As Hu Xiaotian returned through the secret passage, curiosity stirred in him. Qiqi seemed to have known long ago that he would come looking for her this way. But after everything that had happened, many people now knew about this passage, and he wondered whether anything had changed. When he reached the fork, he could no longer restrain his curiosity. Since he was already here, he might as well spend a little more time exploring the other two passages. Both were just as they had been, without any changes. After Ji Feihua's death, this passage had become a secret shared by him, Qiqi, Li Yuncong, and Quan Dean.
Ever since Hu Xiaotian slipped into the Wine Cellar, Shi Xuedong had barely slept that night, terrified that his whereabouts would be exposed and bring down a great calamity. Before dawn, he climbed out of bed and, using a trip to the privy as an excuse, went to inspect the Wine Cellar. Raising his lantern, he saw that the seal had been torn off and the heavy lock cut apart and tossed carelessly on the ground. He groaned inwardly. How could Hu Xiaotian be so careless? Someone was bound to discover this now. What would he do if an investigation followed?
Just as he stood there, his face clouded with worry as he pondered a solution, the Wine Cellar door moved. Hu Xiaotian stepped out, carrying two jars of fine wine.
Seeing him stroll out so brazenly, Shi Xuedong broke into a cold sweat. Dawn was approaching, and those young eunuchs would soon be getting up. If anyone caught the two of them together, wouldn't everything be ruined? He hurriedly blew out the lantern, strode forward, and pulled Hu Xiaotian into a corner by the wall. "Y-you... why did you come out?"