Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 74
That evening, Huo Fenghua had Ruan Qin arrange a full table of food and wine at the residence.
The reason he called Xiongda, Xiong’er, and Ruan Qin to sit down and eat with Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang was to make one thing clear to his brothers and sisters: Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang were extremely important to him. This matter wasn’t something he would half-handle. He was going to see it through to the end.
Su Zeyang draped a cloak over Feng Tianzong’s shoulders. Feng Tianzong took his hand and asked Huo Fenghua, “You’re going to reveal your identity to them?”
Huo Fenghua was sitting on the threshold, elbows on his knees, both hands propping up his face. He looked a little troubled. “That’s what I’m thinking. Only if I tell them who I am will they understand there’s no turning back. They have to help me all the way.”
Feng Tianzong felt Su Zeyang’s hand was a little cold, so he drew it against his chest through his clothing. Then he continued, “But you’re also afraid that once you tell them, they’ll look down on you?”
Huo Fenghua straightened his back at once. “Who would look down on me? Who’s even qualified to look down on me? I, Huo Fenghua, am a proper man. I’ve got a fortune behind me, I’m supporting two wives, one big and one small. Why would anyone look down on me?”
He finished his passionate speech, only to find Feng Tianzong smiling at him. Realizing Feng Tianzong was teasing him, he turned his head and gave a soft snort, then rested his chin on both hands again and fell silent.
After a while, Wen Heyi came running in from the courtyard, cheerful as ever. Seeing Huo Fenghua sitting on the threshold with his back to him, he pounced onto Huo Fenghua’s back and shouted, “Dad!”
Huo Fenghua wasn’t prepared. He got crushed forward and sprawled on the ground, sucking in a breath before he groaned, “Son, you’re not little anymore. This is patricide.”
Wen Heyi thought he was playing around. He leaned in and kissed Huo Fenghua on the cheek with a crisp “pop.”
Su Zeyang looked displeased and snapped, “Martial Uncle, get up!”
Wen Heyi was a little afraid of him. He climbed off Huo Fenghua’s back, went to the round table, and sat down. He glanced at Huo Fenghua, who still hadn’t gotten up, then sneakily looked at Su Zeyang and Feng Tianzong. He grabbed a piece of flaky candy and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.
By the time Huo Fenghua got up, Ruan Qin had already brought Xiongda and Xiong’er over.
Facing Feng Tianzong, both Xiong brothers had complicated expressions.
To the people of Donglin, Feng Tianzong was genuinely a great hero. Xiong’er held him in awe, but at the same time, he was also a common man who’d clawed his way through mud to survive. National righteousness didn’t always outweigh having a full stomach and staying alive.
As for Xiongda, he didn’t have so many twists in his head. Seeing Feng Tianzong made him visibly excited, and he kept gesturing with his hands.
Huo Fenghua watched and laughed, translating for Feng Tianzong. “My big brother says he’s always admired General Feng. Getting the chance to meet you today is the luck of three lifetimes, and he wants to drink a cup with you.”
Xiongda raised his wine cup.
Feng Tianzong raised his as well and smiled. “Thank you, big brother. Sitting here today, I’m the one who ought to be thanking you.”
He lifted his cup to drink, but Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua both raised a hand at the same time to stop him, one on either side. “You’re not fully recovered.”
Feng Tianzong said, “It’s fine. This cup, I have to drink.”
After he and Xiongda finished, he poured himself another cup and raised it to Xiong’er. “Next, this one is for Brother Xiong’er.”
Xiong’er froze, then reached for his cup and looked at Feng Tianzong.
Feng Tianzong said, “My wife is unruly. These days, he’s caused you no small amount of trouble. Thank you for taking care of him along the way. This cup, I, Feng Tianzong, toast you.”
All at once, Huo Fenghua felt a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and rubbed his fingers along the rim of his porcelain bowl.
Xiong’er didn’t understand. He looked blankly at Huo Fenghua, then turned to Ruan Qin.
Ruan Qin, seated beside him, tilted her head in confusion at first. Then her expression shifted to surprise.
Huo Fenghua sighed and said to the Xiong brothers, “I’m sorry I deceived you. I’m not Su Qiang. My surname is Huo Fenghua. I’m General Feng’s…”
He didn’t like the words “male concubine,” so he only shot Feng Tianzong a glare and stopped there.
But the moment they heard the name “Huo Fenghua,” Xiongda, Xiong’er, and Ruan Qin all reacted at the same time. Their faces were full of shock. The room went quiet, and nobody spoke.
Wen Heyi had no idea what was going on. He only reached for more flaky candy, trying to do it secretly.
After a long moment, Xiong’er was the first to speak. “You’re Huo Fenghua? The Xichou hostage prince, Huo Fenghua?”
Huo Fenghua scowled. “I’ve got so many identities, and you had to pick the one I hate most.”
Xiong’er hurriedly looked him up and down, completely disbelieving. “How is that possible?”
In name, Huo Fenghua was already dead. But his current identity didn’t matter much in Donglin, so news of his death hadn’t spread widely. Still, everyone in Donglin had heard the name Huo Fenghua. Back when the emperor issued an edict ordering Huo Fenghua to marry into the General’s Manor as a concubine, Donglin, Xichou, and the Central Plains had all been in uproar, with endless gossip and debate.
No matter how Xiong’er tried to think it through, he couldn’t have imagined that Su Qiang was Huo Fenghua.
Huo Fenghua stood up and placed a piece of meat into each of their bowls. Then he said, “I treat you as my own people, so I chose not to keep hiding it. But the truth is, Huo Fenghua can be considered dead anyway. From now on, I’m still Su Qiang. We’re going to keep building our lives in Wuhetan. You’re my closest brothers and sisters.”
Xiong’er hesitated. “But if you’re Huo Fenghua, then you and General Feng…”
Feng Tianzong said in a low voice, “Once this is resolved, I won’t return to the battlefield.”
Xiongda gestured anxiously, trying to ask why Feng Tianzong wouldn’t go back to war.
Feng Tianzong’s expression was calm. “To fight for Donglin and bring down Xichou was my goal since childhood. Now that goal has been achieved. If this war has to continue, I’m afraid it would go against what I originally intended.”
Xiong’er immediately understood. Xichou was already destroyed. If Feng Tianzong kept leading troops, who would he fight next? Now the emperor had already ordered him escorted back to the capital, and the imperial guards had poisoned him on the road. At this point, Feng Tianzong truly couldn’t return to Donglin anymore.
Ruan Qin asked softly, “General, are you planning to stay in Wuhetan with Master Su?”
Feng Tianzong answered, “It’s not that I haven’t considered it. But before that, there are things I must do. Otherwise, if I stay in Wuhetan, I’ll always be your trouble. You’ll have to deal with pursuers at any time. Worse still, Donglin could send troops against Wuhetan.”
Xiong’er’s brows knitted tightly.
Seeing his worry, Feng Tianzong tried to reassure him. “Brother Xiong’er can rest easy. Once the poison in my body is fully cleared, Zeyang and I will leave Wuhetan immediately. I only hope the Donglin army still hasn’t realized we were ever here.”
Xiong’er hurriedly said, “That’s not what I meant.”
Feng Tianzong smiled, raised his cup to Ruan Qin, and said, “The last cup, I toast Miss Ruan.”
Ruan Qin paused slightly and stood up. “How could a lowly woman deserve that?”
Feng Tianzong said, “Miss Ruan’s abilities have been obvious to all of us these days. We’ve brought you a great deal of trouble. Thank you.”
He drank the wine in one go, set the cup down, and waved a hand. “Those three cups only. Any more and I wouldn’t dare. Let Zeyang and Fenghua drink in my place.”
The moment his words fell, hurried footsteps sounded outside. They ran all the way to the door, knocked, and called, “Miss Ruan!”
Ruan Qin stood, gave a slight bow, and went to open the door. She stepped out and shut it behind her. After exchanging a few words with the person outside, she pushed the door open again and came in, looking at Huo Fenghua. “Master Su, Donglin’s pursuers have shown up. They’re on the opposite bank of the Wu River right now, and they want the people of Shenlong Docks to ferry them across!”
Huo Fenghua shot to his feet. He glanced at Xiong’er. “Go immediately and contact Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian. I’m going to see Bao Wentong. We have to stop them. We can’t let them enter Wuhetan.”
Earlier, Xiong’er had still been arguing with Huo Fenghua over whether Feng Tianzong should be allowed to stay. But now he understood there was no way out. He nodded quickly, stood up, and headed out.
Huo Fenghua called for Wen Heyi and hurried out as well. After two steps, he turned back to Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang. “You two stay here. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll handle this.”
Feng Tianzong nodded. “Go.”
Huo Fenghua rushed out. By the time he returned to the Boonie Bears residence, it was already deep into the night.
He pushed the door open, exhausted, and saw that Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang still hadn’t gone to sleep. They were clearly waiting for him.
Feng Tianzong sat at the edge of the bed. Su Zeyang leaned against his chest with his eyes closed. Neither of them spoke until Huo Fenghua came in, and Su Zeyang opened his eyes to look at him.
Huo Fenghua took off his outer robe and hung it on the rack, then casually kicked off his boots and climbed onto the bed, dropping headfirst into Feng Tianzong’s arms.
Su Zeyang reached out and lightly stroked his hair. Huo Fenghua caught his hand and pressed it to his own cheek.
Feng Tianzong asked, “How did it go?”
Huo Fenghua sighed. “There are probably more than five hundred Donglin soldiers. They’re all gathered on the opposite bank right now, waiting to cross into the city. Hu Dong, Lan Shuilian, and I tried to persuade Bao Wentong not to let them cross. For now, Bao Wentong hasn’t acted. But I’m worried this won’t hold for long. The Donglin troops don’t look like they’re going to withdraw, and Bao Wentong is under pressure too. He’s afraid that if the standoff drags on, Donglin will send reinforcements and attack Wuhetan.”
Su Zeyang asked softly, “Who is Bao Wentong?”
So Huo Fenghua explained the current situation in Wuhe Tan.
After listening, Su Zeyang said flatly, “Kill Bao Wentong.”
Feng Tianzong couldn’t help laughing. He turned and kissed Su Zeyang on the forehead. “You want to go kill Bao Wentong?”
Su Zeyang gave a quiet “Mm.”
Huo Fenghua rolled over and lay face-down across Feng Tianzong’s legs, looking up as he said, “Killing Bao Wentong isn’t hard. The key is how we take over Shenlong Docks’ power. The worst-case scenario is we kill Bao Wentong on our side, and his people panic on theirs, and that chaos ends up letting the Donglin troops into the city.”
Feng Tianzong asked, “Who’s leading the Donglin forces?”
Huo Fenghua frowned. “I don’t know.”
Feng Tianzong said, “Go find out again. Also, set an ambush along the Wu River. Be careful they don’t secretly let people in.”
“I know,” Huo Fenghua said.
Feng Tianzong added, “You originally wanted to get rid of Bao Wentong anyway, didn’t you?”
Huo Fenghua sat up on his knees on the bed and nodded. “It’s not just me. Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian have been dissatisfied with him for a long time.”
Feng Tianzong lifted a hand and gave Huo Fenghua’s butt a light pat. “Then this counts as an opportunity. First, join forces with Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian and talk it through. If you really mean to kill Bao Wentong, you need to be prepared. And even if you kill Bao Wentong, the Donglin pursuers will still be there. How to deal with that, you should think carefully.”
Huo Fenghua’s mind was a mess, and his body felt worn out. He lay back down on the bed and said, “Let’s sleep first. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
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