Chapter 949

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not because I'm afraid, but because I have love in my heart; I know there is genuine feeling in the human world, not a cold-blooded creature that doesn't recognize its own kin."

Qiqi angrily said: "Impudence! You dare to scold me!"

Hu Xiaotian blinked his eyes and said: "I wasn't talking about you; others don't know, and I didn't know either. When you were in trouble at Lanruo Temple, you still had some feelings for Quan De'an; otherwise why would you bother about his life or death? You've treated me fairly well."

Qiqi, hearing this, her expression eased a little, and she said softly: "At least you have some conscience."

Hu Xiaotian's following words made her half angry again: "Although I also understand that you are using me for your own purpose, thinking I still have some value; otherwise you wouldn't help me."

Qiqi said: "What value do you have? Besides your glib talk, I really haven't found any talent in you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just because you have talent doesn't mean you have to broadcast it to the whole world; that's showing off. Someone like me with substance and depth wouldn't stoop to that."

"You..." Qiqi gave a hehe cold laugh.

At that moment, orderly footsteps came from downstairs; the two stopped talking and looked outside, only to see a squad of several hundred people passing by the road in front of the gate. Since last night's uprising at the imperial mausoleum, the atmosphere in Kangdu city had suddenly become tense. To prevent possible uprisings, the whole city of Kangdu had begun martial law, and patrols of the Feather Forest Army could be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It seems the atmosphere today is a bit off!"

The waiter just happened to come in with the dishes; Qiqi actually took the initiative to pick up the wine pot and fill Hu Xiaotian's cup, and poured herself a cup as well; Hu Xiaotian took the cup in front of her.

Qiqi said: "What are you doing?"

"Minors cannot drink alcohol." Hu Xiaotian drank the two cups one after another, smacked his lips: "The wine is not bad!" Then he said to the astonished Qiqi: "You drink tea!"

Qiqi shook her head helplessly.

Hu Xiaotian said: "What exactly happened?"

Qiqi said: "Are you truly ignorant or pretending? Last night the imperial mausoleum saw an uprising; fifty thousand laborers rebelled and annihilated the Tomb Guard unit. They are now marching north."

Hu Xiaotian feigned surprise: "Such a big thing happened, and you didn't tell me earlier."

Qiqi said: "It's already stormy throughout the city; how could you not know?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've been staying in the mansion these two days, not going out the main gate nor the side gate; how would I know about such a big thing outside?"

Qiqi simply didn't believe his nonsense.

Hu Xiaotian said: "How does the Emperor plan to deal with this matter?"

Qiqi said: "He has already issued an order to kill on sight."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If all fifty thousand laborers are killed, who knows how many families will suffer misfortune; how many more enemies will Dakang thereby gain?"

Qiqi sighed and said: "I also don't approve of his doing this; I have already sent someone to the front to supervise the army, and this matter must be handled carefully."

Hu Xiaotian secretly admired, Qiqi although young, her mind is very mature, she knows how to deal with the current complex situation; he whispered: "The Emperor is obsessed with the way of longevity. Dakang's situation is so dire, yet he still pours so much money and manpower into building the imperial mausoleum; that seems unwise."

Qiqi said: "He is stubborn and extreme; I advised him, but he refuses to listen."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please forgive your humble servant for speaking frankly. In major affairs, the princess must not yield; otherwise, before foreign enemies arrive, Dakang may already have fallen into internal chaos."

Qiqi said: "I also worry about this matter; over these years the Dakang court has seen frequent changes. Officials' hearts are unsteady, the treasury is empty. Natural disasters continue, the people's complaints are endless; the uprising at the imperial mausoleum is just one of many uprisings within Dakang's borders. Dakang's soldiers have been exhausted these two years dealing with internal strife. Often, just as one uprising is quelled, another erupts; if this continues, the state will cease to be a state." She gazed at Hu Xiaotian with her clear eyes, full of sincerity: "My having today's power is inseparable from the Emperor's support behind the scenes; even if he is at fault, I cannot use extreme measures to argue with reason; these officials mostly have their minds not on state affairs; although they don't say it, I can see from their eyes that they have all already lost faith in Dakang, and I have few people around me I can trust." Saying this, a glimmer of crystal tears welled up in Qiqi's beautiful eyes. Others see her glamour before the public, but who knows the immense pressure and pain she has borne these days? She is not yet fourteen; other girls her age are carefree, while she must exhaust her mind and energy to save this dying empire.

Qiqi suddenly understood why she should treat Hu Xiaotian kindly: it wasn't because of his ability, nor his family background, but because when she felt depressed and lost, she could find someone to listen to her speak. For others, her purpose was merely to use them; for Hu Xiaotian, using him was merely an excuse.

Hu Xiaotian caught that glint of tears in Qiqi's eyes, and his heart was somewhat moved; Qiqi's scheming and depth often made him accustomed to overlooking her age, but now he suddenly realized she was still just a child; though her mind was mature enough, it didn't mean her tender heart could withstand all pressure and blows. Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, you don't need to be so exhausted."

Qiqi said: "I also wish I could ignore everything and live as I please, but I am a descendant of the Long clan; I cannot just watch the foundation left by my ancestors be destroyed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No one can live forever, and no dynasty can last ten thousand generations."

Qiqi nodded and said: "I certainly understand that principle, but if Dakang were to fall, how would its subjects live? Conquered, enslaved—what dignity could there be? If people lose their dignity, even if they merely scrape by, what meaning is there?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: Actually, the world turns regardless of who leaves it; in the Long family's mind, only they themselves can give the Dakang people the so-called dignity. Dignity? Hu Xiaotian basically didn't see any dignity among Dakang's subjects; it's the system's doing—not just Dakang, but including Da Yong and the surrounding states, apart from the monarch, who could have true dignity? But these words cannot be brought up to the little girl.

Qiqi said: "I'm not hiding it from you; because the Xu clan of Jinling refused the Emperor's demand, the Emperor, in his fury, wanted to charge your whole family with crimes. I had people take your parents away: first to protect them, second to silence the gossip of the world, to prevent anyone from discovering that the Xu family of Jinling was feigning repair of the plank road while secretly crossing through Chen Cang."

Hu Xiaotian said: "My father devoted himself to Dakang with heart and soul, did his duty to the utmost, yet ended up in this situation—how could one not feel chilled?"

Qiqi said: "Sir Hu understands the greater good; I have already frankly explained my intentions, and he also expressed understanding of my approach."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If my father implements this Dakang maritime trade route, could you not release my parents?" Hu Xiaotian did not mention any reward request, but instead asked for genuine freedom for his parents on their behalf.

Qiqi hesitated a moment, then bit her cherry lips and said: "You don't want to help me anymore?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I just want my parents to enjoy their twilight years early; I have always believed that to make someone wholeheartedly assist you is not to grasp their weaknesses, to threaten and lure them, but to win them over with virtue and meet them with sincerity."

Qiqi remained silent for a moment, lost in thought.

Hu Xiaotian thought his words had reached her heart, but he didn't expect Qiqi to counter: "What if the person lacks virtue?"

Hu Xiaotian pointed at his own nose: "You mean me?"

Qiqi nodded and said: "I don't trust your character!"

As the two left Little Jiangnan, they saw a beggar standing at the gate begging for food; that beggar was over ten feet tall, sturdy in build, looking somewhat familiar; Hu Xiaotian thought, and realized it was the one who had stolen their mounts on the first day of the lunar new year and had besieged their Zhu Dalì.

Qiqi also recognized this brute; last time, if it weren't for Hu Xiaotian's intercession, she would not have let these beggars go; seeing Zhu Dalì, her phoenix eyes flared, and she coldly said: "A proper seven-foot man, lazy in his four limbs, ignorant of the five grains, unaware of how to serve his country, yet idling about, loving food and hating work, preferring to live by begging—does he not feel ashamed?"

Zhu Dalì likely also recognized them, glancing furtively at Qiqi; but hearing her say that, even a fool could tell she was referring to himself; Zhu Dalì slammed his dog-beating stick on the ground, glared with his big eyes like a fiend, and let out an angry snort.

Qiqi certainly wouldn't fear him; with Hu Xiaotian as her shield beside her, and Quan De'an's gang following from afar, she didn't mind making a big deal: "What are you glaring at? I'm talking about you!"

Zhu Dalì, furious, yelled "Wa ya ya!", gritted his teeth: "A real man doesn't fight a woman; I've endured it!" Yet his gaze fixed viciously on Hu Xiaotian: "Kid, you dare to mock me too? You're asking for a beating, aren't you?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't say a word the whole time, inwardly sighing: "What's it got to do with me? You're acting like you're picking persimmons, always going for the soft ones to squeeze? The thing is, I'm not soft either; on the contrary, I'm tough as nails, stiff and firm."

Zhu Dalì pointed at Hu Xiaotian's nose and said: "Kid, I'm talking about you!"

Qiqi was truly amused by this fool; she herself was the instigator of the incident, yet he didn't seek her out but went after Hu Xiaotian; it seemed he wanted to give Hu Xiaotian a good beating to vent his anger; Qiqi, unafraid of making a big deal, laughed: "Hu Xiaotian, everyone's bullying you to the point of being on your head—do you really want to be a turtle that pulls its head in?"

Zhu Dalì, hearing her say that, actually laughed; he pointed at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Look at you, looking all human and dog-like, who would have thought you're actually a turtle that pulls its head in? Hehe, that nickname really suits you."

Enough is enough; Hu Xiaotian of course understood that Qiqi was deliberately stirring trouble, but this brute Zhu Dalì was really bullying people too much, as if I were easy to pick on. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Brother, please watch your mouth when you speak, or you'll easily suffer a loss."

Zhu Dalì seemed to have Hu Xiaotian figured out: "Suffer a big loss? I, Zhu Dalì, have never in my life known how to write the two words 'suffer a loss'; what's up? If you've got the guts, let's have an open and aboveboard fight."

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