2. Shulan Hall Family Banquet

Huo Yun is a rough man who comes with a knife and goes with a sword, disliking the intricate formalities of the palace. Looking at Huo Qingsang, his eyes are filled with laughter

Hmm! Nangong Yao let out a muffled grunt, then suddenly smiled, bending down to pick her up horizontally, and kicked open the door of Shulan Hall.

At the hour of the rabbit, during the morning court session, the inner court officials reported that the large army of Huo Tingdong had already set up camp and was heading towards Yanshan.

The great hall fell silent all at once, so quiet that it seemed one could only hear the disordered heartbeat of a few individuals

Hearing the footsteps, Huo Qingsang raised her head, her face adorned with the innocent smile characteristic of a young girl

Huo Qingsang did not wish to speak, allowing the night wind to lift the delicate fabric of her clothing

In the imperial study, the leader of the secret guards, Chasing Cloud, stood to the side of the writing desk, lowering his brows and daring not to look at Nangong Yao's face

"The queen back then truly was a woman who did not yield to men." He said this with a hint of jealousy, naturally walking over to put his arm around Huo Qingsang's shoulders, standing between her and Huo Tingdong. He reached out, picked up the teacup in front of Huo Qingsang, and took a small sip, his sword-like brows instantly furrowing.

His movements were gentle and natural, showing no signs of awkwardness, as if the person sitting beside him was the beloved he had been longing for. Yet only Huo Qingsang knew that he was merely acting, performing for Huo Yun and Huo Tingdong. The food in her mouth suddenly felt like chewing wax, and the person before her seemed like an ink wash landscape painting, inscrutable yet immersive, leaving her unable to detach herself from it.

Huo Yun smiled as he patted her head, and in an instant, he seemed to age a few years. After a long time, he finally uttered, "Silly girl has grown up."

Before the words had left his mouth, Nan Gongyao's expression instantly darkened, and with a sharp sound, he placed the chopsticks in his hand on the table, raising his eyebrows and saying: "There are three forms of unfilial behavior, and having no descendants is the most serious."

Chasing the clouds, I take my leave

Is that so? It is already the hour of the snake. Go and call Liu Quan to come in. You quietly go and guard Shulan Hall! Remember, do not reveal your presence.

She felt her hand, resting on her knee, being gripped tightly, as if she had been stung. She abruptly withdrew her hand and glanced sideways at Huo Tingdong

Huo Qingsang chuckled softly: "This is black tea, which the Emperor is not accustomed to drinking." After saying this, she indeed noticed that Nangong Yao's expression had darkened somewhat, and she signaled for Su Yi to bring him a cup of Junshan Yinzhen instead

Nangong Yao secretly laughed coldly, yet an inexplicable pang of bitterness surged in his chest, forcing him to raise an eyebrow and gaze intensely at Huo Tingdong

At this moment, Huo Yun suddenly realized that last night's family banquet was actually a feast at Hongmen.

Huo Tingdong's reaction was well within Nangong Yao's expectations. How could he not see through Huo Tingdong's little thoughts? He liked Huo Qingsang, but so what? Even if he himself did not have feelings, Huo Qingsang was still his woman, and Huo Tingdong had no right to covet her.

The palace lanterns outside Shulan Hall stretch for dozens of meters, and at the end of the winding corridor, Huo Qingsang can no longer see the figures of Huo Yun and Huo Tingdong. Nangong Yao stands behind her, his slender shadow cast upon her, as if the two have merged and intertwined.

I don't know where that girl got the idea at the time, but she actually sent people to set an ambush on the only route that Han Wang would take to escape. If it were just a regular roadblock, it would be one thing, but she even took advantage of the fire. Father, you didn't know at the time, but the fire swept down the mountain in waves, scattering most of Han Wang's remaining thirty thousand troops. " Huo Tingdong added while sipping tea, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Huo Qingsang with a smile.

"It seems that it's time to arrange a marriage," he said, as he picked up a shrimp and brought it to Huo Qingsang's lips. Noticing her lack of interest in accepting it, he chuckled and placed the shrimp into his own mouth. "The legitimate eldest daughter of the Loyal and Righteous Marquis's residence is quite good. After returning from this expedition to eliminate bandits, let's arrange the engagement," he concluded, without even glancing at Huo Tingdong's suddenly pale face. He turned his head with a sense of pride to look at Huo Qingsang, and upon seeing some grease at the corner of her lips, he took out a bright yellow handkerchief and gently wiped it away for her.

Nangong Yao ordered the inner guards to apprehend Huo Yun with lightning speed, while the officials from the Ministry of Justice searched the residence of the General of the State. Within less than an hour, the Ministry of Justice reported that they had seized 1,200,000 taels of hidden silver and several letters exchanged between Huo Yun and the deposed Crown Prince of Xiliang at the General's residence

The message must never reach Huo Tingdong's ears

Huo Tingdong's handsome face was marked by a touch of determination, and he slightly furrowed his brows, saying: "I am currently not in the mood to marry."

Suddenly, Nangong Yao raised his eyebrows and laughed twice: "Is it possible that Ting Dong has found someone he loves?" As he said this, his hand was hidden under the table, pressing his palm against Huo Qingsang's thigh, and his fingers gripped down hard, causing Huo Qingsang to frown slightly in pain

A sudden surge of exhilaration welled up within him, and he looked at the distinctly varied expressions of the few people present with a sense of ambiguity, feeling an overwhelming sense of vengeful joy that made him almost want to laugh out loud

"Are you afraid?" Nangong Yao asked with a smile, clearly not expecting an answer. He picked up the calligraphy he had just copied and said, "Tell me, where do you think Huo Tingdong is now?"

Nangong Yao smiled slightly and said, "I will naturally find a noble lady of comparable appearance and character for Ting Dong."

Huo Qingsang felt a bit embarrassed, taking a piece of osmanthus cake and putting it in her mouth: "Brother, are you laughing at me? At that time, I was inexperienced and unaware of the dangers. I almost lost my life trying to capture that Han Wang. If it weren't for you blocking that knife for me, I might not be here today."

This upheaval occurred too swiftly, leaving the entire political sphere in shock; the General of the State has already been imprisoned, and no one is permitted to visit.

"Chasing the clouds!" Nangong Yao suddenly raised his head, his face in the dim light as translucent as jade, yet Chasing the Clouds inexplicably shivered.

When Huo Tingdong followed Huo Yun into Shulan Hall, led by the eunuch, Huo Qingsang was already dressed appropriately, sitting comfortably in the main hall, engrossed in reading a copy of "The Record of the Fierce Wind's Journey to the West".

Huo Qingsang bit down hard with her mouth wide open

How could Ye'er not remember the anniversary of his death? It is clear that half a month has already passed, yet he brings up old matters again; who is he doing this for?

A few people were chatting casually, creating an exceptionally harmonious atmosphere. However, this very harmony made Nangong Yao feel extremely uncomfortable. He wanted to break it, and so he did.

From a distance of several dozen miles, she could vaguely see the scattered campfires at the foot of Kunlong Mountain. An inexplicable sense of longing arose within her, and that sudden, intense desire left her somewhat at a loss.

"Your Majesty, it is already the hour of the snake."

Huo Qingsang's face instantly darkened, as if her heart had been fiercely grasped by someone.

Having said that, he turned to look at Huo Qingsang and meaningfully remarked: "Let us conclude here for today! Today marks the anniversary of Ye'er’s passing; the Empress would not have forgotten, would she? Later, accompany me to stroll by the Cuiyin Lake!"

As the eighty-one dishes were served, Nangong Yao dismissed the attending eunuchs and picked up his chopsticks to place a piece of beef brisket into the small dish in front of Huo Qingsang. His gaze towards her was imbued with a tender affection, reminiscent of deep, tranquil waters that could easily drown her in an instant.

Huo Qingsang left the palace without permission and stood alone at the city gate in a daze after the fifth watch

When Huo Tingdong's army set out from the camp to leave Beijing, it was just dawn. When Nangong Yao woke up, the bedding beside him was already damp and cold.

The matter of Tingdong's marriage still depends on the Emperor's decision. Suddenly, Huo Yun, who had been silent, spoke up, breaking the stalemate between the two.

With a bitter smile in his heart, he realized that the capital was now under complete martial law. All officials involved in the impeachment and the raids on their homes were heavily guarded, making it impossible for any news to leak out

"Eat, I specifically had the imperial kitchen prepare this beef stew for you." As he spoke, he bent down closer to her, his slightly cool hand gently brushing aside the stray hair from her forehead, and casually remarked, "Ting Dong is also twenty-four this year, isn't she?"

"Do you have nothing to say?" Nangong Yao suddenly reached out and turned her shoulder, looking down at her from a height, his cool thumb gently brushing over her lips

Zhuiyun was taken aback for a moment and immediately replied: "It is approximately one hundred miles out of the capital, and we should arrive at the foot of Yanshan Mountain in half a month."

Nangong Yao smiled with satisfaction, raising his eyebrows as he looked at the calligraphy: "What time is it now?"

Huo Yun hurried a few steps forward, only to suddenly realize that his once most cherished little daughter was no longer the same as he remembered; her eyes and brows carried a hint of beauty and an undeniable sorrow.

Thinking of this, he could not help but cast a furtive glance at Huo Qingsang, yet his voice was particularly gentle: "Shall we have the dishes served? Today is a family banquet, so you two ministers need not be so restrained, especially you, Tingdong. You are to head to Yanshan to suppress the bandits tomorrow, so today, let it be as if I am sending you off." As he spoke, he smiled, his eyes curving as he looked at Huo Tingdong

Nangong Yao, who was born in Jiangnan, was certainly not accustomed to the strong flavor of black tea. However, Huo Qingsang had become accustomed to drinking invigorating black tea after following Huo Yun for so many years. In the past, when Nangong Yao visited, she would prepare Junshan Yinzhen or Biluochun with light flavors, rarely serving black tea, so Nangong Yao was unaware of her preference for this flavor

Nangong Yao listened and smiled slightly, when suddenly the Imperial Censor stepped forward. Following him, several officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Minister of Justice successively submitted memorials accusing Huo Yun of colluding with the remnants of the deposed Crown Prince from Xiliang, intending to ambush Miss Su. The purpose, of course, was to consolidate the position of the Huo family. It was well known throughout the court that Huo Qingsang had forced the Emperor to send Su Wan to the Western Regions. If Su Wan were to return, how could she not seek revenge?

As he watched the tea leaves gently swirl in the teacup, Nangong Yao felt as if a cat were scratching at his heart

At that time, the maids and guards of Shulan Palace seemed to have gone through a calamity. The Emperor was furious, and all the servants on duty that night in Shulan Palace were to be punished with twenty strokes of the rod as a warning to others. Furthermore, the palace was heavily guarded, with the commander of the Imperial Guard personally overseeing the situation.

He did it on purpose, deliberately stabbing her in the heart with that knife!

It has been an hour since Huo Yun was imprisoned, and Nangong Yao has not spoken a word, the jade gourd in his hand clinking against each other, producing a series of sounds

Several ministers facing impeachment are currently staying behind closed doors at home, with heavy troops guarding outside their residences

Huo Tingdong inadvertently cast a glance at Huo Qingsang, but could not escape the gaze of Nangong Yao

Father," she softly called, rising to greet him

Huo Tingdong's hand trembled as he held the chopsticks: "Your Majesty, indeed it is."

The love in this world has always been a pursuit between you and me, whether it is a desperate journey on a lonely road or a natural progression that adds beauty to an already splendid situation. Yet, she has never been the latter. Now, upon reflection, has she reached the end of her road?

She pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and it was unclear what she murmured softly. Huo Yun and Huo Tingdong laughed heartily. He quickened his pace a few steps in silence before realizing that she was recounting the events from a few years ago when she was on the battlefield with Huo Tingdong.

Behind her lies the tranquil palace, before her stretches the vast land of the Nine Provinces. For a fleeting moment, she even contemplated leaving, yet in the end, she could not bear to part with that person

When Liu Quan entered, Nangong Yao had already crumpled the calligraphy he had copied and thrown it into the paper tube: "Go to Shufei and deliver the decree, I will visit her tonight. Also, tell her that I have excessive internal heat and ask her to prepare a bowl of stewed Sichuan pear with fritillaria in her small kitchen."

When Nangong Yao entered, Huo Qingsang was smiling as she poured tea for Huo Yun and Huo Tingdong. The rising steam from the tea enveloped her face, adding a touch of gentle softness to her originally spirited brows and eyes.