Chapter 67: A Thousand Thoughts of a Wise Man

"Zhaojun, we have distinguished guests at home!"

The arrival of Li Shuang and Hou Jing made Gao Huan feel as if he had been granted a great reprieve; he quickly invited both into the house.

"Helu Hun, isn't this an intrusion?"

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

"No intrusion, no intrusion. If you hadn't come, I would have slept on the street tonight."

Strictly speaking, the Lou family was a major household in this northern border region, and their dowry was indeed substantial; yet at this moment, there was nothing of value in the house, and even the broken bowls on the floor were made of coarse pottery.

Seeing this, Hou Jing couldn't help but complain.

"Helu Hun, you married a noble lady from the Lou family; how can your home be so poor?"

Gao Huan said something with deep meaning.

"In these chaotic times, having too much wealth is not necessarily a good thing!"

Just then, there was a commotion from the back room, and a young woman walked in.

"Why have you returned?"

Lou Zhaojun was in her early twenties, with bright eyes and white teeth; though she wore ordinary cloth clothes, her beauty could not be concealed. Standing together with Gao Huan, they were truly a pair of jade-like figures.

Gao Huan felt somewhat awkward, but after Lou Zhaojun glanced at the visitors, she did not continue to lose her temper; instead, she sounded somewhat reproachful.

"Helu Hun, why didn't you say earlier that guests were coming to the house?"

Gao Huan realized what had happened, rubbed his head, and laughed it off.

"I just forgot for a moment!"

"There's nothing good to serve at home; I'll have my older sister go buy some fine wine and dishes right away. You sit first."

Capable in the hall, capable in the kitchen.

Lou Zhaojun was the most vivid embodiment of this saying.

In Huai Shuo Town, where supplies were scarce, Lou Zhaojun was able to quickly procure a chicken, two jin of beef and mutton, three pots of wine, and some miscellaneous snacks.

In front of this wife, Gao Huan felt somewhat unable to hold his head high.

It was not because this wife was bad, but because this wife was too good.

Hearing that guests had arrived at home, Gao Huan's older sister Gao Loujin and younger sister Gao Leling also came to help.

Soon, a table of wine and food was set.

"A few dishes haven't been served yet; you talk first!"

Lou Zhaojun was a person who valued appearance; she was polite to Li Shuang but hardly paid any attention to Hou Jing, even showing some dislike.

Hou Jing, helpless, could only silently pick up food from the side.

"Speak up; what do you need me to do? I dare not speak for other places, but here in Huai Shuo, my name, Helu Hun, still carries weight."

Gao Huan, like a big brother of the Jianghu, his face flushed from drinking, began to make grand promises.

Li Shuang smiled and poured a cup of wine for Gao Huan.

"Does Helu Hun know that the Rouran people are moving south?"

"I know; I heard the people above are going crazy with worry!"

Seeing Gao Huan like this, Hou Jing couldn't help but ask:

"If the Rouran people come, aren't you worried?"

Gao Huan picked up a piece of beef, stuffed it into his mouth, took a swig of wine, and said carelessly:

"What is there for me to worry about? At worst, I'll go to Hengzhou and seek refuge with my father-in-law! Even if the old man doesn't care about me, he can't ignore his own daughter and grandson!"

"But what if you cannot leave?"

Gao Huan paused, his gaze shifting to Li Shuang.

"Brother Daye, what do you mean?"

"I'll tell you the truth: Prince of Southern Pacification Puluohan Kong Que is secretly plotting to surrender to the court; we are the envoys sent by Grand Commander Li Shen."

Hearing this, Gao Huan showed no surprise and said slowly:

"If the armies of the Liuzhen could surrender, they would have done so long ago; is Prince of Southern Pacification ignoring everyone else?"

The reason the Liuzhen fell into chaos was that the Luoyang court revealed its own weakness, and also because the Luoyang court was unwilling to provide more money and grain to the northern border.

The successive failures of Puluohan Kong Que and Wei Kegu in attacking Shuozhou added further hardship to the already impoverished Liuzhen armies.

If Puluohan Kong Que surrenders, he certainly will not bring everyone with him; he will only bring his own Puluohan faction and the tribes close to him.

The townspeople of Huai Shuo Town, who were already not favored by Puluohan Kong Que, would naturally not be within his consideration.

As a result, the townspeople of Huai Shuo would become the final cost.

Gao Huan pondered for a moment, then looked at Li Shuang.

"In that case, why do you seek me?"

"I won't hide it from Helu Hun: the Grand Commander does not trust this old fox Puluohan Kong Que; to force him to submit quickly, he wants to seize some leverage."

Upon hearing Li Shuang's words, Gao Huan, being as clever as he was, quickly realized the other party's intention.

"You want to capture the current Huai Shuo Town Commander, Puluohan Chang?"

Gao Huan considered the pros and cons, then finally asked:

"If I help you, what can you do for me?"

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

"As long as Helu Hun is willing, anyone whose name is written on this paper will eventually be able to go to Take Pingcheng."

Night fell; the room was dark and quiet.

Lou Zhaojun lay on the bed, hearing some movement outside the room.

Gao Huan, carrying a bedding roll, crept quietly into the room; he dared not get on the bed, only daring to make a bed on the floor.

It was already autumn, and the weather in Huai Shuo was cold.

Gao Huan sneezed, and finally, Lou Zhaojun on the bed stirred.

"Who are you trying to look pitiful for? Come up on the bed. If you catch a cold, won't your sisters blame me?"

Gao Huan secretly rejoiced and leaped onto the bed at once, ready to embrace his wife, but Lou Zhaojun pushed him away with a single shove.

【64】 "The young man named Da Ye Shuang who came during the day is quite handsome. Is he married?"

"That youth named Da Ye Shuang who came during the day is quite handsome; is he married?"

Gao Huan frowned slightly and asked:

"Zhaojun, what do you mean?"

"During the day, I saw my younger sister sneak glances at him several times."

Hearing this, Gao Huan could only give a bitter smile.

"He is the sworn brother of the Grand Governor Li Shen. Even if my sister has some beauty, he would not take a liking to her."

Hearing this, Lou Zhaojun turned around, her expression heavy with gravity.

"He Li Hun, he did not reveal his background. How do you know?"

"I heard it too. You know my circle of friends are very well-informed."

Hearing this, Lou Zhaojun became even more worried.

"He Li Hun, are you hiding something from me?"

"How could I? I, He Li Hun, would never deceive my own wife, even if I deceived everyone else!"

In the dark night, Lou Zhaojun felt a chill and pressed herself closer into Gao Huan's embrace.

Feeling the beauty in his arms, Gao Huan's heart felt much more at ease.

"He Li Hun, do not provoke that young man named Da Ye Shuang lightly. Even if you cannot become kin, do not become enemies!"

Hearing Lou Zhaojun say this, Gao Huan felt somewhat strange.

"You have only met him once. How can you have such a feeling?"

"Everyone in Huai Shuo Town knows what kind of person Hou Jing is. I heard that in recent years he has been very powerful in Heng Province and Si Province, yet he has done very few good deeds. A great villain like him, yet he is completely respectful toward that young man, as docile as a watchdog."

In the dark night, Lou Zhaojun leaned against Gao Huan's broad chest, filled with worry for her husband and for the future of this family.

"I can see that this is not due to that young man's power, which is why it is even more frightening!"