OFTLHFRO C169

Chapter 169 – Hope…

That’s right!

How could they have forgotten something so important?

The one who had invited them in the first place was Lord Ming—the former Grand Tutor, a man whom the emperor deeply trusted.

If Lord Ming could personally clarify the matter, wouldn’t that thorn in the emperor’s heart be removed once and for all?

Realizing this, Luo Mingchen jumped to his feet, seized with excitement, and planted a loud kiss on Huo Xiang’s cheek. “Good boy! When I get back, I’ll make you something delicious!”

With that, he dashed out of the room.

Huo Yuhui, watching his younger brother’s puzzled expression, couldn’t help but smile.

As long as it helped his two fathers, it didn’t matter who came up with the idea—he was happy all the same.

Just as he picked his brush back up, Luo Mingchen burst back through the door. Huo Yuhui opened his mouth to ask what else was wrong—but before he could, his face was kissed as well.

“Both of you, wait for my good news!”

And off he ran again, as hurriedly as before.

Huo Yuhui blinked, then chuckled softly.

Well, at least he was fair.

Huo Xiang, still clueless, giggled foolishly. “Brother, I want to eat braised pig trotters. What about you?”

“Hmm… braised fish.”

They looked at each other and grinned.

Different tastes meant two dishes at dinner—what bliss!

Luo Mingchen found Huo Yan and dragged him to a secluded corner, crouching like a conspirator while explaining what Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang had said.

Meanwhile, Zhu Qing stood watch from a distance like an anxious guard.

“This plan is actually quite sound,” Huo Yan admitted. “But Lord Ming has long since retired to his hometown. How are we to contact him? If we deliberately reach out, it may seem too calculated.”

Hearing that, Luo Mingchen tugged on one of Huo Yan’s ears and pulled him closer. “And how would we know if we don’t try? We’ll just toss this matter onto Lord Ming’s lap—it was his mess to begin with, so let him fix it. Retired or not, he still knows far more people than we do. And while we’re at it, we can quietly tell him a few things Huo Yuntao has done. If we’re the ones firmly standing with the Third Prince, then if Huo Yuntao gets control of the army again, he can sit back and watch the Fourth Prince seize the throne!”

Such shameless words might have made anyone else angry, but to Huo Yan, they only made Luo Mingchen seem irresistibly endearing. “It’s a viable plan,” he said with a faint smile.

After all, Luo Mingchen was right—Lord Ming’s connections reached further than theirs ever could.

“See?” Luo Mingchen said proudly, grinning from ear to ear. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll just cripple Huo Yuntao. If the emperor dares to ask, we’ll do it quietly. Maybe it’ll even help the Third Prince ascend faster. They’ll never trace it back to us—and even if they do, we’ll just push it on Hua Yaoyue. The poison came from him anyway.”

He wasn’t one to kill without reason, but as an ability wielder, there were plenty of ways he could end a life without leaving a trace.

Poison was simple enough—and if anyone investigated, they could just claim Hua Yaoyue had done it. No one knew what kind of person he truly was anyway.

Huo Yan stifled a laugh. “I think that’s feasible.”

The two of them huddled together, laughing like a pair of mischievous children.

Meanwhile, in the pharmacy, Hua Yaoyue suddenly sneezed, feeling a chill run down his spine for no reason.

Still, he didn’t think much of it.

After all, these were precious herbs Luo Mingchen had personally grown for him—perfect for cultivating venomous insects.

The change between Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen was obvious to everyone, but no one could figure out why.

Still, once the two returned to their usual composed selves, the rest of the camp felt at ease again.

When Huo Yan stopped personally overseeing the dungeon interrogations and began allowing rumors about Huo Yuntao’s misdeeds to circulate, Ruan Feng extended his hand toward Ji Bowen and said with a grin, “Looks like our strategist guessed wrong this time.”

Ji Bowen smiled faintly and handed over a copper coin. “You were right. A father is a father; a son is a son.”

No matter how righteous Huo Yuntao’s excuses once sounded, the truth was that he had betrayed the very brothers who trusted him most—all for his own power.

That betrayal would forever remain a bleeding wound in their hearts. It could be buried, but never forgotten.

Now that a similar situation had arisen, everyone waited quietly for Huo Yan’s decision—wanting to know whether Huo Yuntao’s so-called “necessity” had truly been unavoidable, or merely convenient.

Perhaps even the thousands who had died for him were waiting for an answer.

And the truth was clear—it had never been necessity. It had simply been profitable.

After a moment, Ji Bowen asked softly, “You seem to have a lot of faith in him.”

Ruan Feng pocketed the copper coin and thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s because of the way he looks at people. Our general… he truly feels compassion. He doesn’t see people as mere chess pieces.”

“Hope…” Ji Bowen murmured, but left the rest unsaid.

Ruan Feng clapped him on the shoulder with a smile. “Then let’s hope Lord Luo lives a long, long life.”

Because everyone knew—so long as Luo Mingchen lived, Huo Yan would never lose his heart.

Truth be told, none of them had ever met anyone quite like Luo Mingchen before. No matter what hardship came his way, he could always laugh through it all. It was… oddly miraculous.

Luo Mingchen personally counted the memorial tablets of the fallen soldiers. Those bloodstained plaques would be sent back to their hometowns.

Their bodies couldn’t be returned, so their graves were built on the mountain—a line of small stone markers, each once belonging to a living, breathing soul.

He had even taken the three children there once.

The peace they enjoyed had never come for free; it had been bought with the lives and blood of others.

Not long after, praise for Huo Yuntao began spreading like wildfire across the borderlands—and beyond.

Everywhere people spoke of how remarkable the Great General was, how the son he had raised was equally outstanding. They said that with the Great General present, no enemy could ever invade; that if father and son fought side by side, the fall of Beiyue’s capital would be but a matter of days.

On the surface, it was flattery.

But underneath, it was poison—flattery meant to destroy.

That single phrase, “father and son joined as one,” was enough to plant deep suspicion in the emperor’s mind.

In the face of absolute power, even old grudges could be forgiven.

After all, Huo Yuntao had only one capable son—Huo Yan. The other two were useless.

And if Huo Yan ever chose to swallow his pride and join hands with his father…

That possibility was enough.

Thus, ignoring the objections of his ministers, the emperor decided to keep Huo Yuntao in the capital.

Twenty days later, the peace delegation arrived in Han Town.

They hadn’t gone to Bing Town because Wu Qing had fallen ill with a grave disease and was said to be on the verge of death.

However, his strategist Jiang Sheng was managing Bing Town’s affairs with competence, earning full respect from those under him.

When Luo Mingchen failed to see Huo Yuntao among the delegation, he finally felt relief flood through him. Smiling brightly, he said, “You’ve all traveled far—please, have some tea while I call for General Huo.”

“Our thanks,” one of the ministers replied.

The three envoys had already heard that Huo Yan’s household included a husband, and this must have been him.

Though they weren’t quite sure what Lord Luo’s position was—since he seemed to oversee everything—they knew better than to offend him.

After all, they were here to negotiate peace, and would soon rely on Huo Yan’s protection.

They hadn’t waited long when a hearty laugh rang out from outside.

Hu Zhongyi strode in, beaming. “Minister Zhao, Minister Liu, Minister Li—after all these years, how have you three been?”

The seated officials rose at once to greet him.

Moments later, Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen entered as well.

After a few words of courtesy, everyone took their seats, ready to begin the discussion.