Chapter 360

Wen Ya's pretty face flushed slightly, she softly said: "This palace is just feeling stuffy inside, so I came out for a walk." Her beautiful eyes glanced around, she softly sighed: "After this blizzard, I'm afraid most of the flowers in this garden will wither."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Flowers that bloom in this season fear neither wind nor snow; Talented Person, you must have heard of treading snow to seek plum blossoms."

Wen Ya nodded, walked slowly toward the wax plum beside her, her fingers brushed the wax plum branches, and the snow on the branches fell rustling. She whispered: "I've heard you are renowned for talent in Kangdu; tonight, with snow filling the sky, why not compose a poem for me to hear?"

In such bitter cold, Hu Xiaotian had no such interest; although Wen Ya was a beauty who could topple kingdoms, and although she looked exactly like Le Yao, Hu Xiaotian knew full well that the woman before him was the Emperor's woman—let alone touching her, even glancing at her a second time would be disrespectful.

Hu Xiaotian said: "How reliable are the rumors outside? Before entering the palace, I was just a loafer who got by eating and drinking, knowing nothing of poetry and lyrics." Living in the palace, not only are women considered virtuous if they lack talent, but eunuchs are the same. The bird that sticks its head out gets shot; after the incident at the Smoke Water Pavilion, Hu Xiaotian learned to be cautious.

Wen Ya's expression suddenly turned cold.

Hu Xiaotian then shifted his tone and said: "If the Talented Person truly wishes to hear, I dare not hide my inadequacy; I once wrote a lyric while it was snowing long ago, and I will recite it for you."

Wen Ya said: "I listen with respect."

Hu Xiaotian cleared his throat and said: "Beyond the curtain, snow begins to drift; the emerald screen holds incense, the fire not yet extinguished. Sitting alone in the night's chill, one grows weary. Far, far. Dream broken, the night watch deepens loneliness!"

After Wen Ya heard him finish reciting, she lowered her head, clearly moved by the lyric's mood, she silently pondered for a while before saying: "It's late; go back and rest."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I will escort the Talented Person inside."

Wen Ya nodded, placing her soft hand in the crook of his arm. Suddenly a commotion was heard outside; Wen Ling started slightly, Hu Xiaotian gestured for her to go back first, and outside the sound of pounding on the door—peng peng peng—already rang out.

The knocking woke Wang Ren, Ma Liangpeng, Baobao, and others; Wang Ren, yawning and rubbing his eyes, was the first to come out of the room, seeing Hu Xiaotian he said: "Lord Hu, what's happening outside?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Go open the door and see." He led a group to the main gate; Wang Ren went over and pulled the door open—just as he pulled it open, a group of palace guards rushed in with a whoosh.

Wang Ren, unable to dodge in time, was knocked sideways and fell sitting on his buttocks on the ground.

Hu Xiaotian roared: "What are you doing? All of you, stop!"

A gang of guards swarmed forward, seemingly with no intention to stop, shouting to catch the thief. Seeing the situation was wrong, Hu Xiaotian lifted his leg and kicked one of them in the chest; that kick sent the guard stumbling backward until he hit a companion, only then stopping his retreat.

At this moment the guards finally halted. The troop split down the middle, and a sturdy young man stepped out, cupping his hands to Hu Xiaotian he said: "Lord Hu, please forgive me, please forgive me!"

Hu Xiaotian fixed his gaze and saw that the man was First-Class Guard Chen Chengqiang, also the night shift squad leader for this area that evening. A First-Class Guard is a fourth-rank blade-bearing officer; there are only about fifty such guards in the palace, so his status is not lower than Hu Xiaotian's, and in rank he is actually a bit higher. Hu Xiaotian and Chen Chengqiang are not acquainted; they have met a few times but never spoken directly. The palace guard garrisons rotate frequently, precisely to prevent guards from getting too close to the inner court.

Hu Xiaotian gave him no pleasant look, coldly saying: "Breaking into the Mingyue Palace at midnight, disturbing the Talented Person's rest—I don't know what Chief Chen's intentions are."

Chen Chengqiang hadn't yet had a chance to explain when someone cried out: "Someone's on the roof!"

Hu Xiaotian turned and looked; sure enough, on the roof of the Mingyue Palace stood a black silhouette, coldly gazing at them, then he turned and flipped over the ridge, fleeing unknown where.

Chen Chengqiang shouted: "Where are you going!" He didn't have time to explain to Hu Xiaotian, darting forward in a single leap from beside Hu Xiaotian; the other guards, seeing their leader pursue the thief, all rushed forward in a scramble.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian understood—there really was an intruder; the palace truly was unsettled—his Black Tiger Whip had just been stolen, and now thieves had entered the Mingyue Palace at night, their boldness excessive; could it be they wanted to steal fragrance and jade? Thinking of this, Hu Xiaotian felt a tightening in his chest. He told Ma Liangpeng, Baobao, and the others: "Hurry and go protect the Talented Person."

The few rushed into the palace in a panic; fortunately Wen Ya was unharmed, the parasol tree stood guard beside her, fully alert. Seeing Hu Xiaotian and the others enter, the parasol tree shouted sternly: "What exactly happened?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Possibly thieves have sneaked in; the palace guards have chased in."

The parasol tree snapped angrily: "These guards are just living off idle pay, yet they let thieves slip in." She was cold and arrogant, always putting on an aloof airs. Hu Xiaotian heartily disliked her, but this hit the nail on the head—those guards really are living off idle pay and are extremely rude.

Wen Ya softly said: "Never mind; the palace isn't impenetrable, so some oversights are inevitable."

At that moment footsteps sounded on the roof; everyone looked up together. After a while the footsteps faded, and a loud voice came from outside the palace: "The fourth-rank blade-bearing guard on duty, Chen Chengqiang, requests an audience with the Talented Person."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why don't I go see him?"

Wen Ya said: "Let him come in!"

Hu Xiaotian gave Wang Ren a look; not long after, Wang Ren led a few guards inside. These guards had not found any trace of the thief, so they specially requested an audience with Wen Ya, wanting to search inside and outside the Mingyue Palace to prevent the thief from hiding there; although their request breached etiquette, it was nevertheless necessary—for if the thief were truly hiding in the Mingyue Palace, it would pose a threat to Wen Ya, and if trouble arose, everyone might be held accountable.

Wen Ya also cooperated fully in this matter, agreeing to let the guards enter the Mingyue Palace to search.

That night's ordeal was no light matter; it lasted until the third watch of the night before they had searched every corner of the Mingyue Palace inside and out, confirming the thief was not there, after which Chen Chengqiang came to report to Wen Ya.

After hearing him out, Wen Ya lightly nodded and said: "Best that nothing happened; you've worked hard all night—go rest now."

Chen Chengqiang said: "Protecting the Talented Person's safety is our duty; you just rest assured, I will strengthen the patrols around the Mingyue Palace, aiming for flawless security."

Wen Ya said: "Chief Chen, thank you for your trouble!"

Chen Chengqiang then rose, his gaze sweeping over Wen Ya's pretty face; he stared for a moment, but quickly recovered, bowed deeply again, and led his men away.

Wen Ya said: "Little Beard, see Chief Chen off."

Hu Xiaotian saw the guards out; upon reaching the doorway he couldn't help yawning and said: "Chief Chen, I'll see you only this far."

Chen Chengqiang cupped his hands and said: "Lord Hu, please stay; I've troubled you greatly tonight, I hope you won't hold it against me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Everyone is just concerned for the Talented Person's safety, no blame, no blame… hahahaha…" Watching Chen Chengqiang's retreating back, Hu Xiaotian's eyes flickered with doubt; tonight's events always gave him a strange feeling—how could things coincide so perfectly? If the Imperial Gardens Bureau had been hit by thieves, that could be called an inside job and still be understandable, but tonight thieves also appeared in the Mingyue Palace, while the palace's inner and outer defenses are three layers thick, supposedly impenetrable—how could flying thieves slip in so easily? Moreover, the Mingyue Palace is not an important place in the palace; why pick it specifically? Could tonight's affair also be an inside job, perhaps linked to Ji Feihua? Maybe he deliberately caused chaos inside the palace—who knows?

After all that turmoil, Hu Xiaotian was wide awake, returned to his room, his mind still replaying tonight's events; seeing through the crack of the door that the lights in the Mingyue Palace chambers had finally gone out, he thought Wen Ya must have finally fallen asleep, and as he was about to return to bed, he heard the door tapped lightly twice.

Hu Xiaotian came to the door and whispered: "Who?"

"Me!" Baobao whispered from outside.

Hu Xiaotian drew the bolt, yanked Baobao into the room, then poked his head out to look; in that moment, Baobao had blown out the candle on the table in one breath, plunging the room into darkness.

Hu Xiaotian bolted the door, located Baobao's position, and lowered his voice: "You came here at midnight—what's your business?"

Baobao suddenly lunged forward, threw herself into his arms, clinging tightly to Hu Xiaotian, and whispered: "I'm freezing."

Hu Xiaotian knew she was habitually sly and changeable; although she was under his control for now, he couldn't rule out that she might still harbor ill intent, so he seized her wrists—to prevent her from launching a sneak attack in the dark. Baobao's hands were icy cold, her delicate body trembling slightly, whether from the cold or from the excitement of being so close to Hu Xiaotian, he couldn't tell.

Hu Xiaotian pulled her arms behind her back, embracing her in that position, guarding against her doing anything harmful to him.

In the darkness Baobao softly laughed, her pretty face buried in his chest, and whispered: "Judging a gentleman's heart by a petty mind—you're overly suspicious."

Having been bitten by a snake once, one fears a rope for ten years; dealing with a venomous beauty like you, the Zajia still prefers to be cautious.

Baobao said: "I have something I want to tell you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The ground is cold and the weather chilly; why don't we change the setting to talk?"

"Where to?"

Hu Xiaotian put his arm around her delicate frame, gave a gentle pull, and they both slumped onto the bed behind him; Baobao struggled a bit, then coquettishly spat: "You lewd wretch, all you do is take advantage of people."

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