Chapter 495

Princess Anping was extremely worried in her heart, but in front of others she still struggled to control her emotions, speaking softly: "It's fine as long as nothing happened." Perhaps realizing she had just acted a bit improperly, she turned to Zijuan and said: "Let's go back first, Xiaohuzi; come see me later, I have something to ask you in person."

Yes!

Wen Boyuan and Wu Jing Shan both rushed over, Wu Jing Shan putting on a concerned look and saying: "Oh dear, Eunuch Hu, where exactly did you go, making us search so hard." In his heart, however, he was full of disappointment, thinking: Why doesn't this eunuch just disappear from before our eyes?

Hu Xiaotian said: "Because I noticed something strange about the woman on the stage, I followed her all the way, pursuing her until I suddenly lost sight of her in the city's southwest."

Wen Boyuan said coldly: "Eunuch Hu, you've been gone a long time this trip."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "It shouldn't have taken this long, but after I set off in pursuit I realized I had no one to help me, and even though General Wen brought so many of his personal guards, not a single one came to meet me."

Wen Boyuan said: "The situation happened suddenly; our primary duty is to protect the princess's safety. Eunuch Hu, you surely understand this. I originally thought your first reaction would be to protect the princess, but I never expected you to dare rush out recklessly. Fortunately nothing happened today; if something had gone wrong, wouldn't that be unjust?" His meaning was clear: no one told you to go out; our responsibility is to protect the princess, not you—if you died, it would be your own bad luck and you'd deserve it.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "It sounds like General Wen is feeling a bit disappointed."

Wen Boyuan said coldly: "Eunuch Hu, think whatever you like."

Wu Jing Shan hurriedly smoothed things over, saying: "It's already so late; everyone's been running around this long and is tired, so let's each go back to rest."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Right, I still need to go report to the princess. General Wen, could you please tell the guard at the door for me?"

Princess Anping had already earlier said she wanted to summon Hu Xiaotian. Wen Boyuan naturally had no excuse to stop him; he always felt there was something strange about this little eunuch, and as he watched Hu Xiaotian swagger away, a hint of resentful malice appeared in his eyes.

Wu Jing Shan gave a hehe laugh and said: "Just a false alarm; it's good that you came back safely."

Wen Boyuan said: "I don't know what he's been up to this whole hour." When you take a dislike to someone, you tend to suspect anything they do.

Wu Jing Shan said: "I just heard about it. Did General Wen and him make a bet?"

Wen Boyuan said: "It's not a bet; we just want to compare our painting skills."

Wu Jing Shan habitually stroked his beard and said: "He actually dares to compete in painting with General Wen?"

Wen Boyuan said: "This person is arrogant and overindulged because of favor; there's nothing he wouldn't dare to do."

Wu Jing Shan gave a sly laugh and said: "Isn't that just bringing disgrace upon himself?" He didn't mean what he said; actually, although he harbored resentment toward Hu Xiaotian in his heart, he deep down acknowledged Hu Xiaotian's talent—twice in the Tian Shui Pavilion he had lost face, so it can't be explained away as mere chance. Hu Xiaotian, this brat, may seem frivolous on the surface, but in fact he is unfathomable; everyone used to know that Hu Buwei's son was an idiot, yet who would have thought this fellow would be so talented, not only skilled at poetry and couplets, but also versed in medicine—so even if he does something else shocking and outrageous, it wouldn't be surprising.

Wen Boyuan said: "Speaking of this matter, tonight my nephew might have to stay up late painting."

Wu Jing Shan said: "I look forward to General Wen's ink work."

Wen Boyuan secretly wondered, but he didn't know what kind of painting Hu Xiaotian would produce; he had never heard before that Hu Xiaotian could paint.

Hu Xiaotian, during his time in the palace, had only drawn a few anatomical diagrams to show Qin Yutong; in front of others he had never really revealed his abilities, and judging purely by painting skill he also knew he was no match for Wen Boyuan—Wen Boyuan had studied painting since childhood and was a disciple of a famous master, whereas Hu Xiaotian knew almost nothing about traditional Chinese painting; to win he could only rely on surprise.

Upon entering Princess Anping's room, he saw a few small dishes on the little table, specially sent by Long Xi Yue, and she whispered: "Hungry? Have something to eat first, then we'll talk."

Zijuan smiled, held Snowball, and went out, closing the door behind her.

Hu Xiaotian, having been busy all this while, was indeed a bit hungry; he went to the table, sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and said: "Let's eat together!"

Princess Anping smiled alluringly; although her eyes were still a bit red and swollen, her charm remained undiminished, actually gaining a touch of pity-inducing allure. She sat beside Hu Xiaotian, loosened her wide sleeves, picked up the wine pot, and filled his cup; Hu Xiaotian accepted it without pretense. Since only the two of them were in the room, there was no need to keep up any act.

Princess Anping said: "Where did you just go? You made me worry so much."

"What's there to worry about?" Hu Xiaotian's eyes were full of **.

Under his gaze, Princess Anping's pretty face flushed again, and she whispered: "I'm afraid something will happen to you, and I'm afraid someone will snatch you away and marry you off…"

Hu Xiaotian realized that women's thoughts are often strange; indeed she had thought of this, and strangely enough, that very strange idea actually came true, whereupon Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing.

Hu Xiaotian stretched out his right leg under the table, pressing it tightly against Long Xi Yue's jade leg; Long Xi Yue's delicate body trembled, the wine cup she had raised spilled some liquor, and she gave him a somewhat annoyed glance, yet she did not pull away.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have nothing going on, but if I were really snatched away and forced to marry, would you agree?"

Long Xi Yue bit her lip and said: "Do you really know or not know that woman on the stage? I've noticed she seems to have been staring at you all along." Women are indeed sensitive; amid that chaotic situation, Long Xi Yue still managed to notice this detail.

Hu Xiaotian could only laugh, shook his head, and said: "I don't know her!"

The usually obedient Long Xi Yue actually lifted her foot and kicked Hu Xiaotian, spitting: "You're lying—if you didn't know her, why would she have thrown the embroidered ball at you?" Even a gentle, demure girl can show her domineering side on certain matters; before Hu Xiaotian returned, Long Xi Yue's greatest worry had been his safety, but once she was sure he was unharmed, her attention shifted entirely to what happened after the embroidered ball was tossed tonight.

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile and said: "Your Highness, she didn't throw an embroidered ball—it was a huge fireball; she wasn't trying to arrange a marriage, she was outright trying to take my life and chase my soul. If it weren't for my quick eyes and hands, I'd probably have turned into a roasted pig by now."

Long Xi Yue couldn't help laughing at this, recalling the scene and feeling a lingering fear; she whispered: "You shouldn't have risked chasing out like that—if you'd encountered any danger, what would I have done?"

Hu Xiaotian raised his wine cup and said: "After surviving a great disaster, good fortune surely follows—let's drink to that. Tonight is the Lantern Festival, the moon is full and families are reunited; let's celebrate our departure from Kangdu, and also celebrate my narrow escape from disaster."

Long Xi Yue nodded, raised her cup and clinked it with his; they both drank it down. Long Xi Yue said: "You've eaten enough—hurry back and rest; tomorrow morning you'll still have to paint." She still kept in mind the matter of Hu Xiaotian competing in painting with Wen Boyuan.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I haven't really studied painting; I don't even know how to hold a brush."

Long Xi Yue said: "Then isn't that a guaranteed loss?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Losing isn't certain; I have a habit when I paint—I must have a model in front of me to be able to produce anything."

Long Xi Yue said: "What do you mean by a model?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Simply put, I'd paint your portrait, and you'd be my model—I don't know if the princess would be willing."

Long Xi Yue bit her lip, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said: "Just paint, then—if you can paint well and beat Wen Boyuan, what's the harm in my being your model?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Then I'll come over first thing tomorrow morning to paint your portrait."

The two had agreed; after Hu Xiaotian had eaten his fill and drunk his fill, he returned to his own room. Outside, goose-feather snow was falling softly, and the snow on the ground had already accumulated to more than half a foot thick in the blink of an eye. Thinking that tomorrow he would anyway be staying in Tianbo City to adjust for a day, he wasn't in a particular hurry. Hu Xiaotian deliberately made a detour, passing outside Wen Boyuan's room, only to see that his room was still brightly lit; he must be burning the midnight oil, exerting himself to win against him once in front of everyone. Hu Xiaotian shook his head, secretly amused, waiting until tomorrow when I, old man, produce a shocking, outrageous portrait—I'll surely make your eyes pop out.

Suddenly, a soft rustling of footsteps sounded from behind; Hu Xiaotian turned around and saw Zhan Peng and Zhao Chongwu on patrol passing by here. During the hour Hu Xiaotian had gone missing, it was Zhan Peng who had been earnestly searching for him, but in front of outsiders the two showed no sign of their relationship; Zhan Peng's face bore no smile, and he said in a low voice: "Eunuch Hu, haven't you gone to rest yet?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I just finished eating; I wanted to take a stroll."

Zhan Peng said: "Eunuch Hu, you'd better head back early; don't keep causing trouble for everyone."

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a jolt; then he heard another faint footstep from behind, instantly understanding Zhan Peng's meaning, and he flew into a rage, shouting: "What are you, daring to speak like that in front of the Zajia? Get down on your knees!" He deliberately pinched his voice, making it truly high and thin.

Zhan Peng's expression was quite stubborn; he glared at Hu Xiaotian angrily and said: "Eunuch Hu, you've got it wrong—we are soldiers under General Wen's command."

"And what about General Wen?"

From behind came Wen Boyuan's gloomy voice: "General Wen can't be dealt with that way, but if Eunuch Hu wants to throw his weight around here and bully people, I, Wen, can't stand by and watch."

Hu Xiaotian turned around and went forward; Wen Boyuan indeed came up behind him, his eyes glaring like a tiger's. Hu Xiaotian gave a heh heh cold laugh and said: "General Wen, your timing is perfect—those two actually dared to be rude to the Zajia."

Wen Boyuan had no idea that Hu Xiaotian and Zhan Peng were deliberately putting on an act; he said coldly: "I'll take care of my own subordinates; Eunuch Hu, you'd better look after yourself—Zhan Peng is right, you should stop causing trouble for everyone." (To be continued~^~)