Chapter 413

Long Tingsheng saw his mother's furious expression and knew she was truly angry, lowering his voice: "Empress Mother, this Hu Xiaotian indeed has some skill; if it weren't for him rescuing us today, Father Emperor would surely still suffer the torment of illness."

Empress Jian, no matter how much she dislikes Hu Xiaotian in her heart, also acknowledges the fact that he cured the Emperor. She lowered her voice: "Talented but lacking virtue! This child has a wolfish ambition, absolutely not a good sort; he and Ji Feihua are in collusion, do not be deceived by his performance." Her aversion to Hu Xiaotian cannot be changed for a while.

Long Tingsheng does not think like his mother; since Hu Xiaotian can be used by Ji Feihua, he can also be used by himself. Having grown up in the palace since childhood, he understands the eunuchs' mindset very well; eunuchs usually cherish power and profit, and because of their physical disabilities, their desire for power is even stronger than ordinary people's. As long as he offers favorable conditions, he need not worry that this boy won't be moved. The crowd is many and eyes are scattered, not the time to persuade his mother; Long Tingsheng merely smiled and said nothing more.

At this moment, Quan De'an accompanied Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan and Left Chancellor Zhou Ruiyuan to visit the Emperor. Although the imperial palace could block news of the Emperor's illness, eventually some rumors leaked out. Upon hearing the news, these senior officials of the court immediately came to visit.

The eunuch delivered the message inside; several senior officials of the court were all waiting outside. Quan De'an slowly approached Hu Xiaotian's side; although he had not personally experienced the whole process just now, he had already learned from other channels what had just happened.

Since the Bright Moon Palace fire incident, Hu Xiaotian has developed great resentment toward Quan De'an, in Quan De'an's heart. He has always been merely a pawn. To deal with Ji Feihua, he actually did not hesitate to choose to abandon himself; although both he and Ji Feihua are using him, compared to each other, the superiority is clear—Ji Feihua actually has more human feeling and more responsibility than he does. Unconsciously, Hu Xiaotian's heart has already leaned toward Ji Feihua's side. Although he feels resentful inside, on the surface he remains very respectful: "Eunuch Quan has arrived."

Quan De'an looked at Hu Xiaotian before him and suddenly felt he had made a mistake. The handling of the Mingyue Palace fire incident was somewhat too hasty. He had wanted to use Hu Xiaotian's matter to shake Ji Feihua, but that was not so easy. He originally hoped that this fire at Mingyue Palace would burn Ji Feihua, but he never expected Hu Xiaotian's luck to be so good. Surgery! Quan De'an couldn't help but recall his own right leg that Hu Xiaotian had cut off. Hu Xiaotian's treatment method was nothing more than cutting out the affected area. In Quan De'an's view, this method could cure the illness in the shortest time, but it also had great drawbacks. When he was at the Lanruo Temple on Pengyin Mountain, although he saved his life, he paid the price of losing a right leg, and his martial prowess was thus greatly diminished. Yet he did not know which part of the Emperor's body this brat had cut off with surgery this time. Thinking of this, Quan De'an whispered: 'Does the Emperor's illness pose any hindrance?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'It's fine, the Emperor is blessed with great fortune; a virtuous person naturally enjoys heavenly favor.'

Quan De'an said with a sinister tone: 'Hu Xiaotian, you have great gall. You actually dared to cut open the Emperor's belly.' His voice did not sound like he was coming to accuse.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The circumstances forced me. I had no choice.'

Quan De'an said: 'I heard you took out a blood-sucking worm from the Emperor's belly?'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: 'Not bad!'

'Where is that worm now?'

'It has already been destroyed by Hu Xiaotian.'

Quan De'an was half-believing, half-doubting; Hu Xiaotian surely wasn't telling the truth. Destroying it meant there was no evidence left. This brat always had many tricks, and who knows what he did in there. He whispered: 'Your luck is not bad; this time you have rendered great service; the Emperor should reward you handsomely.'

'No merit sought, only no fault!' Hu Xiaotian's words had a double meaning. Actually, since he was forced into the palace, he never thought of currying favor with the Emperor to gain his favor; he only wanted to muddle through in the palace. When the wind died down, he would sneak away happily, leave the palace to live a carefree life. But contrary to his wishes, after entering the palace he had to do many unwilling things under the pressure of powerful figures.

Quan De'an said: 'The Zajia will clear you of the Mingyue Palace matter; the biggest trouble now is that Wen Taishi is demanding an explanation.' He put on a good-guy act in front of Hu Xiaotian, intending to shift responsibility.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'I have no grudge against Wen Taishi; why would he frame me for forging the will?'

Quan De'an said: 'Someone must bear responsibility for this matter.' The implication was that he also knew the will was likely genuine, but Wen Taishi refused to take responsibility, so it would fall on Hu Xiaotian.

At this moment, seeing Ji Feihua walk out of Xuanweigong, he glanced at the people outside the door and gave a slight nod. At the same time, the Emperor's personal eunuch came out and announced loudly: 'The Emperor summons Chancellor Zhou, Wen Taishi, and Eunuch Quan for an audience.'

Wen Chenghuan and the two others adjusted their robes and followed that eunuch into Xuanweigong.

As Ji Feihua passed Hu Xiaotian, she whispered: 'The Emperor has ordered you to stay here to attend him; for now, do not go anywhere, and take good care of the Emperor lest his condition relapse.'

Hu Xiaotian respectfully replied: 'Yes!'

As Zhou Shenyan approached the palace gate, his gaze drifted toward the distant Hu Xiaotian, and he happened to see Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua conversing; his expression was calm as an ancient well, but his eyes flickered with a complex, thought-provoking light.

After surgery, Emperor Long Yelin of Dakang felt much more comfortable. At this moment he leaned on the dragon throne, quietly waiting for the arrival of the three officials.

Zhou Shenyan and Wen Chenghuan were the meritorious officials who helped him ascend the throne; although Quan De'an was merely a eunuch, he had devoted himself body and soul to the Emperor's throne until death. Before they arrived, Wen Chenghuan's concerned voice rang out: 'Alas, Your Majesty, this old subject has come late and cannot share your worries; I am truly ashamed to face Your Majesty, deserving of ten thousand deaths...' He had not finished speaking before he burst into tears.

Zhou Shenyan remained as still as a mountain; after Emperor Long Yelin ascended the throne, he busied himself with state affairs, cleaning up Dakang's mess, preventing this vast yet riddled empire from collapsing utterly. To outsiders he seemed to have no leisure to notice the political struggles within Huangcheng, but in fact Zhou Shenyan was also escaping. As the saying goes, 'Until Qingfu dies, Lu's troubles will not cease'; Dakang's true Qingfu is power itself—if the desire for power in people's hearts is not restrained, Dakang's strife and national calamities will never end. The new sovereign's accession did not show Zhou Shenyan any fresh atmosphere; Dakang's fortunes grew ever more gloomy and decadent. Zhou Shenyan exhausted his energy day and night, spitting blood from his exertion; in just half a year, the hair at his temples had turned gray, the power in his hands grew heavier, the burden on his shoulders increased, and the pressure in his heart mounted.

In Zhou Shenyan's eyes, Wen Chenghuan's behavior was the utmost hypocrisy; after Emperor Long Yelin took the throne, Zhou Shenyan observed every move of these people, most of the time preferring to be merely a spectator. He watched them coldly, unwilling to mingle with them.

Quan De'an also played the role of a bystander at all times, but only on the surface; deep down he was unwilling to be merely a spectator, having already plunged into the power struggles within the court. He also thought Wen Chenghuan's current performance was exaggerated, but upon reflection, Wen Chenghuan had just lost his foster daughter, equivalent to losing the position of imperial son-in-law, and now the Emperor had fallen suddenly ill; several matters had piled up together, so the old tutor's tears were understandable.

Emperor Long Yelin softly sighed and said: 'Wen Aiqing, I am fine, why are you weeping so bitterly?' After saying that, he only then recalled the Mingyue Palace incident; today, having fallen suddenly ill and suffering unbearable pain, he had already set aside the matter of the Mingyue Palace fire, but now he remembered it and realized that Wen Chenghuan was weeping not for himself but for his daughter.

Wen Chenghuan wiped his tears as he said: 'May Heaven protect the Emperor; Your Majesty is unharmed, this old subject weeps from extreme joy.'

Seeing the three officials kneeling in unison before his bed, Emperor Long Yelin waved his hand and said: 'All rise; I said before that when you see Me, you need not perform the kowtow.'

The three exchanged a glance before rising. Quan De'an asked: 'Your Majesty, do you feel better?'

Emperor Long Yelin nodded and said: 'Much better. When I fell ill just now I felt as if I could not bear to live; fortunately Hu Xiaotian helped Me extract the blood-sucking worm from My body, otherwise the consequences would be unthinkable.'

Wen Chenghuan said: 'Your Majesty, I have just heard that Hu Xiaotian actually used a blade to cut open Your Majesty's dragon body?'

Emperor Long Yelin pointed to his lower right abdomen and said: 'Just a small incision; otherwise how could that worm be taken out?'

Wen Chenghuan said: 'Your Majesty's body is worth a myriad of gold; how could you allow him to act rashly? This fellow harbors sinister intentions; I hope Your Majesty will keep far away from him.'

Emperor Long Yelin did not like to hear those words, but out of face he did not rebuke him; he only said softly: 'Wen Aiqing, you are overthinking; if Hu Xiaotian harbored sinister intentions, he would have acted against Me just now, so why would he have saved Me?'

Wen Chenghuan said: 'Your Majesty, do you not know he is the son of the rebel Hu Buwei? In the Mingyue Palace fire case he is also a major suspect… Your Majesty…' As he said this, Wen Chenghuan began to sob again, and while lifting his sleeve to wipe his tears he covertly gave Quan De'an a glance.

Quan De'an said: 'Wen Taishi is also acting out of concern for Your Majesty's safety; it is his painstaking effort.'

Emperor Long Yelin sounded somewhat surprised: 'Is the Mingyue Palace fire case related to him? Have you investigated it thoroughly?'

Wen Chenghuan mournfully said: 'Your Majesty, in the Mingyue Palace fire only he escaped unharmed; alas, my daughter and six palace maids and eunuchs all perished in the flames. Moreover… he forged the will to deceive heaven and earth… Your Majesty… my daughter Ya'er died so tragically… I hope Your Majesty will grant justice for this old subject.'

Zhou Shenyan stood to the side, watching coldly; Hu Xiaotian had just saved the Emperor, yet now Wen Chenghuan came to ask the Emperor to redress his grievances and punish Hu Xiaotian, clearly presenting the Emperor with a dilemma. Zhou Shenyan did not know the details of the Mingyue Palace fire case, but relying solely on Wen Chenghuan's one-sided account was not necessarily reliable. (To be continued~^~)