Chapter 948

The Yongyang Prince's mansion was actually the former residence of the Third Prince Long Tingzhen; the old emperor bestowed it upon Qiqi, who had people simply clean and repaint it, without making any major changes.

After the rain ceased, Qiqi sat alone in the garden pavilion, quietly gazing at the nautical chart Hu Xiaotian had given her.

Quan De'an's voice rang out in the garden: "Your Highness, Commander Hu has arrived."

Qiqi turned around, saw Hu Xiaotian walking over at a leisurely pace; from the expression on that guy's face, he seemed fairly composed; Qiqi had originally thought her actions might perhaps anger him. She put away the nautical chart and softly said: "Where have you been all day and night? I sent people to look for you several times, and they all said you left and haven't returned."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Highness, do you have something for me?"

Qiqi said: "Nothing much, just bored and wanted someone to talk to."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You couldn't find me, so you arrested my parents to lure me into a trap?" His words still carried some anger.

Qiqi smiled faintly: "According to the emperor's intention, it's probably not that simple to just arrest them; you should be thanking me, for I am the one who kept them safe."

Hu Xiaotian sat opposite her, gave a wry, cold smile: "Looks like I still have to say thanks to you."

Qiqi said: "You always doubt my motives; if I wanted to harm them, why would I need to act personally?"

Hu Xiaotian's gaze fell on the nautical chart on the stone table: "Your Highness, how have you considered it?"

Qiqi said: "After thinking it over, the variables in this matter are simply too great."

"What variables is the Princess referring to?"

Qiqi stood up and walked a few steps; her gaze was attracted by the water droplets occasionally dripping from the eaves at the corner of the pavilion. After looking for a while, she then said: "Are you secretly planning to go to Lu Song and never return?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Your Highness seems to lack confidence in me; if so, I'll stay in Kangdu and not go anywhere."

Qiqi said: "The Xu family of Jinling has made a clever move; by doing this they show the world they will not interfere in Dakang's affairs. Behind the scenes they also sold us a favor, providing this trade route, which is not without conditions—they specifically require members of the Hu family to go."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Highness is too suspicious; I, your humble servant, am loyal to you, and your words make me feel chilled."

Qiqi said: "It's not that I'm suspicious; it's that you're too crafty. After thinking it over, I've decided to let Sir Hu make this trip."

Hu Xiaotian feigned shock; in fact, Qiqi's final choice was entirely within his expectations. The little girl, after all, is young; no matter how scheming she is, she will ultimately fall into his trap. Hu Xiaotian said: "You mean you want my father to go?"

Qiqi nodded.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head like a rattle-drum: "No! Absolutely not; my father is already so old, how could he endure the hardships of travel? Moreover, the sea route to Lu Song is far away; if anything happens along the way, my father, who knows no martial arts, how could he cope?"

Qiqi said: "It's not like sending him to the battlefield to charge; I value this voyage even more than you do. I will certainly arrange the most capable aide for Sir Hu to stay by his side, ensuring his safety, so you needn't worry. Moreover, Sir Hu once served as Dakang's Minister of Revenue; trade is his forte. If I sent you instead, I really wouldn't be at ease."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What difference does it make whether my father goes or I go? You're keeping my father here anyway; how could I dare not return?"

Qiqi said: "I never thought of using either of you as hostages; I kept you here because there are still matters to arrange."

Hu Xiaotian said: "And my mother? Does she also have to go with my father?"

Qiqi smiled with a deep meaning: "Even if I agreed to let your mother accompany your father, the emperor would not agree, Hu Xiaotian. One must never push one's luck; if it weren't for my painstaking efforts to protect you before the emperor, your Hu family would likely face another catastrophe. Sir Hu going is best; as for Lady Hu, rest assured, I will keep her in the mansion and take good care of her."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, "Oh no, this little girl clearly intends to use my mother as a hostage." Thinking about it, it's not surprising; Qiqi is no fool—if she let both my parents go, what would I have left to fear?

Qiqi said: "You needn't worry about their safety; as long as you diligently serve me and truly achieve the loyalty you boast of, I will naturally not mistreat you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Where have you placed my parents?"

Qiqi said: "You weren't worried this would involve the Jinling Xu family, were you? So I did a good thing and sent them first to the heavenly prison."

"You too..." If Qiqi weren't a princess, Hu Xiaotian would have already punched her; rebelling against you, yet you treat my parents like this.

Qiqi's willow brows rose, her phoenix eyes widened, she glared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "What dare you do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I wouldn't dare do anything, but if you let my parents suffer injustice, I would do anything."

"Are you threatening this palace?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's truly not a threat; everything I say is the truth."

Qiqi surprisingly did not lose her temper, nodded and said: "Rest assured, I will absolutely not let anyone harm them."

Hu Xiaotian knew Qiqi still needed his parents' service, so she likely wouldn't harm them, yet he still couldn't help worrying: "May I see them?"

Qiqi said: "For now, no, but rest assured, I will arrange a meeting soon."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I'll trust you this once."

Qiqi said: "Are you hungry?"

Hu Xiaotian was startled by her sudden question, wondering if she was changing the subject.

Qiqi said: "I'll treat you to a meal."

Hu Xiaotian looked around and said: "How come? Did you even bring the imperial kitchen's chefs? Are you really preparing to move in here?"

Qiqi laughed: "For now I won't be living here, but I do have that idea; this place is much more spacious than the palace."

Hu Xiaotian thought: Although the prince's mansion is not small, it still cannot compare to the palace; Qiqi's notion of spaciousness likely means this place lacks the palace's heavy atmosphere—the palace's architecture, though grand and imposing, always gives an indescribable sense of oppression.

Qiqi said: "Let's go out to eat; there's a little Jiangnan restaurant on the east street of the mansion, the food is quite good."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; anyway it's mealtime, keeping her company for a meal is fine, after all this girl is mercurial—if I refuse, she might get angry again.

Qiqi and Hu Xiaotian left the mansion; Quan De'an and two guards followed at a distance, because Qiqi had previously ordered them not to follow too closely. Fortunately the Jiangnan restaurant is not far from the mansion, and the security in this area has always been good.

Because it had just rained in the morning, business at the Jiangnan restaurant was slow today; only one carriage was parked outside.

Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi had walked over together, only about three hundred steps; although the restaurant owner didn't know them, from their attire he could tell they were either rich or noble, and he warmly ushered them to a private room on the second floor.

Hu Xiaotian casually ordered a few dishes; seeing his face still clouded, Qiqi couldn't help but feel a bit angry: "Hey! Who are you putting on that droopy face for?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm in a bad mood because of the rain." My parents were arrested by her; anyone would feel bad.

Qiqi said: "It's not because of the rain, is it? Did I affect your appetite?"

Hu Xiaotian, prompted by her words, glanced at her; to say Qiqi has changed quite a bit lately—she used to have some baby fat, but now her face is oval-shaped, she's grown taller, her chest seems to have developed a bit; at least outwardly she's no longer a little girl. One shouldn't judge by appearance; who would have thought this greenhorn little miss harbors such deep scheming? Perhaps her body houses a thousand-year-old demon.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You can barely be called a pretty girl; when you grow up you might even become a beauty."

Qiqi, hearing him say that, actually giggled, and a hint of a seductive expression never before seen appeared between her brows and eyes.

Hu Xiaotian stared, then shook his head: "Composure, I just complimented you a bit—why are you getting all worked up?"

Qiqi said: "I don't think I've ever heard you praise me before."

"Insincere; I'm someone who rarely speaks the truth, and you know that."

Qiqi said: "No wonder emperors like flattering ministers; even though we know praise is false, it still sounds pleasant to the ear."

You can pierce a thousand holes, but flattery never gets pierced; it's always been like that since ancient times.

Qiqi said, "You're the first one who dares to speak like that in front of me."

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed, "That's because you've been kept deep in the palace all along, unknown to people, and you've hardly seen any outsiders."

Qiqi's willow eyebrows rose, her beautiful eyes widened: "Hu Xiaotian, don't think I can't tell—you're mocking me for being inexperienced."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you lacked insight, there would be no clever women in the world; you strategize, mature beyond your years, have far-sighted vision, versed in ancient and modern, deep-minded, decisive in killing."

Qiqi said, "My biggest flaw is being fickle—saying I'll turn face and I do; aren't you afraid of offending me, that I'll have someone chop off your head?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "You just said hardly anyone dares speak the truth to your face, and you've hardly met anyone genuinely willing to help you; if you kill me, aren't you afraid of becoming a lonely loner?"

Qiqi said, "Saying that, killing you would actually be letting you off easy; I'll let you live, cripple your martial arts, have you re-enter the palace as a genuine eunuch, then make you watch your relatives and friends around you suffer one misfortune after another—let's see if you can still laugh then."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath: "You're so vicious! At such a young age, how can your heart be so wicked?"

Qiqi smiled narrowly: "I thought you feared neither heaven nor earth, but it turns out you do have moments of fear." (To be continued~^~)