Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 15 Huo Xian
When visiting relatives and friends, one must naturally visit his second uncle.

There are many controversies about Huo Guang in history. Some people think that he assisted the young emperor and was a key figure in promoting the "Zhaoxuan Restoration". However, others think that he monopolized government affairs and was no longer an ordinary powerful official.

Because the dethronement and enthronement of the two emperors was similar to the dethronement of Taijia by Yi Yin of the Shang Dynasty, powerful officials in later generations often referred to the dethronement and enthronement of emperors as "doing what Yi and Huo did."

Liu He, Marquis of Haihun, was one of them. He reigned for only 27 days before he was enthroned as emperor by Huo Guang and then deposed on charges of more than a thousand misconducts.

Like a thorn in the back, unlearned and incompetent, these idioms were also born because of Huo Guang.

When he died, his funeral was modeled after the old example of Prime Minister Xiao He. Emperor Xuan of Han considered him the minister ranked first among the eleven meritorious officials in the Kirin Pavilion. It is difficult to simply evaluate his merits and demerits throughout his life.

But one thing is certain, that is, Huo Guang’s wife was not virtuous.

His second wife, Huo Xian, made her youngest daughter, Huo Chengjun, the empress, and then bribed the imperial physician Chunyu Yan to poison Empress Xu three years after Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne.

Especially after Huo Guang's death, the Huo family became arrogant and indulgent, and even plotted a coup, which eventually led to the extermination of the Huo family.

When Huo Xian arrived at Huo Guang's residence, the Guanglu doctor stood at the door with a smile on his face. "Xian'er, I thought you couldn't come today."

"If I don't come again, it means I am too ignorant of etiquette." Huo Xian said self-deprecatingly, "After leaving the palace, I was busy going to the general's mansion. If I didn't come to my uncle's place, I don't know how people in the world would laugh at me."

Huo Xian not only went to Wei Qing's mansion first, but also went to Gongsun He's mansion. The third place he went to was Huo Guang's.

Huo Guang said nonchalantly, "They are all elders after all, there is no such thing as being rude."

It was difficult for Huo Guang to meet Wei Qing and Gongsun He because Wei Junru and others did not recognize him. Huo Guang was just Huo Qubing's half-brother. Huo Zhongru ran away after Huo Qubing was born, and the people of the Wei family were very angry.

Huo Guang's smile faded a little and he said, "Why don't you call someone?"

The three little girls standing behind Huo Guang stepped forward and said in a baby voice, "Hello, brother."

Huo Xian looked at them carefully, but didn't know which one was the mother-in-law of the future Emperor Zhao of Han.

But Huo Xian would not be rude. "Since you call me brother, you should be polite. I have prepared some silk for you. Make a few sets of clothes for each of you."

Just as I entered the mansion, a beautiful young woman came forward and said politely, "Shan'er is finally here!"

This is Huo Guang's second wife, Huo Xian, who rose from a maidservant to the head of the household. She is also a scheming woman. It's a pity that her scheming was not used in the right place, which brought disaster to the Huo family.

Huo Guang introduced, "My first wife died of illness before, and this is my second wife."

Huo Xian smiled and nodded, then bowed and said, "Hello, aunt."

"Xian'er should have come a long time ago." Huo Xian said while setting up the wine and food, "You were taken to the palace when you were little. I always worried about whether you were living well in the palace. Last time I heard that you were sick, your uncle and I were very worried. We asked witches to look for medicine everywhere. Fortunately, you are fine."

Huo Xian just smiled and said nothing. There was a reason why Huo Xian could be favored by the cautious Huo Guang. In addition to his appearance, he should also have a coaxing personality.

She knew that Huo Guang valued Huo Shan very much and that Huo Guang had always wanted to repay Huo Qubing's kindness, so she did her best in handling some matters at the Guanjun Marquis' Mansion and never dared to make any small moves.

Even though she might wish Huo Shan would die sooner in her heart, that would allow the emperor to transfer his nostalgia and preference for Huo Qubing to Huo Guang.

But on the surface, she didn't dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction, and all she showed was her concern for Huo Xian.

Huo Guang looked at his wife and said, "Okay, stop talking and be careful with your words!"

Huo Xian was not angry about this, and nodded with a smile. In front of Huo Guang, she still maintained enough "virtue". Now the most concerned thing is to give birth to a son, because Huo Guang already has three daughters and no son yet.

As long as he had a son, his position would naturally be secure. Huo Guang looked at Huo Xian with concern and asked, "We should visit more people these days, and visit some old friends more often."

Huo Xian understood what Huo Guang meant. "Don't worry, uncle. I will hold a banquet in the mansion after visiting my elders in two days. But it's hard to say how many people will come to the banquet."

Huo Xian, who was helping to arrange the banquet, said confidently, "Don't worry, Xian'er. If you host the banquet, there will definitely be a lot of guests. If you are worried about not being able to entertain well, I will go over and help arrange a few things."

Huo Xian smiled and asked, "Aunt, do you have time?"

Huo Guang said first, "Of course you should go there. Bring some servants from the mansion with you. You must not be disrespectful when hosting a banquet for friends and relatives. You have been away from home for a long time, and those servants may have lost some manners."

Huo Xian also agreed and said, "The Marquis's Mansion lacks some rules. I have seen it before. I can't say much about my elder brother's retainers. They are capable in doing things, but the housekeeper is a little bit lacking."

Huo Guang coughed and Huo Xian kept silent. This rule and measure were just right.

Now she is so cautious and obedient in front of Huo Guang, no wonder she was able to become a second wife from a dowry maid.

But this was only in front of Huo Guang. In front of people of lower status than herself, Huo Xian was extremely arrogant. Her ambitions were not limited to this.

My husband is only at the rank of two thousand stones, an official in charge of discussions. He has not yet become one of the Nine Ministers, nor has he been granted a title of nobility or appointed as a general.

Of course, this was far from enough in Huo Xian's opinion. Her dream was to become a marquis' wife, which was the real glory!

Huo Guang did not persuade Huo Xian to drink, but he could not help but explain some things, "Xian'er, I know that you are deeply loved by His Majesty. But sometimes, you should never take advantage of your favor and become arrogant."

Huo Xian did not think Huo Guang was nagging, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, uncle. I know what I am doing."

Huo Guang was still not satisfied and continued to persuade him, "Xian'er, His Majesty treats you very well and is extremely gracious. But you are a subject and His Majesty is the ruler. Do you really know the limits here?"

Huo Xian smiled and said, "Uncle, I have been with His Majesty for seven years, and I understand many things."

It is no wonder that Huo Guang was so cautious. He entered the officialdom because of Huo Qubing. During the past ten years or so in the palace, Huo Guang did not make any mistakes in his work.

If this is not enough to describe his caution, every time he entered the palace over the past decade, Huo Guang could exaggerate to the point of remembering how many steps he had taken, for fear that he would take too big or too small a step and make a mistake!
So sometimes when Huo Guang saw how Huo Shan interacted with the emperor, he felt terrified, thinking that his nephew was really being a little too presumptuous.

However, Huo Guang was not particularly worried about these things, mainly because Huo Shan was relatively young and children still had certain privileges.

Although this is what he said, Huo Guang still felt that he should give a reminder, lest Huo Xian become arrogant due to the favor in the future. If she really develops bad habits, it will be difficult to change them.

After hearing what Huo Xian said, Huo Guang couldn't help but nodded. He believed that Huo Xian was not lying, and this could be reflected in many aspects.

Let’s not talk about the fact that His Majesty only brought Huo Shan with him during the Fengshan ceremony. In fact, everyone understood that if Huo Shan did not have some skills and means, no matter how much the emperor loved Huo Shan, he would not bring him with him for the Fengshan ceremony.

This was the emperor's first Fengshan ceremony, and it was also the Han Dynasty's first Fengshan ceremony. The emperor spent three full years preparing for this grand event!

Huo Xian was considered a precocious boy. Even though he was only ten years old, he was much smarter than his peers.

This is also why he looks a little more stable and studious now, and no one thinks there is anything wrong with it.

At most, I feel that he has made some progress after surviving a near-death experience, but it’s not to say that he has become a completely different person!
It would be natural to be a happy guest and visit Huo Guang's mansion and chat about family matters.

Huo Xian's series of visits after leaving the palace continued. During the ten days he was able to leave the palace this time, he was busy maintaining a series of relationships, and it was difficult for him to do anything.

(End of this chapter)