Chapter 357

Ji Feihua, Zajia. Also maybe "Zajia" again.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "This has nothing to do with me."

Ji Feihua walked in, picked up a fallen chair from the floor, and Hu Xiaotian hurried over, wiped the chair with his sleeve, then invited Ji Feihua to sit. Yet he was inwardly puzzled: since Wen Ya was indisposed today and couldn't attend, this was an opportunity for Ji Feihua; on such a windy snowy night, it would be perfect to go warm the Emperor's bed—why didn't he go curry favor with the Emperor instead of wandering over to the Gardens Bureau? Even stranger, how did he know I had returned? Could the Black Tiger Whip have been stolen by him? After thinking, I realized there was no possibility: I had once voluntarily offered the Black Tiger Whip to heaven, and he didn't want it, so how could he turn to theft? Although Ji Feihua is no good person, with his aloof, arrogant nature he would surely scorn such an act.

Ji Feihua said, "What did you lose?"

Hu Xiaotian said honestly, "Black Tiger Whip!"

"Oh? Do you know who stole it?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head; without evidence, one certainly shouldn't speak recklessly.

Ji Feihua said, "Do you want to know who did it?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred; it seemed Ji Feihua had indeed come prepared—had he discovered the culprit? From his words it appeared he knew the details of the affair.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I want to know, but I'm also a bit reluctant."

Ji Feihua said, "Hee-hawing and hesitating—really boring."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I want to know, but I'm afraid that knowing would offend someone I can't afford to."

Ji Feihua burst out laughing at Hu Xiaotian's words, nodded and said, "It's somewhat interesting; since you feel that way, it's better not to know the answer."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Every time I speak with Sir, it feels like an awakening, clearing my mind."

Ji Feihua said, "Even though I know you're lying, it still feels pleasant to hear."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I am loyal to Sir, willing to go up a mountain of knives for him. Down..."

Ji Feihua smiled and said, "Just stop there." He stood up; Hu Xiaotian thought he was about to leave and hurriedly followed to see him off. Unexpectedly, Ji Feihua came to the doorway, gazed at the falling snow, and suddenly said, "Zajia suddenly feels like drinking!"

Ji Gonggong? Actually the term "Ji Gonggong" appears in the phrase "give Ji Gonggong to fetch". It's a title meaning "Eunuch Ji". Not in the glossary. It's a person's name with a title. According to the rules, we need to provide the English form for the person's name. "Ji Gonggong" consists of the surname Ji plus the honorific "gonggong", which is a respectful term for a eunuch (or grandfather). Here it is used to address a eunuch, so we treat it as a person's name: Ji Gonggong.

Also "Ji Feihua" again.

Ji Feihua, Palace Attendant Directorate. Also "we" not.

Ji Feihua became interested; Hu Xiaotian naturally dared not refuse, followed Ji Feihua's party to the Directorate of Palace Attendants. The snow showed no sign of stopping, instead growing heavier; Hu Xiaotian wondered what Ji Feihua's purpose was—coming at midnight to see him couldn't just be for drinking and chatting, could it?

Palace Attendant Directorate, Inner Palace, Outer Court, Xuanyuan Gate, Mechanism Gate, Mist Water Pavilion. Also Ji Feihua. Also Hu Xiaotian. Also eunuch (generic, not a named entity). Also coachman (generic).

Ji Feihua, Imperial Palace, Palace Gate, Commander. Also palace guards (generic).

Ji Feihua, Commander, Palace Gate. Actually line 23: "the moment after leaving the palace gate". So Palace Gate appears again.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I believe Commander Sir will certainly not harm me." Yet he had little confidence. Ji Feihua is fickle and cold-hearted; perhaps tonight's affair angered him, and he might have murderous intent toward me—after all, while Wen Ya was bathing, I repeatedly stopped her from speaking, fearing she would provoke Ji Feihua and bring disaster. Ji Feihua is shrewd; if he saw through my intentions, it would be troublesome.

Ji Feihua, Commander? Actually line 25: "Ji Feihua said: 'Saying this is just being afraid of the Miscellaneous School!' He lifted the carriage curtain." So Ji Feihua, Miscellaneous School.

Hu Xiaotian said, "On such a windy snowy day, that elderly couple at West Phoenix Bridge won't come out to do business."

Ji Feihua chuckled, his phoenix eyes unusually bright in the darkness, and said, "It's hard for you to still remember them."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Their braised beef is delicious; just thinking about it makes my mouth water."

Ji Feihua said, "Then let's go back and have a look; maybe they're there."

Hu Xiaotian thought it absolutely impossible; that elderly couple originally had no business, and in such windy snow they'd hardly come out to work.

The carriage traveled about half an hour in Kangdu's inner city before finally stopping; Ji Feihua said, "You may get out."

Hu Xiaotian blinked in confusion, not knowing what Ji Feihua meant.

Ji Feihua said, "This is Water Well Lane; the third house inside is where your parents are temporarily staying."

Hu Xiaotian heard this, his heart shook, his face filled with disbelief; he never imagined that on such a windy snowy night Ji Feihua would bring him to visit his parents. Ji Feihua said, "Since Zajia promised you, I will certainly keep my word—go ahead, I'll wait outside for half an hour."

Hu Xiaotian pushed open the carriage door to get out, but in his haste his forehead struck the door frame.

Ji Feihua couldn't help but smirk at his sight; after Hu Xiaotian got off the carriage, he threw a package down from inside, saying, "Long separation reunion shouldn't be empty-handed."

Hu Xiaotian caught the package; for a moment his feelings were mixed, even his hatred for Ji Feihua faded a bit.

Holding the gift Ji Feihua gave him, Hu Xiaotian stepped through the snow, foot by foot, to his parents' door, took a deep breath, then raised his hand and knocked on the ring. After a while, he heard faint footsteps inside, someone saying, "Who's there!" That voice turned out to be Liang Da Zhuang.

Hearing Liang Da Zhuang's familiar voice, Hu Xiaotian also felt warm; he knocked twice more.

Liang Da Zhuang then came to open the door, first cracking it open a slit, glanced outside, saw a somewhat familiar silhouette in the lantern light, but dared not be sure; he opened the door a bit more, more light spilling out as the door opened, and finally saw Hu Xiaotian holding a package, smiling narrowly outside; he could not believe what he saw, first widening his eyes, then blinking hard, seeing Hu Xiaotian still standing there, he exclaimed in astonishment: "Young..."

Hu Xiaotian raised his right index finger to his lips, making a silencing gesture toward him. Liang Da Zhuang opened his mouth wide, stopped his voice, but tears fell pattering; Hu Xiaotian entered the small courtyard, reached out and firmly patted his broad shoulders twice; after months apart, this fellow had obviously become much thinner, though not as formerly plump and round, he appeared much more spirited and energetic.

(none)

Liang Da Zhuang pointed to the lit main hall; Hu Xiaotian stepped through the snow with big strides toward it, but upon reaching the door he slowed his steps.

From inside came the father's low voice: "Da Zhuang, who is it?"

Hu Xiaotian calmed his excited feelings, then slowly pushed open the door.

Hu Buwei and Xu Fengyi sat by the brazier keeping warm; both wore coarse cloth clothes, their cotton-padded jackets patched; Xu Fengyi in plain cloth and hairpin, by the lamp was mending shoe soles; seeing Hu Xiaotian suddenly appear at the door, the couple were both stunned; Xu Fengyi momentarily fumbled, her finger pricked by a needle, blood welled up.

Hu Xiaotian dashed forward in a single stride, fell to his knees with a thud before them, tears in his eyes said: "Father! Mother! I've come late, letting you suffer..."

Xu Fengyi only called "my son" and then flung herself forward, tightly embracing Hu Xiaotian in her arms, unable to speak, just holding him tightly, tears falling incessantly. Hu Buwei stood there speechless, but his expression was extremely conflicted and complex.

After a while, Hu Buwei finally restrained his inner agitation, softly said: "Fengyi, let Xiaotian get up first."

Xu Fengyi then came to her senses, one hand wiping tears while she cupped Hu Xiaotian's face: "Xiaotian, let Mother have a good look."

Hu Xiaotian once thought he might not adapt to such overly intimate expressions, but when the moment truly arrived, he felt more moved than anything; seeing his mother's finger still bleeding, he seized her hand and sucked on it in his mouth.

Xu Fengyi, tears in her eyes, smiled: "You've grown taller… also stronger…" As a mother, the more she looked at her son, the more she loved him.

Compared to his wife, Hu Buwei was calmer; he told Liang Da Zhuang who had followed: "Da Zhuang, go check outside to see if anyone else is following."

Hu Xiaotian, Ji Gonggong. Actually line 54: "Hu Xiaotian said: 'No need to look, Eunuch Ji brought me here.'" So Ji Gonggong appears again.

Hu Buwei, Ji Feihua. Actually line 55: "Hu Buwei blinked slightly, then whispered: 'Ji Feihua?'" So Ji Feihua.

Hu Buwei, Ji Feihua.

Hu Buwei's expression instantly turned solemn.

"You two elders talk first; I'll go, I'll go make tea." Xu Fengyi, as if waking from a dream, rose to her feet.

Hu Xiaotian said: "No need." But Xu Fengyi had already gone out, and Liang Da Zhuang also tactfully withdrew, obviously to give them father and son a private space to talk.

Hu Xiaotian looked around this crude cell, recalling the former grandeur of the Ministry of Personnel mansion with its countless servants—truly worlds apart, and he felt even more keenly the desolation of his present situation.

"Are you still okay?" the father and son said almost simultaneously.

The two laughed, and Hu Buwei said: "You go first."

Merry Christmas! (To be continued~^~)