Chapter 298

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Princess, please give the topic."

Princess Anping walked a few steps forward, her beautiful eyes fixed on the bright moon in the night sky, saying: "The moon is full in heaven, half on earth, month after month the full moon meets the half."

Hu Xiaotian answered without thinking: "Tonight is year's end, tomorrow is year's start, year after year the end meets the start." To a couplet enthusiast, this kind of couplet is mere child's play.

Princess Anping's beautiful eyes showed approval, and she said again: "One night five watches, half the night half of the five watches."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Three autumns, eighth month; Mid-Autumn, the eighth month's middle."

Princess Anping smiled: "Everyone says you're skilled at couplets, and indeed your reputation is not undeserved."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How did the princess come to know this?"

Princess Anping smiled alluringly and said: "You needn't ask; I just know." One smile bewitches a hundred, (Top Novel Mobile Version) her lovely smile made Hu Xiaotian momentarily stunned, he whispered softly: "Little Tian dares to ask, may I know the princess's name?" Having known the princess for so long, he still didn't know her name.

Princess Anping said: "If you can answer this couplet, I will tell you."

Hu Xiaotian made a deep bow: "Princess, please give the topic! Xiaotian listens respectfully." Flirting in ancient times is troublesome—watching movies, giving flowers, karaoke and the like are useless; the trend is composing poetry and couplets, that's high-class, that's got style. Thanks to Hu Xiaotian having studied these things before, mastering an extra field always comes in handy.

Princess Anping gazed at Hu Xiaotian with a smiling face and said: "My upper couplet is: the sun in the east, the moon in the west, heaven forms the bright character."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said: "Princess, listen well; my lower couplet is: the son on the right, the daughter on the left, the world matches good people."

Princess Anping's smile blossomed like a flower. She nodded and said: "Indeed a good match; my name is Xi Yue." Long Xi Yue is her real name.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Highness has posed so many couplets to test me; why don't I pose an upper couplet for you to try?"

Princess Anping smiled: "I don't have your talent, but I can give it a try."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The sun and moon, two wheels, are the eyes of heaven and earth."

"Reading ten thousand volumes, a woman's heart!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded; all day people talk about talented scholars and beauties. This is the real-life version of a talented scholar and beauty.

Princess Anping then sighed softly and said: "What use is reading ten thousand volumes? Even if one reads many books, one cannot master one's own fate."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If a woman lacks the power to change her own fate, then only one method remains."

Long Xi Yue gazed at him curiously, not knowing what lofty opinion he had.

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed and said: "Nothing special, just find a good man to marry and let him help change her fate—haven't you heard 'marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog; marry a monkey and roam the mountains'?"

Long Xi Yue snapped: "Just nonsense." Yet she also felt it made some sense, and couldn't help laughing.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Today we were chased until we ran all over the mountains."

That remark made Long Xi Yue's pretty face flush red; she thought, "This little eunuch has a lot of nerve—this sentence clearly hints at something about me." Yet she didn't blame Hu Xiaotian for disrespect, and softly said: "If we weren't being chased all over the mountains, we wouldn't see such a beautiful night." Although they were in the wild mountains, having endured life-and-death trials, recalling it now felt far more interesting than the lifeless palace. Today's experience proved extraordinarily rich and colorful.

They continued forward, fireflies speckled and twined around them, accompanying them all the way. Moonlight filtered through gaps in the tree shade, pouring down like gauze drawn in the forest; the river under night had turned black, its current still rushing, where there were drops and turns it threw up great sheets of white spray. From afar it looked as white as snow, a thin layer of light mist hovered above the water; mountain winds blew, the mist shifting shape. Some mist was blown to the banks, covering their feet, making them seem to float among the clouds.

A bold thought suddenly arose in Long Xi Yue's heart: to spend a lifetime here would not be lacking as an immortal's life. Thinking this, her beautiful eyes involuntarily turned to the person beside her, wondering why she had such a thought; if she were to stay alone, she surely would not dare—this idea exists entirely because Hu Xiaotian is by her side.

At that moment a shout came from afar: "Lord Hu... Princess..." Though distant, Hu Xiaotian heard it clearly. Worried of deceit, the two did not answer, until the sound grew nearer and they saw more than ten torches appear in the valley. Only then did they cautiously approach to investigate, and seeing the leader was Fan Zongxi, junior supervisor of the Imperial Horse Directorate, did they dare to show themselves and respond.

Fan Zongxi and his men had searched everywhere, finally finding this valley; although they suspected the two had fallen into the valley, they could not enter, so they fetched a long rope and then felt their way down into the valley's bottom to search.

Seeing Princess Anping unharmed, Fan Zongxi felt the stone in his heart drop; a group hurriedly knelt before Long Xi Yue: "Subordinates failed in protection, disturbed the princess; we beg your pardon."

Long Xi Yue calmly said: "It's not your fault, we'll talk later." As they were about to leave, she unconsciously glanced toward the grove where they had hidden, and a hint of reluctance arose in her heart.

The valley had no exit; to leave they must return the way they came. Long Xi Yue, a frail woman, clearly could not climb from the bottom to the cliff top; Fan Zongxi sent men to find a basket, but Hu Xiaotian said it needn't be so troublesome, had Long Xi Yue lie on his back, found rope, tightly bound the two together, and carried Long Xi Yue out of the valley.

Long Xi Yue lay on Hu Xiaotian's back, as if aboard a rocking little boat, gazing at his profile; the corner of her mouth curled with a knowing smile.

Hu Xiaotian climbed halfway, then suddenly asked: "Are you afraid?"

Long Xi Yue shook her head, whispering: "Not afraid!" She understood deep down that it was Hu Xiaotian who gave her this unprecedented sense of steadiness and warmth. After a moment of silence, she whispered: "If I ever face danger in the future, will you still save me?"

Hu Xiaotian continued climbing without immediately answering her; Long Xi Yue reached out, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Hu Xiaotian said: "At any time, any place, I will go!" As he spoke, he had already reached the summit, and two eunuchs above pulled them up together.

Although Hu Xiaotian was strong, after carrying a person up from the cliff base his stamina was considerably drained; he set Long Xi Yue down, sat where he was, and gasped heavily. Before he could recover, a heavy kick struck his buttocks; though he didn't turn, he knew who had kicked him—most likely the spoiled princess Qiqi.

As expected, Qiqi stood behind him with hands on hips, glaring angrily, ready to accuse: "Little whiskers, how did you lure my aunt into the valley below? Don't you know how worried I was?"

Before Hu Xiaotian could speak, Long Xi Yue went over, pulled Qiqi aside, and quietly explained things to Hu Xiaotian.

Although Hu Xiaotian had been kicked for no reason, he wasn't angry; given his status he had no right to be angry, and given his age it wasn't worth quarreling with a little girl.

Fan Zongxi climbed up afterward, came to Hu Xiaotian's side and extended his hand; Hu Xiaotian used his help to rise from the ground, the party left the valley, and Fan Zongxi deliberately stayed behind Hu Xiaotian, lowering his voice: "What exactly happened?"

Hu Xiaotian recounted the ambush after entering the valley mouth; Fan Zongxi was shocked and lowered his voice: "Can you identify the attackers' identity and origin?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "They all had their faces covered; the leader wore a bronze mask and armor, and indeed he could extend a pair of metal wings from his back to glide through the air."

Fan Zongxi's face grew grave, he lowered his voice: "Lord Hu, this is no trivial matter; you must not spread it abroad, lest panic arise."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I certainly won't speak of it; but Princess Anping's side still needs you, Lord Fan, to say hello."

On foot they arrived at the valley mouth, where stable hands were already waiting; everyone mounted their horses, and Hu Xiaotian only then remembered his own big-eared ugly horse, looked around but couldn't find it, feeling a bit disappointed—though the gray horse was ugly in appearance, from its past performance it was truly a fine steed.

Along the way they met another search party led by the Third Prince Long Tingzhen; seeing Princess Anping safe, everyone relaxed.

Since Fan Zongxi had spoken first, Hu Xiaotian saw no need to explain and followed the party back to the horse farm.

Everything settled, it was already the third watch; they camped that night at Red Horse Farm. Hu Xiaotian changed into the clean clothes they provided, ate a late snack, didn't sleep right away, and walked out of the tent alone. The sky had completely cleared, the round moon hung high, bathing the whole farm in moonlight like daytime. Looking afar, a small black dot raced toward him; up close it was that long-eared gray horse. Hu Xiaotian felt both surprise and joy, waving at it. The gray horse slowed its steps and came to his side; Hu Xiaotian reached out and affectionately rubbed its ears, laughing: "Little Gray, I didn't expect you to come back on your own. Truly lacking in loyalty—you abandoned me when danger struck."

The gray horse let out a loud snort, lowered its head, and nuzzled affectionately against Hu Xiaotian's waist.

Behind them came Fan Zongxi's voice: "If you like it, I'll give you this horse."

Needless to say, the OD alliance also lost two honors; thanks for continued support.

November updates end here; the next update will be in the early morning. When this chapter was updated, it had already been hit by two alliance bursts. Knowing you all have done your best, after several hours, please check your monthly tickets; hope we still have a chance to turn things around, even if just one step forward! (To be continued...)