Chapter 771

Hu Xiaotian still wanted to say something, but outside came Tie Zheng's voice: "Sir Hu, the Prince requests you to go down."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, having just met, why rush me to leave? At least wait till I finish my words, but since Xue Shengjing has already spoken, he couldn't linger here; before leaving, he comforted Huo Xiaoru: "Don't be afraid, I'll handle everything."

Huo Xiaoru squeezed her eyes at him, trying to convey that he didn't need to worry, but Hu Xiaotian obviously didn't understand her meaning, turned and left.

Xue Shengjing felt terrible all over; though he was used to matters of love between men and women, this time it involved his daughter, nearly driving him mad—just now Hu Xiaotian had actually kissed his daughter, and she even called him 'husband', calling a eunuch 'husband'! A fire burned in Xue Shengjing's chest, making him unable to sit still, so he decisively summoned Hu Xiaotian, completely forgetting his original intention of sending Hu Xiaotian to meet Huo Xiaoru.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian appear before him again, Xue Shengjing wore a cold smile, veins bulging on his forehead; as a father he felt far from pleased—no wonder they say parents' hearts are pitiful, watching other parents fret over their children's marriages, he had once thought those parents were just borrowing trouble, but now he truly understood: his daughter had found a eunuch! Thinking of this, his lungs felt like they'd explode with anger, leaving him no good expression for Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian saw Xue Shengjing's unpleasant expression and knew this bastard must have just spied on his entire meeting with Huo Xiaoru; since he dared to do it, he wasn't afraid of being seen. Hu Xiaotian kissed Huo Xiaoru to arouse Xue Shengjing's curiosity and thus make a request. Although Hu Xiaotian was clever, he could never have guessed the relationship between Xue Shengjing and Huo Xiaoru even if he racked his brains; he deliberately sighed and said, "Elder brother, why summon me so urgently? I haven't even had a chance to ask who's behind this."

Xue Shengjing gave a hollow cold laugh and said, "No need to ask; she's tight-lipped, asking her won't yield anything."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Not necessarily; I and Huo Xiaoru still have some acquaintance. If we appeal to her emotions and reason with her, she might yet speak the truth."

"What acquaintance?" Xue Shengjing demanded aggressively.

Hu Xiaotian said, "That's a long story."

Xue Shengjing lifted his Chazan, his hand trembling slightly as he forcibly suppressed his anger—being concerned throws one into chaos; any father seeing his daughter kiss a neutered eunuch would be furious. After great effort he managed to control his emotions and squeezed out a stiff smile, saying, "Brother, do tell…" When he called him brother, Xue Shengjing wished he could slap himself; what kind of brother is there in the world? He's messing with my daughter!

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't blame me, Elder Brother, but I actually had a romance with Huo Xiaoru when we were in Kangdu."

"I knew it!" Xue Shengjing said through gritted teeth; the flames in his heart were leaping higher and higher.

Hu Xiaotian also sensed Xue Shengjing's odd expression, he smiled and said, "Elder Brother, if you don't want to hear it, forget it; just pretend I never said anything."

Xue Shengjing forced out an ugly smile and said, "Brother, go on, go on… but… aren't you a eunuch?"

Hu Xiaotian slowly rose, hands clasped behind his back, his steps heavy as he walked to the window, gazing at the gentle spring rain outside, he let out a long sigh and said, "No one is born a eunuch, Elder Brother; before entering the palace I was a complete man!"

Xue Shengjing stared at Hu Xiaotian's back, his eyes like arrows, having already pierced him full of holes: "You mean…"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Indeed, before I entered the palace I had already met Huo Xiaoru; I admired her peerless grace, she appreciated my broad learning and talents, and so we…"

"How?" Xue Shengjing clenched his fists, gulped down saliva, so nervous he didn't dare breathe.

Hu Xiaotian turned around, smiled at him, actually appearing a bit embarrassed: "We were mutually attracted, our feelings clicked, and so we…"

"How?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder Brother, why ask for such detail? You already know what happens between men and women."

Xue Shengjing felt his legs go weak, his throat dry; he lifted his Chazan and gulped down the tea, "Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, I curse your eight generations of ancestors, you dead eunuch, dare to mess with my daughter!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Because of Huo Xiaoru's status I dared not tell my parents about her, so we could only pledge ourselves privately."

Xue Shengjing slammed his Chazan down, startling Hu Xiaotian. He said, "Truly outrageous—I never imagined your parents would be so hidebound by clan status."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder Brother, actually this isn't my parents' fault; Huo Xiaoru is merely a dancing girl, while I am the son of a grand Minister of Revenue—if I married her, how could my father hold his head up at court?"

Xue Shengjing snapped, "Utterly outrageous!"

Hu Xiaotian, scolded for no reason, felt confused and truly didn't know why Xue Shengjing was angry.

Xue Shengjing said, "How could Huo Xiaoru's character, looks, or talent not be worthy of you? Do you still despise her humble origins? If so, why provoke her at all?"

Hu Xiaotian really was a bit dense—could Xue Shengjing's brain be malfunctioning? He actually spoke up for Huo Xiaoru. Given this man's usual temperament, he was probably putting on an act to confuse him; this Lao hulí truly knows how to perform. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Elder Brother, you're right; I too had thought of severing love with a wisdom sword, but Huo Xiaoru wouldn't have it—she is deeply devoted to me and even said she'd rather give up her status than be parted from me."

Xue Shengjing felt his scalp tighten in waves, a chill down his back like falling into an ice cellar—could it be that heavenly justice is circling back, that his daughter too must suffer such retribution? If everything Hu Xiaotian said is true, then their fate bears a striking resemblance to his own past.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Moved by her sincere affection, I secretly bought a residence outside while keeping my parents in the dark. Huo Xiaoru sought no title, only to stay with me for life, and I intended to treat her well forever—but the court suddenly appointed me to Xichuan, the journey there is far, and though Huo Xiaoru wished to accompany me, she happened to be pregnant then, making travel unsuitable."

Xue Shengjing's small eyes nearly popped out of their sockets—"Done! Done!" they had already become an accomplished fact, his daughter was carrying his child.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Who would have thought that after I went to Xichuan a tremendous upheaval would occur; when I returned to Kangdu there was no further word of Huo Xiaoru, and later, to atone for my father, I castrated myself and entered the palace. I had assumed I would never see Huo Xiaoru again, yet I never expected to encounter her again in Yongdu."

Cold sweat filled Xue Shengjing's palms: "You… you… had you two met before?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although I know she is also in Yongdu, I have become like this—how could I face her? If it weren't for what she did this time, I think I would never see her again in this lifetime." He sighed, "Even a farewell would only add to the sorrow."

Xue Shengjing said, "You just said she harmed your child?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "This is also what I most want to know—Huo Xiaoru was already five months pregnant when I left Kangdu; by rights that child should have been born already. Just now I was about to ask about the child's whereabouts when Iron Steward summoned me." He bowed to Xue Shengjing and said, "Elder Brother, I asked Huo Xiaoru; she bears you no grudge, and her attempt to assassinate you was merely because she was under the control of a strange voice, all her actions not of her own choosing—I suspect she may have been subjected to a bewitching spell."

Xue Shengjing silently sneered, if you want to save her life just say so—why beat around the bush with bewitchment? And if it is some bewitchment, why poison the Hairpin? Nevertheless, Hu Xiaotian's words reminded him that a bewitchment could serve as a means to exonerate his daughter.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Elder Brother, I dare beg you to spare her life—I owe her too much in this lifetime, and besides I still don't know where our flesh and blood are now; if Huo Xiaoru dies, that poor child will not only lose its mother but may never be found in this lifetime. Elder Brother, that is the sole bloodline of our Hu family, and also your nephew!"

Xue Shengjing silently cursed, "Bullshit! Even if the child truly exists, it's my granddaughter. Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, you scoundrel, you've taken advantage of me." Xue Shengjing had a belly full of grievance with nowhere to vent, his face darkened as he said, "Brother, I'll pretend I never heard you bring this up; you needn't mention Huo Xiaoru again."

"Elder Brother, just what will it take for you to spare Huo Xiaoru?"

Xue Shengjing shouted, "See the guest out!"

Hu Xiaotian left the Prince Yan's manor in dejection, thinking his scheme had failed, little knowing that his words just now had utterly shattered Prince Yan Xue Shengjing's worldview, striking him like heavenly thunder. Xue Shengjing was almost ready to grab a broom and sweep Hu Xiaotian out the door—so it goes: when concerned, one's mind falls into disarray; if the matter doesn't affect oneself, one can stay calm, but once it strikes one's own person, especially one's own daughter, Xue Shengjing can no longer remain composed.

After Hu Xiaotian left, Xue Shengjing immediately went to the Leaning-Cloud Pavilion. Hu Xiaotian's words just now had left him extremely anxious; although he also considered that Hu Xiaotian was worldly and smooth-talking, his words might not be true, yet unless he asked his daughter directly, he could never find peace.

Huo Xiaoru remained immersed in the racing heartbeat brought on by Hu Xiaotian's kiss, the warmth on her lovely face not yet faded.

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