Although Mrs. Huo had already gone to bed, she wasn't sound asleep. She heard some noises when the servant announced Huo Jincheng's return. She sat up in bed, vaguely feeling as if she had had a dream, a bad one at that. But she had forgotten everything she had dreamed about the moment she woke up.
"Isn't it that the master is back?" The maid who slept in the inner and outer rooms put on her coat and came in with the mother who was holding a lamp. Without asking, they knew that the old lady was going to see the master. The two of them helped her get out of bed and put on her brocade coat, and then went to the outer room with her.
"How are you lately, mother?" Huo Jincheng stepped forward and personally helped her sit on the chair. "I hope you won't blame me for disturbing your sweet dreams by coming here so late at night."
"What are you talking about? I'm so happy that you're back, but why are you coming back?" Old Madam Huo looked up at him and said.
Huo Jincheng briefly explained Ding Youtian's plan and the emperor's attitude. The Grand Tutor stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then glanced at Xiao Shi. Xiao Shi bowed and smiled, "I'd like to borrow your clean room. I haven't been in it since I was woken from my sleep."
The Grand Tutor raised his chin, and the servant serving in the room led Xiao Shi out.
"Father, do you have something to tell your son?" Huo Jincheng asked.
The Grand Tutor sighed softly, "It's a good plan. If we can get rid of that evil woman, it would be great. But have you ever considered that this is a different time now? You'll often be around the Emperor in the future. What if he ever remembers that you once impersonated him? Or if someone else, jealous of the Empress and also envious of our family's favor, instigates slanderous remarks? There's no guarantee that it won't arouse the Emperor's suspicion and bring about your own death!"
"What should we do?" Mrs. Huo was anxious when she heard this. "This thing can't be done. Can we pick someone else who doesn't hold an official position to do it?"
"Madam, you are wrong," said the Grand Tutor. "The Emperor has specifically taught Cheng'er. If a small soldier were to do the job, wouldn't it be a disaster if he failed to learn it well and revealed his flaws?"
"What should we do then?" Mrs. Huo asked again.
"It's not entirely impossible." The Grand Tutor looked at Huo Jincheng. "A tall tree attracts the wind. Don't forget the lesson of Nan Sheng's past. I've made up my mind. When the army returns victorious from annihilating the barbarians, I'll retire and enjoy my remaining years in peace. As for you, I'll have Old Wei find a reason to remove you from the Imperial Service. Just stop hanging around the Emperor and find yourself a less busy job, where you can live in peace."
Huo Jincheng responded respectfully and chatted for a while. When Xiao Shi arrived, he said goodbye and knelt on both knees to kowtow to the Grand Tutor and the Old Madam before leaving. "Father and Mother, take care of yourselves. Father, it's cold tonight. Go to bed early and don't stay up too late. Your son is leaving."
After he rode away with Xiao Shi on Qiu Ge, Old Madam Huo clutched her chest and said, "How could Cheng'er be so polite when he was fine? Given his usual temper, he wouldn't have readily agreed to the master's request to remove him from the imperial court. I'm feeling a little uneasy. I hope Cheng'er is okay on this trip."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" The Grand Tutor said with a squinting look, "After going through so much, Cheng'er has grown up and is now sensible. As his parents, we should be happy. Why are you so worried?"
He flicked his sleeves and said, "It's getting late, go and rest."
Huo Jincheng brought Xiao Shi back to his own house. Ah Man was already asleep. He tucked in the corner of the quilt for Ah Man, stood silently in front of the couch for a while, came out and told Xiao Shi to wait for him, turned around, took the lantern from Yao Bo's hand and went to the other courtyard.
Tian had felt more at ease since being comforted by Lao Liu and his wife half a month ago, but she still couldn't sleep well at night. Huo Jincheng's footsteps were very quiet, but she still heard them. She sat up and asked through the window, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Huo Jincheng."
Hearing Huo Jincheng's voice, Tian quickly dressed, lit the light, and came out. "Ah, Ah Man's father, why are you back? How is my old Ma?"
Huo Jincheng was not a man of rich and delicate emotions. Seeing her haggard face, and recalling the situation in the early morning when Ma Fuquan had the accident a few years ago, a trace of pity flashed through his heart. He had not intended to conceal the truth as Jian Ning had instructed. Sooner or later, Tian would know it, so why should he hide it from her?
However, facing Tian's eager eyes, he didn't tell the truth. "Very good. If everything goes well, we might be able to transfer here in March or April next year."
"Really? Didn't they say the border situation is tight?"
"It will pass, don't worry. The princess specifically asked me to tell you that we are all fine. You should go to bed early. I will rush back to the border tonight."
"Wait a minute, can you bring some stuff for my old Ma? It's not heavy, just two pairs of socks and a pair of shoes."
"Why not? Go get it quickly. I'll be waiting."
At this moment, all the brothers of the Ma family woke up. Ma Xiaodou opened his mouth and said that his father was back. Then Ma Xiaolu and Ma Xiaobing both got up.
When Tian went back to the house to get shoes and socks, the brothers put on their clothes and ran out. "Uncle Huo, where is my father? Didn't he come back with you?" Ma Xiaomi glanced around and didn't see his father Ma Fuquan, so he asked first.
Ma Xiaobing came up and hugged his legs. "Uncle Huo, why don't you bring him back to my father? I want my father. Can you take me to see him?"
Huo Jinchengdu was almost in tears. He couldn't understand how Ma Fuquan lost his life while recuperating in Jin County. He could only turn around and ask Jian Ning in detail. But now, looking at the Ma brothers, he felt very sorry. He picked up Ma Xiaobing and held him in his arms, and his voice softened.
"Uncle Huo is going to the war and can't take you with him. You should stay home and listen to your mother and brothers. Wait for Uncle Huo to come back and take you out to play."
"Uncle Huo." Ma Xiaomi looked at him and said, "I promised to be my brother's military advisor. Can you take me with you? It's all my mother's fault. I originally wanted to go with Dabao and Dajun, but she wouldn't let me go."
"You kid, if you want to be a military advisor, be a proper one. Why some idiotic military advisor? Where did you hear that?"
"My aunt said that," Ma Xiaodou rushed to tell him, "My aunt said that my second brother is a dog-headed military strategist who only gives bad advice to my eldest brother."
"Get out of the way." Ma Xiaomi pulled him away and begged Huo Jincheng, "I'll go with you, okay? I'm not that heavy, Brother Qiu can carry me."
"Of course you can! Stay home and be good to me." Tian returned to the house and brought the shoes and socks she had made for Ma Fuquan. She gouged out Ma Xiaomi's eyes, then picked up Ma Xiaobing with one hand and stuffed the cloth bag in her other hand into Huo Jincheng's pocket. "Xiaomi's feet are about the same size as his father's. Please give him a pair of socks."
"You're welcome. I'll be leaving now. You guys take a rest." Huo Jincheng took his shoes and socks, said goodbye and came to the main courtyard. He and Xiao Shi wrapped themselves tightly and rode on Brother Qiu back to the border.
When they arrived at the Qishan camp, it was still dark and gloomy. They got off Qiu Ge's back. Xiao Shi suddenly exclaimed, tugged at Huo Jincheng, and pointed at the night sky, "Look, there's someone above the white light. It must be my uncle-master!"
"Your uncle?" Huo Jincheng was stunned for a moment, then he realized that Xiao Shi's uncle was Blind Liu, and he quickly looked up.
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