Chapter 234

The more urgent the situation, the more one must stay calm; if I were to lose my composure first, not only could I fail to save the entire Hu family, but even my own life would be hard to preserve. Given the current situation, Li Honghan probably has no intention of killing me; otherwise he wouldn't have waited until now, nor would he be pleased with me and his own countenance. Could it be that this marriage pact still has some effect? Do the Lis still value this matter? Upon further thought, there's no possibility; since Li Tianheng has decided to rebel and establish himself, he can discard loyalty and righteousness, so how could he care about a mere marriage pact?

A carriage stopped outside the Heaven's Abode Temporary Palace; Li Honghan stood before it, saw Hu Xiaotian come out, and smiled, saying: "Xiaotian, changing clothes takes this long too!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I've always been a slow person."

Li Honghan laughed and said: "To be so composed at such a young age is truly rare." His words clearly hid a deeper meaning.

A warrior opened the carriage door, Li Honghan invited Hu Xiaotian to get in, then he himself entered the carriage.

The carriage slowly proceeded along the main street of Xiezhou City; Hu Xiaotian lifted the carriage curtain, gazed at the outside scenery, appearing relaxed and at ease on the surface, but his heart was extremely heavy.

Li Honghan glanced at Hu Xiaotian from the corner of his eye; he hadn't expected someone so young to be so composed, and yet Hu Xiaotian had not asked what had happened until now. This child's displayed steadiness and composure far exceeded his age, suggesting Zhang Ziqian's praise of him was not without reason. Li Honghan said: "I heard you arrested all those officials of Qingyun County and threw them into prison?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "They are all corrupt officials who oppress the people and take bribes; even if we killed them all, none would be wronged."

Li Honghan smiled and said: "You truly have grand ambitions; in the future, the management of Xichuan will still have to rely on young talents like you."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; indeed, rebellion was undoubted. The Li family's seizure of Xichuan meant a large chunk of Dakang's southwest territory was lost. Although Hu Xiaotian didn't care whether Dakang would split or who would become emperor, Li Tianheng's carving out a kingdom was no small matter; if this reached the capital, the old emperor would certainly not let it go. Investigating, those connected to the Li family would be first implicated. My father's original purpose in marrying into the Li family was merely to increase political leverage, preparing for future succession. But Father should not have anticipated such a turn of events. The alliance with the Li family not only brought no benefit, but invited a heap of trouble; now it seems likely that eight or nine out of ten will be dragged down together.

As the carriage passed the Ring Color Pavilion, Hu Xiaotian looked toward its gate and saw Xiang Qin directing the hanging of red lanterns at the entrance, as if preparing to celebrate some great joy. Hu Xiaotian worried that Xiang Qin might see him, so he quickly lowered the carriage curtain and seated himself properly. He secretly wondered: Has Xi Yan returned? What is her relationship with the Prince of Zhou and the Li family of Xichuan? All harboring lofty aspirations, they wished to rise to the heavens and grasp the bright moon; thus the Moon-Embracing Pavilion got its name. Li Honghan and Hu Xiaotian walked hand in hand up the Moon-Embracing Pavilion; Hu Xiaotian originally thought tonight would be a grand affair, but upon arriving at the Moon-Embracing Pavilion he realized that the guests Li Honghan invited as host were only two: himself. The other was Prince Huoge of Shajia.

Huoge wore the ethnic attire unique to the Shajia people, his right shoulder and arm bare. His dark brown skin and sturdy, full muscles further revealed his strong, powerful physique. Although he had six Guards accompanying him this time, they did not enter the inner chamber with him.

Li Honghan also had his Guards wait outside and invited Hu Xiaotian to enter.

Seeing that Huoge had arrived first, Li Honghan clasped his fists and smiled: "I have come late, making Your Highness wait; I am truly ashamed."

Huoge laughed and stood up. Following Han etiquette, he clasped his fists toward Li Honghan and said: "Brother Honghan, no need for such formality; I have just arrived as well." He then greeted Hu Xiaotian: "Brother, you too have come."

Hu Xiaotian called out "Elder Brother."

Only then did Li Honghan realize they were sworn brothers, and he laughed: "Turns out we're all one family."

Seeing the two get along so well, Hu Xiaotian already understood about seventy or eighty percent. Huoge and Li Honghan's collusion must have been going on for more than a day; perhaps they had been secretly communicating even before Huoge's mission, while the Dakang court, the Prince of Zhou, and I myself were kept in the dark. This shows the Li family's rebellion plot was not a hasty decision.

Li Honghan invited both to take their seats, and the waiter soon brought up the food and drink.

Faced with a table full of fine wine and dishes, Hu Xiaotian had no appetite at all; although the situation appeared harmonious on the surface, it actually concealed swords and blades. The fact of the Li family's rebellion had already placed him amidst drifting wind and rain. Setting aside thoughts of how the Li family treat him, if he were to go along with them, it would inevitably affect the entire Hu family; if he firmly refused and showed loyalty to the Dakang court, he might well provoke this future brother-in-law, who could very well draw his sword and kill him on the spot. The more likely outcome, however, is being placed under house arrest, with them using his life to threaten his parents far away in the capital.

Recalling Hu Buwei's paternal love as lofty as a mountain and his mother's meticulous care, Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt a pang of sorrow; no matter his experiences, blood ties are something he cannot sever, and he must devise every possible means to safeguard his family's interests and protect his parents.

Li Honghan personally poured the wine, raised his cup and said: "Brothers, having come from afar, I, as the elder brother, offer this modest cup to express my welcome."

Hu Xiaotian and Huoge raised their cups and drank them dry together with Li Honghan.

Li Honghan smiled and said: "Speaking of which, none of us are outsiders; Huoge is the fiancé of my second sister, Xiaotian is the fiancé of my fifth sister, and you two are sworn brothers—we are all one family."

One shocking piece of news followed another; Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, wondering if Huoge's trip wasn't originally to go to Kangdu to seek the princess's hand in marriage. How could he suddenly change his mind and ally by marriage with the Li family? This suggests his true purpose in this envoy mission was simply to come to Xichuan, while everyone else was kept in the dark. Hu Xiaotian cursed Huoge inwardly: "I thought you were sincerely becoming sworn brothers with me, old man, but it turns out you already knew our relationship—brothers-in-law!"

Huoge raised his cup and smiled at Hu Xiaotian: "Brother, the elder brother was compelled by circumstances at first and did not frankly tell you this; you won't blame me, will you?"

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "Where, where, how could I dare blame the elder brother? Actually, everyone should have their own secrets."

Huoge laughed: "So you're saying you also have something hidden from me?"

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing, "Conceal? Conceal your mother's head!" He tipped back his neck and drained the cup; at this moment silence speaks louder than words—you two are colluding in disgrace, clearly plotting against me; if I play along with you, I'll only suffer loss.

Li Honghan said: "Xiaotian, you may not understand the current situation."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Li, I usually muddle through life, deaf to outside affairs, and have never paid much attention to what happens in the world."

Li Honghan said: "Trouble has broken out in the capital."

Hu Xiaotian had actually been mentally prepared for this; if the capital hadn't erupted in turmoil, the Li family wouldn't have suddenly rebelled—could it be that the old emperor made a mistake in passing on the throne?

Indeed, as he had guessed, the Dakang Emperor Long Xuan'en just proclaimed to the world, deciding to depose Crown Prince Long Yelqing, establish the eldest prince Long Yelin as crown prince, and transfer the throne to Crown Prince Long Yelin, choosing himself to retire; Long Yelin has smoothly ascended the throne, honoring Long Xuan'en as Taishang Huang. His first act upon taking office was to have the former crown prince Long Yelqing put to death.

When Li Honghan spoke of Long Yelqing's killing, his eyes turned red, fury filling his chest; he slammed his fist on the table and said: "That foolish ruler is lawless, threatening the sovereign, plotting to usurp the throne; seeing that the state of Dakang is about to fall into the hands of villains, we, subjects of Dakang, how could we allow the realm to be occupied by petty scoundrels? To purge the ruler's side and establish the legitimate line is the duty of us Dakang ministers."…

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "Sounds nice, but it's still rebellion; the old emperor handing the throne to whichever son is his own family's affair, and in the end it never went to another surname—Dakang's realm will always belong to the Long clan. You Lis playing like this are trying to change Dakang's surname; if Li Tianheng establishes himself as king, you'd be a prince, your sister a princess—by that logic I'd become a prince consort, which wouldn't be a loss either. But Hu Xiaotian understands there's no such free lunch; the Li family originally allied with the Hu family not for anything else but to gain leverage from Father's position as Minister of Revenue; their carving out a kingdom only brings suffering to the old Hu family allied with them."

Will the present emperor perhaps hold this against the Hu family and order the execution of the whole clan? Even if Father manages to escape disaster, his post as Minister of Revenue will be hard to keep. Looking at this rebellion, the Li family are certainly not a household that values loyalty and filial piety; with the Hu family fallen from power, how could the Lis still value this in-law relationship? The marriage pact is surely nominal only.

Huoge said: "Brother Li is absolutely right; Long Yelin plotting to usurp the throne has aroused the indignation of both gods and men; such an unjust person becoming emperor, we of Shajia absolutely do not accept."

Hu Xiaotian silently sneered: "What business is it of yours, a Shajia person, who becomes emperor of Dakang? You're also putting on a show of righteous indignation; in relations between two states, non-interference in internal affairs comes first, yet your black hands stretch far enough."

Both of them looked at Hu Xiaotian, seemingly wanting to hear his opinion.

Hu Xiaotian cheerfully lifted his cup and said: "Actually, who becomes emperor doesn't matter; under heaven, long unity leads to division, long division leads to unity. Dakang has already passed down for over five hundred years since its founding; everything in this world has its fate, nothing is eternal, and dynasties are no exception. Without saying more, just from Qingyun I know how corrupt Dakang has become—old must go before new can come. In fact, as long as the common folk can live good lives, who sits on the throne is irrelevant." He did not clearly state his own position. (.)