Hu Xiaotian said, "Eunuch Li said the Retired Emperor seemed to have taken the Heart Sutra away already. It's no longer in the Library Pavilion."
Quan Dean thought for a moment before saying, "Xiaotian, you must find out as soon as possible whether that secret passage connects to the seventh floor of the Library Pavilion."
Hu Xiaotian asked in surprise, "The Library Pavilion has seven floors?"
Quan Dean nodded. "Only His Majesty has the key to the seventh floor."
Hu Xiaotian suddenly remembered the corpse of the Little Eunuch he had encountered in the underground passage. That Little Eunuch had come from the Library Pavilion, yet Hu Xiaotian clearly hadn't found a passage leading there that day. If the Library Pavilion had no connection to the secret passage, how had the Little Eunuch gotten inside?
Seeing Hu Xiaotian's expression, Quan Dean grew suspicious. He asked quietly, "Is there something you're still hiding from me?"
Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "No. I tell you everything I know and hold nothing back." Inwardly, he added, Like hell I do!
"That had better be true," Quan Dean said.
Hu Xiaotian leaned closer. "Eunuch Quan, the Little Princess keeps insisting that she'll have me transferred to the Palace of Gathered Elegance to serve her."
Quan Dean said, "Pay her no mind. Even if she wants that, the others won't agree."
"You should know what she's like. She never gives up until she gets what she wants."
Quan Dean chuckled. "You're afraid of her?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Not afraid. I'm worried she'll ruin our grand plan."
Quan Dean said, "She may be young, but she knows where to draw the line. She won't go too far."
Hu Xiaotian said, "I seem to have offended Empress Jian."
Quan Dean put away the map Hu Xiaotian had