Chapter 391: [Using the Enemy's Plan Against Them] (Part 1)

He carried the lit brazier back inside, pulled out a chair and sat down, propping his chin with his hands as he watched Ji Feihua sleeping soundly, recalling everything that had happened tonight. Why didn't Ji Feihua heed the Emperor's summons? Why did he insist on leaving the palace? Why wouldn't he even dare to linger in the palace? What was he worried about? Was he afraid someone in the palace might harm him? Why was the Ice Soul Asura Palm that struck Wen Ya so vicious? Ji Feihua's healing of her actually drained so much of his internal strength, even causing him internal injury—was he truly injured, or was he merely pretending?

Hu Xiaotian thought it over and over, growing more and more puzzled.

Just then Ji Feihua woke up leisurely, he sat up from the bed, wrapped in his blankets, gazing at the brazier inside the room, then his gaze shifted to Hu Xiaotian, he gave a faint smile; in just a little over an hour, he had visibly grown much more gaunt.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, you're awake?"

Ji Feihua said: "How long have I slept?"

"Less than half an hour, Sir, how do you feel?"

Ji Feihua undid his cap and sash, his long hair flowing down like a waterfall over his shoulders, his half-open eyes said: "I thought I was going to die..."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Sir, with such great fortune and destiny, nothing could happen to you."

Ji Feihua sighed: "It's my own oversight; I never expected Wen Ya's injuries to be so severe, draining much of my internal strength and reopening my old wound, which is why I ended up like this."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, why did you come here?"

Ji Feihua said: "I don't even understand myself; at the time I felt the palace was full of danger, with too many people wishing me harm, so I had only one thought: I must leave the palace, the farther the better."

Hu Xiaotian opened the window of the thatched hut a little to prevent too much carbon monoxide from building up inside. He did not believe Ji Feihua's explanation; Ji Feihua always acted meticulously, calculating nearly every step precisely, never acting blindly.

Ji Feihua said: "This is the last place I lived before entering the palace."

Hu Xiaotian stared for a moment, turned to look at Ji Feihua; Ji Feihua's eyes shone like stars, faintly glistening with tears.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Everything here is well preserved."

Ji Feihua said: "It had long been destroyed; three years ago I had Old Wu secretly rebuild this place. Apart from the three of us, no one else knows its location."

Hu Xiaotian felt a pang of shame, never expecting Ji Feihua to trust him so much. He placed the Return-to-Origin Pill given by Qin Yutong on the small table, then suddenly recalled that Quan De'an had also given him some Hundred Flowers Dew Drops Pill; he quickly took them out and offered them to Ji Feihua: "This is the Hundred Flowers Dew Drops Pill given by Eunuch Quan; perhaps it could help your injury."

Ji Feihua laughed. This time he did not refuse Hu Xiaotian's kindness; he took the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, put it in his mouth, swallowed it, then said: "I suddenly feel a little hungry, Hu Xiaotian. Go outside and see if you can find something to eat."

Hu Xiaotian answered, rose and went out; Ji Feihua called after him: "Put on my sable fur coat; it's cold outside."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "No need, I can tough it out!" He left the thatched hut, looked around—nothing but a vast white expanse and this small lake; the north wind howled, fish hid beneath the water, weary birds returned to their nests. Where could he find even a scrap of food?

Holding the thought of giving it a try, Hu Xiaotian walked along the long bridge to the lakeshore; in the endless white snowfield, aside from the earlier cart tracks were only his own footprints, he found no trace of any animal activity, shook his head, thinking he would return empty-handed. Just as he was about to turn back, he noticed a white bundle in the distance, walked over, and discovered it was a collapsed thatched shed; beside the shed lay a field ridge. He searched inside the shed and actually found two sweet potatoes; overjoyed, he felt the trip hadn't been in vain, and carried the sweet potatoes back to the thatched hut.

Ji Feihua was already sitting cross-legged on the bed, beginning to regulate his breath, presumably healing his wounds; Hu Xiaotian did not disturb him, placing the sweet potatoes on the brazier to roast, and soon the sweet, rich aroma of the roasted sweet potatoes filled the hut.

Ji Feihua opened his eyes and praised: "Smells great!" He got up, left the bed, and came to Hu Xiaotian's side.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I couldn't find anything good; I just picked up two sweet potatoes from a nearby shelter." He handed over one of the roasted sweet potatoes to Ji Feihua.

Ji Feihua took the sweet potato, peeled off its skin, revealing golden-yellow flesh, steaming hot and fragrant; he took a bite, but the scalding sweet potato made him repeatedly blow on it, still murmuring: "So fragrant, so fragrant!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, finally understanding what "hot-hand sweet potato" meant; he reminded Ji Feihua: "Sir, you mustn't be hasty when eating sweet potato."

Ji Feihua laughed: "This sweet potato is truly delicious, making me drool."

At this moment Hu Xiaotian noticed that Ji Feihua did not refer to himself as Zajia; in the lamplight Ji Feihua's appearance was alluring and his demeanor charming, clearly a peerlessly beautiful maiden—how could he have been born in a male body? Hu Xiaotian stared at Ji Feihua, unable to look away.

Ji Feihua noticed Hu Xiaotian's gaze, his expression becoming even more alluring and enchanting, he whispered: "What are you staring at me for?"

Hu Xiaotian, reminded by him, came to his senses, embarrassed smile: "Hu Xiaotian has never seen Sir laugh so happily before."

Ji Feihua chuckled, turned and sat beside the bed, nodding: "If you hadn't reminded me, I myself would have forgotten when I last felt this happy." He gazed at the sweet potato in his hand and said: "It turns out human happiness can be so simple." His gaze grew somewhat dazed.

Hu Xiaotian thought: You're used to a life of fine clothes and rich food, feasting on mountain delicacies and seafood every meal; now a single sweet potato makes you this happy—if you were starved for a month, you'd likely give up your authority for a sweet potato.

Ji Feihua took another bite of sweet potato and said: "Hu Xiaotian, why aren't you eating?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I already had dinner, I'm not hungry now; besides, Sir, you've exhausted yourself today, your belly is empty, so any good food naturally goes to you first."

Ji Feihua's smile blossomed like a flower, his bright eyes shining, he said softly: "Am I not indebted to you with a huge favor?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's just a sweet potato; Sir, you overstate it."

Ji Feihua said: "This isn't the palace; you needn't stand on ceremony. If I recall correctly, you're seventeen, right?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "It's rare that Sir still remembers my age."

Ji Feihua said: "I'm nine years older than you; when we're alone, you can call me elder brother."

Hu Xiaotian felt somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, addressing Ji Feihua as brother—he still lacked the boldness for that, he smiled and said: "I'd rather just call you Sir, it feels more natural."

Ji Feihua seemed a little annoyed: "Suit yourself!"

Hu Xiaotian saw that Ji Feihua had finished his sweet potato, and handed over the other one.

Ji Feihua didn't stand on ceremony with him, took it and ate it.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, how many years have you been in the palace?"

Ji Feihua stared, his eyes showing a hint of confusion, after a moment's thought he said: "I entered the palace at seven, and it's been a full nineteen years to this day."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, you must have endured much hardship to get where you are today."

Ji Feihua lifted his head, quietly gazing at Hu Xiaotian, then suddenly chuckled: "To live in this world is inherently a hardship; you speak of me, but your heart is actually thinking of your own plight, isn't it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hu Xiaotian's lowly station dare not compare with Sir's."

Ji Feihua said: "Having spent nineteen years in the palace, I've seen those of high rank and power, those who grovel, those ambitious, and those who live without contention; I've gradually realized that the human heart is the hardest thing to fathom in this world—what is said and what is thought never match, and no one willingly remains beneath another; outward humility may conceal a hatred that runs to the bone."

Hu Xiaotian hastily protested: "Hu Xiaotian bears no such ill will toward Sir."

Your lack of ill will toward me is because you know your own limits, aware that your strength is vastly inferior to mine, far from being a match; once your wings grow full, who's to say you won't develop other thoughts?

Sir...

Ji Feihua cut him off: "I am one who has been through this; I know better than anyone the psychological changes here. Has Quan De'an ever told you that my martial arts were passed down solely by him?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Ji Feihua added: "Did he say that my present status is entirely due to his single-handed promotion?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "He indeed said that."

Ji Feihua smiled: "He wasn't lying; initially I, like you, obeyed him completely, reverent and respectful, because back then I could only look up to others, unable to see his flaws, and even if I did, I dared not point them out; later, as I gradually grew up, I suddenly realized he was far weaker than I had imagined."

Hu Xiaotian listened attentively; Ji Feihua spoke very candidly, his psychological journey perhaps being the very path Hu Xiaotian will have to walk in the future. Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir, there are many things about your actions that I cannot understand."

Ji Feihua laughed: "Anyway, it's nothing; go ahead and speak your mind."

Sir, you made many preparations beforehand, including assigning me to the Bright Moon Palace, which shows your vigilance against the Talented Person entering the palace; forgive my frankness, if you wanted to eliminate this hidden danger, this would have been the perfect opportunity—why then would you rather suffer bodily harm and spare no expense to save the Talented Person's life?

Ji Feihua said: "Wen Ya is nothing to fear; what truly makes me wary are the people behind her. You are very clever; there are many things you cannot hide from your eyes. Do you know why I discarded so many of my trusted subordinates, only bringing you out of the palace?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xiaotian also cannot figure it out."

Ji Feihua said: "It's not that you don't understand; it's that you dare not speak. Don't have any worries—just say it."

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