Part 1 Chapter 10 Old Feelings

Yahwah Long said, "Dad! What's this?"

Yulai nodded and said, "As you can see, it's an invitation sent to us by old man Huyi, inviting us to attend a banquet at the Right Minister's Mansion three days from now."

Yaruo exclaimed impulsively, "Impossible! He must have ulterior motives, otherwise why would he invite us to his home?"

Hanlu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Yaxu, what do you think of this invitation?"

As soon as Grandfather spoke, everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on Yaxu, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Yaxu frowned and said, "Grandfather, as Yaruo said, it is well known that our Stark family and the Right Minister's faction are at odds. So I believe there must be a reason behind this invitation."

Yaruo frowned discontentedly, "Second brother, are you talking nonsense? It's common knowledge that we are not compatible with him, so what's the point of talking about this?"

Yaxu frowned again and said, "Yaruo, don't be impatient, I haven't finished yet. It's precisely because of this, that's why I say, if something happens when we attend his banquet and someone else is to blame, who would be the first to suspect?"

"Of course it would be the Right Minister," Yaruo naturally replied.

Yaxu said solemnly, "If we judge according to common sense, that would be correct. But if we think in another direction, he would be the least suspected."

Yaruo asked the question that everyone present was most curious about with wide eyes, "Why? Clearly, we have a feud with him, and if something happens during his banquet, why would he have the least suspicion?"

Yaxu said, "It's because Huyi and our feud is well-known throughout the country."

Yawen clapped his hands and sighed, "So that's why."

Yaxu looked at Yawen in surprise and said, "Yawen, do you understand what I mean?"

Yawen nodded and explained, "Second brother means that because we have a feud with him and he invited us to his banquet, anyone with a bit of brains would be able to deduce that he wouldn't dare to harm us during the banquet. Because if he did, it would be like declaring to the whole country that he is the culprit. Even if something really happened to us at that time, others would think it's a set-up, and he would instead become a sympathetic victim. Moreover, he could use this to eliminate hostile forces in one move, killing two birds with one stone."

Yaxu smiled and said, "I never thought that your wit, Yawen, would be no less than mine. One day, my younger brother may surpass me."

Yawen shyly said, "I just guessed by accident, don't say that, younger brother."

Yaxu smiled slightly and said nothing more.

So, everyone began to rack their brains, trying to guess what might happen at the banquet three days later.

Yalaitu, who had been keeping an eye on Yawen, noticed that he frowned as if he had a difficult problem, and couldn't help but ask, "Yawen, do you have any questions?"

Yawen shook his head and said, "I just can't understand why Hou Yiyi wants to put us in a life-or-death situation. I only know that our family has a grudge against him, but what kind of grudge is it that he repeatedly wants to harm us openly? Does Deyeno Wang not care about this situation? I really don't understand."

Yalaitu sighed and looked at Han Luo, who seemed to be lost in thought.

After a long time, Han Luo finally came back to his senses and sighed softly, "Yalaitu, you can tell the children. It's time for them to know. I'm a bit tired, so I'll go rest first."

After saying that, Han Luo left the study, and Yalaitu sighed lightly and began to recount an event from fifty years ago.

It turned out that fifty years ago, Han Luo, Hou Yi, and their grandmother, Einghui Bi, grew up together since childhood and had an extraordinary bond.

The three of them were originally neighbors and good friends, and they even swore brotherhood and sisterhood to each other. But as they grew older, their grandmother, Einghui Bi, who was already a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl, gradually caught the attention of Hou Yi with her beauty. The two of them quickly fell in love. At that time, Han Luo, who was not as gentle and considerate as Hou Yi, also had feelings for Einghui Bi, but as the eldest brother, he didn't dare to express his love for her. When Hou Yi and Einghui Bi became a couple, he couldn't bring himself to speak up, so Han Luo, who was heartbroken, decided to join the army and leave the two of them, avoiding seeing their love story and minimizing his heartbreak.

Three years later, Han Luo was awarded the title of Baron for his role in the Battle of Shaanxi Pass, and he returned home in glory.

He was warmly welcomed by his fellow villagers, including Hou Yi and Einghui Bi.

Seeing Han Luo's success, Hou Yi couldn't help but feel jealous. Just five days later, he left a letter and ran away, saying that he wanted to make a career for himself and asked Einghui Bi to wait for him for a year.

When Einghui Bi saw this letter, she was heartbroken. They were already engaged at that time, and their wedding was only three months away, but Hou Yi just left without considering her feelings.

Upon hearing about this, Han Luo, who had been hiding his feelings for Einghui Bi because of his relationship with Hou Yi, couldn't bear to see her so heartbroken. So he used his influence to search for Hou Yi. But after a year, not only did they not find any trace of Hou Yi, he also didn't return as promised.

Everyone thought that Hou Yi had met with misfortune.

Finally, a year and a half later, Han Luo gathered up his courage and proposed to Ying Hui.

During this year and a half, Han Luo comforted Ying Hui every day, and spared no effort in searching for Hou Yi. Under such circumstances, Ying Hui gradually forgot about Hou Yi and fell in love with Han Luo.

Therefore, when Han Luo proposed, Ying Hui took three days to consider before finally accepting. The two got married on April 18th.

They thought they would live happily ever after, but unfortunately, fate played a cruel joke.

Just four months after Han Luo and Ying Hui got married, Hou Yi returned to the village, carrying the reputation of being a disciple of the Water Demon King, one of the top ten masters of the world.

Through the villagers' explanation, he learned that he had come back four months too late, and Ying Hui had already married someone else.

She had married his sworn brother, Han Luo.

Upon hearing this news, Hou Yi was first surprised, then regretful, and finally, uncontrollable anger surged from his heart.

He couldn't believe that the woman he loved the most had betrayed him and married the person he trusted the most.

No! No! Ying Hui could marry anyone else, but she should not have married Han Luo.

For a moment, Hou Yi, who felt betrayed by the two people he loved the most, could no longer bear it and ran out of the village like a madman.

After a dusty journey, it took Hou Yi half a month to arrive at the Baron's Mansion in Yuan Shu City.

What he saw was the happy life of Han Luo and Ying Hui, and the hurt of betrayal immediately turned into towering anger.

Without thinking, Hou Yi immediately rushed in front of Han Luo and Ying Hui, who were about to go on a trip.

Seeing Hou Yi's sudden appearance, Han Luo and Ying Hui were clearly shocked.

Without hesitation, Ying Hui stepped forward and said, "Hou Yi, you're finally back. Where have you been all this time? We've been so worried about you, you know?"

Hu Yi's face turned cold, and he forcefully pushed Ying Hui away: "You despicable person, I don't need your fake kindness, I'm perfectly fine."

Caught off guard by Hu Yi's sudden push, Ying Hui let out a scream, fell backwards, and fainted on the steps in front of the door.

Seeing Ying Hui in such a state, Hu Yi couldn't help but regret it. He was about to go forward to check on her when a sharp gust of wind came towards him, and it was Han Luo.

After all, Han Luo was a soldier. Although he was very happy to see his younger brother whom he hadn't seen in a long time, he immediately realized the reality of the situation. Ying Hui was now his wife, and with Hu Yi's fierce expression, Han Luo didn't think he was here to congratulate them.

So he was on guard, but he didn't expect Hu Yi to attack Ying Hui without saying a word as soon as they met.

Seeing his beloved wife being knocked out by Hu Yi, Han Luo was furious and immediately rushed forward with a punch.

Although Hu Yi dodged, the guilt he felt towards Ying Hui because of his actions was dispelled by Han Luo's punch, and it ignited his anger and resentment towards Han Luo for taking away his wife.

He retaliated without showing any weakness, and in an instant, Han Luo and Hu Yi, who were originally sworn brothers, fought each other with all their might as if they were mortal enemies.

At that time, although Hu Yi was a disciple of the Water Demon King, his cultivation was shallow, and he was no match for Han Luo, who had gained battle experience on the battlefield.

Therefore, in less than three hundred moves, Hu Yi was completely defeated by Han Luo.

Fortunately, considering their brotherly relationship and the fact that they were the ones who had wronged Hu Yi in the first place, Han Luo didn't kill him, and spared Hu Yi's life.

Speaking of this, Yu Lai couldn't help but sigh: "But this is just the beginning of the tragedy. After my father called for a doctor to examine my mother, he found out that she had been pregnant for two months. But because of that fall, my eldest brother, your uncle, returned to the embrace of God before he could be born."

Then, Yu Lai said sadly: "Two years later, Hu Yi appeared again in front of my father and mother, challenging my father once again, and scheduled a duel outside the original Shu City in the Lost Forest three months later."

"At that time, your grandmother was already seven months pregnant with my father."

"Knowing that my father was going to duel with Hu Yi, caught between two men whom she deeply loved, my grandmother couldn't bear the torment anymore. Her mental and physical health deteriorated day by day, and finally, three days after giving birth to my father, she passed away."

Yu Lai's face showed a strange expression: "That day was exactly the day when my father and Hu Yi had agreed to duel."

Then Yu Lai continued as if in a dream: "When I grew up a little, the steward told me that it was the only time my father, who was exceptionally brave, didn't go to fulfill a duel challenge. Instead, he stayed by my mother's body for three days and nights, constantly saying incomprehensible words to others, until the steward forcibly took my weak father away."

And that time, according to the people who were waiting nearby to watch the decisive battle, two days after the battle, when the last person who was still observing the exhibition left, suddenly there was a loud thunder and a bright white light. When someone went to see, they realized that where Huiyi had stood before had turned into a large pit with a size of twenty meters and a depth of three meters, with the words "waste" left along the edge of the pit, and Huiyi was nowhere to be seen.

Yawen and his three brothers couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in their hearts.

Yulai continued, "Perhaps it was our mother's last consolation for the two men she loved the most."

"Unfortunately, ten years later, Huiyi appeared in front of us again, and this time as the savior of the Duke of Deya, serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of the Duchy."

"At that time, our father immediately challenged Huiyi to a duel, but he refused, citing that they were serving in the same court and that he wouldn't duel with a coward who had a record of escape. Our father was so angry that he almost resigned from office to seek a decisive victory, but he was dissuaded by Duke Deno."

"Since then, due to differences in political ideologies, the feud between our family and Huiyi has grown deeper, and Duke Deno has taken advantage of this situation to keep both our families in check, avoiding any one family from becoming too powerful."

After listening to Yawen, Yaxu, Yaruo, and Yawen, they didn't know what to say. The grudges of the older generation were so complicated!

Yulai reminded them, "Just keep these things in your heart after listening, don't talk about them casually, so as not to bring up unpleasant memories for your grandfather."

The four of them nodded unanimously.

Yaruo murmured, "The hatred of taking wives, the enmity of killing sons, the resentment of harming wives, each one is enough to make people risk their lives."

Yawen, upon hearing his third brother say this, was shaken in his heart. He thought of a loophole that could completely kill them.

Turning his head to look at Yaxu, he saw that Yaxu's face was also pale, staring at him. Yawen knew that both of them had realized the same thing.

Yaxu said bitterly, "Dad, do you think that Huiyi had such a powerful 'weapon' fifty years ago?"

"The rumors about King Deno wanting to annihilate us seem to be true. From the distribution of power within our army, it has been two months since I last set foot in my troops. A few days ago, Qiucong (Deputy General) secretly told me that King Deno had issued a series of personnel orders a month ago, appointing a large number of his confidants to important positions in our troops. As the commanding officer, I was completely unaware of this. It seems that he has taken advantage of the opportunity of our defeat, using the pretext of interrogation to isolate and confine us."

"Now he probably has complete control over our troops, which is why he is taking action. It seems that this banquet is not going to be a pleasant one." said Yulai, scanning the four brothers with his eyes.

Yaxu's face looked very grim. "If King Deno really dares to use the power of the Imperial Guard to wipe us out, how will he justify it to the public and the parliament?"

Yawen chimed in, "What if he has something that could be detrimental to us? Didn't we fail to uncover the spy network a few days ago? If this is King Deno's conspiracy, he could easily fabricate some letters of espionage and accuse us of being spies. Then we won't be able to defend ourselves."

Yulai's expression changed dramatically. Without hesitation, he quickly got up and rushed out. Yaxu and Yawen followed behind immediately, while Yahu and Yaruo, who were unaware of the situation, also followed.

When Yulai arrived at his room, Yawen and the others saw him sitting on a chair with an incredulous look on his face, holding a small black wooden box about fifty centimeters in size.

Yahua asked, "Dad, what's going on?"

Yulai opened the box, and everyone looked inside to see that it was empty. They didn't understand what Yulai meant.

Yulai said softly, "This box is used by me to hold letters for communication with my father-in-law."

Yaxu and Yawen both exclaimed, "What?"

Yaruo asked curiously, "What's so strange about a box used to hold letters? I have one too! Why are you making such a fuss?"

Yaxu smiled bitterly and said, "It's not about the box itself, but the letters inside. I was afraid that King Deno would fabricate evidence of our espionage. If these letters fall into his hands, the consequences would be disastrous."

Upon seeing Yaruo's puzzled expression, Yaxu explained further, "In our hearts, these letters are just ordinary correspondence to maintain our relationship. But in the eyes of the people in our country, they are letters of communication and collusion between the Stadak family, our family, and the enemy country, the Taileon Empire! After all, except for a few people, no one else knows that the second mistress of the Stadak family is the daughter of the Long family."

Now Yaruo realized the severity of the situation and stammered, "So what should we do?"

Yaxu was about to speak, but Yawen interrupted, "The most important thing now is to find out who stole the letters, and then figure out how to deal with the difficulties at the banquet three days later."

Yaxu nodded and said, "Yawen is right, that's the way to go. Dad, what do you think?"

Yalai felt disheartened and said, "Let's do as you say."

Yaxu nodded and was about to ask others to leave when Yalai hesitated and said, "What if I say we should leave the country?"

The four siblings were shocked. "Leave the country?" They had never thought about it before, but after careful consideration, they thought it was a good idea.

So all four of them nodded in agreement.

Seeing that they all agreed, Yalai sighed and said, "If we can safely get through this crisis, let's find a secluded place to live."

After saying that, he waved his hand, and Yahuafour left the room.

After discussing among themselves, since they were going to leave the country, they decided to focus on that goal. They would maintain normalcy and not even bother finding the traitor. They just needed to plan how to survive the crisis three days later, and even prepare for the worst case scenario, such as escaping the country by force if necessary.

Once all the plans were in place, all they could do was wait.