Chapter 314

Hu Xiaotian returned to the Si Yuan Bureau; Liu Yuzhang, who had gone to the Imperial Medical Clinic for a follow‑up, had already come back. Hearing that he had been summoned to the Internal Service Directorate, Liu Yuzhang was also quite anxious, preparing to go there himself to find someone. Seeing Hu Xiaotian return safe and sound, he felt relieved. He called Hu Xiaotian into the room and asked solicitously: "How is it? Did Ji Feihua give you trouble?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "No trouble, he just asked me a few things."

Liu Yuzhang did not press further, merely sighed and said, "It's good that you came back safely."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Eunuch Liu, don't you want to know what he said to me?"

Liu Yuzhang smiled faintly and said, "Nothing more than some sweet‑talk to win people over; when one scheme fails he makes another. You're so clever, of course he wants to recruit you to his side."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized that this kindly old man was not simple either; Liu Yuzhang was merely detached and unworldly, having long seen through the palace intrigues, but he simply did not wish to involve himself.

Liu Yuzhang said, "Once the Zajia has recovered from his injuries, I will resign."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Why must you leave?"

Liu Yuzhang said, "There are few peaceful days left in the palace; sooner or later Quan De'an and Ji Feihua will clash, and the Huangcheng will surely be thrown into bloody turmoil. The Zajia is old, and the Emperor no longer needs me to attend him. Rather than wait for someone to drive me out, I might as well leave now."

Hu Xiaotian remained silent; Liu Yuzhang's departure was not without fortune, for if he stayed in the palace, Ji Feihua would eventually move against him. Liu Yuzhang saw through worldly affairs; he did not wish to be caught between Quan De'an and Ji Feihua, torn either way.

Liu Yuzhang could choose to leave, but Hu Xiaotian had no choice; he could only continue struggling in the palace. Quan De'an and Ji Feihua are like a fierce tiger and a vicious wolf—dealing with them requires constant caution, or a moment's lapse could bring harm.

Liu Yuzhang, reading Hu Xiaotian's expression, sensed his inner conflict and said softly, "Sometimes, even if you don't want to choose, you must; in the midst of storms, there is no way to keep oneself untainted."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said respectfully, "Eunuch Liu, please rest; I'll go take a look."

Liu Yuzhang said meaningfully, "When walking, be sure to watch your step."

The wind rose; leaves swirled at Hu Xiaotian's feet, frost staining the red leaves. Deep autumn approached, winter not far off—one could see that the palace power struggle would only intensify. Offending either Quan De'an or Ji Feihua was something he could not afford.

From afar came Shi Xuedong's earnest voice: "Miss Baobao, you've arrived."

Hu Xiaotian looked up and saw Baobao in a red palace robe, walking over with graceful sway. Lately she had been coming far too often, always under the pretext of fetching yangmei wine, each time dragging him to the wine cellar, heedless of gossip—though he was a eunuch, rumors could still fly.

Baobao ignored Shi Xuedong, came to Hu Xiaotian's side, gave a slight bow, and said coyly, "Greetings, Eunuch Hu."

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Not good; I'm in a terrible mood today."

Baobao's smile blossomed like a flower as she said, "Then I won't keep you, Eunuch Hu—I'll just get the yangmei wine and leave."

Shi Xuedong listened on the side, thinking it strange that they always used the excuse of fetching yangmei wine to enter the cellar and get up to something; he wondered what a lone man and woman could possibly be doing in there.

Hu Xiaotian could only bring Baobao to the wine cellar, while Shi Xuedong had to stand guard at the door.

After entering the wine cellar and closing the door, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but wryly say, "Miss, you've been coming here every other day—don't you fear gossip?"

"Not afraid, you're a eunuch!" Baobao replied, her voice lacking conviction—this fellow isn't a eunuch at all; he's a fake.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although I am a eunuch, I can still get a woman pregnant—coming too close is still dangerous."

"Pah! You're shameless!" Baobao snapped angrily.

Hu Xiaotian said, "From now on, try to come here as little as possible."

"Don't forget we're partners."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Ji Feihua has already set his sights on this place; today he summoned me to ask about Wang Desheng, and he even admitted to my face that Wang Desheng is a pawn he buried here."

Baobao's eyes widened: "Really?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Why would I lie to you? He's grown suspicious of me; there are surely his spies inside the Si Yuan Bureau. Every time you come, you have to go into the cellar—others aren't fools or blind, they'll notice your every move. Exposing the secret passage isn't scary, but if they discover your involvement, they'll certainly not let you off."

Baobao said, "You're threatening me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't need to scare you; this underground passage holds no great secret. Since I promised to help you investigate, I will see it through. You don't need to keep coming here; if we both get exposed, neither of us will fare well."

Baobao also saw the sense in what Hu Xiaotian said; she finally nodded and said softly, "Get me some yangmei wine, and I'll leave now."

Seeing that Baobao no longer insisted on investigating herself, Hu Xiaotian inwardly relaxed, fetched the yangmei wine, and was about to leave when he heard the outer door being pounded with a thumping sound. Both glanced at each other, startled—had their plan been exposed so soon?

Hu Xiaotian stepped forward and opened the door, only to see Qiqi standing outside, while Shi Xuedong stood there with his head drooping, half his face still bearing a clear palm print—evidently the little princess had just slapped him hard, and he truly couldn't stop Qiqi's advance.

Qiqi's eyes roved up and down over Baobao as she sweetly asked, "A lone man and woman sharing a cellar—what are you two up to in there?"

Baobao certainly recognized this spoiled princess; she hurriedly knelt and said, "Servant Baobao didn't know the princess had come; I beg your forgiveness."

Qiqi said, "Then tell me what crime you've committed."

Baobao replied, "I am Baobao, a maid serving Consort Lin in the Lingyu Palace; because Her Ladyship likes yangmei wine, I was ordered to come ask Eunuch Hu for some."

Qiqi said, "So you came for the wine."

Baobao nodded, and Hu Xiaotian interjected to help her out: "Miss Baobao, take this jar of yangmei wine yourself; if you're late, the consort will blame you again."

Baobao grunted assent but dared not rise, since Qiqi had not yet spoken.

Qiqi's eyes swept over Baobao's face, clicking her tongue in admiration: "You're really quite pretty—have you ever seen my royal father?"

Baobao shook her head.

A naive, bright smile spread across Qiqi's innocent little face: "Shall I introduce you? If my royal father saw you, he would surely like you very much—perhaps he'd even take you into the palace."

Baobao felt a chill run through her—how could such a young princess be so vicious? Her words clearly meant to offer herself up. She trembled as she said, "What lowly station am I, to dare disturb the Son of Heaven?"

Qiqi said, "Status doesn't matter; Consort Lin's background isn't anything special either. To be frank, she's rather selfish—she won't let my royal father see such lovely palace maids around her."

Hu Xiaotian had long known Qiqi's vicious, spiteful nature; though young, her cruelty and scheming are rare indeed. Even he might not gain an advantage from her, and seeing her press Baobao relentlessly, refusing to relent, he began to worry for her.

Just as Baobao was trapped, Princess Anping Long Xi Yue arrived; Qiqi finally released her, smiling as she greeted her aunt: "Auntie, why did you only come now?"

Hu Xiaotian seized the moment to tell Baobao, "You have nothing to do here—go on ahead."

Princess Anping saw Baobao and exclaimed in surprise, "Baobao, you're here too!" As it turned out, she knew Baobao.

Baobao hastily bowed and said, "Your Highness, the Princess!"

Qiqi asked, "Auntie, do you know her?"

Seeing Baobao's frightened expression, Long Xi Yue guessed she had just been bullied by Qiqi, and said softly, "I've seen her at Consort Lin's." She gave Baobao a gentle smile: "Go on, give my regards to Consort Lin; when I have time I'll visit the Lingyu Palace."

Baobao felt a great weight lift; after bowing to each of them in turn, she finally left.

After Baobao departed, Long Xi Yue's captivating beautiful eyes flicked toward Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said respectfully, "I, Hu Xiaotian, pay my respects to Princess Anping."

Qiqi said, "Hu Xiaotian, what were you and that palace maid doing hiding in the wine cellar just now?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Just fetching the wine."

Qiqi gave a cold snort, she swept past Hu Xiaotian and strode into the wine cellar; Hu Xiaotian dared not stop her, could only follow behind her, and Long Xi Yue also followed them inside. Seeing this scene, the others all stayed outside honestly, no one dared to follow in to join the fun.

Qiqi walked so fast that she quickly left Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue far behind; Hu Xiaotian held up a lantern to light Long Xi Yue's way, and said with concern, 'Princess, watch your step.'

Long Xi Yue whispered, 'Is this place connected to Zilan Palace?'

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; he suddenly understood Long Xi Yue's true purpose in coming to the Si Yuan Bureau. Although she usually rarely shows it, she is beautiful outside and wise within, her inner brilliance shines. With her intelligence, deducing that there is a secret passage connecting the well beneath Zilan Palace to the Si Yuan Bureau is not difficult. There was no need for Hu Xiaotian to conceal anything from Long Xi Yue; he silently nodded.

The two of them followed down to the lowest level; Qiqi held a lantern and searched around, constantly sniffing—such a pretty little girl, there's nothing better she could pretend to be, yet she insists on acting like a hunting dog.

Long Xi Yue glanced around the wine cellar and said, 'There's nothing to see, Qiqi; let's just go back.'

Qiqi said, 'No rush, I want to look for any evidence. Auntie, do you feel a strange smell here?'

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