prynovel Chapter 10 Threat
Chapter 10 Threat
Inside the main hall of the Empress Dowager's bedroom, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but it could not conceal the suffocating oppression in the atmosphere.
"Nephew Huo Zhong pays his respects to the Empress Dowager!"
General Huo Zhong, clad in heavy armor and with a sword at his waist, bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager, who sat on the phoenix throne and looked much younger than himself.
At this moment, Huo Zhong's voice was still loud, but it carried a hint of deliberate humility, like a tiger that had put away its claws.
However, the Empress Dowager showed no interest in responding to him.
She simply sat there quietly, her gaze fixed intently on an exquisite bamboo cage on the table in front of her, as if the contents of that cage were far more important than the powerful general who held considerable military power before her.
Upon seeing this, Huo Zhong frowned slightly, but his brows quickly relaxed again.
When he took a deep breath and spoke again, his tone suddenly changed, becoming somewhat intimate and ingratiating: "Nephew Huo Zhong greets Aunt!"
At this moment, his face was full of smiles, and his expression was slightly obsequious, as if the imposing general from before was just everyone's illusion.
However, the Empress Dowager remained silent.
The Empress Dowager's gaze remained fixed on the bamboo cage, without even lifting her eyelids, as if Huo Zhong didn't exist at all!
Upon seeing this, Huo Zhong's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.
He followed the Empress Dowager's gaze to the bamboo cage on the table, and then, a sudden inspiration struck him, he spoke again:
"Is Auntie having a cricket fight?"
"Aunt, look how strong and healthy these crickets are!"
"They're fighting so fiercely in their cage!"
"This is a top-quality tribute from the Western Frontier; I heard it can defeat all the crickets in the capital!"
…………
As Huo Zhong spoke, he carefully observed the Empress Dowager's expression, trying to catch the slightest emotional fluctuation from her face.
The Empress Dowager has finally made a move!
She slowly raised her head and looked at Huo Zhong. However, after her gaze lingered on Huo Zhong's face for a moment, she lowered her head again to look at her own cricket!
At this moment, the Empress Dowager gave the impression that... her crickets in the cage were much closer to her than her nephew Huo Zhong!
Huo Zhong's face turned completely gloomy.
He was a great general who protected the country, commanded an army of 100,000, and held immense power in the court. How could he have ever been treated so coldly?
If it weren't for the fact that she was his aunt, if it weren't for the fact that she was the Empress Dowager, and if it weren't for the fact that many of his officers were husbands of the Empress Dowager's goddaughter, why would he have to be so humble and subservient?
but……
Huo Zhong glanced at the Empress Dowager's expression and finally decided to swallow his anger for the time being!
So, Huo Zhong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Aunt...would you like to see your youngest son?"
After thinking for a while, Huo Zhong tentatively spoke again.
"Bang!"
This time, the Empress Dowager reacted very strongly—the teacup she was holding suddenly fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
Then, Huo Zhong saw that the Empress Dowager was staring intently at him!
"What do you mean by this? Prince Su is in the western frontier; how can he possibly see me?"
After a long silence, the Empress Dowager finally spoke, unable to hide her longing, and asked in return.
Huo Zhong chuckled lightly upon seeing this.
Then, he moved closer to the Empress Dowager and deliberately lowered his voice, saying:
"Aunt, His Majesty is currently troubled by the matter of the Northern Xiongnu. At this moment, the court is in turmoil..."
"If that's the case, why doesn't Aunt summon Prince Su back to the capital and allow him to forge a blood oath with His Majesty?"
"In this way, your aunt can see your youngest son, and His Majesty will have an ally. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
…………
"A bond of blood?"
The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh and lightly tapped her fingers on the table.
"Huo Zhong, do you take me for a three-year-old child?"
"The Western Frontier is Prince Su's territory; he is safe there. But if he is summoned back to the capital... who will guarantee his safety?"
"Is it you? Or Your Majesty?"
"His Majesty wishes for Prince Su's untimely death so that he could reclaim Prince Su's fiefdom. As for you... I'm afraid you're also plotting to use or even control Prince Su, aren't you?"
…………
Huo Zhong's expression remained unchanged, and he continued to smile as he spoke:
"Auntie, you're overthinking it!"
"My nephew is utterly loyal to Daliang and has no other intentions whatsoever!"
"However... the Northern Xiongnu army is pressing in, and His Majesty is young and impetuous. If something were to happen to him, someone would have to defend this land of Daliang, wouldn't they?"
"His Highness Prince Su is your own flesh and blood, and also the late Emperor's most beloved son. He is the most suitable person to 'assist' Your Majesty!"
…………
Huo Zhong deliberately emphasized the word "assist".
"Assist?"
The Empress Dowager naturally understood the implied meaning in Huo Zhong's words.
Immediately, the Empress Dowager stood up abruptly.
"Huo Zhong, what do you want to do?" The Empress Dowager stared at Huo Zhong with eyes as sharp as lightning.
Huo Zhong remained completely calm in the face of this.
Because the Empress Dowager had risen, Huo Zhong also straightened up at that moment:
"Aunt, your nephew is only thinking of the fate of Daliang!"
"If Aunt finds my suggestion inappropriate, then I shall take my leave!"
"However... the Northern Xiongnu army is pressing in, and the Western Frontier is not peaceful either. His Highness Prince Su is there; if something were to happen to him..."
…………
"How dare you threaten me!"
The Empress Dowager roared angrily, her finger trembling as she pointed at Huo Zhong.
Huo Zhong bowed slightly, his tone still respectful, but with an undeniable firmness: "Nephew wouldn't dare! Nephew is merely stating the facts! If Aunt doesn't believe me, you can wait and see!"
Having said that, he didn't look at the Empress Dowager again, and turned to walk out of the hall.
"Huo Zhong!"
The Empress Dowager called out from behind him.
Huo Zhong stopped walking, but did not turn around.
"What...do you want me to do?"
The Empress Dowager's voice carried a hint of weariness and helplessness.
Huo Zhong's lips curled into a smug smile as he slowly turned around, his face regaining its respectful expression: "Aunt, you only need to issue an imperial edict summoning Prince Su back to the capital! I will take care of the rest."
The Empress Dowager stared intently at him, as if trying to see right through him.
After a long while, she slowly sat back on the phoenix chair, closed her eyes, and waved her hand: "You...go!"
"Nephew takes his leave."
Huo Zhong bowed respectfully, then turned and strode out of the Empress Dowager's bedchamber.
Silence returned to the hall once more.
a long time……
The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the exquisite bamboo cage on the table.
At this moment, the crickets in the cage were still fighting hard, chirping from time to time.