Chapter 847

Hu Xiaotian hurried over to help the Senior Eunuch pat his back; fortunately Li Yuncong finally caught his breath, exhaled, shook his head and said, "I'm old, I can't do this anymore!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "In my eyes, Eunuch Li, you grow stronger with age, an old horse that still aspires to run, growing firmer with age..."

Li Yuncong interrupted him, saying, "To live on without dying is to be a thief! What you really want to say is this."

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile and said, "I have always respected Eunuch Li deeply; in my heart I have always regarded you as my master."

Li Yuncong shook his head and said, "Zajia is not your master; I taught you the breathing exercises earlier only because of mutual benefit, it doesn't count as a favor, and certainly not as your master."

Hu Xiaotian said, "One should repay a drop of kindness with a spring; how much more so for the Eunuch's lifesaving kindness to me?"

Li Yuncong said, "You could also be considered turning misfortune into blessing; from now on you can live openly as a person."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Thanks to Eunuch Li's patronage; otherwise I wouldn't have today's glory."

Li Yuncong sighed and said, "I didn't help you; the one who truly helped you is the Yongyang Prince!" His words carried a hint of desolation.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I left in the first month, and now I'm back in May; certainly many things must have happened in between."

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia knows what you want to ask; indeed, Zajia's right eye was injured by Ji Feihua's hand, and moreover Zajia's internal injuries have not healed to this day. That day on Mount Piaomiao, Zajia, Mu Rongzhan, and Hong Beimo joined forces and only then defeated Ji Feihua, but we three also paid a heavy price."

Hu Xiaotian recalled seeing Mu Rongzhan just now, feeling he also seemed listless, apparently due to his internal injuries not yet healed.

Hu Xiaotian whispered, "Is Ji Feihua dead?"

Li Yuncong said, "Ji Feihua treated you well; deep down, don't you not want him to die?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Eunuch Li, you're joking; I initially approached Ji Feihua because I was ordered by the Yongyang Princess." Now he finally had a respectable justification.

Li Yuncong's single eye glanced at the five-colored coiling dragon gold medal at Hu Xiaotian's waist. He reached out and said, "Let me have a look!"

Although Hu Xiaotian felt a bit reluctant, he wasn't so petty as to refuse, especially since Li Yuncong wouldn't seize his belongings; thus he removed the five-colored coiling dragon gold medal and handed it to Li Yuncong.

Li Yuncong lifted the medal and examined it carefully before his eyes, then whispered, "The Yongyang Prince certainly values you highly."

Hu Xiaotian said, "How did she go from being the Yongyang Princess to the Yongyang Prince?"

Li Yuncong returned the medal to him and said softly, "This is a long story. However, Zajia never expected that all these myriad events behind the scenes were her scheming; if I hadn't witnessed it myself, Zajia could never have imagined that a mere fourteen‑year‑old girl could accomplish such a great deed."

From Li Yuncong's words, Hu Xiaotian seemed to sense something; it was not merely astonishment and praise. Not to mention that Li Yunchan hadn't expected it, even Hu Xiaotian felt he had underestimated Qiqi; he still believed deep down that although Qiqi was smart, she lacked the ability to overthrow Ji Feihua and was just lucky. Hu Xiaotian whispered, "I heard that the success of this restoration was due to Master Hong's return."

Li Yuncong said, "Ji Feihua was too careless. He didn't expect Mu Rongzhan to turn against him, nor did he anticipate that Hong Beimo had already infiltrated the palace, nor that Zajia would disguise himself as Wang Qian and lurk in the Lingxiao Palace."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if the three of you joined forces could defeat him, he still commands a hundred thousand Feather Forest Army—how could he suddenly lose?" This was precisely the question that baffled Hu Xiaotian. Ji Feihua was no ordinary figure; his grip on Dakang's power was no accident. The Heavenly Secret Bureau had already been reshuffled by him, yet the true reason he could dominate Huangcheng and control everything lay in his command of the hundred thousand Feather Forest Army.

Li Yuncong said, "Ji Feihua is merely a eunuch. What does he rely on to control the Feather Forest Army? Nothing but threats and inducements—something anyone could do. Hong Beimo, after Ji Feihua rose to power, actually had the strength to match him; if he had then rallied the capital's forces for a counterattack, he might not have lost. He merely feared that the snipe and clam would grapple while the fisherman profits, suffering too great a loss, so he temporarily withdrew from the capital. This does not mean the Heavenly Secret Bureau's power vanished from the capital; the bureau Ji Feihua controls is in fact just an empty shell, while its true elite have been dispersed and hidden elsewhere, and its strength has not suffered major loss."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; this faceless Hong Beimo indeed understood the art of advance and retreat.

Li Yuncong said, "During the year Ji Feihua held power, Hong Beimo appeared to make no major moves on the surface, but secretly he was undermining his faction, the primary target being the Feather Forest Army. Do you still remember the Ten Thousand Insects Bone‑Eating Pill?"

Hu Xiaotian already understood how Hong Beimo controlled the various commanders of the Feather Forest Army; now it seemed his methods were not greatly different from Ji Feihua's—equally ruthless and cruel. Hu Xiaotian asked, "Have you and Hong Beimo been in contact all along?"

Li Yuncong said, "He still has arrangements in the palace; Zajia has been in contact with him alone from start to finish, and Lin Wan and the others know nothing of Zajia's affairs. The only one Zajia has ever trusted is you."

Hu Xiaotian looked flattered, yet he didn't believe a word of Li Yuncong's; this Senior Eunuch is deeply scheming, even more so than Quan De'an, and his saying this surely serves another purpose.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Thank you, Eunuch Li, for your recognition and kindness."

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia harbors no ambition for power or profit; I only wish to rescue His Majesty as soon as possible, eliminate the treacherous, so that Dakang may see the light of day again and the myriad people may be freed from suffering."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Eunuch, you have now finally fulfilled your wish."

Li Yuncong fell silent, then after a moment shook his head and said, "Do you really see it that way?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "His Majesty has already retaken the throne, Ji Feihua's remnants have been wiped out, the capital has seen no major turmoil, and now things look very stable; perhaps Dakang can henceforth revive, though that remains uncertain."

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia originally hoped for that as well, but after the uprising succeeded we suddenly realized that, no matter who takes charge, Dakang's fate seems already irreversible."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Li Yuncong with some surprise, unaware why he would feel such sentiment.

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia never imagined that Quan De'an and the little princess were actually supporters of His Majesty."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, "Not to mention you didn't expect it; I doubt many in the world could have." He lowered his voice and asked, "Why does His Majesty regard the little princess so highly?"

Li Yuncong did not directly answer his question: "Do you know that Empress Jian and the Crown Prince were both ordered executed by the Yongyang Prince himself?"

Hu Xiaotian certainly didn't know; although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, hearing this news still sent a chill through him. This little girl Qiqi is truly a monster—so young yet her heart is so vicious. Empress Jian deserved death, that's fine, but Long Ting Sheng is her paternal half‑brother, and she could ruthlessly kill him too—truly she is of the imperial lineage.

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia never imagined that His Majesty would hand over supreme authority to the Yongyang Princess."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Those princes are dead one way or another; the most suitable heir to the throne, the Prince of Zhou, is being held hostage by the Li clan of Xichuan, so His Majesty may indeed have no better choice."

Li Yuncong said, "Today he can be made a prince; tomorrow he may well proclaim himself emperor!"

Hu Xiaotian felt a chill in his heart; indeed, after seeing Qiqi this time he had this premonition. Although Qiqi keeps saying she has no ambition, Hu Xiaotian does not believe her—this little girl is absolutely full of ambition; perhaps when the moment ripens she could truly walk the path to emperor, especially since the old emperor is already in his twilight years and seems to rely heavily on her.

Li Yuncong said, "The Yongyang Princess's affair surprised many; although Zajia said nothing, Hong Beimo's side does not approve of the Emperor's decision. Having achieved such great merit this time, the Emperor ought to have heeded his counsel, yet in employing the Yongyang Princess he has shown remarkable firmness."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although the Yongyang Princess is somewhat young, she is wise and rational; her intellect far surpasses that of her several brothers. Indeed, as long as she can lead Dakang onto the road of revival, why should we care whether she is male or female, older or younger?"

Li Yuncong said, "She certainly hasn't misjudged you; behind her back you are still steadfastly defending her."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I'm just speaking the truth."

Li Yuncong said, "Zajia has no interest in court affairs; whoever the Emperor wishes to employ, I won't interfere. I merely feel that today's decision by the Emperor will surely harbor future hidden worries."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Who knows what tomorrow will bring? As us officials, we need only do our own duties; other matters need not concern us, and even if we worry, it avails nothing."

Li Yuncong chuckled, shaking his head, "Hearing your words, Zajia suddenly realizes I've been meddling; true enough, since worrying avails nothing, why bother—but…" He leaned closer to Hu Xiaotian, lowered his voice, and said, "Ji Feihua may very well not be dead!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; he actually felt an immense sense of relief—in fact, ever since hearing the news of Ji Feihua's death he had never believed it was true. Hu Xiaotian suppressed his inner agitation and calmly said, "Wasn't his corpse already hung high outside the Meridian Gate, displayed as a warning?"

Li Yuncong said, "He suffered grave injuries that day, leapt from the waterfall of Mount Piaomiao, and nearly a month has passed; we have searched the Jade Pond almost exhaustively, yet we have found neither a living person nor a corpse."

In the early morning we send the First Update, again asking for the Monthly Ticket! (To be continued…~^~)