Chapter 415

Hu Xiaotian was forced by her to retreat step by step, all the way back to the wall, inwardly cursing, 'I thought you, this willful princess, going out once could cultivate your mind and nature, but after all a dog can't change eating feces, still so perverse, the fire at Bright Moon Palace has nothing to do with me,' he defended: 'Princess, who are you listening to spouting nonsense? I, Hu Xiaotian, have always been open and aboveboard in my dealings; how could I do such a heinous act?'

Qiqi gave a hehe cold laugh and said, 'You haven't not done it before—was it you who killed Wei Hualin? Wasn't the eunuch beside him also killed by you?'

Hu Xiaotian was left speechless by her questioning, and fearing her words might be overheard, he reached out to try to cover Qiqi's mouth with one hand.

Qiqi had already prepared; seeing him move, she immediately seized the initiative, grabbing Hu Xiaotian's wrist, intending to twist it behind his back—a move Quan De'an taught, specifically to counter the Profound Dark Yin Wind Claw. Although she had the upper hand in technique, when actually executed it had no effect; Hu Xiaotian twisted his wrist like a spirit snake and broke free from her palm, and Qiqi felt a huge force burst from her own palm, actually shaking her hand open.

Hu Xiaotian then lunged with a claw toward Qiqi's chest; she thrust her chest forward, and as his claw was about to grab, he suddenly realized she was the current princess—grabbing her would be a capital offense, and besides she was still a minor; as a socially conscious youth with some morals, he could not do such a thing, so he hastily pulled his hand back.

Hu Xiaotian showed mercy, but Qiqi gave him no quarter, kicking at his crotch. His reaction speed even startled himself. Seeing her body move, he anticipated her next move, leapt into the air, jumping over a zhang high; her groin kick missed, Hu Xiaotian flipped in midair and landed steadily behind her, raising his right hand again and seizing the back of her neck.

Qiqi also hadn't expected Hu Xiaotian's martial arts to be this formidable; not even she, nor Hu Xiaotian himself could fathom it—what happened today? Was it an extraordinary burst of strength? Divine aid? To be able to anticipate her move in advance—could it be related to his breakthrough in the dark cell?

Qiqi, seized by Hu Xiaotian at the nape of her neck, shouted angrily, 'Let go—believe it or not, I'll have someone chop off your head!'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'I'll let you go, but you must not attack me again.'

Qiqi said, 'Okay!'

Hu Xiaotian wouldn't believe her, yet he dared not refuse to let go; after releasing her he quickly stepped back several paces, putting distance between them.

Qiqi turned and glared fiercely at Hu Xiaotian: 'You ruthless little thief, what is there you wouldn't dare to do?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'The Bright Moon Palace affair has nothing to do with me.'

Qiqi said, 'Outside they're spreading the rumor that you forged the Talented Person's last will, set fire to Bright Moon Palace, and killed the Talented Person and six palace maids.'

"How can idle rumors be believed?"

"Where there's smoke there's fire; given your usual character, I believe this affair is probably true."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel vexed, helplessly shaking his head: 'Think what you will; I am pure and my purity will prove itself.'

Qiqi's eyes widened as she said, 'Well, you bold, reckless slave, daring to call yourself "old man" in front of this princess—believe it or not, I'll memorialize the father emperor to have your head chopped off!'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Believe it—you, little princess, are of noble lineage; repaying kindness with enmity is quite normal for someone like you.'

Qiqi said, 'You're the one repaying kindness with enmity—back in the wine cellar, wasn't it you who wanted to kill me and my aunt to silence us?'

Hu Xiaotian, afraid her words would be overheard, hurriedly bowed and begged for mercy: 'Little princess, I fear you; let mercy be shown where it can, I, Hu Xiaotian, have nothing to answer for to you—treat me as a fart and let me go at once.'

"You're the one farting!" Qiqi said, then couldn't help but giggle; her slightly immature pretty face showed a charm beyond her years, she stuck out her tongue, and adorably said, 'Actually, I'm glad you killed that slut Wen Ya and burned Bright Moon Palace deep down.'

Hu Xiaotian was near tears: 'Little princess, I really didn't do it!'

Qiqi gave him a white-eye look: 'If you did it, you did it—what are you afraid of? Can you fool others but not me?'

Hu Xiaotian was utterly speechless, letting his head droop; there's no reasoning with this willful princess—do whatever you want, kill or cut.

Qiqi walked over, bumped him with her shoulder, and said, 'Don't be afraid—I've got your back, no one can touch you.' Her voice then dropped: 'But you must honestly tell me how you killed Wen Ya and the others.' As she spoke, her eyes shone with anticipation and excitement.

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed Qiqi's perversity; since she had decided the deed was his, he might as well go for broke and really scare her—he looked around, made sure no one was there, then crooked his finger at her, and Qiqi brought her ear to his lips.

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: 'Rape then kill—leave none alive!'

Qiqi gasped, covering her mouth, her beautiful eyes flashing with an unusual gleam, extremely excited yet utterly without fear: 'You… you actually… didn't even spare the eunuch?'

Hu Xiaotian gave a sinister grin: 'I always root out the weeds, leaving not a blade.' Before he finished, a fist flashed before his eyes, his right eye flared with pain—he had taken a heavy punch from Qiqi, unable to react in time, struck at close range, his head snapping back exaggeratedly.

Qiqi gritted her teeth: 'Dead eunuch, do you think this princess is an idiot? You're a eunuch—how could you possibly rape and then kill?'

Hu Xiaotian rose upright: 'It's you who forced…'

Thud! Another fist struck his left eye, and this time Hu Xiaotian fell flat on his back. Though he could easily dodge if he wanted, he knew Qiqi's temperament well—if he didn't let her gain a small advantage in hands and feet, she wouldn't let it go; so he went along, letting himself suffer a small loss, you old lady's—damn it, do I have the ability? One day you'll find out… uh… she's still just a little girl, Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, as a person you must never forget the two words 'morality'...

Long Yelin slept soundly that night; waking in the morning he felt much refreshed, stretched his arms, sat up from the bed, felt his abdomen rumble—'Bang!' he let out a loud fart. The fart startled the nearby eunuch and palace maid, then they were delighted; a eunuch blurted, 'The Emperor farted… the Emperor…' After speaking he realized his mistake, fell to his knees with a thud, and slapped himself twice: 'Your Majesty, my conduct is improper, I deserve death.'

Fortunately Long Yelin was in a good mood and didn't pursue the matter; actually the little eunuch hadn't misspoken—he really had let out a fart, and a big one at that, which everyone heard.

Hu Xiaotian had endured a rough night outside; just then he entered Xuanweigong and happened to hear Long Yelin's loud fart, his heart also eased—although appendicitis was for him a trivial minor surgery, the patient being the Emperor required utmost care; a fart meant the Emperor could eat, indicating the surgery was problem-free.

Hu Xiaotian immediately went to the bedside, beaming: 'Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty.'

Long Yelin was somewhat amused and exasperated, 'Just a fart—what's there to celebrate?' He gave a dry cough and said, 'What's there to celebrate?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'As the saying goes: when the dragon's aura rises, the four seas are at peace; for me to hear the Emperor's dragon aura is a blessing of three lifetimes, my heart stirred and unable to calm for long; the ancients said: great sound is rare, great form is invisible. This aura can only be found in heaven, rarely heard on earth. The Emperor's virtue blesses myriad peoples, his might shakes the four directions—to bask in his auspicious aura, how fortunate we are; besides the Emperor, who could emit such an ethereal, lingering sound, who could exude a fragrance comparable to orchids, making us lose taste for meat for three months, the echo lingering in the beams, uninterrupted for three days.'

The surrounding eunuchs and palace maids stared agape, having seen shameless people before but never this shameless—it's just a fart, what's with all the fuss, dragon aura? auspicious omen? They'd seen plenty of flattery, but such nauseating brown-nosing was a first.

Long Yelin gave a dry cough; he also felt Hu Xiaotian's flattery was a bit over the top, yet it sounded pleasant and comforting, far more pleasant to the ear than the little eunuch's blunt 'Your Majesty farted,' as the saying goes: 'A thousand threads, ten thousand threads—flattery never pierces, even the Emperor cannot escape vulgarity.'

Having finished his flattery, Hu Xiaotian's face didn't flush nor his heart race; he smiled narrowly at Long Yelin and asked, 'Your Majesty, how do you feel now?'

Long Yelin said, 'I released this…' feeling the word 'fart' inelegant, unbefitting his status as the Son of Heaven of Dakang, after consideration he said, 'After releasing this dragon aura, I feel much more refreshed; the wound feels a bit tight but does not hurt.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Your Majesty's boundless fortune is truly the blessing of Dakang's state and altars.'

Long Yelin said, 'I'm a bit hungry!'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Your Majesty, rest assured, you may now take your meal.'

As the eunuchs went off to prepare the meal, Long Yelin nodded to Hu Xiaotian and said, 'Hu Xiaotian, for this rescue of the carriage you have merit; I will reward you handsomely.'

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly knelt on the ground to receive the award.

Long Yelin, having reached the crucial point, was suddenly cut off; Hu Xiaotian waited a long time without hearing him speak, couldn't help but sneak a glance upward, only to see Long Yelin press his lips shut, close his eyes—'Bang!' another fart escaped. Truly a foul smell filling the air; Hu Xiaotian was too close, unable to avoid, could only swallow his anger and silently endure this stinky fart; the little eunuch who had just shouted 'Your Majesty farted' finally found a chance to redeem himself, dropped to his knees with a thud, and exclaimed delightedly, 'Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty, the Emperor's dragon aura rises, the four seas are at peace, the little zither player has heard the Emperor's dragon aura—how fortunate…' This fellow, too, could be said to have unforgettable ears, actually repeating Hu Xiaotian's flattery word for word. (to be continued~^~)