Chapter 223

Xi Yan looked at Hu Xiaotian, impervious to bribes and threats, and felt somewhat helpless; she had now completely fallen into a disadvantage, in terms of scheming Hu Xiaotian was not inferior to her, in shamelessness he was a hundred times stronger than her, and the only martial skill that could surpass Hu Xiaotian was now restrained by Qin Yutong, leaving her no way to exert it. Thinking of Qin Yutong, Xi Yan couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred; if it weren't for her meddling, she wouldn't be in this situation of being controlled everywhere. She whispered, "Do you really not understand that demoness?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed. In his view, the term 'demoness' suited Xi Yan more; Qin Yutong's disposition, though aloof, was not as wicked as Xi Yan's.

Xi Yan said, "Do you know she is from Xuantian Guan?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Xi Yan sneered, "Xuantian Guan has always claimed to uphold the righteous path, appearing lofty and proud, but in reality they are the court's lackeys, colluding with the government to oppress fellow martial artists, which is how they enjoy their lofty status today. Helping her harm me is nothing but aiding a tyrant."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I help no one; I just want to reach Xiezhou safely and uneventfully, with everyone staying out of trouble. Once there, I'll complete my assignment, leave, and thereafter have nothing to do with anything."

Xi Yan said, "Aren't you worried that she is the one who wants to kill the Prince of Zhou?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Indeed, you have a silver tongue. Let me ask you, disregarding the distance, why did you come to Xiezhou to attend my charity banquet? Clearly you possess martial skill, yet you pretend to be frail and pitiful—who are you putting on this act for?"

Xi Yan said, "I originally thought you were at least somewhat shrewd, but now you seem nothing special. Have you considered that if I wanted to harm the Prince of Zhou, why not kill him at the Wan mansion instead of waiting until you've made full preparations before acting?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, fortunately you didn't act against the Prince of Zhou that night; the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—your every move had long been seen clearly by Ande Quan. Though your martial skill is high, you lack awareness, obviously no match for the senior eunuch; if you truly dared to strike at the Prince of Zhou that night, Ande Quan would certainly not stand by idly. Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian also felt puzzled: since Ande Quan understands Xi Yan's identity so well, why didn't he move to capture her and eliminate this hidden threat beforehand? Could this old eunuch have some other motive?

Xi Yan added, "Our Wuxian Sect is not as evil as the rumors claim; it's entirely the Xuantian Guan-led so-called orthodox sects deliberately smearing us. We do not kill without cause, to be frank, my reason for wanting to mix with you is mainly to seize a treasure from the hands of the Shajia envoy."

Hu Xiaotian was half-believing, half-doubting: "What treasure?"

Xi Yan sighed and said, "Now that it's come to this, I don't want to lie to you. The Shajia envoy this time is traveling to Kangdu for negotiations, bringing a set of the Lotus Sutra for the old emperor; someone has offered a high price to hire us to steal that set of scriptures."

From beside came Qin Yutong's soft sigh: "Deceptive words that confuse the masses; now it seems your tongue is your most formidable weapon."

Hu Xiaotian hadn't noticed that Qin Yutong had already come to his side.

Xi Yan giggled: "If your heart is open, why bother eavesdropping from the side?"

Qin Yutong said, "No matter how you beautify it, the deeds of the Wuxian Sect still cannot see the light of day."

Xi Yan said, "I never claimed to be a good person; unlike your Xuantian Guan disciples, who are all pure white lotuses."

Seeing the two opposed, Hu Xiaotian easily inferred that Xuantian Guan and the Wuxian Sect were sworn enemies. As he turned to leave, Xi Yan called him back: "Hu Xiaotian, I advise you to keep your wits about you; don't end up being sold out and still have to count the money for the buyer."

Qin Yutong gave a faint smile and drifted away. Hu Xiaotian picked up the torn cloth he had just used to block Xi Yan's mouth; Xi Yan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she pitifully said, "I finally managed to eat a meal—do you really want me to vomit it all up? In any case, I promise you I won't speak nonsense anymore."

The dinner had ended, those on duty had returned to their posts, and the rest went back to the tents to rest.

Qin Yutong sat down by the bonfire; the fire blazed, casting a red glow on her face, and her eyes, reflected in the flames, shone as brightly as stars.

Hu Xiaotian sat opposite her, handing her the large pancake wrapped with rabbit meat from his hand, saying, "Eat while it's hot!"

Qin Yutong shook her head: "I've already eaten!" Her eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian: "Do you believe her words or not?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "You've already said she spreads deceitful nonsense!"

Qin Yutong said, "It seems you were still swayed by her."

Hu Xiaotian took a big bite of the wrapped pancake: "Do you think I'm that easy to fool?" Xi Yan's words cannot be wholly believed nor wholly disbelieved; Xuantian Guan is not some charitable institution, Qin Yutong is not a selfless Lei Feng helping others without expecting return; her request to accompany me this time surely also serves her own purpose.

Qin Yutong caught the subtext in Hu Xiaotian's words and softly said, "Rest early; I'll take the night watch."

Hu Xiaotian lifted his head to gaze at the pitch-black night sky devoid of any starlight, and whispered, "I wonder if it will rain tonight."

Qin Yutong said, "What is meant to come will come; no one can avoid it!"

Above Kangdu, the sky was also shrouded in thick clouds; occasional flashes of lightning sliced the night, outlining the majestic silhouette of the imperial city. After the lightning faded, everything vanished into the impenetrable darkness, the iron‑clad dark clouds merging with the city that represents the supreme power center of Dakang, encircling the imperial city like an iron cage. A chilly night wind blew, violently tearing the leaves from the paulownia trees; the fallen leaves twirled in the wind, unwilling yet helpless as they drifted away, producing only a soft, rustling sound, as if weeping in sorrow.

Hu Buwei stood on the Bohuan Tower, gazing at the dark, heavy night, his expression graver than the night itself. Beside him stood Dakang's Minister of Personnel, Shi Buyi, who gripped the rail with both hands and suddenly slapped it hard, saying, "Something is not right!"

Hu Buwei's gaze remained fixed on the distance; there are too many things in this world that you cannot see through just because you want to. He whispered, "His Majesty hasn't attended court for seven days, and Minister Wen has also taken to his sickbed—what a coincidence."

Shi Buyi's right hand lightly tapped the rail, he lifted his head with effort; this angle made his already aged cervical vertebrae emit a crackling sound like firecrackers, his grayish beard trembling in the night wind. Closing his eyes, he drew a deep breath, as if to inhale the heavy darkness into his lungs: "I've heard that Mr. Ren of Xuantian Guan was summoned to the palace for an audience three days ago and has not yet left." As his eyes slowly opened, a cold, sharp light shone within them, and his previous feeble appearance vanished completely.

"His Majesty is likely ill." As Hu Buwei spoke these words, his mood grew ever heavier.

Shi Buyi said, "The news is tightly sealed; for these seven days His Majesty has resided in the Renshou Palace, and apart from the Empress and Consort Li, no other concubine may enter; the eunuchs and palace women keep silent about anything that happens inside the Renshou Palace."

Hu Buwei said, "They say it's to escape the heat, but the weather isn't that hot at all!"

A bolt of lightning tore through the dark, heavy sky, and immediately a thunderous explosion rang out from the due south—exactly where the Taiji Palace stands.

Both were jolted in their hearts by that thunderclap, and without prior agreement they turned their gazes toward the Taiji Palace.

Shi Buyi said, "The Crown Prince should have returned." After saying that, he lifted his head to look at the sky: "I ought to go now, otherwise I fear the rain will start falling."

Hu Buwei said, "I'll see you off."

Shi Buyi shook his head: "No need for you to accompany me; one person getting wet is better than two being soaked through."

Hu Buwei indeed did not go to see him off; he watched Shi Buyi descend the Bohuan Tower, quickly exiting through the rear gate with two guards accompanying him. The wind noticeably increased, yet the rain still did not fall, the air sultry to the point of breathlessness. A black hawk emerged from the clouds and swooped straight toward the Bohuan Tower.

Hu Buwei extended his right hand; the hawk flapped its wings and perched on the back of his hand. Hu Buwei took a small bamboo tube from the hawk's golden-yellow talons, drew out a slip of paper, brought it near the lantern, and as he made out the writing, his face instantly turned as pale as paper……

"Father, the edict has been drafted; do you wish to review it?" The eldest prince, Long Yelin, gazed fixedly at his father with deep eyes; Long Xuan'en's face no longer bore the former domineering aura and majesty of one who held power over all under heaven, his hair completely white, and on the face revered by myriad people there were now deep furrows.

A bleak smile curled Long Xuan'en's lips as he hoarsely asked, "Is it necessary to look at it?"

Long Yelin said, "Your Majesty has reigned for forty‑one years, during which you changed the era name seven times. Since the founding of Dakang, if we consider length of reign, Your Majesty is undoubtedly the foremost. I dare to ask: how do you compare your own merit to that of the Taizong Emperor?"

Long Xuan'en replied, "You unfilial son, why must you insult me?"

Long Yelin said, "Allow me to speak frankly: the Taizong Emperor possessed virtue that embraced the Three Sovereigns and merit that eclipsed the Five Emperors, sweeping across **, dominating all under heaven; Your Majesty cannot compare."

Long Xuan'en gave a cold snort and turned his face aside.

Long Yelin added, "How does Your Majesty compare to the Mingzong Emperor?"

Long Xuan'en abruptly turned his face back, glaring at Long Yelin, and said, "Say what you want to say; why beat around the bush?"

Long Yelin said, "The Mingzong Emperor rescued the state from peril, quelled rebellions and restored order, returning to Dakang a bright and clear universe, enabling an empire on the brink of collapse to regain its brilliance—this is how Dakang's centuries‑long prosperity came to be. You are no match for them either; those two former sovereigns achieved merit that towers over all, their deeds shining brightly in history, and even their reigns fall short of Your Majesty's."

Long Xuan'en said, "You harbor wolfish ambitions and plot to usurp the throne; I only regret not having killed you, this beast, when I had the chance."

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