Hu Xiaotian deduced that Murong Zhan must have arrived. He stood and straightened his clothes.
Once the door was unlocked, Murong Zhan appeared outside. The sunlight was not particularly strong on that winter afternoon, but after spending so long in darkness, Hu Xiaotian still found it hard to bear.
Hu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes at Murong Zhan, who slowly entered with his hands clasped behind his back. In the darkness, Murong Zhan's gray eyes actually gave off a blue-gray gleam. Few people knew that he possessed night vision: his eyesight was sharper at night than during the day.
Murong Zhan studied Hu Xiaotian's face. Even in the dim light, he could clearly make out every detail. For some reason, he kept feeling that Hu Xiaotian seemed different from before, yet he could not identify exactly what had changed.
"Commander Murong, have you come to release me?" Hu Xiaotian asked, though he knew there was little chance of being released immediately.
"Eunuch Hu, just stay here and set your mind at ease," Murong Zhan said. "How the Bright Moon Palace affair is handled will depend on His Majesty's wishes."
"Hasn't everything already been established?" Hu Xiaotian asked. "Lady Wen admitted in the letter she left behind that she set fire to the Bright Moon Palace."
Murong Zhan sighed. "Grand Tutor Wen has examined that letter carefully and confirmed that it was forged."
The news struck Hu Xiaotian like five thunderbolts crashing down upon his head. Of course he understood what it would mean for him if that letter were declared a forgery.
"I only came to ask you one thing," Murong Zhan said. "Did you write that letter?"
Resentment filled Hu Xiaotian's heart. He looked at Murong Zhan and said, "Commander Murong, even if I say I didn't write it, will