Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I'm not so delicate. Hurry back and change your clothes."
Huo Shengnan entered the room opposite Hu Xiaotian's. He looked up at the torrential rain outside, then hurried into his own room. Before long, Liang Dazhuang arrived with four house servants carrying hot water.
Hu Xiaotian had grown accustomed to serving others in the palace. Now that he had returned to his old life of pampered comfort, he actually felt a little out of place. He told Liang Dazhuang to take some hot water to Huo Shengnan first. Bathing in this era really was no easy business. Even setting everything else aside, heating enough water to fill the tub took considerable effort.
After nearly an hour of fuss, Hu Xiaotian finally sank blissfully into the bath. He recalled what Qiqi had told him earlier. Apparently, she was still deeply wary of the Old Emperor. How strange. What exactly was the relationship between those two? Back then, the Old Emperor, Long Xuan'en, had been desperate to put Qiqi to death. Why had he suddenly changed his attitude and even joined forces with her to eliminate Ji Feihua? Quan Dean, that old eunuch, was probably loyal to Qiqi. He should know the inside story, but he might not be willing to tell Hu Xiaotian the truth. The relationships within the imperial family were a tangled web. Dealing with these people demanded a hundredfold vigilance; one careless move could capsize his boat.
The thought of soon accompanying the Old Emperor to the Heavenly Dragon Temple to eat vegetarian meals and chant Buddhist prayers left Hu Xiaotian rather depressed. A knock came from outside. It was Liang Dazhuang, bringing clean clothes.
Hu Xiaotian told him to leave the clothes and go. He got out of the bath and changed, after which