why should I be loyal to him? As long as you agree to my demand, I will tell you the secret of the Miu family treasure."

Hu Xiaotian blinked in surprise; the Miu family treasure is the reason the Dakang Taizong Emperor Long Yinkong established peace and secured the state. It is said that Long Yinkong never used anything from the treasure back then, yet now Wen Chenghuan actually claims he knows this secret.

Wen Chenghuan said: "Obtaining the Miu family treasure can bring peace to the world; this treasure has actually always been hidden in Yongdu, and our Li family has passed down this secret through generations..."

Qin Yutong's belly had already swollen high; these days she never left the house, living in seclusion at Fengyi Shan Zhuang, yet she was quite content. Hu Xiaotian touched her belly and smiled: "I don't know if it's a boy or a girl; if we had a B-ultrasound we could tell the sex." This remark aroused Qin Yutong's curiosity, and after a long explanation she finally understood what a B-ultrasound is.

Qin Yutong said: "I heard you ordered that wine be given to Wen Chenghuan to drive him to suicide!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "He promised to give me a map of the Miu family treasure."

Qin Yutong blinked her eyes: "Really?" She clearly understood the grudge between Hu Xiaotian and Wen Chenghuan; Wen Chenghuan seemingly had no reason to do that.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "That treasure map is fake; Wen Chenghuan just wants to use me to spread this treasure map around, so Yongdu will become lively again."

Qin Yutong sighed: "Da Yong has indeed been unfair to the Li clan; the Li family sacrificed greatly for the Da Yong court, yet ended up in such a miserable fate—no wonder Wen Chenghuan feels unwilling to accept it."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally thought the treasure map was genuine, but after checking some historical records and asking Zhuge Guanqi a few things, I only now learned that before the Taizong Emperor Long Yinkong came to power, rumors about the Miu family treasure map had already been rampant, except that at that time the map existed in the form of a spring palace illustration."

Qin Yutong's pretty face flushed crimson as she said: "Nonsense!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Absolutely true, why would I lie to you? At first I also thought this method might be a bit lowbrow, but then I thought that the vulgar can also be refined, just like the Ten Thousand Images of Heaven and Man— the lewd see lewdness, the wise see wisdom."

Upon hearing him say that, Qin Yutong suddenly recalled something and softly said: "Right, here you go!" She took out a jade bottle and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

After receiving it, he twisted open the cap, and immediately a strange fragrance assailed his nose. He poured out two pellets into his palm— they were two small light‑blue pills. Hu Xiaotian's first thought was Viagra; could this thing have also crossed over? Though he seemed to have no deficiency in that regard!

Qin Yutong said: "This is what I developed by improving upon the Heaven‑Man Pill based on my analysis."

Hu Xiaotian said: "And then?"

Qin Yutong said: "You said you could never get Xiyue and the others pregnant; you might as well try this pill— perhaps it will work."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes rolled around: "An aphrodisiac?"

Qin Yutong couldn't help laughing: "You don't need it……" After saying that her face flushed: "Pah! Anyway I wouldn't harm you!"

Hu Xiaotian directly stuffed one into his mouth.

Qin Yutong wanted to stop him but it was already too late: "Ah, don't rush to eat……"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It really works fast; why don't we give it a try?"

Qin Yutong blushed deeply: "I can't keep you company looking like this."

Hu Xiaotian said: "But this medicine's potency is strong; if I have no outlet, won't I end up bursting from holding it in?"

Nonsense!

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily; in fact he was just teasing her— earlier he had deliberately hidden the pill in his palm and never actually put it into his mouth.

At this moment Huo Shengnan walked in from outside, seeing the two chatting happily, she couldn't help but ask: "What are you two chatting about that's so happy?"

Qin Yutong hurriedly pulled her over: "Sister, your timing is perfect— someone's been looking for you."

Hu Xiaotian secretly chuckled: "Good sisters are good sisters after all— water doesn't flow to outsiders' fields; at the critical moment he pushed his sister forward to take the bullet!"

Huo Shengnan, seeing their expressions and already guessing what was up, spat: "You girl, lacking all sense of loyalty— at the crucial moment you actually pushed me out to take the bullet!"

Hu Xiaotian praised: "The phrase 'General Huo blocking the bullet' is used absolutely brilliantly!"

Huo Shengnan glared at him: "Is your marksmanship any good? I'll go get a spear and see who's better!"

Hu Xiaotian was so startled his tongue lolled out, while Qin Yutong giggled behind Huo Shengnan's back: "See if you dare to bully me again in the future!"

Seeing the two sisters getting along so well, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel delighted; he stepped forward, embraced one on each side, and whispered to Huo Shengnan, telling her what had just happened. Huo Shengnan heard it and her pretty face flushed red— in fact, although they never said it, they had always envied Qin Yutong to the utmost, because everyone wishes to bear a son or daughter for their beloved.

Huo Shengnan spat: "Yutong has been completely corrupted by you."

Qin Yutong said: "I also cannot guarantee it's 100% effective, but for Xiaotian it's ultimately beneficial and harmless."

Hu Xiaotian said from the side: "So only General Huo will have to endure the trouble of trying it with me!"

"Who would want to try with you..." he said unwillingly with his mouth, but his facial expression showed a thousand kinds of willingness and ten thousand kinds of eagerness; Hu Xiaotian gazed at the two lovely beauties in his arms, his heart's happiness reached the utmost point—life is like this, what more could one ask for? Nothing compares to having a beauty in one's embrace; even the realm and state are less delightful. He suddenly recalled the thought he had when he first came to this world: let him grow old happily and contentedly this way, with many wives and concubines, and a house full of descendants.

The seventh day of the seventh month is drawing ever closer; Hu Xiaotian, ahead of time, brought Zhuge Guanqi into the imperial palace; Long Ling Shengjing has been destroyed, and now it no longer retains its original appearance; Zhuge Guanqi can only infer past regulations from the remaining structures; as for the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda, only the underground palace part remains.

On the fifth day of the seventh month, Hu Xiaotian was summoned into the palace; this time, Qiqi waited for him in the Chuxiu Palace; speaking of this Chuxiu Palace, it was the earliest residence of Qiqi within the imperial palace.