Hu Xiaotian did not consider this a worthwhile bargain. Even setting aside his personal ties, Jian Rongxin's standing in Great Yong was far beyond that of Liu Changsheng and his son. Not only was she a celebrated talented woman of Great Yong and the beloved daughter of Jian Xihe, Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, she was also Li Chenzhou's wife. The upheaval her murder would cause in Great Yong was easy to imagine. Hu Xiaotian could not reconcile sacrificing an innocent woman's life to save Liu Changsheng and his son with his conscience. Those who achieved great things might disregard minor scruples and need to be decisive in killing, but this was something Xue Lingjun was forcing upon him. He had come to ask for help, only to be blackmailed into murder. Hu Xiaotian was displeased-deeply displeased.
Two choices lay before him. The first was to obediently do Xue Lingjun's bidding, kill Jian Rongxin, and secure the safe release of Liu Changsheng and his son. The second was to abandon the idea of seeking her help and find another way. Yet he had few connections among Great Yong's officials. The two people he knew best were the siblings Xue Shengjing and Xue Lingjun, both supremely clever and unwilling to do anything for others without conditions. His relationship with them was like wielding a double-edged sword; he always had to guard against mishandling it and injuring himself.
It was already late at night when Hu Xiaotian returned to the inn. Xia Changming had rented a separate courtyard at the Eternal Blessing Inn to avoid attracting too much attention. Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian had not eaten, he immediately had wine and food prepared and brought over.
The two brothers sat on the heated kang bed. The wine had already been