Chapter 322 Picking Up People
The hall fell silent instantly, everyone was stunned, including Liu Shi who was crying and Fang Ying'er who was sobbing.
Liu Qiyun's expression changed. Could it be that there was a change in the army?
He hurriedly walked towards the gate of the mansion, and Liu and the others followed him with surprise and uncertainty.
Outside the city lord's mansion, a dark mass of soldiers stood, clad in black armor and wielding sharp blades.
The soldiers were in perfect uniform, exuding a chilling aura, and completely surrounded the mansion.
At the very front of the procession, a man sat atop a tall, magnificent black warhorse.
The man wore a black cloak embroidered with gold dragons, over which he wore dark gold armor. His face was incomparably handsome, and he exuded a dignified and imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position, mixed with the bloody killing intent honed on the battlefield.
His gaze swept over the crowd at the doorway, finally settling on Jiang Huan, who was standing at the back of the crowd.
In an instant, the frost in his eyes melted away, his tense heartstrings relaxed, and the anxiety he had felt while rushing all the way vanished in an instant.
Huo Lin dismounted and strode past Liu Qiyun and the others, heading straight for Jiang Huan.
He stopped in front of Jiang Huan, took her hand, and spoke gently.
"My lady, I have come to take you home."
The word "朕" (Zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") struck like a heavy hammer, slamming into the hearts of all those around who were unaware of the situation.
The anger on Liu's face froze instantly. She stared blankly between Jiang Huan and Huo Lin, then collapsed to her knees as if her bones had been removed, pulling down Fang Weiren, who was equally terrified, in the process.
Liu Qiyun and Madam Zhou were the first to react, and hurriedly knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
Behind them, the servants and servants seemed to wake from a dream, and they all knelt down with a clatter, not daring to raise their heads.
Fang Ying'er was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she knelt trembling beside her parents, forgetting even to cry.
Only Huo Lin and Jiang Huan remained standing in front of the mansion gate.
When Jiang Huan saw Huo Lin, a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
"You've arrived."
"Yes, I kept my word this time." Huo Lin squeezed Jiang Huan's hand.
He looked at the various expressions on the faces of the people in the courtyard, paused on Liu Shi and Fang Weiren, and said in a slightly somber tone: "It seems that I have arrived just in time?"
Thankfully, judging from her expression, she didn't seem to have suffered any major injustice.
However, something seems off about the atmosphere in this courtyard.
As he was pondering this, he noticed that Liu Shi, who had just been glaring at Jiang Huan, now seemed like a completely different person.
Her face was plastered with a fawning, twisted smile as she scrambled forward, overtaking everyone else.
Ignoring the dust on the ground, he kowtowed repeatedly towards Huo Lin and Jiang Huan.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you've finally arrived! This humble woman... this humble woman was just talking with Her Majesty! Her Majesty is truly a celestial being, so kind and generous, without the slightest airs! To be able to receive Her Majesty in the palace is truly a blessing our Liu family has accumulated over generations!"
As she spoke, she pinched her husband, who was still in a daze, hard.
Fang Weiren seemed to wake from a dream, and hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling as he echoed, "Yes, yes, yes! Your humble servant... Your humble servant was just telling my wife that Your Majesty's arrival is an honor to our humble abode. Your Majesty's approachable nature is truly a blessing to all people."
The two of them sang in unison, praising Jiang Huan to the skies, their attitude so respectful it was almost humble, a stark contrast to their behavior just moments before.
Huo Lin took in the affected manner of the Liu couple and frowned slightly.
[Does this look like an attempt to cover something up?]
He turned his head to look at Jiang Huan, his eyes questioning.
Jiang Huan clicked her tongue as she looked at Liu Shi, who seemed to want to tear her heart out.
To avoid punishment, this speed of face-changing would even make Sichuan opera masters envious.
Just a moment ago they were pointing their fingers at her and cursing her, and now she's a celestial being, a blessing to all?
Does Liu herself believe such flattery?
"Is that what Madam Liu just said to me? I seem to remember you saying that I was some kind of impoverished refugee, and that Lord Fang even advised me to find a wealthy merchant to be my concubine."
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Shi and Fang Weiren lost all color in their faces, trembled like leaves, their lips quivered, and they couldn't utter a single word, only boundless fear remained.
Huo Lin's gaze instantly darkened, and the low pressure emanating from him made the surrounding temperature seem to drop several degrees.
[Very well, very well. How dare you speak ill of my concubine and even advise her on her future?]
[I think he finds his official hat too heavy!]
He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the limp Fang Weiren, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.
"Fang Weiren," he said coldly, "I remember you were a military advisor in the government office?"
Fang Weiren trembled and hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes..."
“Dull-witted and incompetent, utterly unfit for important tasks.” Huo Lin’s tone was flat, as if he had just casually decided on a trivial matter. “Effective immediately, he is dismissed from his post and will never be employed again.”
This seemingly casual remark struck Fang Weiren like a bolt from the blue, utterly crushing him.
His vision went black, and he fainted.
Madam Liu was stunned and even forgot to cry. Her family's wealth and glory, and her daughter's bright future, were all gone!
After dealing with Fang Weiren, Huo Lin turned his gaze to Liu Qiyun and Madam Zhou, who were kneeling on the ground.
Liu Qiyun's heart sank, knowing that it was his turn next. Just as he was about to apologize again, he heard Jiang Huan's voice.
“Your Majesty,” Jiang Huan gently tugged at Huo Lin’s sleeve, “this matter has nothing to do with the City Lord and his wife. I have been staying here as a guest, and the City Lord and his wife have always treated me with courtesy and taken good care of me, without neglecting me in the slightest.”
When Huo Lin heard Jiang Huan plead for Liu Qiyun and his wife, his eyes flickered slightly, and the cold aura around him softened a little.
He looked down at Jiang Huan with indulgent eyes.
She's always like this; she seems carefree, but she's more insightful than anyone else and appreciates the good things others have done for her.
[Fine, since she's asked, I'll grant her request.]
"Liu Qiyun, you and your husband have not been impolite, so I will not pursue the matter further. From now on, watch your clansmen's mouths. If I hear another word of criticism, they will be severely punished!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiyun and Madam Zhou felt as if they had been granted a pardon and immediately kowtowed deeply.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. I will certainly remember your instructions and never dare to repeat them!"
After dealing with these people, Huo Lin didn't even bother to look at them again.
He lowered his head again, and when he looked at Jiang Huan, his eyes had regained their tenderness.
"Madam, are you calmed down?"
Why does this name sound so pleasant?
Judging from her expression, she probably didn't expect me to call her that.
[Hehe, from now on, when there are no outsiders, just call me that: My wife, my one and only wife.]
Jiang Huan was overjoyed to see his pleading eyes, but she only nodded demurely on the surface.
"Yes, when I'm in a good mood, I can eat three bowls of rice."
Well done!
The Fang couple, who look down on others just because they have a little power, deserve to be taught a lesson like this.
Huo Lin smiled with satisfaction and took her hand: "Then let's go."
He took Jiang Huan in his arms, turned and left. His black cloak drew a sharp arc in the night wind. The black-armored soldiers surrounding him silently made way for him, their movements uniform and chilling.
Liu Qiyun and Madam Zhou knelt on the ground until the terrifying black-armored cavalry escorted them to the end of the long street before they dared to raise their heads slightly, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.
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