Huo Shengnan and Visa quietly took their leave. Qiqi was already very familiar with Huo Shengnan, whom she had always taken to be Huang Feihong, deputy head of the Divine Strategy Office. Huo Shengnan always appeared in disguise outside and acted cautiously, never arousing suspicion. Only today had Qiqi begun to take an interest in Visa, the exotic beauty. Though she had been struck by her beauty during their earlier encounters, everyone had been busy with Xu Fengyi's funeral then, leaving her no time to ask. She said to Hu Xiaotian, "I thought you were enduring a life of hardship here. It turns out you have a blond, blue-eyed beauty keeping you company. No wonder you can't bear to go back."
Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly. "She's my maid. I rescued her from Western Sichuan, and she's stayed by my side ever since to serve me and repay the favor." He had no desire to explain further. Qiqi could think whatever she liked.
Though Qiqi felt a faint unease, she did not pursue the matter. "I heard you bought an estate at the foot of Falling Cloud Mountain," she said softly. "Do you really intend to stay here for good?"
"The house in the Kang Capital was bestowed on my father by His Majesty," Hu Xiaotian said. "My father is gone, and so is my mother. I have no right to keep clinging to that place. I liked the beautiful mountains and clear waters here, so I bought the manor. Being closer to my mother will keep her from feeling so lonely, and it makes keeping vigil and tending her grave easier." His excuse was thoroughly convincing.
Qiqi took a few steps forward and looked down at Fengyi Manor at the foot of the mountain. "Do you really intend to become