Chapter 337

Wang Decai said: "How long has Eunuch Hu been in the palace?"

Hu Xiaotian thought for a moment and said: "How long has your younger brother been missing?" He was clearly picking at the sore point, deliberately rubbing salt into Wang Decai's wound.

Wang Decai's eyes burst with angry sparks, he gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the anger in his chest: "Do you not know that a Talented Lady in the palace is only of the sixth rank, yet placing a first-rank red in the garden—what is your intention?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed; he really hadn't noticed this matter—there are indeed many taboos in the palace, and a moment's carelessness will break them.

Wang Decai angrily said: "You dare to laugh? Believe it or not, I will report this to the Empress and charge you with a crime of knowingly committing an offense."

"If one wants to accuse someone, there is never a lack of pretext; Eunuch Wang has always been targeting me."

Wang Decai said: "So what if I'm targeting you? Don't think that because someone is backing you in this palace, you can rely on others' power to act arrogantly and domineeringly."

Hu Xiaotian did not get angry, speaking calmly: "Eunuch Wang's words seem to have a hidden meaning; I, the Zajia, would like to hear—just who is backing me?"

"You know it in your heart!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although I don't understand, I still have some self-awareness, unlike Eunuch Wang, who doesn't even understand what he himself is like; those eight words 'relying on others' power to act arrogantly' are actually a portrait of you!"

Wang Decai angrily said: "You……"

Hu Xiaotian said with a smirk: "What? If you're dissatisfied, you can go to the Empress and slander me; I don't believe the Empress would so indulge her subordinates."

Wang Decai said through gritted teeth: "Don't think that with Ji Feihua backing you, you can act high and mighty."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Suddenly he threw a punch, which landed squarely on Wang Decai's right eye; the punch made Wang Decai dizzy, covering his eyes he spun around twice on the spot, wailing: "You dare to hit—" Before he finished, Hu Xiaotian rushed forward, raised his hand and gave him a big slap, beating him black and blue. Hu Xiaotian angrily said: "You scoundrel, dare to insult Commander Ji!"

Many onlookers gathered, but no one really understood what had happened between them; they only saw them arguing, then Hu Xiaotian suddenly struck. Wang Decai was no match for Hu Xiaotian; in an instant he was knocked to the ground by Hu Xiaotian, who then kicked him fiercely.

The little eunuch who had followed Wang Decai wanted to step forward to break up the fight, but was stopped outside by Xiao Dengzi leading a group of gardeners; Xiao Dengzi's broken leg had been schemed by Wang Decai. Seeing Hu Xiaotian's violent beating of Wang Decai, he felt delighted and wished he could rush up to kick him a couple of times and throw a few punches.

Wang Decai, under Hu Xiaotian's brutal beating, had no power to fight back; he could only clutch his head and scream for help on the ground.

Li Yuncong, who had been arranged in the Study, originally did not want to come forward, but hearing the cries for help outside, each more miserable than the last, he eventually came out. Feigning surprise, he said: "Eunuch Hu, what happened? Why are you so angry?"

Hu Xiaotian had also gotten his fill of hitting; he kicked Wang Decai's butt again, then stopped, putting on an appearance of uncontrollable anger and said: "This scoundrel actually dared to insult Commander Ji!"

Wang Decai, nose bruised and face swollen, crawled up from the ground, pointing at Hu Xiaotian and said: "When have I ever insulted Commander Ji… you're spitting blood!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You were clearly just cursing, saying Commander Ji relies on others' power and is just a dog in front of the Emperor!"

Wang Decai turned pale with fright and shouted: "Injustice! Eunuch Li will vindicate me… I would never dare say such disrespectful words… it's all his fabrication!"

Although Li Yuncong hadn't heard what they just said, he also understood that Wang Decai wouldn't dare say such things unless he wanted to die. Don't look at Wang Decai being Empress Jian's trusted eunuch; offending Ji Feihua means certain death just the same. Li Yuncong said: "Two little eunuchs, there's a saying that grievances should be resolved, not deepened; we all serve in the palace, all to attend the Emperor; the Zajia, leaning on his age to act senior, will act as a mediator, today's matter…" Li Yuncong stopped speaking at that point, because he saw Ji Feihua, accompanied by two eunuchs, slowly entering the Mingyue Palace. The main person had arrived; he didn't want to be a mediator anymore, so Li Yuncong hurried forward to pay his respects.

Ji Feihua wore a smile, appearing to be in a decent mood.

Hu Xiaotian and Wang Decai also followed over to pay their respects.

Ji Feihua's gaze swept over Wang Decai's face and she said: "Wang Decai, how did you end up in such a sorry state?"

Wang Decai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, recalling what had just happened, a surge of grief rose in his heart; he thumped to his knees before Ji Feihua: "Commander Ji, I am wronged!"

Hu Xiaotian gave a cold chuckle twice and said nothing.

Ji Feihua said: "Wang Decai, you needn't weep; speak plainly of any grievance, the Zajia always handles affairs fairly; if there truly is a grievance, we will certainly vindicate you."

With tears streaming, Wang Decai, although he knew Ji Feihua was Hu Xiaotian's backing, still wanted to voice his grievance; before so many people, he supposed Ji Feihua wouldn't dare overly favor Hu Xiaotian. Thus he recounted the whole incident from beginning to end, without embellishment, just stating the facts; when he mentioned Hu Xiaotian wronging him, he beat his chest and stamped his feet in resentment.

Ji Feihua, after hearing, gave a cold snort and said: "Hu Xiaotian, is what Wang Decai said true?"

Hu Xiaotian made a bow and said: "Reporting to Commander Ji, some of what he said is true, some is false."

Wang Decai said: "Everyone present can testify, Eunuch Li can testify as well; I, Wang Decai, utter not a single false word; if I were to lie, may heaven strike me with thunder and I die a bad death; Hu Xiaotian, do you dare to swear an oath like I do?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said: "Wang Decai! You just scolded me for relying on others' power, didn't you?"

"Uh…… yes!"

"You even directly called Commander Ji by name, and said Commander Ji is just like me, a dog in front of the Emperor!"

"I didn't say it!" Wang Decai shouted.

Behind Ji Feihua, Li Yan angrily shouted: "Bold, what nonsense are you spouting?" He was glaring at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why are you looking at me? Those words weren't spoken by me."

Ji Feihua suddenly chuckled, laughing so happily, he softly said: "That statement isn't wrong either; even if we were to be a dog before the Emperor, the Zajia would be willing—to be a loyal dog to the Emperor, to guard his home, to devote oneself utterly until death is the Zajia's greatest wish in this lifetime; Eunuch Li, do you agree?"

Li Yuncong laughed, feeling somewhat embarrassed; he couldn't help but regret that, had he known Ji Feihua would come, he shouldn't have come forward.

Ji Feihua said: "Hu Xiaotian, why did you hit him?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I was momentarily indignant, feeling that the Commander had been slighted, so I acted." Seeing Ji Feihua's expression, it seemed he wanted to make a big issue small and a small issue smaller; after all, Wang Decai was Empress Jian's man, Ji Feihua likely still had some reservations. Anyway, I had already taken full advantage; even if Ji Feihua scolded me a few times, I would endure it.

Wang Decai said: "Please, Commander Ji, vindicate me." Seeing that Ji Feihua did not obviously favor Hu Xiaotian, Wang Decai's courage grew; he began to seek an explanation from Ji Feihua, thinking that even if Ji Feihua wouldn't heavily punish Hu Xiaotian, he still ought to reprimand him a few words in front of everyone.

Ji Feihua said: "Hu Xiaotian hitting you was wrong, but you also shouldn't have insulted the Emperor!"

Wang Decai stared for a moment, thinking he had misheard, he blinked his eyes; suddenly a wordless fear rose in his heart, and he trembled: "When have I ever insulted the Emperor…"

Ji Feihua said: "You said the Emperor is indulged in women and neglects state affairs; did you think the Zajia hadn't heard those words?"

Wang Decai, frightened, dropped to his knees with a thud: "Commander Ji… spare my life… Commander Ji spare my life…" He rushed forward wanting to embrace Ji Feihua's leg; Li Yan burst out from the side, raised his right palm and struck Wang Decai's heavenly crown with a palm—*pa! *—accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, and Wang Decai was actually killed by that single strike.

Gazing at Wang Decai's body twitching on the ground, Hu Xiaotian felt a chill rise from his core: "Damn, Ji Feihua is ruthless!" I merely gave Wang Decai a beating to vent my anger, yet Ji Feihua actually had his subordinate kill him. After a little thought, it immediately became clear why Ji Feihua had to kill him: the adopted daughter of Scholar Wen entering the palace was entirely arranged by Empress Jian; Ji Feihua was extremely displeased about this, and killing Wang Decai was truly meant to warn Empress Jian.

Ji Feihua glanced at Wang Decai's corpse and softly said: "Anyone who dares to be disrespectful to the Emperor will serve as an example."

Li Yuncong helplessly drawn into this right-and-wrong affair, secretly sighing that Ji Feihua was indeed arrogant to the extreme. Ji Feihua glanced at him with a smirk and said: "Eunuch Li, did you see everything that just happened?"

Li Yuncong said: "Wang Decai insulted the Emperor and intended to harm Commander Ji; everyone can punish him." Those who know the times are outstanding; although Li Yuncong inwardly wanted to stay neutral, before Ji Feihua he had to adopt such an attitude. The little eunuchs of the Secretariat Office, though they greatly disliked Wang Decai, upon seeing his fate each felt a chill rise from the heart. These people naturally dare not gossip; the little eunuch who had come with Wang Decai knelt on the ground, kowtowing like pounding garlic, his soul gone; his life hung on Ji Feihua's single thought.

Fortunately, Ji Feihua had no intention of killing him; he softly said: "You will go and tell Empress Jian the specific situation, speaking truthfully; if you dare to stir up trouble, the Zajia will certainly let you die without a burial place."

That little eunuch was on the verge of tears: "Commander, rest assured… Commander, rest assured… I… I will surely speak the truth… Wang Decai insulted the Emperor, his crime deserves death ten thousand times!"

Hu Xiaotian walked over, felt Wang Decai's neck, and was certain the bastard was dead; Wang Decai's killing was somewhat sudden, but Hu Xiaotian felt no sympathy for him—if Ji Feihua hadn't struck today, sooner or later I would have done so myself, for this fellow had identified me as the murderer of his brother and would surely cause trouble later; killing him now saves future trouble. From this incident, Hu Xiaotian realized that the palace is actually a lawless place where reasoning is useless; everything depends on strength.

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