Chapter 677

Hu Xiaotian returned to Rising Sovereign Palace and saw Jianping waiting at the palace gate, with a carriage beside her. Although he hadn't spoken to Jianping yet, Hu Xiaotian already understood her true purpose in coming to find him—this royal family really is desperate for medical help; he had just finished operating on Prince Yan, and the Grand Princess had already come looking for him.

Hu Xiaotian first bade farewell to Tie Zheng, then cheerfully walked over to Jianping and said, "Isn't that Jianping Elder Sister? Why don't you go inside and sit?"

Jianping smiled and said, "I've already been inside. Knowing you went to Prince Yan's mansion, I waited here for you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Jianping Elder Sister, what business do you have with me?"

Jianping said, "The Grand Princess specially sent me to invite you to her residence for a chat."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Please trouble Jianping Elder Sister to convey my apologies to the Grand Princess; I have pressing matters to attend to, and I will visit her residence after I finish my proper business."

"But..."

Hu Xiaotian cupped his fists in a salute to her and had already entered Rising Sovereign Palace.

Jianping watched Hu Xiaotian's retreating back, her gaze showing a hint of helplessness; he was simply making an excuse.

What was bound to come would come; Grand Princess Xue Lingjun finally came in person to Rising Sovereign Palace. Her arrival was already expected by Hu Xiaotian, who did not treat the Grand Princess as difficult as he had initially treated Prince Yan Xue Shengjing; upon hearing that the Grand Princess had come personally, Hu Xiaotian went out to greet her at the gate.

Accompanied by a waft of fragrance, the splendidly dressed Xue Lingjun entered Hu Xiaotian's courtyard in a graceful, swaying manner, giggling, "I thought you were hiding, Sir Hu, unwilling to see me."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I haven't done anything guilty; why would I dare not see the princess?"

Grand Princess Xue Lingjun gave him a sideways glance and said, "Sir Hu, are you indirectly calling me a ghost?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "If there were such a beautiful female ghost, even King Yama might be moved by mortal desire."

Xue Lingjun coquettishly scolded, "Your words always have a deep meaning; I clearly hear you scolding me, yet I can't bring myself to be angry with you."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Princess, you are magnanimous; please don't stoop to my level. Please, have a seat."

Jianping placed a cushion on the stone bench in the courtyard, after which Xue Lingjun sat down, waved her hand, and said, "You all go out; I want to speak with Sir Hu privately."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "What tea would the Grand Princess like, Longjing or Biluochun?" Knowing the Grand Princess was fastidious about cleanliness and would not drink tea even if served, he asked this question.

Grand Princess Xue Lingjun said, "No need. I have come this time specifically to apologize to Sir Hu."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "I dare not accept such courtesy; the Grand Princess has done nothing to owe me."

Xue Lingjun said, "Last night the Fourth Prince of the Black Hu, Wanyan Chixiong, came to the banquet without even my knowing; I hope Sir Hu will forgive any offense."

Hu Xiaotian did not believe that Xue Lingjun truly knew nothing about this; even if the Grand Prince Xue Daohong were wildly arrogant, he would still give this aunt some face and would not bring strangers to her door without notice. However, Hu Xiaotian believed that Xue Lingjun had not anticipated that Wanyan Chixiong would target him. The scene from last night was also not what she wanted to see.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Grand Princess, there's no need for you to say that; you need not take responsibility for others' rudeness, and I harbor no ill feelings toward you because of this incident."

Xue Lingjun said, "Then why did you just refuse Jianping's invitation?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "It's not a refusal; I'm simply really tired. This morning Prince Yan summoned me to his mansion, and I have only just returned."

Xue Lingjun pursed her cherry lips and pouted, "You're busy with Prince Yan's affairs; can my requests be set aside?" Her mild annoyance, expressed in this way, was utterly bewitching. Hu Xiaotian gazed at her pursed lips and suddenly felt a fierce urge to bite them. This Grand Princess truly is a rare beauty.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Precisely because I place the Grand Princess's affairs at the utmost importance, I am extra cautious. Concerning her beauty, I dare not be the slightest bit careless; I must make full preparations and have complete confidence before performing surgery on the princess."

Xue Lingjun said, "You're so clever you could surely find a thousand excuses."

"Uh... Grand Princess, saying that really wrongs me."

Xue Lingjun said, "I've heard you and my Second Prince have become sworn brothers of different surnames?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and laughed, "The Grand Princess's information is indeed well-informed."

Xue Lingjun said, "The world was never as big as one imagines. Moreover, this is Yongdu; it's hard for anything to escape my ears." Her beautiful eyes rippled with autumn waves: "You are my Second Prince's brother, which makes you my brother too; from now on you may call me elder sister."

Hu Xiaotian said, "My humble status dare not aspire to such heights."

Xue Lingjun said, "That means you look down on this princess, doesn't it?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder sister, please don't say that; I hold only respect and admiration for you, with not the slightest disrespect."

Xue Lingjun smiled sweetly and said, "That's perfect; I have never had a brother, and I will surely dote on you from now on."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Thank you, elder sister, for your favor."

Xue Lingjun was about to move on to the main topic, finalizing the date for Hu Xiaotian to perform the double-eyelid surgery on her, when Yang Xuan walked in and handed him a letter, saying, "Sir Hu, a child just delivered a letter, saying it is for you to open personally."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, opened the letter, and saw it was from Yang Jimin, the Dakang envoy stationed in Yongdu, stating that there was an urgent matter requiring a face-to-face meeting with him, but noting that visiting in person would be inconvenient, so he was waiting at the grassy slope tea house outside Chaoyun Gate. Hu Xiaotian put away the paper, smiled at Xue Lingjun, and said, "Sorry, I have pressing business and must leave immediately."

Xue Lingjun said, "I'll see you off!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Elder sister, no need for such courtesy; I have a horse."

Xue Lingjun said, "Then it won't inconvenience you; I'll head back first."

Hu Xiaotian understood what she truly cared about, and at once promised to go to the Grand Princess's residence early tomorrow to perform the double-eyelid surgery on her. Upon hearing the time finally set, Xue Lingjun was also in high spirits. Hu Xiaotian further suggested bringing an assistant tomorrow, and Xue Lingjun readily agreed.

Hu Xiaotian and Xue Lingjun left together; although Chaoyun Gate leads out of Yongdu's inner city, it is not a desolate place, for it lies near Yongdu's largest market, Chaoyun Hui, making the area very lively.

Hu Xiaotian alone rode his horse Little Gray to the grassy slope tea house, all the while watching for any tails; being in a foreign land, he remained cautious, and given Yang Jimin's mysterious demeanor, he suspected some serious trouble.

Hu Xiaotian entrusted Little Gray to the tea house attendant, then lifted his head to glance at the unassuming tea house.

Yang Jimin, dressed in a gray scholar's robe, stood by the window on the second floor, apparently having waited a while; seeing Hu Xiaotian look this way, he quickly waved.

Hu Xiaotian looked around again, confirmed there was nothing unusual, and then boldly went upstairs.

Yang Jimin rose to greet them; the two sat at the small table by the window, and Yang Jimin poured Hu Xiaotian a cup of tea. Hu Xiaotian lifted his Chazan, took a sip, and said in a low voice, "Sir Yang, why the urgency in seeking me out here?"

Yang Jimin whispered, "Something major has happened!"

Hu Xiaotian frowned: "What is it?"

Yang Jimin's expression was full of panic; he leaned in closer and whispered, "I just received word that the emperor has fallen ill; the crown prince is now presiding over court affairs, and the empress dowager is governing from behind the curtain."

Hu Xiaotian's heart shuddered; this news was no small matter to him either. When he left Dakang, the emperor was still hale and hearty, and the crown prince had not yet been chosen—how could such a change occur so suddenly? Dakang is far from Yongdu; how could Yang Jimin have obtained this news, and how reliable could it be?

From Hu Xiaotian's astonished expression, Yang Jimin could tell he knew nothing about it. He said, "I received a pigeon express reporting that the emperor suddenly fell seriously ill."

"What illness?"

Yang Jimin said, "It's said he suddenly lost consciousness; in short, he is gravely ill, but I don't know the specifics of his lucidity."

Hu Xiaotian silently thought, "Oh no," the Dakang imperial family must have undergone a tremendous upheaval; with Empress Dowager Jian governing from behind the curtain, the crown prince must certainly be the Grand Prince Long Tingsheng.

Yang Jimin's following words indeed confirmed Hu Xiaotian's suspicions, though he lacked solid details. He whispered to Hu Xiaotian, "That's all the information we have at present, Sir Hu; what should we do?"

Although Hu Xiaotian's heart was in turmoil, his face showed no trace of panic; he smiled and said, "All we can do is wait for news and watch developments. Even if we were thousands of li from Kangdu, or even if we were in Kangdu ourselves, we could do nothing to influence these changes; whoever occupies that position, it remains the Long family's realm." As he said this, he couldn't help but think of Ji Feihua, unaware whether any of this was connected to him.

Yang Jimin knew Hu Xiaotian spoke the truth, yet he remained worried, lowering his voice: "If there is a change in the domestic political situation, we as officials are bound to be affected; previously, after the emperor's ascension, the Da Yong side's attitude toward our envoys had already become markedly different."

Hu Xiaotian said: "In that case we ought to be glad we are not in Kangdu; being in the eye of the storm would only bring greater harm." He took a sip of tea, smiled, and looked at Ji Min, saying: "Sir Ji, just set your heart at ease; what has happened is done, and worrying now is useless. Our best course is to attend to our duties."

Ji Min said: "I heard that Sir Hu had a conflict with the Black-Hu Fourth Prince at the Eldest Princess's residence."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Good news stays behind closed doors, bad news travels a thousand miles; what happened last night is already known to everyone today." (To be continued~^~)