Chapter 397

Lin Wan was startled; just a moment's hesitation gave Hu Xiaotian an opening, and he kicked her hard in the lower abdomen. It wasn't that Hu Xiaotian didn't know how to cherish fragrance and jade, but this person before him absolutely could not be shown mercy. Lin Wan groaned in pain, her body retreating more than a zhang, then immediately lunged forward again, her hands opening and closing, the steel finger cots on her fingers shooting out.

Hu Xiaotian saw the finger cots coming with fierce force, panicked and darted behind a pillar, only to hear Duo! Duo! Duo! Duo! nonstop, the steel finger cots sinking deep into the pillar. Hu Xiaotian broke out in a cold sweat; this woman truly was a rare wild game, he shouted loudly: "Wait! I have something to say!"

Lin Wan snapped: "If you have something to say, say it fast; if you have a fart, let it out fast!"

Hu Xiaotian, Imperial Concubine Zhaoyi of Dakang: One must speak in a refined and gentle manner to win His Majesty's favor.

Lin Wan gritted her teeth: "Today I will surely crush your bones and scatter your ashes, eunuch villain, to relieve my hatred!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you kill me, the toxins in your body may never be fully cleared in this lifetime; besides, with your skill you don't have the ability to kill me."

Lin Wan's words were fierce, but she did not continue the attack; Hu Xiaotian's words were not exaggerated, if they really fought, she would have a slight edge, but killing Hu Xiaotian would not be that easy.

Lin Wan said: "Come out!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Lady Lin, your words are mistaken; whether I come out is up to me. It's not that I'll come out just because you want me to. Although I am lowly, a man still has this bit of self-respect; the more you want me to come out, the more I'll refuse to comply."

Lin Wan, both ashamed and angry, her face flushed red, she gritted her teeth: "Eunuch scum, one day I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces. Flaying you and tearing out your tendons will ease my hatred."

Hu Xiaotian, Lin Wan, and Imperial Concubine Zhaoyi: The Emperor does not know the Emperor's arrangements.

Lin Wan, smoke pouring from her seven orifices in anger: "Nonsense! Today I will take your life."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "A gentleman settles things with words, not fists; if we keep fighting, it'll only end in mutual loss. Better to sit down and talk calmly."

Lin Wan said: "Nothing to discuss with you!"

Hu Xiaotian and Lin Wan: The Empress and the Emperor do not know that his father-in-law's surname is Hong.

Lin Wan

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "I've already told Lady Lin that I'm just a broken tile; why bother quarreling with me over trifles? And don't worry about damaging your status."

Lin Wan's chest heaved with anger; how did she encounter such a lazy, clueless person? You brat are the clueless trouble. Yet she couldn't deny that what Hu Xiaotian said made sense. Continuing to quarrel with him would bring no benefit, and Hu Xiaotian wasn't her primary target for removal; recalling her important mission, Lin Wan instantly calmed, looking at Hu Xiaotian's frivolous, roguish smile, she suddenly realized he was deliberately provoking her. Lin Wan said: "You're not a broken tile, nor am I porcelain, but if you really provoke me, this palace will not hesitate to pay any price and perish together with you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Not seeking to live together, but to die together; what merit or ability do I, Hu Xiaotian, have to be so favored by Consort Lin?"

Lin Wan had already seen through his intention, knowing he meant to provoke her, her mood instead calmed, she smiled: "Counting Baobao, the palace still gains one."

Hu Xiaotian said: "She's your sister; how could you really bear to strike her?" Although he appeared frivolous and smiling, he still couldn't help worrying; Lin Wan was vicious and cruel, and if provoked, she might do anything.

Lin Wan said: "In this world, the palace has no relatives at all, and she never regarded the palace as family; otherwise, how could she have sold the palace out? Hu Xiaotian, if you truly care for her life, just obediently do one thing for me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Speak, I'm listening."

Lin Wan beckoned to him; Hu Xiaotian had no trust in this woman at all, fearing she might suddenly attack him, so although he took a few steps toward her, he still kept a certain distance.

Lin Wan curled her lips in disdain: "Coward! Are you afraid the palace will eat you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "My mother said, women are man-eating demons who don't spit out bones; the more beautiful the woman, the truer this is, so when I see a beautiful woman I must keep my distance."

Lin Wan knew he was talking nonsense, but hearing that also complimented her beauty naturally pleased her greatly; seeing Hu Xiaotian with a straight nose, square mouth, clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, she secretly sighed, a shame such a fine appearance belongs to a eunuch. Lin Wan snorted: "You're a eunuch; no woman would be interested in you."

She returned to the qin table and sat down, taking out a square box from inside; after opening it, there was still a box inside, layer upon layer, a total of five boxes opened, revealing a brocade box the size of a tofu block.

Hu Xiaotian saw her wrapping the brocade box so tightly, guessing that whatever was inside must be very important.

Lin Wan carefully took out the brocade box and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

"What's inside?" Hu Xiaotian placed the brocade box in his palm, faintly hearing a rustling sound that clearly came from inside the box.

Lin Wan said: "Just some tiny insects; you must be extremely careful, for once released, the consequences would be dire."

Hu Xiaotian originally had the thought of opening it to look, but hearing her say that, he hastily put the small box down: "We don't really know each other well; no need to give me such a big gift."

Lin Wan's alluring eyes flashed with autumn waves: "There's no reason for things the palace gives out to be returned. I give you one day to scatter the contents of this small box onto Wen Ya's bed; isn't that very simple? You must remember exactly how to open it."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What great grudge do you have against her?" Meanwhile he couldn't help worrying secretly about Wen Ya's fate; first Ji Feihua gave him a bottle of pills to divide over seven days and mix into her food, now Lin Wan wants him to scatter the poisonous insects onto her bed. It seems Wen Ya has become the primary target for elimination from multiple sides.

Lin Wan said: "You don't need to ask why; you only need to remember one thing: if by this time tomorrow I don't get what I want, you'd better prepare to collect Baobao's corpse."

Hu Xiaotian angrily said: "Threatening me?"

Lin Wan said: "Not a threat, it's the truth; if you don't believe me, feel free to make a bet with me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How do I know Baobao is in your hands?" He, wary of causing harm to the innocent while aiming at the guilty, could only think of first stabilizing Lin Wan to get a chance to see Baobao, ensuring her safety.

Lin Wan said: "Tomorrow you'll find out; the palace has never been patient, and if you don't do as I say, the palace will certainly let her die without a burial place."

Hu Xiaotian pressed his lips, picked up the box again, and glared at Lin Wan: "Remember this as well. If you dare to play tricks with me, even if Baobao loses a single hair, I will make you regret ever coming into this world."

Lin Wan smiled: "Baobao finally didn't misjudge you; you are truly devoted and righteous. Hu Xiaotian, I'm not afraid to tell you that since entering the palace I have already regarded myself as dead; if you accomplish this for me, from now on we will draw a clear line and have no further entanglements. I will also help you and Baobao leave the palace, so that thereafter you may fly side by side, enjoying a blissful life of shared nests."

Hu Xiaotian didn't believe a word of Lin Wan's words; helpless as Baobao was in Lin Wan's grasp, he could only agree first, stabilize her temporarily, then consider a rescue plan. As for the task she set him, dragging it out day by day, meanwhile Wen Ya's situation was looking grim—Ji Feihua wanted to deal with her, and now Lin Wan also wanted to deal with her; could this Talented Person have offended the Grand Duke? It seems everyone wants to get rid of her as soon as possible.

At dusk, Hu Xiaotian finally returned to the Bright Moon Palace; Empress Jian had already left, hearing that Wen Ya had awakened, Hu Xiaotian immediately entered the palace to visit her.

Wen Ya's recovery speed far exceeded Hu Xiaotian's imagination; last night she was still unconscious, yet today she could already walk about freely. When Hu Xiaotian entered the inner chambers, Wen Ya was quietly looking at the painting of bees gathering flowers on the desk by the window; this painting was indeed created by Wen Boyuan, and was originally intended as a gift for Princess Anping Long Xi Yue, but because of Hu Xiaotian's words, Long Xi Yue refused to accept it.

Wen Ya and Hu Xiaotian: This painting was indeed painted by Wen Boyuan, and it was originally intended as a gift for Princess Anping Long Xi Yue.

Wen Ya said: "Where did you go?" Her tone was somewhat cold.

Hu Xiaotian: Empress Jian has just arrived.

Wen Ya said: "I meant last night."

"Last night this subordinate escorted Lord Ji back; returning late, I feared disturbing the Talented Person's rest, so I slept in the Office of Imperial Gardens." Hu Xiaotian naturally would not reveal the whole truth.

Wen Ya let out a soft sigh: "How is Lord Ji? The palace still hasn't personally thanked him for saving my life."

Hu Xiaotian covertly observed Wen Ya's expression, noticing her cheeks flushed red, gorgeous as peach and plum, with no trace of illness; recalling Ji Feihua's evaluation of her from last night, he felt increasingly strange—just who is Wen Ya? Could she truly be a hidden master? Otherwise, how could she recover so quickly after a serious illness?

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