Chapter 438: 【Bonfire】（Lower）

Hu Xiaotian said: "On New Year's Day, the Emperor graciously permitted Princess Anping to visit the Retired Emperor at Lingxiao Palace on Miaomiao Mountain, so I accompanied her." He knew Ji Feihua's eyes and ears covered the entire imperial city inside and out, so accompanying Princess Anping to Miaomiao Mountain would certainly not escape his notice; therefore he chose to speak up voluntarily.

Ji Feihua said: "Blood ties are naturally the most inseparable affection in this world; Princess Anping visiting her father at Lingxiao Palace is only natural, but why did you go along?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally did not want to go, but the Princess insisted I accompany her; as the new steward of Zilan Palace, I cannot very well refuse." In fact, his real reason for going to Miaomiao Mountain ultimately stemmed from Li Yuncong's entrustment.

Ji Feihua glanced at him and said: "You don't mention it, but Zajia almost forgot—you lost your post at Bright Moon Palace, and in the blink of an eye you secured a position at Zilan Palace; Zajia hasn't yet had a chance to congratulate you."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Let's discuss this later; Commander, please have some patience and let me finish telling what happened on Miaomiao Mountain."

Ji Feihua yawned, showing no interest in what he was about to say, yet did not stop him from continuing.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally thought the Princess's visit to see the Retired Emperor would surely be a tearful father‑daughter reunion, but when we arrived we found it far from that—the Retired Emperor had gone mad, suddenly lunging to grab Princess Anping's neck; if I had been a step slower in rushing in, I fear the Princess's life would have been lost in his hands."

Ji Feihua smiled faintly: "Even a tiger does not eat its own cub; in fact, even if you intervened, the Retired Emperor might not be so insane as to kill his own biological daughter. One who can sit firmly on the throne for forty‑one years is certainly not merely lucky; what you saw with your own eyes may not all be true."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "The Commander's admonition is correct." He then went on to recount accompanying Long Xi Yue to the Cloud Temple; speaking before Ji Feihua required extreme caution, and Hu Xiaotian usually dared to utter a falsehood only after stating nine truths, otherwise Ji Feihua's shrewdness would see through him. His account of the situation on Miaomiao Mountain was basically honest, of course omitting the bathing, changing, and physical examination, and he could not let Ji Feihua know about the yin‑yang shrinkage.

Ji Feihua heard him out and softly said: "You saw Princess Anping treated this way, felt sympathy, and thus secretly brought her out of the palace to watch the fireworks?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander, you are perceptive!"

Ji Feihua said: "Only when one cares for someone does one attend to her with such meticulous thought; you truly have gone to great trouble."

Hu Xiaotian's scalp tightened: "I feel the same toward the Commander."

Ji Feihua chuckled, seeing Hu Xiaotian standing respectfully beside him with bowed back, and shook his head: "You need not be so stiff; Zajia bears you no grudge. During these days Zajia has been away, many things have happened in the palace. Originally Zajia had arranged other tasks for you, but I never imagined the Emperor would send you to Zilan Palace."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I hadn't expected that either."

Ji Feihua said: "I originally thought you would save the Emperor and be richly rewarded; this turn of events is quite beyond my expectation."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I always feel this arrangement is improper; I respectfully ask Eunuch Quan to transfer me out of Zilan Palace."

Ji Feihua's eyes flickered, and he said softly: "What exactly do you find improper? Speak plainly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Emperor has already decided on the marriage between Princess Anping and the Seventh Prince of Da Yong, the wedding set for the sixteenth of the third month."

Ji Feihua said lightly: "What does that have to do with your going to Zilan Palace? Perhaps the Emperor sent you there to help prepare the wedding, or to accompany you as an envoy to Da Yong—who knows?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Princess Anping is the Retired Emperor's daughter, and also the younger sister of Prince Zhou."

Ji Feihua picked up a thick, dry branch, snapped it lightly, and tossed it into the bonfire; a string of sparks rose with it.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander should know that my father was once a high‑ranking minister greatly trusted by the Retired Emperor, and I once had a marriage pact with the Li family of Xichuan."

Ji Feihua said indifferently: "So what?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Because of this connection, I should have been kept away to avoid suspicion, yet they insist on sending me to Zilan Palace—this is indeed suspicious."

Ji Feihua said: "What is suspicious about it? Could someone be trying to frame you and Princess Anping for plotting restoration?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly; Ji Feihua actually understands everything but pretends nothing is wrong. The best way to deal with such a clever person is to feign frankness, so Hu Xiaotian said: "I am a condemned man; surviving to this day is pure heavenly grace. Even if I died now I would have no regrets, but the Commander has shown me kindness—I would not begrudge death, only fear that my deeds might implicate him."

Ji Feihua laughed: "You little brat, the more you say, the more confused I become. Even if others accuse you of conspiracy or rebellion, what does that have to do with Zajia? How could it implicate me?"

Hu Xiaotian wore a fawning smile: "Everyone knows I am your man!"

Ji Feihua burst into loud laughter, laughter that made snowflakes swirl across the sky, echoing long in the night air, laughter like trembling blossoms—a big man laughing so bewitchingly and enchantingly is truly unmatched.

Hu Xiaotian, however, was left with a sooty nose, an embarrassed face, and silently cursed: "What's the point of laughing? It's not easy to flatter you over the New Year; even if you don't cooperate, there's no need to slap my face directly."

Ji Feihua laughed a long while before stopping: "Wasn't it Eunuch Quan who personally sent you into the palace? You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Had it not been for the Commander's help, the black pot of Bright Moon Palace would surely have fallen on me; I would not have had the chance to hear the New Year's bell! Though I lack experience, I understand gratitude and will repay it; no matter what the Commander thinks in his heart, I am wholly loyal to him—Heaven can see..."

Boom! A muffled thunder‑like cannon blast exploded in the night sky; Hu Xiaotian instinctively shrank his neck, thinking: "Old man just said a few flattering words—surely not enough to incur heavenly punishment."

Ji Feihua said: "Quan De'an wants to do what he wants; Zajia understands what you have in mind, and Zajia understands too."

Hu Xiaotian secretly felt uneasy, always sensing that Ji Feihua's words hid meaning—could he have seen through my plan to rescue Princess Anping? If so, this matter would become troublesome.

Ji Feihua said: "Zajia has exhausted mind and blood for Dakang, yet this sincere loyalty meets suspicion. Hu Xiaotian, rest easy in your duties at Zilan Palace; you need not think about other matters, nor worry. You must guarantee Princess Anping's safety and ensure her wedding proceeds as scheduled."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What does the Commander mean?"

Ji Feihua said: "If they do not act, how can we catch their handles? This marriage alliance will certainly not be peaceful. Zajia has just received news: you are not the sole escort for Princess Anping to Da Yong; the Grand Tutor Wen has recommended his beloved son to escort her, and the Emperor has already agreed."

Upon hearing the name Wen Boyuan, Hu Xiaotian involuntarily sucked in a cold breath: "Isn't that the Grand Tutor Wen's son, Wen Ya's brother, who has long secretly loved Princess Anping? The situation really is turning worse."

Ji Feihua said: "The Princess's departure from the capital was originally set for February, but the Emperor suddenly changed his mind, planning to send her off after the fifteenth, advancing the schedule by half a month."

Hu Xiaotian's expression turned to shock; this was certainly no good news for him. During this period he had been plotting to spirit Princess Anping out of the palace—a matter of great importance requiring solitary planning, not even leaking a hint to his two sworn brothers, yet the plan changed unexpectedly, catching him completely off guard.

Ji Feihua said softly: "Zajia will have you escort Princess Anping all the way."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am willing to go through fire and water for the Commander."

"Really?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded firmly.

Ji Feihua drew a white platinum hairpin from his bun; his black hair fell like a waterfall over his shoulders, then he suddenly raised his hand and the hairpin dropped into the roaring bonfire, saying softly: "Then help me fetch the hairpin out!"

Hu Xiaotian stared at the blazing flames, involuntarily gulping: "Damn! Testing a person doesn't need to be this harsh! Is hand or life more important?" He steeled himself, rolled up his sleeves, prepared to lunge into the fire; just as his hand was about to reach the flames, the fire split open, and his hand slipped neatly into the crack.

At that moment Ji Feihua reached out and pulled his arm back, chuckling: "Just a joke—no need to go that far!"

Hu Xiaotian was already drenched in cold sweat.

Ji Feihua spread his right hand; light flickered in his palm, yet he had never actually thrown the hairpin into the fire—he merely feinted to blur Hu Xiaotian's vision.

Hu Xiaotian clasped his fists: "Thank you, Commander."

Ji Feihua said calmly: "Princess Anping is resting in the west wing; hurry and send her back to the palace—I do not wish for a repeat."

When Long Xi Yue awoke, she found herself back in Zilan Palace, blinked her eyes in confusion, sat up from the bed, and startled the nearby Zijuan, who said: "Princess, you're awake?"

Long Xi Yue rubbed her sore, numb neck: "What time is it? Where is Hu Xiaotian?"

Zijuan said: "Just past the third watch; the sky is still dark. At the first watch, Eunuch Hu escorted the Princess back, saying she hadn't eaten dinner, fainted from low blood sugar, and asked me to attend to her rest while he returned to the Imperial Gardens Bureau."

"Low blood sugar?" Long Xi Yue was hearing this term for the first time.

Zijuan nodded and said: "That's exactly what Eunuch Hu said." (To be continued~^~)