Autumn, the tenth year of Hongde.
The western border of North Vietnam, the western capital is Shifang County.
The county town was particularly lively that day, and foreign carriages had been entering the county town since morning.
Before noon, the lobby of Yongsheng Teahouse at the intersection of the county town was already overcrowded, and the private rooms upstairs were also fully booked.
Even the tea shops and street inns around the tea house are crowded with people, everyone is looking forward to it.
"Today is the middle of the month again. Our county is particularly lively at this time of the month. It's all thanks to Mr. Tuohuo. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to see so many wealthy people in this remote and small county."
In the back hall of the teahouse, the errand boy used his time to serve tea and joke with the tea master.
The tea master smiled and said, "No, not only nobles from all over the world came here, but also young ladies from aristocratic families and daughters from wealthy families... With this kind of support, only Mr. Huo, who has the most beautiful appearance in the Western Capital, can be crowned the best in the world. I can afford it.”
"The Huo family has produced counselors for generations. Even after they faded away from the court for more than ten years, there is still an endless stream of dignitaries from all over the world who come to invite them. You can imagine how famous the Huo family is. Mr. Huo is the leader of the younger generation of the Huo family, with high talents. Absolutely, a little person like me can benefit a lot from listening to his lectures once a month by taking advantage of the convenient location. He really deserves this support."
"Okay, I've talked a lot, hurry up and serve tea. If you're slow, be careful the shopkeeper will deduct your wages!"
The waiter didn't dare to delay and hurriedly picked up the tea and went to the front hall.
As soon as the partition curtain was lifted, the din of the whole hall rushed in, piercing the eardrums.
"Hey, Mr. Fang! I didn't expect you to come this time? Your Majesty was the magistrate of Xuzhou at that time. Xuzhou is not close to here. If you want to catch up with today's lecture, you can't leave in twenty days?"
"Hahaha, if you can listen to Mr. Huo's class, what does it mean to set off twenty days early? The second Mr. Yang of the Shanghuai family is also here. The journey from his side is nearly a month. The second Mr. Yang is more sincere."
"There are also people from Changjing Master Feng's family. The one sitting next to Mr. Feng is his sister Feng Qian'er, right? Isn't the table next to them the King of Mobei who became famous at a young age in Beixiang?!"
"It's him. The one sitting at the same table wearing an azure brocade robe is the Prince of Dongpu. I heard that Princess Shuangshuang of Dongpu is also here. She is in the private room on the third floor."
"It's not surprising. I've heard that Princess Shuangshuang had told others that if she wanted to marry, she would marry the Huo family. She was not the only one who wanted to marry the Huo family? In the private room on the second floor, Nan Sang's most beloved little princess was also there. There is the daughter of the Prince of Beixiangshuo and Princess Darong Caiyuan..."
"It's weird, we have been waiting for so long today, why haven't we seen Mr. Huo show up yet? In the past, he always came on time at noon."
"Yes, why is it so late today? It's too late now... Is there something delayed?"
The warm atmosphere in the lobby became subtle, and everyone looked at each other in confusion.
Just when everyone was doubtful and hesitant, an inconspicuous carriage passed quietly on the street outside the door and quickly disappeared on the street.
After leaving the county town, voices came from inside the car.
"Sir, those people are here to wait for you. Are you really going to leave like this? Why don't you go see them?" Qingsong asked.
Sitting diagonally in front of him, a young man wears a jade-green gown with hidden patterns, and his dark hair is simply tied up with a jade-colored hairband. He has an elegant and refreshing temperament.
The gentleman has a straight face, raises his eyebrows and smiles slightly, just like the green lotus blooming on the top of the mountain covered with white snow, cool and shining.
His voice is also very nice, low and melodious, and his tone of voice is natural and calm when he speaks, and he is calm and gentle. "Everyone in the world is here for profit. They are not the same people, so there is no need to see him."
The boy looked towards the county seat and frowned in displeasure, "Those people are really weird. They know clearly that our Huo family will no longer participate in power disputes, but they still try their best to get involved... But the people who came this time There are too many, and the streets are almost filled with carriages from other places.”
The man's smile faded slightly, his brows furrowed, and a trace of worry flashed across his eyes, "It's true that there are too many."
Huo no longer participated in disputes since he quit the temple and retired here. He only gave lectures in the county once a month. He only discussed poems and articles with local literati. He only talked about music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and never touched on court affairs or current affairs.
In the past, there were dignitaries from various countries who came here to give lectures, but most of them came once or twice and found that they were not very interesting and then stopped showing up.
The past couple of months have been a bit abnormal.
The Huo family hides in a valley ten miles south of Shifang County.
The house was built and inscribed with a plaque - Huojiazhuang.
The total population of the Zhuangzhong clan, plus the servants serving them, is over one hundred.
There are many people, but the atmosphere is harmonious and harmonious.
It was night, and the lights were turned on in the study room of the old man of the Huo family. The lights stopped at midnight.
The study door opened, and the old man walked out first. The moonlight on the autumn night was soft and bright, illuminating the old man's silver hair.
Behind him followed a young man walking steadily, handsome and dignified, with a temperament like a green lotus.
"Heng'er, you are the best in literary talent and strategy among your peers in the clan, but you are indifferent by nature. My grandfather hopes that you will always be like this. No matter when, you should never forget your original intention and never lose your character."
The corridor next to the study is winding and winding. There is a lantern on the corridor every hundred steps, and the light is warm and yellow. The old man walks in front with his hands behind his back, his back straight, and he is full of character.
Huo Ziheng said respectfully, "My grandson, please remember your grandfather's teachings."
"Well, my grandfather is also worried about what you just mentioned. You have also seen the greeting cards from various countries in the study. They are all temptations. Although the Huo family has made an agreement with various countries in advance, they have agreed that the Huo family will go into seclusion. We will not disturb each other in the future. But now and then, the power of the royal families in various countries has changed, and the new emperor has succeeded. It is not impossible for them to break the agreement of their predecessors. I am afraid that the Huo family will be unstable. Tomorrow I will have a good time with your uncles Let’s discuss and find a safe way to get out of it as soon as possible.”
"Grandfather, although our Huo family is famous for our strategies, we are all literati. It is really difficult for us to deal with the fierce and wolf tactics of other countries. We should discuss matters sooner rather than later. My grandson believes that the safety of the clan members is the most important. As a last resort, we can The tribesmen dispersed and moved out, hiding their names in the market."
The old man said nothing, only nodded, his face full of worry.
After all, Heng'er is still too young.
The Huo family is a scholar who can stir up troubles in the world with his conspiracies.
But no matter how smart the mind is, no matter how sophisticated the strategy is, it can't stop the knife falling from above the head.
Since the countries are as capable as tigers and wolves, how can they allow their prey to escape?
The entire Huo family has more than a hundred people, and facing other countries is like facing a huge monster.
Confrontation is like a mantis blocking a cart.
The Huo family is running out of time and must find a way out as soon as possible.
The night is getting darker, and the lights in Huojiazhuang are extinguished one by one. Most of the clan members are still unaware of the approaching danger and are sleeping peacefully.
At midnight, a shrill cry broke Zhuangzi's tranquility.
The ground was covered in blood, and fire shot into the sky.
In the wooden pavilion facing the stream on the mountain behind Zhuangzi, a man who was sitting alone came out because he was worried and looked at the fire that reflected the red night sky. His eyes were about to burst, and he staggered towards Zhuangzi.
"grandfather--!"
"Dad! Mom——!"
