ODF Chapter 12

Huo Liuxing did not sleep a wink that night.

A legitimate prince had been attacked and injured in the streets of Qingyang. As loyal subjects, the Huo family was duty-bound to investigate the identity of the assassins, provide an explanation to the royal court, and ensure Zhao Xun’s continued safety.

Though the truth was already clear to him, the formalities could not be skipped. All night, the Huo estate was under tight security, guards stationed layer upon layer, “protecting” Fourth Prince, who was now “recuperating” within its walls.

At dawn, Jingmo returned to the estate after a night of investigation and reported to Huo Liuxing in the study: none of the assassins had survived, but each corpse bore a bright red flame-shaped mark on the back of the neck.

That symbol belonged to the cult known as the White Infant Sect.

Kongqing, standing nearby, scoffed. “I’ve been wondering all night who our dear Prince planned to pin this staged assassination on. Turns out it’s the White Infant Sect. Poor scapegoats, once infamous for their misdeeds, now anyone can throw dirt on them and no one will bother to verify. If you ask me, who even knows if the sect still exists? It might’ve been wiped out years ago. These so-called cultists today are probably just pawns for certain nobles playing games behind the scenes.”

“You know what, it really does seem that way,” Jingmo, who was rarely in agreement with Kongqing, cupped his hands toward Huo Liuxing. “Master, I’ve discovered that the matter you ordered me to investigate in Peach Blossom Valley is also connected to the White Infant Sect.”

Huo Liuxing hadn’t been surprised that last night’s assassins were branded with such an identity, but at this, he frowned. “Explain.”

Jingmo gave a rough account of how Shen Lingzhen had been abducted by cultists in Peach Blossom Valley, then concluded, “The one behind these so-called cultists likely intends to sabotage your marriage alliance with the Shen family. Unable to strike at you directly, they targeted Young Madam instead.”

Huo Liuxing fell silent, recalling how Shen Lingzhen had been plagued by nightmares on their wedding night. After a moment of reflection, he asked, “How was she rescued?”

“The details are unclear, as if someone deliberately suppressed the news. But it’s certain that the imperial guards returned her to the Duke’s estate.”

“And what was the Xue family’s guard doing there?”

Jingmo looked troubled.

Huo Liuxing cast him a sharp glance.

Jingmo cleared his throat. “Here’s the thing, word has it that Xue Jie, the Xue family’s eldest son, and Young Madam were childhood friends. He met with her in Peach Blossom Valley that day, and then they both vanished. The Shen and Xue families assumed they had eloped…”

Huo Liuxing let out a soft scoff, seemingly losing interest in the topic. “Back to last night, what do you two think?”

Jingmo and Kongqing exchanged a glance. Fourth Prince’s stance and intentions were already clear to their master, so perhaps what he was really asking about was…

“You mean Young Madam?” Kongqing ventured, seeing no rebuttal from Huo Liuxing. “Forgive me, but I saw her last night, her anguish was real, not feigned. I believe her feelings for you are sincere.”

Anguish so intense it could be seen?

Huo Liuxing curled his lips. “Just over a month ago, she was plotting to elope. And now she’s deeply devoted to me?”

“Master, that’s unfair. The elopement was a misunderstanding, wasn’t it?”

Jingmo chimed in, “If it could be misunderstood to that extent, it proves she once had deep feelings for Xue Jie. Still, I find the whole affair suspicious. For her to treat you this way now, there must be some special reason.”

Huo Liuxing looked at Kongqing and gestured toward Jingmo with a finger, signaling him to listen carefully.

“And more importantly,” Jingmo added, still puzzled, “I truly can’t figure out whether Young Madam’s leap into the river last night was an act of desperation or a calculated move. If it was desperation, it just so happened to be the one thing that helped you most. That feels a little too convenient.”

“If it was intentional,” Kongqing continued, “then Young Madam must have seen through the Fourth Prince’s scheme and uncovered your situation. That would mean she’s far from the naive and innocent girl she appears to be. After all, even your seasoned political enemies haven’t discovered these secrets. How could she, newly arrived, know everything so clearly? And as a royal relative, if she knows you’ve deceived the Emperor yet chooses to hide it, surely she has her own agenda.”

While the three men puzzled over her motives, the young madam herself was fretting over a bowl of bitter medicine.

The servants from the Duke’s estate had always pampered Shen Lingzhen, knowing she couldn’t bear hardship. Sweet preserves were always kept on hand. But the Huo residence had no such delicacies, and after last night’s chaos, especially with a noble guest stirring up trouble in the neighboring courtyard, her needs had been somewhat neglected.

“Bitter medicine is good for you. Just bear with it a little longer,” Bailu comforted her from the bedside. “I’ve already sent someone to fetch some sweets. You’ll have them with the next bowl.”

Shen Lingzhen knew that “next bowl” wouldn’t come in time. She pinched her nose and forced herself to drink it down. By the time the bowl was empty, her tongue was numb and she was gasping from the bitterness.

Ji Momo, watching from the side, was distressed. “Young Madam, if danger comes again, you must put yourself first. Young Master is used to storms, whether it’s blades on the battlefield or daggers in the court, last night was hardly the worst he’s faced. Don’t worry, he can handle it.”

Shen Lingzhen seemed to recall something at those words. The bitterness forgotten, she gave Bailu a look. “Take the others and leave. I want to speak with Ji Momo alone.”

Once the room was cleared, she asked, “Ji Momo, do you know what kind of position the Huo family holds in court these days?”

“Why do you ask, Young Madam?”

After a sleepless night, Shen Lingzhen was gripped by fear. Zhao Xun’s willingness to sacrifice dozens of lives for his goal had shaken her. And she couldn’t help but wonder why Huo Liuxing would risk deceiving the Emperor.

She offered an excuse. “Fourth Prince is recuperating here. I just want to avoid saying or doing anything inappropriate.”

Ji Momo paused, then said, “In the early years, the Huo family, being former ministers of the previous dynasty, was a target of scrutiny. They had to tread carefully. Especially since His Majesty, after founding the new dynasty, enforced a policy of promoting civil officials and suppressing military power. Even those generals who surrendered twenty-seven years ago live in constant caution.”

Shen Lingzhen nodded. That made sense. After all, the current Emperor had once been a general who led a rebellion against the last Emperor. Now that he wore the crown, he would naturally be wary of others doing the same.

That was also why, since the founding of Great Qi, the title of Grand General had remained vacant.

She asked again, “So twenty-seven years ago, did the Huo family surrender willingly?”

This time, Ji Momo was silent for much longer. Finally, she gently shook her head.

Shen Lingzhen’s heart tightened. A thought struck her. “Young Master’s elder brother and his mother… were they…”

Ji Momo lowered her gaze. “They died during the chaos of that war.”

Though she used the word “died” with restraint, Shen Lingzhen could sense the bitter truth behind it- clashing armies, life and death, blood and betrayal.

“What happened after that?”

“After that, Western Qiang tribes took advantage of our internal chaos and invaded Hexi. The Huo family, who had been guarding the capital and protecting the imperial family, was forced to withdraw and repel the foreign threat. Once the Huo army left, the situation in the capital deteriorated rapidly. His Majesty led his troops in and claimed a sweeping victory.”

In other words, it was the Huo family who chose the people over the imperial bloodline and that choice allowed the current Emperor to ascend the throne.

“When the Huo general returned after quelling the Hexi rebellion, the capital was already lost. His Majesty founded a new dynasty and took the throne. In recognition of the Huo family’s service in defending the nation, he pardoned their past offenses and ordered them to relocate from the capital to the northwest.”

Shen Lingzhen fell silent.

This so-called “pardon”, was it truly an act of gratitude and mercy from her Royal Uncle, or merely a strategic move to use the Huo family as a buffer against Western Qiang, giving the battered new regime time to recover and rebuild? It was hard to say.

She lowered her gaze, and suddenly, the bitter medicine she’d just swallowed didn’t seem so unpleasant compared to the blood-soaked history she’d just heard.

Ji Momo tried to comfort her. “But you needn’t worry too much, my lady. Dynastic change is the tide of history, no individual can stop it. As Princess Royal often says, no one is a friend forever, and no one is an enemy forever. In court, everyone moves with the current. What I’ve told you is just the beginning. Times have changed. The Huo family has long been distant from the center of power. If not for last year’s renewed invasion by Western Qiang, they might have been forgotten altogether.”

And that was the problem. Last year, the Huo family defeated Western Qiang again and the court, which had long shelved them, suddenly dusted them off. Judging by the Emperor’s decision to arrange a marriage, it was clear he intended to mend relations and bring the Huo family back into the fold.

Shen Lingzhen let out a long sigh, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. Bailu’s cheerful voice rang out: “Young Madam, your sweets have arrived!”

But Shen Lingzhen, still troubled by Huo Liuxing’s uncertain future, had lost all appetite for sweets. She sighed again. “No need. Send them back.”

To her surprise, a man’s voice followed: “Oh? Then send them back indeed.”

Shen Lingzhen froze, then quickly threw off her quilt and got out of bed to stop him. “Husband!”

Huo Liuxing pushed the door open just in time, his tone slightly stern. “What are you fussing about? Not hurt enough already?”

She gave a soft “oh” and replied sheepishly, “I didn’t know it was you.”

Bailu chimed in, “Young Madam, Young Master heard you disliked the bitterness of the medicine, so he specially invited a sugar figurine artist from the street to the residence.”

A smile finally appeared on Shen Lingzhen’s face. “How did you know I was craving sugar figurines last night?”

Naturally, because he happened to have eyes.

Huo Liuxing didn’t answer directly. “If you just want to eat, have someone bring them to you. If you want to watch, have Bailu help you get dressed.”

“But my legs can’t walk…”

Huo Liuxing gestured toward the empty wheelchair behind him.

Shen Lingzhen immediately gave Bailu a “come here” look. Once she was dressed, she sat in the wheelchair and was pushed out into the courtyard. She forgot all her earlier worries and smiled as she said to Huo Liuxing beside her, “So this is what it’s like to sit in a wheelchair.”

She seemed quite excited. Unfortunately, Huo Liuxing had been in a wheelchair for ten years, he could no longer feel that novelty. He simply said, “After a while, it stops feeling so fresh.”

As he spoke, a trace of perfectly measured melancholy flickered in his eyes. But to Shen Lingzhen, it looked rather insincere.

Out of kindness, she chose not to expose him, and sighed heavily. “Yes, Young Master, you really are quite pitiful.”

“…” Huo Liuxing, hearing her sarcastic tone, glanced sideways at her, suddenly tempted to send the sugar figurine artist away.

 

Author’s note: A love story on wheels: The most romantic thing I can imagine is slowly rocking beside you in a wheelchair.