Chapter 67: The Wise Man

"Zhaojun, we have distinguished guests!"

Li Shuang and Hou Jing’s arrival lifted Gao Huan’s spirits, and he quickly ushered both men inside.

"He Liuhun, aren’t we intruding?"

Li Shuang felt slightly embarrassed, but Gao Huan hurriedly shook his head.

"Not at all, not at all—if you hadn’t come, I’d have slept on the street tonight."

Though Lou Shi was a major household in the northern frontier and her dowry had been substantial, the room held no valuable furniture; even the broken bowls on the floor were coarse earthenware.

Hou Jing couldn’t help but comment.

"He Liuhun, you married a noblewoman from the Lou family—how did your home end up this poor?"

Gao Huan spoke with deep meaning.

"In these chaotic times, being too rich isn’t necessarily a good thing!"

At that moment, a young woman emerged from the back room.

"Why are you back?"

Lou Zhaojun, barely in her twenties, had bright eyes and white teeth; though dressed in plain cloth, her beauty could not be hidden. Standing beside Gao Huan, they looked like a pair of jade figures.

Gao Huan felt awkward, but Lou Zhaojun glanced at the visitors and stopped her outburst, instead sounding reproachful.

"He Liuhun, guests are coming—why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

Gao Huan snapped to attention, rubbed his head, and laughed it off.

"I just forgot, that’s all!"

"We don’t have much to offer, so I’ll have my sister buy some good wine and dishes—you two sit tight."

She could handle the hall and the kitchen alike.

Lou Zhaojun embodied that saying perfectly.

In the scarce Wuzi of Huai Shuo town, she swiftly procured a chicken, two jin of beef and mutton, three flasks of wine, and some snacks.

Gao Huan felt somewhat inferior before his wife.

Not because she was bad—but because she was too good.

Hearing guests had come, Gao Huan’s sister Gao Loujin and sister Gao Leiling also came to help.

Soon, a full table of food and drink was laid out.

"A few more dishes are still coming—chat while you wait!"

Lou Zhaojun was a beauty-seeker: she treated Li Shuang with courtesy but barely acknowledged Hou Jing, even showing disdain.

Hou Jing, helpless, quietly picked at his food.

"Speak up—what do you need me to do? I can’t promise much elsewhere, but in Huai Shuo, my name still carries weight."

Gao Huan, flushed from drink, spoke like a Jianghu boss, making grand promises.

Li Shuang smiled and poured him another cup of wine.

"He Liuhun, have you heard the Rouran are marching south?"

"Of course—I hear the officials up in Luoyang are frantic!"

Watching Gao Huan’s demeanor, Hou Jing couldn’t help asking:

"The Rouran are coming—aren’t you worried?"

Gao Huan grabbed a piece of beef, stuffed it in his mouth, gulped down wine, and said carelessly:

"Why should I worry? If things turn bad, I’ll just head to Hengzhou and rely on my father-in-law. Even if he ignores me, he won’t abandon his daughter and grandson!"

"What if you can’t leave?"

Gao Huan froze, his gaze shifting to Li Shuang.

"Big Wild Brother, what do you mean?"

"I’ll be frank: General Po Liu Han Kong Que is plotting to surrender to the court. We are envoys sent by Grand Commander Li Shen."

Gao Huan didn’t react with surprise; he spoke slowly:

"If the Six Garrisons wanted to surrender, they’d have done so already. Is General Po Liu Han ignoring everyone else?"

Why were the Six Garrisons in chaos? Because the Luoyang court had revealed its weakness—and refused to send more qian liang to the northern frontier.

Po Liu Han Kong Que’s failed attacks on Shuozhou, alongside Wei Ke Gu’s, had further crippled the already impoverished Six Garrisons troops.

If Po Liu Han surrenders, he won’t bring everyone—he’ll take only his own Po Liu Han clan and allied tribes close to him.

The people of Huai Shuo were never favored by Po Liu Han Kong Que; they wouldn’t even be on his list.

Thus, the people of Huai Shuo would become the final sacrifice.

Gao Huan pondered, then looked at Li Shuang.

"Then why come to me?"

"To be honest, Grand Commander Li Shen doesn’t trust that old fox Po Liu Han. To force him into quick surrender, he wants leverage."

At this, clever as he was, Gao Huan immediately understood their intent.

"You want to kidnap the current Huai Shuo Garrison Commander, Po Liu Han Chang?"

Gao Huan weighed the risks and benefits, then asked:

"If I help you, what can you offer in return?"

Li Shuang handed Gao Huan a blank sheet of paper and smiled:

"As long as He Liuhun agrees, anyone whose name is written on this paper will be allowed to go to Pingcheng."

Night fell, the room dark and silent.

Lou Zhaojun lay on the bed, hearing faint movement outside.

Gao Huan carried his bedding bundle, slipped quietly in, dared not climb onto the bed, and settled for the floor.

It was autumn now; Huai Shuo was bitterly cold.

Gao Huan sneezed. On the bed, Lou Zhaojun finally stirred.

"Who are you trying to fool with this act? Get in bed—if you catch a chill, your sisters will blame me."

Gao Huan beamed and leapt onto the bed, reaching to embrace his wife—but she shoved him away.

"That young man who came today—Da Ye Shuang—his looks are quite fine. Is he married?"

Gao Huan frowned slightly.

"Zhaojun, what are you getting at?"

"Today, I saw your little sister sneak glances at him several times."

Hearing this, Gao Huan sighed bitterly.

"He’s the adopted younger brother of Grand Commander Li Shen. Even if your sister has some charm, he won’t look twice at her."

Lou Zhaojun turned over, her expression grave.

"He Liuhun—he didn’t reveal his background. How do you know that?"

"I heard it, of course. You know my circle of friends—they’re well-informed."

Lou Zhaojun grew even more anxious.

"He Liuhun, are you hiding something from me?"

"How could I? I’d never lie to my own wife!"

In the dark night, Lou Zhaojun felt a chill and pressed closer to Gao Huan.

Feeling his beloved in his arms, Gao Huan felt a deep sense of peace.

"He Liuhun, don’t provoke that young man, Da Ye Shuang—even if you can’t become family, don’t make him an enemy!"

Hearing this, Gao Huan felt strange.

"You’ve only met him once—how can you say that?"

"Everyone in Huai Shuo knows what Hou Jing is like. He’s been powerful in Hengzhou and Si Zhou lately, but he’s done nothing good. Yet such a vicious man treats that boy with utter deference—like a docile guard dog."

In the dark night, Lou Zhaojun rested against Gao Huan’s broad chest, filled with worry—for her husband, for the future of their home.

"I can tell—it’s not because of the boy’s power. That’s why it’s even more terrifying."