117 I know my sins
Huo Qubing: My brother seems to be killing the king.
In late spring in Chang'an, even the huge shadow of the Weiyang Palace could not cover the sweet fragrance of locust flowers that filled the city.
Gongsun Jingsheng's death was hidden in this fragrance. Apart from the suppressed and intermittent sobbing coming from the depths of the Imperial Household's Mansion, his death was nothing more than a light "Heaven will not give him long" among the powerful circles in Chang'an.
No one cared, but behind the tightly closed red door, Wei Junru's world completely collapsed.
Gongsun Jingsheng was not a good person, but he was the child she raised with all her efforts.
The person who killed her child was Huo Yan, whom she treated like her own son.
She slumped over the cool brocade mat, her elegant gown rumpled into a ball. Her hair, no longer combed, was a few strands clinging to her tear-stained face. Her shoulders twitched silently, tears soaking through her skirt.
My heart felt like it was torn apart.
How do you want her to let go?
As soon as she closed her eyes, she could see the little Gongsun Jingsheng calling her mother.
The frightened, evasive look from her husband, Gongsun He, and Huo Yan's cold, verdict-like words, "Your Majesty, mindful of their old friendship, does not wish to implicate the Imperial Household," were like two cold whips, lashing out at her surging grief, resentment, and despair.
She hates it!
Hated her son, hated her husband.
Hate her Ah Yan!
She repelled all those who tried to approach her. Huo Yan placed her under house arrest in the courtyard, fearing that she would commit suicide, and had people watch her.
Outside the window, dusk was falling and a few crows landed on the dead branches, their cries hoarse.
She slapped herself hard. She hated herself the most.
Her eyes fell on the pot of peonies under the windowsill.
Gift from Huo Yan.
The bright pink has faded, leaving only the petals.
Wei Junru seemed to see an enemy, and staggered forward, her hairpin falling to the ground with a jingle, her long hair disheveled, and she used all her strength to throw the heavy pottery basin hard onto the blue brick floor!
“Crash!”
There was a sharp cracking sound, dirt splattered everywhere, withered petals were mercilessly thrown up and scattered, and then were cruelly crushed into the dust by her pearl-embroidered shoes. She slid down along the cold corridor column, covering her face, and a discordant sob squeezed out of her throat.
Wei Shaoer came at this time, and Huo Yan also put her under house arrest.
But she threatened to commit suicide, and in the end the matter was left unresolved.
She came here to apologize to her sister on behalf of her unfilial son.
Until her elder sister looked at her, as if she had lost her soul.
The two sisters looked at each other, and she couldn't help but shed tears.
Wei Shaoer staggered over and put his arms around Wei Junjiao's shoulders.
"Sister, sister."
Huo Yan knew that his mother was going to see his aunt, but he didn't stop her because he had more important things to do.
Once he has dealt with everything, time will heal all the scars.
Now that the east wind has risen, he will be the most accurate torchbearer, burning all the rotten wood and leaves.
The powerful people of Chang'an were quickly shocked to discover that Huo Yan's fire had so precisely and fiercely targeted his maternal clan, the Wei clan. His swiftness and ruthless tactics formed a stark contrast to his youthful and handsome appearance, leaving everyone terrified.
Those who relied on Gongsun Jingsheng's henchmen, those who exploited the power of the Wei and Huo clans to run rampant, those who were greedy in-laws, those who were domineering and aggressive retainers, and those who had been found guilty of embezzling military funds were mercilessly executed, their blood stained the East Market execution ground, drawing onlookers and scorn. Those who were arrogant and domineering, whose hands were stained with blood, were met with elaborate "accidents" in the alleys and countryside, disappearing silently. Those whose crimes were less serious, but who were involved in the illegal salt, iron, and human trafficking, were loaded onto heavy prison carts and, amidst the bitter spring breeze and the swirling dust, were wailing and wandering towards the bitter cold frontiers of Shuofang and Dunhuang.
In an instant, all those who died were members of the once arrogant Wei family.
Huo Yan had no hesitation or mercy when it came to those vacant positions, those that were in charge of the Wei family's huge industries and lucrative positions that brought in a fortune every day, those that were not core commanders in the army but were in control of passes and supplies, and those that held real power and had lucrative salaries in the mansion. He killed those who should be killed and kept those who should be kept.
Huo Yan quickly filled what others thought was a power vacuum. He measured the saltiness of a spoonful of soup with precision. Loyal, battle-hardened, and scarred veterans from Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's ranks were quickly promoted to fill the military positions. The sons of craftsmen, whom Huo Yan had trained for years, were boldly appointed to positions requiring sharp minds. Those within the Wei family who remained loyal to Wei Qing or who had already seen the tide and aligned themselves with him and his brothers were also given important positions.
He even generously granted a few insignificant but competent positions to the originally neutral and ambiguous Wei family branches, in order to demonstrate to the outside world his so-called fairness and "meritocracy."
The swiftness of his actions, the ruthlessness of his methods, and the sheer efficiency of his actions were rarely seen in the decades of power struggles in Chang'an City. In just one month, the Wei family was completely transformed. The old order, the complex web of interests, and even the pride and glory of the family were completely shattered and reshaped by Huo Yan using the blood of the Wei clan members.
The world had already changed, and a new order belonging to Huo Yan was being established.
Faced with this sudden and drastic change, Wei Changjun, the patriarch of the Wei family, tried to mediate and plead with Huo Yan in the name of an elder and with the authority of the head of the Wei family.
However, just one day later, Huo Yan respectfully and forcefully invited him and the elderly Wei Ai back to the inner courtyard of the mansion in the name of asking the elders to rest and enjoy their remaining years. They were placed under house arrest in disguise and cut off from the outside world.
Aside from the brothers Wei Bu and Wei Guang, who had always stood firmly on Huo Yan's side, even Huo Qubing and Huo Yan's biological mother, Wei Shao'er, were not spared and their movements were restricted. Those who wanted to see Princess Pingyang were also turned away.
Huo Yan was determined to rebuild the Wei family and eliminate all that he considered to be rotten flesh and cancer. Any advice and pleas were like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of him, and were futile.
It was not until this moment that the Wei family members truly felt fear from the bottom of their bones, and saw clearly how sharp the inner side of Ah Yan, whom they once took pride in and regarded as the family's greatest support, was.
This knife was the most delicate. He removed all the rotten meat and tumors like a butcher cutting up an ox, leaving only the good parts.
Everyone in the Wei family could see clearly that what he wanted was a clean and complete tool of power that he could control completely.
Fear was like a cold and slippery poisonous snake, entwining the hearts of every member of the Wei family who had committed a crime.
The case files of the Supreme Court, the confessions of their relatives, and Huo Yan's cruelty made them panic and feel insecure. The loud talks, feasts and music of the past disappeared without a trace, leaving only suppressed silence and flickering eyes.
From the courtyards of those who were being purged, desperate curses, shrill wails, and the suppressed sobs of the women could be heard day and night, but these sounds would not reach Huo Yan's ears.
Perhaps those resentful voices were just like the disturbing chirping of cicadas outside the window to him. He turned a deaf ear to them, without a ripple in his brow, and even his eyelashes did not tremble.
He sat upright behind a large rosewood desk, his posture as straight as a pine tree, motionless. The flickering candlelight cast a flickering shadow on his handsome face, adding a touch of solemnity.
His entire mind was focused on the long list in his hand. He calmly reviewed the next name, then picked up the cinnabar pen and drew a scarlet circle around the name without hesitation.
He was like a precision-engineered, tireless, emotionless monster. He was also like the most skilled gardener, pruning all the diseased branches of the Wei family tree, methodically removing them one by one, until the entire Wei family, like a pool of thoroughly clarified water, was peaceful and obedient, with only awe-inspiring silence remaining.
Two months later, Chang'an was bathed in the sticky, parched heat of early summer. The towering walls of the Weiyang Palace steamed in thick, scorching heat under the blazing sun. The locust trees in the courtyard were already covered in new leaves. The chirping of cicadas poured in from all directions, weaving an impenetrable web, noisily lingering in every corner, as if to fill every last inch of the human heart.
Inside Huo Qubing's office, a bronze incense burner with auspicious beasts belched a thin, blue smoke. A large ice-cold mirror dispelled some of the summer heat, blurring the massive border map hanging on the wall. Huo Qubing sat at a lacquered table. Huo Yan stepped in and placed the meticulously arranged bamboo slips and a petition on the table before him.
The edges of the files are as neat as if measured with a ruler, and even the knots of the braided ropes are meticulous, revealing an almost harsh rigor.
Huo Qubing raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across his brother's thinner face, finally landing on the familiar handwriting. He didn't flip through it immediately, his slender fingers simply resting lightly on the edge of the file.
The air seemed to be stagnant, and Huo Yan's gaze fell on him.
The cicadas outside the window chirped increasingly harshly. After a moment, Huo Qubing extended his index finger and gently pushed the scroll of petition back toward Huo Yan. His voice was low and steady, yet it carried an unquestionable determination. "Ayan, you shouldn't have written this."
He raised his head, and the sharpness honed on the battlefield was like a sword drawn from its sheath, neutralizing his gorgeous features, and his charm remained unchanged.
"Forget it, go back. I want Zhang Tang to write it."
Zhang Tang was in charge of this matter, so he should be the one writing it. His son Ah Yan was only in charge of a small part of it.
The light in the office was dim, and the scorching sunlight outside the window was cut into strips by the window lattice. A beam of it happened to fall on Huo Yan's face. He looked much thinner, frowned slightly, then made a light click of his tongue, pursed the corners of his lips, and had a complaining tone that only came from being spoiled.
"This is Wei's evidence of guilt and my handling of the matter. Either you write it down or I will."
He leaned forward, resting his hands on the edge of the lacquer table, staring at Huo Qubing with a burning gaze. "The busy Grand Marshal, General of the Cavalry, should not get involved in this matter."
He said, and chuckled.
Huo Qubing also laughed.
He also leaned forward slightly, shortening the distance between them, and lowered his voice.
"Ah Yan, you and I are inseparable. As long as you still call me brother, everything you do will be authorized and approved by me."
"Some things that happen to you are no different from those that happen to me. So don't say you won't get involved. I am the one behind you."
Insults, questioning, hostility, and accusations.
Ah Yan, I won’t miss any of them either.
So, you'd better not recognize brothers randomly outside.
They are all unreliable.
He extended his hand. It was a broad, powerful hand, with distinct knuckles. The palm was thickly calloused from years of holding a bow, rough yet warm. These hands, which had once drawn a powerful bow and broken thousands of enemies, now gently rested on Huo Yan's tense shoulders.
"With the relationship between you and me," he said with a rather careless smile, "even if you kill a beast, people will still blame me for allowing my younger brother to hurt others."
This means that he didn't pick all the pieces for Huo Qubing, right?
Huo Yan jerked his head away, trying to avoid his gaze and the hand. However, his eyes instantly turned red, and a thick mist quickly filled them, blurring everything in sight. Tears surged into his eyes, but he bit his lower lip tightly, his teeth leaving deep marks, forcing down the sob and surging emotions that threatened to burst out. His Adam's apple rolled up and down with difficulty, and then he shook off Huo Qubing's hand.
"Then we'll split up too!"
I was scolded and cursed to death every day, pointed at by outsiders, and there were sighs from my uncle and my grandmother's indifference.
Isn't he uncomfortable?
"I won't implicate you!"
Huo Qubing didn't retract his hand, but instead increased the pressure on the thin shoulder, as if a little angry. Huo Yan, with a sharp look, turned his head away under his gaze.
"Don't let your imagination run wild, and don't talk too much." Huo Qubing finally spoke, saying seriously, "Whether it's implicated or not, it's up to me to decide!"
"What I'm saying is, even if others accuse me of being lenient with you, I will still be lenient with you."
He turned Huo Yan's head away and frowned, "This is all your Majesty's fault. I handed these matters over to you, but you are both gentle and stubborn and didn't let me interfere. Now you're just daydreaming all day long. Go back, and I'll hand over everything to Zhang Tang."
"You've done all the bad things, and Zhang Tang's Imperial Court has helped you a lot. People still have feelings. You and I have our own difficulties. There is nothing shameful about giving some people lenient punishments. I will leave this matter to Zhang Tang to decide. You can go back and rest and do what you like. I have reviewed your plan for the interest-free loan for the iron plow and have discussed it in detail with Lord Sang."
Huo Qubing seemed to be in a war, his words carried unquestionable guidance, no different from military orders.
He raised his eyes and looked at Huo Yan, the composure of a superior almost overflowing.
"It is indeed a good policy that will benefit the people. The treasury is still ample, and I have already submitted a memorial. That stubborn old man Ji is right. You are capable of governing the people and are a good assistant to the king."
The smile in his eyes deepened, "Don't waste your time in this mess, Dacai."
His younger brother's bright eyes, always filled with sincerity and enthusiasm, should be filled with the vast fertile land and all living beings in the world, rather than those sinister power calculations and bloody oppression.
Huo Qubing always thought so.
He should ride on horseback and lead the troops, and his younger brothers should also gallop in the areas they are good at and seek peace for the Han Dynasty.
Being immersed in schemes and tricks wastes too much of Ah Yan's time.
His palms, roughened from years of galloping, gently stroked Huo Yan's back, which trembled slightly from the strain of his restraint. The gesture didn't sound like an older brother's touch, but rather like brushing the dust off a rare treasure, filled with soothing and cherishing.
"Ayan, go back."
He had said this to Huo Yan many times in these days, but Huo Yan always shook his head stubbornly, refusing to completely unload the burden.
The same is true now.
But the things he loved, like a precise key, instantly opened Huo Yan's broken heart. He had been in the mess for too long, so long that he sometimes forgot he was still young.
He never pursued power for its own sake. It was to allow the farmers in the fields to stand up straight and smile contentedly. It was to protect the families of those petty officials, like him, who had risked their lives to control the Yellow River, only to be swept away by the merciless flood. It was to respond to the countless eyes that rested heavy on his shoulders, filled with hope and suffering...
Huo Yan came from among the people, and he never lets anyone down.
He dealt with the Wei family with drastic measures in order to protect the people he cared about and allow them to live in peace.
So, how is this not considered a "thing I like"?
He, Huo Yan, stood tall and proud. His backbone needed to grow, to protect the people. His arms needed to be able to shield his cherished family from the wind and rain.
As soon as he saw this expression, Huo Qubing knew what he would say next.
Brother, what if Zhang Tang captures my aunt as well?
Before Huo Yan could speak, he said, "Zhang Tang knows better than you. He knows not to make me angry."
What he meant was that if Zhang Tang handled the matter to his dissatisfaction, he would deal with Zhang Tang.
Huo Yan: ...
In silence, Huo Qubing waved his hand, signaling him to get out if he was a nuisance.
Having said that, Huo Yan was afraid that he would be really angry, so he had to let it go.
"Then you can hand it over to the Supreme Court. I won't interfere with the rest."
He spoke briskly, as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden. In fact, he had long since given up wanting to care about it.
"I only care about my fields, crops, and canals!"
After he said that, he turned and left with light steps. As soon as he left the house, the scorching sunlight couldn't wait to embrace him, jumping and flowing on the outline of his face.
God loves him deeply and spares no light for him.
Let him have bones and a heart.
Let him be ambitious! Let him be young!
When he reached the door, he turned his head and made a face. Huo Qubing looked at his high-spirited back and waved at him.
Huo Yan also waved without looking back, his figure blending into the bright early summer sunshine outside the door, like a drop of water finally returning to the sea.
The palace path was long and cicadas were buzzing, but it didn't seem as noisy as when I first came.
Huo Yan was thinking about the promotion of the curved plow in his mind, humming an old tune from the opera house, "I heard that the enemy army is heading south again, I will wipe out the entire army with one sword!" He walked briskly into the main hall of the Huo Mansion, with an unknown excitement on his face, and the ending notes of the tune he hummed were curled up.
until.
“Bang!”
A sharp slap, wrapped in Wei Shaoer's uncontrolled grief and heartache, slapped him hard on the face, and his singing was interrupted.
The crisp sound broke the silence in the hall.
The huge tiger-patterned Boshan furnace, which was quietly exhaling smoke, seemed to be distorted by the shock.
Huo Yan's head was hit and suddenly tilted to one side. He then quickly steadied himself and slowly turned back.
He was a man with tough bones but thin skin, and now several clear red marks quickly appeared on his handsome face on his left cheek where he was hit.
All the comments were replaced by anger at the same time.
[Ayan, does it hurt?]
[Why are you bullying my kid? He cares about his reputation the most!]
[He always wants to stand out from the crowd and be pretty. This is not right.]
[He has done his best to protect you. He hasn't had a good night's sleep for a long time.]
[Why blame him? He is so tired. He has tried his best to protect you.]
[Even Liu Che didn't dare to hit A Yan in the face!]
[But she is my mother!]
[Wow, mother must be feeling bad too!]
…
[Damn it, you can't hit my senior brother. I'll take you to find the teacher, and you go to him.]
…
Huo Yan blinked, and his long eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes. There was no surprise or anger on his face. Instead, there was a sense of understanding as if everything had settled, as if he had already expected this palm and this barrage of bullets.
The housekeeper and all the servants were frightened out of their wits. No one expected that Young Master Wei would hit their master. They shouted "Master" in shock and were about to step forward.
Huo Yan raised his hand to stop them, and gently touched his slightly hot and swollen cheek with his fingertips, as if confirming a new and unfamiliar feeling.
Then, he chuckled softly, and the laughter was particularly clear in the dead silence of the hall. "Nothing."
He glanced at the attendants and said calmly, "Serve tea to mother and aunt."
He paused, then added, his voice strangely gentle, "The best, this year's new tea."
The servants did not dare to disobey the order, so they had to send people to prepare tea in a hurry while nervously guarding outside the door.
The housekeeper's face turned pale, and he hurriedly shouted to the servant beside him, "Quick! Go and invite the prince back to the mansion!"
I hope their master is not beaten to death by Madam Wei!
Huo Yan finished laughing, his gaze passed over Wei Shao'er, whose chest was heaving violently but who refused to look at him, and Wei Junru, who stood beside him, his hair disheveled and his body emaciated, as if his soul had been drained out. Then he slowly glanced at the embroidered emissaries standing by his side, their expressions complicated, their hands on their swords. These were the henchmen who had helped him purge the Wei family's rebels.
"Who released him?" His voice was still clear, even with a hint of pure curiosity. His gaze finally fell back on his bony hand, which was now carelessly touching his chin.
After a moment, he seemed to suddenly realize something. The corners of his lips curved up, revealing a bright, almost dazzling, yet cold smile. His white teeth were exposed as he asked himself, "Oh, I remember now. It's me."
He didn't care about the glaring, swollen palm print, as if it was just a few bits of dust that were accidentally stuck on him.
He casually flicked his wide sleeves and smiled at the embroidered messengers, "Go to the treasury to collect your rewards. You've been so busy lately. Go to the East Market Theater and relax. I'll treat you."
The embroidered messengers glanced at him with some concern, but seeing that he was calm and composed, not angry at all, they recalled the young marquis's calm demeanor in dealing with the Wei family, and without further ado, they performed the required formalities and filed out, filled with the joy of receiving a reward.
After sending everyone away, Huo Yan turned to Wei Shao'er and the withered, rotting figure behind him, Wei Junru. He made a perfectly standard and elegant invitation gesture to them, the same radiant smile on his face as when he helped them out of the carriage.
"Mother, aunt, long time no see, please take a seat."
His manners were impeccable, and he had an outstanding youthful grace. He wore a long robe with wide sleeves, and his movements were orderly, as if he were standing like a jade orchid in front of the hall.
He and his brother are the proudest children of the Wei family. They are really good in every way.
But...
Wei Junru's dead gaze was fixed on Huo Yan. The immense grief of losing her son and the deep-seated resentment she harbored towards him had completely shattered her image of a gentle, dignified, and graceful lady. Her hair was disheveled, streaked with grass and dust. Her eyes were hollow, like two deep wells drained of life. The hem of her ornate gown was stained, her cheeks sunken, her lips cracked and bleeding.
She was not as excited as Wei Shaoer, nor did she list Huo Yan's "cold-bloodedness" and "heartlessness" in front of everyone, or scold him at the top of her lungs for "wanting to kill even her aunt's son for the power in her hands."
She just stared at Huo Yan with a pair of eyes that had lost all their luster and were filled with dead despair.
Huo Yan still smiled gently. Wei Shaoer wanted to scold him harshly, but when he looked at Huo Yan's young and gentle face, and then at the clear palm print on his face, the anger in his heart was blocked in his chest, and turned into tears of grief and anger that rolled down.
She and Wei Junru supported each other, like two dead leaves drifting in the wind, stumbled into the hall and sat down.
Behind him followed a group of anxious, bereaved women, relatives of the guilty minister, and resentful relatives. Everyone took seats below Huo Yan according to their status.
Huo Yan opened his eyelids and sat down in the main seat silently.
The gap between upper and lower levels completely separates them.
It's like a storm is coming.
Huo Yan sat quietly in the main seat, his posture relaxed, even a touch of youthful laziness, as if this were just an ordinary meeting. The bright smile on his face never faded. The suppressed sobs and low whimpers in the room intertwined into a disturbing and sad sound, but like a stone dropped into a deep pond, it did not cause a ripple in his smiling eyes.
If you look closely, covering the lower half of his face with the palm print, you can see that he is not smiling at all.
"He killed people, violated the law, embezzled military funds, and exploited the people, causing the deaths of many civilians and the destruction of countless innocent people's families."
Huo Yan spoke, his voice clear and every word distinct, easily drowning out all the cries of grief.
"The evidence is conclusive. I can let you verify it with your own eyes. Those criminals were dealt with impartially according to the laws of our great Han Dynasty. This is truly gratifying." His eyes were clear as he swept over the faces below, some of which were heartbroken, some of which were filled with deep resentment, as if he wanted to clearly reflect all the filth and hypocrisy deep in human nature.
"Why are you crying?"
He tilted his head slightly and softened his voice, "Or perhaps you regret not listening to your uncle's earnest advice in the past, and continued to rely on your status as a relative to do evil, leading to the disaster you are facing today, so you are crying like this."
"I understand the latter, but I don't know why you came to my door crying. As for the former, you shouldn't cry. You should think about your past bullying and tyranny."
"If a criminal can be pardoned by weeping twice, then if I weep twice, will you die?"
After saying this, he raised his hand and signaled the servants outside to ask the irrelevant spectators to leave.
"Please move aside, ladies and gentlemen. Do not cry at my door; it is bad luck."
This is to clear out those side branches and female relatives who are not the core and are just there to cry or watch the fun.
Just as the attendants were preparing to act, Wei Junru, who had been as silent as a clay sculpture or a wooden carving, suddenly began to tremble violently, as if the unlucky words had finally released the volcanic energy that had been accumulating for a long time.
A shrill, out-of-tune cry suddenly tore through the heavy air, and her body suddenly began to tremble violently, like a dead branch shivering in the cold wind.
"Ayan!"
The mother who lost her child was wailing, and no one dared to move.
She suddenly fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face, her carefully maintained nails making harsh sounds on the smooth floor.
"You're also a child! Your Majesty... Your Majesty entrusted this matter to you. Wasn't it because of our blood relationship, hoping that you would mediate and show some partiality to spare Jingsheng's life? Why are you so cruel? Why? He's your cousin! He's a piece of my flesh and blood!"
She clutched the corner of Huo Yan's robe tightly, and her tears wet the hem of Huo Yan's clothes.
"Has your aunt ever wronged you in any way?"
She was protected too well and never truly understood the cold and ruthless nature of the law of power and the effort Huo Yan had put into keeping them.
Huo Yan didn't blame her.
She is such a kind person.
He didn't try to break free from the hands clutching his shirt, their knuckles white from the force. He simply leaned down, extending his clean, slender fingers and very gently plucking a tiny blade of grass from Wei Junru's messy hair. His movements were gentle, just as Wei Junru had gently plucked blades of grass from his hair in the past.
"You haven't let me down. On the contrary, the only person I feel guilty towards is you." Looking into Wei Junru's desperate eyes, he spoke each word clearly, "But if he doesn't die, everyone in the Imperial Household's Mansion will die, including you."
His tears fell, one drop on the back of his hand.
"How many people did he harm? The military pay that was embezzled was meant to make armor, feed the horses, and keep the soldiers alive. The civilians who starved to death, the soldiers whose horses died on the battlefield because they were unable to keep up. They also had mothers waiting day and night at the village entrance for them to return home! How many mothers like you are at home right now, shedding tears, heartbroken!"
His eyes penetrated Wei Junru's grief and looked at every inch of Han land he had walked on, where countless strange mothers cried silently. Some had white hair, some had black hair.
"Killing someone means paying with one's life. It's only right! Not exposing his crimes to the public and dismembering him was already partiality on my part!" Huo Yan's voice had returned to calm, yet with a clarity that bordered on cruelty. "But hate me, if hatred can keep you alive."
Wei Junru's whole body trembled violently, and her grip on his shirt loosened. She stared blankly at the deep pain in Huo Yan's eyes, which contained resentment towards himself and compassion for the people, but not a single quid pro quo towards her, his aunt who had lost her beloved son.
A huge feeling of powerlessness instantly overwhelmed her. Finally, as if all her strength had been drained away, and as if she was struck by a huge shame, she unconsciously raised her hand and slapped herself hard!
Bang!
The sound was crisp, but it caused him more pain than hitting Huo Yan in the face.
Wei Shaoer couldn't hold back any longer, and threw himself on his sister's trembling back, crying bitterly.
She didn't know how it turned out like this!
"My son...how could you do this...this..."
Heartless yet affectionate.
She choked up and looked at Huo Yan, and the rest of her words were drowned out by the surging tears.
She understood Huo Yan's logic, but it was precisely because of this that she felt even more heartbroken.
My child, how can we blame you? How can we not feel pain?
Huo Yan looked at his loving mother and aunt lying on the ground crying, and a feeling of almost self-abuse arose in his heart.
He would rather they scolded and cursed him like those side branches, so that he might feel better. Because they did not blame him, this invisible, heavy love was sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting into his heart one by one, leaving blood and flesh.
"That's just who I am."
"Shouldn't they die?" He asked back, his voice still clear, his eyes sweeping over the people who had not left, those resentful side branches and relatives of the guilty ministers.
He sat with an upright posture, "I dare say if they are clean, I will not wrongly accuse them."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes like torches, shooting straight at the women and relatives whose faces had instantly turned pale. The corners of his lips curled up into an extremely cold smile, "And you dare to use my mother and aunt, wait for my brother and I to personally investigate--"
He paused deliberately, his eyes sweeping over the crowd of people in the room who had suddenly lost their voices and turned pale. Every word he spoke was crystal clear.
"Those of you crying here today are definitely not just one or two people. Don't you miss them? I can take you there."
The smile was still bright, but it made everyone feel like they were falling into an icy cave.
Dead silence.
Absolute, suffocating silence enveloped the entire hall. Even the sobbing had ceased, leaving only heavy breathing.
"Alright." Huo Yan clapped his hands, a faint smile returning to his face, as if his earlier harsh words were merely an illusion. "Those who were causing trouble earlier, please return to your respective courtyards and rest well. No one is allowed to come out without my order." He paused, then added, his voice clear, "If you continue to gossip, spread rumors, or sow discord, I will punish you."
He turned his face slightly, the golden light of the setting sun outlined his perfect jawline, and two words came out of the corners of his smiling lips.
"Cutting the tongue."
"Show him off."
He waved his hand casually, as if to disperse a group of noisy flying insects.
The servants rushed forward like wolves and tigers, ignoring the women's sudden collapse, cries and pleas for mercy, and their ugly appearances. They dragged them out of the main hall of the Huo Mansion without mercy. The noise, crying, and cursing quickly faded away.
Silence finally returned to the hall, leaving only an inextricable sadness and the subtle crackling of burning fragrant wood. A trace of genuine weariness crossed Huo Yan's face as he looked at Wei Shao'er and Wei Junru, who sat stiffly on the ground, leaning against each other, silently weeping.
Poor and cute.
He raised his voice and ordered, "Go and bring Shan'er here."
Then, sitting in this position, he turned to the two elders, his voice extremely gentle, as if coaxing a child, "Xian'er has been able to call out to people lately. His little voice is very clear, and he always likes to chase people and shout."
The two sisters were immersed in great grief. Upon hearing the words, they only moved their bodies slightly and looked at Huo Yan with tearful eyes. There seemed to be a faint light in those numb and empty eyes.
Huo Yan walked to the window, pushed open the carved wooden window, let the warm early summer breeze and the golden sunset pour in, and took a deep breath.
“The sky is blue.”
Huo Yan didn't even turn his head, looking at the green peach trees in the courtyard outside the window with a gentle smile.
“The flowers are blooming.”
The peonies in the corner of the yard were blooming brilliantly in the sun.
There seemed to be a faint, fishy-sweet taste in his throat, but he didn't care, as if his throat was just a little dry. He casually picked up the tea on the table and took a sip. The cool water slid down his throat, diluting the insignificant discomfort.
He whispered, his voice light and without anger, "The only people left in the Wei family are those who know how to be respectful, abide by the law, and can serve the country. This is good, everything is clean."
"The Han Dynasty's relatives are valuable and powerful, but they cannot be corrupt."
Upon hearing this, Wei Junru's body trembled again, and suppressed sobs once again overflowed from his throat.
How cruel, how decisive, how appropriate!
Huo Yan allowed the collapsed Wei Shaoer to hit him with an expressionless face. He held Wei Shaoer in his arms and patted her shoulder gently.
"Hate me."
Live well.
Wei Shaoer hit him hard, his clothes wet with tears.
How can I hate you! My son! My son!
"Father Zhong! Father Zhong!"
Until a childish call broke the heavy atmosphere. Huo Xian was a tiny ball. After being carried to the door by the nurse, he broke free from her arms and, like a round dumpling, he crawled in from the outside on his unsteady little legs. He pounced on Huo Yan with a clear goal and hugged his legs tightly.
He just learned to call people fluently. His eyebrows and eyes are very similar to Huo Qubing. When he smiles, his eyes are curved and so sweet that they can melt people's hearts.
But now, he looked up and saw the clear red and swollen finger marks on Huo Yan's left cheek. He was so scared that his mouth pursed, and his big eyes like black grapes quickly filled with tears. He cried out in a sobbing voice, "It hurts! Zhongfu, it hurts!"
Huo Yan lowered his head and looked at the small ball beside his legs that exuded the fragrance of milk and warmth. The indifference and fatigue on his face melted away instantly, revealing a truly heartfelt, joyful and soft smile, like the spring sun melting the snow, full of warmth.
He bent down and easily picked up Huo Xian, letting him sit steadily in his strong arms, and with his other hand pinched his soft little nose lovingly.
"It doesn't hurt."
The child's discomfort, frightened by the faint howling, was instantly dispelled by his gentle laughter and warm, firm embrace. Huo Xian immediately puffed up his chubby little face and blew hard and earnestly at Huo Yan's injured cheek, "Hoohoo, Feifei! It hurts, Feifei!"
"Master Zhong, it doesn't hurt!"
After blowing, he gently touched Huo Yan's cheek with his little hand and comforted him like a little adult.
[How come it's exactly the same as the Qubing from childhood?]
[Transmutation diseases.]
[So cute~]
[You kid, you've completely bewitched your uncle.]
[Don't cry, you'll scare A-Shan.]
Huo Yan felt a warmth in his heart and couldn't help but chuckle. The tightness in his chest seemed to have dissipated a lot.
He held Huo Shan in his arms and walked to Wei Junru and Wei Shaoer, who were still sitting stiffly on the ground, immersed in grief.
Huo Xian was very affectionate towards Wei Shao'er. She stretched out her little arms and called out in a baby voice, "Grandma! Hug me!"
Wei Shaoer looked at his little grandson's face and outstretched hands that resembled his eldest and second sons, then looked at the still glaring scars on Huo Yan's face and the gentle way he was holding the child. The grief and heartache in his heart once again turned into hot tears and burst out.
She stretched out her hand tremblingly, took the little grandson in her arms, and hugged him tightly, as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw, choking with sobs: "Good son...good boy..."
Huo Xian smiled at her and called Wei Junru, "Grandmother!"
Wei Junru's empty eyes were also attracted by the childish voice.
She slowly raised her hand and vigorously wiped the dust and tears from it. Then, with her bony fingers, she carefully touched the back of Huo Xian's chubby, white, tender hand. Her tears flowed silently, soaking the already stained collar of her clothes.
She didn't say a word, nor did she glance at Huo Yan again, as if all her strength had been drained away. She supported herself on the table, struggling and shakily rising to her feet. Like a puppet without its strings, she stumbled out, step by step.
I can't hate you, I can't hate you.
All of this is my own fault.
Wei Shaoer held Huo Shan in his arms, looking at his sister's desolate and desperate back with tears in his eyes. His heart was broken, and he quickly put the child down and chased after her.
Huo Yan looked at their backs as they supported each other and disappeared into the shadow of the porch. He sighed silently, tears streaming down his face.
"Mother!"
"aunt!"
He seemed to be roaring, but in fact he only uttered two murmurs.
Hate him.
Huo Xian in his arms didn't understand what was going on. He thought his grandmother hated him. Zhongfu was also crying and felt a little uneasy.
Huo Yan was very sensitive to his emotions, then covered his face and gently pulled the corners of his mouth.
"Nothing, Shan'er."
Huo Xian thought he was in pain again, crying. He loved his father, who was always bright and shiny, and immediately held Huo Yan's face again, pouting his little mouth and leaning in close, and blew seriously, even harder than before.
"Alright, alright, Shan'er is amazing. Zhongfu doesn't feel any pain at all anymore."
The refreshing ointment prepared by the attendant physician, emitting a faint herbal fragrance, had been evenly applied to the red and swollen palm prints. He held the soft, warm little person in his arms as if he were the most precious treasure in the world, and walked briskly through the corridor to the study.
Inside the study, towering rosewood bookshelves reached all the way to the ceiling, neatly stacked with bundles of bamboo slips, silk manuscripts, and paper. The air was filled with the scent of ink and a faint hint of moth-proofing wormwood.
The most eye-catching thing was the enormous leather map hanging on the east wall, which almost covered the entire wall. On the map, the mountains, rivers, counties, and passes of the Han Dynasty were carefully outlined with ink, and two long cinnabar lines reached the north.
This is a picture of Huo Qubing, with his sword pointing outward.
Huo Yan, holding Huo Xian, walked straight to the giant map. The late spring sunset outside the window shone through the carved wooden lattices, casting long, mottled shadows on the floor, gilding his tall figure and the child in his arms with a soft golden edge. He freed a hand and pointed to the relatively empty, light-brown area of the Hetao Plain on the map. The Yellow River, like a giant dragon, snaked through the vast northern lands.
This is Huo Yan's picture, which shows his inner healing.
"Look here, Xiao Shan'er," he said, his fingertips gently tracing the map, as if he had touched the pulse of the land. "Father Zhong is going to build a huge canal here! It's going to be wider and longer than the Wei River beside our Chang'an City!"
He moved his finger along the course of the Yellow River, making a "leading" gesture. "I will lead the turbid yet abundant water of the Yellow River to this thirsty wasteland!"
A fiery light burst out from his eyes, which was brighter than the candlelight on the desk lamp and more dazzling than the stars rising outside the window.
"By then," Huo Yan's voice rose slightly, "those saline-alkali lands that now only grow wild grass and white flowers will be transformed into the most fertile farmland! The endless fields will be filled with golden corn! When the wind blows, it will be like rolling golden waves!"
He lowered his head and rubbed Huo Xian's soft head affectionately with his forehead. His tone softened with a barely perceptible pleading.
"Shan'er must grow up well and be healthy. If Zhongfu can't see you in the future, Shan'er will go and take care of you for him."
Huo Xian didn't understand at all, but he could feel the excitement and happiness in Zhongfu's words. He thought Zhongfu looked the best and sparkled like this.
So he opened his little mouth, revealing a few tiny teeth, smiled sweetly and foolishly at Huo Yan, and nodded vigorously.
"good!"
Huo Yanke was so fond of his little appearance that he couldn't help but lift the little guy up high and let him sit in his strong arms. Then he lowered his head and kissed and rubbed Huo Shan's tender little face with his cheek that had just been smeared with medicine and was still cool, muttering to himself.
"Oh my dear! Don't be like your worrying father in the future. He always runs to the desert to eat sand and fight, making Zhongfu worry so much that he can't sleep! You must listen to Zhongfu and stay in Chang'an from now on and grow up well."
Huo Xian felt extremely itchy from being rubbed by him. She shrank her little neck and twisted around in his arms, letting out a clear and cheerful laugh. She waved her little hands around, trying to grab Huo Yan's falling hair.
Huo Yan couldn't help but laugh at his carefree, sweet little face, his chest shaking. He simply hugged the little guy again.
"Our Shan'er is the best! He won't go to war anymore! Right?"
Little sweet boy.
"No, you promised Zhongfu, you can't go back on your word."
Huo Qubing, who had overheard the incident outside the door and hurried back, said:
What's wrong with fighting? It's such a waste if his son doesn't go to war!
And just... sometimes the horse rides too fast and eats a little bit of sand.
He lifted his robe and walked in. The afterglow of the setting sun outlined his cold jawline. His deep eyes swept over his son who was held high by Huo Yan, and then fell on Huo Yan's bright smiling face.
Huo Yan held the child and looked back at him, his face covered with red marks from the slap.
Huo Qubing's gaze fixed on the still-reddened finger mark on Huo Yan's left cheek. His thin lips were pursed, his jaw set as hard as stone. An invisible, suffocating chill instantly spread, freezing even the warm twilight in the study. Huo Xian, as if sensing something, suddenly stopped laughing and shrank uneasily into Huo Yan's embrace.
The smile on Huo Yan's face froze. He slowly hugged Huo Xian tightly, and subconsciously wanted to raise his hands to cover his face again.
At this moment, Huo Qubing moved. His brow furrowed tightly as he stepped forward, his movements carrying the fierceness of a battlefield warrior. He said nothing, simply extending his slender, powerful fingers, calloused from years of gripping reins and bows, he gently yet with irresistible force stroked the glaring red mark on Huo Yan's cheek.
After a long time, he squeezed out a few words from his tightly pursed lips, his voice low and hoarse.
"I beat you so hard for a piece of trash!"
This is disfigured.
The moment he finished speaking, he didn't listen to any explanation and turned abruptly, his black robe sleeves rustling in the wind. He didn't even glance at Huo Yan, nor did he pay any attention to his confused son. He strode straight out the door.
It was obvious that he was going to look for Wei Shaoer.
Huo Yan knew his brother too well. The more silent he was, the more powerful his anger was! This time, he was going to have a quarrel with his mother!
“Brother!” Huo Yan called out urgently, stuffing Huo Xian to the wet nurse, and rushed forward, hugging Huo Qubing’s thin waist tightly! “Don’t go! It’ll be the same if you go!”
He panted, his voice filled with urgency, "Gongsun Jingsheng Qiling...you made that scene, mother will beat you to death!"
You who made such a fuss to organize a large team to fight for Gongsun Jingsheng, go ahead, you will probably get a few more slaps.
Huo Qubing refused to listen. He said Huo Yan was stubborn, but he was even more stubborn than Huo Yan. He said he would leave and he left. When his steps were stopped, he turned his head slightly and glanced at Huo Yan's tightly hugged arms. Without saying a word, he suddenly exerted force with his arms, lifted Huo Yan up, and then continued to stride forward while holding a big teddy bear!
The meaning couldn't be clearer. I just did it. The funeral was full of singing and dancing, so festive. My mother would have to thank me.
Reason? He didn't listen.
Consequences? He doesn't care.
Even his mother cannot beat his brother!
Huo Yan was suddenly picked up by him and scolded as a stubborn donkey!
Then he covered his face tightly with his hands, not daring to loosen his other hand at all. Half forced and half helpless, he was dragged by Huo Qubing into the carriage and arrived at Chen's house.
When Huo Qubing stepped into the main hall, he felt that the light inside the hall had dimmed a little.
He ignored the maids standing in the hall and sat directly in the main seat. Chen Zhang came hurriedly and wanted to talk, but when he saw the slap mark on Huo Yan's face, he immediately left in shame.
Wei Shao'er arrived at this time. When Huo Qubing saw her coming, he put down his cup, put his hands on his waist, and raised his hands directly, "Mother, look, you beat my Ah Yan."
He pointed at Huo Yan's hand that was covering his face. The red marks that appeared between his fingers were even more glaring under the bright lights in the hall.
Huo Yan simply wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into, covering his face tightly and curling himself up into a ball.
Wei Shao'er was already in a very bad mood, and he was even more furious when he saw these two "culprits" dare to come to him on their own initiative. Especially when he remembered that before Gongsun Jingsheng's coffin was taken up, Huo Qubing got a group of witches and priests from somewhere, and displayed the ceremonial guards of the Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry, singing and dancing, with ghosts wailing and wolves howling, making the whole funeral a mess.
She hasn't even gone to settle the score with that bastard yet, and now they've walked into trouble themselves!
Huo Qubing was still there, adding fuel to the fire, "Look, mother! My Ah Yan must be in so much pain!"
"Besides, Gongsun Jingsheng deserved to die. It's good enough that he left his body behind. Why did you hit Ah Yan?"
Wei Shaoer was so angry at his nonsense that his eyebrows raised, and he laughed in anger. He stood up suddenly and raised his hand to give Huo Qubing a loud slap in the face!
“Bang!”
The sound was clear and crisp, and was particularly startling in the quiet hall.
Huo Qubing quickly dodged to prevent her from hitting him.
But the burning pain in his hand still reminded him that he was beaten by his mother.
Ever since they were little, their mother had never hit him and Ah Yan like this? And even hit them in the face!
A huge wave of humiliation and anger instantly overwhelmed him. He turned back abruptly, his eyes red with anger, staring at his mother, and squeezed out a few words through his teeth.
"Gongsun the dog thief!"
"That's your cousin!"
Wei Shaoer interrupted him harshly, her chest heaving violently. She glanced past her eldest son, whose neck was stiff like an enraged little lion, and glanced at her youngest son, who was covering his face and laughing at the side ever since his brother dodged. Her voice was filled with suppressed anger, "I'm going to hit him, okay?"
Huo Yan saw this and knew something terrible was going to happen if he stayed any longer. He immediately flattened himself out like a puddle of mud, trying to reduce his presence. Then he quickly stood on tiptoe and used the hand that was not covering his face to tightly cover Huo Qubing's mouth, which was still spitting fire. While forcing a smile that was uglier than crying at Wei Shaoer, he dragged Huo Qubing back.
After retreating to a safe distance, he said, "I don't think it's possible. I was beaten. I'm his child. He came to find the one who beat me. In a sense."
He laughed nonchalantly, "You need to apologize to him, compensate him, and explain why you hit his child."
Wei Shaoer picked up a bamboo stick to hit him.
Then he was blocked by Huo Qubing.
Huo Qubing supported himself on a bamboo pole and stood in front of Huo Yan, not moving an inch.
"no!"
The boy was so angry when he saw the two of them like this that he turned his head away and stopped looking at him.
The mother and son faced each other from a distance, their stubbornness and obstinacy were exactly the same.
Huo Yan was caught in the middle. He looked at his expressionless brother on the left, and then at his angry and distressed mother on the right. Knowing that he couldn't persuade Huo Qubing anytime soon, he simply gave up trying to stop him, found a cool mat away from the center of the storm and near the door, and sat down.
You guys take over, I'll take a break.
He hadn't even sat there for half an hour when Huo Qubing, who was in a stalemate, suddenly shook his head violently, as if to throw away all his frustrations. Then, without saying a word, he turned and walked away! His movements were as fast as a gust of wind, and he shouted angrily as he walked.
"Ayan! Huo Chunhe! Let's go!"
Seeing that he still dared to turn his back on him, Wei Shaoer added fuel to the fire and shouted angrily, "Ah Yan! Stop right there!"
Huo Yan watched as one man stormed out in a rage, the other furiously yelling at him from within the hall. Both were like volcanoes. He sighed helplessly, then finally got up from his mat, hurriedly saluted Wei Shaoer, and trotted to catch up with Huo Qubing.
His brother is his head, so he has to obey him.
Behind him came Wei Shaoer's exasperated voice and the sound of a bamboo pole being slammed to the ground, "Assholes! Next time those two come, don't open the door!"
Huo Qubing was in a bad mood. He and Huo Yan were actually of the same character. He was the emperor's favorite, an undefeated legend on the battlefield, a hot new upstart in the court, and he had always been domineering and proud.
Especially since he was trying to protect his brother in front of his mother, and ended up getting slapped in the face by both brothers. Although he didn't get hit in the face, he didn't get any justice at all, and instead was filled with anger. This was worse than eating a mouthful of sand on the battlefield.
His face turned pale and he got directly into the carriage parked outside the mansion.
Huo Yan also sat in sullenly.
The carriage started, its wheels rumbling as they rolled through the smooth streets of Chang'an. The atmosphere inside the carriage was oppressive. The more Huo Qubing thought about it, the angrier he became. When had he ever been treated like this? And it was by that idiot Gongsun Jingsheng!
"Turn around!" Huo Qubing suddenly shouted at the driver, "Go to Gongsun Mansion!"
Being bullied? What the hell is being bullied!
It was all caused by that bastard Gongsun Jingsheng! Now that he's dead, his father, Gongsun He, has to pay the debt! He's going to go talk to Gongsun He!
Huo Yan's mind raced at this. Go find Gongsun He? Gongsun He had just experienced the pain of losing his son and was now under house arrest. His aunt was still furious. Wouldn't provoking her only add fuel to the fire? And, ultimately, Gongsun Jingsheng was foolish, but the one who truly fueled the flames and led him astray was that...
"Brother, Uncle Gongsun just lost his son, and Auntie is here too... How about Li Cai?"
"If that old bastard hadn't been behind the scenes bewitching and exploiting that fool Gongsun Jingsheng, tempting him with all that vain wealth and power, how could this series of disasters have happened? How could we have..."
Huo Yan paused, not feeling comfortable saying "being beaten", and simply pointed to his cheek where fingerprints were still left.
Huo Qubing thought of Wei Junru and immediately changed his words: "Go to the Tingwei Prison!"
The carriage sped along the dusk-shrouded streets of Chang'an, the wheels making rapid sounds as it headed straight for the Supreme Court.
Deep within the Tingwei Prison, it was dark and damp, with only the crackling of torches stuck in the walls casting flickering, ghostly shadows. The air was thick with the stench of blood and rotten earth, making it suffocating.
Li Cai was imprisoned in the innermost cell for serious criminals. He had long lost the dignity of the prime minister he once was. He wore dirty prison clothes, his hair was disheveled, and he looked haggard. He had been sentenced to be executed in the autumn.
The heavy prison door swung open, and the tall figure of Huo Qubing appeared in the entrance. His black robes seemed to blend seamlessly into the gloomy surroundings, with only the gilded tiger-patterned belt hook hanging from his waist reflecting a cold gleam in the firelight. Huo Yan followed behind him, his smile gentle and seemingly out of place in this large prison. The slap marks on his face had not yet fully faded, and they looked a bit sinister in the flickering firelight.
The two men walked slowly forward, the torchlight dancing on their faces, casting shadows of varying light and dark. Finally, they stood outside the prison, silently looking at the haggard Li Cai inside.
The jailer was behind them, not daring to breathe.
Li Cai raised his head and looked towards the door with cloudy eyes.
Seeing Huo Qubing and Huo Yan, his face showed no sign of surprise, as if he had anticipated this. However, when his gaze swept over the clear palm print on Huo Yan's cheek, a hint of doubt flashed across his eyes. But this old fox was incredibly cunning, and he quickly calmed down. He said nothing more, twisting his lips into a smile that was deathly yet contained a complex meaning, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"The Marquis of Tai'an is here." He smiled. "Are you here to silence me?"
Huo Qubing said nothing, merely surveying the prisoner with his sharp eyes, coldly and condescendingly. He and Li Cai had no personal relationship, even though the latter had been prime minister under his uncle Wei Qing. Did this man know Ah Yan?
Huo Qubing's heart moved slightly and he looked at Huo Yan. Huo Yan shook his head slightly, and then he turned his gaze back to Li Cai.
Li Cai didn't seem to need his response. She just kept talking to herself in a low voice that was almost dreamy and contained a strange admiration.
"Golden balls and orchid fragrance, Huo Lang is a romantic. Good tactics, really good tactics." His cloudy eyes seemed to penetrate Huo Qubing in front of him and saw Huo Yan behind him. "I'm afraid that in three to five years, Huo Lang will be another... follower of the dragon..."
I don't know whether the tone was sarcasm, emotion, or some kind of desperate realization.
If that person hadn't been so meticulous and resourceful, plotting every step carefully, manipulating him and Gongsun Jingsheng into the palm of his hand, ultimately pushing them into this abyss of no return, how could he, the dignified Prime Minister Li Cai, have fallen to such a state? It was truly... admirable.
"Golden pill? Orchid fragrance?" Huo Qubing's pupils suddenly contracted! The elegant and unique orchid fragrance of Ah Yan instantly floated to his nose! That golden pill, he suddenly remembered the mysteriously disappeared golden pill awarded by Emperor Wu of Han a few months ago!
So...that golden elixir was taken away by A Yan!
This thought exploded in Huo Qubing's mind like thunder! His blood seemed to freeze instantly.
Why did Ah Yan take that golden elixir? And why did he burn incense, or orchid incense?
What will be the result of following the dragon in three to five years?
An even more terrifying and horrifying thought, like a venomous snake, drilled into Huo Qubing's mind uncontrollably, instantly seizing all his thoughts and making him feel as if he had fallen into an icy cave, even his breathing stagnated.
Ah Yan... is he going to kill the king?!
Li Cai seemed to have something else to say, but before he could finish his words, a sharp and piercing sound of breaking through the air suddenly rang out!
Huo Qubing didn't even realize when he pulled out the whip from his waist!
Anger, horror, and an instinctive sense of protection drove him to react!
But someone was faster than him.
The barbed whip tip was like the tongue of a poisonous snake. With all the strength of Huo Yan's body, it hit Li Cai's wrinkled old face with a weird smile fiercely and accurately!
“Bang!”
The skin was torn and the blood spurted out instantly!
Li Cai let out a shrill howl and rolled over on the ground, covering his face and twitching in pain.
Huo Yan retracted his whip, his knuckles white and trembling from the force. He didn't even glance at Li Cai, who was writhing and wailing on the ground, as if he were just a pile of disgusting garbage. He looked at Huo Qubing, who met his gaze. Then, addressing the pale-faced jailer outside the cell, every word he spoke was filled with undeniable murderous intent.
"Li Cai hanged himself out of fear of punishment."
After leaving this sentence, Huo Qubing did not hesitate, but turned and strode out of the cell, out of the Tingwei Prison filled with blood and conspiracy. Huo Yan followed closely behind.
The heavy prison door slammed shut behind him, blocking out Li Cai's desperate wails.
Huo Qubing almost rushed out of the gate of the Supreme Court. The cool night breeze outside suddenly rushed into his lungs, and he calmed down a little.
Orchid fragrance? Golden pill? Ah Yan's fragrance? Ah Yan took the golden pill! Why did Ah Yan take the golden pill? That was for the emperor...
Regicide! Why did Ah Yan want to kill His Majesty?
This shocking thought, enough to exterminate all of his clan, clung to Huo Qubing like a maggot on his tarsal bone. But he sighed softly and said to Huo Yan, "You're hitting the wrong person."
It's no different from before.
Huo Yan's heart was half relieved. He chuckled and said, "I'll go back and practice."
The two of them got into the carriage together, seemingly just chatting. Huo Qubing asked, "Ayan, have you seen the golden elixir that His Majesty gave you last time?"
Huo Yan looked up from his book, a hint of bewilderment plastered across his face, even a hint of helplessness at having his train of thought interrupted. "Golden elixir? The one Liu Che awarded me?" "Brother, I'm busy planning the Hetao water diversion project..."
He picked up the silk sketch on the table and said, "I'll find it for you when I get back."
Huo Qubing said nothing and nodded as usual.
The two talked for a while before getting out of the car one after another.
The theater was still brightly lit at night, and Shi Ye heard Uncle Dan say, "It's time to get started."
He was suddenly startled, "But I just gave you the medicine today!"
Uncle Dan said nothing. He simply put his hands behind his back, looked into the darkness beyond the theater's lights, and said softly, "The master is in trouble."
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