Chapter 951

Mu Rongzhan said: "Even a vicious tiger does not eat its cub; how could I harm you?"

Murong Feiyan said: "We have long severed all ties of gratitude and righteousness; you abandoned us mother and daughter back then, causing my mother to die with hatred; now you pretend to be a good person—if you came by order, then let us fight; if you win, take my corpse back; if you lose, I will cut off your head to offer to my mother's spirit in heaven."

A flash of painful light crossed Mu Rongzhan's gray-white pupils; he slowly nodded and said: "I know you hate me in your heart, I do not seek your forgiveness; I came here just to see, for as long as you live you will not abandon your mother's spirit tablet."

Murong Feiyan snapped: "Shut up, you are not allowed to mention my mother again."

Mu Rongzhan sighed: "The imperial tombs are in revolt, the Son of Heaven is furious; although you managed to escape by luck, you must absolutely not let others know you are still alive in this world, otherwise the court will never spare you." He still cared for this only daughter in his heart.

Murong Feiyan said: "My affairs need not concern you."

Mu Rongzhan said: "I know you hate me in your heart; it was indeed my idea to let you guard the imperial tombs; I did not intend to separate you and Hu Xiaotian; everyone knows that Hu Xiaotian is a favored minister of the Yongyang Princess, he and the Yongyang Princess have long been ambiguous, this person is deep‑schemed and silver‑tongued; the Yongyang Princess is merely an ignorant girl just awakening to love, already bewitched by him; Hu Xiaotian's intention is obvious—he wants to become a prince consort by latching onto the Yongyang Princess as a high branch; if you continue to entangle with him, the one who will surely end up heartbroken is you."

Hu Xiaotian heard Mu Rongzhan's words clearly behind the house, inwardly gave a wry smile: "Mu Rongzhan, Mu Rongzhan, I and Qiqi are pure as can be, you too are a notable figure, yet you slander me behind my back—defaming my relationship with Qiqi, you're simply not human."

Murong Feiyan actually listened patiently to Mu Rongzhan's words, then calmly said: "I know Hu Xiaotian's character better than you do."

"How would you know? When he served as a eunuch in the palace, how did he gain Ji Feihua's trust? It was nothing but selling his looks!"

Hu Xiaotian is truly thunderous—I just said it, Mu Rongzhan, Mu Rongzhan, I don't think I've offended you before. You claim I sold my looks to Ji Feihua—doesn't that mean I have a leg with her? Ji Feihua is a eunuch, and you just said I coaxed Qiqi in every way; in your eyes, I'm someone who eats both men and women, holding nothing back.

Murong Feiyan snapped: "Enough! Do not slander him in front of me; no matter what, he is far stronger than you. He would never abandon his own kin at a life‑and‑death juncture."

Mu Rongzhan felt as if a needle had fiercely pricked his heart; he pressed his lips together, having nothing to say.

Murong Feiyan pointed outside and said: "Get out, I never want to see you again!"

Mu Rongzhan slowly nodded and said: "Take care, remember my words and leave Kangdu, this place of right and wrong, as soon as possible." After speaking, he tapped the tip of his foot; his body flew toward the courtyard wall, stood on the wall, glanced at his daughter once more, then soared away into the distance.

Until Mu Rongzhan walked away, Murong Feiyan finally covered her mouth; two lines of tears slowly slid down, her fragrant shoulders trembled slightly. Feeling a light pat on her shoulder, she startled, turned around, and saw Hu Xiaotian standing behind her with a smiling, narrowed gaze; a myriad of feelings surged. She flung herself into Hu Xiaotian's embrace and sobbed silently.

Hu Xiaotian comforted her: "Don't cry, don't be afraid; with me by your side, anything can be resolved—even if the sky falls, I'll bear it!"

Murong Feiyan stopped her tears, suddenly thought of something, reached out and twisted Hu Xiaotian's ear, spitting: "You little brat, you've been eavesdropping on our conversation just now, haven't you?"

Hu Xiaotian wailed: "Let go, let go, your grip is too strong—I just came over, I heard nothing, not a single word."

Murong Feiyan gave a cold snort and said: "Are you and that Yongyang Princess having a leg together?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile: "More than one leg—I have three, five legs, but they're all just me running errands for her; she's merely an underage girl, is that worth your jealousy?"

Murong Feiyan released his ear; by now his ear had been twisted red, and her grip was plenty harsh.

Hu Xiaotian rubbed his ear while saying: "This place is not suitable for lingering; let's leave first and talk later."

Murong Feiyan tidied her mother's spirit tablet, then left the old residence together with Hu Xiaotian; on the way to the Minister of Revenue's mansion, they still from time to time saw Feather Forest Army troops passing, the whole Kangdu city appeared tense and heavy; Murong Feiyan said: "It seems I should leave this place as soon as possible, lest I cause you trouble."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "What trouble? Who dares to investigate me?"

Murong Feiyan asked: "How are your parents?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nothing will happen; it's just putting on a show for the Emperor."

Murong Feiyan said sourly: "That Yongyang Princess little miss treats you quite well."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What Yongyang Princess? That's just Qiqi; we saved her life back then, and that little miss only uses me—there is absolutely nothing special between us."

Murong Feiyan looked at Hu Xiaotian half‑believing, half‑doubting.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Really, she's just an undeveloped little girl; how could she compare to your alluring sensuality?"

Murong Feiyan's pretty face flushed from his praise, she snapped: "Don't spout nonsense; believing you would be strange."

As they spoke, they arrived at the Hu mansion gate; just then three carriages came from the opposite road, stopped before the Hu mansion gate, the middle carriage's door was pushed open, and a middle‑aged man stepped out, laughing loudly: "Sir Hu, long time no see!"

Hu Xiaotian looked up and realized that the man was the merchant Zan Buliu he had met in Yongdu; this man was the big boss of Prosperous Trade House, also one of the few wealthy tycoons in the world; when they were in Yongdu before, they had met twice at banquets, they got along fairly well, and back then Zan Buliu had said that when he had time he would come to Dakang to visit Hu Xiaotian—little did he expect he would arrive so soon.

Hu Xiaotian burst into laughter: "I thought today's sudden good fortune was a rain of blessings; it turns out an honored guest has arrived, Mr. Zan, long time no see!"

The two clasped fists in greeting, and Hu Xiaotian invited him inside.

Hu Xiaotian had Liang Da Zhuang take Murong Feiyan to rest first, while he himself accompanied Zan Buliu to the flower hall; Zan Buliu had his attendants present the gifts he brought—fine sable pelts and jade, filling three large chests; after all, he was the manager of the renowned Prosperous Trade House, and his generosity was considerable.

Host and guest seated, the servant served fragrant tea; Hu Xiaotian sipped and said: "Mr. Zan, when did you arrive in Kangdu?"

Zan Buliu said: "I've been here for two days already; I first checked on the preparations of the branch office; I originally intended to come yesterday to pay my respects, but hearing that Sir Hu was absent, I postponed until today."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Zan, is your visit for the purpose of opening a branch of Prosperous Trade House?" When we were in Yongdu, I had heard Zan Buliu mention this matter.

Zan Buliu smiled: "Indeed, it's for this matter; I had prepared for a long time, yet upon arriving in Kangdu I found the situation somewhat different from what I had expected." The current state of Dakang is worse than Zan Buliu had anticipated; merchants prioritize profit, but they must also consider every aspect of the business location's circumstances, otherwise they risk earning money with their lives but being unable to take it away. Visiting Hu Xiaotian here is certainly not merely for catching up on old times; more importantly, it's to obtain firsthand information from him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "In what way does it differ from what you imagined, Mr. Zan?"

Zan Buliu said: "I don't know why Kangdu has suddenly become filled with alarmist rumors and city‑wide martial law."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Surely you haven't heard?"

Zan Buliu laughed: "There are many rumors circulating in the streets and alleys, but these gossip are not reliable; the information obtained from Sir Hu is more truthful and precise."

Hu Xiaotian secretly mused: "Zan Buliu is after all a merchant of Da Yong; back in Da Yong I knew he had close ties with the imperial family. If his purpose this time in coming to Kangdu is merely to open a branch of Prosperous Trade House, that's no big deal; but if he uses trade as a pretense, his real aim being to spy on Dakang's military situation, then we must be on guard."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately glanced to both sides; the Hu family members all had discernment, seeing Hu Xiaotian's gesture they understood the master's intent and quietly withdrew one by one; Zan Buliu also coughed, and his retinue that had accompanied him likewise stepped back.

After everyone had left, Zan Buliu lowered his voice and said: "Please, Sir Hu, instruct me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Zan, what have you heard?"

Zan Buliu said: "It is said that the Dakang imperial tombs erupted in a popular revolt, with over fifty thousand laborers rebelling, setting fire to the tombs and marching northward."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Zan's information is fairly reliable; this indeed happened." The burning of the Dakang imperial tombs was no secret originally, and he had no need to conceal it.

Zan Buliu said: "Without concealing it from Sir Hu, before coming to Kangdu I had heard that Dakang's situation was turbulent; upon entering Dakang territory I found rebellions breaking out everywhere, famine widespread, and Dakang's outlook seems grim."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Indeed, now enemies surround us on all sides, each ready to carve up and devour Dakang."

Zan Buliu said: "Dakang's foundation of several hundred years shouldn't collapse just because it's said to; as the saying goes, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse—its foundations won't shake so quickly."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Mr. Zan has more confidence in Dakang than I do; since Mr. Zan treats me with sincerity, I will not hide it from him—Dakang truly faces internal and external troubles, advancing with difficulty; Mr. Zan, your idea of opening a Prosperous Trade House branch in Kangdu now seems ill‑timed."

Zan Buliu smiled: "For a merchant, the more turbulent the times, the greater the opportunities; the higher the risk, the greater the profit."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Zan, what business do you intend to conduct with Dakang?"

Zan Buliu said: "Doing business boils down to a matter of demand; only by knowing what Dakang needs can I supply what is required."

Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred—could Zan Buliu really be a profiteer seeking to make money from national disaster? Yet he is after all a Yong person; how could one definitively ascertain his true intentions? (To be continued~^~)