Chapter 323

Hu Xiaotian said: "Prince Zhou is your full brother; he is still in Xichuan, his life or death unknown, he must care about you." Hu Xiaotian paused, then added: "And I!"

Long Xi Yue tightly closed her beautiful eyes, covered her cherry lips, with difficulty finally controlled her emotions, trembling voice said: "You should go!"

"I still have a sentence I haven't finished saying!"

"Speak!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since you lack the power to control your own fate, let me decide for you. I swear I will not let them marry you off to Da Yong; I will take you away, together we will leave this cage-like palace."

Long Xi Yue suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, her tear-filled eyes showing incredulous astonishment; Hu Xiaotian's words were not only extremely bold but also treasonous.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I came here just to tell you this: if you do not leave, I will not abandon you!"

Long Xi Yue stared blankly at Hu Xiaotian, her heart softened by his scorching gaze, a warmth she had never felt before enveloped her inner being. Yet reality pulled her back into this chilly atmosphere; she whispered: "We are mere passing acquaintances; it's best we each follow our own fate."

Hu Xiaotian said nothing more, rose and walked toward the door; behind him, Long Xi Yue extinguished the light, and only after hearing the door close did she slump weakly onto the chair.

Hu Xiaotian had just lain down in the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs when he heard a clamor outside; he hastily sat up, and outside came the urgent voices of Xiao Zhuo and Shi Xuedong: "Eunuch Hu, something serious has happened!"

Hu Xiaotian quickly put on his clothes, flung open the door, and saw the courtyard of the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs brightly lit; Li Yan of the Directorate of Imperial Attendants led more than ten eunuchs into the yard. Hu Xiaotian silently thought "oh no," assuming they had come for him.

Both Xiao Zhuo and Shi Xuedong turned pale with fright.

Hu Xiaotian took a deep breath, stepped forward slowly toward Li Yan, clasped his hands and said: "Lord Li, I don't know what urgent business brings you here at this late hour."

Although Li Yan came with over twenty people, his face still bore a genial smile as he said: "Sorry to disturb you, Eunuch Hu. The Zajia has come so late at the order of Commander Ji, specifically to request Eunuch Liu to come to the Directorate of Imperial Attendants."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize these people had come not for him but for Liu Yuzhang. Ji Feihua is utterly arrogant; Liu Yuzhang, though an old servant of the Emperor, he didn't even bother to come himself, instead sending his underlings to break into the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs in the dead of night, showing no regard for Liu Yuzhang, which is tantamount to showing no regard for the entire Bureau.

Although Hu Xiaotian was angry inside, his face gave nothing away; he still accompanied his smile with: "Lord Li, it's really too late tonight; Eunuch Liu's leg injury hasn't healed, and he's already asleep. Better wait until tomorrow when he wakes; I will relay the matter to him."

Li Yan chuckled: "That's Commander Ji's intention. I dare not defy his decision; today I must request Eunuch Liu to go."

Seeing this fellow unwilling to relent, Hu Xiaotian prepared to turn hostile, after all he is a member of the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs and Liu Yuzhang has always treated him well. He smiled: "Lord Li, this is the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs; bringing so many people here in the middle of the night seems improper."

Li Yan saw Hu Xiaotian still blocking his path; his smile vanished instantly, and he coldly said: "Listen up, Commander Ji requests Eunuch Liu to come to his residence for a meeting. Anyone who dares to obstruct will be killed without mercy!"

Hu Xiaotian also felt his anger ignited, and he snapped: "Lord Li, this is the imperial palace; you can actually say such things?"

Li Yan stepped forward, killing intent flickering in his eyes.

At that moment Liu Yuzhang's door was pulled open; Liu Yuzhang, leaning on a cane with one hand and assisted by a young eunuch, stepped out and snapped: "What's the noise? This is the inner court of the palace; you've caused such a commotion—aren't you afraid of disturbing the Emperor?"

Li Yan clasped his hands and said: "Eunuch Liu, Commander Ji requests you to come to the Directorate of Imperial Attendants."

Liu Yuzhang chuckled: "Just because of him, he thinks he's worthy?"

Li Yan said: "Commander Ji entrusted me to bring you something; you'll understand once you see it." He slowly walked up to Eunuch Liu, turned his back to the crowd, drew something from his sleeve; after Liu Yuzhang looked at it, his face drained of color, the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched, and he whispered: "Where is Ji Feihua now? The Zajia will go see him."

Although Hu Xiaotian couldn't see clearly what Li Yan showed Liu Yuzhang, from Liu Yuzhang's sudden change in demeanor it was certainly an important matter. Hu Xiaotian hurried over and urged: "Eunuch Liu, it's really too late; perhaps we should wait until tomorrow..."

Liu Yuzhang said: "You needn't meddle; the Zajia will go with Lord Li."

Hu Xiaotian volunteered: "I'll accompany you!"

Liu Yuzhang shook his head: "No one is allowed to follow me; this is the imperial palace, at the Son of Heaven's feet; the Zajia doesn't believe anyone would dare act lawlessly here!" He took a step with his cane; because he was nervous, the cane slipped and he nearly fell; Hu Xiaotian hurried forward to support his arm: "Eunuch Liu!"

Liu Yuzhang pressed his lips together, took Hu Xiaotian's hand, shoved a paper wad into his palm, then shook his hand firmly: "It's fine, don't worry!"

Li Yan waved his hand; a eunuch came from behind him, bowed, and lifted Liu Yuzhang onto his back.

Li Yan smiled at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Eunuch Hu, you needn't be so nervous; Commander Ji always acts fairly, Eunuch Liu is highly respected and virtuous; summoning him is merely to ask a few questions."

Watching the Directorate of Imperial Attendants' people lead Liu Yuzhang away, Hu Xiaotian silently thought "oh no." As soon as they left the gate, he immediately summoned Xiao Zhuo to his side, sending him to the Bureau of Food to find Zhang Fuchuan; although they usually had no contact, Hu Xiaotian knew Zhang Fuchuan surely belonged to Quan De'an's faction, and with his ability he might promptly inform Quan De'an; among eunuchs, only Quan De'an's strength could rival Ji Feihua's.

After giving those instructions, Hu Xiaotian hurried at once to the Reserve Excellence Palace. Although he knew many people in the palace, the only one who truly held some status and authority was this willful princess; he hoped she could help him once.

Hu Xiaotian had just left the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs when he saw Li Yan waiting outside with two people, evidently prepared for his attempt to go out seeking help.

Li Yan smiled: "Eunuch Hu, it's so late and you still want to go out?"

Hu Xiaotian silently warned himself: Ji Feihua's underlings are no good people; Wei Hualin tried to kill me on our first meeting, and this Li Yan is a smiling tiger, likely even more vicious inside. Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I just remembered I forgot to see Lord Li out, so I specially came out to see him off. Even if I lose something, I cannot lose propriety."

Li Yan said: "Commander Ji said that if Eunuch Hu is willing to see him out, please escort him all the way to the Directorate of Imperial Attendants."

Hu Xiaotian's scalp tightened; oh no, could Commander Ji have changed his mind, intending to do away with both me and Liu Yuzhang?

Liu Yuzhang leaned on his cane, silently staring at Ji Feihua, his voice hoarse: "Ji Feihua, if you have any business, come straight at me; don't involve my family."

Ji Feihua's scarlet cloak fluttered in the night wind like a banner, like a unfurled sail; his upright, straight body was the mast, his two eyes like spring waters gazing at the night sky, his back turned to Liu Yuzhang, he said softly: "I have given you chances before; alas, you don't know good from bad, daring to speak ill of me before the Emperor."

Liu Yuzhang said: "The Zajia's deeds are worthy before heaven and earth, worthy before the Emperor, worthy before my own conscience."

Ji Feihua chuckled; after his laughter faded, he abruptly turned, his scarlet cloak flaring like spinning fire behind him, his icy gaze like a blade slicing the void toward Liu Yuzhang: "You speak righteously and justly on the surface, yet behind the scenes you line your own pockets, harming the public to enrich yourself; you think you can hide it from my eyes?"

Liu Yuzhang said: "If one wants to add a crime, what lack of excuse is there?"

Ji Feihua flicked his right hand; a ledger whooshed toward Liu Yuzhang's chest; before Liu Yuzhang could react, the ledger struck his chest heavily, the thin ledger unleashing force comparable to a thousand-jin hammer, his chest erupted in pain, his frail body staggered, and with a puff he spat a mouthful of blood, collapsing heavily to the ground.

Ji Feihua stepped forward, pointing at the ledger fluttering in the night wind: "These years, relying on your control of the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs, how many benefits have you taken, how much silver have you collected; it's all recorded clearly here—do you admit it?"

Liu Yuzhang raised his sleeve to wipe the blood from his lips: "You slander me with blood; you tarnish my purity."

Ji Feihua coldly said: "You dare claim you haven't taken even a single tael of silver? All these years you've been secretly aiding your brothers; you think your covert actions escape notice? Wang Desheng is my man; you old fox, after discovering it, you silently had someone replace him without a word—where is he now? Is he already dead at your hands?"

Liu Yuzhang said: "Ji Feihua, you harbor wolfish ambitions; how could the Emperor believe a villain like you?"

Ji Feihua smiled: "Because my loyalty to the Emperor is evident to heaven!" He slowly approached Ji Feihua: "The ledger shows all the bribes Wang Desheng received during this period; he is your subordinate, so his faults are naturally yours; I originally didn't want to kill you, since you have served the Emperor well, but you old coot actually colluded with others to harm me."

Liu Yuzhang said: "Kill me? This is the imperial palace; without the Emperor's order you dare to kill me!"

Ji Feihua chuckled: "The Emperor probably already harbors the heart to have you sliced slowly; let me ask you: Eunuch Rong, acting on the Emperor's order to fetch that item for you—did you tamper with it?" The item he referred to was the Black Tiger Whip; originally Liu Yuzhang, using the method of substituting the beam for the pillar, handed an ordinary tiger whip to Rong Baoxing, while sending the true Black Tiger Whip to Hu Xiaotian. (To be continued~^~)