Chapter 333

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Then you just keep an eye out for me."

An angry voice came from afar: Xiao Zhuozi shouted, "What are you doing here?"

Hu Xiaotian looked toward the sound and saw Wang Decai swaggering in with two eunuchs. Xiao Dengzi, seeing him, was also fuming—his broken leg was due to this man's scheming. Hu Xiaotian waved his hand, signaling Xiao Zhuozi to move aside; after all, Wang Decai is a servant of Empress Jian, and until we know his intentions, there's no need to draw swords.

Wang Decai came before Hu Xiaotian, clasped his hands and said, "Lord Hu, I offer my respects." Times have changed; Hu Xiaotian is now the director of the Imperial Gardens Bureau, holding the position of Junior Superintendent. Although Wang Decai hates Hu Xiaotian to the bone, on the surface he has no choice but to go through the motions.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Lord Wang, what brings you here?"

Wang Decai said, "I come by order of the Empress; she has instructed you to tidy up the garden of the Mingyue Palace."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Isn't the Mingyue Palace always empty?"

Wang Decai said, "Someone will be moving in soon; remember, within three days the garden must be refurbished to perfection. The Empress will personally inspect it, and if she's dissatisfied, well, it could cost you your head." This bastard inwardly wished he could kill Hu Xiaotian right away.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Since it's the Empress's order, I'll have someone take care of it right away. I don't know if the Empress has any specific arrangements?"

Wang Decai said, "Just make sure it's done as well as possible."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Please inform the Empress, Lord Wang; I will do my utmost. I will certainly strive to satisfy her."

"It would certainly be best if she were satisfied. However, the Empress's demands have always been strict."

Seeing his malicious smile, Hu Xiaotian already realized this man would likely cause trouble. In fact, when he schemed against Xiao Dengzi, Hu Xiaotian had already harbored murderous intent toward him, but recent events have been one after another, so he delayed acting.

Before leaving, Wang Decai suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, the Empress told me to bring back some grape wine."

There's plenty of grape wine in the cellar. Giving him some wouldn't be a problem, but Hu Xiaotian worries this man might tamper with the wine, as the saying goes, one should not harbor harmful intent, but one must not lack vigilance; if he takes the wine back and the Empress drinks it, should anything go wrong, the blame would ultimately fall on me. Hu Xiaotian said, "Lord Wang, your timing is poor; the key to the wine cellar isn't with me. After Lord Liu's passing, it was handed over to the Internal Supervisory Office, and now Director Ji personally guards it."

Wang Decai was half‑believing, half‑doubting; he heard Hu Xiaotian deliberately invoke Ji Feihua to pressure him, though he also knew what had been happening in the palace lately. Hu Xiaotian's shallow credentials aside, the only reason he could take charge of the Imperial Gardens Bureau was because he had latched onto that big tree, Ji Feihua. Since he said that, even if Wang Decai didn't believe it, he couldn't confront Ji Feihua directly, so he could only nod and say, "All right, go tell Director Ji."

After seeing Wang Decai off, several trusted eunuchs immediately gathered around Hu Xiaotian. Xiao Dengzi said, "Lord Hu, this man is ruthless; who knows what nasty scheme he's cooking up to harm you."

Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile and said, "The Empress's orders are a major matter; we won't worry about what he thinks. First we'll get this done, then talk. Xiao Dengzi, Xiao Zhuozi, organize some experienced gardeners to go to the Mingyue Palace and tend the garden—go now, make it flawless, and don't give anyone a handle to grab us."

"Yes!" the two replied and hurried off.

Only Shi Xuedong remained beside Hu Xiaotian, lowering his voice he said, "This bastard keeps blaming his brother's debts on us; you'd better watch out, brother."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Go find out exactly who is supposed to move into the Mingyue Palace."

Shi Xuedong nodded, about to leave, when he saw Baobao walking in gracefully from outside, and he instantly beamed, "Miss Baobao, it's been a while since you've come."

Although Shi Xuedong was full of enthusiasm, Baobao didn't even glance at him, walking straight up to Hu Xiaotian and coquettishly saying, "Baobao pays her respects, Lord Hu."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, "I was just wondering why she hadn't shown up lately, and here she comes." As his understanding of the internal situation deepened, Hu Xiaotian divided the forces within Huangcheng into four main parts. The first is the faction led by Quan De'an and Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan, who established the Shen Ce Bureau ostensibly to protect the Emperor, but in reality to oppose the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, assist the Third Prince, and secretly plot to help Third Prince Long Tingzhen become crown prince.

The second force is Ji Feihua; his influence spreads throughout the twenty‑four offices of the inner palace, he is deeply favored by the Emperor, his prestige among eunuchs is extremely high, and he currently controls the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau.

The third force is the pragmatic faction led by Grand Councilor Zhou Ruizhen; after Long Yelin ascended the throne, all major state affairs were handed over to Zhou Ruizhen to handle—rectifying court discipline, purging legal violations, all done by him and his associates; they can be said to be the backbone of today's court, yet while Zhou Ruizhen focuses on state affairs he overlooks the deep contradictions within the palace, whether intentionally or not.

The last force consists of those who once followed the Retired Emperor Long Xuan'en, such as Mr. Hong of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau; from the assassination attempt against Ji Feihua they organized on Tian Street last time, it's clear these people have not given up, they've been waiting for an opportunity, and once the moment is ripe they will surely launch a counterstrike.

Baobao is a pawn planted by Hong Beimo within the palace; from Hu Xiaotian's interactions with her, it seems her actions are likely forced upon her, and Hong Beimo knows some means to control her.

The relationship between Baobao and Hu Xiaotian can be described as both enemy and friend; she knows Hu Xiaotian's secrets, and he likewise knows many of hers; although they belong to opposing camps, they can coexist peacefully.

It's the same old excuse as always, the same yangmei wine, and Shi Xuedong still on guard; the two swaggered into the wine cellar. Shi Xuedong's lone remaining testis still secretes a considerable amount of male hormones, which makes him ever more tormented and anguished, able to look and think but unable to act; Shi Xuedong lamentedly considered himself the most unfortunate eunuch in history. He wondered, Hu Xiaotian is also a eunuch, why is he interested in women? Why does he, every time he brings a woman into the wine cellar, end up changing his clothes? Could it be that his pleasure comes from the process of taking off and putting on clothes? What a pervert! Shi Xuedong thought so, but Hu Xiaotian's world is not something he can fathom.

This time Baobao came and, instead of talking about the secret passage, she brought Hu Xiaotian bad news: "Seven days ago, were you and Ji Feihua ambushed on Tian Street?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; it must have been Hong Beimo who plotted that murder, and as Hong Beimo's adopted daughter, Baobao naturally would have learned of it.

Baobao pursed her cherry lips and whispered, "Can you tell me what exactly your relationship with Ji Feihua is?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Director Ji holds me in high regard and has entrusted me with important duties; aside from that, I have no particular relationship with him."

Baobao said, "Ji Feihua harbors wolfish ambitions; getting too close to him could bring you harm."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If Director Ji hadn't intervened, I would already have been killed by the black‑armored assassins on Tian Street that night."

Anxiety flickered in Baobao's eyes as she whispered, "I had no knowledge of this."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help laughing at her words; Baobao was trying to distance herself from the matter, but in fact she didn't need to explain—Hu Xiaotian also didn't believe her, since her situation and standing are much like his; both are merely pawns in others' schemes, and she lacks the weight and ability to plot Ji Feihua's assassination.

Seeing him laugh, Baobao thought he didn't believe her and grew anxious: "I swear, if I ever meant to harm you, may heaven strike me down and earth destroy me!"

Hu Xiaotian reached out to cover her cherry lips; Baobao, embarrassed by his gesture, flushed crimson and spat, "What are you doing touching me?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't think low of me; if I were to touch, I wouldn't touch you there."

Baobao narrowed her bright eyes, her cheeks flushing deeper, her expression growing more alluring, and she softly asked, "Then where do you want to touch me?"

Enticement, definitely enticement—Lord Hu understands there's no free lunch in the world; Baobao has always had her own designs. The more she strikes this seductive, bewitching pose, the higher his vigilance grows, and he chuckles, "Sister Baobao, speak plainly; we're so familiar, there's no need to sacrifice our modesty."

Baobao, angered by him, widened her beautiful eyes and threw a punch at his nose—though not a real strike, just a show; even if she really punched, she couldn't succeed, for Hu Xiaotian's martial skill now surpasses hers. Seeing the incoming fist, he met it with his right hand, firmly gripping her wrist, and grinned, "A gentleman settles things with words; a villain resorts to force."

Baobao said, "Looking at your smug face, I just can't help wanting to hit you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Being hit means affection, being scolded means love—does that mean you've developed special feelings for me?"

"Pah! I'm not going to like a eunuch like you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Anyway, we've shared life‑and‑death trials; words shouldn't be so harsh." He released Baobao's wrist, stepped back, and smiled, "Sister Baobao, what exactly brought you to see me today? Please speak plainly—we're a lone man and woman, and if we linger too long in this cavern, any mishap would leave us with regret."

Baobao's lovely eyes shimmered with spring waves: "You're scared, huh!"

"Scared of me? I'm your father! Actually, you should be the one who's afraid." Hu Xiaotian stepped forward, his scorching, invasive gaze making Baobao's heart jump; she lowered her head slightly, feeling guilty, and murmured, "Have you heard anything about the Mingyue Palace?" After half a day of verbal sparring with Hu Xiaotian, the topic finally turned to substantive matters. (To be continued~^~)