Chapter 855

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not me saying it; it's the Da Yong court that publicly said that."

Huo Shengnan said: "You clearly know they're framing me with false charges, yet you say such things to anger me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "As the saying goes, wind doesn't come from an empty hole without cause."

"You..." Huo Shengnan's beautiful eyes widened, she was about to turn against Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian's tone suddenly shifted: "Of course I know you're not that kind of person; the one you actually like is someone else."

Huo Shengnan's face flushed even more, she spat: "If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll never talk to you again."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If the rumors are true, I might end up hating him out of jealousy and run to Yongdu to kill Xue Daoming!"

Huo Shengnan could not fail to hear his implied meaning; she turned her delicate body away, pretending not to understand his words, and gazed at the surrounding scenery.

At that moment, hearing heavy footsteps on the stairs, it was Liang Da Zhuang walking up, holding a freshly found property register, which he brought to Hu Xiaotian's face: "Young master, I just did a preliminary comparison; many items are missing. The Ministry of Punishments has sent people to bring over the previously seized items; we are now checking them one by one, but we can already determine that many things were embezzled by the officials who conducted the original seizure."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, put the register away, and said to Huo Shengnan: "Feihong, come with me for a trip."

Huo Shengnan now has a new identity, Huang Feihong; Hu Xiaotian is no longer Huo Yuanjia, and she remains Huang Feihong.

The current Minister of Revenue of Dakang, Xu Zhengying, has been having a rough time lately. Since the former emperor Laohuangdi reascended the throne, he has been terrified all day. Later he heard that all officials' positions would temporarily remain unchanged, so he relaxed a bit, but not long after came news that Hu Xiaotian had returned from his mission. Not only was he not punished for the death of Princess Anping, he was instead heavily promoted, appointed as Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, and even the manor that had been granted to the Hu family was restored to them.

Since receiving this news, Xu Zhengying has felt increasingly uneasy. Initially he wanted to capture Hu Xiaotian and present him to the court for merit and reward, and then he was responsible for confiscating the Hu family's property. At that time Xu Zhengying never expected the Hu family to have a day of comeback, nor did he think it would come so soon. Thinking of Hu Wuwei's past cleverness and tactics, Xu Zhengying felt a chill.

But the more he feared something, the more it came to pass. While Xu Zhengying was pondering in his Study, the steward hurried over to report, saying the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Hu Xiaotian, had arrived.

Xu Zhengying trembled with fright. Even the brush in his hand fell onto the paper, and he quivered: "How many people came?"

"Two!"

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian had brought only one attendant, Xu Zhengying finally relaxed, thinking to himself that although Hu Xiaotian was tough to deal with, he was after all a court official, bound to obey the court; under the emperor's feet, he likely wouldn't go too far. Moreover, they came with just two people, while his own household's family and guards numbered over a hundred, so even if Hu Xiaotian dared to cause trouble, he wouldn't get away with it.

Xu Zhengying had people escort Hu Xiaotian and his companion to the parlor. He himself didn't dare delay, tidied up quickly, and rushed over.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan were seated in the parlor. The servants of the Xu household had already served them tea, and Hu Xiaotian leisurely sipped his fragrant tea.

Xu Zhengying observed Hu Xiaotian for a moment through the bead curtain entering the parlor, and seeing that this young man lacked the murderous aura he had expected, he relaxed a little. He lifted the bead curtain and walked in, chuckling: "I just felt today was especially special; hearing the magpies chatter on the branches this morning, I expected a distinguished guest, but I never imagined it would be Commander Hu."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, lifted his head, and fixed his gaze on Xu Zhengying; his smile carried a chilling coldness, making Xu Zhengying feel somewhat ill at ease, and he stiffly approached Hu Xiaotian and clasped his hands in greeting.

Hu Xiaotian also did not rise to return the salute, and softly said: "Sit!"

Xu Zhengying indeed felt some resentment in his heart; this fellow was treating guest as host, when clearly this is my home, I should be the one to speak first. However, Xu Zhengying, being a seasoned old hand in officialdom, would not show his displeasure over such a trifle. After sitting down, he still smiled and said: "I heard the Emperor has restored the former manor of Commander Hu's family; I originally wanted to go congratulate him, and also take the opportunity to meet Commander Hu and catch up."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Sir Xu, your kindness toward our Hu family is something we will never forget!"

Xu Zhengying's heart sank; Hu Xiaotian had indeed not forgotten the grudge from being betrayed by him, and today he had come to settle the score, which made Xu Zhengying secretly wary.

Hu Xiaotian put down his Chazan, handed the two registers in his hand to Huo Shengnan, and Huo Shengnan passed them over.

Xu Zhengying took the registers, glanced at them briefly, and already understood Hu Xiaotian's purpose. He placed the registers on the table and sighed softly: "Commander Hu, are you wanting to ask me why the items listed in these two registers differ so much?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded: "Indeed, speaking with Sir Xu saves a lot of effort."

Xu Zhengying said: "To be frank, when the court issued the order to confiscate the Hu mansion, I indeed participated, but I was representing the Ministry of Revenue to inventory the Hu family's property; we recorded every item in detail, so there would be no embezzlement. However, the one who led the confiscation of the Hu household was the Third Prince, His Highness, and the list had to be submitted to him for approval first." Xu Zhengying indeed had not taken any of the Hu family's property; although the Hu family had already fallen, he also did not dare to kick them while they were down. At that time, the one responsible for arresting these old officials was the Third Prince Long Tingzhen, who, during the seizure process, deceived superiors and concealed from subordinates, embezzling a great deal of wealth behind the scenes. Originally Xu Zhengying dared not speak of this, but now that the Third Prince Long Tingzhen is dead and the court has changed, he can see that Hu Wuwei and those former close attendants of the late emperor Laohuangdi are about to regain power.

Hu Xiaotian today came forward and produced the two registers; it goes without saying that he is simply trying to get back the Hu family's property that was embezzled during the confiscation. Xu Zhengying, whether he didn't embezzle their things or even if he did, would not dare admit it, so he has laid out everything in detail.

Hu Xiaotian, hearing him push all the blame onto Long Tingzhen, couldn't help but sneer: "No living witness, Sir Xu, you're indeed clever!"

Xu Zhengying trembled as he said: "Commander Hu, everything I've said is true; although I participated in the imperial order to confiscate, I was merely responsible for recording and registering, while all the specific matters were decided by the Third Prince."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Long Tingzhen is dead, and with no living witness, a dead person naturally bears no responsibility; even if this matter went wrong, only the living could be held accountable." He had made this perfectly clear: I won't go after the dead for payment; I'll go after you.

Xu Zhengying said: "Commander Hu, I admit that back then I had shortcomings toward you, but at the time I was also forced by circumstances." He bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian; given his status, this apology was already the utmost sincerity.

Hu Xiaotian ignored him, and softly said: "I'm the type who doesn't hold grudges; holding you accountable is the Emperor's affair, but our Hu family's possessions passed through your hands and came up short by this much—I can't just turn a blind eye."

Xu Zhengying, sweat beading on his forehead, said: "Commander Hu, what do you want to do?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a sinister smile: "Sir Xu is a sensible person; if you insist I spell it out, killing calls for death, debts must be repaid—these are natural and just principles. I also consider that you were once an old subordinate of my father, and we once had some past affection; if this blows up and the Emperor finds out, nobody will look good."

Xu Zhengying gritted his teeth and said: "Commander Hu, why not suggest a solution?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a cold snort; even now this wretch still hasn't shown a shred of sincerity, seeming like a stingy tightwad. He glanced around the parlor and remarked: "It looks like Sir Xu is doing quite well for himself."

Xu Zhengying had long understood his meaning, silently cursing this scoundrel; your family's property wasn't embezzled by me originally, yet now you come to me for compensation. But the situation forces his hand—if he doesn't shed some blood, he fears he won't be able to get rid of this plague god. Hu Xiaotian now enjoys the deep favor of the Yongyang Princess; if he urges her to speak ill of him before the old emperor Laohuangdi, not only his office but even his life may be at risk. Moreover, as the Minister of Revenue, he likely won't last long.

Thinking this through, Xu Zhengying hardened his heart and said: "Although this matter was the Third Prince's doing, I also ought to bear some responsibility; I've lived a clean life all my life, and over the years I've saved up some salary. Commander Hu, take five…" He had intended to say five thousand taels of silver.

Hu Xiaotian cut him off: "Fifty thousand taels of gold? Do you think you're sending off a beggar? My father may have scraped together little over a lifetime, but my mother's natal family is the Jinling Xu clan; they give me New Year's money that exceeds this amount every year. One hundred thousand taels of gold—let's go with that."

Hearing Hu Xiaotian lion's mouth open wide, Xu Zhengying was stunned by the number, and gave a bitter smile: "Commander Hu, even if I sold my entire family I couldn't come up with that much." Although Xu Zhengying's estate is fairly rich, he could barely scrape together a hundred thousand taels of gold, but nobody wants to just give away the wealth they've painstakingly accumulated.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Sir Xu, how many daughters do you have?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhengying felt a chill run down his spine; this guy not only wants money but also people? He's actually eyeing my daughters. Xu Zhengying said: "Three, and they're all married!"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Young ladies, are they beautiful or not?"

Xu Zhengying nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood; what does this guy mean?

Hu Xiaotian also asked: "Do you have any children?"

Xu Zhengying said: "Yes… I have five grandsons."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Five grandsons—truly enviable; if I had that many adorable children, I wouldn't trade them for any amount of money."

Huo Shengnan stood to the side, listening, secretly amused; Hu Xiaotian is really despicable—first he threatened with their daughters, now he's using their grandsons as leverage; although he didn't spell it out, the threatening intent is fully conveyed.

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