Chapter 455: What Is the Way of Heaven? (Part 2)

Qin Yutong was left speechless by Hu Xiaotian's series of questions.

Long Xi Yue's originally dim gaze brightened again; Qiqi praised, "Well said!" and, fearing the world was not chaotic enough, she clapped her hands.

Hu Xiaotian did not press the matter, chuckling lightly and saying, "Just my personal opinion; please don't laugh at me."

Long Xi Yue snapped, "Little beard, watch your manners; Qin Miss is my best friend." She was merely putting on a show; deep down she naturally sided with Hu Xiaotian.

Qin Yutong said, "Lord Hu is a man of great wisdom; I cannot outargue you." Not being able to outargue does not necessarily mean your words are reasonable, Lord Hu, and I am not one to yield easily.

Qiqi said, "What Lord Hu said is not without reason; if people simply let everything take its natural course and obey heaven's arrangements, what meaning would life have?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Human history is a history of humanity's struggle against nature; in my view, man can conquer heaven!" This simple truth sounded shocking and outrageous to people of this era; even Qiqi felt Hu Xiaotian's remark was excessively arrogant.

After saying that, Hu Xiaotian felt he had spoken too much, rose to take his leave, and said, "I won't disturb your chat; Little Beard, I still have duties at the Supervisorate of Arms, so I'll take my leave first."

Long Xi Yue nodded; she also did not want Hu Xiaotian to keep spouting nonsense and embarrass Qin Yutong.

Hu Xiaotian left the chambers, only to see Qiqi following him out, calling from behind, "You stop right there!"

Hu Xiaotian had no choice but to halt, bowing respectfully and saying, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Qiqi said, "You forgot what you promised me today?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Please make it clear, Your Highness; I have promised you so many things I truly don't know which one you refer to."

Qiqi glared at him and said, "When I let that big black fellow go, what did you promise me?"

Hu Xiaotian thought, "So I have to fulfill my promise now? Really quick." He smiled and said, "If you don't remind me, I'll forget."

Qiqi said, "You dare forget!" She hooked her finger at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian lowered his head and leaned in; Qiqi lowered her voice and said, "Arrange it; I want to explore the wine cellar at night."

Hu Xiaotian was so startled his tongue stuck out halfway.

"How about it? Can you or not? Don't think sticking out your tongue and pretending to be a dog will get you past this."

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile, "Today won't work, Your Highness; I'll take care of this matter."

Qiqi held up three fingers: "Three days; within three days you must see to this arrangement."

"Certainly!"

Upon hearing his agreement, Qiqi turned back to Zilan Palace; Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly, the underground passage of the wine cellar was no longer a secret, yet why was Qiqi so interested in this passage? Could it be that Quan De'an was pulling strings behind the scenes?

The reason Hu Xiaotian left early was mainly that he still wanted to visit Ji Feihua; although he had seen her the previous night, logically and emotionally he ought to go pay a New Year's call. Upon arriving at the Supervisorate of Arms, however, he found it empty—Ji Feihua had gone to see the Emperor.

Hu Xiaotian could only return to the Supervisorate of Arms; Shi Xuedong and the others had thought Hu Xiaotian would stay overnight at Zilan Palace, so seeing him return they hurriedly greeted him. Shi Xuedong asked, "Lord Hu, have you eaten? I'll have them prepare a meal." Hu Xiaotian waved his hand and said, "No need; I already ate at Zilan Palace."

That night Hu Xiaotian chose to rest in the wine cellar; he shut the cellar door and recalled the scene of meeting his parents that day. His father's mind was clearly made up; he did not wish to leave Kangdu with him. If his parents did not go, he himself could not easily leave alone. Only Long Xi Yue's wedding date was approaching; after the fifteenth she would be sent far away to Da Yong, so he had to devise a flawless plan to rescue her—while ensuring her safe escape, he also needed to find a way to shift his own responsibility completely onto others.

Hu Xiaotian was deep in thought when a gloomy voice suddenly sounded, "The Zajia has waited for you all day, yet you never came to pay New Year's respects."

Hu Xiaotian started; although he could not see the speaker's appearance, he already guessed who it was—only Li Yuncong could appear and disappear silently through the secret passage into this wine cellar.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I was just about to go over; I didn't expect you to arrive first." He turned around, only to see Li Yuncong dressed in black palace robes, a red sash as wide as a palm tied around his waist, which added a festive touch; his face bore a half‑smile expression.

Hu Xiaotian rose and said, "Lord Li, please take a seat."

Li Yuncong did not stand on ceremony, sat down beside the wine barrel, and said softly, "How have these two days been for you?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Thanks to Lord Li's favor, my days have been passable." He had already guessed why Li Yuncong came late at night; he rose, walked to one side, poured a cup of grape wine, and placed it before Li Yuncong—the wine cellar never lacked fine wine.

Li Yuncong took the cup, took a sip, smacked his lips, and, by candlelight, surveyed the cellar, then praised in a low voice, "Indeed, it's a life fit for immortals—warm in winter, cool in summer, and with so much fine wine on hand, you can drink whenever you wish."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If Lord Li likes it, you may come here every night; the fine wine here is yours to drink as you please."

Li Yuncong gave a hehe laugh, his deep eyes studying Hu Xiaotian, and said, "Did you see the Retired Emperor yesterday?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, "I did."

"How was he?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "If I tell you, Lord Li may be disappointed; he's already become muddle‑headed, his words and actions are crazy, and after just a few sentences he grabbed Princess Anping's throat. Had I been a step later, he might have strangled his own daughter with his own hands."

Li Yuncong said, "In that case, the Retired Emperor's health is still quite robust."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized from Li Yuncong's remark that, while he saw Long Xuan'en as mad, Li Yuncong interpreted it as the Retired Emperor's body still being strong and healthy; otherwise he wouldn't have acted that way. Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly, the old emperor was indeed cunning and deceitful; it seemed his actions were not madness but a signal to the outside world, and Hu Xiaotian had unknowingly become the messenger of that message. In terms of scheming, compared with these old foxes he was still immature, but there was really no loss to speak of. To obtain what he wanted from Li Yuncong, he would have to give something in return.

Hu Xiaotian recounted from beginning to end his experience accompanying Princess Anping to Miaomiao Mountain; Li Yuncong listened attentively. At the crucial moment he did not forget to interrupt Hu Xiaotian's narrative. Hu Xiaotian also tried to be as detailed as possible; when he described burning incense at the Cloud Temple, he said, "In the Cloud Temple I saw a portrait painted quite vividly."

"Who?"

Hu Xiaotian put on a thoughtful expression, pondered for a while, then said, "It seems to be called Ling Jiazi; she is the Retired Emperor's concubine, right?"

Li Yuncong's eyes flickered; he slowly shook his head and said, "The Zajia has never heard of that name."

Hu Xiaotian had been watching Li Yuncong's reaction; when he answered, his gaze clearly drifted elsewhere—psychologically, this is a kind of deliberate avoidance, and Li Yuncong most likely was not telling the truth. Hu Xiaotian added, "Just what side is Mu Rongzhan on?" Ever since Mu Rongzhan had deliberately targeted him at the foot of Miaomiao Mountain, Hu Xiaotian had doubted this man's allegiance.

Li Yuncong said, "This person was promoted step by step by the Emperor; since the Emperor entrusted Miaomiao Mountain to him, he must trust him greatly. The Zajia has heard that his appointment as Commander of the Palace Guard came about thanks to Ji Feihua's recommendation."

Hu Xiaotian grew more puzzled; if Mu Rongzhan belonged to Ji Feihua, why did he press him step by step yesterday? Human motives are unfathomable; heaven only knows which camp he truly serves. He cleared his throat and said, "After the fifteenth I may have to accompany Princess Anping to Da Yong; this time I might be on the road for several months."

Li Yuncong said, "Really unexpected; the Emperor actually appointed you as the marriage envoy."

Hu Xiaotian said, "It is said that Eunuch Quan strongly recommended you."

Li Yuncong said, "Quan De'an has been quite good to you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Does Lord Li not worry that he might manipulate this affair?"

Li Yuncong furrowed his white brows: "What kind of manipulation?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Lord Li seems not to care about other palace affairs. When the Bright Moon Palace caught fire, Quan De'an and Wen Chenghuan tried to use this incident to frame me for death. Had the Emperor not fallen ill just then, I would hardly have escaped."

Li Yuncong snorted, "You overestimate yourself; their real target is Ji Feihua; you are merely a pawn."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, "I originally thought that becoming the marriage envoy to escort Princess Anping to Yongdu was a reward from the Emperor, but upon reflection the matter is not so simple."

Li Yuncong silently finished his cup of wine, then waited quietly for Hu Xiaotian's continuation.

Hu Xiaotian said, "That was yesterday; after seeing the Retired Emperor I suddenly recalled that Princess Anping is his daughter; she had previously begged the Emperor to let her visit the Spirit Heaven Palace on Miaomiao Mountain to see him, but had never obtained permission. Yesterday the Emperor suddenly granted it."

Li Yuncong said, "Yesterday was New Year's Eve; a daughter visiting her father is only natural, all the more so since Princess Anping will soon be married far away."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although that's the reasoning, I always feel things aren't that simple; originally I could have stayed away, but someone specially reminded me to accompany Princess Anping, so I naturally became involved with Miaomiao Mountain, and being involved with Miaomiao Mountain means being involved with the Retired Emperor."

Li Yuncong said, "You might as well speak plainly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Princess Anping is the biological daughter of the Retired Emperor; I am now the steward of Zilan Palace and also the marriage envoy appointed by the Emperor."

Li Yuncong said: "You worry that someone will make an issue of this, framing you and Princess Anping of colluding to help the Retired Emperor regain the throne?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just me and Princess Anping, if we say it, naturally no one would believe it; even if someone did believe it, getting rid of us insignificant people would be meaningless, but if we add Ji Feihua, then there would be sufficient reason."

Li Yuncong remained silent; what Hu Xiaotian said is highly plausible. In the palace, the struggle between Quan De'an and Ji Feihua has already intensified to the point of being white-hot. In order to eliminate Ji Feihua, Quan De'an will stop at nothing. Slandering Ji Feihua for colluding with the Retired Emperor to plot a restoration, this charge alone is enough to put Ji Feihua to death.

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