Chapter 807

Huo Xiaoru also didn't expect Hu Xiaotian to go back on his word, having clearly promised to release Zhou Juetian, but after learning the truth he stabbed him to death with a single sword. Martial artists value trust above all. While marveling at Hu Xiaotian's ruthless methods, she also began to doubt his integrity.

"Why kill him?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Many reasons. First, he is skilled at concealing his whereabouts; if he leaves my perception range, he could cause us great trouble. We have killed his four companions, so he will surely seek revenge. Once he recovers, he will stop at nothing to take vengeance. Second, he just admitted that he had been secretly watching our every move from afar last night—that is, he saw everything when I helped you heal your wounds."

Huo Xiaoru's pretty face flushed! If that's true, then he deserves to die; otherwise, if this person spreads what happened last night, her reputation would be completely ruined.

Hu Xiaotian added: "Third, I promised to let him go if he told the truth, but he didn't know how to cherish the opportunity and didn't tell me the truth."

Huo Xiaoru asked: "How do you know that?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "He said your head is worth ten thousand taels of gold, while mine is only worth five thousand."

Huo Xiaoru blinked her beautiful eyes and said: "I think it's quite normal—I'm a wanted criminal of the court, you… hehe…"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Looking down on people? What's with your hehe?"

Huo Xiaoru said: "Nothing, just that this price seems normal!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I'm not feeling upset about the imbalance; I just wonder why my head is half the price of yours. Clearly it's a case of protesting too much—someone deliberately wants others to think you're more important than me. If Dong Tianjiang is indeed the mastermind behind this, he would surely want to kill both of us to silence us, and would not offer two different rewards."

Huo Xiaoru was taken aback. Hu Xiaotian made a good point.

Hu Xiaotian said: "The employer is really clever, even considering the possibility that the assassination might fail; he certainly doesn't want anyone to suspect him, and wants us to believe that the main target is you, while I am merely an unlucky fool dragged into it by you."

Huo Xiaoru could only admire his intellect; it's amazing that he could deduce such a complex hidden truth from such a simple matter. She whispered: "Then who do you think the real mastermind is?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't speak, but a vision of the round, chubby face of Prince Yan Xue Shengjing appeared before him.

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing stood before Huo Xiaoru's portrait, having just received news that his daughter had safely arrived in Bohai State. Gazing at her portrait, he silently murmured: "Ruixin, Ruixin! One day you will understand your father's painstaking efforts."

A light knock sounded at the door; after receiving permission, Tie Zheng entered. He closed the door behind him and respectfully said to Prince Yan: "Your Lordship, Hu Xiaotian and Huo Xiaoru have already passed Yuyang City; the Five Absolutes Hunters are about to move."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing slowly nodded and said: "Very good." After saying that, he walked a few steps toward the window and whispered: "Are they reliable?"

Tie Zheng said: "The Five Absolutes Hunters are the top assassin organization of Da Yong; they never miss when they strike. Your Lordship, rest assured—there will be no mistake."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing gazed at the overcast sky and said: "There are always exceptions; one must not be overly optimistic."

Tie Zheng said: "Even if they fail, there's nothing to fear; I have made all arrangements. The Five Absolutes Hunters only know that the employer is Dong Tianjiang; they will never think it's the Prince."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing sneered: "I have nothing to do with this matter at all."

Tie Zheng then realized he had misspoken. Lowering his head anxiously, he said: "Your Lordship, don't blame me; please rest assured. To be safe, I have come up with a clever plan: a bounty of ten thousand taels of gold for Huo Xiaoru's head, and only five thousand for Hu Xiaotian's. Even if they fail, Hu Xiaotian won't suspect that he is the main target of this assassination."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing abruptly turned his face, his small eyes glaring wide, radiating cold killing intent that made Tie Zheng shiver, his voice trembling: "Your Lordship..."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing snapped: "Idiot! Truly an idiot! Do you think you're clever? This is a classic case of 'hiding nothing but revealing everything'—do you really think Dong Tianjiang, when intending to kill and silence, would offer two different rewards for two equally threatening individuals?"

Tie Zheng was left speechless.

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing shook his head and said: "Get out of this net's presence!" He had never imagined that Tie Zheng would make such a blunder; people love to think they're clever, but often when they believe they've come up with a brilliant idea, they end up overreaching or exposing themselves. His expression was a mix of laughter and exasperation, though it wasn't a major issue—no matter how clever Hu Xiaotian might be, he is ultimately just a lowly eunuch in the Dakang palace; what can a eunuch do to overturn heaven and earth?

Dark, heavy clouds pressed low, almost touching the summit of Mount Piaomiao. Standing outside the Lingxiao Palace, looking up at the heavens, the clouds seemed within reach; Ji Feihua's face was as gloomy as the sky, while Mu Rongzhan stood beside him, his gray-white pupils revealing a bewildered gleam.

Ji Feihua didn't rush into the Lingxiao Palace but softly asked: "Your daughter isn't married yet, is she?"

Mu Rongzhan was taken aback by his sudden question, then the corner of his mouth twitched with a bitter smile as he said: "Commander, I haven't spoken a word to her in ten years; the last time we met was three years ago."

Ji Feihua smiled: "Even if there is some estrangement between father and daughter, the bond of flesh and blood cannot be changed."

Mu Rongzhan sighed: "It's already good that she doesn't regard me as an enemy."

Ji Feihua said: "According to the Zajia, her relationship with Hu Xiaotian is very good."

Mu Rongzhan said: "I've heard that as well."

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia also heard that she joined the Divine Strategy Agency solely because of Hu Xiaotian."

Mu Rongzhan said: "I don't know what she's been up to these years; although I've always cared about her, she doesn't acknowledge me..." A bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Ji Feihua said calmly: "Rest assured, the Zajia has instructed the Divine Strategy Agency to look after her; she's doing well there."

Mu Rongzhan could not fail to hear the implication in Ji Feihua's words; he was essentially threatening him not to harbor any ulterior motives, otherwise he would surely strike against Murong Feiyan.

Ji Feihua stopped talking about Murong Feiyan, his gaze fixed on the Lingxiao Palace as he asked: "How has the Retired Emperor's health been lately?"

Mu Rongzhan replied: "I haven't heard of any problems, but the senior eunuch Wang Qian who attends him has been ill in bed for several days and hasn't been seen."

Ji Feihua asked: "Who is attending the old man?"

Mu Rongzhan laughed: "It's someone sent by the Commander!"

Ji Feihua startled, frowned, and asked: "When did the Zajia send someone over?"

Mu Rongzhan said: "I specifically went to the Internal Supervision Office to ask Li Gonggong; he said he dispatched a steady and reliable eunuch over, and that it was your idea."

Ji Feihua asked: "Who?"

"Ding Wanqing!"

Upon hearing the name Ding Wanqing, Ji Feihua's sword-brows furrowed slightly: "Him? Isn't he always responsible for cleaning the Cangshuge?"

Mu Rongzhan nodded: "Exactly him. In the past, he, Quan De'an, Liu Yuzhang, and Wang Qian all served the Retired Emperor, and we chose him because the Retired Emperor himself named him."

Ji Feihua said: "What about Li Yuncong, then?"

Mu Rongzhan rarely showed a hint of a smile: "Yes, there's also Li Yuncong, but Li Gonggong is now in charge of the Cangshu Lou; although the Retired Emperor had originally named him, he said he couldn't leave his post."

Ji Feihua said: "Earlier, when the Retired Emperor came to the Lingxiao Palace, he had already named him, but he refused to come; among the Retired Emperor's attendants, the truly loyal one is still Wang Qian."

Mu Rongzhan said: "In my view, Wang Qian probably doesn't have much time left."

Ji Feihua nodded, then entered the Lingxiao Palace alone. A white-haired old eunuch approached and greeted: "Your servant pays respects to the Commander!" It was none other than Ding Wanqing, whom they had just mentioned. Mu Rongzhan glanced at Ding Wanqing's face and coldly asked: "Who sent you here?"

Ding Wanqing replied: "Commander, isn't this your intention?"

Ji Feihua gave a soft, cold chuckle: "When did Li Yan start acting as my master?"

Ding Wanqing anxiously said: "If the Commander never said this, I'll leave right away."

Ji Feihua's gaze swept over Ding Wanqing: "Then go! Without the Zajia's consent, no one may come here on their own." He fumed inwardly at Li Yan, whose audacity was too great—he had taken such an important matter upon himself without even reporting it.

Ding Wanqing indeed left immediately, without even bidding farewell to the Retired Emperor Long Xuan'en. Ji Feihua, who holds sway over the imperial palace, if provoked, might very well meet his end on the spot.

Ji Feihua added: "You don't need to return to the Cangshuge; go straight to the Internal Supervision Office. The Zajia still has questions for you when I return."

"Yes!"

Ji Feihua entered Lingxiao Palace; because it was overcast, lamps were lit inside, illuminating the whole hall. Grand Emperor Emeritus Long Xuan'en sat alone on that already worn dragon throne, speaking solemnly: "Beloved minister, no need for formalities; I don't know what urgent matter brings you to see me today?"

Ji Feihua looked at this mad Grand Emperor Emeritus, a hint of mockery curling at the corner of her mouth, and said softly: "There's no one else here; why bother putting on an act, Grand Emperor Emeritus?"

Grand Emperor Emeritus Long Xuan'en sighed and said: "Ji Feihua, you came to see me—are you intending to kill me?"

Ji Feihua replied: "Even the Emperor is reluctant to kill you; how dare I, as his subject, do so?"

Long Xuan'en gritted his teeth and said: "Don't mention that unfilial son in my presence; he plotted to usurp the throne, defied morality, and will surely incur heavenly retribution!" As soon as his words fell, a dull thunderclap boomed outside, shaking the entire Lingxiao Palace.

Ji Feihua smiled and said: "He has already met his retribution!"