115 Chapter 115
◎Interesting.◎
At the end of the second year of Yuanshou, Huo Qubing returned to Chang'an.
The young general looked darker and thinner, his expression becoming more indifferent. The residual power from the battlefield seemed to have not yet dissipated from him. His eyes made people feel a chill down their spines for no reason.
The next day when Liu Ju saw him in the front hall of Weiyang Palace, he accidentally noticed that Guanjun Hou occasionally frowned slightly, as if he had encountered some difficulties.
After discussing the serious matters, Liu Che kept Huo Qubing and asked him to follow him back to Xuanshi Hall.
At this moment, Liu Ju saw many eyes looking at the general, both openly and covertly.
Liu Ju: "..." He could already imagine what new rumors would arise.
His Majesty the Emperor, immersed in joy, could not see these secret exchanges of glances.
Wei Qing, at the center of the conversation, remained unmoved. Having been promoted to the position of Grand Secretary by the Emperor before he was twenty, he was accustomed to all manner of looks. As for praise and criticism, that was the last thing on his mind.
Huo Qubing was preoccupied with his own affairs and was unaware of this undercurrent.
Liu Ju slowed down his pace, walking in line with Huo Qubing, and then asked softly, "Cousin, what's wrong with you?"
Huo Qubing pursed his lips and said, "Nothing."
Liu Ju said, "You look like you have something to worry about, and it must be something personal. Didn't you want a son to take you on horseback and fight in battle? Now that your wish has been fulfilled, why are you still unhappy?"
Huo Qubing frowned, but still said, "...You're mistaken. I'm not unhappy."
Liu Ju: “…” You are so stubborn.
Liu Ju advised, "More people means more ideas. Cousin, I don't understand war, but I can still help you with other things."
Huo Qubing hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, "...Ju'er, you often go out of the palace to see Peng Zu. Did he...did he cry when he saw you for the first time?"
"Ah?" Liu Ju slowly realized that Guanjun Hou was upset because his son saw him crying. "He cried. Children will definitely cry when they see strangers."
Huo Qubing tightened his jaw: "I am his grandfather."
Liu Ju couldn't help but smile: "But, he has been open for more than half a year, and this is the first time he has seen you! From now on, you can see him every day. Once you get used to him, he will naturally stop crying."
"No." Liu Che came over at some point and interrupted, "Qubing, I see that you just returned, and the murderous intent is still in you. It's just that the child couldn't bear it. You should stay in Chang'an for a few more days, and you will naturally get better."
Huo Qubing quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty... and Your Highness are both right. Now that I'm back, I'll naturally look after the child every day. Once he gets used to me, he'll probably stop crying."
Liu Che patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "I can't believe it! My champion marquis is unbeatable on the grassland, but when he returns to Chang'an, he is defeated by a little kid."
Huo Qubing was embarrassed.
Liu Ju laughed and said, "My cousin is now an old man, so he can't do anything to his own son. Isn't that normal?"
"You said that..." Liu Che laughed even louder, "You are just a kid, and you know how to be an old man?"
Liu Ju thought to himself, I have indeed been a grandfather. No matter how high the official position or how respected the status, a grandfather cannot do anything about his own children.
Accompanied by the Emperor's hearty laughter, the group walked happily to the Xuanshi Hall.
As Liu Ju expected, his father changed into casual clothes and took him and his cousin out of the palace, all the way to a magnificent mansion. On the plaque in the middle were the words "Guanjun Hou Mansion".
The mansion was in a good location and was luxuriously decorated, but Huo Qubing, who loved luxury, refused it without blinking.
"As long as the Xiongnu are not destroyed, there is no place for me to return home."
When it comes to rejecting the Emperor, Huo Qubing not only has sufficient experience, but the reasons he gives also make the Emperor like and respect him more every time.
Therefore, Liu Ju saw that his father was even happier when his cousin refused the reward. His Majesty the Emperor has indeed been very proud in recent years.
Based on the principle of being here already, although the mansion could not be given away, His Majesty the Emperor could visit the Huo family's old house and take a look at the Marquis of Guanjun's lovable youngest son.
However, when they arrived at the Huo family, the first child they saw was not little Peng Zu, but a young man.
Huo Qubing introduced him succinctly: "Your Majesty, this is Huo Guang, my brother from the same father."
Huo Guang must have learned the rules of meeting the emperor, but he was not very proficient in it. He saluted with hesitation, which was completely different from the well-behaved, steady and serious person in Liu Ju's impression.
Liu Ju had no personal relationship with Huo Guang in his previous life, so he didn't know what his private character was like. Now, seeing the young appearance of his father's future minister in charge of the young emperor, he couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
How strange.
Just as Liu Ju was sighing to himself, he was suddenly patted on the head. He looked up in surprise and met his father's eyes.
"Why? Do you think he's good?" Liu Che whispered, "I'll let him hold a title in the Crown Prince's Palace..."
Liu Ju smiled and said, "My cousin brought my younger brother back personally, which shows that he cares about me. Uncle, of course I must stay with you, so as not to let my cousin down."
Liu Che couldn't help laughing: "You little brat, what are you saying? Just because your cousin has a brother, you don't love him anymore?"
Liu Ju denied: "No..."
Liu Che, however, was not afraid of the trouble and shouted, "Go to the disease—"
"Aung!" Liu Ju jumped up and tried to cover his father's mouth, but was dodged by someone.
"How bold!" said His Majesty the Emperor with a stern face.
Huo Guang was startled and unconsciously leaned towards his brother. When he turned around, he saw the prince hanging on the emperor's arm and flapping his legs.
Huo Guang: “…”
Since he was old enough to understand things, it was rare for the prince to lose his composure like this. Huo Qubing couldn't help but smile a little, and Liu Che was laughing so hard that he fell over.
Liu Ju's face turned red with embarrassment. He just wanted to interrupt on purpose and never thought that it would cause such an embarrassing situation for him.
If I had known earlier, I would have followed his father's wishes and let Huo Guang serve in the Crown Prince's Palace! Why am I thinking so much about him!
The Emperor, who was enjoying his son's jokes, added fuel to the fire with an air of sudden enlightenment: "No wonder Ju'er likes Peng Zu so much. It turns out you are a similar kid to him."
Liu Ju: “…”
Liu Ju turned to look at Huo Qubing and said, "Cousin, I'm going back to the palace."
Liu Che grabbed the man and said with a smile, "Why are you running? Come, go and see your nephew who is the same age as you."
Liu Ju clenched his fists and whispered, "Ah Weng, please stop teasing me, or I'll really leave."
Liu Che was surprised and said, "I was just telling the truth, why did the prince say I was teasing you?"
Liu Ju: “…”
Liu Ju decided to ignore his father with a bad taste for the time being.
But His Majesty the Emperor said to the Marquis of Guanjun, "Qubing, you see, how to be an old man? You have to learn from me. What can a little kid understand?"
"Yes." Although it was only one word, Liu Ju definitely heard a smile in Huo Qubing's voice.
Liu Ju: “…” Reopen it, I’m too embarrassed to live like a human being.
Huo Guang stole a glance at the prince and thought to himself, the royal father and son are even more unscrupulous than he is at home with his grandfather. No wonder his brother said that the emperor has a good temper and told him not to be afraid.
Your Majesty does have a good temper, and the Crown Prince... the Crown Prince is very interesting.
This was Huo Guang’s first impression of the royal father and son.
His Majesty the Emperor was particularly happy today. When he left the Huo family, he not only gave rewards to Xiao Pengzu, but also gave Huo Guang a palace attendant, which meant that he would also be a direct descendant of the emperor in the future.
Huo Guang knew that this was all because the Emperor valued his brother. After thanking him, he couldn't help but look up at Huo Qubing.
The young and dazzling Marquis Guanjun, held in high esteem by the Emperor, Huo Guang could not understand why he would bring him back to Chang'an, given his indifference to his father-in-law. He considered himself to have no extraordinary abilities, and with his riding and archery skills, he would have been scorned if he had served under the Marquis Guanjun, holding his horse.
Huo Qubing respectfully saw His Majesty off calmly. When the imperial carriage had departed, he turned around and saw Huo Guang's expression, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Huo Guang asked nervously, "Brother, when can I enter the palace? I haven't learned the rules yet..."
Huo Qubing said, "Wait until the palace has engraved the waist badge and sent it to you. It won't be too late for you to go then."
Huo Guang frowned, obviously still nervous: "Yes."
Huo Qubing frowned and said, "There's no need to use that word."
Huo Guang relaxed his brows and said, "Okay, brother."
"Brother, why did you bring me back?" Huo Guang asked.
Huo Qubing said: "Because you are not afraid of me."
Huo Guang was stunned. When Huo Qubing appeared in Pingyang, his father was indeed frightened. Who would have known that the young general whose fame had spread throughout the Han Dynasty in the past two years was his illegitimate son!
He had some feelings for Wei Shaoer, but he would never dare to think about Huo Zhongru, even though Huo Qubing's surname was clearly Huo.
After confirming that he had a nephew of the queen and the son of the Marquis of Guanjun, Huo Zhongru did not feel happy at all. He was just afraid that Huo Qubing would take revenge on him - even though Huo Qubing had lived a life of luxury these years, hundreds or thousands of times better than the Huo family.
Therefore, Huo Zhongru was terrified when he went to see Huo Qubing, and everyone was in danger when Huo Qubing went to the Huo family.
Except for Huo Guang, he looked up at his brother whom he had never met.
Huo Qubing asked, "Don't you understand?"
Huo Guang hurriedly shook his head: "I understand, brother, I understand."
Huo Qubing nodded, and the two brothers went home one after another.
While the brothers were having a great time here, the situation on the imperial carriage returning to the palace was tense.
Liu Che just experienced the joy of teasing his son today. In addition to what happened at Huo's house just now, he deliberately brought up several embarrassing things that happened to Liu Ju when he was young, which made Liu Ju so embarrassed that his face was about to smoke.
If Liu Chuanwen were to tell him, there would be more ridiculous stories about Emperor Wu of Han, which would surely make his father even more furious. However, there was not a single story that Liu Chuanwen could say, so he could only be furious.
Then his father was even happier.
His Majesty the Emperor was in a good mood after entertaining his son all the way, but as soon as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince returned to the Weiyang Palace, he bowed hastily and ran to hide in the Crown Prince's Palace without looking back.
Liu Che laughed heartily: "If you run away today, you won't come to see me tomorrow?"
Liu Ju turned a deaf ear and ran even faster.
Liu Che waved to his companions to follow the prince: "Don't let him fall."
He then ordered, "Ask Madam Wang to bring Min'er here."
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