Chapter 312

Zhou Mo's group arrived in the capital, and soon they heard that Hu Xiaotian, in order to save the Hu clan, had voluntarily entered the palace to take his father's punishment. Although they wanted to find Hu Xiaotian, the palace defenses were tight and not a place they could just enter, so they thought of Murong Feiyan. After searching, they found her residence. Zhou Mo chose to climb over the wall to avoid drawing attention, but he did not expect that just as he entered, Hu Xiaotian followed behind. At first seeing Hu Xiaotian's skill, Zhou Mo was startled; in his impression Hu Xiaotian knew no martial arts, yet Hu Xiaotian's recent moves showed solid foundation. Zhou Mo could not believe one could improve so fast in such a short time unless he had taken some elixir or Hu Xiaotian had hidden his ability from the start.

The two brothers were delighted to see each other; they had so much to say that martial arts seemed hardly worth mentioning. Upon hearing that Zhou Mo and his brothers had come, Hu Xiaotian exclaimed delightedly, "Second Brother, you're here too?"

Zhou Mo nodded and said, "We're here! For now we're staying at the Jinghong Inn in the capital. Second Brother's eyes are inconvenient, and with so many people coming and going it would easily attract attention, so I came alone."

At that moment, the sound of a horse's neigh came from outside the door. Hu Xiaotian and Zhou Mo glanced at each other, then looked out through the crack in the door, only to see a youth appear outside—it was Gao Yuan. His appearance startled the gray horse tied at the door, causing it to neigh. long, wind,

Gao Yuan looked at that ugly horse, also feeling a bit curious; at first glance he couldn't tell whether it was a mule or a horse. He warily scanned the surroundings, seeing no owner of the horse, so he unlocked the door and pushed it open. Just then he saw two people already in the courtyard—Hu Xiaotian, whom he certainly knew, and Zhou Mo, whom he had never met; but since Zhou Mo was with Hu Xiaotian, he must be one of their own. Gao Yuan smiled and said, "Big Brother Hu, I thought you weren't coming."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Where is Miss Murong?"

Gao Yuan said, "I came here for this very reason. Elder Sister Murong was summoned this morning by the Shen Ce Directorate; they said there was urgent business to handle. Worried she wouldn't make it in time, she asked me to come now and tell you not to wait long."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and introduced Zhou Mo to Gao Yuan: "Little Yuan, this is the sworn elder brother I told you about, Zhou Mo."

Gao Yuan quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Zhou Mo. Zhou Mo hurried forward and pulled him up, saying, "Little brother, there's no need for such great ceremony."

Gao Yuan said, "Big Brother Hu is my benefactor, and you, as his sworn elder brother, are also my benefactor."

Zhou Mo chuckled, "We're all family; just call me Big Brother Zhou." He then said to Hu Xiaotian, "Third Brother, let's go to the Jinghong Inn together—your second brother will be overjoyed to see you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I also very much want to see my second brother, but today I must return to report my duties; I can't linger outside the palace too long."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mo suddenly recalled that Hu Xiaotian had been made a eunuch. Looking at Hu Xiaotian's handsome face, he couldn't help but feel pity. This brother truly had a miserable fate—becoming a eunuch meant losing even the most basic dignity of a man; nothing in the world is more painful. Zhou Mo, who is not good with words, didn't know how to comfort him for a moment. He silently thought, it's my fault as the elder brother for not arriving in time when my brother was in trouble; from now on I will do everything I can to look after him.

After leaving, Hu Xiaotian came to his gray horse, gently patted its head, and said to Gao Yuan, "Little Yuan, this horse is my mount, Little Gray. Take it back and look after it well; give it some exercise daily—it only knows how to eat, and it's about to become obese."

Hu Xiaotian untied the reins, grabbed the gray horse's ears, and said to it, "Little Gray, little gray, from now on I'm entrusting you to my brothers; you must behave."

The gray horse let out a loud snort, and its big ears drooped down.

Zhou Mo said, "This horse looks strange, but judging from its bones and muscles, its legs should be strong." He had his own set of skills in judging horses.

Hu Xiaotian said, "As long as it can run, it's just a bit odd-looking."

Gao Yuan said, "I've never seen this breed before; at first I thought it was a mule."

The three laughed together. Hu Xiaotian clasped his hands toward Zhou Mo and said, "Big Brother Zhou, I'm off now. Tell my second brother that I'll come to the Jinghong Inn where you're staying the day after tomorrow at the si hour (around 9–11 a. m.) to find you."

Zhou Mo nodded heavily and said, "Go ahead. If there's anything to say, we'll talk when we meet as brothers."

Hu Xiaotian's gaze turned back to Gao Yuan.

Gao Yuan said, "Big Brother Hu, rest assured—I just visited your uncle and aunt yesterday; they're in good health, and your uncle asked me to bring you a letter." He produced a letter and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian unfolded it and saw only one line: "When heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person." No greeting, no sentiment—just that simple sentence. Yet the letter's special feature is that it was written in fresh blood, truly a blood‑stained missive. At first glance it seems to remind him to endure, but upon closer reading it also appears to contain strong resentment—could it be that his father, because of the Hu family's recent misfortune, has developed a deep grudge against the Dakang dynasty?

Gao Yuan said, "Your uncle told you to stay at ease in your palace duties and look after your health—that's the most important. He also told you not to visit his residence, for the court is still watching them."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and bade farewell to the two, then left.

Returning to the Imperial Gardens Bureau, he saw two eunuchs waiting at the gate; one looked somewhat familiar. After a moment he realized it was the one who had accompanied Ji Feihua a few days earlier to search the place—this man was Li Yan, one of Ji Feihua's capable assistants, currently working in the Directorate of Eunuchs.

Seeing them there, Hu Xiaotian silently thought, "Oh no—could they have come again to investigate Wei Hualin?"

Li Yan's expression today was quite amiable, in stark contrast to his coldness when he came before. Seeing Hu Xiaotian appear, he hurried forward from afar, clasped his hands and greeted, "Lord Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian felt somewhat startled by the favor—he was only a low‑ranking little eunuch, while Li Yan was a junior supervisor of the Directorate of Eunuchs, to whom he normally need not be polite. He quickly stepped forward and returned the salute: "I have seen you, Lord Li; may I ask what brings you here today?"

Li Yan's fair face bore a smile like a spring breeze. "It's not me seeking you," he said, "but Deputy Commander Ji who wants to see you. I've come specially to invite Lord Hu over."

Upon hearing he was to go to the Directorate of Eunuchs, Hu Xiaotian felt a chill. Although Li Yan was being very courteous and even used the word "please," Hu Xiaotian now knew something about Ji Feihua—this powerful figure in the palace—why would he voluntarily want to see a lowly little eunuch like himself? Hu Xiaotian thought it was not a good thing; nine out of ten it wasn't good. Last time Empress Jian summoned him, he could still find Qiqi to help him out; now who could he turn to for support? Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I've just returned from shopping outside the palace; I need to report to Eunuch Liu. Why don't you wait here a moment, Lord Li?"

Li Yan laughed, "I think Lord Hu doesn't need to go."

Hu Xiaotian froze, not understanding what he meant.

Li Yan said, "I just went to visit Eunuch Liu and found out he went to the Imperial Hospital for a follow‑up today."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in disbelief, "How? His leg injury hasn't healed yet?"

Li Yan said, "Lord Hu, do you not trust the Zajia?" He shifted slightly to the side; Hu Xiaotian hurried to Eunuch Liu's room, but Liu Yuzhang was indeed not there. Hu Xiaotian's anxiety deepened—now the trouble was great. If Ji Feihua really wanted to deal with him, he feared he would surely not escape. The gap in status and strength between them was vast, day by day, and he had no power to resist.

Li Yan noticed Hu Xiaotian's hesitation and smiled, "Lord Hu, there's no need to overthink; the Deputy Commander simply wants to meet you to catch up on old times."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; with things as they are, he could only steel himself and face the difficulty, hoping Ji Feihua bore no murderous intent toward him.

Following Li Yan to the Directorate of Eunuchs—a small compound in the northwest corner of the palace, quite ordinary within the palace grounds. In truth, eunuchs are merely servants of the palace; no matter their rank, they cannot escape this fact.

Entering the front courtyard of the Directorate of Eunuchs, he found it inferior to the Imperial Gardens Bureau, but it was swept spotless. Along the central white marble corridor into the inner courtyard, Li Yan pointed to the central room and said, "Go in; the Deputy Commander is waiting inside for you."

Hu Xiaotian answered, stepped slowly to the door, took a deep breath, steadied his mood, and then said respectfully, "Lord Hu Xiaotian respectfully requests an audience with Lord Ji."

From inside came a slow, drawling voice: "Come in."

After receiving permission, Hu Xiaotian slowly entered. The room was tastefully furnished; Ji Feihua was at the window desk painting something, while a fourteen‑ or fifteen‑year‑old little eunuch beside him was grinding ink. Sunlight streamed in from a side window, bathing Ji Feihua in a golden halo. Even from a man's perspective, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but admire Ji Feihua's beauty—this fellow looked like a Thai ladyboy, with exquisite features and skin fairer than snow; if not for his gruff, guttural voice, one would truly take him for a nation‑toppling beauty.

No wonder this fellow could captivate the current emperor, making Long Yelin, that pervert who dislikes finery and loves armor, lose himself.

Ji Feihua lifted his clear eyes and glanced at Hu Xiaotian's face, then told the little eunuch beside him, "You may withdraw first."

The little eunuch withdrew with repeated assent.

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