Chapter 523

Wen Boyuan said: "Please, Lord Hu, restrain yourself; baseless rumors must not be spoken." He had long since learned Hu Xiaotian's deceitful variability, knowing that nothing valuable could be gotten from this person's mouth, he gave a shake of the reins and spurred his horse to the front of the troop, clearly showing his disdain for associating with Hu Xiaotian.

Wu Jing Shan watched Wen Boyuan's retreating back, couldn't help but sigh, gave a wry smile: "Lord Hu, we are fellow travelers; we should look out for each other. Last night, General Wen stayed up all night looking for you, exhausting all means to send his capable subordinates; even if he gained no merit, he still endured hardship."

Hu Xiaotian's single sentence left him speechless: "Sir Wu, how do you know whether someone isn't deliberately exaggerating to cover up the truth?"

This...

Hu Xiaotian said: "The same thing already happened in Black Pine Forest; although the incident at Lu Family Village is strange, if you think about it carefully, you'll see its method is much like what happened in Black Pine Forest."

"But there's no reason for one's own people to harm each other." Although he also had doubts, Wu Jing Shan still did not believe Wen Boyuan would strike his own people.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps this is exactly their cleverness, Sir Wu; we seem not to be heading for Wu Xing Commandery."

Wu Jing Shan said: "We are taking the route through Fenglin Gorge to Qinglong Bay; I hadn't had a chance to tell you. According to the reports from those we sent out to gather information, Wu Xing Commandery has indeed seen a civil disturbance, with several thousand people swarming to Xingrong Warehouse, intending to seize its grain. The troops of Wu Xing Commandery have already gone to Xingrong Warehouse to set up defenses; the situation is very urgent." The Xingrong Warehouse he mentioned is one of Dakang's seven major granaries, storing mostly military grain supplies, which guarantee the livelihood of Wu Xing Commandery's soldiers; if Xingrong Warehouse is looted, those soldiers will inevitably face a situation with no grain to use.

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "The common folk are impoverished, lacking food and drink. With no other choice they take this road; given even a slim chance, who would dare risk the crime of rebellion to go loot?"

Wu Jing Shan's heart jumped; he never expected this scoundrel to actually speak to those rebels.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Wu, don't forget that Fenglin Gorge is the old lair of the Hunshui Bandits; passing through it, we must inevitably face danger."

Wu Jing Shan nodded: "I've considered it, but weighing the two options, Fenglin Gorge is still the safer choice; the chief of the Hunshui Bandits, Yan Baitao, has already been executed, and the current Hunshui Bandits are merely a rabble."

Hu Xiaotian said: "My apologies, my apologies; I always thought Sir Wu was virtuous and prestigious, with talent surpassing others. I never expected Sir Wu to be so familiar with the lore of the jianghu."

Wu Jing Shan stroked his whiskers and smiled: "I know nothing at all about the lore of the jianghu; it's only from General Wen that I learned."

Hu Xiaotian said meaningfully: "What you hear is false, what you see is real; Sir Wu, you shouldn't believe just what others say."

Wu Jing Shan knew that the contradictions between Hu Xiaotian and Wen Boyuan were manifold, almost impossible to resolve, the two were opposed. Since he lacked the ability to reconcile them as friends, he could only try to ensure their conflict did not escalate further. Wu Jing Shan said: "Since General Wen dared to choose this route, he must have proper countermeasures in place to guarantee the princess's safety."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's hard for Sir Wu to trust him so much; despite your support, I don't trust this person at all. His men from the Divine Strategy Manor are not as formidable as legend says; I fear they would crumble at the first real test."

Wu Jing Shan actually somewhat agreed with that; Black Pine Forest and Lu Family Village had each encountered trouble, and the warriors of the Divine Strategy Manor seemed not to have been of much use, losing over ten in total. Bear in mind we haven't even left Dakang's territory yet; once we enter Da Yong's domain, we don't know what troubles await. Fortunately, Princess Anping has not faced any danger; compared to her safety, others' lives are of no importance. Of course, except for his own life, Wu Jing Shan values his own life even more.

At dusk that day, they had already arrived outside Fenglin Gorge; perhaps because of the lesson from Black Pine Forest, Wen Boyuan this time did not choose to march through Fenglin Gorge overnight, but instead ordered to camp on the spot, rest for a night, then continue onward.

After Princess Anping alighted from the carriage, she said to Hu Xiaotian: "Lord Hu, please accompany me to visit Tang Qingxuan."

Hu Xiaotian answered with a sound, accompanied Princess Anping to the cavalry camp; Tang Qingxuan had also woken up by then, though her body still felt somewhat uncomfortable, she sat alone on the grass, hugging her knees and staring blankly into the distance.

Long Xi Yue gestured for Hu Xiaotian and the others not to follow, then went alone to Tang Qingxuan's side and whispered: "Qingxuan!"

Tang Qingxuan then came to her senses; seeing Long Xi Yue personally come to visit her, she felt somewhat moved, hastily tried to rise, but Long Xi Yue pressed her shoulder: "You don't need to get up; just sit and rest well."

Tang Qingxuan spread a handkerchief flat on the ground beside her and whispered: "Elder sister, please sit."

Long Xi Yue sat down, her gaze examining Tang Qingxuan's pretty face for a moment, then asked: "How do you feel? Are you injured?"

Tang Qingxuan shook her head: "I was still a bit uncomfortable when I first came back, but after a night's sleep I'm completely fine; there shouldn't be any problem." She looked toward the distant Hu Xiaotian and whispered: "Come to think of it, I owe a great deal to Lord Hu; if he hadn't risked his life to save me, I might never have seen the light of day again."

What exactly happened down there?

Tang Qingxuan shook her head: "I'm not sure either; I didn't even get a clear look at the person who grabbed me, but I know Lord Hu defeating her was no easy feat." At this moment her heart felt inexplicably panicked.

Not only Tang Qingxuan felt grateful to Hu Xiaotian; the Tang Tiehan and Tang Tiexin brothers, because of this incident, completely changed their opinion of Hu Xiaotian. Although the two are not particularly bright, they still understand principles, and they know Hu Xiaotian saved their sister's life.

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian was accompanying the princess to visit their sister, the Tang brothers hurried to the scene; they certainly couldn't speak on Princess Anping's side, but here with Hu Xiaotian they could ingratiate themselves and mend their relationship.

Tang Tiehan said in a rough voice: "Lord Hu, thank you!"

Hu Xiaotian also hadn't expected that this journey would actually reconcile him with the Tang three siblings, turning enemies into friends. Anyway, it's a good thing; he laughed: "What for?"

Tang Tiehan said: "Thank you for saving our sister."

Tang Tiexin said: "You saved us twice in a row; many thanks, Lord Hu." He also clasped his hands.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It was just a coincidence; one cannot stand by and watch someone die without helping."

Tang Tiehan said: "That's true..." Tang Tiexin knew his elder brother's words were unpleasant, so he quickly jabbed him with his elbow; Tang Tiehan chuckled: "The principle is that principle, but few can actually live up to it; Lord Hu, however, possesses noble integrity and devotion, giving his all until death."

Hu Xiaotian: "……" That word seems a bit off; hearing it makes it sound like you're cursing me to die.

Tang Tiexin, having no choice, jabbed his elder brother again and laughed: "My elder brother means that Lord Hu is both wise and brave, with iron-blooded loyalty and righteousness, generous in aiding others, dignified in appearance, suave and debonair..." Then it was Tang Tiehan's turn to jab him with his elbow, adding: "Lord Hu is a eunuch; that term is inappropriate."

Hu Xiaotian really felt a mix of laughter and tears: "I'm a eunuch, so what? Who says eunuchs can't be dignified and charming? Among eunuchs, many are good-looking; the nearest is myself, and farther away there's Ji Feihua—her looks would make even women jealous. Hu Xiaotian's mind suddenly conjured Ji Feihua's peerless visage, as if he saw her smiling seductively at him; his heart involuntarily shuddered. 'Damn!' he thought. 'What's wrong with me, suddenly thinking about a man out of the blue?'"

After the fifteenth, Kangdu became overcast with continuous rain; such weather made it hard for people's moods to clear. Ji Feihua stood in the waterside pavilion by the Jade Pool, silently gazing across at the Misty Mountain; the peak of Misty Mountain was completely shrouded in misty rain, and no matter how keen Ji Feihua's eyesight, she could not make out the outline of the Heavenly Clarity Palace on the mountain.

Li Yan respectfully waited behind Ji Feihua, silently awaiting his orders.

Ji Feihua asked: "When did the Emperor go to the Heavenly Clarity Palace?"

Two hours ago.

Ji Feihua abruptly turned, her gaze coldly fixed on Li Yan, and said: "Why wasn't the Zajia promptly informed?"

Li Yan startled, hastily lowered his head, and whispered: "I, too, only just received the news; I heard the Retired Emperor is ill, and the Emperor has come specially to visit him."

Ji Feihua asked: "Who accompanied him?"

"A person from the Xuantian Guan, Meng Zizai..." Li Yan said, then furtively observed Ji Feihua's expression and carefully asked: "Commander, would you like to go and have a look?"

Ji Feihua coldly replied: "No need." He turned and left alone.

After walking a few steps along the lakeside corridor, he discovered a woman sitting in the corridor, clutching a red paper fan, gazing vacantly at the Jade Pool; it was Lin Wan, the Noble Consort of the Lingyu Palace.

Ji Feihua couldn't help but frown; he had no intention of attending to Lin Wan, pretending not to have seen her, and continued forward.

From behind suddenly came Lin Wan's voice, full of resentment: "Lord Eunuch Ji, you're so stingy you won't even utter a greeting?"

Ji Feihua stopped walking, his gaze still not toward Lin Wan, and said calmly: "How has Noble Consort Lin been lately?"

Lin Wan said, full of resentment: "Whether I'm well or not, you know better than anyone."

Ji Feihua slowly turned, glanced at Lin Wan, then turned his gaze toward Baobao waiting far away; although Baobao was distant, she could still feel Ji Feihua's cold stare, causing her heart to chill, and she hastily lowered her head.

Ji Feihua said: "You actually still keep her by your side?"

Lin Wan replied: "After all, we are sisters; although she treats me unkindly, I cannot act unjustly toward her."

Feeling quite weary, seeing the eleventh place on the Monthly Ticket Ranking, Zhangyu could only wryly smile; I, Zhang Shiyi Lang, have returned again.

Today updates resume; two chapters delivered. With the month's end approaching, I ask everyone to lend a hand, help Zhangyu fight back into the top ten. Zhangyu has no stockpiled chapters, only promises remain; starting tomorrow, at least three updates! (To be continued~^~)