Chapter 373

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Dao is high by one chi, the demon is high by one zhang; as for which of the two is truly superior, we'll have to wait and see." When he said these words, Hu Xiaotian suddenly thought of Quan De'an; recently Quan De'an seemed to have suddenly become much quieter, even not taking the initiative to contact him. Could it be that he is secretly accumulating strength to prepare a full-force strike against Ji Feihua? Or is he becoming wary because he and Ji Feihua have gotten too close?

Although he showed some resistance on the surface, Hu Xiaotian still could not ignore Wen Ya's summons; together with Baobao he left the Imperial Gardens Bureau. Before departing, Shi Xuedong brought over two hand warmers; Hu Xiaotian kept one and gave the other to Baobao. The two walked side by side toward Clear Moon Palace; the snow had just stopped, and the roads inside the imperial palace gardens were already filled with sweeping eunuchs. Hu Xiaotian's reputation within the palace was growing day by day; as he passed, many eunuchs would stop what they were doing and salute him.

The two arrived at Clear Moon Palace and saw that the road outside the palace had been swept clean. Wang Ren stood at the gate with his hands tucked in his sleeves, looking forward to something. Seeing Hu Xiaotian and his companion return, he hurried forward to greet them, bowing and saying: "Lord Hu, you've finally returned; the Empress has arrived and is asking for you."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; Empress Jian's concern for Wen Ya was truly touching—if not out of mutual enmity, how could a woman set aside her jealousy? Hu Xiaotian dared not delay; he hurried into Clear Moon Palace, where at the gate he met Empress Jian's personal attendant, Zhao Jinxi. Zhao Xinxi wore a smug expression and said: "Little Beard has come; the Empress and the Talented Person are both waiting for you."

Hu Xiaotian snorted coldly; he had no fondness for Zhao Jinxi either. Back then this little eunuch, together with Wang Decai, had framed him. Although Wang Decai is now dead, this fellow is still alive. Zhao Jinxi is Empress Jian's personal attendant; his status in the inner palace is rather lofty. In the past he never regarded Hu Xiaotian, a lowly eunuch, as worth noticing, but now Hu Xiaotian has become Deputy Director of the Imperial Gardens Bureau and also serves as steward eunuch of Clear Moon Palace, putting his actual rank above Zhao Jinxi's. Thus the title "Little Beard" is merely an expression of his inner dissatisfaction.

Hu Xiaotian did not rush inside; he fixed his icy gaze on Zhao Jinxi's eyes until the man lowered his head, then coldly said: "Zajia, did you mishear? What did you just call me?"

Zhao Jinxi dared not respond; his forehead was already covered in cold sweat.

Hu Xiaotian said: "We haven't met often, so you may not fully understand Zajia's temperament; I repay grudges. Heh, so for someone like me, it's best not to offend me."

Recalling Wang Decai's final fate, Zhao Jinxi grew ever more frightened; he secretly regretted his sharp tongue—why bother winning a verbal spat when it's not worth offending this guy? His resolve softened at once, and he whispered: "Lord Hu, the Empress and the others are waiting for you..."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian nod in satisfaction, patting Zhao Jinxi's shoulder and saying: "Xiao Xi Zi, actually we're the same kind of people; we ought to look after each other, don't you agree?"

"Lord Hu is absolutely right, Lord Hu is absolutely right..."

Hu Xiaotian utterly despised this spineless wretch—he was even worse than Wang Decai.

Entering the inner chambers, they saw Empress Jian and Wen Ya seated beside a carved sandalwood tea table, drinking tea. Empress Jian wore a yellow robe adorned with the motif of a hundred birds facing the phoenix. On her head sat a gold-inlaid, kingfisher-feathered phoenix crown; her whole person seemed wrapped in a layer of gaudy gold, splendid and radiant, almost blinding Hu Xiaotian—truly dazzling. In contrast, Wen Ya wore only a blue long skirt, her hair coiled into a lotus bun, with nothing more than a simple silver hairpin; no extra adornments. The comparison did not make Wen Ya seem inferior; rather, it highlighted her pure, lotus‑like grace. Her eyes were exceptionally lovely, their gaze shifting, endowed with an innate allure; as her name suggests, she was elegant and dignified. Although Empress Jian's attire was extravagantly noble, it could not conceal her inherent vulgarity.

Empress Jian glanced at Hu Xiaotian from the corner of her eye and drawled: "Hu Xiaotian, I ordered you to properly attend to the Talented Person, yet you seem to be obeying in word but defying in deed!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "It's not that I'm obeying in word but defying in deed; rather, lately there have been far too many matters, I'm exhausted running about, and some things simply cannot be balanced on both sides."

Empress Jian snorted coldly: "Then I'll tell them to have you hand over the Imperial Gardens Bureau's affairs to others and just stay peacefully in Clear Moon Palace to serve the Talented Person."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed: "This little plot of land is all I have, and you actually want to move on it, to strip me of the authority of the Imperial Gardens Bureau—no way."

At this moment Wen Ya spoke: "Little Beard is fairly diligent; besides, there's not much going on in Clear Moon Palace, so I let him go to the Imperial Gardens Bureau to get more experience, after all that post also carries important responsibilities."

Empress Jian took Wen Ya's hand and said: "Little sister, you're just too good‑tempered; but with these servants you still need to discipline them when necessary, otherwise they'll grow arrogant from favor and turn their noses up at you."

Wen Ya replied: "Elder sister, rest assured, I will remember."

Hu Xiaotian secretly mused: "Their relationship really is getting closer by the day; in just a few days they've taken to calling each other sisters. One is so hypocritical, yet a common enemy can quickly bring two people together—their mutual enemy is likely Ji Feihua."

Empress Jian said: "I should be going too, little sister; be sure to remember what I just told you."

"Elder sister, don't worry, I won't forget." Wen Ya rose to see her off, and Hu Xiaotian followed behind to escort her. All the way to sending Empress Jian out of Clear Moon Palace, they happened to meet Guard Commander Chen Chengqiang arriving. Chen Chengqiang and the two guards behind him hurried forward to pay their respects.

Empress Jian glanced at the several guards and asked: "What brings you here?"

Chen Chengqiang said: "Because of the murder case in Clear Moon Palace, I have some matters I specially came to ask Lord Hu about."

Hu Xiaotian felt displeased; this fellow seemed to have latched onto him—even Ji Feihua has indicated she will no longer pursue the cause of Ma Liangpeng's death, yet Chen Chengqiang insists on not letting him go; could it be that he truly intends to have me punished?

Empress Jian turned her gaze toward Clear Moon Palace, let out a soft sigh, and recalled Wang Decai who had died in Clear Moon Palace; a sudden sense of foreboding rose within her—having already lost two lives in a short span, could it be that Clear Moon Palace is truly an ill‑omened place?

After Empress Jian departed, Chen Chengqiang again approached Wen Ya and paid his respects: "Talented Person, Your humble servant still has some matters that require Lord Hu's cooperation in the investigation."

Wen Ya said: "Lord Hu is right here; if you have anything, just ask him directly." Having said that, she turned and left.

Hu Xiaotian also turned to leave, but Chen Chengqiang called out: "Lord Hu, please stay."

Hu Xiaotian had no intention of indulging him; he continued walking forward at a leisurely pace. The two guards who had followed Chen Chengqiang rushed up and blocked his path. Hu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes at them and sneered: "Good dogs don't block the road. Such a simple principle—don't you two understand it?"

The two guards flushed with anger, their eyes locking in unison on Hu Xiaotian.

Chen Chengqiang laughed from behind Hu Xiaotian: "Lord Hu, don't misunderstand; we merely want to ask you a few questions, with no other intention."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Say whatever you have to say, finish it all at once; the Zajia still has many things to attend to."

"It won't take too long." Chen Chengqiang glanced at the gate of the Bright Moon Palace: "Why don't we talk inside Lord Hu's quarters?"

Hu Xiaotian bluntly refused: "Let's talk right here; the Bright Moon Palace is the residence of the Talented Person, and it would be quite inconvenient for Guard Chen to come and go."

Chen Chengqiang laughed: "Then let's talk here." He dismissed the two guards and then asked: "On the night Ma Liangpeng was killed, were you alone in your room, Lord Hu, or was there someone else present?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "What do you mean, Commander Chen? Naturally, it was just the Zajia alone."

Chen Chengqiang said, "According to what you said, Lord Hu, you rushed out to rescue someone after hearing that palace maid's cry for help."

"Not bad!"

"But we found two people's hair in Lord Hu's room."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Hair?"

Chen Chengqiang said, "It was on Lord Hu's bed; although the strands are faint, we can still discern a difference by their texture and smell. Based on these clues, finding the owner of the hair is not difficult."

Hu Xiaotian sneered, "I really didn't expect Commander Chen to be such an expert investigator; with your abilities, you should be a constable in the Ministry of Punishment instead of guarding the palace gate—it's a waste of talent."

Chen Chengqiang paid no heed to Hu Xiaotian's sarcasm and continued: "There are some broken tiles in the courtyard of the Bright Moon Palace; according to my on‑site inspection, these tiles happen to have come from Lord Hu's roof, which suggests that Lord Hu's light‑body skill is not bad—scaling walls and crossing courtyards is as easy as walking on level ground."

Hu Xiaotian said, "That sounds like the work of a flying thief, but the Zajia certainly doesn't have that skill. Commander Chen, are you confused by the matter of an intruding flying thief, to the point that you now suspect the Zajia as well?"

Chen Chengqiang said, "I never engage in baseless speculation. Lord Hu, could you tell me who left hair on your bed?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Even the Zajia doesn't know; Commander Chen, you'd better help me investigate—let's find out who left that hair on my bed, because the Zajia is curious too."

Chen Chengqiang said, "In the palace, affairs between eunuchs and palace maids that are hard to clear up have happened before; once discovered, they are surely punished severely. If I were to report this to my superiors, do you think Lord Hu could explain himself away?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Commander Chen seems to be threatening me!"

Chen Chengqiang laughed, "I wouldn't dare; Lord Hu, you are a prominent figure in the palace, and I am merely offering a friendly reminder—there's no threat here." He fixed his gaze on Hu Xiaotian's eyes and asked: "Do you think it's possible that a bold palace maid sneaked into your room in the dead of night, and this scene was coincidentally witnessed by an unfortunate eunuch, prompting someone to silence the matter by killing?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Some things must never be spoken carelessly, or they could get you killed."

Chen Chengqiang said, "Some things I may say or not say; in the end it depends on what Lord Hu decides to do."

Hu Xiaotian detected the threatening tone in those words, couldn't help feeling a bit amused—did Chen Chengqiang really think this matter could threaten him? He didn't know what this fellow's aim was, so he decided to test him, and thus said: "Commander Chen, what do you want me to do?"

Chen Chengqiang laughed, "Lord Hu should be a sensible person; I only wish to be friends with you, with no other intentions."

"No way!" Hu Xiaotian inwardly sneered, "Chen Chengqiang, this jumping clown, dares to threaten me—he must be tired of living. But what is his purpose in threatening me? Which side does he represent?"

Thanks to fsfasfsdg for the floating red tip, an extra chapter is coming up! (To be continued~^~)