Chapter 283

Liu Yuzhang said, "Old age! Just a sprained ankle and it's already fractured. We lot can't even take care of ourselves now, how could we look after the Emperor?" His words revealed deep dejection.

Quan De'an naturally understood his inner sorrow; seeing Liu Yuzhang's present state, he felt a grief like a rabbit's death fox's sorrow—Liu Yuzhang's today might be his tomorrow. Since Long Yelin ascended the throne, he has begun to obviously distance himself from this group of old-timers. This is not only because Zhou Ruiyuan and his fellow officials, before the Emperor, advise keeping palace eunuchs away from state affairs, but also because a younger generation is swiftly rising, and newcomers have unknowingly replaced these elders' positions.

Quan De'an patted Liu Yuzhang's hand and said softly, "Although we are old and our bodies are not what they used to be, when it comes to loyalty to the Emperor, no one can surpass us."

Liu Yuzhang's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Loyalty? Even if it's wholehearted, can the Emperor even see it?"

Quan De'an slowly rose, turning his gaze to Ji Feihua beside him and said, "Little Ji, when did the Imperial Gardens Bureau come under the Palace Eunuch Directorate's jurisdiction?" Looking around the palace inside and out, only he dared to address Ji Feihua in such a manner.

Ji Feihua smiled, "Eunuch Quan, please don't misunderstand; I brought people over mainly to check on Eunuch Liu's injury, and also to look for Wei Hualin along the way."

Quan De'an said, "Isn't Wei Hualin one of your Palace Eunuch Directorate? If you're looking for him, you should go to the Directorate, not come here."

Ji Feihua said, "Eunuch Quan, you don't know this, but yesterday afternoon Wei Hualin came here to visit Eunuch Liu, and after leaving, he vanished like a stone sunk in the sea—no trace of him since."

Liu Yuzhang snapped, "I've never even seen him—what do you mean by saying that? Do you really think I'm hiding him?"

Ji Feihua chuckled, "Eunuch Liu, no need to get upset; I'm just following orders. The higher-ups have already decided that Wei Hualin will succeed you in your post, and today is his first day in office."

Quan De'an said, "Wei Hualin shouldn't be here? On my way over just now, the Zajia saw him leaving the palace with a young eunuch, brushing past me; he looked flustered as if he had urgent business, so the Zajia didn't disturb him."

Ji Feihua looked at Quan De'an, half-believing, half-doubting; even if he suspected him, he couldn't say it outright, for Quan De'an was highly respected, his status and position far above his own—if he openly turned against him, he'd gain nothing. He was about to take his leave, but the situation was now clear: Quan De'an had spoken up in support of Liu Yuzhang. He simply couldn't force a search.

Liu Yuzhang said: "If you don't do guilty deeds, you need not fear ghosts knocking at the door. Xiaotian, just take them to search; Eunuch Quan happens to be here, let him serve as a witness, search inside and out thoroughly. If Wei Huailing is in my place, Zajia will go to the Emperor to apologize. If Wei Huailing is not in my place, Ji Feihua must kowtow and apologize to me!" Liu Yuzhang was already filled with anger. However, restrained by Ji Feihua's current influence, he had not erupted; now Eunuch Quan's arrival shifted the situation, and Liu Yuzhang, no ordinary man, saw that Eunuch Quan and Ji Feihua also had conflicts, so he did not hesitate to blow things up, and incidentally drag Eunuch Quan into trouble.

Eunuch Quan silently cursed, wondering if this old fool had addled brains; his earlier words were clearly meant to excuse him, and when had he ever seen any Wei Huailing? I stepped forward to protect Hu Xiaotian, not for you, Liu Yuzhang. The matter was already settled, yet you insist on expanding it—Wei Huailing missing? How could a perfectly fine person suddenly disappear? This affair is likely nine out of ten related to Hu Xiaotian; this brat already killed Wang Desheng, and it's not impossible he'd kill another. But given his current abilities, he probably lacks the power to kill Wei Huailing. He looked toward Hu Xiaotian, yet saw Hu Xiaotian's expression calm, without a trace of panic. He said respectfully: "Yes! Xiaotian will now take them there."

Seeing Hu Xiaotian so composed, Eunuch Quan instantly had an idea in mind; given this lad's intelligence and talent, he would likely leave no major loophole, especially since I had given him a bottle of bone-dissolving water; even if Wei Huailing died at his hands, by now it would have dissolved completely, leaving not a trace. He then nodded and said: "Alright, then Zajia will oversee a fair investigation; let's go check it out."

Ji Feihua, seeing Liu Yuzhang's attitude, understood that Wei Huailing was probably not here nine times out of ten; today he might well come to grief, but having come this far, he was already committed—search then search; what, should he fear these two old codgers?

Hu Xiaotian led Ji Feihua and Eunuch Quan's party, first going to the storehouse, then searching the wine cellar. Since they were searching, Ji Feihua had his men examine each wine barrel meticulously, without needing to break them open; he simply tapped the barrel lightly with his palm, and from the feedback could tell whether anything abnormal was hidden inside. When they reached the lowest level, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel a jolt of alarm, worrying that these eunuchs might smell blood in the air, and also worrying that last night, when Qiqi shot Wei Huailing, any steel needles might not have been cleaned up in time. Arriving at the spot where the fierce battle had taken place the previous night, this fellow looked around and saw a faint glint on one wine barrel—indeed, several Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needles had pierced the wooden barrel. Seeing Ji Feihua's men about to search there, Hu Xiaotian subtly signaled Eunuch Quan with a glance.

Although Eunuch Quan was aged, his eyes were extraordinarily sharp. He slowly extended his hand, gave a cold snort, and said: "It's just an ordinary wine cellar; why go to such trouble to search it?" As his words fell, his palm struck the barrel bearing the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needles, emitting a muffled "Boom!" The barrel shattered into pieces under his blow, and the sound immediately rang out—boom! boom! boom! boom!... the explosions continued without cease. Though his palm struck the barrel before him, the force traveled along the line of barrels, shattering every one; crimson wine spilled everywhere, filling the entire wine cellar with a rich wine aroma.

Ji Feihua's entourage stood frozen there, both embarrassed by Eunuch Quan's fury and shocked by his formidable palm technique.

Hu Xiaotian inwardly shouted with delight, yet put on a face of bitter distress: "Eunuch Quan, you… doing this… how am I to explain?"

Eunuch Quan flung his sleeves angrily: "Whatever the matter, Zajia will bear it; smash all the barrels in this cellar, and Zajia wants to see what secret lies within."

A twitch crossed Ji Feihua's lip, and his eyes suddenly flashed with a cold killing intent—yet the intent flickered and vanished, replaced by a bewitching smile as alluring as a woman's: "Eunuch Quan, why be angry? I have always served the state faithfully and do not wish to cause excessive destruction; this cellar holds so much wine, not something achieved in a day—if we destroy it in our hands, would that not be a pity?" Having spoken, he lightly pressed his palm against the barrel before him, silently, but after a pause, a deep, muffled explosion came from the far end of this row of wine barrels.

With a "Boom!", the barrel at the far end burst from inside out, crimson wine spraying everywhere, then from far to near, the barrels exploded one after another.

Hu Xiaotian stared, dumbstruck, unable to catch his breath; just now, when Eunuch Quan displayed that skill, he had been shocked beyond words—he never expected that Ji Feihua, whose appearance resembled a woman's, also possessed such tremendous strength, and seemingly even surpassed Eunuch Quan, which explains why Eunuch Quan came in person; otherwise, today's affair might not know how to end.

Crimson wine flowed everywhere, the strong aroma intoxicating enough to make one drunk.

Eunuch Quan and Ji Feihua stood two zhang apart, facing each other, each corner of their mouths curling into a smile that seemed warm but actually brimmed with killing intent.

Eunuch Quan slowly nodded and said: "Not bad, not bad!"

Ji Feihua smiled: "Thanks to Eunuch Quan's guidance; without his patronage, I would not be where I am today."

Hu Xiaotian understood: it turned out that Ji Feihua's astonishing, heaven-defying martial arts were entirely thanks to Eunuch Quan's teachings; now that his wings have grown strong, he dares to openly oppose Eunuch Quan—this old eunuch is truly raising a tiger to his own detriment. Hu Xiaotian thought of himself today: Eunuch Quan arranged for him to sneak into the palace; could it not be to nurture him as a tool to use against Ji Feihua?

Ji Feihua glanced around the wine cellar, his expression suddenly turning icy as frost, then turned and said: "Let's go!" He flung his sleeves and strode away.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Ah, you haven't finished searching yet!"

Ji Feihua paused at the stairway, slowly turned around, his captivating phoenix eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, his gaze like two arrows trying to pierce Hu Xiaotian's heart. Under his stare, Hu Xiaotian involuntarily felt a chill, and the teasing words he had prepared died unspoken.

A hint of alluring smile curled Ji Feihua's lip: "Hu Xiaotian, I remember you!" Having said that, he lifted his head and strode up the stairs.

Hu Xiaotian held a lantern, feeling a chill rise up his back, his palms slick with cold sweat.

Eunuch Quan walked over slowly, his deep eyes faintly revealing a hint of sorrow; Ji Feihua was indeed someone he had personally nurtured, yet now his wings are full, not only having escaped his control but also become his opposing force. Eunuch Quan's decision to retreat from the torrent is certainly related to Ji Feihua's growing power in the imperial palace.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I were you, I'd simply kill him!"

Eunuch Quan sighed, said nothing, and silently stepped onto the stairs; his disabled right leg felt especially heavy. Hu Xiaotian watched his faltering steps, then saw the ground awash with crimson wine, and suddenly realized: Eunuch Quan was not unwilling to eliminate Ji Feihua, but simply lacked the ability. Judging from just now, Ji Feihua's strike far surpassed Eunuch Quan's in shock value. Eunuch Quan is not only aged, but his right leg is also crippled; earlier he had transferred ten years of his own power to Hu Xiaotian—this loss and gain mean that the present Eunuch Quan is certainly no match for Ji Feihua.

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly followed; before leaving the wine cellar, Eunuch Quan whispered: "Attend to Lord Liu well; Zajia will handle the matter of the Imperial Gardens Bureau."

First, here's the first update—please vote for the monthly ticket! (To be continued…)