The Innocent Heart - Chapter 45

After one last night of deceptive calm, the news of the Emperor’s intent to depose the Empress spread like wildfire through Chang’an the following day, becoming the talk of the city.

Because Guan Yueyao was in the military and lived close to the Wei family, those who couldn’t pry information out of Wei Qing turned their attention to her. Before she had returned to the barracks, Wei Qing had solemnly warned her: Do not say a word about this matter. Do not even offer your own opinion. Act as if you know nothing.

Guan Yueyao scratched her head. In truth, she knew nothing of the court’s inner workings. But as for her “opinion,” she certainly had one.

That evening, after finishing their daily training at the Wei estate, she and Huo Qubing shared a lavish dinner. With no one else around, the conversation inevitably drifted toward Empress Chen.

“You’re saying Empress Chen was His Majesty’s first wife, and they’ve known each other since childhood?” Guan Yueyao asked, looking at Huo Qubing. A surge of nameless anger rose within her.

Isn’t this just another story of a man using his wife’s family to climb to power, only to discard her once he has it?

Guan Yueyao slammed her hand on the table and hissed, “I didn’t think His Majesty was such a heartless man!”

The words had barely left her mouth when Huo Qubing lunged across the table, covering her mouth with his hand, his expression tense. “Is that something you can just say out loud?! It’s a good thing it’s only me here. If those words reached the Emperor’s ears, you’d die a thousand times over!”

Guan Yueyao frowned and pulled his hand away. “But isn’t it the truth? He treated her like a treasure when he loved her, and now that he doesn’t, he throws her away like a worn-out shoe. He gets all the benefits!”

Hearing Guan Yueyao disparage the Emperor—who was like both a teacher and a father to him—made Huo Qubing feel extremely uncomfortable. His tone grew impatient.

“Do you think politics is a game of ‘house’? That it’s only about love between men and women? A great man’s heart is set on the world; how could he be tied down by mere sentiment?” Sensing his tone was too harsh, he softened his voice toward the end.

But Guan Yueyao wasn’t paying attention to his tone. She looked at him with disappointment and countered, “So the wives of ‘great men’ deserve to be sacrificed and abandoned? Are they not living, breathing people with flesh, blood, thoughts, and feelings? If a man can’t even protect his own wife and children, what kind of ‘great man’ is he?”

Thinking of her own past and her mother’s fate, her eyes grew red, and her emotions boiled over. “Men really are untrustworthy. I hate adults like this! Their mouths are full of righteousness and ideals, but they spend their lives abandoning their families!” She practically roared the last sentence.

Huo Qubing looked at his friend’s tears and felt a wave of panic, causing him to miss the strange wording in her outburst. After a moment of silence, he naturally recalled the life story she had shared with him, and he suddenly understood why she was reacting so strongly.

He wanted to offer comfort, but when he looked up, he saw tears welling in her eyes—tears she was stubbornly trying to hold back. This sight made him feel flustered and irritable. Being young, he simply didn’t know how to handle such a situation.

“What are you yelling at me for? It’s not like I’m the one abandoning a wife and daughter!” he shouted back instinctively.

With those words, the atmosphere turned deathly silent. Neither said another word. After staring at each other in silence for a long time, they retreated to their respective rooms. The discussion had evolved into a cold war.

Over the next few days, every time Huo Qubing wanted to break the deadlock, the words died in his throat. Guan Yueyao seemed to be avoiding him on purpose, throwing herself even more fiercely into her military training.

The atmosphere was so bizarre that even Wei Qing noticed the friction.

“Qubing, what’s going on between you and Yueyao?” They used to be inseparable; now they wouldn’t even speak.

“It’s nothing. We had a fight a few days ago and haven’t made up yet,” Huo Qubing replied perfunctorily, acting as if he didn’t care.

“It’s natural for friends to have different opinions. Even the Sages said that a gentleman seeks harmony, not sameness. You and Yueyao grew up in different environments, so you’ll naturally see things from different angles. Yueyao is a good person; I hope your friendship lasts and you don’t drift apart over small things,” Wei Qing said earnestly.

He had watched Huo Qubing finally find a kindred spirit and didn’t want to see them part ways over a disagreement. But since Guan Yueyao was technically an “outsider,” he focused his counseling on Huo Qubing.

Huo Qubing knew this well. He had heard the Confucian saying many times at the Emperor’s side: “Three types of friends are beneficial: friends who are upright, friends who are sincere, and friends who are knowledgeable.”

In his mind, Guan Yueyao was certainly upright and sincere. As for “knowledgeable,” being from another “time,” she certainly had unique insights. Most importantly, Huo Qubing liked her. He was willing to swallow his pride to save the friendship. (Though the Han court was full of “male favorites,” Huo Qubing’s affection for her was purely one of mutual appreciation and shared spirit.)

“I understand, Uncle. I’ll talk to A-Yao,” Huo Qubing promised.

That night, to avoid Huo Qubing, Guan Yueyao stayed at the barracks until nearly curfew.

Truthfully, she wasn’t really angry at him anymore. The massive gap in their values was simply a product of the eras they were raised in. Besides, the deposition of an Empress was the Emperor’s business; what did it have to do with her?

In her naivety, she hadn’t realized that by being so close to the Wei family, she was already seen by the court, the Emperor, and even Wei Qing and Huo Qubing as a member of the “Wei Faction.” If Wei Zifu ever fell from favor, she would not be spared. She was wading through the river of power without the political awareness to match, carried by invisible currents toward the depths.

“Should I go make up with Qubing?” she wondered, dawdling on the path back to their courtyard. She wanted to reconcile, but a lingering awkwardness held her back.

“Is he still mad at me? I really shouldn’t have yelled at him,” she fretted, scratching her head.

But the path had to end. She finally stood before the courtyard gate. The warm yellow light of the lamps spilled out. Despite it being late autumn, the courtyard didn’t feel desolate. Golden leaves crunched underfoot. Not quite ready to face him, she lightened her steps, trying to be silent.

But as soon as she stepped inside, a familiar voice called out: “A-Yao, is that you?”

Huo Qubing ran out of the room toward her.

“I…” “You…”

They spoke at the same time. After an awkward pause, they both said: “You go first.”

Someone—it wasn’t clear who—let out a snicker, and then both of them burst into laughter, the tension finally shattering.

Back inside, they sat side by side. Guan Yueyao asked sheepishly, “Qubing, are you still mad? If you are, I’ll let you punch me twice to even it out.”

“When was I ever mad at you?” Huo Qubing raised an eyebrow, sounding genuinely confused.

“I yelled at you like that… you weren’t mad?” She looked at him in surprise. Seeing no anger in his eyes, she rubbed the back of her head and laughed. “If someone yelled at me like that, I would have swung a fist.”

“I yelled back, didn’t I? And I didn’t see any fists flying,” Huo Qubing teased.

“Well, you’re not ‘someone’ else!” she replied defensively, knowing he was poking fun at her.

“Exactly. To me, you aren’t ‘someone’ else either. Why would I hold a grudge over something so small?” Her words clearly pleased him, and he grinned.

They shared a smile, the rift completely healed.

“It’s so stupid to fight with a friend over someone else’s business,” Guan Yueyao said, frowning. “I still don’t agree with the Emperor’s way, and I don’t agree that a ‘great man’ can ignore his family for his ambitions. But since you’re my friend, I’ll tolerate it!”

She made a show of gritting her teeth and feigning a punch at his shoulder. “If you ever abandon a wife and daughter, then I’ll cut ties with you!”

“Then you’ll never have the chance,” Huo Qubing laughed, blocking her hand. “My only goal is to wipe out the Xiongnu. As for getting married and having kids? I’m not even considering it!”

The sounds of cheerful laughter rang out from the small courtyard once again, letting those who were secretly worried finally breathe a sigh of relief.