For someone who practiced martial arts, this right hand was basically useless.

Liu Zhenqing’s face was solemn, and he held Song Xingmu’s wrist tightly.

Song Xingmu shook his head and his glass earrings swayed, reflecting the light.

“It’s because my skills are inferior to others.”

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyes and looked at Song Xingmu expressionlessly.

Song Xingmu said with an uncomfortable look on his face: “I went to the capital to collect a person’s body, but failed.”

Back then, Song Xingmu was still pursuing pirates at sea, and as soon as he got off the ship, he received a message. It was from Bai Yu, Liu Zhenqing’s right-hand man.

Song Xingmu couldn’t believe it. He heard that his good brother Liu Zhenqing had passed away several days before, and that Bai Yu had sent this letter to ask him to help collect evidence that Prime Minister Liu, whom the world reviled, was not actually like this. Before Song Xingmu had time to think, he heard that something had happened to Bai Yu, and Liu Zhenqing’s body had been buried indiscriminately.

No longer caring about anything else, he rushed to the capital. He wanted to at least…..at least collect the body of his brother. 

But at that time, Liu Zhenqing’s body had just been buried and many people from the Jinyiwei and Dongchang set up an ambush beside the grave. They were ordered to capture the so-called “treacherous minister’s” accomplices. Naturally, a graveside ambush was the most effective.

“Why did you act impulsively!” Liu Zhenqing said in disbelief.

Song Xingmu raised his eyebrows and said: “I thought I could do it. My martial arts skills were not inferior to Huo Feihan’s at that time.”

In fact, he knew there was an ambush and that it was too risky, but…..everyone could spurn Liu Zhenqing’s tombstone in broad daylight, when it was obviously he who had broken every inch of his own bones to support Great Zhou’s pride. How could he tolerate his brother staying there any longer? Those scenes made his eyes redden, and he had to take away the body even if he died.

“But you were still beaten badly.” Yi Chuan revealed this news mercilessly.

“You went too?” Liu Zhenqing said in surprise.

Yi Chuan nodded and said: “I was studying in the mountains at that time, and incidentally heard about Prime Minister Liu. I looked for him when I came out, but he had run away on his own, and I had no choice but to rush to the capital to find him. He was half dead when I arrived. If he hadn’t met a skilled doctor, he would have died. At the end of the treatment, only his hand was disabled, but it was only a year later that he had the energy to get out of bed. And I heard at that time…..”

Yi Chuan glanced at Huo Fenglie and stopped talking.

Song Xingmu understated it, but Yi Chuan supplemented it.

Liu Zhenqing frowned and was about to speak, but Song Xingmu promptly changed the subject and said: “By the way, it wasn’t only me at that time.”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback.

“Liu Qiao also came back.” Song Xingmu directly gave Liu Zhenqing a piece of news.

Shocked, Liu Zhenqing said: “Liu Qiao?! He’s still alive?”

Song Xingmu said: “We separated eight years ago, and after so many years, I don’t know about his situation. We met there by chance and started working together. His martial arts skills are better than mine, and if he hadn’t taken me with him in the end, we wouldn’t have been able to escape. When we recovered from our injuries and intended to go back, we heard the news. I asked him what was going to happen next. He said that he still had unfinished tasks he had to complete, and he left.”

Liu Zhenqing fell silent.

Liu Qiao, the slave he bought, came with a broken piece of jade with the character “Qiao” on it. Because the slave had no name, Liu Zhenqing gave him the surname Liu and the first name Qiao.

Liu Qiao had been bought and sold as a slave since childhood. At that time, Liu Zhenqing had just become Prime Minister Liu and wanted a loyal bodyguard who could help him easily in the future. When Huo Feihan accompanied him to find a suitable candidate, he met Liu Qiao by chance.

Huo Feihan had never praised another’s character like this, not to mention their natural power, so he bought Liu Qiao. He was taught how to read and practice martial arts, and it turned out that Huo Feihan’s judgment was correct. Liu Qiao was a martial arts genius, and within a year, he came to work as a guard by his side. Although he was a bit reticent, he obeyed orders and acted quickly and accurately. He was already considered a master when he first became a guard, and continued to improve in the following years, like a wall of copper and iron protecting Liu Zhenqing. Except when he was sent out to do things, no matter how many assassinations there were, Liu Zhenqing never suffered any harm.

Thus, Prime Minister Liu had Bai Yu and Liu Qiao as his right and left hands.

After rebirth, Liu Zhenqing didn’t dare to think about him. When he found Bai Yu, he could only pray in his heart that everything would be fine with him.

But regarding Liu Qiao’s whereabouts, Liu Zhenqing also didn’t know, because he had told Liu Qiao before leaving that he should go as far away as he could and not tell him where he intended to go after completing the mission.

Liu Qiao was frightened at that time, thinking that Liu Zhenqing didn’t want him anymore, so he knelt and refused to move. Liu Zhenqing could only agree that when he finished his mission, he could return to him as a guard.

As for that mission, Liu Zhenqing could not give it to just anyone. Only Liu Qiao could do it…..

Huo Fenglie saw that Liu Zhenqing was distracted, so he asked: “How was he recovering from his injuries when he left?”

Yi Chuan said: “He had basically recovered. There were no hidden dangers left on his body.”

“That kid’s martial arts are really good,” Song Xingmu said with a sigh.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but let out a breath. Thank you. I’m sorry. These words pressed on his heart, but saying them would only insult the other party’s friendship, so he had to lower his head and focus on Song Xingmu’s injury.

“When things are completed here, you can make arrangements to go to the Medical Valley with us,” Liu Zhenqing said in a deep voice.

Song Xingmu was about to open his mouth.

“You must go,” Liu Zhenqing said directly.

Song Xingmu said no more.

“So the sudden change in your military power was because the emperor found out you were going…..” Liu Zhenqing asked.

“I’m also not very clear. Those people may not have known who I was. Although I am indeed dissatisfied with the current emperor, and it is fair to say that I left my post without authorization. News would certainly spread out from the navy. I deserved to be punished, and I couldn’t lead the navy while recuperating for a year. Just asking me to come back…..the emperor’s heart is unpredictable. Tell me, what does he mean?”

Liu Zhenqing was silent for a moment, and then said: “As you say, the emperor’s heart is unpredictable.”

Perhaps Yuan Jue knew something was wrong here and had to bring Song Xingmu back. Otherwise, the timing was too coincidental. And he also saw Song Xingmu’s strength, and could not waste such a naval officer. He needed such a person to guard the waters of the Great Zhou Dynasty for him. 

That night, Song Xingmu wanted to send Liu Zhenqing back to the inn.

“No need,” Liu Zhenqing said.

Song Xingmu teased: “Can this be done? You are my wife. It would be inappropriate for me not to escort you there.”

When Yi Chuan on the side heard this, his eyes widened in shock, while Huo Fenglie, who was about to become invisible, glanced over with cold eyes.

“Just arrange a carriage to take me back. There is no reason for Fenglie to go with me and hide in the shadows,” Liu Zhenqing said.

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing.

Song Xingmu raised his eyebrows. “It seems you have a purpose. Casting bait?”

Liu Zhenqing nodded: “I’m curious, so I’ll give it a try.”

Soon after, Song Xingmu led his people to the water village. He arranged a carriage and groom and looked reluctant to leave, waving his hand in farewell with a posture reminiscent of bidding goodbye to a loved one.

Until the carriage left, Song Xingmu remained looking into the distance infatuatedly.

“Hey, you don’t really have feelings for him, right?” Yi Chuan said suddenly.

Song Xingmu looked back at Yi Chuan with a smile and said: “Yo, are you jealous?”

Yi Chuan said with a frown: “Are you going to fight General Huo?”

“Ah?” Song Xingmu glanced at Yi Chuan in surprise.

Yi Chuan said: “Although Young Master Liu said before that General Huo likes Prime Minister Liu, I think that the general likes the current Young Master Liu.”

Song Xingmu almost choked to death on his own saliva. “You’ve seen it all?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Yi Chuan said matter-of-factly.

Song Xingmu was very amused. “Yes, ah, it is obvious, but don’t you hate men being together? You are even gossiping about such things.”

Yi Chuan glared at Song Xingmu unhappily. He hated it not because of discrimination, but because of what happened to his brother at home, and couldn’t bear it psychologically.

“Don’t worry, he and I are brothers,” Song Xingmu said with a smile.

Yi Chuan complained: “You said before that you and Prime Minister Liu were brothers, and you didn’t like him. Although you are a playboy on the surface, in fact…..”

Song Xingmu quickly stopped him, saying in disbelief: “What are you saying? How did you get this misunderstanding?”

“Isn’t it possible that you can like a man? Prime Minister Liu was so good-looking, and you were willing to die for him.”

The corners of Song Xingmu’s mouth twitched. “I don’t. And…..leaving aside everything else for now, was Liu Zhenqing better-looking than me?”

Yi Chuan nodded.

Song Xingmu became petty and said at once: “I wonder who it was who fell in love with me at first sight. It wasn’t Liu Zhenqing. And that person wanted to marry me, and forcibly kissed me…..”

Yi Chuan was instantly infuriated. He covered his ears and ran away.

. . . . . . .

The carriage swayed away from the water village. Before it could get out of the navy’s guarding range, it suddenly stopped.

Liu Zhenqing closed his eyes in repose, predicting what would happen next.

A weak young master who held a place in Song Xingmu’s heart, and who even appeared with him at the scene of arrest and at the water prison, was very suitable for testing, tricking, threatening, or hijacking.

“Who is in the carriage?”

“Answering the official, he is the friend of Captain Song.”

Listening to this conversation, he couldn’t say he was surprised. The person who had come was probably Zhao Haicheng.

He wondered if he could catch this big fish.

He heard Zhao Haicheng say below: “Since he is Captain Song’s distinguished guest, and this night is restless, he cannot be sent away in such a simple manner.”

Then he knocked on the carriage wall. “Young Master, this is Zhao Haicheng. We have met before. I happen to be going to the streets, so you might as well let me see you off. It is safer this way.”

“Then I will trouble Lieutenant General Zhao,” Liu Zhenqing said calmly.

His words had just fallen when the carriage shook, and a tall figure opened the carriage curtain and got in.

Liu Zhenqing greeted him with a smile, and Zhao Haicheng was polite and courteous. But the carriage suddenly shook again, nearly causing Zhao Haicheng to fall over.

Zhao Haicheng said in a deep voice through the carriage curtain next to him: “Be careful with the horses. Don’t scare the guest.”

“Understood. I don’t know what happened…..”

The carriage began to move slowly.

Zhao Haicheng didn’t think much about it, and sat down directly.

But Liu Zhenqing leaned against the carriage wall with the corners of his mouth raised. Zhao Haicheng before him was stunned for a moment.

There was a slight knocking sound through the wooden boards. The sound was masked by the rolling wheels, but Liu Zhenqing could feel the vibration. It was obvious that Huo Fenglie was no longer willing to protect him from a distance and was sitting on the back of the carriage, always on guard.

“Young Master…..” Zhao Haicheng said, “I don’t know what to call you?”

Liu Zhenqing didn’t expect that Zhao Haicheng would say such…..ordinary greetings after coming in.

“I’m…..” Liu Zhenqing skewed his eyes. The surname Liu was still too taboo. He smiled and said: “My surname is Huo.”

Zhao Haicheng was startled. After all, Huo was such a famous surname and brought to mind the general guarding the country.

“Could it be the Huo family from the city…..”

Liu Zhenqing waved his hand and said: “No, it’s just a coincidence. You are talking about the general’s Huo family, right? They are all warriors and I am a scholar…..and I come from the Southern Islands.”

Zhao Haicheng nodded, feeling that this was so. He said: “It seems that Young Master Huo met our Captain Song in the Southern Islands. Are you here to visit friends?”

Liu Zhenqing looked at Zhao Haicheng with some surprise. Did Zhao Haicheng not realize that he and Song Xingmu were not a couple? That playacting was not in vain. Thus, he deliberately adopted a shy posture and said: “Captain Song is not young anymore, so I thought…..”

Zhao Haicheng was taken aback upon hearing this. His expression changed, and he said: “Has Young Master Huo never heard about Captain Song? I see that Young Master Huo appears to be a relatively pure scholar, so I would like to warn you. Everyone here knows that Captain Song does not discriminate between men and women, loves the new and hates the old, and is not very loyal emotionally. If Young Master Huo wants a good companion, Captain Song is definitely no good.”

When Zhao Haicheng finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing was dumbfounded.

Not asking questions or using pretensions, how did it turn into persuasion? What kind of routine was this? Liu Zhenqing’s brain was running fast, but he couldn’t understand it.

Could it be that Zhao Haicheng simply hated Song Xingmu and couldn’t stand his behavior, or perhaps someone in his family was let down by Song Xingmu, so he was against him at all times? Was he overthinking it?

Wait, it seemed that there was no need to be so kind to a stranger.

Liu Zhenqing stared in confusion at Zhao Haicheng for a moment, but Zhao Haicheng’s staunch look at the beginning turned into involuntarily avoiding his gaze in the end.

Liu Zhenqing was immediately alarmed. 

Had Zhao Haicheng fallen in love with him?

He was speechless for a moment. What kind of fish had he caught, ah?

Now Liu Zhenqing knew why Zhao Haicheng had looked at him several times. Whatever, he had no interest in talking anymore.

“Thank you, Lieutenant General Zhao, for warning me. I already know this.”

When Zhao Haicheng heard this, he immediately looked at Liu Zhenqing with displeasure, as if beholding an incompetent love-brained fool.

But it seemed that Zhao Haicheng truly wanted to persuade him. “Young Master Huo, why are you so stubborn? You will be hurt.”

Liu Zhenqing sneered internally and said: “I’m not trying to choose a man to spend my life with, I just want to choose a hero, especially a hero who protects his family and country. Even if he is fickle, at least he is loyal to Great Zhou. Being responsible for the common people and keeping the territory safe is enough to cover up all of his shortcomings.”

Zhao Haicheng was stunned upon hearing this. It was unknown if he was stunned by Liu Zhenqing’s way of thinking or having been unintentionally ridiculed. In any case, his expression did not look very good.

If you dare to talk about my friend, you can’t blame me for being a bully.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “Lieutenant General Zhao, don’t you think Captain Song is a hero? How many pirates has he eradicated, and how many common people of Great Zhou has he protected? He is better than those men who are clearly of Great Zhou but collude with pirates for their selfish desires. How could I not admire such a man?”

Zhao Haicheng seemed unable to listen, saying: “He has performed meritorious deeds, but there are also many sins.”

Liu Zhenqing stared blankly: “What? Lieutenant General Zhao must have some sort of misunderstanding, right? Captain Song has never harmed the common people of Great Zhou, and even if his hands are stained with blood, it is for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty.”

Seemingly suppressing his anger, Zhao Haicheng said: “Young Master Huo is indeed too naive. He collaborated with Liu Zhenqing, the treacherous minister who harmed the country and the common people, and killed a lot of Great Zhou’s people.”

Liu Zhenqing silently regarded Zhao Haicheng. Recalling that he had been the one to go to the capital to complain, he couldn’t help but chuckle: “I heard they had a bad relationship.”

“He is the one who left his post without permission in order to collect Liu Zhenqing’s body. How could their relationship be bad? It is only that outsiders don’t know the truth and spread rumors.”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback. He knew of this?

“Although he was wrong, the circumstances are excusable. Did he cause serious problems when he left his post without permission?” Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but analyze Zhao Haicheng’s reaction.

But he had heard Yi Chuan and others speak of it before. The reason why the emperor did not punish him severely was because although he left his post without authorization and the handover was chaotic, he didn’t cause any trouble to others. Therefore, the emperor only gave him a small punishment with a warning, otherwise the crime would have been punishable by death.

There were frequent pirate attacks. All the attacks during that period could not be blamed on Song Xingmu, and even if he was here, the attacks would have still occurred.

“Is your family…..” Liu Zhenqing probed.

Zhao Haicheng quickly returned to normal and said with a smile: “I just feel sorry for the common people. Not to mention anything else, just based on the fact that he and the traitor Liu Zhenqing were good brothers, I think Young Master Huo is doing himself a disservice.”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. He had really become synonymous with certain unremovable stains. But it was amusing to think that this fellow was interested in him while cursing him to his face.

Liu Zhenqing really couldn’t figure out if this fellow was just following public opinion or not. Or was it that he had been implicated and hurt by some of the things he had done, so he hated him to this extent? But he remembered that in this region, he had only fought against pirates, ah.

Liu Zhenqing: “You hate Liu Zhenqing? For what reason?”

Zhao Haicheng looked up at Liu Zhenqing and found that his expression was gentle, as if he cared. Unable to avoid being affected by it, some true emotion leaked out: “There are so many people in the world who hate him. He has done many evil things, so no reason is needed.”

Even though Zhao Haicheng didn’t say it, Liu Zhenqing still saw the deep hatred in his eyes.

It seemed that it was truly not an ordinary reason, nor was he following the crowd.

“Did you meet him?” Liu Zhenqing asked casually.

Zhao Haicheng’s eyes were empty. Then he said with an ugly expression: “Why are you asking this?”

“You’re the lieutenant general. I thought you must have met him in person, and I’m a little curious.”

“I would rather never meet that kind of evil person.”

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Chapter Eighty-Three << Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty-Five