Huo Ling's perspective on the issue had always been unique and thought-provoking.
Princess Deyang's gaze shifted, and the reddish-gold phoenix tail agate tassel at her temple shook. After meeting Huo Ling's eyes with calm, Princess Deyang suddenly closed her eyes, "...Is it meaningful?" She repeated, and then answered her own question, "No."
The person who could give her an answer was no longer there.
When she opened her eyes again, all the emotions in her eyes vanished, and An Shi returned to her initial composure. She then apologized to the Emperor at the head, "Uncle, I apologize for losing my composure." As the emperor's daughter-in-law, she preferred the term "uncle" to "father."
"It's alright," the Emperor said to An De while raising his chin, and without him having to say anything, An De promptly served a cup of hot tea to Princess Deyang.
An De attentively served Princess Deyang a cup of Yunwu Maofeng, instead of the usual pre-rain Longjing she was accustomed to drinking. Smelling the fragrance of the Yunwu Maofeng, which she hadn't smelled in years, and the tea steam rising towards her, instilled the essence of the tea, causing a blur in An Shi's serious expression, who lightly raised her lips.
The room fell silent.
Huo Peng, with his head tilted, chuckled lightly, then crawled to the front of Princess Deyang's chair and sincerely kowtowed, "I'm sorry." Regardless of his inner feelings about Princess Deyang, Huo Peng couldn't deny the fact that if it wasn't for her, he would have already been disposed of by Huo Feng, who looked down on him, let alone leave the capital with part of the power left by Huo Feng.
Setting down the teacup in his hand on the table, Princess Deyang showed no attention to Huo Peng, tugging gently on the part of her skirt that Huo Peng had pressed on her forehead, "It's not your fault."
It wasn't his fault, nor was it her fault—everyone had their faults, but also no one was at fault.
She knew that Huo Peng was the most innocent of all, but that didn't mean she wanted to see him again. Straightening the folds on her sleeves, Princess Deyang got up and bowed to the Emperor at the head, "I'm feeling a bit unwell, so please excuse me, Uncle." She didn't want to see Huo Peng, nor did she want to know how the Emperor would handle him. She simply wanted to return to the temple that could bring her peace of mind and continue the tasks she hadn't completed today.
The Emperor, who never consoled anyone, didn't know what to say to her, as everyone turned to look at Huo Ling, who suddenly spoke, breaking the somewhat eerie atmosphere, "Sister-in-law, I think you're asking the wrong person."
Amid the silence that followed, the Emperor, who remained silent when questioned by his daughter-in-law, Princess Deyang, who was rarely emotional, Steward An De, who pretended he didn't exist, and the distracted Huo Peng, all subconsciously turned their gaze towards Huo Ling.
Bathed in everyone's meaning-laden looks, Huo Ling didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable. In fact, he even unconsciously straightened his chest, "Forgive my bluntness, Father, has five sons, and An De cannot have sons. As for me… a son is still in the works." Glancing at Huo Peng, Huo Ling clicked his tongue, "As for Huo Peng, he's not old enough to consider this issue."
After pointing the finger at everyone present, including himself, Huo Ling calmly asked Princess Deyang, "Is it meaningful for you to ask us this question?"
The superintendent personally escorted the De Yang princess out of the palace. Within the Ganqing Palace, only the emperor, whose expression was unclear, remained at the head, Huo Ling, who was already bored and toying with his fingers while leaning in the chair, and Huo Peng, who knelt in front of the chair where the De Yang princess had been seated, maintaining the same posture even though she had already left.
Giving Huo Ling, who was completely out of line, a glance, the emperor, who couldn't be bothered to say anything, chose to ignore him and descended from the head, directly sitting on the chair that the De Yang princess had just vacated.
Looking at Huo Peng, who kept his head down so no one could see his expression, the emperor asked, "Now, do you have something to tell me?"
Huo Peng remained silent for a long time before lifting his head slowly and telling the emperor his own story.
Because the third prince, Huo Feng, couldn't wait to have a son, he came into this world, as his mother was unwilling but Huo Feng thought it was worth a try, Huo Peng arrived in this world - just five months younger than the De Yang princess's eldest daughter.
However, his so-called father later felt that his status was not worthy of acknowledgment, gave him a name without even the character for "fire," and then no longer paid any attention to them. Huo Peng's birth mother never felt guilty towards the De Yang princess, not only firmly believing that she and Huo Feng were true love, but also firmly convinced that Huo Feng would come to marry her on a bright sunny day, riding a white horse.
Collaborating with the Northern Border and even trying to cause trouble for Huo Ling, the "fortunate Crown Prince," was just a child who couldn't find his own sense of existence, seeking revenge against his father who had long since ceased to respond to him.
The "I'm sorry" was also a belated apology to the De Yang princess on behalf of his birth mother.
The story Huo Peng narrated was almost the same as what the emperor, Huo Jian, knew.
Satisfied with his honesty, the emperor propped his head with his hand, tilted his head in thought, and ultimately decided to give him a chance for the sake of Huo Feng.
"I'll give you a chance."
The emperor's index finger rhythmically tapped on the table. The next moment, the leader of the Green Feather Guards, who appeared from nowhere, knelt in front of Huo Jian.
The leader of the Green Feather Guards, in dark clothing and a mask with green fangs, had nothing on him that could expose his identity, not even the exposed hands were without leather gloves. Nevertheless, Huo Ling, looking at this leader of the Green Feather Guards, whose height was uncertain, couldn't help but shrug.
The emperor, choosing to ignore Huo Ling's strange gaze, spoke to the kneeling Green Feather Guards leader, "Send him to the Green Feather Guards. Whether he lives or dies, or is a dragon or a worm, it’s up to his abilities."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The leader of the Green Feather Guards took Huo Peng away. The emperor, who was settling everything, was not planning to keep Huo Ling there any longer. Without looking away, he instructed Huo Ling, who was sitting on the other side, "Since you've returned, go to the study hall for your classes as usual." Don't think that just because the sky was high and the emperor was far, he didn't know about Huo Ling's performance. He even criticized Gong Sunxun's articles and didn't consider whether he could write such articles himself.
"Father..."
Before Huo Ling could finish his sentence, the emperor raised his hand to stop him, indicating directly, "When you can write articles that satisfy Wang Ancheng, then you won't have to go to the study hall."
Of course, whether he needed to attend classes or not, Huo Ling had to participate in court politics and visit the ministries when he deemed it appropriate.
Thinking about the report on Huo Ling by the Green Feather Guards, the emperor once again warned Huo Ling with a heavy tone, "As the Crown Prince, you should have the demeanor of a Crown Prince."
"Okay." he casually responded. Huo Ling, who had expected it, was already tired of trying to make the emperor show some leniency. He was more concerned about another issue, "The dark figure just now, do I know him?" He had no knowledge of the existence of the Green Feather Guards. Huo Ling just felt that the figure who completely concealed himself seemed familiar. He knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't resist his curiosity in the end.
"Hmm?" He had prepared to get up but was held back by his sleeve. Hearing Huo Ling's question, the emperor raised his eyebrows and sat back down directly. "Have you discovered something?" Just tell him. Later, he could use it to ridicule the old guy, lest the man always thought that he had the best martial arts and disguises in the world.
I wonder how many flaws that guy exposed? The emperor patiently looked at Huo Ling, waiting for him to speak forth.
However—
The leader of the Green Feather Guards had successfully disguised himself, and Huo Ling, with less-than-satisfactory eyes, hadn't noticed any discrepancies. But, "Oh, I just feel like I should know him." There weren't more complicated reasons, it was just that simple.
The emperor: "..." He should let that guy hear this.
Relying on his intuition, Huo Ling, today, also couldn’t make the emperor understand whether he was truly perceptive or just lucky.
Seeing his son's usual "foresight," the emperor couldn't help but feel proud, "I told you I'm amazing!"
"Father, can you tell me who he is now?"
Without commenting on Huo Ling's claim of being amazing, the emperor, with the mindset of “since you want to know, I'll reluctantly tell you,” revealed the answer, "He's your imperial uncle."
"My uncle?"
Before Huo Ling could think about which of his known uncles fit the bill, the emperor gave him the answer directly.
"Jing Wang, Huo Zi."
Jing Wang Huo Zi, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but fond of traveling and meeting beautiful women, had become the vague prince in the capital's related legends of “Does Jing Wang have a name today?” He was also the one who had raised many cats and dogs with the young Huo Ling, making him never feel lonely as a child, and the one that the young Huo Ling had admired as the contrasting target during the time when he was the fifth prince.
Never did he expect that the leisurely prince he had idolized turned out to be the leader of the Green Feather Guards!
As Huo Ling truly understood the meaning behind his father's words, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in disbelief. Not waiting for a response from Huo Jian, Huo Ling immediately disclaimed, "Yes, you are joking."
How could his uncle possibly be the leader of the Green Feather Guards? It’s absolutely impossible!
How could his dream be associated with that miserable image?
The folds that Huo Ling had smoothed out from his father's robe slipped from his hands as he couldn't hold it anymore. Seeing his son's reaction, the emperor felt very satisfied with how foolish he was at the moment. He couldn't help but suppress his smile, "You didn't expect it? There are still a lot of things you didn't expect."
Rarely displaying a sense of affection, the emperor not only took a seat next to Huo Ling but even reached out to pat his shoulder, revealing his thoughtfulness, "Do you want to meet your uncle?"
Seeing the world-shattering expression of Huo Ling, the emperor, who was completely unrestrained in his emotions, was overjoyed, "I can arrange for you to meet him as the leader of the Green Feather Guards."
"No, no, no, I don't want to know too much." Even though he was terrified, Huo Ling instinctively dodged the emperor's "trap," "Father, I don't want to be silenced due to knowing too much." He always felt that once he truly came into contact with what was known as the Green Feather Guards, many things could never be undone - like his dream of becoming a leisurely prince, which he had not given up to this day.
"Silenced?”. The emperor patted Huo Ling's head, "How do you speak, child?"
"Just bear in mind what I mean."
Unsuccessfully trapping Huo Ling, who occasionally tempted fate by trying to be challenged by the emperor, the emperor suddenly grew cold, "In that case, just go."
"Okay."
Huo Ling, who had grown accustomed, remained indifferent. As he got up and brushed off the emperor’s hand on his shoulder, he bowed to him, "Father, then I'll 'go'."
Without any further words, the emperor raised his hand, saying only one word, "Go."
"Okay."
Huoling, who quickly organized his emotions, showed no difference on his face and respectfully indicated his departure.
Then, as Huoling was leaving the palace, he stumbled at the threshold and collided with a pillar when he descended the steps, shocking the attendant, whose repeated "Your Highness" even caught the attention of the Emperor inside the palace.
Huoling, trying to regain his composure, seemed outwardly calm, but his heart was anything but calm.
The Emperor sat behind his desk, trying to suppress his laughter, but couldn't help but chuckle as he lifted the document in his hand, "You always tease me, little rascal, thinking that I can't handle you?"
The caretaker, who couldn't see the Emperor's expression but could hear his laughter, said, "...", unable to feel the father-son bond they shared.
The Emperor, instead of sending the document back or ordering a rewrite as he usually did, leisurely marked it with a "read," even though Huoling, who had caused a scene inside the palace, was still feeling miserable, leaving only Hu Jian to take pleasure in his misfortune.
As he continued marking the document, the Emperor suddenly laughed aloud. "Ha, serves him right."
Author's notes:
①: Here, I originally wanted to use "Royal Uncle" or "Royal Uncle-Uncle", but then I remembered something. The term "Royal Uncle" is the respectful address for a deceased husband's father in ancient times.
"Rites of Zhou: After three months' mourning, a woman should offer sacrifices to her in-laws. The prayer is as follows: 'I, [her surname], the humble wife, dare to present the sacrifices to the esteemed father of my late husband, the Royal Uncle [his name].'"
What a surprise! "Royal Uncle" actually means this, hehe. 2333