Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 332 Brothers Fighting Isn't Enough (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Huo Xingyuan's face was very ugly.

To be honest, he himself doesn't object to the proposal. He really doesn't like his wife. He can even say that his wife's death was caused by his malicious delay in treatment. What's wrong with exaggerating?

But that's not how it works.

How can you treat your wife like this? Don't you care about your reputation?
What do the sons think?

If it were just her own desire to please her future in-laws in order to remarry, it might be somewhat acceptable. But if she was forced to do this by Lu Xingzhou, she would be utterly humiliated.

Lu Xingzhou was a particularly cunning fellow; he spoke quite loudly, and Huo Xingyuan was certain that his sons outside had heard him.

After a long silence, he said, "Is this the first one? Are there a second and a third? Let's just tell you all at once."

Lu Xingzhou laughed and said, "We haven't even done the first one, so let's not talk about the second or third one, right?"

Huo Xingyuan said, "When a person dies, the lamp goes out. What's the point? This request puts me in a difficult position."

"Is it really that difficult? There's always a way." Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Perhaps I'm giving the Marquis a push, helping him do something he's always wanted to do but has been hesitant about..."

Huo Xingyuan remained silent.

Lu Xingzhou went out with a smile, and seeing the ashen faces of Huo Qi and the others, he laughed even more heartily.

Brothers fighting amongst themselves? That's not enough.

If I don't make you father and son fall out, how can I justify making this special trip?

Huo Qi wants to kill me, Huo Zhang wants to use me, and the two old men, Lao Deng, also want to use me to establish connections with the state, place their bets on the princess and prince, and create a reputation for harmony within the Huo family.

Do you think I don't know what you're thinking?
Then it depends on who took advantage of whom.

Despite dawdling for so long, and long past mealtime, Huo Xingyuan still arranged a grand feast to entertain Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Xingzhou didn't refuse and casually sat down in the main guest's seat. He found it quite amusing to look at the different expressions on Huo Qi and Huo Zhang's faces as they accompanied him.

"Second Brother," Lu Xingzhou said with a smile, raising his glass, "I told you I would come to the banquet, didn't I?"

Huo Zhang said helplessly, "I had no idea you were talking about eating a white banquet."

Although the current meaning is that he killed a brother, Huo Zhang still did not expect that Lu Xingzhou would come to eat at the banquet so casually. He thought it was a signal of reconciliation, but now it seems that it is not enough.

Perhaps it's not enough because the person wasn't murdered?
Seeing that Lu Xingzhou and Huo Zhang seemed to have a decent relationship, Huo Xingyuan's eyes flickered, and he finally said, "We've all been waiting long, let's begin the feast."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "This is truly rare; it's the first time in my life."

No one knew how to respond, so they just silently picked up their food and ate.

Lu Xingzhou took the initiative to start the conversation, asking Huo Zhang, "Second Brother, do you intend to take command of the troops again this time?"

Huo Zhang said, "What happened last time was a bit embarrassing... If the war doesn't get serious, I'm afraid I won't be able to take command of the troops again."

"Second brother wants a fight to break out?"

"What you're saying isn't something I want or don't want; it depends on what the Demon Queen thinks. She's mobilizing all the demon tribes without any secrecy, and now all the demons are gathered together. It looks like a great war is about to break out. Is it something I can decide?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Since the situation is already so tense, why is the Marquis still able to stay in the capital without having to go to the northern frontier to oversee the overall situation?"

Huo Xingyuan finally said, "His Majesty plans to lead the expedition in person. His injuries should be healed soon, within the next few days... Of course, since His Majesty is leading the expedition in person, I will also be a general accompanying him. If you return a few days later, you will most likely not see me."

The emperor's personal involvement in the expedition was a minor military secret, and of course, all the high-ranking officials in the court knew about it. Huo Xingyuan's deliberate leak of this little secret was also a way of indicating that he didn't consider Lu Xingzhou an outsider.

However, given Lu Xingzhou's current intelligence network, why would he need to sell this information?
Hearing Huo Xingyuan say this, Lu Xingzhou swirled his wine glass with a half-smile and said lightly, "His Majesty has quite the composure. The Northern Frontier army is pressing in, yet he still has the mind to wait until he recovers from his illness. Isn't he afraid that the demon race will be able to march straight in within the next few days?"

Huo Xingyuan said cautiously, "The demon race wouldn't dare to attack rashly either. The Demon Emperor is also watching the Grand Preceptor's movements. If she enters rashly, who knows what kind of ambush she might suffer from the Grand Preceptor's attack from behind?"

"Hoping that the Demon Emperor will be wary of the Imperial Preceptor and that he will not dare to act rashly?" Lu Xingzhou chuckled. "I don't believe His Majesty would be so naive."

Huo Xingyuan said, "What His Majesty thinks is beyond our ability to presume."

Lu Xingzhou suddenly exclaimed in shock: "His Majesty has already secretly gone to the Northern Frontier, hasn't he?"

Huo Xingyuan's expression changed drastically: "You..."

"Regardless of what His Majesty has done after his injury over the years... he was a great ruler back then, and he would not be so naive as to blindly place his hopes on his opponent. He spread the news that he was in the final stages of treatment and ordered the Huo family, the main general, to remain inactive, just to create the impression that you were all still in the capital. In reality, you should have secretly entered the northern border long ago. If the Demon Emperor were unaware of the inside story and launched a reckless invasion, you might fall into an ambush."

Huo Xingyuan remained silent, but glared fiercely at Huo Heng, who was sitting next to him.

You're saying this guy only knows brute force? Get lost!

They're all from the same family, so why is there such a big difference?

Of course, he couldn't admit it to his face, so he just waved his hand and said, "You're speculating too much. In fact, where His Majesty is is none of your business, is it? Why are you guessing these things?" Of course, he just wanted to get your attitude to confirm his guess.

It's certain that Gu Zhanting's injuries haven't healed, and the research topic that all the alchemists in the country are studying couldn't have been staged. So, where does an emperor with unhealed injuries get his confidence to ambush the Demon Emperor?

Based on the judgment that the Huo family had ties with the demon race, and considering that Long Qinghuang had worked hard to quell the internal strife within the demon race over the years, it can be concluded that the demon race that Gu Zhanting had ties with was not Long Qinghuang's faction. There must be a powerful figure in the demon race who was colluding with Gu Zhanting.

Judging from the fact that those prefectural officials were all demons and the emperor and princes did nothing about it, this collusion had lasted for many years and was tacitly approved by the emperor.

But why would the emperor tacitly approve of such a thing, and what benefit would it bring him? It's impossible to determine at this time.

What can be determined is that this time Gu Zhanting's reliance wasn't on the Demon Emperor's fear of the Imperial Advisor, but rather on the betrayal by someone close to the Demon Emperor. Combined with his ambush, there's a good chance he could trap Long Qinghuang.

Long Qinghuang thought that Ye Tinglan was tied up in the East China Sea and had drifted apart from Gu Zhanting, so he wouldn't be able to fully assist Daqian in this war. She thought it was an opportunity... But what if this opportunity was created by Gu Zhanting all along?
That would explain why Gu Zhanting invited trouble, using people from the ancient realm to frame the Tianyao Holy Land. Successfully framing them would be ideal, but even if it failed, this kind of subsequent development could still be inferred.

This shows the vision of an emperor who plans several steps ahead, rather than someone who only knows how to betray his allies.

Although the overall layout doesn't seem very impressive, it's still too gloomy and lacks the aura of an emperor... It's far less grand and majestic than the battle ten years ago, perhaps it's related to the change in his mindset after his injury.
These thoughts crossed his mind, but he simply said casually, "It's nothing, just common folk. They just like to guess which concubine the emperor will favor tonight, and what kind of 'big pancake' the Crown Princess is rolling up."

Huo Xingyuan said meaningfully, "You are no longer an ordinary citizen, or rather, you could be no longer at any time."

Lu Xingzhou barely ate any food, but wiped his mouth as if he were full and said with a smile, "But I am not a disciple of the Imperial Preceptor."

Huo Xingyuan said calmly, "But you are a member of the Huo family."

Lu Xingzhou stood up: "Then let's see if the Marquis can fulfill my first request; otherwise, it's too early to say. Farewell."

Huo Qi could no longer contain herself: "Lu Xingzhou! Your demands are outrageous! Do you really think the Huo family can't do without you?"

Lu Xingzhou looked at Huo Xingyuan with a half-smile: "My lord, you see, the Huo family may not necessarily welcome me."

Huo Xingyuan's face hardened: "Apologize."

Huo Qi sneered, "Did you hear that? Apologize."

Huo Xingyuan said sternly, "I'm telling you to apologize!"

Huo Qi stared in astonishment at his father.

"Not only do you have to apologize for your rude remarks now, but you also have to apologize for what happened back then!" Huo Xingyuan said sternly, "Back then, you were the ones who wronged Xiao Qi. Whose fault was it that brothers became enemies? Now you don't repent and even speak ill of each other. Is this how I taught you?"

Huo Qi also remembered that his grandfather had said that he should apologize to him when necessary, but the words of apology were stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them for a long time.

Huo Zhang smiled and bowed to Lu Xingzhou, saying, "I apologize to you. We were beasts when we bullied Xiao Qi back then."

He hadn't participated in targeting Huo Shang back then, so he was happy to make a show of it to provoke Huo Qi. This beast's shouts were really melodramatic. Huo Qi, who could have barely apologized, stubbornly refused to do so.

With a "slap," Huo Xingyuan slapped him across the face: "Apologize! Does your father's word no longer matter?"

Huo Qi and Huo Heng were so angry that they gritted their teeth, but finally, under the patriarchal authority, they gritted their teeth and bowed their heads: "I'm sorry."

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Who am I sorry to?"

"...Huo Shang".

"Very good." Lu Xingzhou turned and left: "Huo Shang heard the apology, but as for its sincerity, we'll see how it goes."

Huo Qi and the others watched him leave with eyes blazing with hatred, their teeth itching with resentment. Only after Lu Xingzhou had gone far away did Huo Qi cover her face and angrily ask her father, "Father, what does this mean? Sending this bastard to the Huo family alone, slapping us in the face and leaving triumphantly. When has the Huo family ever been so subservient to him!"

Huo Xingyuan said coldly, "Have you all forgotten what your grandfather said before?"

"I haven't forgotten, but didn't Grandpa say 'when necessary'? This is nothing, why show weakness like this!"

"Fool, this is the time to be ready!" Huo Xingyuan roared, "Do you think he was just asking about His Majesty's whereabouts randomly? That was a blatant threat! Once he tells everyone he guessed it himself, who the hell would believe that? He just left the Huo family, and everyone would think I leaked it!"

Huo Qi was dumbfounded: "But...but he really just guessed. What Father said was just routine information from the court, which he could also know from the National Affairs Bureau..."

"Who would believe that!" Huo Xingyuan exclaimed in exasperation. "I told you long ago he came to show off. Do you think he'd just leave after a meal? He's trying to force you to apologize. If you'd known better, you would have avoided a beating!"

Huo Heng asked cautiously, "But Father, what about removing Mother from the family register..."

Huo Xingyuan was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "It's not a bad thing to just put on a show."

Huo Qi was furious: "Father is just using Lu Xingzhou as an excuse; he's wanted to do this all along! The mysterious ancient force that His Majesty recommended wants to establish itself through marriage. His Majesty doesn't want to bring people into his own harem, but instead wants the Huo family to be the vanguard!"

"Slap!" Another vicious slap landed, and Huo Xingyuan roared, "What do you know?!"

Lu Xingzhou had been walking at a snail's pace around the corner outside the door, actually listening intently with his divine sense. When he heard this, he finally grinned, feeling extremely comfortable.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)