Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. In the early spring of the second year of the Western Han Festival, the sky over Chang'an was cloudy, and a gust of strong north wind blew, and the residual snow on the roof spread out like flying flotsam, and the cold was unexpectedly steep.

Outside the main hall of Weiyang Palace, the ministers put their hands together and stomped their feet in twos and threes, waiting for the court, and suddenly heard the palace officials shouting "retreat from the court".

"I retreated before I went to court." The ministers muttered under their breath.

At this time, Wei Xian, the aging prime minister, walked out of the main hall. The crowd outside was agitated, and several ministers leaned over and asked, "Prime Minister, why did you retreat from the court before you went to court?" ”

Wei Xian looked worried: "The general is seriously ill again. Your Majesty has set out to visit. He shook his head and sighed. He leaned against the door frame and put on his shoes, stomped his feet back and forth a few times, and muttered, "It's so cold." ”

Huo Guang, the general who leaned towards the government and the opposition, was seriously ill. Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xun, instructed the palace officials to immediately prepare Luan Yu to visit Huofu, and take care of the honor guard. Empress Huo was concerned about her father and wanted to go over together, but was stopped by the palace officials with inappropriate etiquette. Huo Guang's granddaughter, the Empress Dowager Shangguan, was sent to the palace early to serve the doctor, and also sent a few boxes of rare medicinal materials.

Emperor Luan Yu came out of Weiyang Palace before he galloped, and someone had already flown to Huo Mansion. Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian and her son Huo Yu, nephews Huo Shan, Huo Yun and others waited outside the door early to welcome the young emperor into the Huo family's mansion.

The magnificent Huo Mansion was unusually quiet, and the splendid and luxurious decorations between the lintels and corridors also looked sparse because no one took care of them, swaying boringly in the cold wind.

The entire mansion resembles a huge medical house, and the fragrance of medicinal herbs floats in the air. The housekeepers and maids who came and went in the courtyard were all in a hurry, and they did not panic because of the arrival of the emperor, but only stopped to give salutes when the emperor passed by.

Huo Xian and Huo Yu bowed and guided Liu Xun and the accompanying imperial historian Wei Xiang and Guanglu doctor Bingji to go to the inner room along the corridor.

Liu Xun looked solemn, lowered his head and walked forward.

Guanglu Doctor Bingji was a frequent visitor to the Huo Clan's mansion, and he followed the emperor closely, whispering from time to time to remind him to pay attention to the steps. Wei Xiangnai was a foreign official who entered the dynasty and did not have much intersection with Huo Mansion. He was a little curious, and quietly looked at the Huo family beside him as he walked.

Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian was dressed in plain clothes, with low eyebrows and lowered eyes, and her white round face was full of sadness, but it was difficult to hide the afterglow of the romance. The eldest son, Huo Yu, is in his thirties, not tall, and looks like a master of the six gods, while his nephews Huo Yun and Huo Shan seem to be absent-minded.

Liu Xun entered the house, Huo Yu took a few steps forward, bowed his waist and led the way. Turning the screen, there is a spacious inner bedroom, which looks a little dim because of the hanging curtains. Liu Xun paused for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the light in the room.

The furnishings in the house were very simple, with a few tents, a brazier, and a few lamps. The candlelight flickered, and the figures flickered.

Seeing that the emperor was coming, Huo Guang tried his best to stand up, Liu Xun hurriedly took two steps forward, attached himself and gently pressed him, and said, "The general doesn't have to be polite." ”

Looking at Huo Guang, who had a pale beard and a thin face on the sickbed, Liu Xun felt sad in his heart and burst into tears. Huo Yuxun sat on the side, looking sad, while Huo Xian couldn't help but sobbed in a low voice, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Liu asked about his condition, and then asked what kind of medicine he used, and Huo Yu replied in a low voice on the side. Liu Xun instructed the palace physicians who accompanied him to take whatever medicine the general needed, although it was taken from the palace.

Huo Guang reluctantly raised his head, and said in a weak voice: "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen." Then he closed his eyes slightly, took a few breaths, opened his eyes again, and glanced at the people around him. Shaoqing, showing a smile, whispered to Huo Yu: "You all stand down." ”

Huo Yu got up when he heard the sound, waved his hand, and brought everyone out. Huo Xian hesitated for a moment and followed. Wei Xiang and Bingji got up and were about to retreat, but Huo Guang motioned for them not to leave.

The room suddenly fell silent, Huo Guang closed his eyes again, and after a while, there was a soft snoring.

Liu Xun was stunned by Huo Guang's actions, and he felt uncomfortable up and down, and couldn't help but writhe a few times. He glanced at Bingji quietly, and Bingji bowed slightly, indicating that he didn't have to care.

Suddenly, Huo Guang shook violently, and then woke up. He looked around blankly, saw Liu Xun sitting beside him, thought for a while, and then understood what was going on, and was about to stand up, and was gently pressed by Liu Xun, so he apologized and said: "The old minister is rude, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive you." ”

Liu Xun smiled slightly and said with relief: "It's okay, the general's body is important." ”

Huo Guang was thoughtful and stared at Liu Xun with a smile. Liu Xun was overwhelmed by what he saw, leaned over and said, "The general has something to tell me."

Huo Guang's spirit seemed to be much better, his face was also a little ruddy, and he smiled when he heard this: "How dare the old minister tell Your Majesty." Saying that, he propped up his body and wanted to sit up, Liu Xun got up and gently helped him up, and Bingji quickly took a soft pillow and cushioned it under his neck.

Huo Guang twisted his shoulders slightly, leaning more comfortably. After such a move, his breathing became rapid again, and he calmed down after a while, he looked at Liu Xun and said with a smile: "Back then, Emperor Xiaozhao had no heirs, and the government and the opposition were afraid. His Majesty inherited the temple, made great efforts, the world was safe, and the ministers were enough to comfort the emperor and the people of the world. ”

Liu Xun arched his hand and said respectfully: "This is the merit of the general. ”

Bingji sat aside, and also said: "The great general Anzong Temple rules the world, and his merits are immeasurable. ”

Huo Guang turned his face to look at Bing Ji and said with a smile: "Bing Jun is also indispensable." Bingji bowed and didn't dare to talk.

The corners of Huo Guang's mouth twitched, and he seemed to be in deep thought, and only after a long time did he say slowly: "After the old minister was brought into the palace by his brother Huo Quai, he has been a courtier for more than 30 years as Emperor Xiaowu, assisted Emperor Xiaozhao for more than 10 years, accompanied him for six years, and after three dynasties, he did not dare to slack off for a day. If I am sick today, I am afraid that I will not be able to get up. After that, I couldn't help coughing again and again.

Bingji got up to help him stroke his back, but Huo Guang waved his hand to signal that it was not necessary.

When Liu Xun heard him say, "I'm sick today, I'm afraid I won't be able to get up", he couldn't help beating violently in his heart, and quietly glanced at Bingji.

Bingji looked at Huo Guang silently, his expression was melancholy, and he didn't pay attention to Liu Xun's eyes, so he didn't respond. Liu Xun hurriedly calmed down and comforted: "The general is highly respected, so he will naturally get the favor of God and will get better." ”

Huo Guang shook his head slightly: "I know my illness." In fact, the old minister was satisfied with the favor of the three dynasties. The Huo family began to get close to the Son of Heaven from the elder brother Huo Quai, and served the monarch with loyalty, and the old minister was fortunate to be the third duke, and the grace of heaven was extraordinary. So—"

Speaking of this, Huo Guang stopped, lowered his head and pondered for a while, then raised his head, his eyes suddenly lit up, and then dimmed again, his mood seemed to be a little low, and he said slowly: "So the old minister hopes to divide 3,000 households from his own fiefdom to reward his brother's grandson Huo Shan as a liehou, so as to worship his brother Huo Quai's enjoyment." ”

Liu Xun stared at Huo Guang's haggard face, thinking that he was still worried about the rise and fall of the family at this time, and couldn't help but feel emotional, so a warm smile appeared on his face, held his hand and said: "The Huo family is loyal, the general doesn't have to worry about the juniors, their titles and food will naturally match the merits of the Huo family." ”

After Huo Guang said these words, he was also tired, and leaned softly on the pillow.

Seeing this, Liu Xun leaned over and leaned close to his ear and said, "The general takes care of his body, I am still waiting for the general to deal with the government affairs." ”

Huo Guang smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty." ”

Liu Xun glanced at Wei Xiang, Wei Xiang understood, got up and went out, and called Huo Xian and the others who were waiting outside the door in. Liu Xun said a few words in front of Huo Guang before leaving the house.

After everyone in Huo Mansion followed, Liu Xun turned around and told them not to follow, go back to the house and take good care of the general, and only let Huo Yu lead the way. Everyone in Huofu also stopped, and sent the emperor off with a long bow, and when he got up again, the emperor had already walked away.

Huo Xian breathed a long sigh of relief, and looked at a young man with a long and delicate appearance beside him. She quietly looked around, and the crowd had dispersed, and no one paid attention to them, so she approached the young man and said softly, "Come with me." So he led him into a hut.

This handsome young man, surnamed Feng Mingyin Zidu, was a slave in the Huo Mansion, that is, the head of the slaves who supervised the housework.

Huo Xian pulled him into the house, his pink face flushed, and he didn't care about covering the door, so he threw himself into his arms, grabbed his neck with both hands, and was about to kiss him with his face up.

Feng Zidu was shocked, grabbed her arms with both hands, pushed her away with a little force, and said softly: "The emperor is still in the courtyard." ”

Huo Xian was not happy, and pouted: "What emperor is not an emperor." If it weren't for the support of the general, he would be just a little scoundrel who was unscrupulous. ”

Feng Zidu's face turned pale with fright when he heard this, he put his arm around Huo Xian, looked out, and hurriedly stretched out his foot and kicked the door shut.

Huo Xian smiled lightly, and the two hugged and kissed.