The Innocent Heart - Chapter 8

Huo Qubing did not wait for the young attendant outside the study to announce him but reached out and pushed the door open.

“Uncle, Brother-in-law Gongsun,” Huo Qubing walked in, closed the door behind him, and looked at the two young men seated across from each other in the study.

“Qubing…” The gentle-looking youth, Wei Qing, was the first to frown. “How are you so covered in dirt, and why is your face injured? Did you run into Chen Zhi from the Grand Princess Guan Tao’s family again?”

“Haha, did you win?” Unlike Wei Qing’s worried expression, Gongsun He laughed, his face devoid of concern, asking instead with great interest.

“Of course!” Seeing that the adults were not worried, Huo Qubing couldn’t help but feel pleased. Recalling how Chen Zhi and his group were howling on the ground after his beating, he still felt a rush of satisfaction.

I just wonder if that beggar, Guan Yueyao, has made it back to the manor yet…

“Zishu!” Wei Qing saw his friend’s demeanor and interrupted his laughter with disapproval: “Grand Princess Guan Tao holds noble status. She is both an Imperial Relative and a Royal Ally, having also contributed to the Emperor’s ascension. Now, due to Empress Chen, our relationship with her family is already tense. How can we cause trouble over a trivial matter at this time, burdening Big Sister and inviting criticism?”

Then, looking at his nephew, whom he both doted on and found troublesome, he continued, “Qubing, you too! What harm is there in bearing with him for a while? Come on, before the situation escalates, accompany me into the palace to appeal to the Emperor.”

“Zishu, you should return today. What you have spoken of requires careful consideration. Before a decision is reached, you must not act rashly!” he said, rising to his feet with a look that brooked no refusal.

Huo Qubing secretly glanced at his uncle. Seeing his stern expression, he knew that his usually mild-tempered uncle was genuinely angry this time. He dared not act willfully again and obediently followed his uncle out of the study.

The uncle and nephew had only walked a short distance from the study when they suddenly saw a procession of serving maids approaching, each carrying a low table laden with sumptuous food.

Leading the group was Wei Qing’s second older sister, Huo Qubing’s birth mother, Wei Shao’er.

“Where are you two going?” Wei Shao’er asked, looking completely perplexed. “I just ordered the kitchen to prepare food and wine. It’s rare for Brother-in-law Gongsun to visit today, so why are you suddenly leaving?”

Wei Qing looked at his somewhat naive second sister with a headache. He knew she was generally unsteady and flighty, unable to keep secrets.

Therefore, family members were usually reluctant to tell her anything important.

Today was no different. He merely gave a casual excuse: “I suddenly remembered an urgent matter and must make a trip to the palace. Don’t trouble yourself anymore; Zishu will be returning to his residence soon.”

Wei Shao’er nodded vaguely. Just as she was about to watch the uncle and nephew leave, she suddenly remembered something and quickly took two steps toward them, asking, “Will you be back for dinner then?”

“Probably not,” Wei Qing answered without turning his head. Leading his nephew, he hurried away, disappearing from Wei Shao’er’s sight within moments.

Having received her answer, Wei Shao’er no longer hesitated. She turned around and instructed her personal maid, Qing’e, with a look of delight: “Quickly, summon Chen Zhang back. Brother Qing and Qubing will be staying in the palace tonight!”

In contrast to Wei Shao’er’s joyous mood, Wei Qing was somber as he sat in the carriage.

“Uncle, why worry so much? If the Emperor knows I won by defeating greater numbers, he will only praise my courage and strategy. Besides, the lady in the Pepper Chamber has long had a strained relationship with His Majesty. It has been ages since His Majesty visited her. What is there to fear from the Chen family?”

Huo Qubing leaned against the carriage wall, his arms pillowing his head, speaking dismissively.

“A child should not presumptuously discuss state affairs like this! If you cause trouble with your tongue one day and implicate Lady Wei, what will you do?” Wei Qing glared at his nephew, then sternly instructed him: “When we meet His Majesty later, you are not allowed to speak nonsense. Just truthfully state the circumstances of your encounter with Chen Zhi and the others today, and don’t say a word more about anything else.”

“I know, I know. But why are you rushing so much, Uncle? If I face the Emperor looking like this, and am accused of ‘lack of court decorum,’ you’ll have to take the blame for me,” the latter half of his sentence carried a hint of childish cajolery.

Wei Qing had always loved his nephew like his own son. Hearing this tone, the anger in his heart had already dissipated by more than half.

I really can’t do anything with this nephew, Wei Qing sighed inwardly, but still gave him a vague explanation.

“It is better for you to go before His Majesty just as you are,” Wei Qing said, then saw his nephew shoot him a confused look.

Qubing was good in every respect. He possessed extraordinary talent in riding and archery. Although his temper was somewhat quick, he was also a child with an upright heart.

Looking at Huo Qubing, Wei Qing could not bring himself to explain the complexities of politics to him. He secretly hoped that his nephew could retain this purity, even if only for a little while longer.

Besides, wasn’t the Emperor fond of Qubing’s sincere and forthright Chizi Zhi Xin (a pure, childlike heart)?

Wei Qing thus convinced himself.

The Qi Li neighborhood, which was specially designated for imperial relatives, was not far from the Weiyang Palace, where the Emperor resided, much like the North Que Jia Di neighborhood where high-ranking officials and nobles lived.

It didn’t take long for the carriage to stop. Stepping out of the carriage, the towering Yellow Gate came into view.

Wei Qing was a close minister to the Emperor, Huo Qubing was personally favored by the Emperor, and the Wei family also had the currently favored Lady Wei. The guards at the palace gates dared not be negligent and quickly relayed Wei Qing’s request for an audience into the palace.

“Lord Wei, His Majesty summons you. Please follow me.”

After only a moment’s wait at the palace gate, an imperial attendant hurried out, greeting Wei Qing with a beaming smile.

“Eunuch Zheng, where is His Majesty currently?” Wei Qing asked, and under the cover of his wide sleeve, a gold ingot was silently slipped into the attendant’s hand.

Eunuch Zheng did not answer Wei Qing’s question. He weighed the gold in his sleeve, then turned and looked closely at Huo Qubing.

“Why is Young Master Qubing also in such a sorry state? I don’t know what happened today, but not long ago, Grand Princess Guan Tao entered the palace with her grandson. Without saying a word, she immediately started crying. His Majesty is still accompanying her in the Xuan Shi Hall.”

Having said that, he fell silent. The group proceeded in silence, walking up the steps of white marble toward the Xuan Shi Hall, as if the preceding conversation had never taken place.

After a long while, following the attendants’ announcement, Wei Qing finally led Huo Qubing into the Xuan Shi Hall. The moment the uncle and nephew stepped onto the platform, a very authoritative, elderly female voice rang out from above.

“You brazen Wei Qing, how dare you show yourself here! Where do you place the Chen family, and where do you place the Emperor?!” Without needing to look closely, Wei Qing knew that the only person in the entire court who dared to challenge him before the Emperor had even spoken was the Grand Princess Guan Tao.

Wei Qing did not hesitate. He walked to the center of the hall, took his nephew Huo Qubing’s hand, and knelt down. However, they ignored the Grand Princess Guan Tao’s interrogation and bowed their heads toward the reigning Emperor Liu Che.

“Reporting to His Majesty, your unworthy nephew, Huo Qubing, assaulted several people, including the grandson of the Marquis of Tangyi, on the street. Your subject knows that a nation cannot stand without law, and therefore specially brought Qubing to receive punishment. I beg Your Majesty to punish your subject for my lax discipline. I only hope Your Majesty will show leniency, given Qubing’s youth and ignorance.”

“Hmph! What a casually phrased ‘lax discipline.’ Wei Qing, you are very good at shirking responsibility.” Grand Princess Guan Tao was not swayed by Wei Qing’s approach. She coldly scoffed and mocked him again before Liu Che could even react.

As the daughter of Emperor Wen, the full sister of Emperor Jing, and the paternal aunt of the current Emperor, Grand Princess Guan Tao had dominated the political landscape of the Han Dynasty for decades, indulged by her mother, Empress Dowager Dou.

Although her daughter Chen Ajiao had been Empress for many years without bearing a child, causing her considerable anxiety, she had never once held in high regard Wei Zifu, who was of singing-girl origin.

So what if she gave birth to a child? It is merely a princess, not an Imperial Son. What kind of waves can she cause?

As for her imperial nephew, if it weren’t for her machinations that brought down Lady Li, he might not even be sitting on this throne.

Unfortunately, having been triumphant for so many years, she seemed unaware that the nephew who once obeyed her every command had gradually distanced himself from her without her noticing.

Though it is often said that one owes one’s success or failure to the same person, Liu Che was not Han Xin, and Grand Princess Guan Tao certainly did not possess the talent of Xiao He.

Having had a smooth life, Grand Princess Guan Tao did not know how to yield.

Like her daughter Ajiao, who resided in the deep palace, she was single-handedly and aggressively eroding the merits of her support and the marital affection with the Emperor that she had accumulated over the years.

The arrogance of the Chen family and the careful restraint of the Wei family were once again fully demonstrated before the young and ambitious monarch.

The scale in the heart of Liu Che, who had remained silent all this time, began to tip.

Unlike the mischievous and utterly untalented Chen Zhi of the Chen family, Huo Qubing had always been a deeply cherished junior in Liu Che’s eyes. He viewed Qubing as a rare military talent.

Liu Che still harbored the grand ambition of driving out the Xiongnu and expanding the territory. Huo Qubing clearly shared his vision and dreamed the same dream.

He had high hopes for this boy.

“Aunt, why be so angry? It is unavoidable for children to lose their sense of proportion when playing rough. Furthermore, minor bumps and bruises are simply unavoidable for boys in their daily lives.

You simply dote on Zhi’er too much, unable to bear him suffering even the slightest hardship. But in the future, I still hope he and Ah Xiang can work together to drive out the Xiongnu for me!”

Liu Che’s words choked the Grand Princess Guan Tao, who had been so aggressive moments before. Although she acted arrogantly, she was not foolish. She easily caught the implied meaning in Liu Che’s words.

The Emperor wanted to downplay the matter, confining it to mere roughhousing between children.

Thinking this, Grand Princess Guan Tao frowned unhappily. Countless thoughts raced through her mind as she instinctively began to weigh the pros and cons to decide her next course of action.