Chapter 185

Royal Palace

Imperial Study

“Ahem!”

Emperor Qing covered his chest and kept clearing his cough.

Master Huo stood below and watched, feeling very worried, "Your Majesty, you should ask the imperial physician to take a look."

Emperor Qing took the tea handed to him by the attendant and drank some before he recovered. He waved his hand and said, "I can still hold on."

He asked his attendant to show the two books on the table to Master Huo, and said in a sharp tone, "I have only been paying more attention to Che'er recently, and the Crown Prince and Prince Huai have started to make small moves."

Tutor Huo frowned as he read the news in the booklet. He did not expect that the Crown Prince and King Huai could no longer sit still and actually began to mobilize troops to rush to the capital. Is this an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate?

"Your Majesty, this...it seems you have to make plans early."

Emperor Qing smiled bitterly and said, "I have been conscientiously guarding the foundation laid by my ancestors without any slacking. However, fate is cruel and I have to face the situation of strife between father and son when I am old."

"Your Majesty!" Master Huo felt a little sorry for him when he saw how sad he looked.

Emperor Qing said: "I originally agreed to Huo Jin's resignation, but now I have to let it go."

Master Huo nodded.

Emperor Qing took out a brocade box and asked his attendant to pass it to Master Huo, saying, "My dear, just in case, please keep this secret decree."

Master Huo took it respectfully.

Emperor Qing coughed a few more times and said, "I originally wanted to choose a child with a good character from the Crown Prince and Prince Huai to inherit the throne, but their temperaments have been spoiled and cannot be changed in a short time. Now the most suitable candidate is Che'er. Che'er has a pure character and is studious. He is a rare talent for an emperor."

Master Huo lowered his eyes. He didn't expect His Majesty to make this decision so quickly. After several contacts with Gao Che, he also found that Gao Che was smart and studious, able to draw inferences from one example and know how to consider issues from the perspective of the people. He indeed had the potential to become a benevolent monarch. But given his status, he thought His Majesty would reconsider it.

Emperor Qing walked up to Master Huo, raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder, saying, "My dear, I will leave Che'er to you."

Master Huo nodded solemnly, cupped his hands and said, "I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust."

…

Huo Mansion

"What?"

Luo Chaoyan felt that she was hallucinating, otherwise why would the music that was supposed to be played out loud be aborted?

Seeing her incredulous expression, Huo Jin said helplessly, "Your Majesty has not been in good health recently. My father was afraid that something might happen, so he asked me to cancel this assignment."

Luo Chaoyan turned her back and sat on the couch.

Huo Jin walked up to her, but saw that she turned her body away again. He had no choice but to sit next to her, hold her in his arms, sighed softly, and said, "Ayan, I broke my promise this time. You can punish me however you want, just don't make yourself angry." He knew how much she was looking forward to this exile, but the situation in Beijing changed, so he had to change his schedule.

Luo Chaoyan pushed him but failed, so she gave up. She grabbed his other hand and bit it without thinking to vent her dissatisfaction.

Seeing that Huo Jin didn't even frown and let her bite, as if he would do anything as long as she calmed down, she couldn't bear to do it and let go of his hand.

Huo Jin stretched out his other hand and handed it to her, saying, "And this hand."

Luo Chaoyan rolled her eyes at him and said, "You really think I'm a dog."

Huo Jin smiled and said, "Then you are not angry anymore?"

Luo Chaoyan snorted and said, "Who said I'm not angry? I want to sleep with An An today. You can sleep in the study by yourself."

Huo Jin pursed his lips, feeling somewhat helpless. Okay, as long as she calmed down, anything would be fine.

The next day

Luo Chaoyan brought Huo An to pay her respects to Madam Huo in her courtyard and saw that the old lady, who had been in a sullen mood for the past two days, had actually gotten better.

Mrs. Huo smiled and said to them, "You guys are here. Have you had breakfast?"

Both of them overslept and naturally had not had breakfast yet.

Huo Rui ran in in a hurry.

Seeing him like this, Mrs. Huo said, "Run slower. What's wrong with you so early in the morning?"

Huo Rui panted heavily and asked hurriedly, "Mother, father won't be sent out anymore?"

Without waiting for Luo Chaoyan to answer, Madam Huo said, "Your father, His Majesty, has other arrangements, so the matter of being sent abroad has been put on hold for the time being."

Huo Rui said with a disappointed look on his face: "Why is this happening!" Wouldn't Huo Yu laugh at him to death if he went to school today? Should he find a way to skip school for a day?

Huo An looked like he had accepted the reality and said, "Brother, let's grow up quickly, and then we can travel around the world on our own."

He turned to look at Luo Chaoyan and said, "Mother, don't worry, An An will definitely take you with her." Then let father stay at home alone.

Luo Chaoyan smiled and nodded. It was good that the little fat boy knew to take her with him.

Old Madam Huo felt a little upset. These two little kids were so young, but they were already thinking about leaving home. It was really like children no longer under the control of their mother.

At this time, the maids brought breakfast.

Luo Chaoyan said: "I want to eat fried dough sticks!" The old emperor actually went back on his word and said, "No matter what your difficulties are, you can still eat them."

Huo Rui said: "I want to eat fried buns." He wanted to vent his dissatisfaction.

Huo An thought for a moment and said, "Then I want to eat fried spring rolls!"

Old Madam Huo knew that they were still angry, so she laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid of getting angry?" But knowing that her grandchildren didn't have to leave the house, she was in a good mood and let them do as they pleased.

After breakfast, Mrs. Huo looked at their dying expressions and said unhappily, "Well, it's not good enough that you can't go on a long journey, but you still have to be so depressed."

Luo Chaoyan said, "Grandma, I heard that Xuanzhou has a lot of special delicacies. I was thinking of having someone bring some to you after I got there, but now there's no chance."

Madam Huo glared at her in reproach and said, "Well, since you can't go far, I'll let you go somewhere close."

Luo Chaoyan blinked and felt happy in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face.

Huo Rui and Huo An could not hide their joy on their faces, and they looked at Luo Chaoyan expectantly.

Luo Chaoyan coughed lightly and said, "Grandma, I heard that the peach forest in the Qingshan Taoist Temple in the suburbs of Beijing is worth seeing. Now is the time when the peach blossoms are in full bloom. Your granddaughter-in-law hasn't had the chance to see it yet, otherwise..."

Madam Huo waved her hand and said, "Go, go, bring more people with you, and be careful on the road."

Luo Chaoyan's face lit up with joy and she said, "Yes, Grandma!"

With the old lady's approval, Luo Chaoyan took the two children out of her yard.

Luo Chaoyan said to Huo An and the others, "Look for anything you want to take, and pack it quickly."

Huo An thought for a moment and said, "I want to take Yingwu with me."

Huo Rui said: "Mother, aren't we only going for one day?" Although he also wanted to stay a few more days, he was afraid it would not be easy.

Luo Chaoyan said confidently, "We are in the suburbs. Maybe we were delayed by something else. It's okay to be late for a day or two."

Huo An and Huo Rui nodded and chuckled. Their mother was indeed very cunning.

"Let's go! Let's go!"