Chapter 827

Hu Xiaotian said: "Open the city gate, or else the Zajia will first gouge out Zhao Dengyun's right eye!" The dagger in his hand was already pressed against Zhao Dengyun's right eye socket; Zhao Dengyun truly felt a chill now. Hu Xiaotian acts ruthlessly, no wonder Ji Feihua values him so highly—only my own carelessness to blame. I thought victory was assured, a sure thing, yet I never expected Hu Xiaotian to find an opening, ending up captured and made a hostage in his hands.

Zhao Wusheng anxiously shouted: "Uncle Sir! As long as the green hills remain, we need not fear lack of firewood! Please order the gate opened!" After nightfall, the four gates of Wuxing Commandery were tightly shut; without Zhao Dengyun's order, the gate must not be opened arbitrarily—not even Zhao Wusheng had that authority.

Although Zhao Dengyun was frightened inside, his face still bore an expression of unyielding might. As the Dakang Navy Commander, if he yielded so quickly, how could he command respect thereafter? Zhao Dengyun closed his eyes and roared: "Eunuch scoundrel, kill me if you will—do you think I will submit to you?"

Hu Xiaotian sneered: "I didn't expect you to be as stubborn and foul as a stone in a latrine!" He slipped the dagger, not gouging Zhao Dengyun's eye but viciously stabbing his thigh. Annoyed that Zhao Dengyun intended to frame him, he struck with a hint of revenge, making Zhao Dengyun grunt; when the blade was pulled out, blood flowed freely.

Zhao Wusheng said, "Uncle Sir!" He actually dismounted and knelt on the ground; his kneeling prompted all the officers to follow suit, and together they cried, "Sir, please order the gate opened!"

After that stab from Hu Xiaotian, Zhao Dengyun was trembling with fear; actually the gate would open sooner or later. He had wanted to keep up a heroic front, but the price of heroism is bleeding and injury, and this eunuch is vicious—who knows what he might do next. If he were to blind one eye or even castrate me, my life would be over. Zhao Wusheng is right: as long as the green hills remain, we need not fear lack of firewood. Zhao Dengyun immediately shouted, "Open the gate. Lower the drawbridge!"

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan exchanged a glance, sharing a knowing smile. Hu Xiaotian said, "He who knows the times is a true talent; if you had cooperated earlier, you wouldn't have suffered so much."

With Zhao Dengyun's order, the gate slowly opened, and soon the drawbridge was lowered. Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan took Zhao Dengyun out through the gate and across the bridge. Hu Xiaotian did not leave immediately; he had the gate guards raise the drawbridge again. Only then did he spur Zhao Dengyun along the official road ahead, galloping until Wuxing Commandery shrank to a dot in his view, whereupon they reined in their horses.

With no one else around, Zhao Dengyun no longer dared show any defiance, whispering, "You have already left Wuxing Commandery. Won't you release me soon?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Zhao Dengyun, we have no past grudges nor recent enmity—why do you wish to harm me?"

Zhao Dengyun said, "You are an ally of Ji Feihua; the court is now vigorously purging her partisans both at home and abroad. You are one of those named in the court's list, and I am merely carrying out orders."

Hu Xiaotian recalled what Zhao Wusheng had just told him. It was clear that Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan had commissioned Zhao Dengyun to kill him on the return journey; he surely hadn't told the truth. Hu Xiaotian said, "Fine! Then let us part ways here." He gave a look, and Huo Shengnan flung Zhao Dengyun from his horse. He landed in a sorry state, dirt-covered and miserable.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan dared not linger, spurring their horses southward along the official road.

Zhao Dengyun was thrown into disarray, his meridians sealed, unable to rise from the ground. After a while he saw Zhao Wusheng leading the city's soldiers in pursuit; Zhao Wusheng spotted Dengyun on the ground, hastily dismounted, helped him up, and asked anxiously, "Uncle, are you all right? Did they injure you?"

Although Zhao Dengyun had been stabbed a few times by Hu Xiaotian's dagger, they were merely flesh wounds, not life‑threatening. He bellowed, "Never mind me—pursue him; even if we have to chase to the ends of the earth, I will capture that eunuch scoundrel!"

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan raced about twenty li, then saw a small river ahead with dense reeds growing along its banks. Hu Xiaotian decided not to go further; together they led their horses into the reed marsh for temporary shelter.

By common sense, Zhao Dengyun will certainly not let this go; once free he will surely send troops to hunt them down, possibly even joining forces with the frontier garrison to encircle them—blind flight may not escape their net.

After hiding in the reed marsh, they soon heard earth‑shaking hoofbeats; looking through the reeds, they saw a detachment of several hundred men following their original route. However, the pursuers did not notice that they had changed course, passing the front arch bridge and continuing straight south.

Once the pursuers had faded away, Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan emerged from the reed marsh, changed direction, and headed west along the small river.

Huo Shengnan asked, "What exactly happened? Why is Zhao Dengyun targeting you?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure either, but something major has happened in Kangdu—rumor has it that Ji Feihua is already dead."

Huo Shengnan said, "Wouldn't returning be dangerous for you?" She had also heard that Hu Xiaotian was a close aide of Ji Feihua; now that Ji Feihua has been executed for treason, Hu Xiaotian is likely to be implicated as well—if he returns to Kangdu awaiting his fate, it would be a dead end.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Zhao Dengyun's words may not be reliable; let us first leave this place, clarify the exact situation in Kangdu, and then decide whether to go there."

Huo Shengnan nodded. She had originally planned to part ways with Hu Xiaotian in Wuxing Commandery, but she never expected him to run into such trouble; now that he is in difficulty, how could she abandon him and leave alone?

In Kangdu, rain had fallen continuously for three days without letup. Long Yelin sat in the Xuanweigong, his eyes dull and unfocused for thirty‑eight days; he had not stepped outside his chambers even a pace. The dim palace was filled with a stench of decay and rot, and Long Yelin felt his whole body saturated with that miasma—his life had sunk into decline, with no hope of rising again.

The door opened from outside, and a tall, graceful figure appeared before the palace gates—she seemed a radiant being, dazzling and blinding, making Long Yelin unable to open his eyes.

Long Yelin did not shield his eyes with his hand, and only with difficulty could he make out who stood outside. To his delight, it was Qiqi. He wanted to rise, but his legs were weak and limp; then he realized that no one had brought him food for two days.

After not seeing each other for a while, Qiqi had grown much taller and slimmer; her baby fat was gone, her face now a delicate oval, and she had unknowingly blossomed into a lovely maiden. Seeing her, Long Yelin suddenly recalled someone, his voice trembling: "Azhi…" Having spoken, he immediately realized he had been muddle‑headed.

Qiqi entered the room slowly, holding a tray laden with fine wine and dishes. Seeing the food, Long Yelin's eyes lit up; he even forgot to chat with his daughter, seized the chicken, and began to devour it voraciously.

Qiqi's clear, spring‑like eyes gazed at her father, calm and indifferent; after so many days apart, upon meeting she showed not a trace of concern or excitement.

Long Yelin ate too hastily and soon choked on the chicken; he grabbed the wine jug and gulped several mouthfuls, then caught his breath, sighed, patted his chest, and continued to focus on the drumstick. When he had gnawed it down to a bare bone, he finally noticed his daughter before him, lifted his head, and asked, "Qiqi… how did you come? How could Ji Feihua agree to let you come?"

Qiqi said, "Ji Feihua is dead!"

Long Yelin stared, his greasy face full of bewilderment: "What did you say?"

Qiqi said, "Ji Feihua is dead!"

Long Yelin said, "Ji Feihua died? Really?"

Qiqi nodded, and Long Yelin burst into hysterical laughter: "Ji Feihua is dead! Ji Feihua is dead! Haha! Heaven's way turns full circle; retribution never fails!" Spurred by this sudden good news, he actually rose to his feet, waving his arms wildly, barefoot, racing around the Xuanweigong, shouting to vent his joy. At last he managed to calm himself, his voice trembling: "Qiqi, you have come to fetch me out… am I free?"

Qiqi nodded, a faint smile touching her lips, and whispered softly: "There's something I have always wanted to ask you—how exactly did my mother die?"

Long Yelin's heart jolted; he lifted his gaze to Qiqi: "Why are you asking this? I've told you countless times—why make me recall this painful matter?" Upon hearing that Ji Feihua was gone, Long Yelin felt a surge of renewed vigor, as if his vital essence had instantly returned; he remained the emperor of Dakang, and none could stop him from reclaiming the throne.

Qiqi said, "Someone told me that my mother was killed by your own hand!"

Long Yelin glared at Qiqi: "Nonsense! How dare you spout such nonsense before me! If it weren't for the fact that you are my daughter, I would—" He felt a sudden pain in his abdomen and hastily clutched his stomach.

Qiqi replied calmly: "How so?"

Long Yelin said, "You… what did you put in this wine and food?" His face turned ashen, as if he had conceived something horrifying.

Qiqi said, "When you personally handed my mother over to your biological father, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

Long Yelin let out a anguished cry, lunged toward Qiqi, took a step, then his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground.

Qiqi said, "In this world there is no secret that can be kept forever; you thought your deeds were flawless, but retribution will surely find you sooner or later."

Long Yelin gritted his teeth: "I… I am your… biological father……"

Qiqi said, "This meal is a gift from your biological father; go in peace!"

One hundred Monthly Tickets—extra chapter delivered! Keep typing, preparing the second installment; we still need thirty‑five tickets, brothers, let's go! (To be continued…~^~)