Chapter 437

Hu Xiaotian was shocked and pale; he never imagined that merely leaving for a moment would cause such a big incident.

The black-clad man was stalwart, standing in the wind and snow, his eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian; only after Hu Xiaotian sensed his presence did he nod, hoist the already unconscious Long Xi Yue, and leap up from the roof ridge. Hu Xiaotian had no time to look for any package; he shouted, "Stop!" He sprinted forward, taking a big step, his left foot tapping the ground, then his right foot landing heavily, his body springing up, his hands grabbing the front eave, performing a sparrow-hawk flip, and his body landed on the roof ridge.

Snow flew wildly; on New Year's Eve, thousands of homes in Kangdu were lit with lights; as midnight approached, firecrackers deafened the ears, the populace immersed in the joy of seeing out the old and welcoming the new, no one noticing a life-and-death chase unfolding above the rooftops.

The heavy snow had already whitened the roof completely; the black-clad man, carrying a person, ran across the roof, twisting and turning, leaping like a rabbit and a falcon, as if walking on level ground. His all-black night attire, which would normally conceal his figure, was unusually conspicuous against the snow, becoming an extremely obvious target.

Hu Xiaotian pursued at full speed, yet no matter how hard he tried he could not close the distance to the black-clad man. The black-clad man ran ahead, whether his skill was on par with Hu Xiaotian's or he was deliberately letting Hu Xiaotian follow, he maintained a fixed distance from Hu Xiaotian and could not shake him off completely.

The more Hu Xiaotian chased, the stranger he felt; he gradually realized the black-clad man's aim was certainly not to abduct Princess Anping. Given that the man was carrying someone while running, Hu Xiaotian's all-out effort still could not catch up, indicating the man's martial skill far surpassed his own; if the man truly wanted to shake him off, he would have long vanished, so this person must be using Princess Anping to restrain him.

Hu Xiaotian felt a latent alarm; could the other side have set a trap, waiting to lure him in before wiping him out? Even if Hu Xiaotian saw through the plot, he now had no other recourse but to grit his teeth and follow closely, even if it were a trap he would accept it, and he could not allow the other to abduct Princess Anping right under his nose.

Suddenly a manor appeared ahead; the black-clad man, carrying Princess Anping, swooped down and landed in the rear courtyard. Hu Xiaotian followed, and upon entering the courtyard he discovered the black-clad man had vanished from the premises.

Hu Xiaotian was extremely anxious. Seeing the front gate ajar, he walked over slowly; upon reaching the door he grabbed an iron rod placed nearby, in case there was an ambush inside so he would have something to defend himself. He peered through the crack in the door. Instead, he saw in the center of the courtyard a bonfire blazing fiercely, with a person sitting with his back to him, roasting something by the fire.

The tempting aroma of roasted meat spread through the snowy night.

Seeing that back, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but start slightly; the back was very familiar, though somewhat blurred by wind and snow, yet Hu Xiaotian could still recognize from the familiar outline that this person was none other than the Directorate Supervisor, Commander Ji Feihua.

Hu Xiaotian blinked hard, confirmed the other's identity once more, then quietly put the iron rod back where it was, reached out to push open the courtyard gate, and walked over slowly.

The bonfire blazed, the surrounding snow dusted with a rouge-like hue, a whole sheep roasting on the fire. Ji Feihua's expression was intensely focused, seemingly unaware that someone had arrived behind him.

Hu Xiaotian stopped about a zhang behind him, bowed respectfully and said, "Commander, I wish you a happy New Year!" Seeing the scene before him, he already understood what had happened and knew who had taken Princess Anping.

Ji Feihua said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot—tonight is already New Year's Eve." His phoenix eyes stared fixedly at the blazing flames, shifting with an eerie, bewitching light.

Bang! A distant muffled explosion sounded, no fireworks color visible, then a series of firecracker bursts followed; amid the firecracker cries, "Out with the old year! The new year arrives amidst the flying snow." The snowflakes, disturbed by the rising and falling firecracker sounds, lost their rhythm, becoming chaotic and disordered; the whole sheep's outer skin had turned a gleaming gold, drops of translucent golden oil dripped onto the bonfire, emitting a continual sizzling sound, and then spread an aroma that made mouths water.

Ji Feihua drew a small knife from his waist, removed a leg of lamb, its exterior golden-yellow, inside white with a hint of red tender meat, steaming hot white vapor, wrapped the tip with a white cloth, and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian reached out and took it, bit a large mouthful, feeling the leg charred outside, tender within, fragrance flooding, mouth watering, roasted to perfection; he never imagined that this Directorate Supervisor commander also possessed such superb barbecue skill, praising without cease: "How delicious!"

Ji Feihua said, "With meat but no wine, how can one fully enjoy!" He threw a Lan cloth bundle from beside him toward Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian grabbed it in one hand; the bundle turned out to be the food and wine he had secretly brought out of the palace earlier, unexpectedly preempted by Ji Feihua, who had snatched it and brought it here.

Although Ji Feihua had stolen his belongings, Hu Xiaotian felt a thief's guilt; having been caught red-handed by Ji Feihua on his first clandestine outing with the princess, given Ji Feihua's wit he would likely infer that Hu Xiaotian's relationship with Princess Anping was extraordinary. Perhaps Ji Feihua had already noticed their secret departure from the palace, so their scene of closing the fireworks on the small tower of Heavenly Street must have been fully in his sight; this bodes very ill.

Hu Xiaotian took out the wine gourd; this food and wine were prepared for him to spend a romantic, unforgettable New Year's Eve with Princess Anping, but now it seemed useless; poor Princess Anping's stomach had just been growling with hunger, and now she was hidden somewhere unknown; yet Hu Xiaotian was not overly worried, believing Ji Feihua would not harm the princess. He was certain that Ji Feihua had arranged for someone to abduct Princess Anping. For now, all he could do was wait and see.

After uncorking the wine gourd, Hu Xiaotian first respectfully brought it to Ji Feihua's side; Ji Feihua, without ceremony, seized the gourd, raised it high, and a bright silver stream of wine poured down; he gulped several large mouthfuls, then tossed the gourd back to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian had wanted to imitate him, but recalling that the last time he was locked in the little dark room he had drunk Ji Feihua's leftover wine, he instead gulped a few mouthfuls from the gourd's mouth, took a big bite of mutton, and then presented the gourd again before Ji Feihua. Appearing casual, it actually concealed much calculation.

Ji Feihua seemed not to mind his saliva having touched it; he again raised the gourd high and took a sip, then shook his head, saying, "This wine is too weak!" With a raise of his right hand, he flung the gourd upward, sending it flying into midair.

Ji Feihua's fingers traced a false slash on the bonfire, then flicked upward; a burning log shot out from the fire, striking the airborne wine gourd squarely—Bang! —the gourd exploded in midair, its wine spraying everywhere, igniting on contact with fire; the firelight and snowlight in the night sky blossomed like fireworks.

Hu Xiaotian marveled at Ji Feihua's formidable martial prowess while also being astonished by the beauty of the light and shadow before him.

Ji Feihua slowly picked up a fine cloisonné porcelain gourd from his feet, unscrewed the stopper, and immediately the wine's fragrance filled the air; although Hu Xiaotian had not tasted it, from the aroma alone he could tell this liquor was incomparable to the one he had brought.

Ji Feihua took a sip of wine and said, "I never expected the emperor's bestowed coiling-dragon gold medal would actually come in handy."

Hu Xiaotian detected the mocking tone in Ji Feihua's words and smiled, "Commander, you must have misunderstood."

Ji Feihua handed the wine gourd to Hu Xiaotian, offhandedly saying, "You have merit for curing the emperor, but even so, do not think the emperor will tolerate any of your actions. Bewitching the princess, eloping from the palace—if these charges hold, your family will surely be confiscated and exterminated."

Hu Xiaotian's smile froze on his face; he indeed had the notion of eloping with Long Xi Yue, but certainly not now; he said softly, "Commander, I merely brought the princess out to view the fireworks, with no other intention; as for bewitching the princess and eloping, I lack the courage for that, Commander, you know I am just a eunuch—how could I harbor such overreaching thoughts?" At this moment Hu Xiaotian subtly lifted his yin and retracted his yang, quietly tucking his vital essence inward; in fact, since returning from Mount Piaomiao he had never restored his original state, not from fear of cold but as a precaution; Ji Feihua's appearance was no coincidence, and if he began to doubt Hu Xiaotian's eunuch status, it would be wise to take precautions early.

Fortunately Ji Feihua did not pursue the topic, speaking softly, "The Zajia had thought you were quick-witted and always thorough in your affairs, yet I never expected you to commit such a rash act."

Hu Xiaotian stood beside Ji Feihua, silently gazing at the blazing bonfire before him, and said, "It is not that I am rash; it is that seeing the princess's pitiful circumstances aroused my sympathy."

Ji Feihua sneered, "Pitiful circumstances? Feeling sympathy? Heh heh, you are merely a petty palace eunuch—what standing do you have to sympathize with the princess? Saying that would only invite ridicule."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I know my words sound a little laughable, but everything I say comes from the heart; although the princess was born into the imperial household, she may not be happier than ordinary folk's children, having never enjoyed any familial bliss."

Ji Feihua, hearing this, fell silent, snatched the wine gourd from Hu Xiaotian's hand, took another sip, his eyes fixed on the blazing bonfire; deep within his gaze two flames flickered. (To be continued...)