Chapter 84: Isatis Incense
When Yun Chen returned, the Huo Gang only said to the outside world that "the personal guards left with the account books, and then went undercover to attack the opponent, risking their lives to return with the account books and the opponent's secrets."
At Huo Gannian's instruction, stories, more exciting and ridiculous than the last, spread out of the Huo Mansion.
It calmed down the Huo Gang's drama of "unlimited bounty for a small guard".
Huo Gannian didn't say anything, but Nan Lijun was so smart and understood the emperor well that she guessed a lot in her mind and knew that Yun Chen's disappearance was probably related to the emperor, and the cause was that she had instigated Yun Chen to do the war dance.
In addition, having seen how important Yun Chen was to Huo Gannian, as soon as she heard that Yun Chen had returned, Nan Lijun immediately sent her senior female official, Song Lan, to visit him with gifts.
As the most trusted female official beside Nanlijun, Songlan's arrival was no less important than the princess herself.
The Huo family held a banquet to welcome them. Huo Gannian, Huo Luyu, and even Old Master Huo attended the banquet.
With Old Master Huo around, it was not Huo Gannian's turn to detain Yun Chen.
Song Lan sat in the main seat, with six palace maids and two guards following beside her; Old Master Huo and Yun Chen sat on the right, while Huo Gannian and Huo Luyu sat on the left.
After a bland official opening, Woan picked up his chopsticks and everyone started eating.
Mr. Huo picked up half a chicken with his chopsticks and put it in Yun Chen's bowl, coaxing:
"My dear, eat more. You're so skinny, it makes me sad. My good-for-nothing Huo's heart is all on you. You have to be well!"
Huo Gannian and Huo Luyu, who were called "Huo's kids", thought they were being talked about, so they lowered their heads to eat without saying a word.
Song Lan looked at this strange rule where guards, no matter how old or young, could sit at the table to eat, and she only managed to hold back from laughing because of her professional ethics as a high-ranking official.
But as he ate, Isatis discovered an interesting phenomenon.
Whenever she brought up a topic worth talking or joking about, Mr. Huo would look at Yun Chen with fondness.
Yun Chen unconsciously looked at Huo Gannian, who remained calm and did not respond, but Huo Luyu on the side looked at him tenderly.
What a messy family! Song Lan curled his lips and couldn't help but feel a little contempt. He quickly raised his teacup to cover it up and returned to his usual official tone.
After the banquet, everyone moved to the central hall, where incense burners and gold utensils had already been set up. The table was filled with palm-sized jade jars filled with hundreds of kinds of incense powder.
Song Lan sat down at the table, washing his hands and rolling up his sleeves gracefully.
She opened the lid of the incense burner, picked up the golden chopsticks, and evenly combed the snow-white incense ash in the burner. Then she picked up the silk towel, gently wiped off the ash on the chopsticks, put the chopsticks back into the incense tube, and stretched out her jade fingers to pick up the ash press, patiently and carefully pressing the ash flat bit by bit.
Then place the incense seal, adjust the incense powder, beat the lotus, start the seal, and lead the incense...
Isandine moved lightly and steadily, skillfully completing the complicated and delicate steps, holding the incense spoon, which was smaller than a fingernail, without a single tremor.
When Yun Chen was a child, he had seen the incense maker in his family making incense, and he knew that Songlan must be a master at making incense.
In addition, Woad has a very outstanding appearance, and a pair of intelligent eyes that reveal his cleverness.
Yun Chen was fascinated by Song Lan, but he also noticed that Song Lan's head was full of exquisite pearl hairpins, which were intricately layered and overlapped in her beautiful hairstyle, making her long hair flow beautifully.
The teardrop-shaped jade earrings swayed gently with Song Lan's movements, delicately hitting her delicately made-up cheeks.
Unlike Yun Chen, Song Lan's wrist is white and delicate, and the crystal clear bracelet hanging on it looks like white snow pressing down on a light branch, unable to bear it.
Her fingers were long, white, and tender, like onions, and her carefully manicured nails were painted cardamom pink, looking clean and fragrant.
Yun Chen is a person who rarely gets timid, but at this moment, looking at the fairy-like Song Lan, and then looking at herself who is unkempt and has never learned to be a girl, she felt inferior for the first time. She subconsciously looked at Huo Gannian, but found that Huo Gannian was staring at Song Lan with admiration in his eyes.
Feeling a little sad in his heart, Yun Chen lowered his head and stopped looking.
"I offer a burner of incense to Young Master Huo to show the princess's kindness." Song Lan said softly.
While Song Lan and Huo Gannian were talking, Mr. Huo approached Yun Chen and whispered:
"Don't worry, it's just a courtesy. Gan Nian despises these useless and timid people!"
Yun Chen knew that Mr. Huo was confused again and treated her as his daughter-in-law who had not yet married into the family.
Soon, the indigo incense offering was finished.
Huo Gannian wanted to discuss matters with Song Lan, so Old Master Huo asked Yun Chen to escort him back to the courtyard.
As soon as Mr. Huo stood up, Huo Luyu said he wanted to go back with him.
Huo Gannian didn't say much, but Old Master Huo sighed imperceptibly.
Along the way, Mr. Huo and Yun Chen were in front, and Huo Luyu walked behind them.
Looking at Yun Chen's straight and thin back, which he hadn't seen for more than three months, Huo Luyu's eyes became a little moist.
Xiaoyue secretly put the handkerchief into Huo Luyu's hand and whispered:
"Miss, wipe it quickly, don't let anyone see it."
Yun Chen didn't know what Huo Luyu was like, but she felt like there was a thorn on her back, and she felt very uncomfortable because of the stare.
When walking through a small garden, Yun Chen suddenly heard a "ouch" sound behind him, and his pearl hairpins clattered, as if Huo Luyu had sprained her ankle.
She subconsciously turned and stepped back, lowered her head and avoided looking, staying away from the suspect.
Huo Luyu looked disappointed, but Old Master Huo became even happier, and there was even more approval in his eyes when he looked at Yun Chen.
"Yun Chen, there are too many errands to do in Gannian, you should go back and get busy." said Mr. Huo.
Huo Luyu endured the pain in his feet, quickly stood up and looked at Yun Chen. Just as he was about to speak, he was stopped by a stern look from Old Man Huo and dared not speak.
After Yun Chen left, Mr. Huo dismissed his attendants and said helplessly:
"Luyu, Yunchen is not a good match for you."
Huo Luyu's face suddenly turned pale and blue, and tears welled up in his eyes.
She bit her lip and wanted to explain something, but Mr. Huo said:
"Yun Chen is only fulfilling her duty to protect you. If it were any other master, she would protect you with all her heart and soul. That's just how she is."
Huo Luyu's voice trembled: "I know... He treats me, my brother, and you the same way..."
Mr. Huo shook his head and sighed, "No, Yunchen treats your brother differently, do you understand?"
Huo Luyu looked at Mr. Huo in shock and disbelief. After a moment, she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know whether she was comforting Mr. Huo or herself, she murmured:
"I almost forgot, Dad has been confused these years. How could Yun Chen and brother... Dad, let me take you back!"
Mr. Huo was choked and speechless.
He recalled the scene over thirty years ago. That once powerful dynasty was now reduced to ruins. The people and events were too much to look back on. Even Cao Fang had become an old man like him...
The change of dynasties is always accompanied by the bloodshed and sacrifice of countless heroes, and countless secrets are buried in it.
For example, the great figures of the previous dynasty that people talk about so much, disguised themselves as men and commanded nine armies. How free and happy they were!
He still clearly remembers the day more than 30 years ago when he was appointed as the general of the Black Armor Army Cavalry Battalion.
On the high seat, a man in white clothes exudes a sinister and imposing aura. He is as gentle as a scholar, yet as bold as a fearless young man. With a pair of cold and murderous eyes, he towers over the glorious peak of the previous dynasty.
Later, when they met again in the Golden Palace of Nan Kingdom, the important figure had taken off her men's clothes and became the Queen of Nan Kingdom.
Only then did he realize that the "feminine yet domineering" demeanor he showed when he first met her was actually the characteristic of a woman disguised as a man.
Therefore, when he met Yun Chen for the first time, he instantly noticed the subtle temperament of Yun Chen.
Although he was certain of his judgment, he was unable to explain it clearly to Huo Luyu.
"Alas, it's a tangled mess that can't be sorted out..." Old Master Huo sighed deeply.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
