Huo Minggao squinted at her with suspicion. "Is that so? I have my doubts. Madam Lin, let's not be so polite between us. Let's save the sweet talk."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er frowned.

Huo Minggao continued, "Why is it you here, Madam Lin? Is your son too esteemed to come see me in person? Oh, heavens, what am I to do with you?"

The last time we met was decades ago. Back then, Huo Minggao was already a short-tempered, sharp-tongued, and impolite person, but he wasn't as sarcastic as he is now. It seems that time has made him even more unbearable.

Jiang Wan'er took a deep breath and tried to adjust her mindset. "I need to be extra careful with my words and do my best not to pay attention to his offensive remarks."

"Father!" Huo Cheng reminded him, his tone tinged with reproach, "She is your cousin!"

"Did I speak to you? I'm not dead yet, and you're not the King of Xiliang. Do I look like someone who's about to die? Do I need you to lecture me?"

“Father, your tone is too harsh; this is not the way to treat a guest!” said another son of the King of Xiliang.

"You dare to lecture me?" The King of Xiliang raised his voice. "Oh, and you're an illegitimate child. I should throw you into the sewer, just like I did to your mother."

"Hey, the son of a prostitute dares to lecture me!"

Huo Minggao showed no mercy to his son, saying, "You all deserve to die. I will say whatever I want, and I don't need your opinions."

I have served three emperors: the late emperor, the empress, and now Your Majesty. When the empress last visited Liangzhou, it was I who hosted her; therefore, you need not speak to me about 'hospitality.'

Especially you, son of a whore, when I first impregnated your mother, she was still a prostitute available to anyone.

"Ji Nu?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er couldn't help but sigh, "Thank goodness I didn't marry him back then!"

Huo Minggao flicked his fingers, shooing away the red-faced young man, and then gestured to his other two sons. "Come here, help me up."

The latter helped him up, and Huo Minggao's young princess walked over timidly.

"You'd better watch yourselves. I still have the ability to have children. If you don't obey, I won't hesitate to give the right of succession to my youngest son." He said, pinching the princess's buttocks.

"Hahaha, cousin, you shouldn't mind, right?" Huo Minggao laughed. "I think so. You're married, you've had two sons, and you did plenty of things before you had children!"

“Cousin, my son Lin Mo and I need your loyalty,” Jiang Wan’er replied politely. “My son is currently…”

"Haven't I already pledged my allegiance?" Huo Minggao said. "I've already sent his wedding gifts. What, you think it's not enough? Then I'll send another one tomorrow."

Hey, speaking of which, I've married so many princesses. Your Lin family has never made a fuss about it.

"Oh, wait a minute. My first queen, Lin Wenzhong, is here, but you're not. I wonder if you're deliberately avoiding me?"

"Cousin, my son needs your troops..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Huo Minggao rudely interrupted her. "Look, there's no need to tell me, no need. My eyes aren't blind, and my brain isn't broken. I know what's been happening in Great Xia lately."

“Hey,” Huo Minggao continued, his voice somewhere between a sneer and a mutter. “You’ve seen it too, all those soldiers in the city, weren’t they all recruited by me? What do you think I recruited so many soldiers for?”

I plan to depart immediately once the entire force has arrived. Of course, I mean to send my son, Mrs. Lin. I've spent most of my life leading troops in battle; now I'm getting old and want to rest for a while.”

"Then, cousin, will you help my son and the new emperor?" Jiang Wan'er asked.

"Why? Why should I help him!" Huo Minggao's face darkened.