As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.
The surrounding officials all lowered their heads and tried their best to act as if they had not heard what he said. However, Huo Yuyan had always been alert and sensitive. Even so, he was keenly aware of the inquisitive gazes from all sides.
He gritted his teeth.
In order to gain a foothold in the imperial court, learning to speak tactfully was the most basic quality. However, it was obvious that Prince Jing didn't have this quality.
He didn't know why that useless former Emperor Jiang Sunheng, who hated him so much, hadn't corrected his bad habit after so many years.
Huo Yuyan gritted his teeth and tried hard to force a peaceful smile.
"Prince Jing is joking," he said faintly, casually brushing aside Jiang Suzhou's words.
Then, he retracted his gaze and walked to the head of the table without looking back. He sat down in front of the table.
"Today is the fifteenth full moon night. Although it's not August, it's still worth a reunion. Today's banquet is just a family banquet. There's no need to talk about imperial court matters at a family banquet. "
He smiled faintly and scanned the people at the table. He raised his wine cup and said, "Everyone, don't stand on ceremony. Just help yourselves."
As he spoke, he took the lead and drank the wine in his cup.
This was to circumvent Jiang Suzhou's difficulties and announce the start of the banquet.
Huo Yuyan maintained the smile on his face. He put down his wine cup and picked up his chopsticks.
However, at this moment, he heard Jiang Suzhou's voice again.
"Isn't the matter of Miss Lou's family a matter of His Highness the Crown Prince's family?" He continued lazily.
Huo Yuyan looked at him and frowned.
"Prince Jing." His voice became colder and carried a hint of displeasure. "It's just a rumor. It's better not to tarnish the girl's pure reputation."
When Jiang Suzhou heard this, he laughed carelessly.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the hall became more sultry and spread throughout the banquet.
The officials who had picked up their wine cups and spoons couldn't help but stop what they were doing.
"Prince Jing, what do you mean by this?"
This time, Huo Yuyan couldn't keep the smile on his face.
However, Jiang Suzhou raised his eyes with a lazy expression and a face full of mockery.
"Miss Lou has already prepared the dowry. How can there be rumors?" He said. "If Your Highness really doesn't want to ruin her reputation, you should marry her as soon as possible."
At this point, he chuckled, retracted his gaze, and picked up the wine glass on the table.
"I just don't know. Will the three hundred thousand soldiers be His Highness's guards? Isn't this a little too grand? "
Now, everyone could hear the meaning behind his words.
Especially Huo Yuyan.
He knew that the only reason Imperial Prince Jing could throw his weight around was because Huo Wujiu was standing behind him. Since Huo Wujiu was his backer, the 300,000 soldiers that had submitted to Huo Wujiu were naturally his backers as well.
He had relied on all of this to get to where he was today. He was more anxious than anyone else if the three hundred thousand soldiers fell into the hands of others.
Huo Yuyan thought it was ridiculous, but he showed some embarrassment on his face.
He looked at Huo Wujiu.
He saw Huo Wujiu sitting there with a bad expression on his face. He put his hands on his knees and stared at the bowl on the table with a frown. After a moment, he glanced sideways at Imperial Prince Jing as if to warn him.
But at this moment, Imperial Prince Jing didn't seem to notice this.
He looked at Huo Yuyan provocatively, as if he was sure that he would lose face tonight and be speechless.
This made Huo Yuyan want to test him.
He paused, as if his upbringing and magnanimity softened his expression slightly. His voice also softened, as if he was trying to reason with Jiang Suzhou.
"Imperial Prince Jing, all the land under the heavens belongs to the king, and all the people on the shores of the land belong to the king. First of all, the soldiers and horses can't be counted as dowry. Second of all, the soldiers and horses under the heavens don't belong to anyone. They belong to Daliang, "he said.
As he said this, he looked at Jiang Suzhou and smiled gently.
However, Jiang Suzhou sneered ungratefully.
"I've never heard of this before," he said. "I've only heard of it. How long will it last if you use your body to tempt others? Your Highness, don't you agree? "
Huo Yuyan's expression instantly turned cold.
… He dared to mock him for using his body to tempt others?
These words, when used by a dignified crown prince, were simply the biggest joke in the world. However, these words firmly stepped on his Achilles heel.
"You …" His face turned pale.
But at this moment, Huo Wujiu interrupted him.
"Are you done?"
That voice was cold and deep, carrying a strong sense of displeasure, as well as the anger of a storm that was about to come.
When he said this, he looked at Imperial Prince Jing.
Huo Yuyan then saw that Imperial Prince Jing was stunned, and then looked at Huo Wujiu.
When their eyes met, the proud expression on Imperial Prince Jing's face instantly froze, and there was a hint of fear in his eyes.
"General …" Imperial Prince Jing's voice immediately weakened.
"I'm asking you if you're done," Huo Wujiu's expression did not soften at all, and the coldness in his voice became even stronger.
Imperial Prince Jing shrunk his neck, clasped his hands on his knees, and looked at Huo Wujiu timidly, not daring to speak.
The banquet hall was also silent.
Then, Huo Wujiu spoke again.
"Watch carefully," he said. "The person seated is not only the Crown Prince of Daliang, but also my elder brother. Do you remember? "
Imperial Prince Jing paused, and nodded reluctantly and fearfully.
"Then what should we do?" Huo Wujiu frowned, seemingly a little impatient.
Imperial Prince Jing looked at him for a moment, then raised his head and reluctantly opened his mouth.
"… Your Highness." His voice weakened. "I misspoke."
— —
Although this meal was meant to be a family reunion banquet, it ended in a hurry, and no one enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
The entire banquet also ended in a hurry.
After the banquet, Huo Yuyan immediately called Huo Wujiu to the inner room at the back of the banquet hall, saying that he had something to say to him.
When Huo Wujiu was led in, his expression was still somewhat gloomy.
Huo Yuyan saw all of this and had a plan in mind, but he did not show it on his face.
"Why are you still so unhappy?" He was originally sitting on the couch and drinking tea, but when he saw Huo Wujiu enter, he put down his teacup, stood up, and went forward to greet him.
Huo Wujiu waved his hand and asked him to sit back down. He walked forward, lifted the hem of his robe, and sat down opposite Huo Yuyan.
"He's too unruly." He frowned, looking a little irritated. "I've spoiled him."
Huo Wujiu had said something similar to him before. However, at that time, Huo Wujiu was in a honeymoon period, and he was happy to spoil him. Whenever he said something offensive, Huo Wujiu would indulge him.
But from the looks of it …
Huo Yuyan knew that if he guessed correctly, Huo Wujiu's novelty had passed.
This Prince Jing was so conceited that he dared to say at the banquet that Huo Wujiu lusted after him. Wasn't Huo Wujiu the same? He had even tied his entire family's life to an enemy's general. What, did he think that Huo Wujiu could protect him for the rest of his life?
Huo Yuyan's heart was as clear as a mirror.
He smiled and tried to persuade him nicely, "Isn't it because you spoiled him? But it's nothing. Other than his impudent words, he didn't do anything wrong. "
Huo Wujiu frowned.
"He's very annoying," he said in a low voice.
Huo Yuyan smiled and tried to persuade him again, "Back then, weren't you the one who kept him by your side?"
"At that time, he was quite fresh, but now he's changed." Huo Wujiu frowned. "But after such a long time, he should have learned to be more obedient, right? No matter what, he's still a member of Nanjing. It's fine if he was a little arrogant at the beginning. But if he's always so impudent, it'll be troublesome. "
As he spoke, he picked up the tea on the table and drank it in one gulp. When he looked at Huo Yuyan, his expression was somewhat puzzled.
"He's very obedient when he's with me in private," he said. "If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have taken him in back then. But why, every time he sees you, he wants to cause trouble? "
When Huo Yuyan heard this, how could he not fan the flames?
He lowered his eyes and smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly.
"What's wrong with that," he said. "And this is only in front of you. How do you know what he looks like when he's behind your back? "
As he said this, he seemed to have thought of something and frowned somewhat worriedly.
"In that case, he's a very shrewd person," he said. "Think about it. Just in front of you, he's so different. Who knows what he's thinking in his heart?"
As he said this, he looked at Huo Wujiu, his eyes full of concern.
"It's not that I want to interfere with your family matters," he said. "But the back of the house is often the easiest place to mess up. This person is not a kind person. In the future, he'll definitely cause a lot of trouble behind your back. Not to mention, he's a man and won't last long. Sooner or later, you'll have to get married and have children. When that time comes, if you let him cause trouble, it'll be a big problem. "
He had wanted to say this for a long time. Now that he said it, it was very easy. After all, he knew that if these words were said when the other party was deeply in love, it would just be a gust of wind passing by. But if it was said when there was a crack in the relationship between the two of them, it would be like adding hot oil to the fire.
As expected, Huo Wujiu's frown deepened.
"… This is really a troublesome matter," he said. "Then in Big Brother's opinion, what should we do?"
Huo Yuyan was silent for a moment and said in a low voice.
"Although I shouldn't really say this, it's better to get rid of such a person as soon as possible," he said.
Huo Wujiu pondered for a moment.
"Forget it," he said. "After all, he's someone who has slept in the same bed. It's not good to let him fend for himself. In the future, I'll give him the cold shoulder and just treat it as having an extra mouth in the backyard. "
Huo Yuyan didn't say anything.
He had always been the type to seek revenge for the smallest grievance. His original intention was naturally to kill Prince Jing. However, although Huo Wujiu was tired of him, he wouldn't really abandon him. Therefore, his goal hadn't been achieved.
But … there would be plenty of time in the future.
As he was thinking, he heard Huo Wujiu speak again.
"However, I'm old now. I can't really have no one in the backyard," he said. "These days, Big Brother, can you help me find a girl? Help me pick a girl of the right age in Lin 'an. "
Huo Yuyan was stunned.
… It was true. He was afraid that the young man had a taste of meat. He threw away the girl in his hand and immediately changed to the next one.
"Of course, this isn't difficult," he said with a smile. "However, you have to take good care of the one in the backyard. The other girl just came to find him and was scared away by him. "
Huo Wujiu frowned.
"It's really troublesome," he said.
"Forget it. Two days ago, he made a fuss about going to Suzhou to play. I'll send him away. When the marriage here is settled, I'll let him come back. "Huo Wujiu frowned and said casually.
"This …" Huo Yuyan looked at him.
Huo Wujiu continued, "It's best not to let him come back. Later, I'll send someone to buy him a house and send a few people to keep an eye on him. In the future, he'll be raised in that house. "
He had really lost interest and was going to lock him up in the backyard.
Huo Yuyan's thoughts were moved.
He looked at Huo Wujiu for a moment and laughed.
Why would he need to buy a house? He could help Huo Wujiu get rid of him and save him a sum of money to buy a house.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuyan spoke gently.
"If that's the case, it'll be the best," he said with a smile.
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