The sentence “general who guards the country” had already stunned these people, and the subsequent words instantly caused Tang-furen and Uncle Tang to tremble.

“Are…..are you joking?” Uncle Tang said harshly, with a tug at the corners of his mouth.

Dai Tingyu knelt down directly and saluted Huo Fenglie: “General, this humble one is at fault for not handling the situation strictly in accordance with military discipline. This humble one is willing to be punished, and will handle the punishments of the violators afterward.”

Uncle Tang’s face paled. Looking at Huo Fenglie again, Uncle Tang’s expression was indeed full of self-pity and anger, but the second their eyes met, he was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down.

“I…..I have been punished. I left office. This one…..this one asks to be excused, excused…..”

Seeing that Uncle Tang was about to flee, Liu Zhenqing called from behind: “Don’t run away, ah, you’ll be spared for the sake of the city lord’s face.”

Uncle Tang’s steps slowed.

“For example, fifty blows from a rod would easily kill you, so it’s better to let Commander die to one blow at a time, separately. This way, it is certain that nothing will go wrong. It’s called paying in installments.”

Dai Tingyu immediately shouted: “This is a good idea!”

There was wind under Uncle Tang’s feet, and he wished he could disappear into the city lord’s manor at once. He ran away in a flash, and likely wouldn’t dare show up again in the future.

Tang-furen regarded everyone with an awkward expression. Tang Mu stepped forward and said: “Mother is probably tired and muddle-headed from the journey. Please go back and rest right away.”

Tang-furen calmed down, thinking that they wouldn’t embarrass her for Tang Mu’s sake. She coughed to cover up her embarrassment and stepped forward to salute Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie said directly: “Tang-furen, get up. It is better for you to be cautious in your words and deeds in the future. The emperor has the final say in this world.”

Tang-furen’s face became somewhat distorted. Liu Zhenqing held back a smile, feeling that Tang-furen would definitely not be able to stay any longer or dare to interfere in Tang Mu’s business in the future.

Unexpectedly, Tang-furen turned out to be rather fierce. She smiled obsequiously and spoke a few words: “The general doesn’t know, but I am doing this for the sake of my own family. The painstaking efforts of a parent are always misunderstood.”

Having said this, she actually began to look Huo Fenglie up and down. Although it wasn’t obvious, Liu Zhenqing could see the scrutiny in her expression at a glance.

Just as Liu Zhenqing was feeling somewhat confused, the older lady suddenly said: “The general is truly mighty and remarkable. How old is he?”

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. Huo Fenglie didn’t overthink it: “Twenty-seven.”

“Twenty-seven, ah. You are the same age as my son. Fate brings people together, ah.” Tang-furen instantly beamed. “I hear that the general is not yet engaged…..”

“Mother, it’s time to go back.”

Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, Tang Mu immediately stepped forward and held Tang-furen, practically dragging her out.

Tang-furen made a fuss and tried to address Huo Fenglie, but was pulled away by Tang Mu.

Dai Tingyu and Huo Fenglie didn’t know the reason for this.

Dai Tingyu sneered: “Does she think that General Huo, because he is the same age as her son, shouldn’t be respected as much as Tang-chengzhu? How ridiculous, using the position of an elder to get close to him.”

Huo Fenglie wasn’t interested. He said to Liu Zhenqing: “Let’s go.”

Liu Zhenqing stroked his chin and watched the mother and son depart. When he heard Huo Fenglie’s voice, he looked over with some dissatisfaction.

Right, ah, he wasn’t engaged yet. He was a rich, single man.

He remembered that back in the capital, in order to avoid trouble, he had also taken advantage of Huo Fenglie’s lack of engagement and made up some nonsense.

Now that he thought about it, this was normal. Er-gou was so good. Of course many people would have their eyes on him.

If one married, it should be to General Huo.

“If you want to marry, isn’t the best candidate in front of you? Since the emperor told him to come here, it’s an opportunity from the heavens!” 

“Mother!” Tang Mu was truly angry. “Do you understand what you’re saying!”

“If you keep wasting time like this, when will you be able to marry, ah? This mother is worried about you.”

“Are you worried about me, or do you want me to step aside for my uncle? Mother, have you forgotten what the people from the Office of Government Affairs just said? Can you stop dreaming?” Tang Mu turned around and left.

But he was angrily scolded by Tang-furen for outgrowing obedience to his parents and not listening.

Tang Mu turned around and looked at his mother with disappointment. Seeing that she was still using the honor of the Tang family as her trump card and looking so arrogant, he felt extremely broken, and very…..sorry for that person.

Tang-furen continued: “Do you want to remain unmarried for the rest of your life? Don’t you know that your secret will be discovered sooner or later? What will you do then? What if…..what if someone sues us, what will our Tang family do? You were born with a good appearance, and what isn’t good about your temperament or talent that you can’t take on the identity of a general’s wife? With the great general who protects the country, we’ll have nothing to fear.”

Tang Mu closed his eyes in the end, unable to stop them from stinging. He took a deep breath and said very weakly: “I don’t fear anything. As long as you and Uncle don’t cause trouble for me, our family can live in peace and stability for the rest of our lives. In the end, you actually look down on me and think I’m not worthy of sitting in the position of City Lord, right?”

“You!” Tang-furen said angrily: “I want you to get married as soon as possible because I love you. What’s wrong with that!”

Tang Mu scoffed coldly, and the moisture in his eyes quickly vanished. “Don’t worry, Mother. I made up my mind a long time ago. I won’t marry anyone in this life, Mother, so don’t waste your time. If you’re bored at home, go and worship Buddha.”

When Tang Mu was done speaking, he turned to leave. But thinking of his mother’s character, he couldn’t help but turn back and remind her: “And as you heard just now, Huo Fenglie has a close friend next to him. It’s not like he doesn’t have anyone.”

As expected, Tang-furen wasn’t easily deterred and spoke again: “That man is not as good-looking as you. Besides, you have an advantage over him, don’t you?”

Tang Mu’s expression turned ugly again. He held onto the willow leaf jade piece and calmed himself for a moment before turning around and leaving.

Early the next morning, Tang-furen unexpectedly came to their courtyard. For the purpose of getting close to Huo Fenglie, she invited him to have breakfast with them.

Huo Fenglie refused with a frown. Tang-furen wanted to say more, but then saw Liu Zhenqing come out, letting out a sigh as he leaned against Huo Fenglie. And Huo Fenglie went along with him and held on, which caused Tang-furen’s expression to become ugly.

“Let’s go eat,” Liu Zhenqing said as if there was no one else around.

Huo Fenglie nodded.

Tang-furen put up with it again and again before inviting Liu Zhenqing to go with them. Huo Fenglie was about to refuse again when Liu Zhenqing accepted.

Thus, the two of them appeared in front of Tang Mu with Tang-furen.

Liu Zhenqing saw Tang Mu’s change of expression and smiled at him indifferently.

And at this time, Tang-furen warmly welcomed Huo Fenglie and sat between him and Tang Mu. Before Huo Fenglie could refuse, Liu Zhenqing pushed him down and sat.

When Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing in confusion, Liu Zhenqing pulled Huo Fenglie’s arm away and sat in his lap. He burrowed into his arms and adjusted his posture comfortably, completely ignoring the people around them. He said: “I’m so sleepy, ah. I can’t sit up anymore, you hold me while I eat.”

Everyone around was dumbfounded. Both the host and the attendants watched this overly intimate and unruly behavior in astonishment. What’s more, the star of the show was the general who guards the country, whose status was below only one person and above all others. How could such a person do such a thing! !

Even Huo Fenglie froze. It seemed to him that this was not Qing-ge acting coquettishly toward him, but simply teasing him. Qing-ge was very playful to begin with, but according to the current situation, he was probably putting on an act purely for others to see.

Guessing the likely intention behind it, Huo Fenglie could only cooperate. Because for something Qing-ge wanted to do, the consequences of not going along with it would be even more serious.

Thus, Huo Fenglie adjusted his posture without a change of expression, making the other more comfortable in his arms.

The eyes of the people around widened in unison. Now they wished they were blind, as if they were viewing a debauched monarch and a demon concubine.

Tang Mu withdrew his expression of surprise, and there was eventually a smile on his lips.

But Tang-furen had been overturned by Liu Zhenqing over and over again, and was so angry that she nearly vomited blood.

What was this shameless appearance? If he got married in the future, all the servants here had witnessed the scene and rumors would fly. Could this be allowed?

Just as Tang-furen was about to speak, she heard Liu Zhenqing say: “I am so sorry, I’ve been discourteous. Aren’t the two of you startled? In fact, Fenglie and I usually do this. I like to sleep in, and he gets up early. I have to do this in order to have breakfast with him, otherwise I’d be so sleepy that I’d fall down sitting on the stool. Hahaha. Tang-chenzhu said before that this can be treated as our home. I saw that the Old Madam is also amiable, and didn’t think I would commit a gaffe.”

Tang-furen’s breathing was stifled.

Tang Mu said with a smile: “Don’t be polite, this is like your own home. You can do whatever you usually do. Come, let’s all have a meal.”

Liu Zhenqing smiled at Tang Mu, then hooked Huo Fenglie’s neck and said coquettishly: “I have a light appetite today. You pick something lighter for me.”

Huo Fenglie said directly: “Okay.” With this answer, he actually embraced Liu Zhenqing and carefully selected food for him.

Tang-furen was simply flabbergasted.

Tang Mu had to hold back his laughter, because they looked very much like a debauched monarch and a demon concubine. The demon concubine was rather on point, but the debauched monarch had a serious appearance and lacked acting skills. But this was to show off to his mother and make things clear to her.

Subsequently, Liu Zhenqing not only told Huo Fenglie to pick his food, but also acted spoiled and had Huo Fenglie feed it to his mouth. It wasn’t tasty when it was fed to him, so Liu Zhenqing ate half of it and fed the rest to Huo Fenglie’s mouth. The intimacy between the two was even closer than that of a newlywed couple.

Tang-furen’s heartbeat was disordered, and she gasped for breath several times.

Tang Mu couldn’t help but sigh. Although he had always thought that Young Master Liu might be a substitute and sympathized with him, he saw Huo Fenglie dote on him to the point that he was deeply accustomed to Liu Zhenqing’s willful demands. And the dignified general was willing to cooperate with even the most outrageous things. Tang Mu felt that it was very obvious that they loved each other. 

Tang-furen started to speak several times afterward, but Liu Zhenqing’s show of affection burnt her face and she couldn’t say anything at all. 

In the end, she couldn’t bear it anymore. “This is too toilsome for General Huo. Why not add a stool?” She was willing to step back and let the two of them sit next to each other instead of one sitting on the other.

Seeing that Tang-furen was still unwilling to give up, Liu Zhenqing disregarded the remaining face she had left and said: “Thanking the Madam for thinking about my family’s general, but I really can’t sit down.”

Tang-furen was faintly stunned.

With a shy look on his face, Liu Zhenqing gave Huo Fenglie a slight jab and said: “It’s all your fault! People are laughing at me.”

Huo Fenglie could no longer make any expression, and when everyone else reacted, their faces turned red.

Tang Mu coughed and accidentally knocked over his tea cup. He apologized and immediately left to change his clothes. 

And Tang-furen was already in despair. Trembling, she said that she was full. But in fact, she could no longer bear the stimulation and could only give in temporarily and retreat.

When everyone around was gone and the other servants were also far away, only then did Liu Zhenqing laugh in Huo Fenglie’s arms. He directly smacked his hand onto Huo Fenglie as tears came out. 

Looking up at Huo Fenglie’s stiff face, Liu Zhenqing said: “It’s ruined. Er-gou’s reputation has been completely ruined by me.”

Huo Fenglie looked embarrassed. Liu Zhenqing’s implication just now had greatly stimulated him. Even as he held him in his arms, he felt hot in his nether regions.

Huo Fenglie’s mind was a mess. This dazed look fell into Liu Zhenqing’s eyes, and when he reacted, he raised his eyebrows and hooked Huo Fenglie’s neck with a chuckle: “Actually, I just made that up.”

Huo Fenglie stared for a moment and nodded. Of course he knew Liu Zhenqing was acting.

Liu Zhenqing said: “If this was really the case, I think that not only could I not sit down, but I also couldn’t get up.”

Huo Fenglie’s pupils shrank and his breathing stagnated.

“By then, I wouldn’t even have the energy to hit and curse a certain someone.”

Huo Fenglie’s chaotic mind seemed to be clearing up.

“Perhaps I would even fall into a coma. Even if I woke up in a daze, I could only be held and fed because I didn’t have any strength in my hands and feet.”

The jut of Huo Fenglie’s throat rolled. His pupils quivered, and the veins in his neck began to bulge as if he was trying his utmost to endure something.

The bad intentions in Liu Zhenqing’s eyes became even more obvious. He leaned right toward Huo Fenglie’s ear and sighed softly. “Er-gou, remember to be gentle and moderate.”

Huo Fenglie immediately looked at Liu Zhenqing as if he had been struck by lightning. He saw this person suddenly draw near, and the corner of his lips grew hot as it was licked.

When his eyes refocused, Liu Zhenqing had already pulled away and was moving his mouth as if tasting something. “There was a splash of soup.”

Huo Fenglie’s pupils shrank. In a flash, there was a look in his eyes as if he had lost his mind, and the arms around him suddenly tightened.

But at this moment, Dai Tingyu’s carefree voice sounded from outside. 

“Did I hear that my brother is here?!”

Huo Fenglie froze. Liu Zhenqing blinked. The look in Huo Fenglie’s eyes just now was…..very intriguing.

Liu Zhenqing said with a chuckle: “Hurry and calm down so you don’t get laughed at.” As he said this, he deliberately moved his sitting position. When Huo Fenglie didn’t respond, he quickly jumped away to sit on a stool. When Dai Tingyu came in, he was already sitting in a well-behaved manner and eating breakfast. 

And the ashen-faced Huo Fenglie sat stiffly, his breathing as heavy as if he had just experienced an internal strength competition.

Dai Tingyu was confused at this sight.

“You really are, ah. Didn’t you promise yesterday to go shopping? Let’s go out after you eat. There’s a festival today, so the city is really lively.”

. . . . . . . .

“Won’t you go shopping with me? It’s a rare holiday,” a black-clothed man asked another, who was about to disappear.

“No, we may encounter Huo Fenglie in the city.”

“Then you can’t leave my side.”

“I will protect you in secret.”

“What if I have a conflict with Huo Fenglie?”

“I won’t hurt him, and I’ll protect you.”

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Chapter One Hundred Four << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Six