Yang Longyue said, "Before coming to Eastern Liang Commandery, I visited the Kang Capital and was granted an audience with Princess Yongyang. She mentioned something then: two years ago, a Great Kang fleet carrying ten thousand men passed through the waters of the Fragrant Kingdom, but vanished without a trace afterward. As far as I know, the man leading that fleet was your father."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "How did Your Highness Prince Fu answer the princess?"
Yang Longyue said, "I knew nothing whatsoever."
Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "Then it seems there's no need for me to ask any more questions."
Yang Longyue said, "If you don't ask, Lord Hu, how will you know what answer I might give?"
Hu Xiaotian heard the note beneath his words. Slowly setting down his teacup, he fixed Yang Longyue with a piercing gaze. "Does Your Highness know what became of that fleet?" He already understood that Yang Longyue must know the whereabouts of Hu Buwei and the others.
Yang Longyue nodded. "After taking on supplies at South Ferry Island, the fleet turned into the waters of the Fragrant Kingdom and landed at Sea Dragon Beach. I was the one responsible for receiving them."
Hu Xiaotian watched Yang Longyue quietly. By now, he understood perfectly: Yang Longyue was not merely passing through, nor was he going to Shaoyuan to visit his master. His true target was Hu Xiaotian himself. Hu Xiaotian smiled. "That is certainly an unexpected answer. If Great Kang learned of this, I'm afraid it would affect the longstanding good relations between the two kingdoms."
Yang Longyue said, "There are things everyone knows in their hearts, but without solid evidence, no one is willing to take the initiative and pierce that thin sheet of paper."
Hu Xiaotian said, "It seems Your Highness has already