Chapter 646: [True Colors of Mount Lu] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of cold air; although he had previously suspected Zi Juan's identity, he never expected a person's disguise technique could reach such a level. He slowly nodded and said in a low voice, "The poisoning was actually a farce you directed and performed yourself."

Xi Yan's lips curled with a charming smile: "I knew you were smart; it seems I can't hide anything from you."

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "What exactly do you want?"

Xi Yan said: "I don't want anything; I just want to bring you and Long Xi Yue together, so that you lovers may finally become a couple and live together from now on."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, came to sit on her bedside, propping himself up with both hands on the bed edge, gazing at Xi Yan's exquisite face: "Why would you be so kind?"

"If I don't go to hell, who will? To fulfill you, this faithless man, I have no choice but to sacrifice myself."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You've already performed the heaven-and-earth worship with me; how could you marry another?"

Xi Yan blinked her beautiful eyes, stepping closer to Hu Xiaotian step by step: "You've performed the heaven-and-earth worship with me; why can you still go fooling around?"

"I'm a man!" this scoundrel said, offering the most sufficient reason in this day and age—having three wives and four concubines is utterly commonplace.

"Pah!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Girl, speak honestly—what exactly are you scheming?" Actually he had already guessed that Xi Yan's purpose in impersonating Princess Anping was certainly not to bring him and Long Xi Yue together; this woman's allegiance is hard to discern, and she is likely related to the Li clan of Xichuan. If she truly intended to use this marriage alliance to harm Seventh Prince Xue Daoming, then not only would she ruin this marriage, but it could also provoke war between the two countries—perhaps that is her mission.

Xi Yan said: "You take your Yang Pass road, I'll take my single-log bridge. I don't care about your affairs; you'd better not ruin my grand plan." These words clearly meant she was laying her cards on the table for Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you even know what you're doing?"

Xi Yan said: "Your mission this time is to escort Princess Anping to Yongdu to marry the Seventh Prince of Da Yong; as long as you accomplish this, you have already answered to Dakang. The wedding is set for March 16; let's cooperate once—I'll continue to impersonate Princess Anping for you, and you faithfully carry out this marriage alliance."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since we've performed the heaven-and-earth worship, you are my wife; have you ever seen anyone in the world who sends his own wife off to be someone else's bride?"

Xi Yan said: "Do you truly find it hard to part with me?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "I can't bear to!"

Xi Yan smiled sweetly: "Then there's another way. Do you want to hear it?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly.

Xi Yan said: "Let Long Xi Yue come over and switch places with me! I'll be your wife, and let her become the prince's consort."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You clearly know she's dead—where am I supposed to find her?"

Xi Yan sneered: "In your heart she still matters more; don't think a mere human-skin mask can fool my eyes—when it comes to disguise, you're still far behind." Her slender white hand rested on Hu Xiaotian's shoulder, and she lowered her voice: "How is the little soldier who's been bustling about before you doing now?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted. It turned out Xi Yan had long since seen through Long Xi Yue's identity; he remained calm on the surface, smiling: "How do you want to cooperate?"

Xi Yan said: "Using my poisoning this time, you can conveniently make a big fuss, regain the authority to protect me, and then go to the Da Yong imperial family for an explanation—you must blow this affair up."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you trying to use this incident to draw the attention of the Da Yong emperor?"

Xi Yan softly sighed: "Actually, they just want to help you; with your clever mind, you don't need me to tell you what to do."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Suddenly he rose to his feet and walked silently toward the door without a word. Xi Yan said: "You still haven't given me an answer."

Hu Xiaotian stopped, leaving her with a sentence: "Do whatever you like; I have no interest in accompanying you!"

Xi Yan gritted her teeth: "Don't forget you've been poisoned—don't you care about your own life?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "You think I'd fear death, let alone your threats?" He opened the door and walked out.

Xi Yan stomped her feet in anger.

From outside came Wu Jing Shan's voice: "Sir Hu, how is the Princess doing?"

Hu Xiaotian shouted: "The Princess merely caught a chill; she's already recovered, brothers, let's head back!"

Everyone thought they had misheard, staring at Hu Xiaotian in astonishment—just moments ago he had posed as personally guarding the Princess's safety, but in an instant his attitude did a complete 180‑degree turn. Zhou Mo furrowed his brow and said softly: "Sir Hu, didn't you tell us to stay here and stand guard?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, with Sir Cao and his men protecting us, it's already foolproof; we'd better not add trouble here—let's go, we're all heading back."

Cao Xi and his men were also left bewildered, wondering what Hu Xiaotian was up to—but of course it's best if he's willing to leave.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian's feelings were a tangled mess; he had long suspected Zi Juan's identity, but when the mystery was finally revealed, he felt utterly shocked—Zi Juan was actually Xi Yan in disguise. Back in Heaven Wave City, Hu Xiaotian had thought her appearance was merely coincidental, and even been moved by their conversation on the high tower that night, giving rise to the illusion that Xi Yan might have genuine feelings for him; now it seems it was all an illusion.

Perhaps from that time onward Xi Yan had already begun plotting this conspiracy. Her decision to impersonate Long Xi Yue and marry Xue Daoming was certainly not out of spite toward him, nor merely to bring herself and Long Xi Yue together; her true aim was to sabotage the marriage alliance between Da Yong and Dakang, wanting the two nations to become enemies. Storm clouds gathered, the sky overcast, and Hu Xiaotian's face lost its former easy smile; he felt as if a hand gripped his heart ruthlessly, making it hard for him to breathe.

The situation before him forced him to reconsider his plans; Wu Jing Shan, reading Hu Xiaotian's solemn expression, had already anticipated a major development, returned to the South Wind Inn, and Hu Xiaotian invited him into the small upstairs room.

Wu Jing Shan anxiously said: "Sir Hu, what exactly has happened to the Princess?"

Hu Xiaotian let out a long sigh: "Don't blame me for not telling you, Sir Wu, but the Princess has been poisoned with a slow‑acting toxin placed in her food."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jing Shan could not help but startle and turn pale, exclaiming: "How could this be? Could Consort Shu and her son be trying to put the Princess to death? Terrible! If so, we ought to renew our duty to protect the Princess—why then are we leaving? Now the Princess is alone in Rising Dawn Palace; isn't that nerve‑racking, like walking on thin ice?"

Hu Xiaotian silently gazed at Wu Jing Shan, saying nothing.

Wu Jing Shan let out a complaint, then immediately calmed down; from Hu Xiaotian's gaze he understood something, they both knew full well that the Princess Anping residing in Rising Dawn Palace was merely a palace maid in disguise, an impostor. Wu Jing Shan said: "Sir Hu, what do you think we should do about this?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "We must prepare to withdraw from Yongdu."

Wu Jing Shan trembled: "Leave now? The Princess hasn't even finished her wedding, hasn't completed the mission His Majesty entrusted us with—what face would we have to return to Dakang?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not me leaving, but you, Sir Wu, who should go first. Given the current situation, keeping too many people here serves no purpose—I'll stay, and you may return to Dakang ahead of us."

Wu Jing Shan said: "Sir Hu, although I'm old and useless, I'm not a coward who clings to life and fears death. We've come all the way from Kangdu, endured countless hardships, and have long forged bonds of sharing weal and woe, weathering storms together; even if a great calamity is imminent, I will face it alongside you, Sir Hu." These words were spoken with fervor; whether true or not, they earned Hu Xiaotian's esteem.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Wu, I'm letting you go not only to preserve our strength to the greatest extent, but also to guard against any change in circumstances—if something happens, no one will be able to tell the truth to His Majesty; even if we sacrifice ourselves for the country, no one will clear our names."

Wu Jing Shan's goat beard quivered as he grew very excited: "I won't go! Although this old man lacks the strength to truss a chicken, I can still sacrifice myself for the nation!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since Consort Shu and her son have already decided to harm Princess Anping, I see they won't relent easily—if one scheme fails, another will surely follow. I want Sir Wu to lead our brothers and first leave Da Yong; the Princess's wedding is still about half a month away, so you should have time to return to Dakang's territory. Sir Wu can wait at the border between the two countries for our news; if the Princess's marriage proceeds smoothly, you can wait a few extra days for me, and I will lead the others to the agreed meeting point to join you; if the marriage changes, Sir Wu should immediately return to Kangdu and report to His Majesty in full detail what happened in Yongdu, so he can prepare early and guard against Da Yong's ambitious forces, and also clear our names; by then, those of us remaining in Yongdu, even if we die, can do so with a smile in the netherworld."

Wu Jing Shan was likewise moved by Hu Xiaotian's words, stepped forward, grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arms, and exclaimed excitedly: "Sir Hu, your fervent devotion to Dakang, your unwavering loyalty, truly moves this old man."

Hu Xiaotian thought: "You're moved but won't tell me to go—you stay in Yongdu to deal with this mess?"

Wu Jing Shan sighed: "It's all my fault—I don't know martial arts, lack the strength to truss a chicken, so even self‑defense is hard when trouble arises, let alone protecting others; I truly regret not having started differently—if I could begin anew, I'd rather be a martial artist wielding blades and spears." This amounted to telling Hu Xiaotian that he agreed to leave, since staying here would be useless. After saying that, he shifted tone: "An old man like me isn't worth mourning, but Sir Hu, what you said is also quite reasonable; if I stay here I won't help at all and might even drag you down. But… if I just leave like this, will Da Yong suspect something?" (To be continued~^~)