Chapter 785

Hu Xiaotian certainly could not reveal everything that had happened before; he evaded the main points and glossed over details, changed his story, and gave a full account of the antecedents and consequences of the matter, insisting that his intelligence had been faulty. He had originally thought that the secret underground chamber in the Hongyan Pavilion of the Red Mountain Club was a secret intelligence organization set up there by the Black Hu people, but he never expected his intelligence to have deviated, which is why he fell into someone else's trap. As for why the Black Hu people knew that Dong Tianjiang and Huo Shengnan were involved, he also did not know, and he said not a word about the matter of the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl.

Weichi Chong heard Hu Xiaotian finish speaking, his mind half-believing, half-doubting. Hu Xiaotian, though silver-tongued, still could not shake off suspicion of designing the frame-up. Wan Yan Chixiong was killed; the direct beneficiary should be Dakang. If the Black Hu and Da Yong were thus plunged into war, Da Yong would have to temporarily abandon its southward advance plan and fully resist the Black Hu army pressing from the north.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Grand Marshal, I guarantee with my personality that General Huo has nothing to do with this matter; the reason we are dragged into this trouble is entirely because of me. I originally thought I could use this opportunity to uncover the secret of the Black Hu gathering intelligence in Da Yong, crush their plot, and let General Huo redeem himself through merit. I never expected that from beginning to end this affair was the Black Hu's conspiracy. The killer of Wan Yan Chixiong is someone else; someone took advantage of the chaos we created at the Wild Goose Tower to assassinate Wan Yan Chixiong and pinned everything on us."

Weichi Chong said: "Perhaps the planner is someone else." His deep eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian as he said: "Hu Xiaotian, besides the two of you, who else is involved?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Grand Marshal, please forgive me for not speaking plainly; this matter has already come to this point, and even if there is responsibility, it should be borne by me, not dragged onto others."

Weichi Chong said: "You will bear it? I fear you cannot afford to!"

Huo Shengnan said: "Foster father, please hand me over to the court for punishment; even if I die, I will not utter a word of complaint, only hoping this matter will not implicate you."

Weichi Chong sighed and said: "Don't mention such talk again." He stepped forward and said: "I will immediately enter the palace to see the Emperor; as for how things will ultimately develop, it depends on the Emperor's will."

Hu Xiaotian secretly felt uneasy in his heart. He did not know whether Weichi Chong would put them under control.

Weichi Chong silently gazed at Huo Shengnan for a while before saying: "Shengnan, no matter how this matter turns out, you cannot escape blame; the only way out is to leave Da Yong."

Huo Shengnan knelt before Weichi Chong, tears in her eyes, and said: "Shengnan will not leave Da Yong; if Shengnan leaves, she will carry the stigma for life. Foster father once told Shengnan that to be human one must be upright and honest, worthy of heaven and earth, sun and moon, worthy of parents' conscience. Shengnan would rather die standing than live kneeling."

Weichi Chong slowly shook his head, lifted her from the ground, and whispered: "Only by leaving do you have a chance to prove your innocence. If you die, that stigma will forever burden you."

Foster father!

Weichi Chong said: "You two hide beneath my carriage. They dare not search my carriage and horses; on the way to the palace, look for an opportunity to leave."

I won't go!

Weichi Chong said: "You must go! The key is not whether you have done this, but what the Emperor thinks. If he needs a scapegoat, you are undoubtedly the best choice." Weichi Chong, a veteran of many battles and long experienced in officialdom, had a keen insight into the mind of the current Emperor, Xue Shengkang.

Hu Xiaotian beside him urged: "General Huo, the Grand Marshal is right..."

"Shut up!" Huo Shengnan angrily shouted; her plight was entirely due to Hu Xiaotian, and she felt extreme hatred toward him.

Weichi Chong said: "Hu Xiaotian, whether you admit it or not, Shengnan's predicament stems entirely from you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly.

Weichi Chong said: "Judging from the current situation, your identity has not yet been exposed; perhaps this matter will not involve you. If you can fortuitously stay out of it, you must certainly help Shengnan escape."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Grand Marshal, rest assured, I will do my utmost!"

Huo Shengnan angrily said: "I don't want his help!"

Weichi Chong sighed and said: "Hu Xiaotian, go out first; I want to speak with Shengnan alone."

Hu Xiaotian bowed deeply to Weichi Chong, then withdrew outside and hid.

After Hu Xiaotian left, Huo Shengnan said: "Foster father, Hu Xiaotian is full of tricks; tonight's events could hardly not be his secret scheming, in order to split the Black Hu-Da Yong alliance, he might even resort to extreme measures."

Weichi Chong shook his head and said: "Those involved are confused; observers see clearly. I, however, believe he would not be foolish enough to personally get involved; it is likely he too is being used by someone else."

Huo Shengnan bit her cherry lips; in fact she had also thought of this.

Weichi Chong said: "Shengnan, there is something I have never told you: regarding the assassination of Princess Anping, I have already learned the Emperor's intention; even if he could spare your life, you cannot avoid a prison ordeal."

Huo Shengnan's beautiful eyes widened.

Weichi Chong said: "The Emperor cannot allow you to accompany me to Bei Jiang; the Empress Dowager will not intercede for you either. It seems they have grown suspicious of me."

How can they do this?

Weichi Chong calmly said: "When the birds are gone, the bow is stored; when the rabbit is dead, the hound is cooked. Since ancient times no one has escaped this principle; perhaps Wan Yan Chixiong's death tonight is not necessarily a bad thing."

Huo Shengnan blinked her beautiful eyes.

Weichi Chong said: "If Da Yong and the Black Hu reach an alliance, the Emperor's northern frontier will be secure in the short term, allowing him to concentrate forces to attack Dakang southward. Although the Emperor once relied on me, in his heart I remain an old minister of Dakang, and he will surely strip my military authority, even sideline me completely. I have also offended many petty officials in court; they will surely not miss this chance to kick a man when he's down. Although you are indeed at fault in the matter at Rising Dawn Palace, considering all I have done for Da Yong and my relationship with the Empress Dowager, they should not treat me so ruthlessly, yet they insist on imprisoning you severely. This very fact shows that I have become insignificant in the court."

Huo Shengnan gradually understood the underlying power play.

Weichi Chong said: "Wan Yan Chixiong's killing has suddenly made the situation in Bei Jiang dire; even if you did this, the Emperor would not implicate me, because the defense of Bei Jiang still relies on this old bone of mine to guard for him." His eyes filled with grief and helplessness, he reached out and gently patted Huo Shengnan's shoulder, saying: "Shengnan, you are not originally a person of Da Yong; I never told you my background. Your father was a Dakang native, a brother who shared life and death with me; your mother was a Khitan, and they were both killed by the Black Hu. Da Yong is not your homeland, and you need not die unjustly in Da Yong to prove your innocence. Moreover, according to rumor, Dong Tianjiang is also involved in this matter; I believe the Dong family, to protect Dong Tianjiang's life, will surely pin everything on you."

Huo Shengnan said through tears: "Foster father..."

Weichi Chong said: "As long as the green hills remain, there will be no lack of firewood. Soon the Emperor will send me to Bei Jiang; after the uproar passes, come to Bei Jiang to find me, and I believe by then I will have found a solution."

Yes!

Weichi Chong also said: "If Hu Xiaotian's identity remains undisclosed, you can accompany him to escort Princess Anping's remains to Dakang; the journey should be safe. Although this boy is cunning, I can see he likely bears no ill will toward you."

Huo Shengnan suddenly recalled that tonight beneath the Wild Goose Tower, she had accidentally touched Hu Xiaotian between his legs; her face flushed, and she thought the foster father probably didn't know that this rascal is actually a fake eunuch.

Weichi Chong, unaware of what she was thinking at that moment, spoke with feeling: "If you ever have a chance to go to Kangdu, don't forget to visit my family's old residence, and meanwhile help me add a handful of earth and light an incense stick at the Weichi family ancestral grave to make up for the years I have failed my ancestors." As he said this, Weichi Chong actually burst into tears.

Weichi Chong's carriage left the General's Manor and headed toward Huangcheng; passing Jinghe Street, two figures took cover from the surrounding houses, dropped from the carriage underside, and silently rolled to the wall corner—these two were precisely Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan, who had hidden beneath the carriage to escape the Da Shuai Fu.

Not far from the Rising Dawn Palace, watching the departing carriage, Huo Shengnan could not hold back hot tears; she understood that this separation might mean she would not see her foster father again for years to come.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have a human-skin mask here; put it on first and follow me back to the Rising Dawn Palace, then we'll talk."

It was already the third watch; the lamps in Da Yong's Heaven's Blessing Palace were still lit, Emperor Xue Shengkang had risen and stood by the window, as if waiting for something.

At that moment a young eunuch hurried over and reported: "Your Majesty, Virtuous Consort requests an audience!"

Xue Shengkang, somewhat impatient, frowned and said: "What does she want? No audience!"

Yes!

The little eunuch turned and went to deliver the message; shortly after, he returned to Xue Shengkang's side and whispered: "Your Majesty, General Weichi has arrived."

A hint of a cold smile appeared at Xue Shengkang's lips: "Tonight is indeed unsettling!" He paced slowly two steps, then said coldly: "Let him wait outside!"

The little eunuch turned to go out, but Xue Shengjing added: "Let him in only after half an hour!"

Weichi Chong waited outside Heaven's Blessing Palace for a full half hour before being granted entry. He slowly approached Xue Shengkang from behind, knelt, and said: "Your humble servant Weichi Chong pays respects to Your Majesty! Long live the emperor, long long live!"

Xue Shengkang did not turn, still facing away from Weichi Chong, and said calmly: "Old beloved minister, why do you enter the palace at midnight? Has something urgent occurred?" Not immediately allowing this battle-hardened veteran marshal to rise, he politely expressed his displeasure.

Third Update uploaded; look up, the sixth is not far away. Everyone who still has Monthly Tickets, please cast your votes to clear the warehouse; at this critical juncture, we might still manage to advance another step. Zhangyu will go downstairs to write; if we make it into the top six as wished, the Four more will come right away! (To be continued~^~)