Unfortunately, man's calculations were no match for heaven's. Shrewd as Hu Buwei was, he could not control everything, and Hu Xiaotian was certainly not someone who would meekly let him pull his strings. From the moment Yang Longjing disappeared, Hu Xiaotian launched an all-out counterattack. Despite holding every advantage, Hu Buwei lost ground at every turn. He even tried turning Hu Xiaotian's own methods against him, taking his beloved Murong Feiyan hostage to threaten him. Yet Hu Xiaotian countered every move, exposing the secret buried deep in Hu Buwei's heart and forcing him to compromise.
That compromise secured Murong Feiyan's safe return.
Hu Xiaotian and Princess Yingyue went to the palace together, both to thank Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao for granting their marriage and to check on her and Yang Longjing's recovery.
Long Xuanjiao was already able to get out of bed that day. After examining her and confirming that everything was normal, Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Congratulations, Empress Dowager. We can remove the stitches tomorrow. Once your hair grows back, you'll look just as you did before."
Long Xuanjiao smiled. "Still calling me Empress Dowager? I've given you my precious daughter, and even that isn't enough to make you change how you address me?" After everything that had happened, her opinion of Hu Xiaotian had begun to change without her even realizing it. She had even grown quite fond of him.
Hu Xiaotian glanced at Long Xiyue, who nodded shyly, her lovely face flushed. Although the two women were actually aunt and niece, Long Xiyue's true identity could never be brought to light. Long Xuanjiao had publicly declared her to be her adopted daughter and given her the title of Princess Yingyue. This was a good thing for Long Xiyue, for it made it possible for her to marry Hu