OFTLHFRO C113

Chapter 113: At Worst, We’ll Just Buy Again

As long as Luo Mingchen was in the General’s Mansion, whenever he wasn’t sleeping, he would extend his perception to cover the place.

Things were about as Huo Yan had guessed—there really was someone treating Huo Yuntao’s crippled legs, hidden in a secret chamber connected to the study. The man looked strange, concocting medicine using venomous creatures.

At first, Luo Mingchen hadn’t realized there was even a hidden chamber. Only later, when he sensed Huo Yuntao’s presence vanish, did he remember to probe deeper beneath the floor.

This perception, put simply, was a form of mental power. The more obstacles it passed through—and the thicker they were—the more energy it consumed.

So, Luo Mingchen shrank his range by more than half, focusing only on Huo Yuntao and the study’s movements.

After Huo Xu and Huo Yi had left, Luo Mingchen knew Huo Yuntao had received the news. He had wanted to see how he would react, but hadn’t expected it to be like this.

It seemed Huo Yuntao wasn’t like the rumors—he didn’t actually dote on those two foolish sons or indulge them to the point of lawlessness.

What’s more, when Huo Xu had threatened to tell, he had said it would be Liu Lanyun who would go and inform Huo Yuntao.

Perhaps the relationship between Huo Yuntao and those two sons wasn’t that close after all…

“Forget it…”

Luo Mingchen muttered. Once Huo Yan returned, he would let him do the heavy thinking.

Sitting at the table practicing calligraphy, Huo Yuhui heard what sounded like muttering from Luo Mingchen. He paused his brush and looked over.

Sensing the boy’s gaze, Luo Mingchen yawned.

“Xiao Hui, I’m going to nap for a bit. When you finish your writing, wake me up. Tonight we’re having roast chicken.”

Also practicing, Huo Xiang swallowed his saliva and whispered:

“Don’t worry, Little Daddy, we’ll be sure to wake you.”

Luo Mingchen gave him a smile. After Huo Yuhui nodded, and after glancing once at Huo Xinyue, who was holding a brush and doodling something, he closed his eyes, both to rest and to monitor the mansion.

The moment Huo Yan stepped into the front courtyard, Luo Mingchen opened his eyes.

Seeing him stir, Huo Xiang scratched his head.

“Little Daddy, did you sleep well?”

“No. Your father’s back.”

Stretching lazily, Luo Mingchen walked toward the door.

But when he sensed Huo Yan being led away by Huo Yuntao’s men, his steps halted. He sat back down.

It wasn’t yet mealtime, and with snow falling outside, there was no telling how long Huo Yuntao would keep him.

“Huh?”

Huo Xiang looked at him in confusion as he sat back again.

Feeling that their Little Daddy was observing something, Huo Yuhui told Huo Xiang:

“You still have three more sheets to write. If you don’t finish, you’ll only get to eat the chicken’s tail.”

Reminded, Huo Xiang: “…”

Hearing that, Luo Mingchen was amused, but he didn’t interfere with the brothers’ little agreement.

Meanwhile, in the study where he had been summoned, Huo Yan stood before Huo Yuntao, who was seated in a wheelchair, and asked:

“What is it?”

On the table before Huo Yuntao lay an opened letter.

“It’s been many years, yet your cultivation is far higher than I expected. It seems you’ve had many fortuitous encounters.”

If it had been only through self-cultivation, then no matter how talented, one could not have such profound inner strength at his age.

At the drill ground, more than twenty men combined had been no match for Huo Yan.

That level of skill—without forty to fifty years of inner strength—would be impossible.

Huo Yan’s face was expressionless.

“And?”

Meeting those eyes filled with loathing, Huo Yuntao’s lips curved faintly.

“Nothing much. The test at the drill ground has been passed. Tomorrow, there should be results.”

Just before Huo Yan left, Huo Yuntao recalled something.

“This has always been your home. Residences in the capital are far too costly. After the new year, His Majesty will send you to the frontier to command troops. If you can win, His Majesty will naturally reward you with an estate.”

Hearing this, Huo Yan turned back with a smile tugging at his lips.

“Money can buy anything. Owning a few more houses is no trouble. When Xiao Hui and the others grow up, one for each of them will be just right. Father need not worry.”

With that, Huo Yan strode away proudly.

Huo Yuntao gazed at his departing figure. Three children, one house each?

Was he including the General’s Mansion in that calculation?

Such arrogance—exactly what he wanted.

When Huo Yan returned to Qiuyue Courtyard, he saw Luo Mingchen waiting at the door. His steps grew lighter.

Leaning against the doorframe, Luo Mingchen bit into an apple and teased:

“Yo, back so soon? Were those people that easy to beat?”

Reaching him, Huo Yan took a bite out of the same apple.

Luo Mingchen looked at what had once been a large apple, now with a huge chunk missing, his gaze full of grievance. He dug out another and handed it over.

“Here.”

Huo Yan didn’t take it, instead reaching for the one Luo Mingchen had already bitten.

“This one’s sweeter.”

Luo Mingchen felt thoroughly teased: “…”

Fortunately, Huo Yan hadn’t forgotten business.

“Most of those at the drill ground were Huo family soldiers, though a few bore other tokens. Huo Yuntao said His Majesty may summon me to the palace tomorrow. After the new year, I’ll be leaving.”

“Isn’t tomorrow New Year’s? Then we need to leave the General’s Mansion earlier.”

Otherwise, with so much to move, carrying it all outside the capital would be even more troublesome.

Of course, Luo Mingchen could always transfer those large chests through his space to the tunnel entrance.

But Huo Yuntao wasn’t as easy to fool as ordinary commoners. In the future, it might leave hidden dangers.

Still, the good news was—Huo Yuntao couldn’t defeat him.

So yes, there were risks, but not too many.

Taking everything away openly, in front of Huo Yuntao’s people, would be the best choice.

Inside the room, listening to their conversation, Huo Yuhui pressed his lips together.

The next morning, Luo Mingchen was just thinking—if the Emperor didn’t summon Huo Yan, then they could go out to buy New Year’s goods together, and also contact the Third Prince’s people. If the residence had been secured, they could purchase it outright.

But just as he was about to head out, someone arrived from Huo Yuntao’s side, saying Huo Yan was to accompany him to the palace.

Luo Mingchen looked at Huo Yan.

“Be careful.”

He had never seen the Emperor, only heard he was no easy character. If Huo Yan somehow provoked him, it would be a headache.

“Don’t worry. Huo Yuntao won’t let the Emperor touch me. And besides, I won’t provoke him.”

After going to the drill ground, Huo Yan had come to understand a few things—including Huo Yuntao’s standing.

“All right. Then I’ll take Xiao Hui and the others out to look at houses.”

“Mm.”

One way or another, they had to leave the General’s Mansion within the next two days.

The residence was being arranged by the Third Prince—they had only given general requirements.

House-viewing now was merely for show, to appease Huo Yuntao and Liu Lanyun.

With a new house, the people hired through the Third Prince would no longer be subject to Huo Yuntao’s constant scrutiny.

It was Luo Mingchen’s first time meeting a contact on his own. Outwardly calm, inwardly he was a little excited.

Fortunately, no one noticed. He smoothly received the house deed and land deed from the contact.

The steward who had been thoroughly tormented by them before was left bewildered. Seeing how casually Luo Mingchen paid without even visiting the property, he couldn’t help asking:

“Young Master Luo, aren’t you going to take a look?”

Luo Mingchen smiled with utter nonchalance.

“When you’ve got money, you can be willful. If I don’t like it, I’ll just buy another. It’s not like I can’t afford it.”

The steward was silent.

That was truly the way of a nouveau riche.

And yet, it was enviable.

Still, the steward had one more question.

“Does Eldest Young Master also agree to Young Master Luo using the late Madam’s dowry like this?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Luo Mingchen looked at him strangely for even asking such a thing.

“If the dowry isn’t for her own son to use, then what—should it be left for that faithless man and the brats he had with another woman?”

Hearing this, the steward didn’t know what to say.

Then he heard Luo Mingchen add:

“Relax. Whoever it goes to, it won’t be you. You’re getting old—don’t worry so much, or you’ll go bald.”

The steward: “…”