If not for Lou Panshun, Huo Xian probably wouldn’t have had much interaction with the Crown Prince’s eldest grandson. As an unlikable, rebellious son of a concubine, he had no chance to approach that divine-like boy raised in the Eastern Palace.
Calling him a deity wasn’t an exaggeration.
Today, perhaps no one remembers, but back then, the name Changsun Lianyu garnered as much attention as his father, Crown Prince Huaijin. Initially, this was because he was Emperor Xianzhen’s first grandson, adored by the emperor, who often kept him close. It wasn’t uncommon to see scenes in the imperial study where the young Changsun sat on Emperor Xianzhen’s lap as he reviewed memorials, or played with nine rings while the inner council discussed state affairs.
Emperor Xianzhen loved his little grandson so much that no one dared to say a word against it.
Later, perhaps from listening to politics in the imperial presence, the young grandson gained considerable insight at an early age. By eight, he could outdebate scholars, his eloquence and literary talent rendering the scholars of the Hanlin Academy speechless. At ten, he wrote “On the People,” articulating the principle of “water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it” with such clarity that the policies he proposed to benefit the people still provide benefits today.
His every word was not only full of wisdom but also compassion.
Everyone said that the eldest grandson had entirely inherited the talents and benevolence of the Crown Prince. Given his young age, he might achieve even more than his father in the future, ensuring the long-lasting prosperity of the Dayong dynasty.
Huo Xian encountered the eldest grandson while accompanying Lou Panshun into the palace. Like Huo Jue, the eldest grandson was so outstanding that it was almost irritating, mature beyond his years, and a fervent preacher, as if he considered himself a savior, while Huo Xian was a pitiable soul who had strayed off the path. While others avoided him, the eldest grandson insisted on rescuing him.
In the eyes of the eldest grandson, salvation meant reading the classics.
He firmly believed that more reading could bring even a demon back to the right path.
Thus, Huo Xian became his reluctant study companion.
Dressed in fine robes and holding a classic text, the eldest grandson would often say, “Reading more will benefit you. Swords will only increase your hostility.”
“You are too competitive and will inevitably suffer for it. Besides, does victory or defeat matter so much? My imperial grandfather said that swords are meant to protect the people and should be used rightly.”
“Close your eyes and take a deep breath, Huo Xian. You are too restless.”
Despite the boy’s sharpness, there was a purity in his heart. Over time, amidst the daily lectures and arguments, a certain friendship developed. Unfortunately, the fire in the Eastern Palace came too swiftly, catching everyone off guard.
Huo Xian later thought that if the eldest grandson had grown up safely, he would have been like the Crown Prince—graceful and majestic, standing tall and straight like pine and bamboo.
But now—
Huo Xian held the curtain, stopping in his tracks as he saw him turn his wheelchair around. His face was pale, no longer the robust youth he once was.
Xie Subai only smiled softly, a smile devoid of warmth, as the wind stirred his sleeves. He spoke in a casual tone, “You’re here, have a seat.”
The room was filled with the fragrance of wine. After the maidservants served the wine cups, they all withdrew, leaving space for the two old friends to catch up.
Catch up…
Huo Xian sat down, their eyes meeting in silence for a moment, but there was no old story to share. He said, “The plague and the treasury deficit were to incite public anger and spark conflicts. The uprisings across the land were your doing, not just to retaliate against the court, but to take the opportunity to raise an army.”
Xie Subai smiled, “Yes.”
In the midst of conversation, the wind was light, and the clouds were thin.
The turmoil in the capital would inevitably result in a thousand miles of bloodshed, but to him, it seemed like the most insignificant matter. Huo Xian remained silent, gently rubbing the rim of his wine cup with his thumb before speaking, “Once the war begins, it will be a matter of severe injury. Your Highness, if you wish to reclaim your position, this is the worst way to do it.”
Xie Subai nodded, “But it is also the fastest way. Otherwise, what should I do? Should I wait for the eunuchs to die, for the emperor to die, and then for those stubborn ministers to die as well? You should understand, unless it comes to a desperate situation, they would rather support a relative of the royal family than me.”
“I have waited too long. I do not want to wait any longer.”
Huo Xian looked at him sharply, “Do you have to fight?”
Xie Subai retorted, “What reason do I have not to fight?”
He stared at Huo Xian, “I once naively wanted you to be a good person, but later I realized, in my youthful innocence, I thought that having good intentions would allow me to stand firm in the world. Only later did I understand that I couldn’t even guarantee my own life, and after death, I would be infamous and not meet a good end. Under the weight of a bad reputation, no one cares what you have done. My father dedicated his life to the people, but look, who remembers that he stayed up day and night to amend laws and reduce taxes? Who remembers him kneeling in the rain to plead for the people?”
“You tell me, what reason do I have not to fight?”
Huo Xian asked, “Does Lou Panshun agree?”
Xie Subai took a sip of tea and said, “He probably doesn’t agree in his heart.”
“Alright.” Huo Xian set down his wine cup, “I’ll ask you one more time, do you really have to fight?”
This time, without waiting for Xie Subai to respond, he merely glanced at Xie Subai, then stood up, sweeping his robe aside. Just as his hand touched the door, Xie Subai suddenly called out to him, “Why don’t you ask? Ask why I didn’t contact you when I wasn’t dead, ask why I wanted to kill you.”
Huo Xian didn’t say a word, nor did he look back, and went straight out the door.
Xie Subai stared at the cold wine cup opposite him for a long time, his face turning extremely pale. Ao Zhi walked in, concerned, “Master, are you alright?”
Xie Subai tasted a sip of the wine Huo Xian hadn’t drunk, and it was so strong it made his eyes water. He coughed for a long time under Ao Zhi’s worried gaze, and said, “You know, I was never afraid that Huo Xian was a bad person. Bad people are good, they can be used by me.”
“But I’m afraid that he is a good person.”
–
Huo Xian walked quickly, afraid that if he asked a few more questions, his heart would soften. He almost bumped into Yinzhuang, who was standing dazed outside the door.
The carriage was parked right in front of Yipin Residence. Huo Xian lifted the curtain and asked, “Where is she?”
His face was extremely unpleasant, and Nanyue suddenly stood up straight, “Master, after you went in, Miss Yuluo also went in and hasn’t come out…”
Before Nanyue could finish speaking, Huo Xian turned and went back.
He was aggressive, and this time Yinzhuang reacted quickly. She stepped forward to block him, “What is Lord Huo going to do?”
Not long ago, in the next elegant room.
Shen Qingli paced back and forth, tapping his folding fan and muttering, “What to do, what to do, they won’t start fighting, will they… And you, why did you let them meet? Aren’t you afraid of the chaos?”
Ji Yuluo was dizzy from being shaken. “Stop talking nonsense, sit down.”
Shen Qingli sighed as he sat down, then sighed again.
Once it was quiet, he felt bored and began to size up Ji Yuluo. “I’ve been curious about something for a long time… Huo Xian didn’t seem to have a liking for women when he was young. Maybe he got worse as he grew older. He has so many concubines in his mansion. How do you tolerate it? I heard there’s one he’s particularly fond of, her surname is—”
Ji Yuluo replied, “Sheng.”
Shen Qingli nodded, “Yes, yes! Concubine Sheng, a dancer from the palace, a gift from the emperor. What do you think about it? Are you planning to poison them all and have him to yourself? That’s… not a bad idea.”
Ji Yuluo: “…”
Shen Qingli let out a sound and was about to ask more when they heard Yinzhuang’s voice outside the door, “You can’t do this! Our lady isn’t here, even if she were, you can’t barge in like this, or we’ll take action!”
As the words fell, the door was forcibly pushed open. Shen Qingli, quick as a flash, darted out the window, leaving only a shadow behind.
Huo Xian glanced that way and then looked at Ji Yuluo, “Let’s go back.”
Ji Yuluo stood up as if nothing had happened. Yinzhuang looked at her worriedly, wondering if she had really not been coerced.
It seemed she hadn’t.
Yinzhuang checked again, stomped her foot, and decided to let it go.
Ji Yuluo walked out of the private room just in time to see Ao Zhi lifting the curtain opposite. As the curtain closed, she inadvertently locked eyes with Xie Subai. She paused and said to Ao Zhi, “Call Doctor Yue to take a look.”
Ao Zhi whispered, “Master doesn’t want to…”
Ji Yuluo insisted, “Go call him, just say I invited him, and he owes me a favor.”
Ao Zhi’s face lit up with joy and he hurried off.
After giving the order, Ji Yuluo followed Huo Xian into the carriage.
The person in front of her was silent. Ji Yuluo followed closely. As soon as she stepped into the carriage and bent down, she was pulled by the arm and almost fell into Huo Xian’s arms, where she was held tightly around the waist.
Ji Yuluo instinctively tried to break free, but suddenly felt a weight on her left shoulder. Huo Xian had rested his chin on her shoulder, his high nose nestled against her neck.
His breathing was even, and he let out a long sigh, maintaining that position without speaking or moving.
As the carriage traveled, Ji Yuluo’s shoulder and neck began to ache. She even suspected that Huo Xian had fallen asleep. Just as she moved slightly, she heard him ask, “What were you upset about a few days ago?”
Ji Yuluo paused, “Nothing.”
Ji Yuluo rarely showed any emotional fluctuations, and anger was seldom seen. But whenever she did get angry, the cause was always clear. However, the things that Sheng Lanxin had said seemed to hit all her sore spots. In the end, she couldn’t even tell which matter had angered her more.
Thinking of this, Ji Yuluo snapped, “Mind your own business.”
Huo Xian, perhaps with a slight laugh, suddenly bit her neck, not hard but enough to send a shiver through her. His lips moved upwards, gently tugging at the earring below her ear, seemingly to distract her.
Ji Yuluo saw through it but didn’t say anything, letting the earring, now damp, return to its place beneath her ear.
Huo Xian leaned back on the soft seat, facing Ji Yuluo.
His beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed like deep pools, usually tightly sealed, revealing nothing. But now, they seemed to crack open, leaking emotions that had no place on his face. Ji Yuluo couldn’t understand the myriad of unspoken words, but she could see a deep fatigue and annoyance in his heavy gaze.
He seemed like a vessel shattered by someone.
Ji Yuluo gently touched his handsome nose. How strange, why did she find him… pitiful?
