Chapter 363: [Flower Arrangement] (Lower)

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia are rather muddled instead."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why don't we change our approach? I bet Commander cannot toss this plum blossom into the vase from beyond one zhang." He walked over, picked up the vase, and retreated a few steps, placing it on the ground about one zhang from Ji Feihua.

Ji Feihua waved her hand casually; the plum blossom in her hand traced a red arc in the air and accurately fell into the vase.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I lost."

Ji Feihua laughed: "Indeed, people need not overthink; casual actions often yield unexpected wonders." The red plum blossom was slanted in the vase, red and white contrasting, elegant yet fervent, giving a strong sense of beauty. He naturally understood Hu Xiaotian would not foolishly bet against himself; he merely used this method to help himself decide. This boy's petty cleverness actually contained great wisdom.

Hu Xiaotian returned the arranged vase to the small table.

Ji Feihua's gaze lingered on the red plum blossom; she whispered: "Ma Liangpeng is a member of the Zajia."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I was unaware." This matter is entirely your fault, Ji Feihua, for distrusting me and planting spies to supervise me; Ma Liangpeng's death is wholly justified.

Ji Feihua said: "The ignorant are blameless; what is feared is knowing yet committing the offense."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Does Commander distrust me?"

Ji Feihua shook her head: "The Zajia sent him to the Bright Moon Palace for a task different from yours, yet I do not know why he provoked you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "He eavesdropped outside my room; I feared he would harm me, so I dealt with him harshly." Speaking with Ji Feihua requires three parts truth and seven parts falsehood; sometimes even full honesty is needed, otherwise how could I deceive him? Killing to silence is also justified.

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia just praised your Profound Dark Yin Wind Claw, and you have already put it to use—truly a fine disciple of Quan De'an."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The mistake is made; Commander, how will you punish me? I, Hu Xiaotian, harbor not the slightest resentment."

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia did not assign him to monitor you. What have you done to attract his interest?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Last night was tumultuous; first, flying thieves raided the Bright Moon Palace, and the on-duty guards pursued them. Thus I remained vigilant about outside movements. At midnight, he came to my window; I thought someone wanted to harm me, and since he wore a mask, I did not recognize him at first."

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia have not inquired about this matter; his corpse has already been examined by the Zajia. Besides the Profound Dark Yin Wind Claw, his back heart also took a palm strike; any attack leaves traces on the body, some invisible to the naked eye but still detectable."

Hu Xiaotian's heart startled; thus Ji Feihua had already discovered Baobao's palm strike on Ma Liangpeng's back heart.

Ji Feihua said: "That palm strike on his back heart was delivered by a woman. If the Zajia are not mistaken, it is that palace maid."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed at Ji Feihua's prowess; thus Baobao would be exposed, and Baobao's exposure would bring their affair to light. Hu Xiaotian lowered his head: "Commander, forgive me; I, Hu Xiaotian, have not revealed the full truth."

Ji Feihua said: "The palace maids and eunuchs around Wen Ya all have backgrounds; how could the Zajia fail to investigate these matters? When you were in the Imperial Garden Bureau, that palace maid came to you many times; your relationship need not be pointed out by the Zajia."

Hu Xiaotian's forehead broke out in cold sweat; his head drooped, his body like a question mark: "I, Hu Xiaotian, am utterly without excuse; Commander, whether you kill or dismember me, I harbor not the slightest resentment."

Ji Feihua said: "It must be that Ma Liangpeng happened to stumble upon your secret, so you two, unwilling to rest, joined forces to kill him. Unfortunately, you had no time to dispose of the corpse before it was discovered, causing this uproar; otherwise, Ma Liangpeng would have vanished like Rong Baoxing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "That palace maid is my spy; she helped me monitor the Bright Moon Palace's movements. Last night she secretly came to my room to report, and at that moment I noticed someone eavesdropping outside the window."

Ji Feihua nodded slowly: "No matter how many heads and arms one has, one cannot attend to every matter; you have done well. Although Ma Liangpeng was killed by you, the old saying 'a loss may be a gain' holds. Now many in the palace know the Zajia treat you well; even though Quan De'an personally sent you into the palace and urged you to approach me, hearing this he cannot help but suspect. Killing Ma Liangpeng conveniently boosts his confidence in you."

Hu Xiaotian secretly felt fortunate; it seems Ji Feihua does not intend to pursue responsibility for Ma Liangpeng's death. Hu Xiaotian said: "Ji Gonggong, what do you want me to do?"

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia want you to help me eliminate someone."

Hu Xiaotian could not help but think of Wen Ya, secretly drawing a cold breath; if Ji Feihua ordered him to kill Wen Ya now, he might truly find it hard to steel himself.

Ji Feihua said: "Wen Ya's palace maid Wutong should be her channel to the outside world, also a pawn placed by Wen Chenghuan's faction in the palace; I want you to find an opportunity to remove her, severing Wen Ya's external contact."

Hu Xiaotian felt curious: Wutong communicated via birds, a fact Baobao told him last night, yet he did not know how Ji Feihua learned of it. It seems Ji Feihua's spies indeed permeate the palace; future interactions with this person must be more cautious. Hu Xiaotian whispered: "Wutong's martial arts are formidable; I may not be her match."

Ji Feihua said: "Killing does not necessarily require martial arts; most often it relies on this." He pointed to his own head.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander, rest assured; this woman constantly targets me; I, Hu Xiaotian, have long wanted to eliminate her."

Ji Feihua said: "It must be done silently, without alerting gods or ghosts; absolutely avoid stirring such a great storm again."

Hu Xiaotian said apologetically: "I, Hu Xiaotian, have caused you trouble."

Ji Feihua added: "Between us, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know; we must not tell a third party."

"Yes!"

"That palace maid is Lin Wan's personal attendant, from the Ice Jade Hall; Lin Wan actually took the initiative to give her own attendant to someone else, which is unreasonable in itself. Although the Emperor once favored her for a time, after his ascension he has grown distant; could she have borne resentment and taken it out on Talented Person? This is unknown."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Ji Gonggong, in fact I early noticed Lin Zhaoyi was abnormal, so I deliberately approached Baobao."

Ji Feihua laughed eerily: "You truly have many concerns; you need only manage the Bright Moon Palace affairs; other matters have nothing to do with you."

"Yes!"

After Hu Xiaotian left, Ji Feihua's gaze returned to the vase; suddenly he raised his hand, and the red plum blossom in the vase was lifted by an invisible force, slowly rising, hovering in midair. Ji Feihua gazed at the blossoming plum on the branch, yet a hint of sinister coldness appeared at the corner of his mouth; his spring‑onion‑like fingers gradually clenched, the floating plum branch was enveloped by an invisible force, then compressed toward the center, the branch snapped inch by inch, petals scattered. With a sudden burst of palm force, the red petals flew apart.

Ji Feihua pinched a petal drifting toward him, slowly brought it to his nostrils, inhaled its fragrance, a flicker of coldness passed through his phoenix eyes, and he said lightly: "You may come out!"

Behind the curtain, a woman in a deep blue cloak stepped slowly forward, approached Ji Feihua, made a slight bow, and coquettishly said: "I pay my respects, Master!" This woman was actually the mistress of the Ice Jade Hall, Dakang Imperial Consort Lin Wan.

Ji Feihua whispered: "Did you hear everything?"

Lin Wan hummed, sat beside Ji Feihua, tried to rest her head on his shoulder; Ji Feihua frowned, rose before she could lean on him, clasped his hands behind his back, and gave Lin Wan a lonely, cold silhouette.

Lin Wan's eye rims were somewhat red; she whispered softly: "Have I, Wan'er, done something wrong?"

Ji Feihua calmly said: "Does Baobao know about your affairs?"

Lin Wan shook her head: "She resists last night's events."

Ji Feihua said indifferently: "After the Bright Moon Palace affair is settled, I will arrange for her to leave the palace; some things need not be known too clearly by her."

Lin Wan whispered: "Why does the Master favor Hu Xiaotian so greatly?"

Ji Feihua chuckled: "Favor? The Zajia merely wish to use him."

Lin Wan said: "Hu Xiaotian is crafty and sinister; the Master must beware of being bitten back by him."

"The Master perhaps does not yet know; he already possesses the antidote for the Myriad Insect Bone‑Corroding Pill."

Ji Feihua turned sharply, his phoenix eyes blazing with cold light: "What did you say?"

Lin Wan said: "He used the Revival Flute to stir the medicinal power within me, tormenting me beyond endurance; I suspect he has contacted Hong Beimo."

Ji Feihua looked doubtful: "Can you be certain?"

"Absolutely certain; I suspect he used the same method on Baobao, even having already controlled her; my sister has recently changed greatly, many things are being hidden from me."

Ji Feihua narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, suddenly reached out to seize Lin Wan's jade wrist; a stream of icy inner energy flowed along her meridians into her body; Lin Wan's delicate frame trembled, feeling a sting, yet Ji Feihua had already released her wrist, coldly saying: "You have not deceived me."

A hint of indescribable sorrow appeared on Lin Wan's lovely face: "When have I ever deceived you?"

Ji Feihua said: "Hong Beimo is in Da Yong; it is impossible for him to contact Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian will certainly not be his man."

Lin Wan said: "But the Revival Flute is in his hand; I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be wrong? Moreover, he has the antidote for the Ten Thousand Insects Bone-Eroding Pill."

Ji Feihua said: "You mean, there are still allies of Hong Beimo in this palace?"

Lin Wan nodded and said: "Certainly!"

Ji Feihua slowly nodded.

Lin Wan said: "Why not seize Hu Xiaotian and torture him to extract a confession? Surely we can get the truth from his mouth."

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