Wearing black and gray civil and military robes, that figure was extremely tall, handsome and unrestrained. His imposing manner was extraordinary, splitting open the bustling venue of the spring outing banquet like cold iron.

When Liu Zhenqing looked over, he happened to meet those bottomless eyes that were like black pools of water. Compared to the last time he saw him, his aura was a bit colder. Although very little of his emotions leaked out, Liu Zhenqing knew that he was unhappy.

It was different from last time. This time, even the thick-skinned Liu Zhenqing knew that it was too much. He didn’t know when Huo Fenglie had started to listen. Looking at the servants guarding the entrance in a daze, it should have been a long time. He had probably never been so speechless in his life.

Huo Fenglie walked toward the center of the venue where Liu Zhenqing was kneeling, followed by a group of Imperial guards.

The people around were so nervous that they didn’t dare to breathe. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but everyone felt that when Huo Fenglie entered the venue, the temperature of the entire place dropped a few degrees. The excitement of discovering new gossip was completely annihilated, and everyone was as quiet as quails.

Liu Zhenqing felt uneasy as he knelt there, and when Huo Fenglie stood still beside him, he was truly frightened by his next sentence: “Who did you say I like?”

But the Eighth Princess was the first to speak.

“You…..why did you bring the palace guards?” The Eighth Princess’s tone sounded a little guilty.

“May the princesses have peace and good health. By His Majesty’s orders, the Eighth Princess is invited to return to the palace.” Huo Fenglie’s tone was cold and firm, with a business-like attitude.

“General Huo, the Eighth Princess was invited by me. What are you doing?” The First Princess stood up with an unhappy look.

Huo Fenglie said: “The Eighth Princess has not received permission to leave the palace.”

“Zhanyuan-gege! The Eighth Princess couldn’t help but say coquettishly.

“Your Highness, please!”

She had actually sneaked out! Liu Zhenqing was secretly pleased. Fortunately, he would be safe once the Eighth Princess left. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the Eighth Princess say shyly: “It’s okay for me to leave. Zhanyuan-gege, tell me, is what he just said true? Do you treat me as…..?”

Liu Zhenqing sucked in a breath and immediately looked at Huo Fenglie.

“No!” Huo Fenglie decisively denied.

The originally blushing princess paled, and she was so angry that she asked directly: “Zhanyuan-gege! You really don’t like me?!”

“I’ve never liked you,” Huo Fenglie said with grim, merciless eyes.

This time, not only the Eighth Princess, but everyone including Liu Zhenqing took a sharp breath, as if they were standing on a minefield.

Liu Zhenqing in particular couldn’t help but widen his eyes. This kid’s emotional intelligence level was anyone’s guess, ah. Even the straight man Huo Feihan knew how to be polite when rejecting a girl.

Although Liu Zhenqing felt a little refreshed, the Eighth Princess had wanted to torture him before, and this damage value would definitely be transferred to…..

Sure enough, in the next second, he heard a biting howl, “How dare you lie to me!”

Liu Zhenqing knew he couldn’t salvage this, so he could only bite the bullet and say: “I was just guessing.”

“You guessed wrong,” Huo Fenglie’s voice sounded again.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie in astonishment. There was no need to try so hard to cause trouble.

And Huo Fenglie was also looking at him, a dangerous look in his eyes that clearly signaled his attitude.

He didn’t say on the spot that Liu Zhenqing was making things up, so the matter of spreading rumors to cause trouble was settled.

“Daring to play tricks on me, you’re seeking death! Someone come and pull out his tongue for me.” The Eighth Princess was so angry that she had lost her composure and was trembling all over. Naturally, there were loyal servants around her who immediately drew their swords and rushed forward.

Liu Zhenqing: …….

My life is over!

Liu Zhenqing tried to run, but his legs were numb from kneeling for so long.

At this moment, Huo Fenglie suddenly took a step forward and stood in front of Liu Zhenqing casually but firmly.

Liu Zhenqing was stunned, and those rushing over also stopped.

Who dared to take a step forward with the intimidating man standing in front of the other?

The Eighth Princess’s eyes practically popped out of her head. “Zhanyuan-gege, what do you mean? He mocked me like this and you want to protect him. What is your relationship with him!”

Huo Fenglie said straightforwardly: “He has not violated any laws, so lynching is not allowed.”

“He lied…..”

Liu Zhenqing quickly seized the opportunity. “It was a guess, not a lie!”

The Eighth Princess almost vomited blood, but also realized that dealing with him was clearly improper and unfavorable. If Huo Fenglie wasn’t here, nobody would have dared stop her, but he was here and protecting the villain.

Before the Eighth Princess could act up, he said, “The Eighth Princess will be sent back to the palace,” and this farce came to an end.

The guards immediately surrounded the Eighth Princess.

Facing the Imperial guards sent by the Emperor, the Eighth Princess was unable to resist, and the First Princess was even less likely to openly disobey the Emperor’s orders. She just said awkwardly: “Child, next time you come out, you must tell your Imperial brother, ah. Go back quickly, so as not to worry His Majesty.”

The Eighth Princess was so furious that she almost burst into tears.

The First Princess naturally knew what the Eighth Princess was thinking, and directly hinted: “Don’t worry, leave this to me.”

Even if a member of the royal family could not kill an Imperial merchant, it was still very easy to find a reason to injure or maim them.

This was said softly, but Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing in the middle could hear it.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. It seemed this matter was not over yet.

In the end, the Eighth Princess had no choice but to compromise. After sending Liu Zhenqing a vicious glare, she looked at Huo Fenglie with tears in her eyes.

“Zhanyuan-gege, please help me plead for leniency later, otherwise the Emperor will punish me.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, the Emperor will not punish you excessively. And…..I have no intention of entering the palace. This servant intends to stay and attend the spring outing banquet.” After Huo Fenglie finished speaking, he took out an invitation.

The First Princess and Eighth Princess were both shocked. Naturally, invitations were sent to all the young dignitaries. This was only polite, but for those who had official duties, especially Huo Fenglie, it was assumed that they would not participate.

And everyone had assumed that Huo Fenglie was here to escort the Eighth Princess back to the palace.

“General, you……” The First Princess didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“Zhanyuan-gege, you…..aren’t you here to pick me up?” the Eighth Princess said in disbelief.

“This servant was only ordered to send Imperial guards to find Your Highness,” Huo Fenglie said expressionlessly.

The Eighth Princess was aggrieved and astonished. She clearly knew that Huo Fenglie would not come to such a gathering, as she had tried and failed several times to invite him. But this time……suddenly, the Eighth Princess looked wide-eyed at Liu Zhenqing. “Zhanyuan-gege, are you doing it for……”

Liu Zhenqing, who was still lamenting his terrible fate, heard Er-gou’s response and was bewildered for a moment. He had just thought that he was looking for an excuse to escape the Eighth Princess’s entanglement. It wasn’t possible that he would stay because he was worried about Liu Zhenqing’s situation.

Eh…..it also didn’t seem impossible. Although he had just offended Huo Fenglie, on the surface, he had still been kind to the Huo family. Every drop of kindness to the Huo family should be repaid with spring water, so he would certainly not turn a blind eye to his crisis.

After thinking about it like this, Liu Zhenqing suddenly felt confident. Seeing the Eighth Princess glaring over, Liu Zhenqing was emboldened by his backing and put on an innocent expression, the fragrance of tea simply overflowing. This expression was more infuriating than any provocation, and the Eighth Princess was about to explode.

But with a look from Huo Fenglie, the guards ceased delaying and formed a wall, pushing the Eighth Princess to leave. If the First Princess hadn’t sent her old mother to persuade her, the Eighth Princess likely would have caused a stir.

When the others left, the First Princess continued to look at Huo Fenglie in disbelief.

“Your Highness doesn’t welcome me?” Huo Fenglie got straight to the point.

The First Princess scoffed coldly and said: “General Huo gives me face by being here. Be welcome.”

Huo Fenglie did not go to the seat arranged by the First Princess. “I am here with a friend. Your Highness need not make special arrangements.”

Having said this, he turned around and was about to walk in the direction of the young man in white, when his way was blocked seemingly on accident by Liu Zhenqing, who was kneeling on the ground.

Huo Fenglie stopped and glanced at the First Princess.

The First Princess wore an ugly expression. “Young Master Liu, why are you still kneeling?”

Hearing this, Huo Fenglie continued to walk forward, and Liu Zhenqing also stood up.

But he was a little weak, after all. He had been kneeling on the bluestone floor for a long while and could not stand firmly at all, and accidentally tilted in the direction Huo Fenglie was walking by.

Everyone was shocked to witness this scene. A weak willow falling in the wind, so shameless!

Liu Zhenqing sucked in a deep breath. What kind of dog-blood coincidence was this, ah!

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Chapter Eighteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty