OFTLHFRO C170

Chapter 170 – Truly Eye-Opening

Hu Zhongyi took a sip of tea and smiled as he asked, “Lord Zhao, have you perhaps brought us some joyful news this time?”

Zhao Quan immediately caught the implication behind Hu Zhongyi’s words. He gestured for someone to bring the imperial decree forward, handed it to him, and said, “After this battle, it’s certain that Beiyue and Xiaguang will no longer dare to underestimate us. His Majesty is greatly pleased and has bestowed many rewards upon the two generals.”

“Rewards?”

Hu Zhongyi opened the brocade box, drew out the decree, and after reading it, furrowed his brows. “Did His Majesty not mention promoting Brother Huo to Grand General?”

Such blunt words cast a heavy silence over the room.

Li Yi cleared his throat and said, “General Hu, you’d best watch your words.”

“This time, Brother Huo’s achievements are beyond measure! And yet… all he’s rewarded with is gold, jewels, and fine silks?”

Hu Zhongyi could hardly believe it.

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingchen blinked.

Since Huo Yan didn’t stop him, it meant this was something he wanted Hu Zhongyi to say—otherwise, he would have warned him beforehand.

Zhao Quan awkwardly shifted the topic. “General Hu, perhaps we should discuss when to meet the envoys of Beiyue and Xiaguang?”

Hu Zhongyi had come rushing here with excitement, certain that Huo Yan would be receiving the Grand General’s seal of office. Never had he imagined this outcome—it left him utterly disheartened.

At Zhao Quan’s words, Hu Zhongyi heaved a deep sigh and said, “They’ve sent quite a few letters these past few days. It’s already late today—tomorrow I’ll write and have them come over. You three lords may wait here.”

“Very well.”

After Zhao Quan agreed, his gaze fell upon Huo Yan, who had yet to speak a word.

The man’s mere presence commanded attention.

Throughout the discussion, the two—Huo Yan and his spouse—had not spoken at all, only exchanging a few quiet words after everything was decided.

Liu Shuzhi offered words of comfort, “His Majesty is well aware of General Huo’s merits. It’s simply that General Huo is still young—there will be many more chances for advancement in the future.”

He had expected Huo Yan to take the offered step down, but instead, the man replied, “Lord Liu, I am no three-year-old child.”

“This…”

“If there’s nothing else, my husband and I shall take our leave. Gentlemen, I bid you well.”

With that, Huo Yan took Luo Mingchen’s hand and left.

Originally, Luo Mingchen wasn’t used to holding hands in front of others—it felt embarrassingly intimate.

But Huo Yan had done it so many times that Luo Mingchen eventually grew used to it.

Once they left the courtyard, Luo Mingchen nudged Huo Yan’s arm. “If we show temper like that, won’t it affect your promotion later?”

“It’s good to show temper. If one appears too calculating and composed, those above will begin to suspect ulterior motives.”

Back when they had first arrived, patience and humility had been necessary.

But if he were still to behave that way now, it would either seem overly scheming—or utterly foolish.

Every time Luo Mingchen heard Huo Yan analyze such matters, his head throbbed. “What a bother.”

Huo Yan replied, “Understanding the human heart is bothersome by nature.”

The two continued talking as they walked. Their stance had already been made clear—what happened next would depend on how Old Master Ming and the Third Prince chose to act.

At least, the fact that Huo Yuntao hadn’t appeared was already a relief.

As for promotions, that was a matter for another day.

Such was the nature of the court: an emperor suspicious by nature, whose failing health did not stop him from clinging to power. He had even invited numerous alchemists into the palace, deluding himself with dreams of immortality.

It seemed that every emperor who lived long enough began to crave eternal life.

And every one of them believed himself to be Heaven’s chosen—different from all those before him.

Their ends were, more often than not, tragic and desolate.

The next morning, the letter was sent, and by afternoon, the envoys from Beiyue and Xiaguang had already arrived—proof of their impatience.

Both delegations had been camped near Beiyue’s border town, not far away, so it hadn’t taken them long to arrive.

Inside the tent—

Upon hearing that negotiations were to begin, Luo Mingchen went early to watch the spectacle.

He had imagined a dignified, high-level discussion. Yet after they sat down, fewer than five sentences were exchanged before the three sides began hurling insults at one another. The words came flying like machine-gun fire, spittle spraying in every direction.

In the end, Luo Mingchen had to stand behind Huo Yan, using him as a shield.

Perhaps because of Huo Yan’s intimidating height, none of the civil officials dared get too close.

The seemingly frail Li Yi said coldly, “You people from Beiyue come every year, stealing on our Great Yan lands! How many of our merchant convoys have you plundered?”

One of the Beiyue envoys shot back, “When did we ever steal from you? It was your people who provoked us first! Back in March, you extorted our cattle, horses, and grain!”

“If you didn’t come raiding, would we have had the chance?!”

“If your merchant caravans didn’t trespass, how could they be robbed?!”

After half an hour of this, during the intermission, Luo Mingchen stumbled out with a pounding head, following Huo Yan.

“I think… we should just let them talk it out slowly.”

If he kept listening, his ears might actually go deaf.

In such a situation, heightened senses were a curse. Even stuffing his ears with cotton barely helped—especially when their own side would suddenly pull him into the shouting matches, forcing him to stay alert.

If not for strategists like Ji Bowen and Hu Zhongyi’s aides handling matters, Luo Mingchen’s head might’ve exploded.

Huo Yan, seeing how dazed he looked, chuckled. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to watch?”

“Watch what! I thought it’d be a gathering of powerful men sitting in silent tension, exchanging veiled words—who could’ve known it’d be like a street brawl?”

Luo Mingchen had, as the saying went, had his eyes opened.

“This negotiation is mainly about reparations,” Huo Yan explained. “Though we hold their people captive, if we demand too much, it will only provoke backlash. Both sides are wary, neither willing to yield too far. Still, they already have their own calculations. After two or three days of quarreling, an agreement will be reached. We only need to wait.”

Luo Mingchen stared at him, dumbfounded. “Two or three days of this?”

“This pace is already considered fast,” Huo Yan replied.

“…Then you can go alone tomorrow. I’m not coming back.”

Utterly terrifying.

Huo Yan laughed. “I’m not going either.”

Luo Mingchen was puzzled. “Is it really fine for you not to be there?”

Surely someone needed to oversee the talks?

“Let General Hu handle it.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Mingchen immediately understood. “Got it.”

In his own tent, Hu Zhongyi sighed heavily after receiving Huo Yan’s message.

“I really thought Brother Luo would stay interested a bit longer!”

Beside him, Sun Li chuckled. “You’re wicked. Who enjoys watching people curse each other out? The spit alone could drown a man! You could’ve warned them at least.”

Hu Zhongyi wrapped an arm around his wife. “What good would that do? Some things are best seen firsthand. Besides, with Brother Huo there, he surely knows what a negotiation looks like. It’s harmless to give them a little experience—otherwise, they’d think we were exaggerating.”

Sun Li thought about it and agreed. A bit of exposure to the real world never hurt.

After nearly four days of fierce quarreling, the three sides finally settled on a compensation sum and signed a peace treaty.

Only then did the matter conclude.

Once the reparations were delivered and the hostages released, the three delegations bid each other formal farewells with all the airs of civility.

Honestly, had Luo Mingchen not witnessed them rolling up their sleeves and screaming insults at one another, he might have actually believed their refined act.