Chapter 065: A Mouthful of Old Blood

Half an hour later, the guests who had attended the banquet in the palace had already dispersed, leaving only the carriages and sedan chairs of the Huo family outside the palace gates.

Huo Wenshan emerged from the palace with his children. Huo Changyu followed behind, dejected. Huo Yunhua, her face bruised and battered, was so shaken after narrowly escaping disaster that her legs could barely support her; she could only walk with Qiuning and Nanzhi supporting her on either side. Huo Yunhao trailed slightly behind, silent, her expression grave.

Huo Wenshan had four sons and two daughters. His eldest son had died young; his second son had become an official after passing the imperial examinations and was stationed elsewhere. His legitimate son, Madam Tian's youngest, was only four and rarely appeared in public due to Madam Tian’s chronic illness. Huo Wenshan himself had claimed to be recuperating at home, avoiding public scrutiny, so the young child had not come along.

Huo Changyu had gained the title of scholar two years prior and was still preparing for the imperial exams. Though Huo Wenshan was a high-ranking official, he held no real power, and the Huo family was far from being a noble lineage. Moreover, Huo Changyu was born of a concubine, and his rank would not normally entitle him to attend the Emperor’s birthday banquet in the palace. Yet, thanks to Huo Wenshan's position as the Crown Prince’s tutor, the family had been granted the privilege to attend grand palace banquets over the years. Even though the Emperor was irritated with Huo Wenshan this year, he hadn’t bothered to exclude the Huo family. Thus, Huo Changyu had brought his two sisters to the palace during the day.

Now, the three, led out by Huo Wenshan, looked thoroughly disheartened.

Huo Wenshan appeared to be walking, but his steps were unsteady, and he staggered as he approached the family carriage, almost tripping over something. Huo Yunhua, still absorbed in her own misfortune, paid him no mind, and Huo Yunhao, walking slightly behind, couldn’t react in time.

“Father, careful!” Huo Changyu caught him.

Huo Wenshan steadied himself and, with a furious gesture, struck Huo Changyu, scolding him harshly, “Get lost! Useless fool, always ruining things!”

His anger had been simmering for some time, and though he used force, he didn’t actually harm Huo Changyu much. Huo Changyu rubbed his jaw, then, without protest, bowed and withdrew.

Huo Wenshan watched as his son mounted his horse and rode off without a backward glance, wholly disregarding his father. Enraged, he shouted, “You—”

His hands trembling, he wanted to stamp his feet, but Huo Yunhao stepped forward to calm him. “Father, whatever you wish to say, let’s discuss it once we’re home.”

Only then did Huo Wenshan remember they were at the palace gates and, with great effort, suppressed his temper.

He now found fault with everyone but, for the sake of appearances, refrained from further outbursts. He turned to Huo Yunhao and said, “Take my sedan chair back. I have something to discuss with your sister.”

“Yes, Father.” Huo Yunhao complied, bowed, and went to the nearby sedan chair.

Nanzhi followed, lowering the curtain, and the bearers carried the sedan off ahead.

Huo Wenshan then brought Huo Yunhua to the carriage, and even once seated, she could not stop trembling.

Having endured today’s ordeal, she felt her very soul was still unsettled, fear lingering in her heart.

Though Huo Wenshan had brought one of the household stewards into the palace, claiming she had acted out of personal grudge by planting the third son’s manuscript among the clothes sent to the palace, and the Emperor had handled it smoothly, everyone could see it was merely a stopgap.

The Emperor did not believe it! Nor did the Empress! Not even the Crown Prince, Xiao Yun...

Recalling the Crown Prince’s sudden change in attitude toward her, Huo Yunhua truly regretted her reckless actions that day.

She had hoped to elevate her third brother to find herself an ally, but her scheme had backfired, and she ended up in peril herself. With the Crown Prince’s attitude now so cold, she felt her dream of becoming an imperial consort had shattered before it even began.

“Father...” At this thought, Huo Yunhua burst into tears.

Huo Wenshan, already furious with her, slammed the table. “How dare you cry?”

“Father, I...” Huo Yunhua was genuinely aggrieved, struggling to hold back her tears and seeking help, but before she could speak, Huo Wenshan berated her, pointing angrily, “Who told you to act without permission? Do you think I’ll never recover, so you’re eager to kick me aside and secure yourself a new patron?”

Among his children, Huo Wenshan favored his beautiful eldest daughter most, nurturing her carefully, and now, with success so close, she had stumbled disastrously!

She had dragged the Emperor and the imperial family’s reputation through the mud. He dared not hope for redemption, feeling his life’s efforts had been instantly wasted. Anger and resentment boiled within him.

Seeing his eyes bulge and face flush, quickly turning a dark shade, Huo Yunhua sensed danger. She forgot her grief and scrambled to his side, trying to calm him. “Father, please—”

Before she could finish, Huo Wenshan, overwhelmed, spit up a mouthful of blood all over her face.

Meanwhile, the Wu family’s carriage arrived at the Marquis’s residence.

Wu Qinglin personally escorted the old lady back to the main quarters.

Wu Tan’s shoes and socks were wet; unable to do anything about it in the palace, she now acted spoiled at home, having the coachman drive the carriage into the courtyard. She sat inside, waiting for Xingzi to fetch clean shoes and socks, and once dressed, she leisurely strolled back to Jingchun Studio. The main room’s door was wide open, and Cheng Cheng stood under the eaves, mouthing, “The young master is inside!”

“Go prepare bath water for me!” Wu Tan dismissed her two maids and entered.

Wu Qinglin sat on the heated bed in the adjacent warm alcove, fiddling with the chessboard she had previously set up.

Wu Tan climbed onto the bed, sitting opposite him.

Anqiao brought in tea, and Wu Qinglin waved her away. Once Anqiao closed the door from outside, he finally looked up from the chessboard at Wu Tan. “Enough games. Tell me—what have you been hiding from me?”

Wu Tan grinned, took a sip of hot tea, and boasted, “Not much. The day Grandmother dealt with Liu Ning, I felt something was off, so I had Muisong investigate further along the two sisters’ line. Didn’t Muisong tell you?”

Muisong hadn’t spoken, clearly because Wu Tan hadn’t allowed him to.

Wu Qinglin tapped the chessboard twice with a piece as a warning.

Wu Tan became serious, pursed her lips, and continued, “That Huo Changyu isn’t stupid. Today’s events were for his own sake, so he did everything he could. But last time, when my birth date was swapped, he was only helping Huo Yunhua, with no benefit to himself—and implicated in a crime against the throne. Naturally, he was cautious. They started off as allies, but after returning home, Huo Changyu slipped out to visit his lover, and the note was switched.”

Wu Qinglin recalled the results of Muisong’s earlier investigation and suddenly understood. “The handwriting on the note was that of Liu Xin?”

Wu Tan shrugged in confirmation. “I was puzzled how Liu Xin could sacrifice her own sister for her lover’s sake. Muisong’s first investigation found their father died from gambling debts. On closer examination, it turns out Liu Xin got involved with Huo Changyu, who set the trap for her. Two days ago, I met her. She’s pragmatic—gave her three thousand tael notes, and she told me everything. That day, Huo Changyu returned and had her rewrite the note; the original was burned. Her revenge against her father wasn’t to save her sister from a similar fate but pure retaliation. That’s why when Liu Ning died helping them, she let it go.”

A woman sold into a life of hardship is tragic and worthy of sympathy; retaliating against a worthless, gambling father is understandable. Yet using an innocent sister as a pawn, without remorse, is truly cruel...

Wu Qinglin listened to these sordid affairs, frowning repeatedly.

Her brother was upright, but she excelled at scheming and intrigue. Wu Tan knew he disliked such matters, so she mischievously poked his arm. “Oh, it’s all old troubles, let’s not dwell on them. Brother, how about we talk about tonight’s events instead?”

Wu Qinglin indeed disliked such messy business and scowled without looking up. “What more is there to say?”

“Guess—” Wu Tan blinked. “Who silenced the Granny Gui bought off by Huo Yunhua?”

Muisong, waiting outside the palace for news, hadn’t returned, so they didn’t know what happened next. Of what they did know, all was clear except for Granny Gui’s untimely death...

Had Wu Tan not brought it up, Wu Qinglin wouldn’t have remembered the matter was unresolved. Suddenly, his hand holding the chess piece paused, and he swiftly reviewed the events in his mind, arriving at an abrupt conclusion. “Another member of the Huo family...”

He had only met Huo Yunhao today and didn’t know her name; if he hadn’t seen her supporting Huo Yunhua into the main hall, he wouldn’t even have realized she was part of the Huo family.

“Huo Yunhao!” Wu Tan met his gaze, nodded slyly, then began speculating with excitement. “I think it’s her! She and Huo Yunhua don’t seem to get along, but she appeared at Huayang Palace, which must mean she went there for a purpose. Yet, to risk so much to silence someone for Huo Yunhua—what could she want...”

Wu Qinglin grew increasingly disgusted with the Huo family’s collection of monsters and refused to listen further. He threw down the chess piece, irritated. “Enough! Stop pondering. If you ever encounter this family again, stay clear. Nothing good ever comes of it.”

With that, he swept his sleeves and left!

——— Side note ———
This is the last public chapter. Tomorrow will be the launch, with VIP chapters starting from Chapter 43. Babies who’ve been saving the story, hurry and read, mwah~
This novel is exclusive to its original release, please do not distribute!