Chapter 651

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, hands propped on the bedrail, gazing at Xi Yan's exquisite face: "Why would you be so kind?"

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

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You've already performed the wedding rites 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 wedding rites with me, so how can you go about philandering?"

"I'm a man!" this scoundrel said, giving the most sufficient reason of the modern age—having three wives and four concubines is nothing unusual.

"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 motives are hard to judge as good or evil, and she is likely related to the Xichuan Li clan. If she truly intended to use this marriage to harm Seventh Prince Xue Daoming, then not only would she ruin this marriage, but she might also provoke war between the two countries—perhaps that is her mission.

Xi Yan said: "You take your sunny path, I'll take my narrow bridge. I don't care about your affairs; you'd better not ruin my grand plan." These words clearly meant to lay her cards before Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you 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. March 16 is the wedding date; let's cooperate once—I will continue to impersonate Princess Anping for you, and you will faithfully carry out this marriage alliance."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since we've performed the wedding rites, you are my wife; have you ever seen anyone in the world who sends his own wife to be another's bride?"

Xi Yan said: "Do you really cannot bear to part with me?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "I cannot bear to part!"

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

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly.

Xi Yan said: "Let Long Xi Yue come over to take my place! I'll be your wife, and she can 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 has been bustling about before you doing now?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted—originally Xi Yan had long seen through Long Xi Yue's identity; he remained calm on the surface. He smiled: "How do you want to cooperate?"

Xi Yan said: "By taking advantage of my poisoning this time, you can just make a big fuss, regain the power to protect me, then go to the Yong royal family for an explanation; we must blow this up."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You want to use this incident to draw the Yong emperor's attention?"

Xi Yan sighed softly and said: "Actually, I just want to help you out; as for what to do, with your clever mind you don't need me to teach you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, then suddenly stood up. Without a word he walked toward the door, and Xi Yan said: "You haven't given me an answer yet."

Hu Xiaotian stopped in his tracks. Leaving her with one sentence: "Do whatever you want, I have no interest keeping you company!"

Xi Yan gritted her teeth and said: "Don't forget you've been poisoned; aren't you concerned for your own life?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "You're not afraid of death, so why fear my threats?" He flung open the door and walked out.

Xi Yan stamped her foot in anger.

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

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

Everyone thought they had misheard. One by one they stared at Hu Xiaotian in astonishment; just moments ago he had put on the posture of personally guarding the Princess's safety, but in the blink of an eye he did a complete 180. Zhou Mo furrowed his brow and said softly: "Sir Hu, you didn't tell us to stay here and stand guard?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, having Sir Cao and his men protect us is already foolproof; we'd better not cause more trouble here. Let's go—let's all head back."

Cao Xi and his men were also left bewildered, wondering what Hu Xiaotian was up to; but since he's willing to leave, that's best.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian's feelings were a tangled mess; he had always suspected Zi Juan's identity, but when the mystery was revealed he felt utterly shocked—Zi Juan was actually Xi Yan in disguise. When he was in Heavenly Wave City, he had thought her appearance was merely coincidental, and even felt 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 just a façade.

Perhaps from that time on, Xi Yan had already begun plotting this conspiracy. Her decision to stand in for Long Xi Yue and marry Xue Daoming was certainly not out of spite toward him, nor was it to fulfill herself and Long Xi Yue; her true aim was to sabotage the marriage alliance between Yong and Dakang, wanting the two nations to become enemies. The wind and rain were gathering, dark clouds loomed, and Hu Xiaotian's face lost its former easy smile; he felt as if a hand clenched tightly inside his chest, gripping him so hard he could barely breathe.

The current situation forced him to reconsider his plans; Wu Jing Shan, from Hu Xiaotian's solemn expression, already anticipated a major development, returned to the South Wind Inn, where Hu Xiaotian invited him into the small pavilion.

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

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

Upon hearing this, Wu Jing Shan turned pale with shock and exclaimed: "How could this be? Could Consort Shu and her son be trying to put the Princess to death? Terrible! If so, we should re-assume responsibility for protecting the Princess; why then are we leaving? Now the Princess is alone in the Qi Chen Palace—surely that's nerve-wracking, like walking on thin ice."

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

Wu Jing Shan muttered 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 Qi Chen Palace was actually 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 as he said: "Leave now? The Princess hasn't even completed her marriage, hasn't fulfilled the mission His Majesty entrusted us with—what face would we have returning to Dakang?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not me leaving, but you, Sir Wu, who should go first. Given the current situation, leaving too many people behind serves no purpose; I'll stay behind, and you, Sir Wu, can return to Dakang first."

Wu Jing Shan said: "Sir Hu, although I'm old and useless, I'm not a coward who fears death; we've come all the way from Kangdu, endured countless hardships, and have already forged bonds of sharing weal and woe, weathering storms together; even if a great calamity approaches, I will face it together with Sir Hu." This speech was delivered with fervor and passion; whether true or false, it also boosted Hu Xiaotian's opinion of him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Wu, I'm letting you go not only to preserve our strength to the greatest extent, but also to prevent any unforeseen changes where no one could inform His Majesty of the truth; even if we sacrifice ourselves for the country, no one would clear our names."

Wu Jing Shan's goat beard quivered as he showed great excitement: "I won't go! Although I lack the strength to truss a chicken, I can still sacrifice myself for the country!"

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 Yong; the Princess's wedding is still about half a month away, during this time you should be able to make it back into Dakang territory; Sir Wu can wait at the border between the two nations for our news; if the Princess's wedding 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 wedding changes, Sir Wu should immediately return to Kangdu and report in full to His Majesty what happened in Yongdu, so he can prepare early and guard against Yong's ambitious forces, and also clear our names; by then, even if we who remain in Yongdu die, we can do so with a smile to the nine springs."

Wu Jing Shan was also moved by Hu Xiaotian's words, stepped forward, grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arms, and exclaimed emotionally: "Sir Hu, your fervent devotion to Dakang, your loyal sincerity truly moves me."

Hu Xiaotian thought: "You're moved but you don't tell me to leave; you stay in Yongdu to deal with this mess?"

Wu Jing Shan sighed and said: "It's all my fault—I don't know martial arts, lack the strength to truss a chicken; when trouble comes I can't even protect myself, let alone talk about protecting others. I truly regret not having started earlier; if I could begin anew, I'd rather be a martial artist wielding sword and spear." This speech amounted to telling Hu Xiaotian that he agreed to leave, since staying here is useless anyway. After saying that, he shifted tone: "My death is no great loss, but Sir Hu, what you said also makes sense; staying here would not only be of no help, but might even drag you down. But… if I just leave like this, will Yong suspect us?" (To be continued—please search; the novel updates better and faster!