Chapter 717

Hu Xiaotian said, "Xiaotian has heard that on the Da Yong side there grows an extremely precious exotic beast, the black tiger."

Xue Lingjun said, "Black tiger? Not bad, it does exist, but it has probably disappeared in recent years."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Trouble Elder Sister to ask for me, see if we can find a black tiger whip."

Xue Lingjun hearing this couldn't help but smile inwardly, thinking, "What use would a eunuch have for a black tiger whip?" She was unaware of the rumors about the whip's efficacy, assuming it was merely an ordinary aphrodisiac. It seemed Hu Xiaotian's request for this item was likely nine times out of ten to please his master.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder Sister, please don't laugh at me. When I was in the Dakang Imperial Palace before, I heard a senior say that the black tiger whip can let a eunuch experience renewed vigor, turning back into a true man."

Xue Lingjun's first reaction was, "How could that be?" Although there is the saying "you eat what you need to supplement," you can't just eat a black tiger whip and grow one out of it. How could someone as smart as Hu Xiaotian believe such a ridiculous rumor? However, she thought, everyone has flaws; Hu Xiaotian is a eunuch, perhaps he is too eager to become a man again, so he wants to try every possibility. She then nodded and said, "Xiaotian brother, since you've asked me, I will certainly do my best to help you find it, but I cannot guarantee whether we can find it." What she said.

Hu Xiaotian smiled all over his face and said, "Please, Elder Sister." He wasn't actually wanting a black tiger whip; it was just because Xue Lingjun had Jianping test him earlier, so he deliberately said that to make Xue Lingjun firmly believe his eunuch identity, to avoid further complications.

Xue Lingjun left Hu Xiaotian's room and returned to the Everlasting Spring Pavilion, with Jianping following her inside, respectfully saying, "Young mistress, I just carefully examined him; Hu Xiaotian is indeed a genuine eunuch."

Xue Lingjun nodded and said, "Strange. How could a eunuch possibly still be interested in women?"

Jianping said, "Such things have happened before; the chief eunuch Jiang of the previous dynasty likewise took three wives and four concubines."

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart; Xue Lingjun coldly stared at Jianping and said, "Are you developing feelings for him, wanting to marry him as your wife?"

Jianping, frightened, hurriedly knelt on the ground and said, "Young mistress, there's nothing of the sort; Jianping has only you as her master in this life. Without the Princess, there would be no Jianping today; unless I die, Jianping is unwilling to leave the Princess under any circumstances."

Xue Lingjun looked at her indifferently and said, "You've been by my side for so long; I suppose you're also unwilling to accept this. Rest assured, I will eventually find you a match, but I will never help you choose a eunuch."

Jianping's face drained of color as she said, "My lady, Jianping swears to heaven that I have no such thoughts."

Xue Lingjun waved her hand impatiently and said, "Never mind, don't be so nervous. Actually, if Hu Xiaotian weren't a eunuch, he would be quite a charming extraordinary man."

After receiving her assent, Jianping finally dared to stand up and whispered, "My lady, are you still planning to have him perform double-eyelid surgery on you?"

Xue Lingjun sighed and said, "Seeing him operate on my imperial brother, I still feel uneasy deep down; now I feel a bit hesitant." She stood up, walked a few steps slowly, and said softly, "This Hu Xiaotian indeed has some skill. No wonder Dakang sent him as a marriage envoy, but why did he enter the palace as a eunuch?"

Jianping said, "Isn't it said that Long Yelin of Dakang plotted to usurp the throne, driving his own father from the throne and then exterminating the officials previously favored by the Long court? Hu Xiaotian's father, Hu Buwei, is the Dakang Minister of Revenue; the Hu family suffered because of it, and Hu Xiaotian entered the palace as a eunuch to atone for his father."

Xue Lingjun smiled faintly and said, "There should be no possibility. If Long Yelin truly wanted to kill Hu Buwei, he would not spare the whole family just because his son entered the palace as a eunuch to atone; there must be some hidden reason."

Jianping said, "Should we continue investigating?"

Xue Lingjun shook her head and said, "No need. The Dakang court is currently in turmoil; what waves could a mere eunuch stir up?" Before she finished speaking, the commander of the Jinlin Guard, Shi Kuan, came to summon her, but it was the Emperor waking up again, and the first thing he did upon waking was to ask her to come see him.

Xue Lingjun followed Shi Kuan back into the Diligent Governance Hall.

Xue Shengkang lay on the bed, quietly gazing at the candles on either side. Though his spirit was still somewhat listless, the pain in his body had greatly lessened, giving him a sense of rebirth. He had always trusted his intuition; that earlier near-death feeling had frightened him, and had it not been so, he would not have dared to let Hu Xiaotian perform surgery on him.

The soft chime of her pendants sounded, and Xue Lingjun hurried to his bedside. All the palace attendants withdrew, and even the imperial physician Xu Bai chuan, who had been attending the Emperor, sensibly rose and withdrew together with Shi Kuan.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xue Shengkang's mouth.

Xue Lingjun came to the bedside and said anxiously, "Imperial brother, how did you wake up? You just underwent surgery and lost a lot of vital energy; now is the time to rest properly."

Xue Shengkang said in a low voice, "I feel fine at the moment, and suddenly I recall a few matters I need to entrust to you." His gaze flicked to the chair beside him.

Understanding his intent, Xue Lingjun sat beside him and said softly, "Imperial brother, please speak whatever you wish."

Xue Shengkang said, "This illness of mine must be kept strictly secret; we must not let any related person leak a word."

Xue Lingjun smiled gently and said, "Imperial brother, rest assured; I have made proper arrangements, and there will be no oversight in this regard."

Xue Shengkang said, "The situation in Dakang has been settled: Long Yelin was driven from the throne, and now his eldest son, Long Tingsheng, is presiding, with Empress Jian ruling from behind the curtain." He paused, took a breath, and added, "But the one truly controlling the court is still Ji Feihua."

Xue Lingjun said, "Given Dakang's current state, whoever sits on the throne is merely a puppet."

Xue Shengkang said, "Long Yelin overreached; all those Dakang princes and grandsons are good-for-nothings, and the Long clan's present plight is entirely of its own making."

Xue Lingjun said softly, "Imperial brother, your top priority now is to rest; there's no need to overly concern yourself with Dakang's affairs. We can discuss this again after you recover."

Xue Shengkang sighed and said, "Xiao Jun, I am not worried about Dakang's affairs; rather, what has happened in Dakang forces me to stay alert."

Xue Lingjun blinked her beautiful eyes and immediately understood his meaning.

Xue Shengkang said, "No matter how formidable Ji Feihua is, deposing a reigning monarch would inevitably cause a great uproar, yet the dramatic upheaval in the Dakang palace has hardly stirred any waves—what do you think is the reason?"

Xue Lingjun said, "Ji Feihua has gained the support of the imperial clan, for example, Empress Jian."

Xue Shengkang nodded and said, "Within the Dakang imperial clan, the struggle over the succession has long been open and covert, generation after generation; Empress Jian naturally wants her son to become crown prince. Once a woman's heart is blinded by lust for power, she becomes more terrifying than a man and will stop at nothing."

Xue Lingjun said, "So Imperial brother, you are worried that the Empress..."

Xue Shengkang said, "I have observed the actions of Dao Hong and Dao Ming over these years quite clearly. I have not interfered because I wanted to see their true nature through their deeds, and furthermore to see how their mother would contend. Xiao Jun, when I fell ill I was truly afraid, worried I might not survive this ordeal, so I had already drafted that edict in advance."

Xue Lingjun laughed and said, "Imperial brother, with your boundless fortune, how could anything happen? You've already turned danger into safety."

Xue Shengkang said, "During these years of my reign, Da Yong has grown rich and strong under my hand; I have always devoted myself wholeheartedly, personally handling everything. Precisely because of this, Da Yong bears too deep an imprint of me. Just now, when Hu Xiaotian was operating on me, I suddenly realized—am I perhaps overstepping?"

"How could that be? Without Your Majesty's diligent governance, how could Da Yong enjoy its present prosperity?"

Xue Shengkang smiled faintly and said, "No matter how strong or capable a person is, his life is ultimately limited; no one in this world can live forever, and neither can I." His words were filled with a sense of loss.

"Imperial brother will surely live to a hundred years."

Xue Shengkang gave a hehe laugh, but inadvertently tugged at his wound, and involuntarily furrowed his brow.

Xue Lingjun said anxiously, "Imperial brother, you had better not speak; just rest well, and we can talk about everything after you recover."

Xue Shengkang said, "I still have one important matter to entrust to you: keep a close watch on those two youngsters, and make sure they do not end up fighting each other to the death."

Xue Lingjun nodded and said, "Imperial brother, rest assured, I will keep an eye on them." She then recalled something: "Imperial brother, Dao Ming seems rather dissatisfied with the marriage alliance."

Xue Shengkang said, "Whether satisfied or not, what does it matter? Da Yong is a great nation; if even marriage alliances can be reneged on, how can we win the world's trust? If he cannot see through such a trivial matter, what qualification does he have to inherit my realm and lands?"

Xue Lingjun's brows twitched.

Xue Shengkang said, "A true ruler cannot always rely on external aid; he must depend on himself. I understand his mindset all too well."

Xue Lingjun advised, "Imperial brother, don't think so much; hurry up and sleep."

Xue Shengkang said, "He who lacks foresight will surely face imminent troubles; the rise and fall of Dakang is a warning for us!"

Long Yelin sat in the Xuanweigong, pacing back and forth like a trapped beast. He finally realized he had made a grave mistake; with his strength he could not possibly oppose Ji Feihua. One misstep, and he would lose everything—from a sovereign admired by ten thousand to a forgotten prisoner, the distance was shockingly short.

Outside, the sound of a lock being opened was heard; Long Yelin's eyes showed a hint of hope, but when he saw that the person coming was the little eunuch Yin Zheng, his gaze instantly dimmed. Yin Zheng placed the food on the table and respectfully said: "Emperor, please have your meal." (To be continued~^~)