Hua Yun Jin's face was extremely contorted with shame. Finally, as Yan Zhao's figure disappeared into the Zhaoyuan Palace, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"My lord, you are bleeding again," Feng Jiu appeared before Hua Yun Jin.
Hua Yun Jin was bleeding with increasing frequency. Although he didn't know why, he knew it was not a good sign.
Hua Yun Jin shook his head. "It's nothing. Do not tell His Majesty. This is a crucial moment, and I do not want His Majesty to be distracted by my affairs."
Feng Jiu hesitated. Perhaps sensing his hesitation, Hua Yun Jin continued, "This is something carried from the mother body. It poses no fatal danger."
Feng Jiu nodded and disappeared without another word.
Hua Yun Jin gazed in the direction of Zhaoyuan Palace, his sleeves tightening slightly. He just needed a little more time to witness her unified and prosperous reign over the Desolate Marsh.
As he walked out of the imperial palace, Hua Yun Jin encountered a hurried servant from his estate.
"What is this haste?" Hua Yun Jin asked coldly.
The servant replied, "My lord, the Old Madam requests your immediate return to the estate."
Hua Yun Jin was slightly taken aback. His mother had never sent for him before. It must be something urgent.
With this thought, he inquired, "Does Mother have something important to discuss?"
The servant shook his head. "This subordinate does not know. However, shortly after you departed, an elderly man with white hair arrived at the estate."
An elderly man with white hair? Hua Yun Jin frowned. His mother rarely went out. Who could it be?
Upon returning to his estate, he was led by the head maidservant of the Old Madam to the Xuan Yi Garden in the back courtyard.
That was his study.
Entering the study, Hua Yun Jin's gaze immediately fell upon the white-haired elder seated at the place of honor next to the Old Madam.
The elder's eyes were exceptionally clear, even carrying a hint of sharpness.
This elder was no ordinary person.
Hua Yun Jin walked in and bowed slightly. "Mother, I have returned."
The Old Madam nodded, gesturing to the elder beside her. "Jin'er, pay your respects to the Hua Clan Leader."
Hua Yun Jin was startled. The Hua Clan Leader?
The elder, addressed as the Hua Clan Leader, waved his hand. "Old Madam, please do not flatter me. He is now the Prime Minister, second only to His Majesty. What need is there for this old Hua Clan Leader?"
Hua Yun Jin narrowed his eyes. Although he had come to the capital with his mother at a young age, he was not unfamiliar with the Hua Clan Leader.
It was this very man who, years ago, declared him to be carrying malevolent energy that would bring misfortune to the clan, and had banished him and his mother.
During those days of wandering, it was his mother who toiled tirelessly to raise him.
Now that he had achieved success, had this man come calling?
"Clan Leader, what are you saying? No matter what, he is a member of the Hua family, and that cannot be erased," the Old Madam Hua said with a smile.
The Hua Clan Leader stroked his white beard and looked meaningfully at Hua Yun Jin. "While that is true, what are Prime Minister's thoughts on the matter?"
His aura concealed, his anger unspoken – these were the experiences Hua Yun Jin had gained in his official capacity. He said calmly, "Clan Leader is overthinking. As long as I am a member of the Hua family, the Hua family is my clan."
Did this imply that if things turned sour, the Hua family would no longer be his clan?
The Hua Clan Leader's expression turned slightly displeased. However, thinking of what he was about to say, he suppressed it and slowly continued, "Indeed, being a Prime Minister is something ordinary people cannot attain."
"Clan Leader, I am very busy. If there is nothing else, this official must take his leave!" Hua Yun Jin said coldly.
The Hua Clan Leader's composure finally broke. His face contorted with extreme embarrassment. "Hua Yun Jin, although you are the powerful Prime Minister, do not forget that the blood of the Hua family flows through you. Every step you take is aided by the Hua family. Once..."
"Clan Leader..." Hua Yun Jin interrupted him coldly. "Clan Leader, you are getting old, and perhaps you forget many things. However, I am not muddled. I remember very clearly that it was you who declared I carried malevolent energy and would bring ill fortune to the Hua clan. Disregarding my young age, you drove me and my mother out. Clan Leader, have you forgotten those events?"
The Hua Clan Leader's face stiffened. The Old Madam Hua, upon hearing this, slowly said, "Jin'er, let the past be the past!"
Hua Yun Jin bowed respectfully. "Mother is absolutely right. I did not wish to bring this up, but the Clan Leader's words have forced me to."
The Hua Clan Leader's gaze turned cold. "Prime Minister, what do you mean by this?"
"Clan Leader, this Prime Minister has no intention of making things difficult for you, but you have brought it up time and time again," Hua Yun Jin stated impolitely.
The Hua Clan Leader's face darkened like charcoal. He chuckled coldly twice. "As expected, the all-powerful Prime Minister is truly exceptional. My visit here has truly been a joke."
With that, he stood up and made to leave.
"It was easy for the Clan Leader to come, but it may not be so easy to leave," Hua Yun Jin suddenly said.
The Hua Clan Leader paused, then sneered, "What? Are you going to detain me?"
"Yes and no..." Hua Yun Jin said softly, "Feng Jiu."
A figure appeared out of thin air. "My lord, Feng Jiu is here."
"Feng... Feng Yin..." the Hua Clan Leader exclaimed in surprise.
Feng Jiu heard this and sneered, "To know I am Feng Yin, Prime Minister Hua, your Hua family's Clan Leader is not simple."
Hua Yun Jin stated without reservation, "Indeed, he is not simple. I just don't know if he has come here to secure a livelihood for the Hua family, or to bid them a final farewell."
By the end, Hua Yun Jin's voice was as cold as ice.
The Hua Clan Leader trembled inexplicably in his heart. "Hua Yun Jin, I am the Hua Clan Leader. If you dare to do anything to me, the Hua family will not let you off."
Hua Yun Jin let out a low laugh. His initially pale complexion gained a touch of color with this smile. "That is only if you are still the Hua Clan Leader."
The Hua Clan Leader trembled all over. "Hua Yun Jin, what do you intend to do?"
At this moment, the Old Madam Hua stood up. "Jin'er, leave the rest to you. I am tired."
Hua Yun Jin turned and stepped forward to support the Old Madam Hua. "Mother, I will escort you back to your room."
The Old Madam Hua shook her head. "No need. You do what you must do. Mother will not stop you."
The Hua Clan Leader, hearing this, angrily exclaimed, "You are truly ungrateful! When Hua Da Lang died tragically outside the pass, you were pregnant. It was I who overruled all objections and took you in. Is this how you treat your benefactor?"
The Old Madam Hua looked at the Hua Clan Leader and said indifferently, "Benefactor? Has my son not already repaid it?"
The Hua Clan Leader was stunned. The Old Madam Hua sneered, "Every year, the gifts received by the Hua family. Do not tell me you were unaware they were sent from the Prime Minister's mansion? Do not tell me that when the Hua family descendants came to the capital, it was my son who took care of them, and you were unaware?"
The Hua Clan Leader was speechless. "I..."
"Mother, leave the remaining matters to me," Hua Yun Jin said.
The Old Madam Hua nodded. "Mother has full confidence in your actions."
After the Old Madam Hua left, Hua Yun Jin turned to look at the Hua Clan Leader and said coldly, "Now, can you tell this Prime Minister who sent you?"