Qin Boyan led his men away with Ma Zhongtian in custody to interrogate him. Yan Kui asked Yan Nujiao and Long Xiyue to leave; he wanted a few words alone with Hu Xiaotian.
Even an ugly bride had to meet her in-laws eventually. Hu Xiaotian knew he could not evade this forever. In fact, when Qin Boyan had stopped them outside Orchid Creek Stockade, he had already suspected they might have been exposed. Looking back now, Yan Kui's earlier performance had clearly been intended to mislead everyone. Rough as the man looked, his schemes ran deep. He had dominated the borderlands of Western Sichuan for years, repeatedly repelled Li Tianheng's campaigns, and still roamed the mountains unchecked while his power continued to grow. That was certainly no stroke of luck. His brother Yan Tianlu had the same temperament.
Yan Kui pointed outside the hall. "Come take a walk with me."
Hu Xiaotian nodded and followed Yan Kui out of the Hall of Benevolence and Righteousness. They climbed the stone steps on the right, following a creek uphill until they reached a bamboo pavilion. Yan Kui stopped there. From this vantage point, they could look down over the whole of Orchid Creek Stockade. Lights shone in most of the buildings, and an occasional bark drifted up.
Yan Kui asked, "Was everything Nujiao said true?"
Hu Xiaotian played dumb. "What matter are you referring to, Stockade Chief?" He knew perfectly well.
Yan Kui glanced at him, imposing even without anger. "They say you, Hu Xiaotian, have enough nerve to swallow the heavens. Yet you're the sort who dares do it but won't admit it!"
Hu Xiaotian broke into an embarrassed sweat. Yan Kui really would say anything. Wasn't he plainly saying that Hu Xiaotian had screwed his daughter?
Yan Kui said, "No