Chapter 77 - Is That True?
On the first day of the new year, the civil and military officials had to kneel and kowtow for the entire day while listening to the long and boring sacrificial text. From the royal family's ancestral temple to Zonglie's shrine and then to the Da Xiang Kingdom's temple, a whole set of complicated procedures had to be carried out.
Yin Xu did not participate this time, since his title had not been officially announced, it could not be considered as part of the official list.
The second day was for family sacrifices so early in the morning, the Huo Family carriage stopped outside the Third Prince Mansion. It said that it was to bring Seventh Young Master back to pay its respects to the family ancestors.
Yin Xu and Teng Yu laid on the bed wrapped in blankets and were about to play chess, but had the butler respond with one sentence: “In the past thirteen years, this young master did not perform such an activity as offering sacrifices to the ancestors.” It meant that there was no need to call him over this year.
The person who came to pick him up was a small manager from the Huo Family. Roughly for the first time, he seemed to have seen someone ignore the authority of the Huo Family and eagerly walked away with those words.
Yin Xu didn't care about how he would report after he returned to the courtyard. He got up and ate after feeling tired of the bed for a long time.
His life could not have been any more leisurely.
Unfortunately, he was not relaxed for long. In the afternoon, someone from the Huo Family came again, and the person who came this time was even his eldest son, Huo Yiming.
This time, Yin Xu did not avoid him. Using his master's identity, he entertained his big brother in name in the living room.
The two brothers looked at each other for a while, but didn't produce too many sparks.
The Huo Yiming had the demeanor of an eldest son, and looked exceptionally steady and steady, completely the opposite of the hustling and bustling Huo Yiloong.
“Seventh Brother, I didn't expect you to be so old in the blink of an eye. I remember that when you were just born, I even hugged you.”
Yin Xu almost spurted out a mouthful of tea when he heard it, and after he looked at Huo Yiming a few more times, the image of a half grown teenager hugging a baby automatically surfaced in his mind, with a serious expression.
The corner of his eye twitched, indicating that the scene wasn't beautiful at all. “I don't remember.”
“Of course you don't remember. You were just born and were still so young …” Huo Yiming thought about something, and the iceberg like expression on his face showed signs of melting.
He was older than Huo Tian by a whole round. When Huo Tian was born, he had already engaged to him, so he was very curious about this newborn little brother of his.
Aside from him and his second brother Huo Yidao, who were born from the same mother, the rest of the brothers were all from the same father and mother. Huo Tian's mother was a personal maid gifted by the madame.
At that time, the third wife that Huo Zhengquan brought home had also just given birth to a daughter, and could be considered to be the first daughter of Huo Family. The two children were born on similar dates, but the treatment was completely different.
Huo Yiming didn't like his father filling in the rooms, so he naturally didn't like the children filling in the rooms either, so he was more willing to be close to Huo Tian, the little bastard brother.
Unfortunately, the good news did not last long. After Huo Tian was discovered to be innately unable to practice martial arts, he was secretly sent away by the house master. After his father found out, he did not say anything.
Speaking of which, this was the first time they had met since they had parted ways. Three years ago, when Huo Tian had returned to the capital, the Huo Yiming who guarded the border had not returned.
“All these years, I've wronged you. Big brother hasn't been out for all these years and can't take care of you.”
The corner of Yin Xu's mouth widened into a smile, and he said: “Don't say such words, I'm fine now, right?” Anyway, the real Huo Tian was already dead, was there any meaning in saying all this?
What's the use of even if Huo Yiming's expression was sincere? He wasn't his blood brother, so he wouldn't have any unnecessary feelings for him.
“Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. I heard Manager Liu say that you don't want to go home and worship your ancestors. I think you must still bear a grudge against us. Tonight is the family gathering, so no matter what, you have to go.”
“Excuse me, is the name Huo Tian in the clan tree of Huo Family?” Yin Xu asked bluntly.
“This …”
“No?” If that's the case, then what right do you have to say that I'm from Huo Family? You are not the only one with the Huo family name in the world. “
Just from the name of the two brothers, one could tell that Huo Tian was definitely not in the Huo Family's family tree. It was said that this name was not given to Huo Zhengquan by him, and he was too late to recognize his son as a brother!
“Seventh Brother, I know that you are angry, but Big Brother still has some words he needs to say. It is impossible for you to live in the Third Prince Mansion for your entire life, and I have heard about the title bestowed by the Emperor, but I have no actual authority.
Although Huo Family is a path of martial arts, your second brother is on duty in the Han Lin Institution, so it doesn't matter if you want to start from scratch or not. With this huge tree called Huo Family, even if you don't do anything, you will still be able to rest at ease. “
“Who knows when this tree will fall?”
Huo Yiming frowned, he did not like hearing these words, “Since the start of the dynasty, Huo Family has not only existed under the protection of the ancestors, it also depends on what you say, I know what you think, but Huo Family does not mean that it will collapse with just the four words, Master.”
“That has nothing to do with me, I'm the same master at Third Prince Mansion, I can do whatever I want, I can live wherever I want, gold, silver, jade, rare delicacies, there's no need to use them, why would I go to Huo Family and ask for trouble?”
Huo Yiming's expression was somewhat gloomy. Probably because he had heard the rumors between Yin Xu and Third Prince, he grudgingly scolded them, “Do you think you can continue like this for your entire life? Third Prince is a man with a changeable temperament and has no determination. How do you know how long he can treat you? Even if his feelings for you didn't change, would you be willing to be a lowly male pet and serve others with lust? If the Seventh Young Master with the great Huo Family doesn't want to be a male pet, how exactly are you going to grow your head? “
“Yo, I heard Eldest Uncle say something bad about me the moment I entered the door. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?” A hearty laughter came from far away. Huo Yiming turned around and saw a handsome man with a tall and straight posture walking in.
He had only met the Third Prince a few times, so his impression of him was only on the surface.
Huo Yiming stood up and saluted, not worried that he would hear what he had just said.
“I can't stand Third Prince being called Big Brother Uncle. My little brother has been troubling you to take care of him for the past few days.”
Teng Yu sat next to Yin Xu, holding his waist without hesitation, “He is my savior, I want to repay my gratitude.”
The Huo Yiming glared as he walked over and pulled Yin Xu out from his embrace to shield him, “To think that the savior of your life would actually treat you like a savior!”
“This prince has already promised with his body, is this not enough treatment?” Teng Yu stared at the hand on Yin Xu's wrist, and said with a mixed expression: “This is a private matter between Huo Tian and I, General Huo, is better off not interfering.”
“Hmph, he's the descendant of my Huo Family, I won't tolerate Third Prince being so impudent!”
“Why don't you ask Huo Tian, does this prince have a way to trample on him?” Teng Yu stood up and faced him with his arms crossed.
“He's still young and doesn't understand matters of love. If you didn't kidnap him, how could he have ended up like this?” When Huo Yiming thought about this, he immediately became angry. He originally thought that the rumors were groundless rumors, but seeing the duo's ambiguous look just now, he could tell that this was most likely true.
Huo Yiming had seen a lot of men with broken sleeves in the army camp, so he did not have any prejudice towards men. But no matter how he looked at it, Third Prince was not a reliable person.
If you have anything to say, you might as well go up to Huo Family and speak to my father. If you are really single-minded, then it's better to convince the emperor to give you the order to get married. At that time, Huo Family will definitely send Huo Tian out with great joy!
Yin Xu's expression was a little strange. It was fortunate that this man could think of it, for him to be married like a woman.
But he also knew that Huo Yiming had calculated that it was impossible for the parents of both sides to agree to it and was just spouting nonsense.
Teng Yu was ecstatic, “Are you serious?”
“…” Huo Yiming clenched his fists, his chest heaving violently. He was probably shocked by Teng Yu's words.
“Is that true? General Huo couldn't be lying to me, right? “
Huo Yiming took a deep breath, and after thinking about it again and again, he said, “Of course not!” He didn't believe that the Emperor would really give his precious son a male wife!
“Alright, then it's a deal, as long as there's an imperial decree bestowing marriage upon us, Huo Family is not allowed to interfere in the matter between me and Huo Tian!” Teng Yu blinked his eyes at Yin Xu, and laughed maliciously.
Yin Xu didn't even know what he was laughing about, he was the clearest about the relationship between the two of them. What mutual affection and single-mindedness were just lies to fool outsiders.
If there really was an imperial decree bestowing a marriage, he, Yin Xu, would definitely be the first one to oppose it.
However … After all, the two of them would have to dual cultivate in the future, and it would be better for them to live together with an open and honorable identity.
Huo Yiming sensed that he had done something stupid. If this fellow really received the order, he would just watch as his little brother got married.
Putting aside the issue of face in Huo Family, he definitely did not wish to see his own younger brother become a man's subordinate!