The sky was bright.
Jiang Suizhou wanted to go back to sleep, but he didn't expect that he would sleep so well last night that he couldn't fall back asleep after lying down. As a result, he got up early. Meng Qianshan had also prepared breakfast in advance.
Huo Wujiu also got up early.
Although the two of them shared the same bedroom, they didn't communicate. Meng Qianshan helped Jiang Suizhou wash up. After that, Huo Wujiu went to the back room to clean up. When Huo Wujiu came back in his wheelchair, Sun Yuan pushed his wheelchair to the table.
Breakfast was already prepared on the table. Jiang Suizhou was sitting at the table, leisurely reading a book.
He didn't have to wait for Huo Wujiu to eat with him. However, table manners were ingrained in him since he was a child. He had to wait until everyone was present before he started eating.
Seeing that Huo Wujiu had arrived, Jiang Suizhou put down his book and started eating.
Even though the two of them ate breakfast together, they didn't say anything to each other.
However, today, Jiang Suizhou felt that something was wrong.
It was as if Huo Wujiu was constantly looking at him. However, when he looked over, he saw that Huo Wujiu was eating with his eyes lowered. He didn't even look at him.
It was very strange.
On the other hand, Meng Qianshan, who was serving at the side, saw that his master kept sneaking glances at Madam Huo. He assumed that his master was unable to control himself in front of his sweetheart.
At this time, as a qualified subordinate, he naturally had to worry about his master's worries.
With that thought, Meng Qianshan smiled and spoke.
"Master, a carpenter came yesterday. This servant remembered that you specifically mentioned that Madam's wheelchair wasn't easy to use, so this servant asked him to hurry up. Just now, he sent word that the new wheelchair will be delivered to our courtyard by today. "
Jiang Suzhou looked up at him and saw Meng Qianshan blinking at him.
Needless to say, this brat was showing off in front of Huo Wujiu on behalf of him, indirectly telling Huo Wujiu how well he treated him.
Jiang Suzhou was speechless. However, on second thought, different routes lead to the same destination. Just take it that Meng Qianshan is trying to please Huo Wujiu on behalf of me.
Therefore, he grunted and said indifferently, "That's not bad. If it's early, you can push it out for a spin and see if it's useful. "
It just so happened that he was working at the Ministry of Rites anyway. Meng Qianshan, this blabbermouth, had nothing to do, so he could help him push Huo Wujiu out to get some fresh air.
Meng Qianshan agreed with a smile.
"If Your Highness comes back early, we can go out for a walk together!" He said.
… This was too much.
Jiang Suzhou glanced at him warningly.
Meng Qianshan immediately shut his mouth with a smile.
However, when Jiang Suzhou retracted his gaze, he suddenly met Huo Wujiu's eyes.
Huo Wujiu looked at him. His gaze was still cold, but there was a hint of complexity in it that Meng Qianshan couldn't understand.
His brows were tightly furrowed.
Jiang Suzhou was stunned. He saw Huo Wujiu turn his eyes away, no longer looking at him.
Jiang Suzhou was momentarily stunned.
Did … did I say something to provoke him?
— —
Jiang Suzhou couldn't be bothered to find out what was wrong with Huo Wujiu. After finishing his meal, he went straight to the Ministry of Rites yamen to slack off.
Only Meng Qianshan was left. He was extremely attentive as he waited on Huo Wujiu.
Huo Wujiu coldly watched as the eunuch bustled around him. The eunuch only left when the carpenter who brought the wheelchair arrived. Finally, Huo Wujiu had some peace and quiet.
He raised his hand to rub his temples.
It was too noisy.
At this moment, Sun Yuan, who had been waiting on him from behind, carefully stepped forward and stuffed something into his hand.
Huo Wujiu raised his head to look at him. He saw that Sun Yuan's entire body was stiff, and his nervousness was written all over his face.
"This … someone asked me to give this to you." Sun Yuan lowered his voice and stammered.
He had never done something like this before. It was too difficult for him.
The day before, he had pushed Madame Huo into the courtyard. When he was about to leave the residence, someone stopped him and gave him an ingot of silver to deliver a letter to Madame Huo.
What kind of person was the prince? What kind of person was Madame Huo? Naturally, he did not dare to do it. He hurriedly refused and ran away. Fortunately, that person was not a vicious person. When he saw that Sun Yuan had run away, he did not force him, nor did he kill him.
However, the next day, the prince ordered that any letter or item that was delivered by someone was to be delivered to Madame Huo in private.
This scared Sun Yuan out of his wits.
However, since the prince said so, he did not dare to disobey.
That night, on his way home, he met that person again.
"Just take it that I'm begging you. Deliver this letter." That person said. "General Huo is not a careless person. As long as you deliver it, he will not leave any traces that will implicate you."
Sun Yuan paused.
Since … since it was the prince's order …
Seeing that he was hesitating, that person's face immediately lit up with hope. "How about it? You can pay more. This is negotiable! "
Sun Yuan had always been an honest person. When he heard this, he was so scared that he stuttered.
It … it was not about money. However, he could not just say that the prince asked him to deliver the letter …
After hesitating for a while, Sun Yuan said, "Yes, I want more money."
That person quickly asked, "How much?"
Sun Yuan paused and shyly raised two fingers.
"… Add two more silver coins."
That person was speechless.
Thus, the person still passed the letter to Sun Yuan, who then passed it to Huo Wujiu. "How did this person increase the price to such an extent?" Huo Wujiu asked.
Huo Wujiu glanced at the letter in his hand, then raised his head and looked at Sun Yuan with a scrutinizing gaze.
Sun Yuan felt guilty under his gaze. He did not even dare to breathe loudly and stood there like a bamboo pole.
"Who asked you to deliver this?" Huo Wujiu lowered his voice and asked.
Sun Yuan stuttered, "I don't know …"
Huo Wujiu said, "I mean, who ordered you to deliver this letter to me?"
The prince did not allow him to say!
Sun Yuan's lips trembled, but he did not say a word.
Seeing him like this, Huo Wujiu understood even if he did not say a word.
… Unimaginable.
When he was young, he had followed his father back to Ye City once or twice, but he did not remember ever meeting this Imperial Prince Jing.
The fact that he was able to say something that pleased him was already very outrageous. However, when he thought about his behavior in the past few days, it seemed to be the case …
His fierce appearance and cowardly personality, as well as his inexplicable good attitude towards him, all seemed to have an explanation.
But …
It was fine if he insisted on having some dirty thoughts, but these days, he had been carefully taking care of him like a rat. Huo Wujiu also saw it. But …
His hand that was holding the envelope slowly rubbed the paper cover.
He was a prisoner of war that had been sent here by the enemy. For a moment, he didn't know whether this Prince Jing was too daring or too stupid. Or perhaps …
Huo Wujiu frowned in confusion.
Could feelings really deceive people to such an extent that even one's family, country, and life could be placed behind?
He had always been proficient in the art of war, but when it came to this kind of thing, he was completely clueless.
His lack of experience caused him to momentarily lose his ability to judge.
His thoughts were suddenly thrown into disarray.
It was as if no matter what schemes or schemes he had, he was relying on the other's favor to wantonly bully him.
— —
After Sun Yuan tactfully withdrew, Huo Wujiu opened the letter in his hand.
The letter had been clutched so tightly that it was slightly wrinkled. One could vaguely see how indignant the person who wrote the letter was.
Huo Wujiu raised his eyes to look out the window.
Meng Qianshan was in the courtyard talking to the carpenter who had brought the wheelchair. The carpenter was hastily taking down some notes. Presumably, Meng Qianshan wanted him to make some changes. As soon as he saw Sun Yuan come out, Meng Qianshan immediately called him over. He actually had Sun Yuan sit in the wheelchair and let Meng Qianshan push him back and forth in the courtyard.
He was probably testing the wheelchair to see if it was sturdy.
Huo Wujiu lowered his eyes and opened the letter.
'It has already been more than ten years since this lowly official parted with the Old Marquis. After the battle of Xunyang, I was filled with grief and indignation, truly unable to control myself. However, I have no other choice but to eat the ruler's salary. Although we are both in Lin 'an, I have no face to see General.'
By this point, the words had already been blurred by tears.
Huo Wujiu furrowed his brow and flipped to the last page of the letter.
Ji Hongcheng.
He actually had some impression of this person. At present, Nanjing didn't have many high-ranking officers. His father's old friend, Lou Yue, was one of them. The person who wrote the letter should have been one of Lou Yue's subordinates in the army at the time. Now, he was in charge of the Ministry of War.
Huo Wujiu flipped the letter back.
This person's vexation and guilt were evident in his words, but he didn't take it to heart.
Back then, because Emperor Xian was afraid of the Huo clan, he deliberately cut off reinforcements and supplies during the war. After the war, he even found a crime to exterminate the entire Huo clan. His father had raised an army because of his deep hatred for Emperor Xian. It had nothing to do with the country, so it naturally didn't involve any of his colleagues, nor did he need them to rebel with him.
Serving the country loyally was the duty of a subject. Rising together because of the brotherhood was something only people of Jianghu would do.
Huo Wujiu's gaze swept past the few lines of heartfelt words, and he continued to look at the back.
Then, his eyebrows slightly rose.
'This lowly official knows that General's current situation is difficult. I hope that General will endure the humiliation and endure hardships to gain courage.
Prince Jing is definitely not a good person. In today's court assembly, he even spoke filthy words to His Majesty, shamelessly discussing the pleasures of the bed with General. Afterwards, His Majesty ordered General to meet His Majesty. His disgust was evident in his words. Even if he had to give up the right to repair the ancestral temple, he still wanted to imprison General in the rear residence.
From this, one can see how filthy and despicable this person is. I hope that General will take care of yourself.General Lou is currently suppressing bandits in Lingnan. This lowly official's words carry little weight. My hands are tied, and it is truly difficult for me to repay the old marquis's kindness. However, I hope that General won't worry. If there comes a day when you need this lowly official, this lowly official will do my best. '
That was the end of the short letter.
Huo Wujiu raised the letter higher and placed it on the table where the lamp that Sun Yuan had specially lit for him.
The flame licked the letter and immediately burned a corner of it to ashes.
Suddenly, Huo Wujiu pulled the letter back from the fire.
He held the letter that had already been burned. His gaze paused for a moment, and then fell on the second last paragraph.
He couldn't help but read that paragraph a few times.
When he came back to his senses, he was actually about to memorize it. He was slightly taken aback. As if trying to hide something, he placed the letter on the fire and burned it along with the envelope.
The flame flickered slightly in his eyes.
Huo Wujiu stared at the flame, furrowing his brows.
He really didn't expect …
Even if he was an old friend of his father's, he still knew what it meant to be wise to protect oneself. However, such a cowardly white rabbit who had no interaction with him, who looked fierce on the outside but was actually timid on the inside, would actually help him deal with the situation in the imperial court. He was even willing to give up the power that he had already obtained.
… All this was so that he wouldn't suffer Jiang Sunheng's humiliation.
He never thought that there would be a day when he would be protected by someone with such thin shoulders.