Chapter 191
Inside the palace, after the imperial physician had just left, Yue Chen sat up in bed and looked at Huo Luo. “Did you get the military order?”
“Yeah. Five thousand troops,” Huo Luo replied, sitting by the bedside.
Due to his internal injuries, Yue Chen’s complexion had been pale all along.
“Remember, once you complete the mission, the first thing you must do when you return and meet the Emperor is to present the military order. Even if he wants to leave it with you, you cannot accept it. This Emperor is most wary of others scheming for his military power, so he must know that you have no attachment to it whatsoever. Only then will he feel at ease granting you authority in the future. I won’t be by your side, so you must act convincingly.”
Huo Luo obediently followed the instructions.
As they were talking, there was a sudden knock on the door, and in walked Mo Jiahui.
Mo Jiahui’s expression turned serious, and she knelt down as soon as she entered.
“Big Brother Huo, I’ve been thinking all night. Please, I beg you to take me with you. My elder brother’s body is not yet cold, and I…”
Huo Luo hurried forward to help her up, directly refusing, “I’m sorry, Miss Mo, I can’t agree.”
Mo Jiahui’s eyes instantly turned red.
Yue Chen looked at Huo Luo, who remained silent, and helplessly explained for him, “You are now an important witness. The Emperor will not agree to let you leave the palace. Besides, Huo Luo’s journey is not without danger. You are the only blood relative left in the Mo family. Do you really want to take such a risk together? If you care about your brother’s funeral, rest assured, Huo Luo will help you handle it and ensure your brother’s proper burial.”
Huo Luo hadn’t thought about it so much. Hearing Yue Chen’s words, he just nodded silently in agreement.
Mo Jiahui held back her tears and could only bow in gratitude.
“The kindness of both of you, I will repay it even if I have to work like an ox or horse,” Mo Jiahui said gratefully.
Yue Chen’s expression stiffened slightly.
“You don’t have to be like this, Miss Mo. Huo Luo and I are old friends. If something happens to the Mo family, the Huo family will naturally not stand idly by,” Huoluo said firmly.
Mo Jiahui’s eyes flickered as she looked at Huo Luo, filled with trust, gratitude, and… admiration.
Yue Chen recalled the first time they met Mo Jiahui. It was evident that she had heard of Huo Luo’s name, which made her trust them immediately. How did she hear about it? Probably through the rumor of their almost-engagement. Surely, the Mo family must have mentioned it to Mo Jiahui.
However, she hadn’t brought it up until now. Not leveraging it as leverage, just harboring admiration and abiding by propriety. She truly was a rare and admirable young lady, well-suited for Huo Luo.
Mo Jiahui didn’t interrupt their conversation further and quietly left.
Huo Luo withdrew his gaze and was about to speak to Yue Chen, but he noticed Yue Chen was lost in thought.
“What’s wrong?”
Yue Chen looked over, “This matter is over. Although the Emperor will reward Miss Mo, she is now without a home. Your Huo family will surely take care of her.”
Huo Luo’s expression changed slightly.
“Your mother happens to share this idea. She’ll probably take the opportunity to keep Miss Mo at home. Miss Mo doesn’t seem to dislike you either, so everything will naturally fall into place. Your Huo family has integrity and won’t mind a scarred girl, especially since she took a knife for you back then,” Yue Chen analyzed.
Huo Luo shuddered, staring coldly at Yue Chen.
Yue Chen continued, “A girl without a family to protect her, without her beauty, is destined to have a hard life. Morally and logically, you should marry her. It would also fulfill your father’s last wish. It seems… there will be good news when you return with military achievements.”
As he spoke, Yue Chen suddenly smiled with relief. “But we can ask for a favor from His Highness and request Divine Physician Mu to see if he can cure the girl. Then the future Madam Huo…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Yue Chen’s cheek was grasped by a large hand, preventing him from continuing.
Yue Chen raised an eyebrow and looked over. “What’s the matter?”
Huo Luo was practically seething with anger, but he didn’t know why he was so furious.
“I’ve said it before, I won’t marry her.”
“But her face…” Yue Chen tried to continue.
“If I had to marry her just because she took a blow for me, then considering how many blows we’ve taken for each other since childhood, wouldn’t we have been married long ago?” Huo Luo retorted angrily.
Yue Chen was momentarily stunned, his black pupils trembling slightly.
Huo Luo breathed heavily, “Miss Mo is pitiful, and the Huo family will provide the best care for her. I will take care of her like a sister, that’s all.”
Yue Chen chuckled, pushing away Huo Luo’s hand. Huo Luo, the fool, still didn’t understand. Given all the factors at play, this marriage had almost become inevitable for the Huo family.
Moreover, with the Huo family’s current lack of heirs, they were eager to continue their lineage. When the time came, with pressure from relatives and moral obligations, it wouldn’t be as simple as Huo Luo shaking his head.
If the Mo family still had relatives, if they had been more careful during that fight and hadn’t let the girl get injured on her face, there might have been some room for negotiation. But now, that was impossible.
Yue Chen’s complexion, originally pale, now looked even worse. “Are you stupid? Do you think your marriage is something you can decide on your own?”
After saying this, Yue Chen didn’t hear any response from Huo Luo. He probably wasn’t foolish enough to think that way, and he understood some things in his heart.
In an instant, Yue Chen’s mind was filled with dark thoughts. He could have stopped everything if he just used his brain, but… Yue Chen blinked slowly, looking at Huo Luo. It was time for him to leave.
But as he raised his gaze, he suddenly felt his field of vision being invaded, a powerful sense of oppression approaching. Huo Luo leaned in, his hot breath washing over Yue Chen’s cheek.
Yue Chen’s pupils contracted, instinctively leaning back to avoid it, his brows furrowing tightly.
And this sudden movement jolted Huo Luo awake. He froze in his approach, his eyes darkening. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled Yue Chen into his embrace, holding him tightly.
“What are you doing?”
“Transferring internal energy, as instructed by Divine Physician Mu.”
“I’ve seen you transfer internal energy to others, and you didn’t have to embrace them.”
“That was someone else.”
Yue Chen opened his mouth, but he wasn’t sure whether he should dig deeper.
“Yue Chen, listen to me carefully. No one can force me, and you shouldn’t try to guess my future. Even if you’re clever, you can’t predict everyone’s heart.” Huo Luo shifted his arm, holding Yue Chen even tighter, as if afraid that if he let go, the person would disappear.
Yue Chen’s chin rested on Huo Luo’s shoulder, his eyes filled with struggle.
Until the continuous warmth from Huo Luo gradually sent Yue Chen into a deep sleep, both physically and mentally exhausted.
Huo Luo gently laid Yue Chen down, quietly watching for a while. He reached out to brush aside the hair on Yue Chen’s forehead, murmuring, “You’re too smart, so I can’t figure out what you’re thinking. I’m afraid of making mistakes. Couldn’t you just tell me directly? As long as you give me orders, I’ll willingly comply with whatever you say.”
Soon, the room returned to silence. When Yue Chen woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, and Huo Luo had long since departed.
Yue Chen blinked as he lay on the bed, letting out a bitter smile before sitting up. However, as soon as he straightened his posture, he felt a sudden weight on his neck, as if something had fallen down.
Yue Chen wasn’t accustomed to wearing anything around his neck.
He lowered his head to take a look, and his expression suddenly changed. He reached out and lifted the blood-red jade pendant emitting a faint glow from his chest, upon which was unmistakably engraved a “Huo” character.
The Huo family heirloom jade pendant, traditionally passed down to the Huo family’s eldest daughter-in-law, who would later pass it on to her eldest son.
Yue Chen had seen this jade pendant since he was young; it belonged to Huo Luo. As a martial artist, Huo Luo wasn’t accustomed to wearing such items and usually kept it stored away at home.
Even though Yue Chen liked to playfully snatch things from Huo Luo when they were young, he had always been respectful and would never casually touch someone else’s family heirloom.
During this trip, he happened to come across it in Huo Luo’s belongings. He understood that his family must have insisted he take it along, hoping he would use it to formalize an engagement with Miss Mo.
However, now it appeared around his neck.
Yue Chen smiled bitterly, reaching out cautiously to grasp it, his expression still complex.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, startling Yue Chen. He turned to see Chief Steward Ning standing at the entrance.
Yue Chen furrowed his brows slightly. The safety and secrecy within the palace were entrusted to Chief Steward Ning. He wasn’t worried about Chief Steward Ning being harmful to him, so he smiled and said, “Chief Steward Ning, isn’t it impolite to enter without knocking?”
“The time for medication has passed. The eunuchs knocked on the door, but you didn’t respond, so I had to come and check myself. Just as I arrived, I saw the personal maid of the Imperial Concubine Huang lurking around. I sent her away. It seems they’ve learned of your return through other channels, but they don’t know what you’ve found out,” Chief Steward Ning said, smiling contemptuously as he motioned for his subordinates to enter and deliver the medicine to Yue Chen.
“It’s really troublesome, Chief Steward Ning. After all, not everyone has the privilege to dismiss the palace maids,” Yue Chen said with a smile as he took the medicine bowl, releasing the jade pendant from his hand.
The moment Chief Steward Ning saw it, his face turned strangely sinister. “The young lad from the Huo family treats you really well, huh? He even gave you the family heirloom.”
Yue Chen was taken aback and quickly tucked the jade pendant back into his clothes, his face flushing hotly. “Chief Steward Ning seems to know a lot. General Qi is not someone who talks much, yet he’s willing to share all sorts of gossip and secrets with you.”
Ignoring Chief Steward Ning’s changing expression upon hearing General Qi’s name, Yue Chen continued, “But it’s just keeping it safe for a good friend.”
“Ha, ridiculous.” Chief Steward Ning naturally didn’t believe him, but he couldn’t be bothered to argue further. He continued, “The Ministry of Works is definitely going to undergo a major purge this time. The Eldest Prince’s influence is bound to suffer some heavy blows. It’s truly a troubled time. First, it was the Ministry of Rites, and now the Ministry of Works. Who knows which department will be next?”
Chief Steward Ning’s probing was quite evident, but Yue Chen didn’t show any signs of weakness. “The Six Ministries should only be loyal to the Emperor. With the Ministry of Works being eroded by the Wang family, it’s only a matter of time before the Emperor takes action. Can’t Chief Steward Ning see that?”
“Is that so?” Chief Steward Ning raised an eyebrow. Although he didn’t have any evidence or proof, he had a feeling that there was something more behind this. In less than a year, the power dynamics in the imperial harem had undergone drastic changes, and many hidden dangers were gradually being exposed. He didn’t believe that all of this was just a coincidence.
Meanwhile, Yue Chen hadn’t expected Chief Steward Ning to be so astute and capable of grasping the situation so well. One wrong move and he might be caught off guard by him. Indeed, he was a formidable opponent.
Yue Chen had always been curious. Chief Steward Ning was originally a trusted confidant of the Empress Dowager, but after the new emperor ascended the throne, he became one of the emperor’s closest advisors. According to rumors, the emperor had deliberately ordered someone to search for General Qi’s body for Chief Steward Ning, but they only found General Qi’s personal belongings, which were returned to Chief Steward Ning as mementos. Chief Steward Ning felt grateful and repaid the favor.
Chief Steward Ning’s cunning and changeable nature made it plausible for him to do such things, but Yue Chen couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.
Right now, the most worrying thing was the movements of the Imperial Concubine Huang and the Eldest Prince. They didn’t know much at the moment, but they must have sensed that something was amiss.
Previously, according to what Huo Luo said, several officials had returned from the south this morning to report to the emperor. However, those officials were originally dispatched to other districts, so they didn’t know much. It shouldn’t cause any major trouble.
Inwardly, Yue Chen calculated, suddenly remembering that one of those officials was none other than Lin Qingyang’s father, Marquis An Nan.
Marquis An Nan also held the position of Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works, so this incident was bound to involve him. As for the extent of his involvement, it would probably be determined by Chu Lishu. Had they already anticipated how to handle Lin Qingyang’s father? Would the people in the other courtyard be affected?
Meanwhile, Marquis An Nan had already arrived at the gate of the other courtyard, accompanied by Lin Qingwei, who insisted on coming along.
At this moment, Marquis An Nan’s face was already filled with anxiety and unease.
While Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu were at the medical pavilion, as the main focus was on the crucial final treatment for County Princess Yawen, they naturally stayed by her side.
Lin Qingyang was somewhat surprised to hear that Marquis An Nan had come to visit.
Chu Lishu hadn’t expected them to return so quickly. After glancing at County Princess Yawen, who was preparing for the final treatment, he decided to wait until County Princess Yawen’s treatment was completed before discussing something with her. He didn’t want to disrupt the treatment.
As the ones in charge at home, they naturally came together to meet Marquis An Nan.
Lin Qingyang was surprised to see Lin Qingwei there as well. After all, since their conflict, Lin Qingwei had rarely visited.
He noticed that something seemed off about Lin Qingwei this time. Her expression was extremely unpleasant, as if she were in a daze.
Marquis An Nan first showed false concern and also inquired about the matter of Yawen’s recovery under Mu Huichun’s care. However, Lin Qingyang couldn’t shake the feeling that he looked as if he were asking when Yawen would die. It made him feel disgusted.
Lin Qingyang impatiently placated them, but Lin Qingwei actively requested to see her mother. Lin Qingyang instinctively disagreed, wanting her to wait until the treatment was over before seeing her.
However, at that moment, Lin Qinglan unexpectedly arrived, saying that their mother had heard about Lin Qingwei’s arrival and wanted to see her alone.
As they were biological mother and daughter, there might still be some affection between them. Moreover, Yawen felt she was getting better, so perhaps she would have the energy to properly discipline her daughter in the future, and thus wanted to see her.
In this situation, Lin Qingyang naturally didn’t intervene, only reminding Lin Qingwei not to disturb their mother and to avoid making her unhappy, as she was still undergoing treatment.
Lin Qingwei quickly agreed and left with Lin Qinglan.
When only Chu Lishu, Lin Qingyang, and Marquis An Nan remained, the Marquis subtly hinted at the purpose of his visit.
Clearly, Marquis An Nan had realized that there was trouble brewing in the Ministry of Works, and as a deputy minister of that department, he was inevitably implicated. Now that his son and nephew had more influence than him in the palace, he naturally sought the assistance of these two younger generations, hoping that through their connections, he could extricate himself from the situation.
Lin Qingyang hadn’t initially realized that Marquis An Nan would be implicated in this matter. After all, Marquis An Nan wasn’t affiliated with the Wang family; he was loyal to the Emperor and known for his cautiousness in office. Even if he were affected, it shouldn’t have been a significant issue. He hadn’t thought much about it at the time. However, when the Marquis sought their help, it suddenly dawned on him. They had promised the Liu family that Marquis An Nan would face appropriate consequences. Was this what Chu Lishu meant? It seemed that Chu Lishu had known about Marquis An Nan’s vulnerabilities all along.
In the original plot, Chu Lishu didn’t act against Marquis An Nan’s residence at this stage, so this current situation didn’t exist. It appears that Chu Lishu took action early to fulfill their promise.
Lin Qingyang discreetly glanced at Chu Lishu and saw the calm and composed demeanor on his face, contrasting with the anxiousness and fluster of Marquis An Nan. Lin Qingyang had no intention of helping, and was about to make a sarcastic remark.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door, and Shuncai rushed in, looking frantic. “It’s bad, young master! County Princess Niangniang is in trouble!”
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of coffee for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
