Chapter 732

Hu Xiaotian sat down by the bedside and said in a low voice, "Someone from the palace has come; they are investigating tonight's affair, determined to get to the bottom of it."

Xi Yan blinked her beautiful eyes, a hint of disdain curling her lips: "Are you scared?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "What I fear is your exposure."

Xi Yan said, "They're still far from enough..." She suddenly furrowed her brows, showing a pained expression.

Hu Xiaotian said, "How about it? Shall I fetch a physician to look at you?"

Xi Yan shook her head: "No need, I'm not going to die yet!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Where does it hurt?"

Xi Yan said, "My chest!"

Shall I rub it for you?

Xi Yan bit her cherry lips: "Shameless and lewd!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Thanks for the praise." He saw the small bottle he had placed on the table still untouched, and said softly, "You haven't taken it yet?"

Do you think everyone lacks ambition like you? I'd rather die than eat anything from that demoness.

Hu Xiaotian wondered secretly, yet he did not know what grudge existed between Xi Yan and Qin Yutong that made them sworn enemies. He said softly, "The commander of the Golden Scale Guard, Shi Kuan, is outside; he just identified the three assassins as members of the Variegated Gate."

Xi Yan nodded: "You're in trouble from now on."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in surprise: "Why me?"

Xi Yan said, "They certainly won't think it's me; you've taken responsibility for everyone's deaths, blaming yourself for all the killings—debt has its owner, so who else would the Variegated Gate go after if not you?"

Hu Xiaotian had already thought of this; he gave a wry smile: "Am I not just taking the blame for you?"

Xi Yan laughed: "You don't want to?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If I weren't willing, why would I have rushed back to save you?"

Do you regret it?

A little, if you met with misfortune, I would not only avoid all that trouble, but I could also smoothly report to Dakang.

Xi Yan said, "Then why did you come back to save me?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Saving you I'd regret for a moment; not saving you I might regret for a lifetime—what do you think I should choose?"

Hearing this, Xi Yan felt sweet inside; she whispered, "For what you've done tonight, my kindness toward you hasn't been wasted."

You've been good to me? I don't feel it.

Xi Yan reached out to twist his arm a bit, but the motion tugged her wound, triggering a violent cough; Hu Xiaotian hurriedly helped her up, Xi Yan took a handkerchief to cover her cherry lips, and after the coughing subsided, she moved it away to find the handkerchief stained with red blood.

Hu Xiaotian secretly panicked. Recalling how Xi Yan had just sprayed him with fresh blood, he judged she must have suffered serious internal injury, and said anxiously, "You can't tough it out; I'll go fetch a doctor right now."

Xi Yan gripped his big hand and slowly shook her head.

Hu Xiaotian said, "But..." His concern spilled over.

Xi Yan caught her breath and said, "Seeing how much you care for me makes my heart very happy."

Hu Xiaotian was both laughing and crying: "Granny, preserving your life is crucial—you're coughing up blood, this is no joke."

Xi Yan said, "I won't die. If I did, who would care about you and protect you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't speak for now; I'll go pour you a cup of water."

Xi Yan said, "Peng Yijiang's inner strength is far greater than I imagined; he shocked my heart meridian, so in the short term I cannot recklessly mobilize my true qi."

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Return to Origin Pill..."

Before he could finish, Xi Yan shot him a fierce glare; obviously she didn't want him to bring that up.

Hu Xiaotian hastily changed the subject: "This must be the work of someone from the Da Yong royal family; otherwise Yang Xuan wouldn't have devoted herself wholeheartedly to serving him."

Xi Yan said, "Could it be Xue Daoming?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Hard to say; previously Consort Shu has already done many things against us. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager intervening, she wouldn't have restrained herself. With the grand wedding approaching, from what I saw of the Emperor yesterday, he also approves this marriage; on the contrary, I don't believe Consort Shu would dare go all out and do something so heinous."

Xi Yan nodded: "I think the same; if anything happens to me, people will first suspect Consort Shu and her son."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I've heard that the princes of Da Yong are scheming against each other for the crown prince position; I cannot rule out that this is related to their internal power struggle." His mind suddenly conjured the face of the Great Prince Xue Dahong, yet he didn't know whether behind this affair lay any connection to Xue Dahong.

Xi Yan said, "Xiaotian, I've suddenly changed my mind."

Hu Xiaotian said, "What?" He didn't understand Xi Yan's meaning.

Xi Yan said, "In light of your all-out effort to save me tonight, I've decided to obey you once."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian felt both startled and delighted; could Xi Yan's words mean she had decided to abandon the assassination of Xue Daoming? Gazing at her wan, pretty face, he secretly thought she was badly injured; even if her original intent remained, she lacked the strength to kill Xue Daoming now, so abandoning the plan might be unavoidable. He whispered, "Obey what?"

Xi Yan fixed her lovely eyes on Hu Xiaotian and softly asked, "What do you think?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Marry me?"

Xi Yan said, "If you don't mind sharing your bed with my little snake, I certainly wouldn't mind either." A white snake had already slithered out from her palm, raising its head and flicking its tongue, its cold eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian had been feeling a bit restless and fanciful, but upon seeing the little snake, a chill ran down his spine and all desire vanished; he gave a wry smile: "Why did you produce this thing for no good reason? It's a real mood killer."

Xi Yan said, "I want it to serve as a witness for us."

Hu Xiaotian said, "What's so strange about that? I actually have one too..."

Xi Yan's pretty face flushed; of course she knew what he meant, and she bit her cherry lips: "Then have it come out and meet Little White."

Hu Xiaotian gave a hollow laugh; he'd never dare to show off in front of that white snake, even if beaten to death. He coughed dryly: "I'm thin-skinned; your words make me a bit uncomfortable."

Thin-skinned? A black-water arrow shot at your face wouldn't leave a mark; this face of yours is nearly as tough as a peerless armor.

Um... give me some face.

The little white snake poked its head forward again; Hu Xiaotian startled and drew back: "Could you please have this Mr. Little White step aside?"

Xi Yan couldn't help but smile; she drew back the white snake and whispered softly, "Are they already starting to suspect me?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Nobody's a fool, and moreover, Huo Shengnan has stationed many female guards in the Qichen Palace; even if they haven't seen it directly, they can detect some clues from various signs."

Xi Yan laughed, "Don't forget, no one has seen my true appearance; even if they did, they'd assume it was those three fighting among themselves in the same sect."

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's a string of lies, but it sounds plausible enough."

Xi Yan said, "I'll explain what happened during this period to Huo Shengnan and the others myself; you don't need to worry about me—just find out who ordered those three Variegated Gate poison masters."

Hu Xiaotian said: "They're all dead—who should I ask?"

Xi Yan said: "Although they're dead, the Variegated Gate will not let it rest; there may still be other disciples in Yongdu, and upon learning their fellow sect members were killed, they will surely come seeking revenge."

Hu Xiaotian, although now quite confident in his martial arts, upon thinking of the Variegated Gate poison masters' extreme methods, still drew a cold breath: "If that's the case, aren't my troubles huge?"

Xi Yan said: "Don't be afraid; although your martial arts aren't great, your physique is special—even Black Water Arrows and the Underworld King's Kiss can't harm you. Unless the Variegated Gate's sect master, Old Monster Bei Ze, personally acts, others likely can't hurt you."

Hu Xiaotian, upon hearing the Underworld King's Kiss, couldn't help but frown, recalling Xi Yan's previously ink-black lips, and whispered: "Was that kiss of yours the Underworld King's Kiss?"

Xi Yan's cheeks flushed two patches of red, she bashfully said: "Obviously it was you who forcefully kissed me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I say you're ruthless—I just gave you a light kiss, and you actually used this ultimate killer on me; do you really want to murder your husband?"

Xi Yan said: "Aren't you still alive and well?"

"That's because I have a big life!" Hu Xiaotian said indignantly.

Xi Yan said softly: "Don't be angry; at most I'll agree later not to let you kiss me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "After all that, I still haven't gained any advantage."

Xi Yan said coquettishly: "Xiaotian, we have already bowed to heaven and earth; in my heart I've long regarded you as my husband—why rush to kiss me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "That's also true—you just said you'd obey me once; have you given up the idea of assassinating Xue Daoming?"

Xi Yan said: "As long as you want me to give up, I will give up." Her beautiful eyes blinked, appearing obedient and gentle.

Hu Xiaotian knows she is always full of schemes; how could he easily be deceived by her show of obedience? From Xi Yan's current condition, it's clear she is seriously wounded; she basically cannot continue the original plan. Moreover, he has already explained all the stakes to her, and the Dakang Court's internal situation has suddenly changed—now killing Xue Daoming again would be a hundred harms and no benefit to the Li clan of Xichuan. Tonight's assassination attempt also shows that someone does not want this marriage alliance to proceed smoothly, and Xi Yan, this fake Princess Anping, has also become a target of assassination. For Xi Yan, the most realistic thing is to give up; after her injury she may have to face self-preservation, and it seems the only viable option is to join forces with him.

Xi Yan coughed again, then said softly: "You don't need to keep watch here all night; Zhou Mo can also leave. In fact, by escorting me here you've already fulfilled your duty to Dakang; if anything happens to me, it's the responsibility of Da Yong."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't want anything to happen to you!" These words slipped out, truly his inner thought.

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