After Xiong Anmin and his son left, Zhou Mo smiled. "You seem rather fond of that boy."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Brat was born with extraordinary strength. If he finds a good teacher, he might accomplish great things someday."
Zhou Mo asked, "Are you planning to take him to Great Yong with us?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Why not? Doesn't Wen Boyuan want to seize this chance to weaken us? I refuse to let him have his way. Anyone who opposes him gets my support."
Zhou Mo burst out laughing.
Hu Xiaotian said, "I'll go see the princess."
Long Xiyue had fully recovered. It seemed she had merely caught a chill yesterday, rather than been poisoned as Sumeru Heaven had claimed. Sumeru Heaven had deliberately lied to get Hu Xiaotian to help conceal her whereabouts. Although the incident was over, Hu Xiaotian's suspicions about Zijuan had not entirely faded. Sumeru Heaven's words could not necessarily be trusted, but Zijuan's recent behavior had indeed been unusual. Hu Xiaotian had warned Long Xiyue, yet she remained unconcerned and had summoned Zijuan back to attend her. As a precaution, Hu Xiaotian had arranged for Tang Qingxuan to stay beside Long Xiyue, ostensibly to chat with the princess and relieve her boredom, but actually to keep an eye on Zijuan and protect Long Xiyue.
As soon as Hu Xiaotian entered the tent, Zijuan excused herself. She seemed terribly afraid of him, keeping her head lowered and not even daring to look him in the eye.
Hu Xiaotian's gaze followed Zijuan until she left. Only then did he say, "What's wrong with Zijuan? Seeing me is like a mouse seeing a cat."
Long Xiyue said, "It's because you blamed her for my illness earlier. You gave her quite a fright. She's still reproaching herself over it."
Hu