Chapter 250: [Such Conditions] (Part I)

Hu Xiaotian discovered that Cheng'en Manor had a place unlike any other; entering the courtyard, the walls from outer to inner kept getting higher. Thus the further he went in, the stronger the sense of oppression from the buildings. The little overseer stopped upon entering the Dao Sect, pointed ahead at the two-story pavilion, and said: "It's inside there, sir—go in yourself."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, looked up at the pavilion. Although only two stories, each floor was very high, equivalent to four stories of a typical tower. The windows were small, the stairs were outside, and a lantern hung at the stair entrance. The lantern swayed in the wind; its orange light did not add warmth to the clear, cold night, but instead made the surrounding environment feel strangely odd.

The rooms on the first floor were pitch black, apparently empty. Hu Xiaotian came to the stairs and heard a thin, sharp voice from above say: "Look up!"

Hu Xiaotian raised his head but saw no silhouette; yet the voice clearly came from the old overseer Ande Quan. He went up the stairs, which were steep and narrow. Hu Xiaotian disliked the layout of Cheng'en Manor; from the moment he entered the main gate, the oppressive atmosphere grew thicker.

Going up to the second floor, he saw a thin-backed figure standing on the north side of the observation platform, gazing alone at something. He wore an ordinary gray robe, his salt-and-white hair disheveled, lifted by the night wind; his whole presence exuded an eerie aura. Hu Xiaotian stopped about a zhang away and whispered: "Master An!"

The old man grunted, not turning. He habitually curled his left hand into an orchid finger; the rising moon's cold light highlighted his hands, which resembled bird talons, as his sharp fingertips lightly tapped the battlements. He greeted calmly: "You've come."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've come."

"Your life is surprisingly tough!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Thanks to the gift you gave me, otherwise I wouldn't be alive now."

Ande Quan let out a sinister chuckle, shifted his right leg. The metal prosthetic leg hit the ground with a clang, then he slowly turned. His deep eyes indifferently surveyed Hu Xiaotian, gazing at this completely unfamiliar face; a hint of an inscrutable smile curled his lips: "This mask is truly exquisite, having reached the Zajia. Don't you dare show your true face?"

Hu Xiaotian pressed his lips, realizing there was no need to conceal his identity any longer. He turned his face and lifted the mask. When he faced Ande Quan again, he had restored his true appearance.

Ande Quan said: "It wasn't I who saved you; this mask helped you escape the predicament." He clasped his hands behind his back, his expression devoid of any friendliness. Hu Xiaotian bowed deeply with clasped fists, then produced the Ebony Token from his bosom and presented it respectfully with both hands. Ande Quan took the token, rubbed it in his hand, and asked: "You came to see me because you want me to save your life?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I hope you will show mercy, sir."

Ande Quan said: "Let's just walk around." He walked slowly toward the stairwell, and Hu Xiaotian followed respectfully behind.

Ande Quan introduced: "You are in the Hall of Asking Heaven; it has two floors—overseers and guards live on the second floor, while the master resides on the first." Dragging a lame leg, he descended slowly. Hu Xiaotian wanted to reach out to help him, but felt Ande Quan tonight was not easy to approach, so he gave up the idea and simply followed behind faithfully.

Going down the stairs, Ande Quan gestured for Hu Xiaotian to pick up the lantern hanging in the corridor, pointed to the small door on the first floor, walked over slowly, and pushed it open. He took the lantern from Hu Xiaotian's hand and stepped inside.

It was a square room, yet there were no windows; a white silk hung from the central beam, and an overturned stool stood on the floor.

Ande Quan approached the stool and whispered: "This is where the emperor hanged himself."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, felt a sudden chill rise from his spine for no reason. The emperor was the former Long Yelinq; indeed he died in Cheng'en Manor, yet it was unknown why, after so long, the scene of his suicide was still preserved.

Ande Quan said: "The present emperor was removed from his position by the retired emperor and has lived here for two years. When you entered Lockcloud Lane you should have noticed: there is not a hint of green; Cheng'en Manor has no trees, no grass, no flowers; the few large trees that once existed have long died. Here you see no color, hear no sound. Even if you are of imperial lineage, once you come here you can spend most of your time confined in this dark, empty room, keeping company with loneliness. Though each day there is a moment when you can see the sky, the more you see it, the more you long for freedom, and that longing torments your heart—until you fall into despair and go mad. The emperor despaired and hanged himself after seven days here, while His Majesty endured this environment's solitude for a full two years—how strong his mind must be."

Hu Xiaotian also had to admit that if he, who loves freedom, were kept in such a place, he would likely go mad in less than seven days.

Ande Quan said: "Although there is only the Dao Sect, at all times several experts are assigned to patrol and guard; if you had come before daylight, you might still have been fortunate to witness that scene, but His Majesty has ordered them withdrawn. Now, besides the Zajia, Cheng'en Manor has only two little overseers." Ande Quan stopped, lifted the lantern, and illuminated a blood-drawn map on the wall.

The old overseer said: "This map was drawn by His Majesty here, bit by bit, after he bit his finger." He walked a few steps forward; the wall was covered with dense writing. By the lantern's light Hu Xiaotian saw that it was a list of names, and he found his father's name among them.

The old overseer smiled narrowly: "Happiness lets a person live out a lifetime in ease, but in hardship and desperation, only hatred can sustain a person's life. Have you found your father's name?"

Hu Xiaotian finally understood Ande Quan's true purpose in bringing him here: the names written in blood on the wall are steeped in curses and hatred; the new ruler, Long Yelin, even in his darkest hour has not forgotten the deep-seated hatred in his heart, and Hu Buwei is among them.

Hu Xiaotian slowly knelt down; his nature was proud, and he would not kneel before an old overseer unless he had no other choice.

Ande Quan did not look at him, but turned away, still staring at the characters on the wall: "This Ebony Token was not given by me; it was entrusted to me by the Little Princess to pass on to you. She is a grateful girl who repays kindness, and she has ordered the Zajia to preserve your life at all costs. In fact you could remain in Xichuan, live incognito for a lifetime—why must you return to the capital?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, you already knew the Li clan would rebel when you were at Azure Cloud?"

Ande Quan said: "Li Tianheng has always supported the emperor; His Majesty inherited the great mandate, so he could not possibly accept it—rebellion is inevitable."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I thought you originally went to Azure Cloud to protect Prince Zhou."

Ande Quan chuckled: "Prince Zhou is just a child; frankly he's not even half as sharp as you—otherwise why would Li Tianheng trap him while you could leisurely escape from Xichuan?" He lowered his eyes, gazing steadily at Hu Xiaotian, and said: "Li Tianheng is your future father-in-law; in fact staying by his side would be far more secure—why risk your life to leave Xichuan?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What is the purpose of the Hu-Li marriage alliance? You know better than I; if my father could have foreseen Li Tianheng's rebellion, he would never have arranged this match for me."

Ande Quan said: "What do you seek by kneeling before me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please help me, sir! My father knew nothing of Li Tianheng's plot to rebel; I hope you will clarify this before His Majesty and clear our Hu family's name."

"Innocent?" Ande Quan gave a hollow laugh.

Come, he shook his head and said: "Your father himself wouldn't dare say those two words 'innocent'; look at all the civil officials—who among them deserves the word 'innocent'?" His eyes blazed as he took a step toward Hu Xiaotian and said: "The Little Princess asked me to save your life, but not to save your entire Hu family; even if the Zajia wanted to, I lack the power. Your father once joined a band of traitors to slander loyal officials; back then he was full of vigor and arrogance—did he ever consider what is heavenly principle and what is justice? Now their fate is merely just deserts."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Right and wrong, merit and fault are not for you to judge."

Ande Quan was suddenly taken aback by his retort, frowned, and said: "The Zajia cannot judge? Then who can?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please forgive my frankness; you think my father is a traitor merely because you stand from the former emperor's standpoint—victors become kings, losers become bandits. Now that the former emperor has ascended the throne, if it were the emperor who had ascended, another group would likely be the unfortunate ones." This group naturally includes Ande Quan.

A faint smile touched Ande Quan's lips: "Victors become kings, losers become bandits—this has always been the way."

Hu Xiaotian said: "A person's right and wrong, merit and fault must be judged by history."

Ande Quan shook his head: "You forget that history is written by people, and some truths remain forever hidden." He reached out, patted Hu Xiaotian's shoulder to signal him to rise, and said: "I owe you a favor for saving the Little Princess; I should repay it, but while the Zajia believes it can protect your life, your father has offended His Majesty, who wants him dead—how could I, a mere servant, keep him safe?"

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, felt a wave of disappointment; he knew what Ande Quan said was true: Long Yelin had bitten his finger and written these names on the wall, surely having come to hate his father to the bone, eager to exterminate him swiftly. Although he had saved the Little Princess Qiqi, if he thought that this single merit could persuade the emperor to pardon his whole family, it was unlikely.

Looking at Medical Unification to Long Wind.