Huo Chang’an smiled, “Where do you get such words, Grand Tutor? With my humble status, being graciously invited by the Grand Tutor is my honor.”

The two shared drinks in the courtyard.

Wei Chenghui saw that Huo Chang’an could actually remain so composed, and his heart sank slightly while also feeling some admiration. Years ago, if not for Princess Lian Yue, this man who held the Murong family’s military power would have been his Wei family’s son-in-law.

Of course, very few people knew about this matter. Even Xiao’an didn’t know—otherwise, she would have probably eliminated Wuyan long ago for causing conflict between brothers.

But it was precisely because Lian Yu married Wuyan that laid the foundation for the irreconcilable fatal contradiction between Huo Chang’an and Lian Yu. Chao Huang was Quan Feitong’s right hand, too busy to be turned, but Huo Chang’an’s situation offered other possibilities. When Huo Chang’an returned military authority to Marquis Murong Jing and no longer went to war, the biggest reason was Wuyan’s marriage—heartbroken, he harbored resentment toward Lian Yu. This man was Xiao’an’s most valued nephew, with extremely high prestige in the military. If someday he regained control of the Murong family’s military power, even just a portion of the old soldiers he had personally led, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for the young master.

Huo Chang’an, this seemingly idle Marquis Xiao Yao, was actually a key piece in this imperial chess game.

Now, Lanfeng had sent secret intelligence that Lian Yu was secretly heading to Minshan Prefecture.

Fortunately, the young master had arranged Lanfeng as a hidden piece early on.

This would be the first real confrontation between the young master and Lian Yu.

Though Wuyan knew he wasn’t Lian Yu’s confidant, she didn’t know he served another master. She needed to use the Grand Tutor’s residence to disguise her movements—after all, a palace consort traveling far without imperial decree was a serious crime. This unfilial daughter, though unwilling, had to tell him she was going to find Lian Yu and asked him to keep it secret.

Both Miaoyin and Gu Shuangcheng would be her great enemies. Gu Shuangcheng was now accompanying the imperial procession out of the palace—how could she not worry? He naturally understood.

Moreover, he would tell her Lian Yu’s true destination and await a good show.

If Lian Yu suspected anyone later, he would most likely suspect Feng Suzhen. The young master had been benevolent enough to this woman—leading trouble eastward was perfect, making Lanfeng’s identity safer.

Though Wuyan was puzzled why he knew about Lian Yu’s secret journey to Minshan Prefecture, she had no time to investigate and hurriedly left.

Now it was Huo Chang’an’s turn.

Huo Chang’an smiled as he drank, cup after cup. As a former general and current War Minister, they only discussed border defense matters. Wei Chenghui smiled inwardly—this young man was formidable. Since Buddha wouldn’t come to him, he would go to Buddha… He smiled and said, “For some time, I think there should be no major incidents at the borders. Previously, various countries have fought several battles, including our Great Zhou… Now all countries are observing others’ wars, trying to pick up some advantages. War isn’t the urgent priority.”

Huo Chang’an sipped his wine and smiled faintly, asking, “Oh, according to the Grand Tutor, what matters are truly urgent?”

Wei Chenghui put down his cup, picked up some meat with his chopsticks, slowly chewed it, then said, “National affairs, family affairs—if one cannot manage a single household, how can one govern the realm? I’m not ashamed to tell Marquis Huo that I’m currently worried about my poor daughter Wuyan.”

“Isn’t Noble Consort Wei doing very well? She has His Majesty’s great favor and enjoys endless glory and wealth in the palace.” Huo Chang’an smiled slightly, pouring wine for Wei Chenghui.

Wei Chenghui stared at the wine slightly splashing in the cup, his eyes moving as he leaned close to Huo Chang’an’s ear. Huo Chang’an’s hand holding the pot slowly stopped as he heard him say, “Years ago, our Wuyan and Marquis Huo also had a connection. To be honest, this old man was quite fond of Marquis Huo. Though the past cannot be retrieved, I don’t want to hide from Marquis Huo that today Wuyan actually used the excuse of returning home to secretly go seek His Majesty.”

“Oh, Noble Consort Wei and His Majesty truly have deep affection.”

Huo Chang’an said this flatly and put down the wine pot.

Wei Chenghui sighed deeply, “What deep affection? It’s just self-preservation. The replacement of new and old people in the palace is completely beyond one’s control. This old man truly regrets—if she had been promised to you back then, how could she now…”

Huo Chang’an suddenly smiled, raising his finger to his lips in a silencing gesture, “Those are treasonous words. The Grand Tutor is drunk. Chang’an is just a crude military man—how could I aspire to Miss Wei?”

Wei Chenghui sneered inwardly—are you really so calm? When Wuyan entered the palace, who was it that practiced sword forms in anger at the residence, going so mad he nearly destroyed all his meridians? I had secretly entered the Huo residence then and saw everything clearly… But he smiled on the surface, “This old man is drunk. Come, come, Marquis Huo, drink. But if what the memorial says is true and that Huang Tianba of Minshan Prefecture is truly a corrupt official, my daughter’s trip is dangerous. How can this father not worry?”

“Oh, how do you mean, Grand Tutor? His Majesty went to Chuhe Prefecture—why would Noble Consort Wei seek him in Minshan?” Huo Chang’an’s brows moved as he asked with a light smile, seemingly curious, but his gaze had already sharpened.

Wei Chenghui saw this and said nothing, only dipped wine water to write characters on the table.

Huo Chang’an looked and saw the characters “secretly crossing Chen Cang.”

He lightly tapped his five fingers on the table, looking at this court dignitary and saying, “The Grand Tutor can’t hold his wine anymore, and Chang’an is also drunk. I’ll take my leave first—shall we gather again another day?”

Wei Chenghui saw his eyes were sharp and though he had drunk over ten cups of wine, he showed no sign of intoxication. He smiled in response, “Good, good. Then Marquis Huo, please go slowly. Marquis Huo is a distinguished person—I only hope you won’t forget this old man’s hospitality tonight. When I invite you again, please don’t decline.”

Huo Chang’an’s gaze deepened. He suddenly stood up, bowed low, and said, “Where do you get such words, Grand Tutor? Tonight’s banquet, Chang’an will naturally… remember it always!”

Watching the figure full of coiled strength disappear beyond the courtyard gate, Wei Chenghui’s lips slowly curved upward.

Tigers are difficult to tame, but even if this tiger wouldn’t serve him, as long as the tiger could harm people, that was enough, wasn’t it?

Outside the Grand Tutor’s residence, Huo Chang’an slightly bent down and entered his carriage.

“Don’t return to the residence yet. Take the route to Minshan Prefecture. Chang Ying Qiang, you drive out of the capital; Ji’er Zhang, you return to the residence and mobilize fifty guards to secretly follow my carriage.”

The two men on the carriage, one called Ji’er Zhang and one Chang Ying Qiang, now served as this Marquis Xiao Yao’s driver but had once been fierce generals under him. Hearing the man’s slightly hoarse voice from inside the carriage, they were both slightly shocked. This master hadn’t stepped out of the capital for many years—why tonight?

Having fifty guards from the residence accompany him for protection seemed ordinary enough, but this master had domineering martial arts skills and was unmatched on the battlefield—why would he need protection? The residence guards were all former battlefield warriors, each capable of fighting a hundred men. Usually, only when Madam Princess Lian Yue traveled would Marquis Huo provide such protection. This time, however…