CH 127

Lou Yue burned with anger.

He had also exchanged a few words with this Jingwang today, and from the way he spoke, he, more or less, grasped a bit of this person’s character. From the looks on Pang Shao’s face at this moment, it was clear as day who came up with such a vicious way to humiliate Huo Wujiu.

Lou Yue glared stormily at Jiang Suizhou, making him shiver.

The next moment, however, Lou Yue turned around. With a more than eight feet-like stature, he stood there like a mountain, looking straight to Pang Shao.

“Wily old Pang Shao, I’ve always thought you inhuman, but didn’t expect that you’re actually this vicious! Do you even want to bring feuds in the court battlefield into the harem?”

His voice was thunderous. Like a clanging huge bell, it reverberated in the throne room, startling all civil and military officials of the court.

Even Pang Shao was rendered speechless for a while.

He opened his mouth and was about to speak, then he heard Lou Yue speak again.

“You must be feeling proud, right?” he raved, “It’s only glorious when you win a battle, and it’s called honorable to fight back in Ye City! You should have either killed him or released him, but to marry a prisoner of war to the Prince? What? Are you waiting for the world to praise you for being smart and call Huo Wujiu a fool!”

“You’re the fool for doing such a thing! Not only will the world laugh at you and the emperor, but also at the whole scene! Not only did you and His Majesty become laughingstocks but also the entire Great Jing! Don’t you civil officials like to be recorded in history? In another thousand or two thousand years, believe it or not, people will still be laughing at you for torturing prisoners of war with such nasty methods, laughing at your absurdity, shamelessness and deviousness!”

——

Huo Wujiu had long tossed that thick willow branch out of the window.

After nightfall, Wei Kai hurriedly entered Huo Wujiu’s room: “Something happened, General.”

When Huo Wujiu gave Wei Kai a sideway glance, he took out a tiny note, rolled into a small scroll, from his sleeve. A flying pigeon delivered it.

“This is a reply from Li Sheng, the defending general on the north bank of the Great River,” Wei Kai reported.

Huo Wujiu hummed in response, took the letter and unfolded it in his hand.

The paper was tiny with minuscule handwritten characters. Although it contained a lot, it was rather legible. But perhaps the person who wrote the letter was too excited; although it was in teeny characters, the strokes bore traces of an uncontrollable trembling, making the writing look a bit scrawly.

In particular, a few tear drops had fallen on the paper and smudged the handwriting.

Huo Wujiu quickly browsed through the letter in his hand.

The words were brimming with sincerity and excitement beyond palpable. Li Sheng said he never thought that Wei Kai would see the General one day again. Although the General’s legs hadn’t healed, there was definitely a ray of hope. He had been guarding the north of the Great River and dared not forget the General’s instructions and teachings for a day. He promised to take care of the borders of the north of the General for him. If the General had any orders, just tell him. By then, the General only needed to give a command, and Li Sheng would obey the dispatch and wait for him to return home.

Huo Wujiu read the letter twice before slowly putting it down.

He didn’t say anything.

Seeing that he had finished reading, Wei Kai said: “General, although Li Sheng has never worked with us before, it turns out that he is such a person of character! This is good. As long as we have a chance to leave Lin’an and get to the bank of the river, I think we have nothing to worry about. Shoot them down by all means!”

Huo Wujiu lowered his eyes and wiped his fingers over the tear marks on the paper.

There was no expression on his face, let alone a trace of his emotion at this time. After a few moments, he snickered, “Yes, I have only seen him twice.”

How could someone who had never spoken to him and wasn’t one of his men be so emotional that he could hardly express himself in words? What was more…

Who knew whether the tears on the stationery were true feelings or merely a pretense for him to see?

A few moments later, Huo Wujiu’s fingers moved and with a clatter, he crumpled the letter in the palm of his hand.

“…General?” Wei Kai looked at him in confusion.

Huo Wujiu unfurled his hand indifferently, and let the snow-white scraps fall to the ground.

“Don’t answer the letter yet. Wait a little longer,” he instructed.

“But…”

Huo Wujiu raised his eyes, then he saw Wei Kai’s face full of surprise, looking at him incredulously.

He knew what Wei Kai was thinking. He was now free to go in and out of the Jingwang Manor as if it were no man’s land, so it couldn’t be easier for him to quickly escape from Lin’an with his men and flee back to Northern Liang.

Moreover, they had made contact with the guard of the northern part of the Great River. They also got that person’s guarantee, so leaving at this time was the easiest and most foolproof action.

However, the reason for Huo Wujiu’s defeat at the beginning of the year was still not clear, and 80% of it was some hidden agenda that he was unaware of. As far as his current speculation was concerned… even his royal brother’s people couldn’t be trusted.

Thus, Li Sheng wasn’t entirely trustworthy either.

However, it was still not suitable to tell Wei Kai these endless speculations. He had a straightforward temper and could hardly retain his composure. His mindset was also simple. Letting him know would inevitably lead to further trouble.

With this in mind, Huo Wujiu raised his eyes at Wei Kai and hooked one corner of his lips.

“No buts,” he said, “I just like to pick a more stimulating method. So, don’t rush to respond. Let Li Sheng wait a little longer.”

Wei Kai showed an unspeakable expression.

After a moment of silence, he sighed.

“This subordinate knows what the General is thinking.” His expression was deep, and his brows were filled with sorrow and exasperation.

Huo Wujiu frowned: “What do you mean?”

He heard Wei Kai’s sorrowful sigh: “You’re not leaving just because you want to win His Highness Jingwang and can’t be bothered with anything else, right? This subordinate understands. I’m at your disposal, General!”

Wei Kai’s face bore an unflinching expression in the face of death. It was akin to a loyal general under a tyrant. Despite knowing that his master would wreck the country and bring ruin to the people, he gritted his teeth and assisted the evildoer out of loyalty.