OFTLHFRO C105

Chapter 105 A Good Deed a Day

“This…”

Xue Kang hesitated, then said, “I will first go ask. Young Master, please wait a moment.”

Huo Yan looked at him and said, “A quarter of an hour.”

“…Yes.”

After Xue Kang went inside, Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen remained outside with the children.

Huo Yuhui frowned slightly as he stared at the massive front gate, while Huo Xiang and Huo Xinyue munched happily on their candied hawthorn skewers.

By the time the siblings had licked the sticks clean, there was still no movement from within.

Huo Yan glanced at little Huo Xinyue, who was rubbing her cold hands together, and said: “Let’s go.”

They were really leaving?

Luo Mingchen blinked in surprise, then followed with the children back into the carriage.

A squad of soldiers rushed forward, one of them saying: “Young Master, please wait a little longer?”

Huo Yan only gave him a single glance before snapping the reins and driving the carriage away.

The soldiers wanted to block them, but several hidden projectiles nearly struck them, forcing them to follow at a cautious distance.

Inside the main hall, Xue Kang saw Madam Liu Lanyun^1 calmly sipping tea. He frowned and said: “Madam, the Young Master has been waiting outside for quite some time.”

“What is the hurry? Let him wait. The Lord is still in his study, occupied with affairs.”

Xue Kang still wanted to say something when a soldier rushed in, flustered.

Madam Liu, not realizing the severity of the situation, asked, “What matter has you so alarmed?”

The soldier glanced at Xue Kang before replying: “Madam, the Young Master has taken his husband and children and left.”

Everyone in the hall: “…”

At the side, Huo Xu muttered helplessly, “He really just left?”

Liu Lanyun froze. She knew very well why Huo Yan had been summoned back; so did Huo Xu and Huo Yi.

Now that Huo Yan had simply walked away, if Huo Yuntao learned of it, he would surely place the blame on them.

It wasn’t that Huo Yuntao cared deeply for this eldest son—it was that he despised being disobeyed.

Thinking of this, Madam Liu’s expression soured. She ordered the steward: “Open the gates and call them back.”

She assumed Huo Yan only wanted to give them a show of defiance, that he couldn’t truly mean to leave. Surely he would still be at the street corner.

But to her shock, the steward hurried back to report: “Madam, the Young Master is truly gone.”

Xue Kang’s mouth twitched, and he had no choice but to take men to pursue them.

Once far from that high street where no commoners dared tread, Luo Mingchen asked: “Do you still remember where the inns are?”

Huo Yan, who was driving the carriage, paused. “We’ll ask someone.”

“…Oh.”

The closer to the imperial palace, the tighter the patrols.

The General’s Mansion was only two streets from the palace.

Even after they left its street, they remained in the district where nobles and high officials resided.

Before long, a patrol stopped them.

“Who are you people?”

The carriage was obviously not one used by wealthy households—it bore no crest, no markings—so the captain halted them with a question.

“I am Huo Yan, eldest son of General Huo. Today I returned home, but met with a closed door. I now take my husband and children to find lodging. Might the officer know where we can find an inn?”

Huo Yan’s tone was calm. He was indeed not familiar with the capital. These years, he had been to countless places—even ancient ruins in the desert—but ironically, he barely knew his own homeland.

The captain was startled by his composure. They could not confirm his claim by rushing to the General’s Mansion, and he hardly looked like a liar, especially with three children in tow. Sympathy flickered in his eyes. He pointed and said: “Follow this street straight ahead. At the alley corner, turn right. That will be the main street—there, ask again.”

“Many thanks, sir.”

Huo Yan offered his thanks, then drove the carriage away.

Watching the carriage recede, one soldier asked: “That really was the General’s eldest son? I heard he grew up in a village.”

“A man shows his nature young. As a child, he once earned the emperor’s praise at the hunting grounds. He’s not like ordinary villagers.”

They’d only heard that his looks favored his mother and that he was cast out by the General years ago.

Surely General Huo must have summoned him back this time. Likely, he had simply met with Madam’s disdain.

Tsk tsk. Begging someone for aid, yet showing such an attitude? The farther Huo Yan ran, the better—for otherwise he would only become someone’s scapegoat.

These thoughts the captain kept to himself.

When Xue Kang later came out searching, the captain deliberately pointed him down a different road.

The rest of the squad looked confused until their captain explained: “Just look at those men’s vicious faces—what if they were planning to drag those five away? What we did was a good deed that leaves no name.”

Sudden realization dawned on them, and they looked at their captain with respect.

By the time Xue Kang realized something was wrong, Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen had already found lodging in an inn with the three children.

To attract more attention, Huo Yan deliberately chose the most expensive inn.

After all, the ten thousand taels they had wrung from the General’s Mansion had not yet been spent.

When they learned two adjoining suites cost twenty taels a night, Huo Xiang’s eyes went wide.

“Little Daddy, are they not bandits?”

Luo Mingchen, who had felt some heartache paying the fee, couldn’t help but laugh. “In places where the cost of living is high, that’s how it is.”

The inn was expensive, but the service was truly excellent.

The price included supper, hot water, and anything else within reason. Ring the service bell in the room, and someone would arrive promptly.

Huo Xiang hadn’t lowered his voice much. The innkeeper and waiters all heard, but merely smiled politely.

Passersby also overheard. A young master at their head sneered, rolled his eyes with disdain, but as no one responded, he let it drop.

“This way, honored guests.”

The waiter led them upstairs.

They took two adjoining rooms. Inside, everything was spotless and refined.

After days of rough travel, having a large soft bed again was bliss. Huo Xiang and Huo Xinyue tumbled onto it at once, yawning.

Huo Yuhui was tired too—the carriage made one dizzy after long rides—but he knew this was not the time to rest.

Leaving the General’s Mansion so abruptly, Xue Kang would surely be searching. It was only a matter of time before they were found.

As he thought this, a knock came at the door next door.

Luo Mingchen, sipping tea, sensed who it was and told Huo Yan: “They found us quickly.”

Since Xue Kang had come, Huo Yan rose to open the door.

Seeing him, Xue Kang sighed heavily. “Young Master, the gates have been opened at your order. The General is waiting. Please return.”

Huo Yan said evenly: “It is late. No courtyard has been prepared for us, surely. Why freeze needlessly in this weather? Tomorrow morning, I will personally bring my husband and children home. Please tell the Madam—if no quarters are ready by noon tomorrow, after our meal, we will take our leave.”

Xue Kang: “…”

Huo Yan’s refusal to move forced Xue Kang to weigh carefully. To fight here would be disgraceful if they lost, but even victory would be ugly. The wealthy patrons of this inn would spread the tale, and it would be the General’s Mansion that lost face.

After consideration, Xue Kang had no choice but to leave men behind to “serve” them—though in truth, it was surveillance.

Footnotes:

1. Liu Lanyun (柳蘭韻) – The principal wife of General Huo, mistress of the household. In aristocratic families of this period, wives wielded substantial authority within the inner residence.