Chapter 6
Huo Zhongru was so excited that he burst into tears. Looking at the young man standing in front of him who looked very similar to himself, he couldn't help but recall his youth. However, the father and son had not seen each other for many years, and he didn't know whether the young man in front of him would recognize him.
Huo Changqing looked at Huo Zhongru with red eyes, holding back tears. He didn't understand why Huo Zhongru had never come to look for him even after his mother and he had separated. And because of his youthful pride, he had never taken the initiative to ask about his biological father. He glanced around at the surroundings: a small thatched cottage, a courtyard surrounded by wild hedges, chickens and ducks wandering around...
He actually met his biological father for the first time on such an occasion.
Huo Zhongru was somewhat bewildered. He lowered his head and pulled Huo Changqing to sit down at the small table. He glanced at Cheng Jiao again and asked, "Is this the young master's wife?"
Cheng Jiao said yes, but she was not as excited as Huo Changqing. She just secretly shook his hand and signaled him to calm down.
Huo Zhongru's palms were sweating, and he scratched his right fingers with his left fingers. "When did you get married? My son is already seventeen now..."
Huo Changqing seemed to muster up the courage, raised his head and interrupted him, "You are my father." It was both a question and an affirmation.
Huo Zhongru lowered his head even more, not daring to look Huo Changqing in the eye. "Yes."
"You have a son and a wife, and you seem to be living a good life." Huo Changqing said.
Huo Zhongru understood his implication and quickly explained, "No, I've always missed you."
He sighed, recalling those old memories. "Back then, your mother was still a maid in the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion. We secretly agreed to spend our lives together. Although I held a low position, I also intended to explain this matter to Princess Xinyang. But for some reason, your mother became increasingly distant from me during that time. When my term was about to expire, I sent letters but received no reply. I thought your mother had changed her mind, so I left in anger.
After that, I lost all contact with your mother and never asked for news of her. I didn't even know I had a son alive. But when I saw your face, I knew..."
Huo Zhongru choked up as he spoke, "For more than ten years, I have never been with you. You have already married and grown up. I am too embarrassed to see you."
Huo Changqing listened and slowly lowered his head. He didn't want Cheng Jiao to see his tears. His voice was a little dry, "You..."
Huo Changqing had a lot of questions in his mind, but he didn't say them out loud.
Huo Zhongru asked, "Would you like to call me Daddy?"
Huo Changqing was silent for a moment, not saying anything. He wasn't used to it yet. He had a secret feeling of familiarity in his heart, but facing Huo Zhongru's face, he was completely unfamiliar with it.
Gillian stood in front of him at the right time, "Uncle, why don't you see Auntie?"
Huo Zhongru suppressed his sad expression and said, "She went to buy winter clothes. Guang'er grows so fast, he grows taller every year. Last year's clothes won't fit him this year."
Gillian glanced at Huo Guang. His shoes didn't fit him well. They were leather boots made of good material, but they were old and had too many patches on them, so they were a bit bumpy. It seemed that Huo Zhongru had not always been in this condition.
Ah Jiao asked, "So what does uncle do now? Does he have a job?"
Huo Zhongru said, "I was originally serving in Liyang County, but because I offended my superiors, I was forced to resign. I just returned to Chang'an a few days ago and planned to rest for a while before joining a friend's army."
Huo Changqing had also put away his unnecessary emotions. "The border has been unstable recently. More than ten people including the chief clerk under General Long Fei were captured by the Xiongnu and made into minced meat. The morale of the army is unstable now. It is better to stay in the capital."
Huo Zhongru said, "Although the capital is peaceful, there is nowhere else to go. It is better to go to the border. Perhaps killing one or two Xiongnu can earn you some fame."
Gillian said, "That's true."
Huo Changqing glanced at Huo Zhongru. It was not that he looked down on him, but Huo Zhongru looked so weak and weak that he would be captured alive by the Huns if he went to the border without anyone to take care of him.
Chang Qing thought for a moment and said, "My friend is in need of a secretary. I'll go back and ask. If there's a need, how about you taking up the position?"
As soon as these words came out, Chang Qing felt a pinch on the back. He glanced at Ah Jiao. Huo Zhongru said, "It's too troublesome. You don't have to worry about me. I also killed bandits when I was young. I can handle the Xiongnu."
Chang Qing looked at Huo Zhongru, who smiled innocently. Unlike his father, Chen Zhang, who came from a prominent family and spoke and acted with a natural air of nobility, Huo Zhongru, on the other hand, carried a rustic air that made him feel approachable and down-to-earth.
The Huns... How could they be so easy to deal with, even General Li Guang found them so difficult to deal with?
"I was just going to ask. His secretary has gone home sick and is looking for someone else. If he already has someone, I wouldn't recommend you."
Huo Zhongru smiled, "Then I'll trouble you... Chang..." Huo Zhongru hesitated, not daring to speak out loud. Chang Qing suddenly stood up and said goodbye, "I'm sorry to bother you today. Someone will inform you if there is any news another day."
Huo Zhongru and Huo Guang sent the two out. Huo Guang said casually, "Come and play often in the future. My father likes you very much."
Gillian smiled, touched his head, and said goodbye to Huo Zhongru.
Chang Qing was distracted the whole way. Ah Jiao said, "Don't worry. I've already deposited some banknotes with my uncle. It's enough for them to get through the whole winter."
Chang Qing thought of the situation between his father and son, and the luxury of his own mansion, and couldn't help but say, "Am I too cold-hearted? They can't even afford to buy a winter coat, and yet I..."
Ah Jiao said: "There are so many poor people in this world, can you blame yourself for it?"
Chang Qing said, "This is different. He is my father. The father suffered, but the son enjoyed a luxurious life."
Gillian said: "You are wrong, you are Chen Zhang's son."
Chang Qing looked at Ah Jiao, who said, "I was just trying to tell you not to get too emotional. Those were just his one-sided accounts. All these years have passed, and Madam Wei has never mentioned this to you. You should ask her what exactly happened back then."
Chang Qing asked, "What do you mean?"
Gillian sensed something was wrong with Chang Qing. "It's nothing serious. I just feel like you two don't really understand each other. Pushing a relationship too hard can end up hurting yourself."
Chang Qing paused, "You think Huo Zhongru is lying to me?" Chang Qing sneered, "What can I lie about?"
Ah Jiao had only been trying to persuade him, and Zhang Qing's questioning infuriated her. "How deeply can a father who hasn't seen his child for twenty years truly feel for his child? The feelings between you two aren't as genuine as those between you and your colleagues. You have nothing to lie about... You're the Empress's nephew, the only son of Chancellor Chen Zhang and Madam Wei. Isn't that relationship enough for him to be close?"
Chang Qing looked at Ah Jiao and sneered, "Do you think everyone only cares about interests and calculations?"
Gillian was so angry when she heard this question, "Yes, I only see calculations, I can't understand your true feelings. Mr. Huo, it's me who is black-hearted and evil-minded, full of evil intentions. Let your father-son love be what it is."
The carriage was close at hand. Ah Jiao brushed past the guards and walked back. Chang Qing didn't want to chase her and got into the carriage with a sullen look on his face. The guard said, "The lady..."
Chang Qing said, "Go to the Zhanshi Mansion."
Gillian walked for half an hour, her legs aching, but she realized Huo Changqing hadn't caught up with her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and the more she regretted it. She'd taken her kindness for granted. What did this simple-minded, muscular warrior know? She'd truly been fooling around and asking for trouble.
Seeing Ah Jiao coming back alone, fanning herself in the middle of winter, Lvliu asked, "How come the master didn't come back with you after going out?"
"Maybe he fell on the way and went to the clinic."
Lvliu exclaimed, "Why don't you go and take a look? I need someone to accompany me right now."
Gillian sneered, "How can I be worthy of accompanying him? The master is smart and decisive, and has his own ideas."
When Lvliu heard this, she knew that the two of them had quarreled. She quietly walked outside to ask Changqing, and just then Changqing returned home.
Lvliu trotted over and said, "Madam, our master just came back and is freezing. Go and bring him a bowl of cold-repellent soup."
Gillian said, "Ask Wang Ling. Wang Ling is considerate, gentle and kind. She's a perfect match for that rough guy."
Chang Qing stood outside the door, and immediately withdrew his leg that was about to step in. He flicked his sleeves and moved into the study, and the war between the two officially began.
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