Chapter 362

Wutong turned to Wang Renhe and Qiu Yan: "You two almost came out with me, you say, at that time did you hear Ma Liangpeng shout for help?"

Wang Renhe and Qiu Yan exchanged a glance; they indeed heard it, but in front of Hu Xiaotian they dared not say it, for proving this would be helping Wutong together push Hu Xiaotian into the water; if Hu Xiaotian gets past this, how could they be spared?

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly: "Save your life? If you draw a knife to kill me and shout for help, does that prove I want to kill you?"

Wutong, hearing him call himself "old man", flew into a rage: "Hu Xiaotian, don't be arrogant; fundamentally you harbor evil intentions. I don't know what shady business you have with this lowly person that Ma Liangpeng stumbled upon, so you killed to silence."

Baobao, hearing this, let out a sorrowful cry and actually fainted; of course it was an act, pretending to be unable to bear the humiliation.

Hu Xiaotian widened his eyes; actually Wutong hadn't wronged him, even if he guessed it he couldn't admit it. Hu Xiaotian pointed at Wutong's nose bridge and said: "You lowly wretch, how dare you tarnish Zajia's purity? Zajia has cleansed itself; how could we engage in shady deeds? It really makes me furious."

A group of palace guards around listened, couldn't help but secretly chuckle; some found it funny, some took pleasure in others' misfortune. Don't think that as Hu Xiaotian, chief of the Imperial Gardens Bureau, you guard a bevy of lovely palace maids yet can only look, not touch—who let you lack something?

Wutong said: "In the imperial palace there is never a shortage of eunuchs and palace maids' shady affairs."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Shady affairs, your mother! I walk upright and sit straight, my loyalty can shine like sun and moon. You lowly servant, dare insult me again—I won't mind sending another soul to its end." This fellow rose, making a move to strike Wutong, but was stopped by a group of guards.

Chen Chengqiang said on the side: "Sir Hu, please trouble yourself to come with us; this matter must be investigated thoroughly, and we believe we can soon clear your name." Though spoken politely, the true intention was to take Hu Xiaotian away for investigation.

Hu Xiaotian sneered: "What do you mean, Commander Chen? Do you suspect me? Don't you believe what Zajia says?"

Chen Chengqiang said: "Sir Hu, don't misunderstand; after all, a human life is of utmost importance. Such a case in the imperial palace must be investigated thoroughly; please understand my duty, Sir Hu."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Open your eyes wide, take a close look—if Ma Liangpeng had no ulterior motive, why cover his face with black cloth? Why carry a weapon? You guards, receiving Dakang's stipend and enjoying the Emperor's grace, are nothing but a bunch of drunkards and gluttons." With that sentence he scolded all the guards.

Chen Chengqiang's face turned ashen, naturally he harbored resentment.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Zajia hasn't even asked you to answer for lax security, yet you turn and bite Zajia. If it weren't for your being overstaffed and neglecting duty, how could someone sneak into Mingyue Palace? How could such a scheming villain lurk in the inner palace to cause trouble?" After scolding Chen Chengqiang, he pointed at Wutong and said: "And you, lowly wretch, constantly slandering Zajia—could Ma Liangpeng be your lover? Is that why you hate Zajia so much, eager to avenge your lover?"

"You……" Wutong's eyes nearly flared, fists clenched tight, as if about to rush out and fight Hu Xiaotian to the death.

At this moment Wen Ya walked out from the palace. Coldly she said: "Tonight it seems you really don't want this palace to rest!"

A crowd hurriedly paid respects to Wen Ya; Chen Chengqiang called out Talented Person, stepped forward and related what he knew. Wutong also approached and said to Wen Ya: "Talented Person, this Hu Xiaotian harbors evil intentions, with wolfish ambition he actually committed this act of killing to silence."

"Shut up!" Wen Ya shouted sternly.

Wutong startled, evidently not expecting Wen Ya to speak to her so harshly.

Wen Ya coldly glanced at the corpse on the ground, showing not a trace of fear, her gaze settling on Hu Xiaotian's face, she said word by word: "As for Sir Hu's loyalty, this palace has never doubted it. Commander Chen, you ought to properly investigate Ma Liangpeng's background." This statement told everyone Hu Xiaotian was beyond suspicion, and showed she stood on his side.

Hu Xiaotian felt secretly pleased; at least you have some conscience.

Chen Chengqiang, however, had no intention of letting Hu Xiaotian off just like that; respectfully he said: "Talented Person, after all this is a capital case, I cannot decide on it myself; we must ask Sir Hu and this palace maid to return for investigation, until tomorrow……"

Wen Ya angrily said: "This is Mingyue Palace—does my word not count here?"

Chen Chengqiang pressed his lips, thought it over, and wasn't afraid Hu Xiaotian would flee anywhere; he clasped his hands, signaling to withdraw the troops.

Hu Xiaotian didn't forget to remind him: "Commander Chen, don't forget to take away this corpse."

After everyone left, Baobao still lay on the snow feigning faint; Hu Xiaotian, seeing her, felt amused yet also a bit pitying, for she was really putting on an act—who knows if she's cold lying in the snow so long?

Wen Ya had Wang Renhe and Qiu Yan take Baobao back to the palace first; Wutong still from time to time shot Hu Xiaotian a venomous glance; Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, "little brat, wait till I free my hands—I'll surely give you a good thrashing."

Bloodstains still remained on the snow; Wen Ya's gaze fell on them, she frowned slightly with distaste and said softly: "After all, behind closed doors we are one family—earlier's incident wouldn't it become a laughingstock for outsiders?" This remark was clearly a rebuke to Wutong. Wutong said: "Please, Talented Person, see clearly; don't let a few petty people deceive you."

Wen Ya said: "Step back for now!"

Wutong bit her lip, glared hatefully at Hu Xiaotian one eye, and left unwillingly.

In the empty courtyard only Wen Ya and Hu Xiaotian remained; the snow had lessened, the night settled again, utterly quiet, tiny snowflakes falling on the white expanse made a rustling sound, like silkworms eating mulberry leaves.

Wen Ya's long black lashes fluttered once, and she said softly: "Regardless of what happened, tomorrow you let Baobao leave."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat—could Wen Ya have noticed something between him and Baobao? Though he had always concealed it well, logically it shouldn't be exposed; he could only bow and reply: "Yes!"

Wen Ya said: "I also heard Ma Liangpeng's cry for help."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "So what? Anyone who dares threaten a Talented Person, I will certainly not let them live."

Wen Ya furrowed her brows: "Clean this place spotless; this palace most hates to see bloodstains."

Since deciding that Wen Ya would take charge of Mingyue Palace, two lives have already been lost here. Wang Decai was killed by Ji Feihua, naturally no one speaks ill of it, but Ma Liangpeng was personally slain by Hu Xiaotian; worse, Ma Liangpeng turned out to be Ji Feihua's man, and Hu Xiaotian only learned this after killing Ma Liangpeng.

This shows Ji Feihua does not fully trust him either, having planted a spy by his side; Hu Xiaotian can ignore people like Chen Chengqiang, but he must explain things to Ji Feihua's side, so he personally went over there.

Upon entering the Directorate of Imperial Attendants, the first thing encountered was Li Yan's hate-filled gaze; Ma Liangpeng was his trusted subordinate, personally dispatched by Li Yan to Mingyue Palace, yet who would have thought that after just a few days there, Hu Xiaotian killed him.

Although Hu Xiaotian didn't know the full details, from Li Yan's expression he could already guess a bit; this fellow still smiled like a spring breeze: "Sir Li, is the Commander present?"

Li Yan gave a cold snort: "Sir Hu's methods are indeed ruthless; I, Li, admit I fall short."

Hu Xiaotian gave a hehe laugh, said nothing more, and strode straight to Ji Feihua's room; just as he reached the door, he heard Ji Feihua's voice: "Xiaotian has come, enter."

Perhaps due to frequent contact with Ji Feihua, the tone that once made his skin crawl now sounds much more pleasant; it seems Ji Feihua's voice has changed considerably, becoming more womanly.

Upon reaching the door, Hu Xiaotian first took off his mud‑stained boots, then entered the warm room wearing only cotton socks.

Ji Feihua, who always loves cleanliness, kept the room spotless; he wore a white robe, his black hair flowing like a waterfall over his shoulders, seated cross‑legged on the carpet, gazing at the vase on the small table—a white‑necked porcelain vase pure as jade, flawless. Ji Feihua's right hand, slender and jade‑white, held a sprig of red plum blossom, the blossoms bursting forth like flames, vivid and gorgeous, contrasting sharply with his immaculate white skin and spotless robe.

Hu Xiaotian did not wish to disturb him, waiting quietly at the side.

Ji Feihua suddenly sighed and said softly: "When there are flowers to pluck, pluck them; don't wait till there are none and waste the branch. This morning Zajia saw the red plum in the garden blooming splendidly, loved it greatly, so plucked a sprig, intending to put it in the vase, but upon arriving here I suddenly hesitated."

Hu Xiaotian seized the moment: "Commander, why the hesitation? Why not tell me so I can hear?"

Ji Feihua said: "This vase was sent to me by Mr. Liang of the Tian Gong Workshop; Mr. Liang can be called a master of his generation, every piece of porcelain he personally makes is naturally perfect, ingeniously surpassing nature."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; at first glance he saw the vase's uniqueness—though simple, its form and proportion are just right, as the saying goes, add a bit and it becomes too long, subtract a bit and it becomes too short. Ji Feihua must be troubled by this; he originally wanted to insert the flower, but found that placing this sprig into the vase would actually ruin the beauty of both.

Ji Feihua said: "In your view, how should this flower be arranged to look good?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know flower arranging, but I think flowers look best when they grow where they belong."

Ji Feihua laughed: "Same as not saying it—Zajia has already broken off this plum sprig."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, there's no need for people to fuss over so much in life—flowers bloom and fade, sun rises and sets, a broken branch can still regrow; as for whether it looks good, that's merely a matter of opinion. If the Commander insists on perfection in everything, many things will displease him; but if he changes his perspective, approaching flower arranging with mere curiosity—seeing what that red plum sprig looks like in the vase—once the aim is met, why demand perfection?"

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