“General Huo is back!”
“The soldiers of the Huo family army have worked hard!”
The common folk of Western Zhou lined the streets in welcome. Catching sight of the Huo family army’s procession from afar, they had already begun cheering.
The entire capital echoed with the people’s most passionate, most joyful voices.
Only one person wore a complicated expression — Xiao Ao.
He was both proud that “Huo Ci” had annihilated Northern Luo, and wary that his reputation now seemed to surpass his own.
Fortunately, he had already prepared a perfect bridle for “Huo Ci,” that thousand-li steed.
Of course, Xiao Ao wouldn’t go personally to greet “Huo Ci” outside the city. Instead, he sent the civil and military officials to receive “Huo Ci” on his behalf and escort him all the way from outside the city into the imperial capital.
The soldiers of the Huo family army returned to camp to rest and regroup. Jiang Xingyan brought only Xin Zhui, “Vice General Jiang” — who was actually Huo Ci in disguise — and several battalion commanders, escorting the King of Northern Luo and Tuoba Hongxue into the palace to face the Emperor.
As for the common folk taken captive from Northern Luo, they were temporarily held in the military camp, awaiting disposition.
“Your subject Huo Ci greets Your Majesty. Fortunately, I did not fail my mission — Northern Luo has been annihilated, the borderlands are peaceful and tranquil, and the people live in peace and prosperity.”
Xiao Ao suppressed the wariness in his heart and laughed heartily. “My dear Huo truly is Western Zhou’s number one Grand Marshal! He deserves a great reward!”
Jiang Xingyan prostrated herself completely. “Your subject is already a first-rank Grand General and dares not harbor any presumptuous ambitions.
In this campaign, the soldiers suffered grievous losses, their bones left scattered.
Your subject dares to request that Your Majesty erect a monument beside the military camp for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.
So that their parents and families may have something to hold onto at home.
Beyond that, I ask for nothing else!”
Xiao Ao gazed at “Huo Ci,” kneeling prostrate on the ground, with complicated eyes. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, “Petition granted.”
Jiang Xingyan knocked her head heavily against the ground. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace! Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”
Xiao Ao waved his hand grandly. “Though my dear Huo is noble and upright, I cannot be petty, lest the world laugh at my stinginess.
Attendants, reward every soldier of the Huo family army with a hundred taels of gold and ten bolts of silk.
As for the fallen soldiers, give the rewards to their families.”
The two vice generals and several commanders bowed respectfully, crying out, “Long live the Emperor!”
“My dear Huo, I pity you for rushing about in all directions for Western Zhou — even newly wed, you donned armor and took to the battlefield.
It caused estrangement between you and your wife, a broken mirror that cannot be made whole.
Now Princess Shi’an has been adopted under the Empress and has become my daughter.
She has long admired my dear Huo. Now that the realm is at peace and the seas are calm, I wish to take this auspicious occasion to grant a marriage between the two of you—”
“Your Majesty, absolutely not!”
Xiao Ao looked closely — before “Huo Ci” could react, a unfamiliar-faced vice general beside him had rushed to interrupt him.
“Hmm?”
Seeing Xiao Ao’s displeasure, Jiang Xingyan hurried to smooth things over. “Vice General Jiang was reminding your subject that matters of marriage require the command of one’s parents to be complete.
Your subject still needs to return home and seek my mother’s instruction. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”
Xiao Ao sneered. “Does my dear Huo not know that ruler and subject, father and son — the ruler-father is also a father, even greater than the father who sired you?
What, is my granted marriage not a parent’s command?
Or does my dear Huo think Princess Shi’an is unworthy of a first-rank Grand General returning in triumph?!”
“Your subject would not dare!”
Jiang Xingyan knelt respectfully, prostrate on the ground, not daring to show the slightest dissatisfaction in her tone.
She had actually intended to agree.
She had even agreed before the campaign.
But at the time, she’d thought Mu Shi’an merely admired Huo Ci’s title or his looks, like Luo Yue.
Yet when they met later, she discovered that though Mu Shi’an was stubbornly self-righteous, she was still full of passion and sincere devotion.
Her affection for Huo Ci was utterly true and pure — so much so that she had remained unmarried all this time.
It was true that Jiang Xingyan wanted to switch back with Huo Ci as soon as possible, but she couldn’t drag an innocent person’s genuine feelings into it.
So, whether Huo Ci spoke up or not, she had to weigh the matter carefully before deciding.
Now Xiao Ao was so eager to grant a marriage between “Huo Ci” and Mu Shi’an — probably to rein in Huo Ci’s detached military authority.
“Only, your subject has already had a wife. Princess Shi’an is of golden branches and jade leaves — how could your subject be worthy?
Your subject simply does not wish the Princess to lower herself. Your Majesty, please examine clearly.”
Xiao Ao’s mood softened somewhat.
Huo Ci’s character as a modest gentleman — he knew it all too well.
Even if he was ninety-nine percent certain Huo Ci harbored no ambition, just one-tenth of a percent of possibility kept him restless.
He had to resolve this hidden danger as soon as possible.
Xiao Ao waved his hand, and Su Sheng beside him called out loudly, “Summon the first-rank titled lady, Madam Huo of the Li family, to the hall!”
Huo Ci’s heart lurched and gradually sank to the bottom.
His dear mother is coming; this is something that, I fear cannot be avoided.
A flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind.
Before he and A-Yan married, a certain commandery princess had sent someone to propose marriage.
He hadn’t told anyone else, using the excuse of an existing betrothal to turn them away.
But that very night, his mother summoned him to the main hall and made him kneel in punishment the entire night.
She had pointed at his nose, furious at him for failing to meet expectations: “When has our Huo family produced a son as unruly as you!
A merchant’s daughter — how can she possibly be worthy of a general’s wife’s status?
If you fancy her, I say nothing — just make her a concubine. Why refuse the commandery princess!”
At the time, Huo Ci and Jiang Xingyan were deeply in love, so of course he didn’t take his mother’s words to heart.
He only said, “Old Master Jiang gave your son a second chance at life.
Without Old Master Jiang, your son could not have avenged his father and would have died of shame and rage — how could there be anything else?
Your son has promised Old Master Jiang: one lifetime, one pair, only to grow old together with A-Yan.”
At the time, Madam Huo was furious, but Huo Ci insisted, and she could say nothing more.
Now, thinking back,I fear she had harbored resentment toward A-Yan since then.
Huo Ci lowered his head.
The old him had clearly stood by A-Yan!
How could he later have done such foolish things?
Did he think that by marrying A-Yan, he had repaid Old Master Jiang’s kindness?
He sank into deep shame beside her, not noticing the speechless look Jiang Xingyan was struggling to hold back on her face.
This old shrew was dying to climb the high branch.
Now that Mu Shi’an had been adopted by Xiao Ao and become Western Zhou’s only princess, how could she let this opportunity slip?
“Your subject’s wife greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”
“Rise, old titled lady. Su Sheng, give the old titled lady a seat.”
Xiao Ao gave Madam Huo plenty of face, all so she would agree to the granted marriage.
What he didn’t know was that even if he made Madam Huo kneel, she would have agreed eagerly.
“Ci’er, the Emperor grants a marriage — how dare you refuse?
To defy an imperial decree is disloyalty.
Your mother adores the Princess a thousand times over, ten thousand times over. How can you be unfilial?
Princess Shi’an is a fine match. She has waited bitterly for you for four years. If you do not marry her, you are unkind.
Your mother has long heard that you once made a promise to Princess Shi’an. A person without trust is unrighteous.
Do you truly wish to be such a disloyal, unfilial, unkind, unrighteous wretch?!”
Jiang Xingyan lay prostrate on the ground, the corner of her mouth twitching.
This old shrew — when it came to slapping labels on people, she was second to none.
“Mother, regardless of anything else, your son already has a daughter. How can I let Princess Shi’an become Little Ya’s stepmother? Wouldn’t that be gross disrespect!”
Madam Huo’s face went deathly pale with rage, yet she couldn’t find a single word to refute.
After hemming and hawing for a long while, she caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye of Xiao Ao’s gaze growing steadily more dangerous. Finally, gritting her teeth and steeling her heart, she squeezed out a sentence from between her teeth: “Little Ya is not your own daughter at all!”
……
