The guard wearing the Bronze Mask said, "That won't be a problem. Commander Murong instructed us that Eunuch Hu may accompany the princess up the mountain."
Long Xiyue was exceptionally intelligent. The moment she heard this, she understood what Hu Xiaotian feared. She had not known Misty Peak had such a rule either. Clearly, they feared someone might bring something forbidden up from below, and bathing and changing clothes were meant to eliminate that possibility. She knew perfectly well that Hu Xiaotian was a fake eunuch, and naturally understood that he would never pass this checkpoint if he had to bathe and change. Had she known, she would never have brought him here. Instead, she had put him in danger.
Long Xiyue said, "It wouldn't be convenient to have you beside me when I meet my imperial father. Stay at the foot of the mountain and wait for me."
Hu Xiaotian nodded, taking the offered way out. "Yes!" Just as he was congratulating himself on escaping disaster, he heard an icy voice say, "Your subordinate pays his respects to Your Highness!"
Hu Xiaotian looked up and saw a man standing ahead, with white hair and gray eyes that gleamed in the darkness. His complexion was extraordinarily pale, like a corpse that had crawled out of a grave. It was Murong Zhan, commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards. Hu Xiaotian hastily greeted him. "Commander Murong!" They were old acquaintances, after all. Surely Murong Zhan would not make things difficult for him.
Murong Zhan nodded. A palace maid and a eunuch stood behind him. The maid led Long Xiyue away to bathe and change, while the eunuch was clearly there to attend to Hu Xiaotian.
Before leaving, Long Xiyue made sure to tell Hu Xiaotian, "Little Hu, I'll go up myself. Stay here