Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 70 What’s the use of fame for me?
Huo Xian was called to the Pepper Palace again, where he saw Wei Zifu and Princess Wei Chang.

As the eldest daughter of Liu Che and Wei Zifu, Princess Wei Chang was extremely favored, but unfortunately her first husband Cao Xiang died young.

Her second husband, Luan Da, was an alchemist. After his scam was exposed, he was beheaded by Emperor Che.

When Princess Wei Chang saw Huo Xian, she complained, "You can go to Bowang Garden, but you don't go to my place! Zong'er is your cousin after all, and we are brothers in arms. Why are you so partial to him?"

Huo Xiancai was not fooled and could not be weak in momentum, "Cousin, I have closed the door to visitors. If my uncle had not insisted that I go to Bowang Garden, I would not go! Look at Cao Zong, doesn't he just stay at home?"

Princess Wei Chang couldn't help but complain, "When did Zong'er stop going out? The mansion is bustling with people of high rank and noble rank, and you didn't even come over!"

Cao Zong was conferred the title of general, and many of the founding heroes were gone, after all, Cao Zong was a descendant of Cao Shen.

Wei Zifu smiled and said, "Xian'er is different. He can't go."

"Mother!" Princess Wei Chang was even more unhappy, "Zong'er is your real grandson!"

After complaining, Princess Wei Chang continued to complain, "Shan'er is just trying to be idle, and he is shameless with his beautiful wife. Zong'er has gone to the Northern Army now, and he can't rest no matter how big or small the matter is."

Huo Xian immediately straightened his attitude and said, "It will be difficult for Cao Zong to go out to fight in the future, unless it is a decisive battle. Don't worry, cousin, I won't take him to the war!"

Princess Wei Chang heaved a sigh of relief but also felt worried. "I heard Zong'er say something last time. The war is too dangerous! But Zong'er is the Marquis of Pingyang after all. How can he not fight?"

"He was made a general, but he was not allowed to fight." Huo Xian grabbed some raisins and ate them while saying, "He was not even allowed to ride in the Jianzhang Camp. He should stay in the Northern Army from now on."

Princess Wei Chang looked at Huo Xian and said jokingly, "You really have no manners! Let's see what you will do next time we go to court!"

Wei Zifu also said with a headache, "No matter how flamboyant your cousin is, his manners are still good! But Shan'er is not like that. At the beginning, she could sit upright, but now she would rather lie down than sit!"

Having said that, Wei Zifu still pushed the fruit plate of dried fruits in front of Huo Xian so that he could grab some and eat them.

Huo Xian sometimes wanted to change, but he couldn't.

At first he could sit upright, then he became slack. In a blink of an eye, he was lying sideways, leaning against the side, which was comfortable.

But Huo Xian insisted, "I am like this in private, not when I am in court!"

"Zong'er has started attending court, have you been there?" Princess Wei Chang said indignantly, "If the Marquis of Guanjun and the General of the Cavalry don't go to court, they will become a joke! I think you just don't have good manners, so as not to embarrass yourself!"

Huo Xian refused to admit it. "How many times has Cao Zongcai attended the imperial court? I go to the imperial court every year. When I was four or five years old, I was carried to the imperial court. When I grew up, I stood in front of His Majesty!"

Wei Zifu interrupted and said, "Yes, I still remember it. You were five years old that year, right? You couldn't hold it in anymore, and others were still discussing things, but you ran away!"

Huo Xian also laughed, children have privileges.

However, he never missed any grand court ceremonies, only two or three times a year at most. He only needed to stand there, and if he didn't cause any trouble he would get full marks.

Princess Wei Chang asked, "What have you been busy with these days?"

"I can't leave the palace now, what else can I do now?" Huo Xian complained, "It's nothing more than discussing the gains and losses of the last expedition with His Majesty, and making some weapons when I have nothing to do."

Princess Wei Chang urged, "Why don't you mention the Li family? He was defeated so miserably, you have to help!"

The princesses of the Western Han Dynasty had a great influence on the government. Princess Wei Chang's behavior was considered good, as she was just a little concerned.

"It's not a good idea to talk about the Li family's affairs now. His Majesty will be unhappy if anyone mentions it." Huo Xian said while lying on the floor, "Give me a pillow to cushion my pain."

Wei Zifu was helpless as she had such a lazy nephew. She couldn't beat him, nor could she bear to scold him.

Princess Wei Chang couldn't help but complain, "I don't know who you learned this from!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Wei Chang realized that she had made a mistake. Who else could Huo Xian learn this behavior from? It must be the emperor.

Huo Xian smiled and said, "You don't know how to enjoy your blessings! I have a few chairs in my house. I'll have someone send a few to my cousin when the time comes. She'll be comfortable sitting on them."

Princess Wei Chang immediately became interested. When it comes to enjoying life, everyone still thinks Huo Shan is the best.

Some people describe Huo Shan as a man who loves fine food and delicate minced meat.

Looking at Huo Shan, Princess Wei Chang said with some concern, "Shan'er, if this continues, your reputation will be ruined."

Huo Xian became curious, with a gossipy look on his face, "Cousin, how is my reputation?"

Seeing Huo Xian still gossiping, Princess Wei Chang was furious, "Reputation? You still have a reputation? In the past few years, people said that His Majesty favored you and took you with him wherever he went. They said you were the son of his cousin, so it was hard for others to say anything!"

It is a fact that the reason why Huo Xian received so much favor and resources was because he was the son of Huo Qubing.

Princess Wei Chang continued, "You have been in the palace for a long time, and after leaving the palace you don't like to interact with other ministers and dignitaries. Those people say that you are hypocritical and only know how to curry favor with His Majesty. When you were training troops before, many people without any status were waiting to see you make a fool of yourself." Huo Xian also knew that there were indeed people waiting to see him make a fool of himself, or they thought that he was also a "lucky minister."

"You won this time and captured Zuo Xian Wang." Princess Wei Chang looked at Huo Xian and said meaningfully, "Some people say that it was all the general's credit and you were able to reap the benefits. Even if they say that you were a brave young man, they also say that you got carried away and got into trouble with the general."

Wei Zifu then added, "Many people switched to your father-in-law's school back then, and now people outside are saying even worse things."

Huo Xian laughed, "Let those people say whatever they want. You guys just need to know whether my relationship with my uncle is good or not. If someone really belittles my uncle in front of me, I would save myself the trouble of observing those people."

Seeing how careless Huo Xian was, Wei Zifu and Princess Wei Chang didn't know what to say for a moment.

"What if you like beautiful women?" Princess Wei Chang said, "If I didn't know your preference, I would have recruited a few beautiful women. Now many powerful families are looking for such women, so let the dancers in the palace practice Chu dance more."

Huo Xian was almost drooling, "Cousin, which rich and powerful family's dancer Chu Wu is the best?"

Princess Wei Chang suppressed her laughter and said, "If you really go to the rich and powerful, I'm afraid you won't be able to get out. Let alone the thin-waisted, long-legged dancers, they will probably find a few young wives to accompany you. If you come back with a child like your cousin, we will be happy too!"

Wei Zifu coughed a few times and said, "Don't talk nonsense. It's not something you can do to cure diseases!"

Huo Shan’s life story was actually not that complicated. Huo Qubing just took a fancy to a maid from another family and took her back to be his concubine.

Huo Xian was puzzled as to why things seemed to be a little different when it came to him.

However, if Huo Shan suddenly brought back a child, Liu Che and Wei Zifu would be very happy.

Even someone as cautious in his words and actions as Huo Guang would not have blamed or complained, but would only have praised Huo Shan for his promising future.

"It doesn't matter if my reputation is a little bad. If I were like the general, His Majesty would not like me." Huo Xian said bluntly, "If I were like my uncle, His Majesty would definitely not allow me to enter the palace. It's a blessing to have a bad reputation. I am loyal and filial, and I can enjoy happiness for the rest of my life."

Although there has not yet been a thief like Sima who gave a vivid educational lesson to later emperors, the caution and suspicion of the superiors towards their subjects is an eternal fact.

Huo Xian continued, "Marquis Tiao had great achievements, was upright and had great talent, but he was still humiliated and starved to death in prison. I can't bear that kind of suffering. I don't have the courage of Marquis Tiao to go on a hunger strike."

The lesson of Zhou Yafu is right before our eyes, but it is not absolute.

Even though Wei Qing seemed to have been idle over the years, the emperor had not overly suspected him. It could even be said that he was constantly honored and favored, and the good stories between the monarch and his subjects were all around us.

"You think too much!" Princess Wei Chang said, "What about the army? Is it reasonable for the General of Cavalry to not lead the army?"

Huo Xian is not managing his army now, which is also a point of complaint for some people.

Huo Xian thought about it carefully and said, "Let's talk about this later. Sooner or later, we have to organize the army. I am already training the Jianzhang Camp Cavalry, and the Southern Army will have to take over sooner or later. I don't have anyone on hand, I will go find someone in a few days."

Wei Zifu looked at her daughter and warned her, "If you have someone, don't recommend him to Shan'er."

Princess Wei Chang's face suddenly turned ugly. After saying so much, in addition to caring about Huo Shan and Liu Ju, she also wanted to recommend a few people to Huo Shan.

Everyone knows that this Marquis Guanjun is a new noble. He is no longer just favored by the emperor as before, but has real military merits.

So even if Huo Xian seemed to have a bad reputation outside, that was the evaluation of some powerful people and the opinion of some scholars and officials.

More people still want to join Huo Xian's school and follow him to achieve great things.

Huo Xian was not so sensitive. "If my cousin really recommends talented people, I can take a look. But whether to use them or not is up to me."

Princess Wei Chang smiled happily and said quickly, "I know this truth. If they have the ability, then use them. If they don't have the ability, then they are useless!"

Wei Zifu said worriedly, "Xian'er, there is no need to do favors to your cousin. There are so many people watching you now. If you want talented people, you can always find them."

"If my cousin recommended him, he might be a talented person." Huo Xian said lazily, "Aunt, I just can't use my cousin's retainers. Don't worry about the rest."

Wei Zifu didn't say anything else. Huo Xian knew some things.

Although this child looks ostentatious and dissolute, he has been very smart since he was young.

In particular, he was very good at guessing the emperor's thoughts and was extremely sensible in doing things.

Even deep down, Wei Zifu didn't want Huo Shan to have the same character as General Wei Qing. Huo Shan had enough ability, so he just had to not cross the line.

Having a lot of minor ailments and a bad reputation is not a bad thing; that’s the champion that everyone likes!

As for Huo Xian, he naturally understood this principle, so he didn't have to worry about being more flamboyant in his actions.

(End of this chapter)