I have to start from the beginning...
Chai Zhu pinched his thigh hard under the cover of his sleeve, trying to calm down.
Judging from the attitudes of Pavilion Master Lin and Madam Ru, it was obvious that they both knew Huo Yan's elders.
Generally speaking, in this situation, the guesses are from the elders on the female side, but as Madam said just now, they don't even know who Huo Yan's mother is. So the person they know must be Huo Yan's father... at least, someone on his father's side.
Think about it more carefully, would a mere "acquaintance" entertain a junior so warmly?
And if he was not mistaken, when Madam Ru mentioned Huo Yan's mother, she showed subtle hostility, even Pavilion Master Lin...
Think about that rumor.
Think about this kid’s last name again.
Chai Zhu could hardly control his horrified expression.
He just remembered now, "Your last name is Huo!"
The surname "Huo" is, to some extent, also very famous.
It was already night, and because of the difference between men and women, it was not appropriate for Ru Lin and the others to stay in the couple's residence for long. They just sent the people to the place and left. Now only Chai and Huo were left in the room.
Of course, the Chi Chun Pavilion, which made a fortune every day, was not so shabby that two people had to share one room. It was just that Chai Zhu had been following Chu Lu like a wandering soul since he entered the building, and he went straight into his room.
Chu Lu's reaction to Master Chai's horrified question was quite calm, and his voice was also very gentle and soft, "Yes."
In fact, Chu Lu originally thought that Master Chai should have guessed it earlier.
The other party had clearly guessed that his identity was different from the beginning, and although the surname "Huo" was not uncommon, there was only one famous one in recent years. In addition, he had also reminded the other party in the mountain village that he was in trouble...
But for some reason this kid was so stubborn that he believed that he was using a fake name (although the young master's idea was right in every sense), and he kept trying to find his name in a roundabout way, running further and further away from the "correct answer".
If it weren't for Chi Chunge's experience, Chu Lu even suspected that this kid was planning to bring him to the capital in such a blatant way. It was only when he was recognized by some "old friends" that he realized it.
In fact, if Chai Zhu continued like this, Chu Lu even began to consider finding an opportunity to find a new job.
After all, even if he considered the friendship of "Snow on the Golden Hairpin" who helped him secretly deliver military rations, he could not leave a criminal record for the other party's intended heir.
Compared to Chu Lu's calm answer, Chai Zhu's reaction was much more intense.
The moment Chu Lu nodded, he almost screamed. But he finally realized that this was not his territory, so he had to swallow the sound in his throat, his face twisted into a hideous expression.
Chai Zhu wanted to struggle again. He carefully confirmed: "Is it that 'Huo'?"
Chu Lu looked at the boy's appearance and shook his head.
Compared to that woman Chai who is as brave as any man, this boy is so much more immature.
If it were Chai Xiangjin, he would probably either be negotiating or taking action directly and preparing to collect the reward with his head, but this kid is still here confirming.
However, he could vaguely guess Chai Xiangjin's thoughts.
In the chaotic situation back then, if the so-called wealthy businessmen did not have some connections in both the black and white worlds, they would have been preyed by others long ago. Chai Xiangjin took over the family business as a woman, so naturally she was more ruthless and greedy than others.
But now, the new emperor has made wise decisions and revised laws to strictly enforce discipline. I'm afraid that the next generation of the Chai family will be engaged in business seriously. Looking at Chai Zhu's lively appearance, we can tell that there are some things that Chai Xiangjin probably didn't let him touch at all.
Judging from the appearance, this plan has been in the planning for more than one or two years.
I don’t know whether to say she is decisive or good at gambling?
Chu Lu knew the destiny of the world's development, so he naturally understood that the next emperor would be a wise ruler, but Chai Xiangjin had no way of knowing this.
With the situation being so chaotic back then, who knows what will happen in the future?
To be able to make such a decision with such courage, she is worthy of being the head of the Chai family as a woman.
Compared to her, Chai Zhu really has a lot to live up to...
Over there, Chai Zhu's face turned pale and blue, which was quite interesting.
When he came to his senses, he immediately grabbed Chu Lu's wrist, and it seemed that he wanted to pull him out the window.
Chu Lu: "..."
He could see that there was a garden pond outside the pavilion. The spring night was still cold, and he didn't want to become a shivering drowned rat in the cold wind with this boy.
Then Chai Zhu found that he pulled it, but it didn't move.
He turned around anxiously and glared at Chu Lu, who remained motionless, and almost squeezed out those words from between his teeth, "Why don't you run?!"
This time, Chu Lu finally couldn't help but sigh.
He raised his hand and pushed the man to sit down, then poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Chai Zhu.
After a long while, until the needle under Chai Zhu's butt was finally pushed down and he seemed to be able to sit on the chair properly, he asked slowly, "Are you calm?"
Chai Zhu's expression still looked a little strange, but at least he was able to communicate.
He leaned forward and whispered in a low voice like a thief: "Do you know what the crime of harboring a wanted criminal is? Even if they are old friends of the Huo family, so many years have passed. Are you so sure that they can't just keep you stable for the time being and then go out to report to the authorities?!"
Chu Lu looked at Chai Zhu with a little surprise.
Seeing this kid's dazed attitude towards the beauty just now, I didn't expect that he could turn around and speculate about her like this.
Chai Zhu was so angry at the look in his eyes that he couldn't help but raise his voice a little, "Who am I doing this for?! People's minds are hard to predict, how do you know what they are thinking in their hearts?"
"You have a point." Chu Lu nodded, but then asked, "But...if it were you, would you leave the 'imperial criminal' at home?"
Chai Zhu was stunned for a moment, then he realized what was going on and his face immediately turned green.
In particular, he vaguely remembered that a few people did look at him when he opened the window just now.
Then aren’t they the two turtles in the jar now…
Bah, bah, bah, bah, how come the young master, who is so handsome, has become a turtle?
Chai Zhu was still racking his brains to think of a way to escape, but he saw the other party looking at him with a smile, "Besides... you are right, 'human hearts are hard to predict'..."
This smile seemed to be no different from Huo Yan's usual one, but Chai Zhu suddenly felt a chill in his back and he couldn't help but take a step back.
Facing Huo Yan's meaningful gaze, Chai Zhu suddenly realized a problem -
He himself is now an insider.
Moreover, compared with the two ladies who were involved with the former Prime Minister Huo’s Mansion, he, who had just known Huo Yan for a few days and had just discovered Huo Yan’s surname “Huo”, was even less trustworthy.
Shibazu:!!!
Killing to silence the witness, he was planning to kill to silence the witness, right? !
Chai Zhu took several steps back and looked at him in horror.
Chu Lu: "..."
He did intend to tease the child, but he didn't expect the child to react so strongly.
In order to avoid really scaring people, Chu Lu slightly turned his face to the side and looked away, thus reducing the pressure of direct eye contact.
However, his gaze happened to fall on the tea, and obviously Chai Zhu misunderstood something. His already pale face seemed to be covered with another layer of white paste, and faintly showed gray color.
He thought about the cup of tea he had just drunk.
Shibazu:!!!
Without waiting for Chu Lu to react, Chai Zhu raised his hand and scratched his throat, his movements were fast and decisive. After Chu Lu realized that something was wrong, he couldn't stop him.
Chu Lu silently withdrew his half-extended hand and took a few steps back to avoid getting any strange stains on the hem of his clothes.
Chai Shao, the head of the family, obviously had no experience in inducing vomiting. After digging for a long time, he just retched. He raised his head with a pale face and explained with a weak breath: "I... didn't..."
Seeing that he was really having a hard time, Chu Lu poured another glass of water and handed it to him. Chai Zhu probably thought to himself, "I've been poisoned anyway, so it doesn't matter if I'm more seriously poisoned," and actually took the cup.
He originally planned to rinse his mouth with the tea, but as soon as he put it in his mouth, he spat it all out.
“Hot hot hot hot!!”
After a long period of chaos, Chai Zhu didn't even experience the expected abdominal cramps or bleeding from all seven orifices, and looked at Chu Lu suspiciously.
He finally realized what was going on and asked, "You didn't poison me?"
Chu Lu smiled back at him and asked, "What do you think?"
After what happened just now, Chai Zhu felt a little uneasy when he saw the smile on Huo Yan's face.
Chai Zhu was actually still a little worried, but he finally managed to convince himself: Based on the brains that Huo Yan showed in the Black Cloud Village at that time, if they wanted to kill him, it would be no easier than raising their hands... If he really had this idea, he would definitely not live to see the next day.
Although it is a bit subtle to think this way, it is indeed the truth.
Chai Zhu's worried heart was finally put at ease.
But what needs to be done still needs to be done.
Chai Shao, the head of the family, has always been able to bend and stretch. Faced with such a predicament, he immediately "bent" and tried to please and apologize, and in the end he almost swore that he would never be ungrateful to his "lifesaver".
Chu Lu did not comment on the other party's statement of "savior".
No matter how you look at it, this young master is living a comfortable life in the mountain stronghold. Even without him, the other party can redeem himself in a few days. If he doesn't even have this ability, Chu Lu will really doubt Chai Xiangjin's ability to choose an heir.
Chu Lu noticed something subtle, "You called him... 'Huo Xiang'?"
Chai Zhu blinked in confusion, and as usual couldn't tell anything from Chu Lu's expression.
He thought about it and cautiously asked, "Uncle Huo?"
Chu Lu: "..."
Although he looked upon the young and immature Chai Shao as a junior, he was not so eager to raise his own seniority.
He just felt that the title "Prime Minister Huo" was a bit too polite.
Given the reputation of "Huo Lu", he felt that names like "Huo traitor", "flatterer", and "parasite of the country" were more common.
However, it was just a name, and Chu Lu did not delve into it. Although Chai Zhu was puzzled by his question, he did not think much about it.
It was only when Chu Lu explained that he was not a "prisoner of justice" that he hesitated for a long time before he said cautiously: "When the current emperor ascended the throne, the Huo family was confiscated and exterminated..."
Chu Lu shook his head, "It was just 'confiscation of property', not 'extermination of the clan'."
Chai Zhu couldn't help but exclaimed "Ah?" He didn't mean to doubt Chu Lu's statement, but he just couldn't believe it.
The death of Prime Minister Huo back then was actually more like a symbol.
The prime minister who once had all the power in the court and the country was executed, and the darkness that shrouded Dayan finally dissipated.
When the new emperor first ascended the throne, he established his authority in the court. Then, before anyone else could react, he executed several high-ranking officials with great swiftness... It was like a young lion showing its sharp claws, or like a golden dragon soaring in the sky and letting out its first roar, and the darkness was invisible wherever it passed.
The bloody atmosphere in the capital lingered for months.
The new emperor used iron-blooded means to quickly take control of the government, and from then on, all his orders were carried out smoothly.
Too many people died in the first year of Guangxin, and most of them were powerful and glorious when they were alive. But just like the bloodstains outside the Meridian Gate were eventually buried by the extraordinarily heavy snow, their names were gradually erased after their death.
When people talk about it now, most of them can only remember Prime Minister Huo as the "evil chief".
Chai Zhu never expected that Prime Minister Huo, who was listed with more than 20 crimes and was used as a test for the new emperor... was not even "exterminated"?
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