Chapter 454: [What is the Heavenly Way] (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian personally made a trip to the Imperial Kitchen; these days of the New Year are also the busiest days of the year for the Imperial Kitchen, not only must the Emperor's side be attended to, but the concubines in the rear palace also need attention; naturally there will be priorities, because the palaces differ in rank, the Imperial Kitchen treats them differently.

The status of Zilan Palace in the imperial palace is obviously insignificant; Princess Long Xi Yue, who is about to be married far away, also does not receive special esteemed treatment, but Qiqi is different—if the Imperial Kitchen dared to slight her, it would anger this little princess, who might really smash the kitchen's stoves. On one hand they invoke Qiqi's name; on the other hand they also have Hu Xiaotian's own face.

Those cooks naturally give priority and special treatment.

Hu Xiaotian didn't go empty-handed either; he gave a few pieces of the gold leaf the little princess had just given him to the head cook.

While in the Imperial Kitchen, he happened to meet the little eunuch Yin Zheng who had come to arrange a late-night snack for the Emperor; seeing Hu Xiaotian from afar, he called out: "Lord Hu, auspicious! Lord Hu, auspicious!"

Hu Xiaotian also smiled and returned the salute with clasped hands; because many palace people were coming and going around, Yin Zheng did not show excessive familiarity, otherwise, if there were no one around, he might have already knocked his head to the ground.

Hu Xiaotian took his hand and led him to a place away from the crowd, smiling: "Old brother, I was just thinking of you."

Yin Zheng said: "Brother, I had wanted to come early to pay my New Year's respects to you, but the Emperor's arrangements are truly too many; I really can't get away."

Hu Xiaotian furtively grabbed a handful of gold leaf and, while no one was looking, slipped it into Yin Zheng's hand: "Brother, take it!" Money can make ghosts push a millstone; the longer one mingles in the palace, the clearer it becomes that most eunuchs are greedy for wealth.

Yin Zheng also did not refuse, glanced around, quickly tucked it into his bosom, and said gratefully: "It's rare that you still think of me, brother. When I find free time, I will certainly come to kowtow to you."

Hu Xiaotian hypocritically said: "Brothers, why be so polite?"

Yin Zheng whispered: "Today, Chancellor Zhou went to the Imperial Study; the Emperor flew into a rage and even smashed his favorite inkstone." Yin Zheng understood in his heart that Hu Xiaotian's gold was not given for nothing; he must show something in return. He immediately provided a piece of information to Hu Xiaotian, though he himself wasn't sure whether it would be useful to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian didn't care about Zhou Ruiyuan's affairs; he had always thought Zhou Ruiyuan was a favored minister before the Emperor and also a former teacher of the Emperor. On the first day of the New Year, the Emperor actually flew into a rage at him, which seems somewhat unusual. He just didn't know what offense had angered the Emperor.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother, could you arrange an opportunity for me to go and kowtow to the Emperor to pay my New Year's respects?"

Yin Zheng pursed his lips, thought a moment, then said: "I can arrange this, but it should be postponed for a couple of days."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "No rush. No rush!"

The two didn't say much more; after Hu Xiaotian finished his business, he had someone send the dishes directly to Zilan Palace.

When all the dishes were delivered to Zilan Palace, night had already fallen. Although the efficiency was not low, Hu Xiaotian was still complained at by the little princess, who said he was ineffective in handling affairs.

Hu Xiaotian already had a deep understanding of Qiqi's temperament; whatever she said, he just let it go in one ear and out the other, forgetting it as soon as she finished. He figured she wouldn't really do anything to him. Given his status, he could only stand aside to serve, playing the role of tea server and water fetcher. Long Xi Yue sympathized with his hardship and softly said: "Little bearded one, you have nothing to do here; you've worked a day, go rest in the Office of Imperial Gardens."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed in relief, finally able to break free, just preparing to leave, when he heard Qiqi say: "After a hard day's work, sit down and drink with us."

Hu Xiaotian panicked: "Princess, you'll be the death of me; how dare I accept?"

Qiqi said: "Cut the crap, don't be hypocritical; looking around this palace, you're the boldest—what dare you not do?" Saying this made Hu Xiaotian's heart pound; he wondered if this girl would, in front of Qin Yutong, expose his secret.

Fortunately, Princess Anping Long Xi Yue timely came to his rescue: "Since Qiqi said so, just sit down; anyway there's no outsider, just don't go out and spout nonsense."

Hu Xiaotian responded with an acknowledgement, went to the side, moved a cushion and placed it beside the little princess; he also didn't rush to sit, picking up the wine pot first to fill the cups of the three ladies big and small.

Qin Yutong remained mostly silent, quietly observing everyone's expressions, feeling that there seemed to be some unknown secret among them.

Long Xi Yue raised her wine cup and said: "Being able to gather together is fate; today might be the last New Year I spend in Dakang; let's all drink this cup together, wishing Dakang peace and prosperity."

Qiqi said: "Auntie's words are right; come, let's drink!" She spoke with heroic vigor, but she had probably never drunk alcohol before; after taking a sip, she furrowed her brow: "It's so hard to drink, it's burning!" She turned her face to look at Hu Xiaotian; this guy, silent and unresponsive, had already drained his cup, so she pushed her cup toward him: "You drink it for me."

Hu Xiaotian stared blankly: "What?" She certainly didn't treat him as an outsider.

"Just drink it if I tell you to; no nonsense."

Hu Xiaotian could only pour her wine into his own cup and gulp it down in one go, then profusely thank: "Many thanks, Princess Yongyang, for the wine." Qiqi laughed: "From now on, you'd better show me some respect, or I'll give you poisoned wine to drink!"

"Uh..." It's the New Year; no need to be so vicious.

Even when drinking and eating, Qin Yutong kept her veil on, occasionally turning away to avoid everyone's gaze; Qiqi found this unaccustomed and softly said: "Miss Qin, there's no outsider here anyway; just lift the veil on your face, no need for any scruples."

Qin Yutong said: "It's not that I have scruples; I'm worried my ugly appearance would disturb the princess."

Long Xi Yue again interceded for Qin Yutong: "Qiqi, don't be rude."

Qiqi said: "Auntie, I certainly don't mean to disrespect Miss Qin; Miss Qin, I've always felt something strange, not sure whether I should ask or not."

Qin Yutong calmly said: "Your Highness, feel free to ask."

"Your master, Mr. Ren, is acclaimed as the world's greatest divine doctor; couldn't he heal the scar on your face?"

Long Xi Yue rebuked: "Again with the nonsense."

Qin Yutong, however, didn't mind, saying softly: "It's that I, Qin Yutong, am unwilling to accept treatment; it has nothing to do with my master."

Qiqi said: "I've heard that Xuantian Guan not only has superb medical skills but is also full of martial arts masters."

Qin Yutong said: "Outside rumors are not to be trusted; Xuantian Guan takes saving the world and healing people as its mission; all its disciples cultivate the art of heavenly way, not any martial art."

"What is the art of the heavenly way?"

Not only Qiqi was curious, Hu Xiaotian also felt curious; Xuantian Guan has indeed become the first golden signboard of the medical world in this era; besides Qin Yutong, his knowledge of Xuantian Guan is scant; indeed, even Qin Yutong, he far from truly understands it; in his mind, Xuantian Guan has become extraordinarily mysterious; earlier he had even heard Ji Feihua say that Ren Tianqing is one of the three people he most admires in the world; someone who can earn the admiration of such a hero as Ji Feihua must certainly be an outstanding figure of the age.

Qin Yutong said: "Simply put, it is to follow heaven's will and let nature take its course."

Qiqi gave an "oh", seeming to have some realization.

Hu Xiaotian, who had been silent all along, said: "Following heaven's will and letting nature take its course—doesn't that just mean letting things be, turning a blind eye to everything, needing to do nothing?"

Upon hearing his explanation, Qiqi couldn't help but giggle; Long Xi Yue glanced at Hu Xiaotian, her face showing annoyance, evidently blaming him for not giving face to her good friend, embarrassing her in public; she didn't know that Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong's friendship goes back a long way.

Qin Yutong had long reached the point where joy and anger do not show on her face; she said calmly: "Perhaps that is what the literal meaning suggests; fortunately, not everyone in this world is superficial."

Everyone could hear it; her words carried hidden barbs, clearly saying Hu Xiaotian is superficial. Qiqi's eyes flashed with an unusual light; she loves to see the world in chaos, and would find it entertaining if Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong were to argue right then. Long Xi Yue's cheeks flushed; although Qin Yutong's words were about Hu Xiaotian, she empathized, feeling embarrassed for Hu Xiaotian, and was about to speak to defuse the situation when she heard Hu Xiaotian say: "My knowledge is shallow; in my understanding, Qin Yutong's sentence means that whether wars rage, dynasties change, common folk are displaced—all are heaven's will; if heaven wants rain and a daughter wants to marry, let it be; everything must follow heaven's will, and cultivating the heavenly way must not defy heaven's intent."

Under Hu Xiaotian's pressing questioning, Qin Yutong actually felt a hint of agitation; her nature is reserved, and her ability to stand out among many disciples is directly related to her intellect and calm, far beyond ordinary people; if someone else asked this, she might ignore it, but since the questioner is Hu Xiaotian, she feels a resentment at being misunderstood; Qin Yutong said: "If Lord Hu understands it that way, I have nothing more to say, but most things in this world are indeed heaven's will and cannot be changed by human effort."

Upon hearing those words, Long Xi Yue's beautiful eyes instantly dimmed; she couldn't help but think of herself, married far into Dakang as a pawn for peace between the two states—that is her fate, decreed by heaven, unchangeable no matter how hard she tries; she glanced at Hu Xiaotian, recalling his earnest, affectionate words, and believed he would spare no cost to keep his promise to her, yet why should she let the one she likes risk danger for her sake?

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Way of Heaven? I don't know what the Way of Heaven is, nor do I understand what it means to follow Heaven's will. If our ancestors had followed Heaven's will, they would not have struggled against nature, would still be naked, living in the mountains and forests, eating raw meat and drinking blood, would not have learned to make fire by drilling wood, would not know how to build nests and shelters, let alone talk about farming and herding. If Dakang had simply followed nature, there would not be the Long family's hundreds of years of the realm, and why would foreign invasions require us to take up arms to defend home and country? If you, Xuantian Guan, truly achieved following nature, why would you spend effort to help others cure their illnesses? Why not let them undergo birth, aging, sickness, and death?" (To be continued~^~)