âThen youâre looking at things wrong.â Huo Wujiu didnât beat around the bush at all. âWe grew up at odds with each other since childhood, and still are to this day. You are an old man who spends all his time in the barracks, so why donât you just fight your battles? Why are you acting as a matchmaker as well?â
His words were completely impolite, but Lou Yue was rendered speechless.
âButâŚâ
Huo Wujiu continued: âGeneral Lou, you know exactly what kind of person I am. By tying the two of us together, we wonât become relatives, but enemies. By then, it will be counterproductive and not the result you want.â
Lou Yue was speechless.
At this time, Jiang Suizhou was completely relieved, feeling as if he had just survived a disaster. He felt like every single cell in his body was relaxed. Nevertheless, he also knew that this was a critical moment to negotiate with Lou Yue, so he could not mentally relax because of his personal feelings.
He quickly focused his attention. Seeing that Lou Yue looked dejected, obviously having lost the upper hand, and not saying anything, Jiang Suizhou hurriedly took advantage of the situation and persuaded him, âGeneral Lou, even if you want to use your daughterâs marriage as a reason to rebel, thatâs unacceptable as well. Youâre afraid that historians will scold you for being duplicitous and a traitor for glory. Why do you think they wonât scold you for committing treason for the sake of love and embarrass you?â
Lou Yue looked at him and said morosely, âYou have a point.â
âOn this account, if you donât act against them now, you can only sit back and await your doom and let them cruelly oppress you,â Jiang Suizhou said.
Seeing Lou Yueâs hesitation, Huo Wujiu frowned and said, âAre you afraid of what they will do? The worst they could do is just condemn you verbally and in writing.â
Jiang Suizhou followed, âBesides, this isnât a question about rebelling or not. Hundreds of years ago, didnât the Emperor surnamed Jiang rise up and overthrow the previous dynasty? The changing of dynasties is as normal as the setting of the moon and the rising of the sun. Moreover, isnât the current Emperor of Northern Liang also a vassal of the Jiang family who rose to power? Thousands of years later, historians will be writing about it, but they will only be saying that you abandoned the old and welcomed the new.â
Jiang Suizhou spoke with overflowing confidence.
Lou Yue fell silent for a moment before speaking.
âSee, see!â He took his chopsticks and pointed at Huo Wujiu. âAfter staying in His Highness Jingwangâs manor for so long, you havenât picked up a bit of his knowledgeable and rational spirit. Youâre like a bandit! Itâs rude to talk to elders like this!â
Hearing his rebuke, Jiang Suizhou let out a long breath of relief.
If Lou Yue could say these, then it meant that it was done.
He couldnât resist looking at Huo Wujiu, his eyes brimming with pleasant surprise. And the moment he looked at him, Huo Wujiu also turned his head to look at him. Although his face was expressionless, the look in his eyes was quite deep.
They looked at each other for a moment, and then the corners of Huo Wujiu rose, and he laughed.
âWerenât you the one who hated the poor and pedantic literati?â he asked.
Lou Yue poked a chopstick of foot bitterly: âCan His Highness Jingwang be the same?â
Although Huo Wujiu was talking to him, his eyes were on Jiang Suizhou.
âIndeed heâs not the same,â he said.
ââ
Although he breathed a sigh of relief, Jiang Suizhou still couldnât figure out why the facts were so different from the historical records. Once the meal was over, he pondered this question.
Huo Wujiu scurried up to the carriage from a dark alley behind the restaurant, and saw Jiang Suizhou sitting pensively in the carriage.
âWhat are you thinking about?â Huo Wujiu asked.
Jiang Suizhou blurted out, âWhy did you refuse General Lou?â
Huo Wujiu was a bit puzzled: âWhat else can I do? I donât want it.â
âBut Miss Lou isâŚâ Jiang Suizhou was halfway through his sentence when he realized his gaffe.
He initially wanted to say that Miss Lou was the partner who would accompany him in the future, but this must not be said.
He quickly stopped speaking.
But Huo Wujiu looked puzzled. âWhatâs the matter with her?â
But to his surprise, displeasure surfaced on Huo Wujiuâs face when he heard this.
âWhatâs good about her, huh?â
Jiang Suizhou immediately discerned the aggressiveness in his tone, and quickly turned his head for a look. Huo Wujiu was frowning on the seat there, with dismay all over his face.
âSheâs beautiful, nothing more and acts like a man all day long. Even her temper is terrible. Just because she was all smiles to you, you consider her a nice person? At the age of seven or eight, she chased Wei Kai and the others and beat them. It gives me a headache at the mere thought of it. I have never seenâŚâ
Jiang Suizhou had never heard Huo Wujiu speak so fast and like a cannonball.
âŚOr speak ill of other people.
Jiang Suizhou had never talked behind peopleâs backs, so when hearing Huo Wujiuâs words, he blushed a bit and quickly stopped him, âOkay, okay, I know you donât like her. Cut the crap.â
However, Huo Wujiu did not budge, and when he looked at him, a hint of hostility sparked in his eyes.
âOf course I donât like her.â He said, âSo you should also polish your eyes and not look at her.â
This time, it was Jiang Suizhouâs turn to be baffled and surprised: âWhat are you talking about? Of course I donât have any illusions about Miss Lou, ah.â
When these words fell, for a time, the two looked at each other, and both did not make a sound.
All that remained was the rattling wheels of the carriage.
A second later, Jiang Suizhou couldnât help chuckling.
âWhat made you think so?â he asked.
Huo Wujiu opened his mouth and averted his gaze as if lacking confidence.
âDonât you also think I like her?â
âThe two of you have grown up together since you were young, after allâŚâ
âWe grew up with Wei Kai,â Huo Wujiu interjected.
Jiang Suizhou burst out laughing.
Huo Wujiu scowled and said with dissatisfaction, âWhat are you laughing at? I meant it. Do I have to like her just because we grew up together?â
Jiang Suizhou smiled and nodded frankly, âOkay, okay, got it.â