Chapter 290

Hu Xiaotian understood that his physiological reaction had already exposed his secret before Baobao; before him there were only two choices: one, kill Baobao to eliminate future trouble; two, make Baobao willingly keep his secret for him. If the former should be very easy, the latter is probably extremely difficult. The dagger pressed against Baobao's lovely skin, and for a moment he hesitated.

Baobao's starry eyes half-opened, her breath fragrant like orchids, she spoke softly: "Are you thinking of killing me to silence me?"

Ji Feihua

Baobao gazed at his smile, yet her heart turned cold; no matter what, she would never have imagined that Hu Xiaotian was actually a fake eunuch; the secrets hidden on this person were in no way inferior to her own, and now that she had learned his secret, this matter concerned his life and death; Hu Xiaotian, to keep this secret, would certainly not hesitate to kill her to silence her; Baobao now also had two choices: one, kill Hu Xiaotian; two, persuade him so that he believes she can be trusted. Baobao coquettishly said: "Can you bear to?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I can bear it!" The dagger moved forward a bit more, its sharp blade already piercing Baobao's tender skin; a thread of blood flowed along her skin, the red and white intertwining to create a shocking beauty.

Such a beauty, if she died under his blade, would indeed be a pity, but looks were important, life more so, especially since his secret not only concerned his own life and death but also the safety of his parents, relatives, and many others; thinking this, Hu Xiaotian steeled his heart.

Although their skins touched, there was not the slightest tender, lingering, bone-eroding sensation; what Baobao felt was a chilling killing intent. She whispered: "Many people know I came to find you. If I disappear, you will surely be unable to explain it."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Do you know there is something in this world called bone-dissolving water? As long as I drop a drop of it on your body, you should know what the result would be."

Baobao let out a faint sigh and said: "Are you really that ruthless? Even if you destroy my corpse and erase my traces, you still won't be able to hide it from everyone's eyes."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Getting through one day is a day; who would care about the whereabouts of a palace maid? Perhaps she secretly ran out of the palace, perhaps she eloped with a little eunuch, or perhaps she was thrown into a well by a jealous consort—such things are not uncommon."

Baobao blinked her beautiful eyes, ivy-like twining around Hu Xiaotian's thigh, she cooed: "If we elope, I am also willing to elope with you."

Heavenly Secret Bureau

Baobao spat and said: "You don't even know my birthdate and horoscope, yet you spout nonsense about incompatible horoscopes, Xiaotian, why don't we cooperate instead?" The situation forced her hand. She finally took the initiative to extend an olive branch to Hu Xiaotian; in fact, the initiative now lay completely in Hu Xiaotian's hands, and even she didn't know whether she could sway him, making him change his mind about silencing her.

Imperial Gardens Bureau

Baobao's heaving chest thrust forward slightly, pressing ever more firmly against Hu Xiaotian's chest, her seductive eyes like silk as she said: "I don't know what you want."

Hu Xiaotian had to admit that this woman possessed a strong attraction for him. However, he was not bewitched by her beauty, and he said softly: "Then let's be frank with each other. What is your relationship with Consort Lin? And why did you enter the palace?"

Baobao bit her cherry lips, discovering that although Hu Xiaotian was young, he was remarkably worldly, almost impervious to temptation; she had set aside a girl's pride and employed all her tricks, yet Hu Xiaotian remained unmoved—his willpower was extraordinarily strong. Baobao said: "Consort Lin does not know my identity. I infiltrated the palace to investigate a matter."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Even facing death, you show no sincerity, refusing to tell the truth. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

Baobao snapped: "You're not a worm in my stomach—how do you know I'm not telling the truth?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What exactly is your relationship with Consort Lin?" His gaze, sharp as a knife, pierced Baobao's eyes, as if trying to stab into her heart. Under his stare, her heart trembled involuntarily, her long black lashes drooping; after a moment she whispered: "Just kill me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Good!" He raised the dagger, poised to strike down.

Baobao added: "Wait, do you want to know the secret of this palace?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What trick are you up to now?"

Baobao said: "Every time I've come here, it's because I received word that the palace underground hides an astonishing treasure; if we can locate it, we could pacify the state."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "What does that have to do with me?"

Baobao said: "I am an agent of the Heavenly Secrets Bureau; Mr. Hong is my adoptive father. Even your Office of Imperial Supplies has Heavenly Secrets Bureau informants. If you kill me, my adoptive father will never forgive you, Hu Xiaotian—even if you don't care about your own life, don't you care about your parents' lives?"

Hu Xiaotian was struck where it hurt by her words; a flicker of hesitation crossed his gaze, which Baobao accurately seized upon. She whispered softly: "We're both forced to be in this palace against our will; why not set aside our hostility, cooperate, and perhaps there's still a chance of survival."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You won't utter a single truth—how can I trust you?"

Baobao bit her cherry lips and said: "Fine! Loosen your grip a bit!"

What scheme are you cooking up now?

Baobao, seeing he didn't believe her, blushed and said: "Look at my left waist..."

Hu Xiaotian thought for a moment, then remarked: "Saying the left waist is so complicated—isn't it just the buttocks?"

Baobao had already turned away; Hu Xiaotian, worried she might be deceiving him, still pressed the dagger against her back, his fingers hooking into her sash, touching the silk‑smooth, delicate skin of her waist. His mind involuntarily swayed; the more this happened, the more he reminded himself to stay cautious—who knew Baobao wasn't deliberately trying to seduce him, waiting for a moment when his heart was unsettled to strike back? His fingers, resting on her slender waist, lightly pulled downward, and the beautiful, graceful curves undulated before his eyes—yet he saw on her flawless ** a tattoo of a colorful butterfly poised to take flight.

Hu Xiaotian said: "A butterfly?"

Baobao, embarrassed and resentful, said: "This is the Heavenly Secrets Bureau's distinctive tattoo." Today, to preserve her life, in front of Hu Xiaotian she had essentially sacrificed her dignity, holding nothing back.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Isn't the Heavenly Secrets Bureau subordinate to the court?"

Baobao said: "If you've seen it clearly, let me go."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian withdraw his hand, though his gaze lingered on Baobao's stunning, dazzling curves. Baobao slowly turned her delicate form, and Hu Xiaotian's blade never left her vital throat. She sighed: "You should now believe I bear you no ill will."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Can a mere tattoo win my trust?"

Baobao, truly at a loss with him, said: "What else do you want?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tell me the main mission your adoptive father sent you here to accomplish."

Baobao said: "It's simply to find the treasure. The present emperor, Long Yelin, used deceitful means to coerce the Retired Emperor into abdicating, thereby becoming the Son of Heaven of Dakang. After inheriting the throne, his first act was to kill the Crown Prince, Long Yelqing. Such tyrannical conduct naturally provoked heaven's wrath and popular resentment; Dakang is in fact already on the brink of fragmentation. Li Tianheng of Xichuan has already raised troops and declared independence, and he is merely the first. Before long, Dakang will face a situation of being surrounded on all sides, so wise men have begun to plan for their own futures."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Your adoptive father must be the wise man you spoke of, but you alone infiltrated the palace, risking great danger; if the plot is exposed, I don't know whether your adoptive father can protect you."

Baobao, her spirits dimmed, said: "I won't hide it from you—I have a weakness in his hands. If I don't obey his orders, my fate will be utterly miserable."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you playing the pitiful card to gain sympathy?"

Baobao shook her head and said: "I sincerely want to cooperate with you. I don't know who sent you to infiltrate the court, but our goals should align. We are all being used, mere pawns in others' hands. Once the plot is exposed, we will be mercilessly discarded. In fact, the last time I saw you, I already had the intention to cooperate. The situation in this palace is far more complex and perilous than you imagine; only if we work together wholeheartedly might we possibly escape this formidable stronghold."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you want to cooperate with me, why have you repeatedly tried to assassinate me?"

Baobao said: "I was merely testing you; I certainly did not truly intend to assassinate you."

Hu Xiaotian moved the dagger away from her neck and stepped back. Baobao's heaving chest continued to rise and fall, obviously still shaken.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tell me what you know of the situation, and see if it can pique my interest." He took down a cloak hanging on the nearby wall and threw it to Baobao.

Baobao took it, draped it over her ragged delicate form—her present sorry state entirely thanks to Hu Xiaotian. She stepped forward, and her long, crystalline beautiful legs emerged from the cloak again, drawing Hu Xiaotian's gaze once more.

Baobao's cheeks flushed as she whispered: "After the new emperor ascended the throne, he kept away from the palace concubines; outwardly he neglected sleep and food for state affairs, but in reality it was due to an unknown secret."

What secret?

Baobao said: "Do you know who the emperor currently favors most?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. Although he had been in the palace for a while, he had never seen the newly enthroned emperor of Dakang, nor had anyone informed him of this matter. His post in the Office of Imperial Supplies largely amounted to the palace's logistical supply department, and he had no direct access to the inner life of the royal household.

Ji Feihua!

Hu Xiaotian's vision instantly filled with that of the Internal Supervision Directorate chief, whose appearance was even more alluring and seductive than a woman's.

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