Night had fallen without his noticing. By the time Hu Xiaotian stepped out of the palace chamber, stars filled the sky. He gazed up at them, yet his father's face rose before his eyes. Judging by the timing, his father should already have set sail for Luosong, accompanied by Xiao Tianmu, Zhan Peng, and Murong Feiyan. Their journey was meant to open a sea route for grain shipments, but just how much was his father still hiding from him? Why had he recognized the Navigation Chart at a glance? Why had his maternal grandmother told him about the Nautical Chart, but not her own daughter? Was it merely because he did not want his mother to worry?
Hu Xiaotian had never doubted his father's motives before, but after his conversation with Li Tianheng, memories came flooding back. He suddenly realized that far too many things did not stand up to scrutiny, that far too many things were suspicious. He had simply chosen to ignore them.
Serving at court meant facing not only a muddleheaded, tyrannical emperor, but also guarding against one's colleagues at every turn. It was this environment, where every step set the heart pounding, that had forged his father's deep scheming. In his heart, Hu Xiaotian tried to excuse his father, yet he still could not find a reason for his father to deceive him.
Even if his father had not had time to explain back then, he had enjoyed plenty of opportunities after the emperor pardoned him. Even if he had harbored countless reservations, he should have told Hu Xiaotian before this diplomatic mission to Western Sichuan.
Yet his father had never said a word. Hu Xiaotian shook his head, a bitter smile touching his lips. His father was more complicated than he had imagined.
If Long