Chapter 429

Xiao Tianmu said: "The person he ultimately wants to deal with should still be Ji Feihua. Sending you to Zilan Palace is likely to cause trouble there. Could he intend harm to Princess Anping?"

Hu Xiaotian paced uneasily inside the room.

Although Xiao Tianmu couldn't see, he could sense Hu Xiaotian's unease from his footsteps: "Third brother, you seem to have a lot on your mind!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Second brother, if I smoothly become Dakang's marriage envoy and go to Yongdu, wouldn't that be my best escape opportunity?"

Xiao Tianmu nodded slowly and said: "Not bad! As long as everything is arranged properly, you can smoothly escape this den of tigers and wolves." He had set up a branch office in Yongdu, actively managing it, actually preparing for a possible escape one day. Looking at the world, fleeing to Da Yong is the most feasible destination for Hu Xiaotian. To escape, one must wait for the right moment; only when all preparations are complete can one act. If Hu Xiaotian truly becomes Dakang's marriage envoy this time, escorting Princess Anping to Yongdu for marriage is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.

Hu Xiaotian almost voiced his idea of rescuing Princess Anping, but after thinking it over, he felt it better not to speak. Xiao Tianmu is extremely rational; he would never approve of risking himself for personal romantic feelings. Moreover, as time passed, his considerations now differ greatly from before; the notion of fleeing Kangdu with the whole family is no longer as strong as it once was.

In fact, up to now Hu Xiaotian has not devised a feasible plan to rescue Princess Anping; accomplishing this can only be done secretly by himself. He must keep it strictly secret; not a whisper must leak. His greatest concern is his parents; he must arrange for them to leave Kangdu before rescuing the princess. Yet if he truly rescued Princess Anping, he would inevitably become a public enemy of both Dakang and Da Yong; where in the vast world could he hide?

Xiao Tianmu said: "Third brother, what are you thinking about?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said: "I'm thinking about Quan De'an. Why would he recommend me to go to Zilan Palace?" Could his ultimate purpose in sending me there be to make trouble over my lack of castration? Upon further thought, that seems unlikely, since Quan De'an personally got me into the palace; without his help, I could not have sneaked in successfully. Exposing this would bring him no benefit. The only possibility is to slander Princess Anping's purity, which would not affect Ji Feihua at all. Quan De'an and Princess Anping have no grudge—why bother a fallen princess? His true aim is still to deal with Ji Feihua. Hu Xiaotian pondered over and over but could not figure it out.

Xiao Tianmu said: "If Quan De'an's ultimate goal is to overthrow Ji Feihua, then his recommendation for you to go to Zilan Palace must be related to that aim."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Second brother, I just can't figure out what else he could make of me." Hu Xiaotian could not determine whether Quan De'an intended to make trouble over his lack of castration.

Xiao Tianmu frowned tightly and said: "In court struggles, what is the most common and thorough way to put an opponent to death?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "That is to falsely accuse them of rebellion!"

Xiao Tianmu said: "Princess Anping is the daughter of the Retired Emperor and the sister of Prince Zhou. Your identity is the son of the former Minister of Revenue, the future son-in-law of the Li family of Xichuan. Connect these people. What would others think of?"

Xiao Tianmu's words laid bare the secret; Hu Xiaotian broke into a cold sweat. Xiao Tianmu's analysis was sound: Quan De'an's move clearly prepares to frame him for rebellion. Like Xiang Zhuang's sword dance aimed at Liu Bang, he remains merely a pawn. Princess Anping and he are alike; Quan De'an's true target is still Ji Feihua. And Ji Feihua, precisely because she is linked to this chain of events through him, once the timing is ripe, Quan De'an can weave a charge of assisting the Retired Emperor's restoration to ensnare them all.

Xiao Tianmu said: "The Emperor's true purpose in sending you to Zilan Palace is likely this. Ji Feihua keeps growing in power, which should have aroused the Emperor's vigilance, wanting to dispose of her quickly. It seems Quan De'an is the one he trusts most."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath: "So speaking, I'm really riding a tiger and can't get off."

Xiao Tianmu said: "Although their plan is perfect, Ji Feihua is no ordinary person. Since we can see through their layout, with Ji Feihua's shrewdness she might not fail to notice."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if he doesn't see it, I will expose this matter." The situation has tightly linked Hu Xiaotian's and Ji Feihua's interests; if the Emperor develops a murderous intent toward Ji Feihua, then I too would hardly escape disaster. Hu Xiaotian cares nothing for loyalty to the court; for him, preserving his own and his family's lives is paramount.

Xiao Tianmu smiled: "So their arrangement sending you to Zilan Palace is actually a good thing. As long as we seize the opportunity, go with the flow, become the marriage envoy, and make use of this excellent chance, we can smoothly escape Dakang."

Zhou Mo knocked on the door and walked in, he said loudly: "The goods have all been loaded onto the trucks and sent away; the canal dock side has also been arranged, we can set off tonight." He glanced at Xiao Tianmu and said: "I've said it before, we'll leave a few days later, stay in Kangdu to celebrate the New Year, so we brothers can reunite."

Xiao Tianmu said: "The matters in Yongdu cannot be delayed; we brothers must also prepare to leave at any moment."

Zhou Mo showed a look of surprise and delight: "Decided?" He thought Hu Xiaotian had finally decided to leave Kangdu; during this time they had been actively preparing to escape Kangdu.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Waiting for an opportunity; if everything goes smoothly, we can set out in March."

Zhou Mo let out a sigh of relief and said: "Being able to leave this place would be best; cooped up in the palace all day, I fear Third Brother has already felt wronged to death."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Fortunately, there was danger but no harm; at least I'm still doing fine." Actually he had already adapted to palace life; as the saying goes, the more dangerous the place, the safer it is, and his days have not been as bad as others imagine.

Zhou Mo reached out, firmly gripping his shoulders with both hands, and said: "You've gotten stronger; right, how's your internal energy progressing lately?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Much better." Since the terrifying night at Zilan Palace, Wen Ya's attempt to kill him backfired, instead giving him a breakthrough in the Formless Divine Skill; during this time his martial arts have been growing day by day.

Zhou Mo said: "To undo the bell, one must use the bell-ringer; if you want to quickly dispel the foreign true qi in your body, Quan De'an's own mental method is still best." He gestured for Hu Xiaotian to extend his hand, took his pulse, and a strand of true qi entered Hu Xiaotian's meridians; a strange thing happened: his true qi, upon entering Hu Xiaotian's meridians, scattered and dissolved, as if drawn by an invisible force, vanishing completely. Zhou Mo murmured: "Evil?" He then gathered true qi again, this time using three-tenths more force than before, but the result was still the same.

Zhou Mo exclaimed in astonishment: "What evil cultivation have you been practicing?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm not sure either; it's just a qi cultivation method, and after practicing it my body feels much more comfortable than before."

Zhou Mo withdrew his fingers, shook his head, furrowed his brows, and said: "This cultivation is certainly not proper; you'd better practice it less from now on."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, but in his heart he did not agree.

Zhou Mo recalled something, got up, fetched a letter from the side—it was a letter from Murong Feiyan asking him to pass it to Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian took the letter, slowly unfolded it; Murong Feiyan had already reached Linyuan, and between the lines her deep longing for him shone through, sincere emotion evident. Seeing this, Hu Xiaotian felt deeply moved, wondering what merit he had to deserve such devoted affection from Murong Feiyan, unwavering and steadfast. He recalled the matter entrusted to him by Murong Rongzhan, and softly said: "Help me arrange a meeting with Zhanpeng; I have something to tell him."

Hu Xiaotian arrived at Zilan Palace early on New Year's Eve; the palace originally had two palace maids and two eunuchs, but after Princess Anping's marriage was settled, these maids and eunuchs began considering their future destinations. Among them, Zilan had been attending the princess since childhood; Princess Anping's distant marriage to Da Yong would certainly bring her along, while the others would eventually remain in Dakang.

Although they voiced reluctance, none of them really wanted to follow to Da Yong; they understood the true meaning of this political marriage. Leaving one's homeland to marry abroad almost always ends in tragedy. Even if fortunate enough to win the future husband's favor, perhaps they could enjoy a few years of happiness, but happiness is fleeting, beauty fades quickly, and once youth and looks decline they will inevitably be consigned to the cold palace.

Princess Anping had never imagined the Emperor would send Hu Xiaotian to Zilan Palace; upon hearing the news, her heart filled with anticipation, yet also some anxiety. Although she had long awaited this moment, when the opportunity to be face to face finally arrived, she did not know how to confront it.

Hu Xiaotian came with two young eunuchs; upon first arrival one should not appear empty-handed, so the two young eunuchs' carrying baskets held some fresh fruit—one basket for the palace maids and eunuchs to share, and another basket as a gift for Princess Anping.

After the two young eunuchs set things down, they took their leave and departed.

Zilan smiled and said: "Head Steward Hu, we heard you were coming; these past two days we've been longing to see you."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "I've come to Zilan Palace to beg a bowl of rice, and I hope none of you sisters and brothers will despise me." His smile was harmless and infectious, easily leaving a good impression—this is also his natural advantage.

Zilan said: "Where, where, who doesn't know you're the director of the Office of Imperial Gardens? We also heard the Emperor sent you here actually to help prepare the princess's wedding, and in the future we'll have to rely on Eunuch Hu to look after us more." She is shrewd and worldly-wise, her speech very proper, and she has long been highly regarded by Princess Anping.

Hu Xiaotian divided one basket of fruit among them, then lowered his voice to ask: "And the Princess?"

Zilan said: "She went to the Study early this morning; I'll take you to see her."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, picked up the fruit basket and followed Zilan to the Study's door; Zilan knocked and said: "Princess! Eunuch Hu has arrived!"

All night, one monthly ticket; yesterday was Four more, ah—this makes Zhangyu How Can One Bear It?, How Can One Bear It? ah! Could any brothers spare another ticket, so I can make a pair and save some face? (To be continued~^~)