Chapter 841: Clash (Part 1)

Qiqi said: "Since you're letting me guess, fine, I'll take a guess. The problem likely lies in the Imperial Gardens Bureau; every day eunuchs leave the palace to purchase supplies. You used to be in charge of the Imperial Gardens Bureau, and you cultivated a group of confidants there. Now the person in charge of purchasing is Shi Xuedong, who seems to be the son of the former Minister of Personnel, Shi BuChui. You must have found him, used his help, hidden inside a vegetable cart, and sneaked into the palace."

At this moment, Hu Xiaotian's back clothes were completely soaked with cold sweat; this girl is truly crafty like a ghost. No matter what, I would never confess Shi Xuedong, but Qiqi, as if she had seen it herself, described exactly how he entered the palace, leaving no detail missed. Aside from admiration, only helplessness remained. Hu Xiaotian clasped his hands and pleaded: "Xiaotian's rash entry into the palace was truly unavoidable. Your Highness, if you wish to punish, please punish only me; do not take it out on others."

Qiqi said: "Then it's settled!" She returned to her seat and sat down, softly saying: "Get up!"

Only then did Hu Xiaotian stand up, smiling broadly as he looked at Qiqi and said: "It's been a few months; Your Highness has grown taller and become even more beautiful."

Qiqi gave him a cold stare. Hu Xiaotian wondered if he had misspoken, gave an embarrassed smile, and lowered his head.

Qiqi said: "When you went to Yongdu, how did I instruct you? Do you still remember?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I remember, Your Highness instructed me to take good care of Princess Anping." He then knelt down with a thud, eyes brimming with hot tears, and said: "Xiaotian is incapable; I failed to complete the task you entrusted to me, disappointing your expectations. Please punish me, whether beating or killing—I accept it all, and Xiaotian will have no complaint."

Qiqi said: "Even if I killed you, could my aunt be revived?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No!" Hearing Qiqi's tone, it seemed she wouldn't kill him, and his heart eased at once.

Qiqi sighed and said: "Tell me, then—how exactly did my aunt die?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "May I inform Your Highness, Princess Anping was killed by the joint efforts of Consort Shu of Da Yong and her son, Xue Daoming." This was his preplanned counter.

Qiqi said: "Didn't the Da Yong side claim that it was Female General Huo Shengnan, motivated by jealousy and hatred, who plotted the murder of my aunt?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "They naturally wouldn't admit it. The reason I have endured humiliation and survived to this day is precisely to tell Your Highness the truth of this matter. Since we arrived in Yongdu, we have suffered various difficulties at the hands of Consort Shu and her son. The root cause is entirely that they believe Dakang's national strength is weak, and this marriage alliance would not bring much benefit to Xue Daoming, so they oppose the alliance and even spare no effort to harm the princess to achieve their goal."

Qiqi bit her cherry lip. She had no doubt about Hu Xiaotian's words; if not for Dakang's decline, Long Xi Yue would not have suffered such a tragic fate. She whispered: "Don't tell anyone else about this."

"Yes!" Hu Xiaotian felt completely reassured in his heart; from Qiqi's words he could infer that she still regarded him as one of her own. He said: "Xiaotian returns this time with another piece of good news to report to Your Highness."

Hu Xiaotian rose from the ground and presented the handwritten letter from the Da Yong Emperor, Xue Shengkang.

Qiqi took the letter, finished reading it, pondered for a moment, then said: "Xue Shengkang wants to give us a city as compensation for the Princess Anping incident. Do you know about this?"

Hu Xiaotian did not conceal it: "Your Highness, while in Yongdu, he had already mentioned it to me."

Qiqi said: "What do you think?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "To Dakang, Dongliang Jun is merely an isolated city; Xue Shengkang can take it back whenever he wishes."

Qiqi said: "Quite right; Xue Shengkang is just putting on a show. If we station troops there, any number we send will become their spoils."

Hu Xiaotian flattered: "Your Highness's discernment!"

Qiqi said: "But since they've sent us a great gift, we have no reason to refuse." She added: "I've heard that the Black Hu Fourth Prince, Wanyan Chixiong, also died in Yongdu. Is this related to you?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Your Highness's discernment!" In Da Yong, this would be a grave crime, but for Dakang it is a great merit. Had we not assassinated Wanyan Chixiong, Da Yong would likely soon march south to attack, and with Dakang's current strength, there would be no chance of resisting them.

Qiqi said: "I just guessed this matter has something to do with you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I cannot speak of it, I must not! Except in front of Your Highness I dare to tell the truth; if this were leaked, I would become a public enemy of both Black Hu and Da Yong."

Qiqi glanced at him with her lovely eyes and said: "Isn't the Da Yong Emperor quite fond of you?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Where does Your Highness get that idea?"

Qiqi said: "Although I am in Kangdu, I have heard a bit about outside affairs."

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: "For example——"

"For example, you haven't told me the whole truth; for example, while you were in Yongdu you still concealed a major matter from me."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, "Old man has done too many big things in Yongdu; who knows which you mean?" He deliberately said: "Your Highness, perhaps you could explain the matter more clearly."

Qiqi said: "If it weren't for your intervention, the Da Yong Emperor Xue Shengkang probably wouldn't be alive today."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that Qiqi had already heard about his treating the Da Yong Emperor Xue Shengkang's illness; he was greatly alarmed, wondering who had leaked the news. If the Dakang side learned of it, wouldn't that cost me my life? Hu Xiaotian said: "That's not true!"

Qiqi said: "No need to make excuses."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It must be someone trying to use this to drive a wedge between us, making Your Highness doubt my subordinates' loyalty, and even in anger have me executed—doing such a thing that hurts kin and pleases foes."

Qiqi said with interest: "I haven't yet decided how to deal with you, but you've already helped me imagine the outcome; if I don't kill you, wouldn't I be failing to honor your thoughts?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Highness really wants to kill me?"

Qiqi said: "You have betrayed my trust, failed to protect my aunt, and in Da Yong you saved someone who ought not to have been saved; either of those alone is enough to warrant beheading you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If Your Highness thinks so, Xiaotian can do nothing; whether you kill or cut, I accept it all."

Qiqi said: "The reason you sneaked into the palace at night to see me isn't the only one; this time, as Marriage Envoy to Da Yong, you owed much to a person's recommendation—you surely haven't forgotten such an important matter, right?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart sank; Qiqi finally brought up Ji Feihua's matter. Since the situation had already turned for the worst, his heart, instead of fearing, steadied as he gazed at Qiqi. If this girl dared to harbor murderous intent toward him, he would, even at the cost of his life, drag her down with him. Not to mention, with his current martial prowess, taking her life at this distance would be no easy feat.

Qiqi said: "The real reason you dare not return to report is still because of Ji Feihua, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If Your Highness says so, Xiaotian can do nothing."

Qiqi curled the corner of her lips into a smile and said: "You certainly won't admit it; if I were to class you among Ji Feihua's accomplices, what do you think the final outcome would be?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Execution of the entire clan, implicating the nine relations!"

Qiqi said: "If I were to make such a decision, given your temperament, would you not take a risky path and rush to harm me?" Her beautiful eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, full of provocation; gazing at his calm, unwavering stare, a ripple stirred deep in her heart, and she even felt uneasy—could she actually be afraid of a eunuch?

Hu Xiaotian said: "My Hu clan is loyal and righteous; devoted to Dakang, even if wrongfully killed, I would never act against the court's interests. Moreover……" He paused, his eyes flashing with contempt: "The princess is merely a child; how could Xiaotian share your level of insight?"

His words indeed succeeded in stirring Qiqi's anger; she shouted: "Impudent!"

This time Hu Xiaotian did not kneel. He realized that when he knelt before, Qiqi was not softened by his loyalty but instead became overbearing; this girl is essentially a hard‑line deviant— the more you appease her with smiles, the more she wants to strike your face. So, fine, old man simply won't give her any face.

After Qiqi's tirade, seeing Hu Xiaotian still standing before her, she snapped: "Why don't you kneel? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since Your Highness has already decided to kill me, kneeling would be useless; Xiaotian is who he is—you ought to know, and you know better than anyone why I entered the palace."

Qiqi gave a cold snort: "How would I know? As princess, I'm swamped with major affairs; how could I pay attention to a eunuch's matters?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How Xiaotian became a eunuch and why he got close to Ji Feihua—even if you don't know, Quan De'an, Eunuch Quan, certainly does. If you want to know something, just summon him for questioning. To accuse someone, one need not lack excuses; if Your Highness truly wants to kill me, just have the person brought out—if Xiaotian furrowed his brow even slightly, he wouldn't be a hero."

"You were never any hero to begin with, Hu Xiaotian—kneel down!" After Hu Xiaotian's provocation, Qiqi felt that the dignity she had barely mustered had diminished by half, as if in his presence she had lost the initial awe.

Hu Xiaotian indeed did not kneel, still standing there and said: "Since Your Highness doubts my loyalty, why force me to kneel?"

Qiqi gave a cold laugh: "Indeed you have some backbone, good! Since a man's knees hold gold and you refuse to kneel, I hereby permit you never to kneel before me again."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian was half‑believing, half‑doubting; clearly it was angry talk, yet it sounded like a boon bestowed upon him: "Really?"

Qiqi said: "Certainly true, but you must first become a thoroughgoing eunuch! Attendants!"

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