Chapter 793

Xue Shengjing said: "How about this? Please go back first, brother; let me think this over carefully."

Hu Xiaotian heard this and secretly thought it was bad; Xue Shengjing clearly intended to renege on the debt. He looked at Xue Shengjing and said: "Big brother, you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

"Go back on my word?" Xue Shengjing laughed loudly: "A gentleman's word is as swift as a whip on a fast horse; when have I ever gone back on something I promised? However, this kind of thing must first seek Miss Huo's opinion; otherwise I'll go ask her myself."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'll go with you, big brother."

Xue Shengjing smiled: "You're really impatient, brother; you've been able to wait this many days, so what's the rush?"

Xue Shengjing came to Leaning Cloud Tower; he certainly wouldn't wrong his own biological daughter, treating her with good food and drink these two days. Although Huo Xiaoru had never called him "father," she had already accepted this reality in her heart.

Xue Shengjing placed the Coiled Dragon Gold Plaque on the table before her and said softly: "Hu Xiaotian indeed got this favor from the Emperor; I'm preparing to let you go."

Huo Xiaoru's heart leapt with joy upon hearing this; she lifted her head and saw Xue Shengjing's reluctant gaze, and couldn't help but feel pity—it seemed he didn't want her to leave. All these years she had regarded Xue Shengjing as an mortal enemy, yet she never expected to be his own flesh and blood. She bit her cherry lips and whispered: "You really will let me go?"

Xue Shengjing sighed: "Although I hate to see you go, staying in Yongdu would only put you in danger; if others learned of our relationship, trouble would be great."

Huo Xiaoru didn't understand what he meant by "greater trouble"—wasn't he the Prince Yan of Da Yong? Who would dare provoke the Emperor's own brother? … Huo Xiaoru didn't dare think further.

Xue Shengjing said: "I'll let you leave with Hu Xiaotian, but remember, you must absolutely not travel with him—he has plenty of his own troubles. Being with him would likely implicate you."

Huo Xiaoru bit her cherry lips and said: "How I choose is my own affair."

"A son travels a thousand miles, the father worries!" Xue Shengjing took out a small booklet from his bosom and said: "You can go by sea, heading east all the way to Bohai Kingdom; there I have secretly arranged property. Bohai Kingdom is a vassal state of Da Yong, yet it enjoys high autonomy. Once there you can temporarily settle; this booklet records your every step thereafter. Remember, as long as you follow what's written here, you can smoothly leave Da Yong and escape danger. Remember, if you want Hu Xiaotian to be safe and sound, you'd best not travel with him." Xue Shengjing's final added remark sounded more like a threat.

Huo Xiaoru said: "Why must I obey your arrangements?"

Xue Shengjing said: "Don't try to fool me; while you were asleep I had a midwife examine you, and you are still Yunying, a virgin—bearing children is out of the question."

Huo Xiaoru's pretty face flushed crimson. She hadn't expected this to be exposed—no wonder Xue Shengjing had abandoned the idea of letting her leave with Hu Xiaotian. From what he just said, if she chose to travel with Hu Xiaotian, he might act against Hu Xiaotian.

Xue Shengjing said: "Don't worry, Hu Xiaotian has helped you so much. As his father, I feel grateful toward him and would never repay kindness with enmity. Hu Xiaotian is escorting Princess Anping's ashes back to Dakang; this journey certainly won't be peaceful. If you follow him, you'll only add to his troubles, and I, as his father, also don't want to let you go so easily—I'll need to put on a show along the way." Since his outward impression is one of repaying grudges, if he simply let Huo Xiaoru go, people would surely suspect him, so he'll send men to pretend to chase her, to throw off suspicion.

Huo Xiaoru said: "Will Hu Xiaotian be in danger?"

Xue Shengjing said: "As long as you go your separate ways, there shouldn't be any danger. Ruxin, you must never forget his status—with people like him, at most you can only be friends."

Huo Xiaoru heard this, her pretty face blushed involuntarily again; Xue Shengjing obviously saw that her feelings for Hu Xiaotian were quite unusual, fearing that he might truly develop feelings for Hu Xiaotian. She whispered: "Those sisters of my Music Dance Troupe, how do you plan to deal with them?"

Xue Shengjing said: "Release them all together; you can take them with you when you leave. Remember, it's best to leave today, head for Hailing Commandery, and according to the method written here find a merchant ship; they will be responsible for safely sending you to Bohai State. As for safety, you needn't worry—even if there are some pursuers along the way, they will absolutely not harm your lives, and I have already arranged for a master to escort you throughout, so there will be absolutely no problem."

Seeing Xue Shengjing's deeply caring expression, Huo Xiaoru couldn't help feeling somewhat moved, yet deep down she could never convince herself to accept such a strange father.

Xue Shengjing said: "I guarantee you that these days of hiding and fleeing won't last long; before long I will let you appear openly before people and give you everything you deserve."

Huo Xiaoru knew that all he spoke of was noble status, but Xue Shengjing didn't understand that what she truly wanted was nothing of the sort; she shook her head and said: "You needn't do anything for me; perhaps we will never have a chance to meet again."

Xue Shengjing pressed his lips, full of sorrow, and said: "Could it be that you still blame me?"

Huo Xiaoru said: "Since learning the truth, I suddenly feel I have lost my goal and can no longer find my direction."

Xue Shengjing spoke with genuine emotion: "You are still young, you are not yet married; as your father, I still wish to see you in your wedding dress, marrying a suitable husband."

Huo Xiaoru said: "For now I won't think about these things."

Xue Shengjing said: "Perhaps time will fade everything; go to Bohai State to relax, and after a while you will come to understand these matters."

Xue Shengjing kept his promise, not only releasing Huo Xiaoru but also releasing her Music Dance Troupe sisters; Hu Xiaotian finally could breathe a sigh of relief, finally this fellow didn't go back on his word.

Escorting Huo Xiaoru and her entourage out of the Prince Yan's mansion, seeing Huo Xiaoru looking much more wan, Hu Xiaotian's heart couldn't help but feel pity; the two stood under the cherry blossom tree, while the other sisters of the Music Dance Troupe tactfully withdrew to a distance, giving them space to talk.

Huo Xiaoru gazed at Hu Xiaotian's handsome face, her pretty face showing a hint of shyness; although she knew Hu Xiaotian had been made a eunuch after entering the palace, for some reason, when facing him she still felt her heart race, and she softly said: "Thank you, Sir Hu, for your rescue."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If it were me, you would certainly lend a hand as well, after all we are friends."

Upon hearing the word "friend," Huo Xiaoru's heart warmed slightly, and she nodded lightly.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tomorrow is the seventh day after Princess Anping's passing; once the memorial rites are over, I will leave Yongdu, and if you are willing, you may accompany me so we can look out for each other."

Huo Xiaoru said: "Thank you for your kindness, Sir Hu, but I still have matters to attend to, so I'm afraid I cannot travel with you."

Hu Xiaotian had meant well, but he hadn't expected such a blunt refusal, which naturally surprised him; he said softly: "Perhaps Prince Yan won't just let this go; only by leaving Da Yong can your safety be assured."

Huo Xiaoru said: "I intend to leave by sea, but not to return to Dakang; instead I will go to Bohai State."

Seeing Huo Xiaoru's calm and composed expression, Hu Xiaotian already knew it wasn't a sudden decision; it seemed she had already planned her future path, and he smiled and nodded: "Then I can also switch to the sea route and escort Miss Huo to Hailing Commandery."

Huo Xiaoru said: "Sir Hu need not change his plans for me; I will leave Yongdu tonight."

Hu Xiaotian felt a bit puzzled; Huo Xiaoru's current behavior seemed more like she was avoiding him—could it be because he had kissed her at the Yiyun Lou?

Huo Xiaoru said: "I've also heard that Prince Yan repays grudges, so it's best to leave Yongdu as soon as possible." In fact she harbored unspeakable difficulties; her father had already learned the truth of her relationship with Hu Xiaotian, and his not allowing her to travel with him also stemmed from his concern—he naturally worried that she might develop feelings for Hu Xiaotian over time, so he threatened to act against Hu Xiaotian; deep down Huo Xiaoru also did not wish to part from Hu Xiaotian and return to Dakang together.

Although Hu Xiaotian felt a bit taken aback, he soon came to terms with it; as long as Huo Xiaoru was safe and sound, that was fine, and traveling together might not necessarily be a good thing.

Huo Xiaoru said: "Great kindness needs no thanks; Sir Hu, everything you have done for me I will keep in my heart, and I believe we will meet again someday."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded, clasping his fists: "Since Miss Huo has made up her mind, then let us part here."

Huo Xiaoru watched Hu Xiaotian's departing figure, graceful and aloof, and in her beautiful eyes there shone a look of wistful loss; Hu Xiaotian's talent, his righteous rescue, his broad-minded generosity had all quietly left an indelible mark in her heart.

The jade pixiu displayed mottled cloud-like wisps, suggesting rain was coming again. Hu Xiaotian lifted his head to look at the dark, overcast night sky—no moon, no stars visible—this should be his final night in Yongdu.

In the memorial hall, flickering firelight appeared—it was the Seventh Prince Xue Daoming burning paper offerings there.

At first Hu Xiaotian thought Xue Daoming was merely putting on an act, putting on a show for others, but after these seven days he discovered that Xue Daoming's grief was genuine, not feigned; no matter how skilled one's acting, there will always be flaws, and Xue Daoming had no reason to fall for Princess Anping—the only possibility was that Xi Yan had tampered with him; Xi Yan's earlier words proved true, this demoness is truly cunning, having ensnared him several times, let alone Xue Daoming.

While Hu Xiaotian was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone call out: "Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian focused his gaze and saw it was Huo Xiaoru's maid Wan'er, who had previously returned to the Music Dance Workshop to meet with Huo Xiaoru; for some reason she had come here again, and Hu Xiaotian said: "Why haven't you left?"

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