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Qi Min lowered his eyes.
“You and I will worry about this, but Pang Shao won’t.” He said, “When I left the table, I deliberately walked near Pang Shao, and I witnessed someone who approached to comfort him. When he frankly said to the man, ‘Let him be arrogant. He will face great difficulties in the future’, I knew that I guessed right.”
His good friend exclaimed anxiously, “That can’t be good!”
Qi Min pondered for a while, then spoke leisurely.
“We can’t really let him get away with it.” He said, “That’s why I said that today, in order to start a dispute with General Lou and draw a clear line with him. In this way, Pang Shao won’t shy away too much, and perhaps even test my intentions, so as to use me. Although I am old and decrepit, I also have some acquaintances in court more or less. By then, we can always find clues. Whatever he wants to do, there will always be traces we can follow and ways to break them.”
The friend pondered for a moment, nodded in approval and said, “Your method is promising.”
After speaking, he sighed and said, “I have always known that you’re honest and straightforward, but now it seems that you’re also astute.”
Qi Min smiled at his remarks and shook his head.
“I’m not astute,” he contradicted. “It was only recently that His Highness Jingwang secretly saved me. It was then I suddenly realized that in a fight with Pang Shao, I should learn that defense is sometimes the best offense.”
On the other end, indistinct bursts of scolding sounded in Lou Yue’s carriage.
Lou Wanjun sat aside and laughed straight at him.
“What are you happy about!” Lou Yue was disgruntled.
Lou Wanjun answered with a smile, “Nothing. It’s just that Father didn’t mince words today. It was quite pleasant to see.”
“It’s no use to scold him!” Lou Yue said angrily, “The absurd deed has already been done. It’s just a pity…”
Speaking of this, he suddenly did not know whether it was a pity that the good imperial court was ruined in this manner, or a pity that the child, Huo Wujiu, had suffered this ordeal.
“What a pity for Brother Huo?” Lou Wanjun prompted.
Lou Yue turned somber and no longer spoke.
He knew he was sorry for the Marquis of Dingbei, but the righteous cause of his family and country was here. As a general, he shouldn’t be swayed just because of his brother’s private affairs. But—But…
His brother died on the battlefield, and he didn’t even know where he was buried. He only had such a son, but now he was looking on as that child was tortured and maimed, begging for death, and humiliated as a concubine.
Lou Yue felt distressed.
However, Lou Wanjun laughed softly beside him, reached out and patted him on the shoulder. She comforted him, “Father, don’t be too sad. It’s already happened. At least, that Jingwang doesn’t seem to be a scoundrel. He won’t really do anything to Brother Huo.”
Lou Yue glared at her, “How do you know he’s a good person from a single encounter? Just because he is good-looking?”
“Of course not. If you think he’s a wretch, why didn’t you scold him today?” Speaking of this, Lou Wanjun couldn’t help but add, “However, it’s true that he is quite good-looking.”
Lou Yue raised his voice, “Even so, that child shouldn’t have been married off to him!”
Lou Wanjun persuaded him, “This is something you definitely shouldn’t worry about, Father. As long as he’s alive, it is a trivial matter to suffer some humiliation. What’s more, you’re just averse to it. How do you know that Brother Huo was unwilling?”
“Nonsense!”
“It’s not nonsense. Who made Jingwang look this amazing? Brother Huo isn’t blind.”
——
The night was already deep by the time Jiang Suizhou returned home. The only thing he felt was exhaustion.
This was because he had been busy all day. With such a big storm at the evening banquet, he felt practically drained of energy.
Lou Yue was indeed a loyal minister and an outstanding general. He was an excellent person, but Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help but worry.
In history books, Lou Yue was stripped of his military power and beheaded. He didn’t die on the battlefield, but in the hands of his own monarch and fellow officials, which showed that Pang Shao wanted to get rid of him long ago.
What was more, Lou Yue was too straightforward and unafraid of making enemies for himself.
Jiang Suizhou was inevitably uneasy, fearing that Pang Shao would kill him. If Lou Yue also wouldn’t end well, Jiang Suizhou would never be at peace with himself.
He felt a raging headache. Along with the wine he drank, Jiang Suizhou was more or less drunk at this point. He returned to Anyin Hall on his palanquin. He just wanted to have a good rest and then make plans tomorrow.
However, just as he reached the courtyard entrance, he saw a slender, tall figure standing there, waiting anxiously.
When Jiang Suizhou looked closer, he discovered that it was Wei Kai.
“Why are you here?” When he got off the palanquin, Wei Kai greeted him.
Wei Kai stepped forward and smiled, “Your Highness, it is our General… our Madam who has something to discuss with you, so please go there.”
Jiang Suizhou hummed in response and followed him towards Huo Wujiu’s room.
He took a deep breath.
He knew that Huo Wujiu sought him out for something at this time, and that it must be about Lou Yue. If Huo Wujiu… really took him as a friend, chances are there might also be something about Lou Wanjun.
Jiang Suizhou told himself, It’s alright; this is all rightfully so. The only thing that shouldn’t be was his improper thoughts, which he must overcome by himself.
When he entered the door, he saw Huo Wujiu sitting in front of the hall and drinking tea. When Huo Wujiu saw him enter, he looked in his direction.
Those black eyes were very deep.
Somehow, the fatigue that Jiang Suizhou had accumulated all day struck him without warning, making the tip of his nose a little sore.
He didn’t know where this exhaustion mixed with grievances came from, but he felt that this emotion was surging so much that he found himself a bit overwhelmed.
Perhaps he was too drunk, so he was somewhat sensitive and overthinking.
After he sat down on the chair in front of Huo Wujiu, Huo Wujiu raised his hand and waved Wei Kai away.
“Have you been drinking?”
Huo Wujiu spoke once the door of the room closed.
Jiang Suizhou was stunned.
He imagined a lot of things on the way, but he never considered that the first sentence Huo Wujiu would ask would be this.
He opened his lips, and when he spoke again, his tone had already weakened.
“… A little bit,” he said.