Hu Xiaotian did not believe Qiqi had anything so desperately urgent to discuss, but he could hardly defy her summons. He entered the palace with Yin Zheng, reaching the Purple Orchid Palace just as night fell. Qiqi had ordered wine and food prepared and was waiting for him to return so they could dine together.
When she saw Hu Xiaotian arrive, Qiqi smiled and waved the palace attendants away. She came up to him and asked gently, "Are you tired? You haven't eaten all day, have you? Are you hungry?"
Hu Xiaotian had never seen her so considerate toward him before. Something felt unusual, but he smiled and said, "I'm all right."
"Come and eat," Qiqi said.
Hu Xiaotian wondered to himself, What is this little minx plotting now? Never mind. I've been hungry all day anyway. I'll eat first. Without another word, he sat down to eat. Qiqi poured him a cup of wine and asked, "How are things progressing at the Heavenly Secrets Bureau?"
"No progress," Hu Xiaotian said. He drained his cup, then added, "Little Yin said you had something desperately urgent to see me about, but it doesn't look that way!"
Qiqi giggled. "If I hadn't said that, would you have come so obediently?"
"You're Her Highness the Princess," Hu Xiaotian said. "How could I dare turn a deaf ear to your summons?"
"Well, there is something, actually," Qiqi said. "Grand Tutor Wen came again this afternoon."
Hu Xiaotian frowned. Wen Chenghuan really was a haunting ghost that refused to leave; now he had latched onto him. "To impeach me again?"
Qiqi shook her head. "He merely told me something."
"What? Does it have anything to do with me?"
"I hear the Black Hu people have given you a lavish gift!"
Hu Xiaotian laughed. "A lavish