Chapter 8, Thus Invited

"Ha, the high-ranking lecher from Zuo Ma Zhang Tai has finally thought of returning." Li Hongru remarked, "You seem quite pleased with yourself?"

The fellow busily stepped back and said, as if to show off, "But it was I who ran errands at the residence of Prime Minister Tian this morning."

At this point, the familiar air of cynicism that Li Hong recognized so well returned to Huo Qubing's expression, as he said with a smirk that seemed both amused and sarcastic: "Of course, that is because I was fortunate enough to survive, which is why I can say this"

She was suffering from hunger and cold, living in dire poverty, but because she was an outsider, the neighbors looked on coldly, indifferent and unresponsive. Fortunately, the Gao family provided assistance and care, allowing her foster mother to barely hold on until my return home

"No matter what you think, I am very grateful for your choice that day," Li Hong said softly. "Because of you, Dingxiang City was spared from the massacre and plunder by the Xiongnu. My father's sacrifice has thus found its value"

Huo Qubing lazily opened his eyes, seemingly stung by the afternoon sun. He raised his hand to shield himself from the glare and scrutinized the imperial guard officer for a long while before casually replying, "He is not here."

Li Hongru quieted down, silently listening to Huo Qubing's narration, not expecting that this scoundrel would have such a tragic background

"Did you lose all one hundred taels of gold in gambling?" Li Hongru stared wide-eyed, looking at Lu Peng in disbelief

"That is called fishing; apart from you, even a three-year-old child can understand it." Huo Qubing stepped out of the room, changing into a black satin long gown that made him appear particularly spirited

"This... started off winning, but later I encountered a master, and there was nothing I could do." Lu Peng scratched his messy hair and shook his head, saying, "Last night my luck was terrible; in several rounds, I was clearly about to win, yet I still let them turn it around."

"Speaking ill of others behind their backs is not the behavior of a lady." The voice of Huo Qubing echoed in the room

The officer of the Imperial Guard, unable to contain his anger, had no choice but to vent his frustration on his subordinates, shouting: "What are you dawdling for? Lead Young Master Huo and clear the way to the Yang Tea House ten miles away!"

May I ask if Young Master Huo is present? A guard officer, leading about a dozen subordinates, entered the courtyard accompanied by the innkeeper. The guard officer tried to soften his tone to sound more respectful, but it still inevitably carried an air of arrogance.

Huo Qubing furrowed his brow in difficulty and said, "Because I still have a question that I haven't figured out, I apologize for not being able to rise."

The man was dumbfounded and stammered, "Why are you thanking me?"

Ah! Li Hong, caught off guard, exclaimed in surprise, springing up from the grass and scolding, "Rogue!"

"What kind of woman?" Huo Qubing's face once again bore that damned smile, revealing a sense of satisfaction as if a prank had succeeded. "You should know, the women I know are quite diverse, both good and bad."

"How do you know I haven't thought about it?" Huo Qubing sat beside Li Hongru, seemingly admiringly exclaiming, "But he is really too fat; his pants are tighter around his waist than if they were bound with a rope. How can I possibly make a move?"

The officer of the Imperial Guard grimaced in pain and was at a loss for words, while several subordinates shouted angrily and drew their swords, ready to teach Huo Qubing a lesson

At the age of eight, my master took me to the Beidou Palace. Though he said he was taking me, it was more akin to a kidnapping. I cried and shouted, while my foster mother chased after us, crying and calling out. My master paid no heed and walked faster and faster. Eventually, I could no longer see my foster mother, and Jinyun Town became just a tiny black dot

What follows is a training in the Beidou Palace that far exceeds ordinary imagination, brutal to the point of cruelty I do not know why I must cultivate, only that if I become lazy, my master's whip will strike down upon me like a rain of blows

"So, do you count as one of them?" Huo Qubing gently pinched Li Hong's delicate jade-like cheek with his hand, revealing his signature devilish smile at the corner of his mouth

Huo Qubing stopped smiling, took out a pure white handkerchief from his pocket, and handed it to her, saying: "What’s wrong, are you really angry?"

Huo Qubing shook his head with considerable regret, "I see. It seems that you will not be able to obtain this silver."

The officer of the Imperial Guard suppressed his anger and said: "Your three friends are also on Lieutenant Li's invitation list; are they present?"

"Stop being pretentious, a rogue is a rogue!" Li Hong scolded, yet her bright and clear eyes were filled with laughter

Alright, stop the noise," Li Hongru intervened, saying, "Hurry up and finish your breakfast tea; we still need to pay a visit to General Li.

"It seems that General Wei Qing and your Lieutenant Li are about the same age, right?" Huo Qubing pondered and said, "Then should he be standing to the left of Lieutenant Li, or to the right?"

Li Hongru lay on the soft grass, gazing up at the brilliant stars in the sky that seemed to smile down at her. Breathing lightly, she said: "This is truly hilarious, why didn't you also strip that fat guy Sun of his pants?"

The officer of the Imperial Guard nodded foolishly, realizing that he had suffered a complete defeat in this unprepared confrontation

Lu Peng responded somewhat awkwardly and asked, "Where are Xiao Huo and Xiao Gao? Have they returned?"

Huo Qubing's voice, low and filled with a magnetic, husky charm, slowly said: "I was sent away by my biological mother less than three hours after my birth, and thereafter I grew up with my adoptive parents. When I was four years old, a plague ravaged my hometown, and my adoptive father passed away. My adoptive mother then took me away from our home, fleeing to Jinyun Town in search of refuge."

Huo Qubing coldly said: "You should regret not stealing those antiques to exchange for money. The silver on your person is too little; in just one night, it has all been exhausted, and in the end, you were driven out the door with a worthless smile."

Not all. Gao Fan pointed at Huo Qubing and said, "Aren't you still owing me fifty taels of gold?"

"Lieutenant Li, which Lieutenant Li?" The detestable expression of confusion on Huo Qubing's face made the imperial guard officer wish he could punch his nose flat. "There are as many lieutenants in Chang'an as there are hairs on a cow; if everyone came to invite me for tea, who could stand it?"

"Vulgar, extremely vulgar, quite vulgar!" Gao Fan disdainfully glared at Lu Peng, "How can such circumstances and emotions be measured with the stench of money? Alas, I only regret that the good times are fleeting and I could not fully enjoy them"

I must keep a close watch on this lecher, ensuring he does not act recklessly as he did in Dingxiang. Suddenly, she felt a strong sense of justice surging within her, as if the honor and integrity of countless women in Chang'an had been entrusted to her.

"Pig, hurry up and get out of bed, this young lady is still waiting for you to treat her to breakfast tea!" Li Hongru jumped out of the window.

Huo Qubing was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not anticipating such an intense reaction from Li Hongru. Observing the young girl's flushed face, a mix of shyness and anger, he suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "It seems I have overestimated my own charm"

Huo Qubing cast a disdainful glance and said, "Are you here to invite guests on orders, or to take people away?"

"You still say that I will never pay attention to you in this lifetime!" Li Hongru wished she could slap this bastard hard, and she blamed herself even more for inviting a wolf into her home, having foolishly followed this notorious lecher out.

But soon, Huo Qubing reverted to his old self, turned his head, and said with a laugh, "Look, I have even been moved by the story I made up myself. You wouldn't really believe it, would you, fool?"

You! The imperial guard officer was rendered speechless, pointing at Huo Qubing, trembling with anger yet feeling utterly embarrassed

Li Hongru discovered that in this moment, when she saw the faint glimmer of tears in Huo Qubing's eyes, all her previous feelings of dislike, misunderstanding, and disdain for this person vanished completely, and a wave of tenderness rose from the depths of her heart

Huo Qubing turned back, the tears in the corners of his eyes had vanished, and he smiled, saying: "Are you not angry anymore?"

I am still not full, and there are many dishes I haven't had the chance to taste yet," Li Hong sighed with a hint of regret. Suddenly, both of them asked in unison, "How about we change to another place and continue eating?" After saying this, they looked at each other simultaneously and burst into laughter.

Huo Qubing once again handed the handkerchief to Li Hongru. Li Hongru, captivated, unknowingly accepted it with her hand

It does not matter to tell you; I do not seek anyone's forgiveness. Because I do not even understand why I acted that way. Huo Qubing said slowly, "I resent myself for being moved by others' fervor, feeling like a fool with the impulse to fight alongside them. But I do not regret it"

"Alright, alright, if you won't listen, I won't say anything." Huo Qubing seemed to be coaxing a child, "But do you want to hear a story from my past? If you promise not to cry or get angry, I will share a little with you."

Li Hong, displaying the delicate demeanor of a child, said, "Go ahead, I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Xiao Huo, why not just invite me along as well?" Lu Peng's spirits lifted, "I'm so hungry that I'm feeling quite anxious."

The fellow's face flushed, and he defended himself, saying: "It's not me; I'm just a guide. It has nothing to do with me."

We are looking for Young Master Huo. The officer of the Imperial Guard suppressed his anger and said: "I am here on the orders of Lieutenant Li to invite Young Master Huo to the 'Ten-Mile Yang' teahouse. Lieutenant Li has already arranged the refreshments and hopes that Young Master Huo will graciously honor us with his presence"

"Do not be angry." Huo Qubing instead became amiable, "I believe your respect for General Wei is no less than that for Colonel Li, is it not?"

Huo Qubing observed this with a knowing smile in his heart and continued, "The disciples accepted by the Beidou Palace are all Xiongnu, with at most a few boys from other barbarian tribes, and I am the only exception. Therefore, those Xiongnu peers have gone to great lengths to tease and humiliate me, deriving pleasure from it."

"That is not correct; Xiao Huo can lend you a maximum of fifty taels. The other half has already been paid to me as a reward." Gao Fan walked in with a beaming smile, and from a distance, one could smell the fragrance of powder emanating from his clothes.

Of course. Gao Fan was in high spirits, "You do not know, I had the fortune of meeting a beautiful confidante at Hanyu Pavilion. We talked by candlelight all night; she played the piano while I sang along. In the end, I even gifted her a small poem: 'In Hanyu, there is a beauty, standing apart from the world; in the northern lands, there is a wanderer, full of knowledge and talent..."

"How dare you say that?" Huo Qubing snorted, "I had just begun to taste the wine when this fat man interrupted me."

This guy is even more hopeless than I am. Lu Peng felt much better with Gao Fan around.

"Just say it, how much did you spend that night?" Lu Peng interrupted Gao Fan's elegant mood and asked straightforwardly.

Li Hongru's gaze slowly shifted from Huo Qubing's face to the endless sky above. She knew that she would never forget the story of this night for the rest of her life. In the night sky, there was a star that shone particularly brightly, particularly warmly—was that her father silently blessing her from above? Her smile was tinged with a hint of tears.

"How could this be?" Li Hongru was deeply moved by the story of Huo Qubing and asked, "Is she missing you too much?"

"What is the problem?" The officer of the Imperial Guard realized that he was about to be driven mad by this villain.

"For no particular reason," Huo Qubing seemed reluctant to delve deeper into the topic, casually saying: "Just consider it a whim of mine."

The officer of the Imperial Guard was taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at the guide. After receiving a confirming hint from the other party, he could not help but feel a surge of anger and, with great restraint, said: "Aren't you Huo Qubing?"

After a while, Li Hongru asked, "There is something that has puzzled me for a long time, but you must not scowl when I say it. I am very curious, that day on the city tower of Dingxiang, you shamelessly claimed you wanted to be a deserter, yet later you ended up killing the officer who wanted to abandon the city and flee. Why is that?"

Li Hongru did not respond, but her eyes clearly betrayed her interest to this lecherous man.

"What, am I not a rogue anymore?" Huo Qubing shook his head and said, "In the blink of an eye, it seems I have become a savior again"

"Huo Qubing, what do you mean?" Li Hongru, with a fierce expression, threw away all the sympathy and goodwill she had reluctantly developed for this guy last night, and warned sternly, "If you dare not go, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

Huo Qubing set up a reclining chair under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, intending to take advantage of this rare tranquility to enjoy a comfortable afternoon nap

Even Li Hong, who is usually very critical, had to admit that this guy really knows how to dress. Once he sheds the disheveled appearance of a drunkard, combined with his handsome face and charming smile, all the women in Chang'an will be in trouble.

Huo Qubing changed the subject and asked, "Do you think that in the future, that fat man Sun will tremble at the sight of a belt?"

I am. "Huo Qubing said calmly, his eyes half-open and half-closed, "But what you are looking for is Young Master Huo."

Fool! The officer of the Imperial Guard, unable to endure any longer, slapped the fellow to the ground and asked, "Where are the others?"

"No one calls me Young Master Huo; they usually refer to me as a scoundrel or a villain," Huo Qubing explained impatiently. "So if you are looking for Young Master Huo, he is not here; but if you are looking for Little Huo, that would be me"

Gao Fandao: "That young woman with the red apricot spoke to me about her tragic life experiences, which were truly heart-wrenching. I did not wish for such a good girl to fall into the depths of depravity, so I generously offered her the gold I had on me, hoping to help her redeem herself and escape from her suffering soon"

Huo Qubing patted his shoulder and continued his usual sarcastic tone: "Very good, now that's more like a dog."

The officer of the Imperial Guard, filled with indignation, chased after and asked, "Where are you going?"

The warmth in Huo Qubing's eyes has vanished: "I got completely drunk, sleeping for three days and two nights as if I were dead before finally waking up. Even my foster mother's funeral was arranged with the help of the Gao family. Thus, in the mouths of those neighbors, I became known as an unfilial son"

Li Hongru let out a chuckle, but then immediately remembered that she should not give this lecherous man a good face, and quickly tightened her expression.

Huo Qubing then stood up slowly and walked towards the attendant. The attendant was startled and asked, "What are you doing?" Huo Qubing took out a piece of loose silver that he had exchanged last night from his sleeve and handed it to the attendant, saying, "I must express my gratitude to you."

The final outcome is evident; Huo Qubing ultimately did not visit Li Guang's residence, remaining alone at the inn. After noon, Li Hong and the other two still had not returned, indicating that they were likely invited by Li Guang to share a meal.

"Hello, Old Lu, did you lose the bet?" The window opened, revealing a face as radiant as a blooming flower, seemingly indicating that the girl was in exceptionally good spirits this morning, in stark contrast to Lu Peng.

Lu Peng, busy being a good person, advised: "Forget it, you are well aware of Xiao Huo's bad temper. Xiao Gao and I will accompany you."

But what use is that? Aside from learning a few shabby knife techniques at the Beidou Palace, I am unable to do anything. I could only watch helplessly as my adoptive mother left this world in despair six months later

Li Hong pointed to Huo Qubing's room and, pouting her cherry-like lips, said: "This guy sleeps like a pig"

May I ask if Young Master Huo is present? After not receiving a response from the youth on the lounge chair for quite some time, he had no choice but to raise his voice and ask again

This fellow finally spoke sensibly, and the officer of the guard's anger was somewhat alleviated as he urged, "Why are you still not getting up?"

Only after flying a great distance did they gently descend upon a desolate hill outside the city

You scoundrel! Li Hongru couldn't help but giggle, "Your words are so wicked and hurtful; no wonder so many young ladies were utterly captivated by you in Dingxiang."

Ah, you are truly pitiful! Li Hongru immediately forgot that she had just been subjected to this scoundrel's insolence, and sympathetically asked, "Does your master not care?"

Perhaps my resilience could reach a state impervious to blades and bullets, a skill honed during that time

"Isn't Young Master Huo you?" The officer of the Imperial Guard suspected that if it wasn't his ears that were malfunctioning, then it must be this young man's head that was problematic

"Having dim sum is not a problem, but I will not attend the meeting with Li Guang." There was no room for negotiation in Huo Qubing's tone

Huo Qubing unexpectedly changed his usual approach, refraining from relentless pursuit, and a sudden silence fell between the two.

I do not know him, and he may not know me either. If it is merely for the sake of an acquaintance, I have no interest whatsoever; if it is to report on the Battle of Dingxiang or to reminisce, it is even less necessary for me. Huo Qubing, indifferent to Li Hongru's gradually raised willow-like brows, bluntly stated: "Moreover, I have never been polite in my speech. Rather than causing everyone to feel uncomfortable, it is better to refrain from it early on."

Thanks to your timely warning, I now have tea to drink. Moreover, the one treating is a school lieutenant. Huo Qubing stuffed silver into the attendant's hand and smiled, saying: "In the future, I will have to trouble you to spread the news that we are staying at Changleju. Who knows, in a couple of days, Zhang Sima and Wang Yushi might also come to invite me for a treat"

Therefore, in order to make amends for your disrespect towards Miss Hongxing, quickly hand over the fifty taels of gold that you owe me!" Gao Fanyi said sternly as he extended his hand towards Huo Qubing, demanding the money

Huo Qubing turned his head, his narrow gaze sweeping over the swollen cheeks of the guard officer, and said: "Of course, I am going to keep the appointment. I believe the longer Lieutenant Li waits at the Yang Tea House ten miles away, the more it will reflect poorly on your capabilities."

What? Li Hong, almost speechless, said: "You spent all one hundred taels of gold in just one night on that?"

Li Hongru chuckled lightly, suddenly realizing that in all her years, she had never laughed so many times in one evening. She proudly remarked, "Thanks to me, otherwise would you have encountered such an interesting event?"

"Stop!" The officer of the Imperial Guard, Ren, shouted in pain, glaring fiercely at Huo Qubing and said, "This time, you have gone too far!"

Rogue! The same insult, uttered at this moment from the mouth of the same person, has taken on a completely different meaning.

Li Hong glared at Huo Qubing, her chest heaving violently with excitement, momentarily unable to decide what to do. Tears, glistening like jewels, streamed down her cheeks, which were as red as cherries.

"Why should he care? If I can't even handle this little predicament, I deserve to die." Huo Qubing spoke in a calm tone: "But later, I still secretly ran away; I missed home. When I returned to Jinyun Town, battered and bruised, I found my adoptive mother lying on the bed, on the verge of death, already gravely ill."

"So despicable, so shameless!" Gao Fan exclaimed in anger, "How can you tarnish the pure and noble character of Miss Hongxing? She is such a pitiful and unfortunate innocent girl. How could you bear to rub salt into her wounds? I am deeply ashamed to have a friend like you!"

"Who said that?" Lu Peng said: "Xiao Huo, lend me all of your one hundred taels of gold. Tonight, I must find that guy and gamble again, winning back both the principal and the interest!"

"He is General Li Gan, the Tuntian Cavalry Colonel. You must have heard of him, right?" The officer of the Imperial Guard, Yagen, said with a hint of irritation, "He is the beloved son of the old general Li Guang, and due to his numerous military achievements, he is highly regarded by His Majesty, who specifically appointed him as Tuntian Cavalry Colonel. Among the younger generation of commanders, no one can match Colonel Li!"

How could she not miss me? The tenderness gradually revealed in Huo Qubing's eyes, what is even more tragic is that shortly after I left, she went up the mountain to gather firewood and fell into paralysis due to her distracted state, making it difficult for her to take care of herself from then on. And all of this, I was completely unaware of while I was far away in the Beidou Palace

Huo Qubing walked slowly towards the door without saying a word. Just as Li Hong thought that this villain had finally yielded to her anger, he turned around and asked, "Do you think it's better to have cold noodles or soup dumplings for breakfast?"

Huo Qubing laughed heartily, kicked the comrade who had just gotten up, sending him flying, and strode out the door.

As dawn breaks, a ray of morning light gently caresses the awakening towers of Chang'an City through the rosy hues of the sunrise

"I want to be angry again; who knows, one day I might just be driven to death by you," Li Hong blurted out, immediately realizing the awkwardness of her words. She couldn't help but blush, adding unnecessarily, "I didn't mean anything else."

Huo Qubing struck the face of the imperial guard officer with a punch, then casually rubbed his fist with his left hand and said: "This punch is a reward from General Li Guang for you. You wouldn't want to make Lieutenant Li into a disobedient son, would you"

The officer of the Imperial Guard angrily exclaimed: "Stop your sarcastic remarks; it would be more appropriate for him to bow to Lieutenant Li."

Lu Peng walked back to his guest room with a face full of dejection, tiptoeing quietly. The package containing the gold had already disappeared when he left last night.

Isn't it you who cannot extricate yourself?" Huo Qubing sneered, "Don't you think she is very likely deceiving you?"

"Not here," said Huo Qubing. "Today, someone has invited three of my friends as guests, and this person has a significant background. When you, Lieutenant Li, see this person, you must bow at least once."

"Why is this happening? Wasn't it agreed upon long ago?" Li Hongru felt both surprised and disappointed, with a hint of anger.

Li Gan?" Huo Qubing tilted his head, half asleep and half awake, and thought for a moment, saying: "It seems I have heard someone mention it before, the son of a general, right?"

You are bullying me! Li Hongru pushed away the square scarf, her fragrant shoulder slightly trembling as she said: "I am not that kind of woman"