Compared to the awkward atmosphere in the harem, Emperor Changlong felt much better after meeting Hua Changkong.
As the son of a renowned general, Hua Changkong possessed a literary temperament, handsome appearance, and most importantly... he was extremely eloquent, just like his father.
Unlike other military commanders who were brash and direct in their speech, or civil officials who were subtle and reserved, Hua Changkong's praises were sincere and heartfelt. His eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration for the Emperor.
"When this subordinate's father was seriously injured during the attack on Ke'er City, just when the soldiers thought we were doomed to fail, Your Majesty sent reinforcements and supplies," Hua Changkong's eyes welled up with tears, "Your Majesty's actions not only determined the victory of our army in the battle against Jinpo but also gave this subordinate's severely wounded father hope to persevere."
At this point, Hua Changkong almost shed tears. He bowed deeply to Emperor Changlong, without saying much, but the Emperor could feel his deep gratitude.
"Zhen has known Yingting since we were young, like brothers. He has defended the border for Great Jin and guarded our borders. When Zhen heard that he was seriously injured, Zhen couldn't sleep or eat. Fortunately, he is safe and sound, which finally put Zhen's mind at ease," Emperor Changlong said, with a tinge of regret in his heart. Hua Yingting's abilities in leading troops and fighting battles were rare in a century. It was a pity that he couldn't return to the battlefield after this injury.
But it was also for the best. Yingting had been guarding the border of the Great Jin for many years, bearing numerous old wounds. It was time for him to enjoy his life in retirement. Fortunately, his eldest son was brave and skilled in battle, inheriting his father's spirit. With him assisting Yingting in defending Great Jin's territory, the Emperor could rest assured.
Emperor Changlong talked to Hua Changkong for a long time, even inviting him to have a meal in the imperial palace. Hua Changkong's enthusiastic yet not obsequious flattery made the Emperor feel refreshed. He kept him for an hour before allowing Chief Eunuch Zhao Sancai to personally escort Hua Changkong out.
"Third Young Master Hua, please watch your step on the stairs," Zhao Sancai bowed and escorted Hua Changkong out of the Chenyang Palace. Hua Changkong bowed to him and said, "Chief Eunuch Zhao, please stay."
"Third Young Master Hua, there's no need to be so polite. This old servant hasn't seen the Great General for many years. Today, this old servant has the honor of accompanying the Third Young Master Hua. If there's anything Third Young Master Hua needs or are unfamiliar with, please let this old servant know," Zhao Sancai smiled and said, "His Majesty has always been concerned about the Great General. Now that the Third Young Master Hua has returned to the capital, if there's anything Third Young Master Hua needs, don't hesitate to tell this old servant."
Hua Changkong knew that Zhao Sancai was expressing his closeness on behalf of the Emperor. He quickly expressed his gratitude and treated Zhao Sancai as his own.
Ji Minghao saw the Chief Eunuch, who was his father's most trusted aide, smiling and talking with someone. When he approached and took a closer look, he fell silent.
Isn't this the person who made Tian Ruidong and the other young nobles apologize yesterday?
"Your Highness Yang Wang..."
“This gentleman is…”
"Your Highness," Zhao Sancai, courteous but lacking familiarity, introduced, "This is Hua Changkong, the third son of the Great General."
Who?
Who is this person that Zhao Sancai is talking about?
The son of the Great General?!
Could it be that Xianzhu who vomited blood in the carriage yesterday... is she the only daughter of the Hua family?
Ji Minghao felt some regret. If he had known that Tian Ruidong had offended the son and daughter of the Great General, he would have avoided getting involved and definitely wouldn't have meddled.
After causing such a commotion, there was no need for his mother, Consort Xian, to worry about how to dispel the Emperor's intention of marrying the daughter of the Hua family to him. The Hua family themselves would not agree to it.
But even though he had no intention of forming an alliance with the Hua family, it didn't mean he had the guts to offend them now!
At this moment, Ying Wang's heart was helpless and on the verge of collapse. Looking at Hua Changkong's pleasant smile, he felt a hidden malice within it.
After learning the identities of the Hua siblings, Ying Wang had a sense of foreboding. And in the end, reality proved that his intuition was correct.
In just one day, rumors spread throughout the capital that Ying Wang and his cousin had angered the daughter of the Great General, causing her to vomit blood. The rumors grew more and more widespread, eventually turning into a claim that Ying Wang had intentionally bullied the Hua siblings upon their arrival in the capital, in order to prove his superior military capabilities compared to the Great General.
Ying Wang felt wronged. He simply enjoyed hunting, how did it turn into jealousy towards the Great General's abilities? Even if he did feel jealous, there was no need for him to intentionally bully the Hua siblings. He wasn't foolish.
However, common people don't consider such logic. They simply believed that while the Great General fought for the people of Great Jin on the battlefield, his children were being bullied by a Prince. How saddened would the Great General be if he found out?
For a period of time, many rumors related to Ying Wang started circulating in the streets:
He couldn't walk straight when he saw a beautiful woman.
All the utensils in his house were made of gold.
He cursed a seventy-year-old woman and stole candy from a three-year-old child.
The rumors were endless and they portrayed him as completely worthless.
The rumors spread so widely that even the servants from Ying Wang's mansion dared not mention which estate they were from when they went out for errands, fearing they would encounter angry commoners ready to attack them.
After hearing the rumors circulating in the capital, Hua Liuli extended her fair and delicate fingers and gently opened the letter written by her father and brothers, "These people in the capital are truly despicable. They deliberately incite rumors, causing difficulties for us, the Hua family, and the Eldest Prince. I'm afraid of having to deal with these people in the future."
"The Emperor is in good health, but these Princes in the capital have to use every means possible to suppress the competition," Hua Changkong put down his brush and left the letter aside to dry, "This good knife that is our family just happened to be used against Eldest Prince."
"Why are these Princes causing such a fuss? The Crown Prince is living well in the Eastern Palace. Is it their turn to flutter around like chickens and ducks?" Hua Liuli looked up at the sky again, her expression filled with sorrow, "For the sake of power, they disregard blood ties. It's truly regrettable and heartbreaking."
"The competition between the Princes has nothing to do with us," Hua Changkong added deliberately, "You don't have to worry about it."
"As a military family, we don’t need to beat around the bush before we act," Hua Changkong smiled mysteriously.
"If we want to defeat the enemy, we need to trap them in our own rules and then use our rich experience to outmaneuver them," Hua Liuli sighed. "For a delicate young lady like me, besides using these methods, what other options do I have?"
"Indeed, my sister is the most intelligent person in our family," Hua Changkong praised sincerely, "Walk our own path and let others go their own way."
Hua Liuli showed a modest smile.
"It's all because of your intelligence which has burdened your body, making you so frail," Hua Changkong shook his head with emotion, "Thinking of how frail you are, it feels like a knife twisting in my heart. Let's roast venison tonight."
"Okay," Hua Liuli nodded, "Also, bring some well-marbled wild boar meat. It will taste even better."
The two siblings looked at each other and smiled with satisfaction.
Just two days after the rumors of Ying Wang oppressing the Hua siblings spread, Consort Xian, Ying Wang's mother, sent a generous gift to the Hua family. Along with these gifts came Tian Ruidong, who was bound with rattan strips on his back.
Tian Ruidong deeply regretted it. He regretted it very much. If he had known that he would get involved in such a situation that day... why did he drink alcohol? No, he shouldn't have gone out at all!
He told his grandfather and father that he never even encountered the Hua family's Young Lady, but due to his history of lying too much, no one in his family believed him. They even said that even if the Hua family's Young Lady wasn't frightened by them, it was still his own fault for being an idle young master.
What's wrong with being an idle young master? Even if he idled away all day, indulged in pleasure, galloped through the bustling streets, or even knocked over someone's stall, he was still an esteemed and distinguished idle young master.
Idle young masters also have dignity, idle young master also have their principles, and they cannot bear such injustice.
But... he had to consider his father and grandfather, who had higher status and position than him, not to mention that this incident also implicated the Eldest Prince. Besides humbly going to the Hua family to apologize, what better solution could he have?
He had heard that the Emperor valued the Hua family, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent. As soon as Tian Ruidong stepped into the gates of the Hua family's estate, he was attracted by the magnificent architecture. It was truly picturesque, far surpassing his own family's estate in beauty.
The Tian family is not lacking in wealth. But his aunt is a consort in the palace and gave birth to the Eldest Prince, putting her status and position different from other ordinary consorts and concubines. As the maternal family of Consort Xian, they naturally couldn't hinder her and the Eldest Prince.
Entering the main hall, Tian Ruidong saw the man -- who recently threatened to report his misdeeds to his family -- approaching with a harmless smile.
"Brother Tian, what are you doing?" Hua Changkong personally untied the rattan strips from Tian Ruidong's back and threw them aside, helping him to sit down, "It was just a joke when I said I would visit your estate that day. Brother Tian, you must not take it seriously."
Tian Ruidong forced a bitter smile, unable to express his grievances in his heart. He didn't report the matter to his family, but what happened was even more terrifying than just reporting to his family; now even the Emperor and the Empress Dowager knew about it.
He didn't dare to take Hua Changkong's words seriously and insisted on apologizing to the Hua family's Young Lady.
In Great Jin, where customs were open-minded, there were no strict restrictions on interactions between men and women. With Hua Changkong present, Tian Ruidong wanted to personally apologize to the Hua family's Young Lady as a sign of respect.
"Brother Tian, how can you be so polite?" Hua Changkong sighed and turned his head to a maid outside the door, "Go and bring Young Miss here," He glanced at the anxious and restless Tian Ruidong, picked up the hot tea, and moistened his lips.
Very well, after this incident, there should be many idle young masters who wouldn't dare to gallop through the bustling streets and knock over someone's stall.
Tian Ruidong anxiously waited for a while when he finally heard the voice of a maid outside the door.
"Xianzhu has arrived."
Tian Ruidong couldn't help but be curious. What does this frail and delicate Xianzhu, who can't withstand fright, look like?
He turned his head to look outside the door and saw several maids escorting a girl wearing a white cloak. Her skin was whiter than the snow in the courtyard. Her jet-black hair was tied up in a simple bun, and the crimson tassel lightly swayed between her eyebrows, causing one's heart to flutter along with its movement.
Before reaching the doorway, the girl's steps swayed lightly a few times. She covered her mouth and coughed softly, with a mist of water in her eyes.
Looking at this delicate girl in front of him, Tian Ruidong couldn't help but think bitterly that those beasts actually frightened such a celestial-like woman. They were truly despicable!
At this moment, he decided to selectively forget that he was also one of those beasts.
Compared to the awkward atmosphere in the harem, Emperor Changlong felt much better after meeting Hua Changkong.
As the son of a renowned general, Hua Changkong possessed a literary temperament, handsome appearance, and most importantly... he was extremely eloquent, just like his father.
Unlike other military commanders who were brash and direct in their speech, or civil officials who were subtle and reserved, Hua Changkong's praises were sincere and heartfelt. His eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration for the Emperor.
"When this subordinate's father was seriously injured during the attack on Ke'er City, just when the soldiers thought we were doomed to fail, Your Majesty sent reinforcements and supplies," Hua Changkong's eyes welled up with tears, "Your Majesty's actions not only determined the victory of our army in the battle against Jinpo but also gave this subordinate's severely wounded father hope to persevere."
At this point, Hua Changkong almost shed tears. He bowed deeply to Emperor Changlong, without saying much, but the Emperor could feel his deep gratitude.
"Zhen has known Yingting since we were young, like brothers. He has defended the border for Great Jin and guarded our borders. When Zhen heard that he was seriously injured, Zhen couldn't sleep or eat. Fortunately, he is safe and sound, which finally put Zhen's mind at ease," Emperor Changlong said, with a tinge of regret in his heart. Hua Yingting's abilities in leading troops and fighting battles were rare in a century. It was a pity that he couldn't return to the battlefield after this injury.
But it was also for the best. Yingting had been guarding the border of the Great Jin for many years, bearing numerous old wounds. It was time for him to enjoy his life in retirement. Fortunately, his eldest son was brave and skilled in battle, inheriting his father's spirit. With him assisting Yingting in defending Great Jin's territory, the Emperor could rest assured.
Emperor Changlong talked to Hua Changkong for a long time, even inviting him to have a meal in the imperial palace. Hua Changkong's enthusiastic yet not obsequious flattery made the Emperor feel refreshed. He kept him for an hour before allowing Chief Eunuch Zhao Sancai to personally escort Hua Changkong out.
"Third Young Master Hua, please watch your step on the stairs," Zhao Sancai bowed and escorted Hua Changkong out of the Chenyang Palace. Hua Changkong bowed to him and said, "Chief Eunuch Zhao, please stay."
"Third Young Master Hua, there's no need to be so polite. This old servant hasn't seen the Great General for many years. Today, this old servant has the honor of accompanying the Third Young Master Hua. If there's anything Third Young Master Hua needs or are unfamiliar with, please let this old servant know," Zhao Sancai smiled and said, "His Majesty has always been concerned about the Great General. Now that the Third Young Master Hua has returned to the capital, if there's anything Third Young Master Hua needs, don't hesitate to tell this old servant."
Hua Changkong knew that Zhao Sancai was expressing his closeness on behalf of the Emperor. He quickly expressed his gratitude and treated Zhao Sancai as his own.
Ji Minghao saw the Chief Eunuch, who was his father's most trusted aide, smiling and talking with someone. When he approached and took a closer look, he fell silent.
Isn't this the person who made Tian Ruidong and the other young nobles apologize yesterday?
"Your Highness Yang Wang..."
“This gentleman is…”
"Your Highness," Zhao Sancai, courteous but lacking familiarity, introduced, "This is Hua Changkong, the third son of the Great General."
Who?
Who is this person that Zhao Sancai is talking about?
The son of the Great General?!
Could it be that Xianzhu who vomited blood in the carriage yesterday... is she the only daughter of the Hua family?
Ji Minghao felt some regret. If he had known that Tian Ruidong had offended the son and daughter of the Great General, he would have avoided getting involved and definitely wouldn't have meddled.
After causing such a commotion, there was no need for his mother, Consort Xian, to worry about how to dispel the Emperor's intention of marrying the daughter of the Hua family to him. The Hua family themselves would not agree to it.
But even though he had no intention of forming an alliance with the Hua family, it didn't mean he had the guts to offend them now!
At this moment, Ying Wang's heart was helpless and on the verge of collapse. Looking at Hua Changkong's pleasant smile, he felt a hidden malice within it.
After learning the identities of the Hua siblings, Ying Wang had a sense of foreboding. And in the end, reality proved that his intuition was correct.
In just one day, rumors spread throughout the capital that Ying Wang and his cousin had angered the daughter of the Great General, causing her to vomit blood. The rumors grew more and more widespread, eventually turning into a claim that Ying Wang had intentionally bullied the Hua siblings upon their arrival in the capital, in order to prove his superior military capabilities compared to the Great General.
Ying Wang felt wronged. He simply enjoyed hunting, how did it turn into jealousy towards the Great General's abilities? Even if he did feel jealous, there was no need for him to intentionally bully the Hua siblings. He wasn't foolish.
However, common people don't consider such logic. They simply believed that while the Great General fought for the people of Great Jin on the battlefield, his children were being bullied by a Prince. How saddened would the Great General be if he found out?
For a period of time, many rumors related to Ying Wang started circulating in the streets:
He couldn't walk straight when he saw a beautiful woman.
All the utensils in his house were made of gold.
He cursed a seventy-year-old woman and stole candy from a three-year-old child.
The rumors were endless and they portrayed him as completely worthless.
The rumors spread so widely that even the servants from Ying Wang's mansion dared not mention which estate they were from when they went out for errands, fearing they would encounter angry commoners ready to attack them.
After hearing the rumors circulating in the capital, Hua Liuli extended her fair and delicate fingers and gently opened the letter written by her father and brothers, "These people in the capital are truly despicable. They deliberately incite rumors, causing difficulties for us, the Hua family, and the Eldest Prince. I'm afraid of having to deal with these people in the future."
"The Emperor is in good health, but these Princes in the capital have to use every means possible to suppress the competition," Hua Changkong put down his brush and left the letter aside to dry, "This good knife that is our family just happened to be used against Eldest Prince."
"Why are these Princes causing such a fuss? The Crown Prince is living well in the Eastern Palace. Is it their turn to flutter around like chickens and ducks?" Hua Liuli looked up at the sky again, her expression filled with sorrow, "For the sake of power, they disregard blood ties. It's truly regrettable and heartbreaking."
"The competition between the Princes has nothing to do with us," Hua Changkong added deliberately, "You don't have to worry about it."
"As a military family, we don’t need to beat around the bush before we act," Hua Changkong smiled mysteriously.
"If we want to defeat the enemy, we need to trap them in our own rules and then use our rich experience to outmaneuver them," Hua Liuli sighed. "For a delicate young lady like me, besides using these methods, what other options do I have?"
"Indeed, my sister is the most intelligent person in our family," Hua Changkong praised sincerely, "Walk our own path and let others go their own way."
Hua Liuli showed a modest smile.
"It's all because of your intelligence which has burdened your body, making you so frail," Hua Changkong shook his head with emotion, "Thinking of how frail you are, it feels like a knife twisting in my heart. Let's roast venison tonight."
"Okay," Hua Liuli nodded, "Also, bring some well-marbled wild boar meat. It will taste even better."
The two siblings looked at each other and smiled with satisfaction.
Just two days after the rumors of Ying Wang oppressing the Hua siblings spread, Consort Xian, Ying Wang's mother, sent a generous gift to the Hua family. Along with these gifts came Tian Ruidong, who was bound with rattan strips on his back.
Tian Ruidong deeply regretted it. He regretted it very much. If he had known that he would get involved in such a situation that day... why did he drink alcohol? No, he shouldn't have gone out at all!
He told his grandfather and father that he never even encountered the Hua family's Young Lady, but due to his history of lying too much, no one in his family believed him. They even said that even if the Hua family's Young Lady wasn't frightened by them, it was still his own fault for being an idle young master.
What's wrong with being an idle young master? Even if he idled away all day, indulged in pleasure, galloped through the bustling streets, or even knocked over someone's stall, he was still an esteemed and distinguished idle young master.
Idle young masters also have dignity, idle young master also have their principles, and they cannot bear such injustice.
But... he had to consider his father and grandfather, who had higher status and position than him, not to mention that this incident also implicated the Eldest Prince. Besides humbly going to the Hua family to apologize, what better solution could he have?
He had heard that the Emperor valued the Hua family, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent. As soon as Tian Ruidong stepped into the gates of the Hua family's estate, he was attracted by the magnificent architecture. It was truly picturesque, far surpassing his own family's estate in beauty.
The Tian family is not lacking in wealth. But his aunt is a consort in the palace and gave birth to the Eldest Prince, putting her status and position different from other ordinary consorts and concubines. As the maternal family of Consort Xian, they naturally couldn't hinder her and the Eldest Prince.
Entering the main hall, Tian Ruidong saw the man -- who recently threatened to report his misdeeds to his family -- approaching with a harmless smile.
"Brother Tian, what are you doing?" Hua Changkong personally untied the rattan strips from Tian Ruidong's back and threw them aside, helping him to sit down, "It was just a joke when I said I would visit your estate that day. Brother Tian, you must not take it seriously."
Tian Ruidong forced a bitter smile, unable to express his grievances in his heart. He didn't report the matter to his family, but what happened was even more terrifying than just reporting to his family; now even the Emperor and the Empress Dowager knew about it.
He didn't dare to take Hua Changkong's words seriously and insisted on apologizing to the Hua family's Young Lady.
In Great Jin, where customs were open-minded, there were no strict restrictions on interactions between men and women. With Hua Changkong present, Tian Ruidong wanted to personally apologize to the Hua family's Young Lady as a sign of respect.
"Brother Tian, how can you be so polite?" Hua Changkong sighed and turned his head to a maid outside the door, "Go and bring Young Miss here," He glanced at the anxious and restless Tian Ruidong, picked up the hot tea, and moistened his lips.
Very well, after this incident, there should be many idle young masters who wouldn't dare to gallop through the bustling streets and knock over someone's stall.
Tian Ruidong anxiously waited for a while when he finally heard the voice of a maid outside the door.
"Xianzhu has arrived."
Tian Ruidong couldn't help but be curious. What does this frail and delicate Xianzhu, who can't withstand fright, look like?
He turned his head to look outside the door and saw several maids escorting a girl wearing a white cloak. Her skin was whiter than the snow in the courtyard. Her jet-black hair was tied up in a simple bun, and the crimson tassel lightly swayed between her eyebrows, causing one's heart to flutter along with its movement.
Before reaching the doorway, the girl's steps swayed lightly a few times. She covered her mouth and coughed softly, with a mist of water in her eyes.
Looking at this delicate girl in front of him, Tian Ruidong couldn't help but think bitterly that those beasts actually frightened such a celestial-like woman. They were truly despicable!
At this moment, he decided to selectively forget that he was also one of those beasts.
