Chapter 838

Hong Beimo gazed ahead at the Lingxiao Palace, and before his eyes unfurled that heart‑pounding great battle; only by combining the strength of himself, Li Yuncong, and Mu Rongzhan, the three top experts, did they barely manage to defeat Ji Feihua with difficulty, and they three also paid a heavy price—he himself, having used the Blood‑Transforming Prajna Skill, lost five years of his lifespan; Li Yuncong also lost his right eye in that duel; Mu Rongzhan suffered serious internal injuries; in fact, the three of them have not yet fully recovered even to this day. What truly worries Hong Beimo, however, is not these… but…

His gaze unconsciously fell upon the Jade Pool below; Ji Feihua, defeated that day, had leapt from the waterfall. Over the past month he has mobilized every possible force within the palace, scoured the entire Jade Pool and Ethereal Mountain, yet found nothing—no trace of Ji Feihua alive or dead. A dark premonition stirred deep in Hong Beimo's heart: Ji Feihua is not dead!

Long Xuan'en's hoarse old voice sounded in his ear: 'You say, could he still be alive?'

Hong Beimo, feigning ignorance, asked: 'Your Majesty, whom are you referring to?'

Long Xuan'en glanced at Hong Beimo, sighed, and said: 'You needn't hide it from me; I can also guess that, for over a month now, you have never ceased searching the Jade Pool, and it seems you still haven't found Ji Feihua's corpse.'

Hong Beimo replied: 'Your Majesty's discernment is clear—indeed we have not yet found her, but rest assured, Ji Feihua should already be dead.'

Long Xuan'en sighed, hearing too many uncertain factors in Hong Beimo's tone.

Hong Beimo did not want to continue on this topic; his gaze fell upon the already collapsed Lingxiao Palace, and he asked: 'Your Majesty, when do you plan to rebuild it?'

Long Xuan'en shook his head and said: 'Never to be rebuilt!' The Lingxiao Palace, the highest palace within the Huangcheng, from its summit one can overlook the entire imperial palace. Remembering when it was just completed, he had once stood here, feeling as if all beings lay beneath his feet; but after being placed under house arrest in the Lingxiao Palace, this place has left him only the most painful experiences and memories of this life, and he does not wish to recall what happened here.

Hong Beimo said: 'That's fine.'

Long Xuan'en asked: 'Have you already begun rebuilding the Tianji Bureau?'

Hong Beimo replied: 'The Tianji Bureau has always existed; it has merely lain dormant for a period.'

Long Xuan'en said: 'Mr. Hong, versed in heaven and man, do you know whether there truly is a technique for longevity in this world?'

Hong Beimo answered: 'I have heard countless people speak of the art of longevity, yet I have never seen anyone actually attain it.'

Long Xuan'en, hearing this, let a dejected expression cross his face. He sighed softly: 'I also understand; in fact, this world simply has no such thing as longevity, and I do not know how many days I have left in this world.' He paused, then looked at Hong Beimo and asked: 'Any news of Ren Tianqing from the Xuantian Guan?'

Hong Beimo replied: 'For the past two years there has been no word of him.'

Long Xuan'en said: 'If anyone in this world could truly find the secret of longevity, that person would surely be him.'

Hong Beimo smiled: 'Everyone says Ren Tianqing can bring the dead back to life, yet back then he could not even save his own wife.'

Long Xuan'en said: 'If it were not so, how could he have become the world's number one divine physician!'

Hong Beimo remained silent. To be the best under heaven—if one truly becomes the number one under heaven, how lonely his heart must be!

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan traveled day and night, braving wind and dew, until they finally returned to Kangdu. Having thought that, because of this palace coup, Kangdu would again become tense and unsettled, with even chickens and dogs restless, they did not expect that aside from stricter checks at the city gates compared to before, there was no particular change. Hu Xiaotian dared not return directly to the Huangcheng to report; instead, he first went to Hall of Abundant Prosperity.

According to the agreement between him and Xiao Tianmu, Xiao Tianmu had already returned to Kangdu ahead of him, to arrange his parents' affairs in case of any mishap.

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian had returned, Xiao Tianmu was overjoyed and led Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan into the inner quarters.

Hu Xiaotian, without stopping to rest, went straight to the courtyard where Xiao Tianmu lived. Seeing Xiao Tianmu sitting under the tree shade, a pot of fine tea already prepared on the stone table beside him, waiting for Hu Xiaotian to arrive, upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's footsteps, Xiao Tianmu's lips curled into a knowing smile: 'Third brother, you're back!'

Hu Xiaotian hurried forward, grasped his arm, and said: 'Second brother! I'm back!'

Xiao Tianmu took his hand and shook it, saying: 'Just coming back safe is good! Quick, have a cup of tea!' He fumbled for the teapot, intending to pour tea for Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian snatched the teapot first, filled his cup, then poured one for himself and drank it down in one gulp, feeling the tea fragrance enter his lungs, his whole body relaxed, and he involuntarily sighed: 'Nothing beats the tea from my hometown.'

Xiao Tianmu smiled: 'Water is sweeter in one's homeland; Da Yong also has good tea, but the same tea leaves taste bland there, merely because homesickness plays tricks on the heart.'

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: 'Second brother, your words always contain such great principles; being by your side has broadened my knowledge considerably.'

Xiao Tianmu laughed: 'You must think I'm nagging.'

'Not at all, not at all!' the two brothers laughed together.

Hu Xiaotian drank another cup of tea, then felt his throat's dryness ease, and he whispered: 'Second brother, what's the situation at the Huangcheng?' Actually, along the way he had also gathered quite a bit of news, but these reports ultimately could not be verified.

Xiao Tianmu briefly outlined the situation he knew.

Hu Xiaotian listened, his brows knitting involuntarily, and he whispered: 'You mean the former emperor has regained the throne, and he continues to follow everything as before, without making any changes?'

Xiao Tianmu nodded: 'Exactly! Apart from Ji Feihua, Empress Jian, and the Crown Prince being killed, this political upheaval did not affect many others.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The former emperor has always been cruel and cold‑blooded; how could he suddenly change his ways this time, even sparing those ministers who once betrayed him?'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Perhaps after enduring this turmoil he finally understood some principles, recognized the present reality, and maintaining the status quo is currently the most viable strategy; if he launched a massive slaughter, his dynasty would likely face imminent collapse, proving he is not yet senile nor so muddle‑headed as to utterly destroy his ancestors' legacy.'

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'How is my father now?' In his view, with the former emperor restored, his father ought to have been among the first to be pardoned and reinstated, given that his father had once been a favored minister before Long Xuan'en.

Xiao Tianmu replied: 'He still lives in Shui Jing'er Hutong; Madame Hu is not in Kangdu, I heard she went to her natal family in Gold Mound.' He obviously understood Hu Xiaotian's inquiry about his family, and added softly: 'At present the court has made no personnel changes; all officials remain in their posts, and the former emperor has let it be known that he will pardon all past matters—even senior officials Wen Chenghuan and Zhou Ruiyuan have suffered no repercussions.'

Hu Xiaotian clicked his tongue in amazement, lifted his tea cup and took another sip: 'It seems the former emperor truly has changed his nature after this ordeal.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Princess Anping is his own biological daughter!' He was evidently reminding Hu Xiaotian that Long Yelin might not care about the death of this sister of his, but Long Xuan'en is different—Long Xi Yue is his biological daughter, and he might fly into a thunderous rage over this matter, making it uncertain whether he would pursue Hu Xiaotian's responsibility.

But that wasn't what Hu Xiaotian worried about; emotions in the imperial family are thin, even between father and daughter there is little genuine feeling. He had once accompanied Long Xi Yue on New Year's Eve of the previous year to the Piaoliao Mountain Lingxiao Palace to visit the former emperor Long Xuan'en; at that time Long Xuan'en, like a fiend, gripped Long Xi Yue's throat, nearly putting his own biological daughter to death. Hu Xiaotian, hearing the commotion, rushed in promptly and shoved Long Xuan'en aside. He does not know whether that old emperor still remembers the incident, or even his own appearance. At the time, no one would have imagined that the dying, candle‑wick emperor would yet have a day of restoration. Nevertheless, Hu Xiaotian is not afraid, for he still has Li Yuncong as a trump card—at least Li Yuncong can prove that he too once exerted himself for the former emperor.

Xiao Tianmu asked: 'What do you plan to do? When will you enter the palace to report?'

Hu Xiaotian did not answer his question, but instead whispered: 'Has the Minister of Rites, Wu Jing Shan, returned?'

Xiao Tianmu replied: 'He hasn't returned to Kangdu yet; he is still waiting in Heavenly Wave City for your news, probably also uncertain about the former emperor's attitude, so he deliberately delayed his journey—first to await your news, second to watch how events unfold.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Sooner or later we'll have to meet, but this trip of mine to Da Yong, even if it yields no great merit, is not considered a fault, and moreover, on returning from Da Yong I have also brought back a piece of good news.'

Xiao Tianmu laughed: 'What good news?'

Only then did Hu Xiaotian reveal the news that Xue Shengkang had sent Dongliang Jun as compensation to Dakang.

Xiao Tianmu heard this and frowned, saying: 'It sounds like good news, but in reality it's like tossing a hot potato to Dakang. If Dakang takes over and wishes to station troops in Dongliang Jun, no matter how many they send, it will be like sending sheep into a wolf's den.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Regardless of his motives, at least he has helped Dakang save face once; having this city in hand also makes it easier to explain things to the court.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Although the former emperor has regained control of Dakang's authority, it is said he now rarely concerns himself with state affairs, and the one actually handling governance on his behalf is the Yongyang Prince!'

Upon hearing of the Yongyang Prince, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but startle; he had spent a considerable time in the palace, had come into contact with many princes and princesses, and was familiar with all notable titles, yet he had never heard of this Yongyang Prince—could he be the former emperor's illegitimate son? He scratched his head and said: 'Yongyang Prince, how come I've never heard of him?'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'This Yongyang Prince can truly be called the most special prince Dakang has had since its founding.'

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'What is so special about him?'

Xiao Tianmu lowered his voice and said: 'This Yongyang Prince is actually a woman!' (To be continued~^~)