Chapter 775

Elder Princess Xue Lingjun only arrived at Prince Yan's mansion not long after Hu Xiaotian left, specially coming to visit her own brother of the same blood; coming to the Xingchen Palace was one of her prearranged schedules, but she hadn't expected the second elder brother to also want to come along.

Seventh Prince Xue Daoming, hearing that his uncle and aunt had both arrived, hurried out to greet them.

Elder Princess Xue Lingjun didn't wait for him to kneel before pulling him up, gazing at Xue Daoming's wan face she sighed and said: "Just a few short days, how did you become like this, Daoming, Daoming—you ought to learn to take care of yourself."

Xue Daoming said: "Thank you, Aunt, for your concern; I'm fine."

Hu Xiaotian stood to the side, seeing Prince Yan's pair of small eyes drifting toward him; such an occasion wasn't suitable for smiling at him, so he merely nodded in the crowd as a greeting. The two of them arriving naturally became the focal point everyone vied to attach themselves to. Hu Xiaotian didn't join the fun; he alone went to the princess's coffin, knelt down, and burned a few sheets of paper money. Ordinarily he never had the chance to get this close; he grinned widely with a sobbing voice, saying: "Princess, you died so horribly…… ah……" dragging out the trailing sound, as if afraid others wouldn't know he was grieving. Normally this mourning hall is basically occupied by Seventh Prince Xue Daoming, and like the standing area at a concert, he usually only has a place in the stands; finally he managed to snag an opening and got a chance to perform.

Hu Xiaotian's crying actually drew the attention of many; a monk chanting sutras for the dead couldn't help but open one eye, thinking, "This person's crying is really exaggerated!" Seeing Hu Xiaotian looking his way, the monk hastily closed his eye, lest the offended party complain he wasn't diligent enough.

Prince Yan seeing Hu Xiaotian's performance at this moment couldn't help wanting to laugh, but in such a setting he had to restrain himself, so he waved at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian pretended not to notice, still weeping with a gloomy, miserable expression.

Prince Yan finally couldn't hold back. He had his servant call Hu Xiaotian over.

Only then did Hu Xiaotian wipe his tears and leave the mourning hall; seeing Elder Princess Xue Lingjun in the distance consoling Xue Daoming, he inwardly sighed, indeed everyone in this world wears a mask.

Approaching Prince Yan, he said respectfully: "Elder Brother, how come you're here again?"

Hearing this, Prince Yan was really furious in a way that couldn't be contained; first, you little brat shouldn't call me Elder Brother—you and my daughter have actually become husband and wife. You're a generation younger than me; whether I come or not is none of your business. He said coldly: "What? Am I not allowed to come?"

Hu Xiaotian heard his tone was unfriendly, thinking it was because he was angry about Hu Xiaotian's visit to Prince Yan's mansion; this time he's likely come to find fault with me, so I inwardly went on guard.

Prince Yan said: "This isn't the place to talk; I have a few questions I want to ask you alone."

Hearing him repeatedly refer to himself as "I, the Prince," and seeing he wasn't being as courteous to me as before, my wariness grew. Then he and Prince Yan went together to my temporary residence, where I said respectfully: "Elder Brother, just say what you have to say."

Prince Yan said: "This morning you went to my place and spoke about that matter……" He deliberately paused.

Hu Xiaotian didn't rush to interject; instead, he quietly observed Prince Yan's expression.

Prince Yan said: "The testimony I got from Huo Xiaoru completely contradicts what you said!"

Hu Xiaotian inwardly sneered, "Trying to trick me? Huo Xiaoru would never undermine me." He sighed and said: "What virtue or ability do I, Hu Xiaotian, have to make a woman love me so devotedly?"

Prince Yan's molars were sore with resentment; "I'm telling you east, you're talking west." He said softly: "I trust more what a woman says under torture."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath, "Did Prince Yan torture Huo Xiaoru? That's obviously not giving me face." Since he's not giving me face, why would he come again? Isn't that pointless? Reminding himself to stay calm, he spoke softly: "Looks like Elder Brother doesn't intend to grant me this favor?"

Prince Yan countered: "If you were in my position, what would you do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Huo Xiaoru is just a dancer; she stabbed Elder Brother only because her mind was bewitched. Otherwise she would never have done such a suicidal act."

Prince Yan said: "You really are deeply devoted to her!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I hope Elder Brother can spare her a way to live; Elder Brother, why not set some conditions? As long as I can fulfill them, I will do my utmost." Since we've laid our cards on the table, there's nothing left to hold back.

Prince Yan chuckled.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Elder Brother, all the Invincible Diamond Sets you've used in your life are now in my possession." He promptly threw out a bait; previously I exchanged twelve Invincible Diamond Sets for Prince Yan's jade pixiu, and now proposing this condition is really spending a lot.

Prince Yan said: "Although the Invincible Diamond Sets are precious, using them to buy a life probably isn't sincere enough."

Hearing him say that, hope suddenly arose in Hu Xiaotian's heart; he feared there would be nothing to negotiate, but as long as Prince Yan loosens his lips to discuss terms, Huo Xiaoru's life could have a sliver of hope. Hu Xiaotian said: "Elder Brother, why not set conditions? As long as I can fulfill them, I won't frown at all."

Prince Yan lowered his voice and said: "I want three things: first, what you just promised; second, the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl the Emperor granted you; third, the Emperor himself ordering her pardon."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath; these three conditions, aside from the first being easy, the other two are very difficult. Although the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl had been granted by the Emperor earlier, it was lost the night Princess Anping's corpse was stolen; he only just found out where it is. The pearl is currently at the Red Mountain Guildhall, and this is clearly Xi Yan's doing. Previously he hadn't thought much about why Xi Yan told him this, but now he thinks Xi Yan was setting a trap: if he finds the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl at the Red Mountain Guildhall, he can follow the clues to uncover the secret of the underground chamber of the Wild Goose Tower, and then the Black Barbarians would have no way to defend themselves. Yet sneaking into the Black Barbarians' lair to find that pearl is no easy task.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Not satisfied, Elder Brother, the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl was originally used to preserve the princess's corpse, but that night when her corpse was stolen, the pearl was lost as well."

Prince Yan decisively said: "All three conditions are indispensable."

Hu Xiaotian gritted his teeth and said: "Elder Brother, I can try to retrieve the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl, but how am I to bring this up to the Emperor?" Bargaining has always been his forte.

Prince Yan said: "That's your own affair. Since we've sworn brotherhood, I can't deny you this face, but if I release Huo Xiaoru, I'll lose face in Da Yong unless the Emperor speaks." He lowered his voice and added: "My imperial brother has invited you to the palace several times, showering you with favor; perhaps he'll agree to your request."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, Prince Yan likely heard that I treated the Emperor's illness; actually, Prince Yan's elder brother (the Emperor) had indeed once promised me a favor, which I have never lightly used up to now. As a ruler, his words are gold and jade; thinking of Emperor Xue Shengkang as a sovereign, he likely won't go back on his word. If I steel myself and ask him for this, he might not refuse. Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Elder Brother, I agree to these three conditions; you must also agree to one thing of mine."

"What is it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No harming Huo Xiaoru, and certainly no torture!"

Prince Yan inwardly sighed, "Still you say that?" He turned and walked toward the door, leaving a cold parting line: "Three days—I give you three days; if after three days you haven't finished these three things, don't blame me for forgetting brotherly love."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's a deal!"

Hu Xiaotian returned to the mourning hall and saw that Commander Dong Tianjiang and his brothers had all arrived; they too were following their father's orders, often coming these days to accompany Seventh Prince Xue Daoming and to counsel this lovesick prince. At first everyone thought Xue Daoming was just putting on an act in public, but after observing these days they found he truly was deeply devoted to Princess Anping, his grief genuine, not feigned. This also made Consort Shu especially worried, prompting her nephews to visit the Xingchen Palace more often these days, since young people find it easier to talk among themselves.

Commander Dong Tianjiang came to Hu Xiaotian's side and asked: "Sir Hu, how did your visit to Prince Yan's mansion turn out?"

Hu Xiaotian naturally wouldn't reveal the truth, sighed and said: "As Commander Dong expected, Prince Yan refuses to give me this face."

Commander Dong Tianjiang thought: "Giving you face? Out of the question! Huo Xiaoru's crime is a capital offense. What sort of person is Prince Yan? The so-called 'rival of Mengchang' is just fraud and theft; he's extremely petty, always repaying grudges, and will certainly not let off the dancer who tried to assassinate him." Commander Dong Tianjiang comforted him: "Sir Hu, some things cannot be forced; I think you should focus on arranging Princess Anping's funeral properly, and not worry about the rest."

While the two were speaking, a report came from outside: it was the Black Barbarian Fourth Prince Wanyan Chixiong arriving.

Wanyan Chixiong came to offer condolences solely for the sake of Seventh Prince Xue Daoming's face; unexpectedly, seeing Commander Dong in the Xingchen Palace, it truly was enemies meeting, eyes red with hatred. Commander Dong did not choose to avoid him, yet saw Wanyan Chixiong leading a group of followers marching straight toward him.

Commander Dong coldly stared at Wanyan Chixiong, with no intention of backing down.

Wanyan Chixiong stood three feet away from Commander Dong, glaring at him: "Commander Dong, you ought to give me an explanation!" Commander Dong led his men to surround the Red Mountain Guildhall, killing twenty-one of his elite troops. Such hatred, etched to the bone, Wanyan Chixiong has these past two days been pressuring the Da Yong side, demanding they give him an account.

Commander Dong was about to speak when Seventh Prince Xue Daoming walked over, clasped his hands and greeted: "The Fourth Prince has arrived!"

Three More delivered, end of month, please cast your monthly tickets for the Medical Union! (To be continued~^~)