Chapter 487

Hu Xiaotian nodded, walked with a steady pace into the courtyard, came to the room where Princess Anping lived, and respectfully said: "Your Highness, Little Beard has arrived!"

The door opened from inside, first a round snowball rolled out; the little dog, which had become completely familiar with them over the past two days, ran happily onto the snow; Purple Cuckoo followed after, chasing out, laughing: "Snowball, stop!" Seeing Hu Xiaotian, she laughed: "The Princess has been looking for you, hurry in!"

Before entering the room, Hu Xiaotian turned and glanced toward the courtyard gate, seeing Wen Boyuan still standing there; he secretly felt amused, thinking, "You're opposing me, kid, you still lack a bit of skill."

Long Xi Yue had just finished eating sweet rice balls; seeing Hu Xiaotian enter, her pretty face instantly lit up with joy, and she softly said: "Where have you been? Why haven't I seen you for so long?" Even she herself couldn't figure out why; after leaving the capital, her reliance on Hu Xiaotian grew stronger day by day.

Hu Xiaotian closed the door, then came to sit beside Long Xi Yue and whispered: "Just now Lao Wu and Xiao Wen called me over to discuss something; first, they wanted me to inform Wang Wenyou and cancel the welcome feast, saying they didn't want to make a big fuss."

Long Xi Yue nodded and said: "Canceling it would be better; I never liked such things anyway."

Hu Xiaotian said: "There's also the matter of notifying me that I'm not allowed to come and go from your residence at night as I please, saying it's for your safety."

Long Xi Yue's pretty face flushed; the first thought that came to her was: Could it be that their relationship has been noticed by others? That's why they're letting Hu Xiaotian keep his distance from her.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you want me to do?"

Long Xi Yue bit her cherry lips and said: "I heard there's a lantern festival in Heavenly Wave City tonight, so..." She felt a bit embarrassed, hesitating to speak further.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "So you want to go to the lantern festival to have a look and enjoy the excitement?"

Long Xi Yue nodded. Then she added: "Since it's so troublesome, I'd rather stay here."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've long heard that the lantern festival in Heavenly Wave City is the foremost of the three great lantern festivals under heaven; since we happen to be passing by, missing it would be a pity."

Long Xi Yue's beautiful eyes brightened, and she nodded as well.

Hu Xiaotian naturally understood her feelings; Long Xi Yue had already resolved this time leaving Dakang that she would never return in this lifetime. Therefore she cherished everything about Dakang deeply; since leaving Kangdu, Hu Xiaotian had never mentioned to her any escape plan, not because he was Retreat When Facing Difficulty, but because he was seeking the most suitable opportunity, and he did not want to add too much pressure to Long Xi Yue. A man should bear all major responsibilities on his shoulders—that is what is called a sense of duty.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wen Boyuan is standing outside. I think the Princess would best tell him directly."

Long Xi Yue exclaimed in surprise: "Tell him?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a sly smile and said: "To be precise, it's an order; if he dares to defy it and show disrespect, I'll immediately write a memorial and have it rushed overnight to Kangdu to investigate his responsibility."

Long Xi Yue then understood his meaning; although Wu Jing Shan, Wen Boyuan, and Hu Xiaotian each had their own duties, being responsible for this escort mission, their authority ultimately could not surpass hers; as long as she gave orders, Wen Boyuan had no grounds to refuse.

Wen Boyuan had thought Hu Xiaotian would take this opportunity to deliberately mess with him. He had prepared to wait outside, but he hadn't expected to soon receive a summons from Princess Anping.

When he entered the room, he then learned that Princess Anping had conceived the idea of going to view the lanterns; Wen Boyuan hurriedly said: "Your Highness, this is absolutely out of the question."

Princess Anping coldly said: "I'm not asking for your consent; my mind is made up. You just go prepare."

"This..." Wen Boyuan glanced at Hu Xiaotian, thinking it must be Hu Xiaotian egging her on from behind.

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "I also advised the Princess not to go, but since she has made her decision, we have no choice but to obey, General Wen, don't you agree?"

Wen Boyuan secretly cursed Hu Xiaotian for being hypocritical, but there was truth in what Hu Xiaotian said: since Princess Anping had decided to go view the lanterns, as a subordinate he could only obey; even if he brought out Wu Jing Shan, the result would be the same. Thinking this, he nodded and said: "Your Highness, I will immediately go prepare." Before setting out, he presented a hand warmer, which was actually a gift he had given to Princess Anping.

Long Xi Yue had not wanted to accept it, but after thinking she said: "I already have one, Lord Hu; I'll pass this hand warmer on to you."

"Yes!" Hu Xiaotian happily took it; Wen Boyuan felt stifled, thinking it would have been better if Long Xi Yue had simply refused it to his face; taking his things and then regifting them, especially giving them to Hu Xiaotian, only made him more furious. Seeing Hu Xiaotian proudly holding the hand warmer, Wen Boyuan wished he could slap him in the face.

Although Long Xi Yue is virtuous and gentle, that doesn't mean she lacks character; her heart has long been set on Hu Xiaotian, and anyone who infringes on his interests upsets her more than if she herself were harmed. Thus, when the Bright Moon Palace caught fire earlier, to help Hu Xiaotian escape, she did not hesitate to threaten the current Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan with a fake beeswax flower painting. Likewise, seeing Wen Boyuan repeatedly target Hu Xiaotian along the way, she naturally felt displeased, and presenting the hand warmer to Hu Xiaotian in Wen Boyuan's presence was intentional on her part.

Wen Boyuan forcibly suppressed his anger; in Long Xi Yue's presence he dared not lash out, and said softly: "This subordinate will take his leave first." He turned and strode away angrily.

Hu Xiaotian watched Wen Boyuan leave, feeling greatly pleased, clutching the hand warmer in both hands, he came to the door, closed it, and smiled at Long Xi Yue: "Thank you for the gift, Princess."

Long Xi Yue's pretty face flushed slightly as she said: "You should be thanking General Wen instead." After saying that, she playfully stuck out her tender tongue and said: "Xiaotian, was what I just did a bit excessive?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said: "Excessive? It's excessive to the extreme..." After a well-timed pause, he moved closer to Long Xi Yue and said: "But I like it!"

Long Xi Yue felt him closing in, almost able to feel his hot breath; her heart pounded, she lowered her gaze, her hands nervously kneading the hem of her clothes, and whispered: "Being with you for so long, I've been corrupted by you." Feeling Hu Xiaotian draw nearer, she nervously asked: "You... what do you intend to do?"

Hu Xiaotian wore a wicked grin and said: "What are you thinking, Princess? I mean no disrespect to you." Leaning close to her ear, he whispered in a voice only she could hear: "Unless you take the initiative, I will never force you."

Long Xi Yue, overcome with shame, clenched her pink fists and pounded his shoulders twice.

But her wrist was seized by Hu Xiaotian; the scoundrel's eyes flashed with a fiery light, Long Xi Yue felt a twinge of fear, she tried to pull her hand back but could not escape his grip, and she feigned composure, saying: "You... you what do you want again..."

Since leaving Kangdu, their every move had been under constant surveillance; today they finally got a chance to be alone, and as the saying goes, repressed feelings inevitably erupt—especially emotions. Hu Xiaotian supported Long Xi Yue's fragrant shoulder; her delicate body softened and she fell into his embrace; their eyes met, filled with lingering affection; he lowered his head, captured her cherry lips, and their tongues entwined in a kiss unlike any before, fervent and passionate. In Hu Xiaotian's kiss, Long Xi Yue's mind went blank; all worries, fears, and hesitations were instantly cast aside.

Hu Xiaotian became even more vigilant; although he was in Long Xi Yue's room, he still listened for outside noises; in this situation he couldn't fully lose himself, yet there was a thrill and novelty to the clandestine affair. He reluctantly released Long Xi Yue and whispered: "I have to go, lest they suspect something."

Long Xi Yue nodded, but her hand still clung to Hu Xiaotian's large hand, her beautiful eyes full of reluctance.

Hu Xiaotian reached out and gently patted her pretty face: "Tonight I'll accompany you to view the lanterns."

Princess Anping decided to go to Viewing Waves Street to view the lanterns; Wu Jing Shan's first reaction was opposition, but upon hearing that the Princess had made up her mind, he also realized he couldn't oppose her, and he sighed: "Why all of a sudden want to go view the lanterns?"

Wen Boyuan gave a cold snort and said: "It's all because of that eunuch's instigation." Anyway, he blamed any mishap on Hu Xiaotian.

Wu Jing Shan sighed and said: "I knew it was him as soon as I guessed!"

Wen Boyuan said: "The eunuchs in this palace only know how to flatter and fawn over their superiors, treating this outing as a mere pleasure trip, completely unaware of what worry is, and unclear about what responsibilities they should bear. Escorting the Princess to Yongdu concerns the future peace of the two nations; if any mishap occurs, how can we face the Emperor?"

"Indeed!" Wu Jing Shan echoed deeply: "Since leaving Kangdu, I have never let down my guard; this journey to Da Yong is truly a heavy burden, just as General Wen said—if any mishap occurs along the way, how could we face the Emperor?" He habitually stroked his beard and said: "No way; even if the Princess insists on going to view the lanterns, we must have the Heavenly Wave City side make preparations, and if necessary, we can have them send troops to assist in defense, barring miscellaneous persons from entering Viewing Waves Street."

Although Wen Boyuan also wanted to do that, he thought Wu Jing Shan's suggestion impossible, for if Princess Anping learned they were blocking all commoners outside, she would surely fly into a rage. He pondered and said: "Since the matter was stirred up by that eunuch, let him handle it..." Before his words finished, Hu Xiaotian's voice came from outside: "Are the two officials present?"

Today we continue updating in exchange for Monthly Ticket; I estimate everyone has few tickets left, so I'm lowering the standard—guaranteed two chapters, 40 Monthly Ticket earn an Extra chapter, and 80 Monthly Ticket get Four more! (To be continued~^~)