Chapter 210

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your humble servant is not that noble, nor have I thought that much; I simply believe that, as a man, the most important thing should be a sense of responsibility. Since I have entered a marriage pact with Wuyou, I must be faithful to her, I must cherish and protect her."

Long Ye Fang sighed: "I can understand your feelings; actually, my feelings for Xi Yan are no different." His gaze fell back onto that portrait again, and he said deeply: "No matter her background, no matter whether she is a demon person of the Wuxian Sect, no matter whether she is young and beautiful or her youth has faded, I will remain steadfast toward her, never parting; but how could my thoughts be known to her?" After saying this, Long Ye Fang sighed again.

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed, you bastard, who are you fooling? In front of me you play the lover, but frankly it's just that you're bewitched by Xi Yan's beauty; if she were a paralyzed ugly woman, you probably wouldn't even want to glance at her more. Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian felt fate was truly unfair to him—could it be that he really has to selflessly sacrifice once for his father's political career? His main purpose coming today was to gather information, but from the moment he saw Long Ye Fang, all he heard was this fellow's love affairs; the proper business wasn't mentioned at all. If all the Dakang emperors were like him, I fear the realm would be worrisome in the future.

Hu Xiaotian said: "With utmost sincerity, even metal and stone can be opened; if Xi Yan knew that Your Highness feels such deep affection for her, she would surely be moved by your painstaking efforts."

Long Ye Fang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded against his will, feeling at this moment no different from those flattering officials.

Long Ye Fang said: "It's a pity that I, the Prince, must leave Qingyun tomorrow; when we meet again is unknown."

Hu Xiaotian naturally understood that Long Ye Fang's many feelings were not because of him; finally knowing that Long Ye Fang would leave tomorrow, he feigned surprise: "Your Highness, why are you leaving so hastily? Why not stay a few more days here? Your humble servant has just finished his current tasks and was about to accompany Your Highness on a tour of Qingyun's scenery."

Long Ye Fang rose, lightly patted Hu Xiaotian's shoulder, and said: "Xiaotian, I have received your intentions, but I still have an important matter this time; I believe you have already heard that the Shajia envoy has arrived in Qingyun."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I was out on official business today and only returned to the city in the evening. I only just heard about this; I don't know why the Shajia envoy has come to Dakang." After chatting with Long Ye Fang for a long while, they finally got to the main topic.

Long Ye Fang said: "My Dakang's fortunes flourish, the people live in peace and prosperity, the military is strong, its might shocks the four directions. The neighboring barbarian states all vie to submit and pay tribute." As he spoke, his face was full of pride, a self-satisfied look.

Hu Xiaotian really couldn't bear to strike him down; this fellow probably has grown accustomed to staying in the palace, utterly unaware of Dakang's current situation—its national strength waning. The people cannot make a living, and moreover, domestic disasters have been continuous these years; Dakang, once the primordial hegemon, has gradually sunk into decline—not to mention the sun setting in the west; now Northern Da Yong rises, implicitly already possessing the strength to contend with Dakang, yet still talking about shocking the four directions. This seventeenth prince has indeed grasped the essence of the 'spiritual victory' method, still imagining his family supreme.

Hu Xiaotian said: "So you mean the Shajia state envoy came specially to Dakang to pay tribute and bring gifts?" From Xiao Tianmu he had already learned much information; the Shajia state envoy this time went to Kangdu for the purpose of seeking a marriage alliance. Not only did they not come to bring gifts, they actually wanted to take a Dakang princess as a wife, and on top of that demand a substantial dowry. Hu Xiaotian knew history well—whether it was Zhaojun going to the frontier or Princess Cheng, it was all actually a marriage‑alliance policy used to pacify the barbarians, exchanging beauty and money for border tranquility. From the overall perspective it's not wrong, but in detail they are taking advantage.

Long Ye Fang said: "Not entirely." At this point his emotion seemed to have lost its earlier fervor; he shook his head and said: "Originally they said they would send Prince Twelve Huoge, but this time the entourage is large, led by the envoy Momasali, with no royalty among them; these barbarians are truly fickle."

Hu Xiaotian echoed: "Indeed, they are uncivilized barbarians who don't even know basic etiquette."

Long Ye Fang instead comforted Hu Xiaotian, hehe laughing: "Since you know they are barbarians, why bother to lower yourself to their level?" He returned to the Grand Master's chair and sat down, lowering his voice: "I heard you arrested all the officials of Qingyun Xian? Why?"

Hu Xiaotian then produced the token given him by Zhang Qian, respectfully saying: "Your Highness, this is the order of Zhang, the Senior Administrator of Xizhou; based on the clues we have grasped, it is very likely that someone among the Qingyun officials colludes with the bandits of Tianlang Mountain, and there are signs indicating that County Magistrate Xu Qinglian has had close contact with the rebels of the Wuxian Sect."

"Any evidence?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although it hasn't been verified, but now the Shajia envoy is in Qingyun; to ensure the safety of Your Highness and the envoy, your humble servant had no choice but to take this measure. I have already discussed it with Sir Zhang; after Your Highness and the envoy depart, we will interrogate each one individually, sparing neither good nor bad." He would not take responsibility, pushing everything onto Zhang Qian; anyway, Old Zhang has already returned to Xizhou, so whatever I say he won't know.

Long Ye Fang nodded; he hadn't really cared much about the fate of those officials, and Hu Xiaotian's explanation seemed reasonable.

Hu Xiaotian worried he would keep pressing the matter, so he leaned in mysteriously and said: "Miss Xi Yan simply got the news in advance from Xu Qinglian, which is why she left; it was Xu Qinglian who deliberately let her go." To add a crime, what need for lack of excuse?

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Zhou flew into a rage, slamming the table heavily and shouting: "Damnable wretch, how dare you be so bold—truly not worth dying for!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly gloated; indeed, Miss Xi Yan is the reverse scale on Prince Zhou's body—cannot be touched.

At this moment, Long Ye Fang's Guard entered, reporting that the Shajia envoy Momasali requested an audience.

Upon hearing that Momasali had come, Hu Xiaotian hastily took his leave of Prince Zhou.

Long Ye Qing, however, said: "No problem; you happen to be accompanying me to meet him."

Hu Xiaotian originally thought Momasali would be a foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes, but unexpectedly his appearance differed little from that of a Central Plains person, only his skin was darker—this is related to Shajia's highland location and strong ultraviolet radiation.

Momasali was tall and stout, with thick eyebrows and a heavy beard; the big beard on his jaw was lush and curly, his eyebrows, beard, and eyes all black, and he wore Han Chinese attire. Approaching Prince Zhou, he bowed slightly, spread his five fingers, pressed his palms to his chest, and saluted Long Ye Qing: "Shajia envoy Momasali pays respects to Prince Zhou, Thousand Years, Thousand Thousand Years!" His spoken Mandarin was standard and fluent; if not for prior knowledge of his identity, Hu Xiaotian would surely have taken him for a Dakang commoner.

Long Ye Qing smiled: "Envoy Sir, no need for excessive courtesy, please take a seat!"

After Momasali sat down, he then glanced at Hu Xiaotian; in his view, anyone who could be alone with Long Ye Qing would certainly not be an ordinary person, but rather Long Ye Qing's trusted aide.

Long Ye Qing also did not introduce Hu Xiaotian's identity to Momasali, gesturing for his subordinates to brew a cup of tea for him, and said unhurriedly: "Envoy, what business do you have with me?"

Momasali smiled at Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian naturally understood that this fellow was giving Long Ye Qing a hint to get rid of him.

Long Ye Qing said calmly: "You need not worry; he is my most trusted friend."

Hearing Long Ye Qing introduce himself thus, Hu Xiaotian felt somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, yet he still had some self‑awareness, knowing his relationship with Long Ye Qing had not reached that point; Long Ye Qing was merely saying it for Momasali's ears. Nevertheless, invisibly, Hu Xiaotian's standing in Momasali's heart rose considerably.

Momasali laughed: "My great khan has entrusted me to bring some gifts to Your Highness."

Long Ye Qing had little interest in the gifts, but since they had been brought, he could not rebuff their good intention; he nodded and said: "Later, help me thank your great khan."

Momasali said: "Your Highness, would you like to see what the gifts are?"

Long Ye Qing said: "Then let's have a look!"

Momasali clapped his hands, and from outside a veiled lady walked in gracefully; she wore a gold cloak, her face covered with light gauze, a pair of deep‑blue (Lan) eyes that in the night resembled tranquil sea water—deep and gentle. Approaching Long Ye Qing, she first bowed.

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; this gift‑giving method is really old‑fashioned, but looking across ancient and modern times, the most common ways of presenting gifts are money and beauties—the Shajia people sending a pretty lady to Long Ye Qing could be considered catering to his taste. However, this foreign lady is packaged so tightly that one cannot see her true face; the gift has arrived, but its real quality remains unknown—will Prince Zhou Long Ye Qing accept it or not? Actually, it would be best to keep this matter behind people's backs; being here is truly inconvenient for me.

Long Ye Qing still bore the demeanor befitting a great‑nation monarch, smiling indifferently: "Is this the gift you spoke of?" His expression showed great disdain, as if he didn't regard the gift at all.

Momasali laughed: "Prince Zhou, don't be hasty!" He then produced a hand drum from his wide sleeves; Prince Zhou frowned, wondering what Momasali intended to do with the hand drum.

Hu Xiaotian thought further; if Momasali harbored malicious intent, he could easily conceal a weapon and walk in unnoticed. However, seeing the hand drum, Hu Xiaotian already understood seventy‑percent; next should be a talent display, Momasali's hand drum being used as accompaniment. Hu Xiaotian felt the situation becoming more and more interesting—staying to watch the performance would not be bad either.

As expected, Momasali rolled up his sleeves and then—peng! —struck the hand drum.

Tonight I have prepared eight chapters for you; please don't forget to cast your Guaranteed Monthly Ticket for the Medical Union after reading! (To be continued…)