Chapter 110

The steward was so emotional that even the palace-appointed matron behind him was discreetly observing, while several maidservants thought to themselves that the steward certainly knew how to ingratiate himself—he usually seemed so mild and unassuming, yet here he was putting on such a show before the new marquis.

The new marquis was someone they were all meeting for the first time, so why was the steward so overcome? No wonder he had managed to become steward in the first place.

Steward Su didn't care what the others present thought of him.

No one could understand what he felt. He had believed they would be separated by death, yet now they could meet again in life. He was barely holding back tears of joy.

Huo Jilin held the still-trembling steward by both arms. He had recognized Steward Su at first glance in front of the carriage, just as he'd instantly recognized Chen Jue.

A person's age could change, but not their eyes—especially someone like Steward Su, who had spent so many years with him day in and day out.

That was why he had called out "Steward Su."

Huo Jilin studied him carefully. Steward Su had grown much younger as well. Though in this era, people in their thirties or forties were already seen as middle-aged or old, Steward Su still looked exactly the way he remembered.

He wasn't one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but he was genuinely happy now.

This was the steward who'd been with him for decades. Ever since he'd come of age and left his grandfather's home, Steward Su had followed him, managing his household. Back then, his days had been packed, so he needed a steward who knew him through and through to help care for the household.

In his past life, before the accident, Steward Su had been in his sixties. Huo Jilin hadn't needed to take him along when he went to scatter Chen Jue's ashes, but maybe Steward Su had picked up on his low mood and, worried about him, insisted on coming along. And then the plane crashed...

Huo Jilin had been worried about him.

Now, seeing him right there, Huo Jilin finally felt at peace.

He took the steward by the arm and said, "From now on, consider this your home."

Steward Su wiped his tears with his sleeve and said, "I'll take care of you just like before—the family, the lady, and the young master."

Steward Su did not yet know that Chen Jue was also a time traveler, so he still bowed to Chen Jue as was proper.

Chen Jue reached out to steady him. "Steward Su, no need to be so formal. The marquis and I have just arrived and are unfamiliar with the affairs of the household, so I'll need you to help me run it, big and small."

Since Huo Jilin trusted him, Chen Jue felt a lot more at ease too.

On the way over, he'd been thinking about how to run the marquis's household.

He definitely couldn't run it like a hospital.

The way he ran the medicine workshop wouldn't work for a household either.

These people had all been bought with their indentures, gifted by the emperor.

Some of them might be the emperor's spies. He and Huo Jilin couldn't talk freely about modern ideas like they had in Pingshan Village.

Moreover, they needed to manage these people well and get them on their side.

Now, with a steward as trusted and familiar as Steward Su in charge, it would be much better.

Chen Jue had also quietly watched how the servants looked at the steward—they all seemed to respect him, so they'd listen to him.

Steward Su quickly clasped his hands together and said, "My lady, don't worry, I'll help you run the household well. Allow me to introduce the servants to you."

Steward Su still addressed Chen Jue as "my lady," because Chen Jue was now managing household affairs and needed the title of marchioness to have authority.

After that, Steward Su introduced each of the household servants to Chen Jue and Huo Jilin one by one, along with their duties. Before this, he had already learned about Huo Jilin's current family from Lord Liu, and knew of Huo Yu's existence, so wet nurses and other staff had already been arranged.

Still, Steward Su asked for their input at the end, to see if any adjustments were needed.

Including the staffing for the study.

"My lady, we have twenty-six servants now, gifted by His Majesty. Besides these twenty-six, we can buy more people if needed."

Steward Su said with a smile.

Of the emperor's gifts, only a few came from the palace; the rest were old household servants the emperor let stay.

It wasn't that they were disloyal, but they still needed their own bought people.

They needed their own people, people they could cultivate.

This was ancient times, not the modern world where you could hire and fire at will. Here, it was too closed off—people signed their lives away.

An indenture was a double-edged sword—you never knew who someone really served.

Especially the emperor's gifts—unless they messed up badly, you couldn't easily replace or sell them.

Even after a year, Steward Su still hadn't gotten used to buying and selling people.

When he first arrived in this world, he'd been a steward with an indenture. Luckily, in his past life with the Huo family, he'd always stuck with Huo Jilin, planning to stay with the Huos forever—which was, in a way, its own kind of servitude.

Otherwise, he really didn't know how he'd have made it through this year.

Huo Jilin left it up to Chen Jue. Chen Jue had no issues with the staffing. Everything Steward Su had set up made sense.

The arrangements were well made. Huo Yu was now thirteen months old, needing wet nurses and maids—all under indenture.

Besides the adults, there was also a young boy servant to be his playmate.

There were two carriage drivers for outings.

From inside the house to going out, everything was well covered with the current staff.

They could add more once new people were bought.

Chen Jue only had one request—he didn't need so many people hovering around him, and he didn't need anyone waiting on him at night.

He and Huo Jilin were both modern people; they weren't used to being waited on hand and foot, and they didn't want anyone bothering them when they rested.

Steward Su got it right away and smiled. "Don't worry."

Once Steward Su finished assigning duties, he sent everyone off.

After they'd all gone, Steward Su looked at Huo Jilin, tears welling up again.

"I knew you'd... you'd definitely come..."

Huo Jilin knew the word he'd swallowed was "alive." Right, Steward Su still didn't know Chen Jue was also from the modern world.

Huo Jilin smiled at Steward Su and said, "Steward Su, let me properly introduce you again. This is Doctor Chen—Doctor Chen from Zhonghai Hospital. My husband."

Steward Su froze.

He'd also thought Chen Jue looked familiar, but with all the excitement of seeing Huo Jilin, he hadn't had a chance to think about it.

Chen Jue's ancient-style clothes were a far cry from the small black-and-white photo on the urn.

Chen Jue's face was now wreathed in smiles. Once a person smiles, it makes a huge difference—like they've become a completely different person.

He really never would have guessed that this young husband was the one whose ashes Mr. Huo had personally scattered.

In his past life, Mr. Huo rarely talked about his feelings. His marriage to Miss Jiang had been sudden, and after the wedding, Mr. Huo's life didn't change much. Other than Miss Jiang moving in, nothing else changed. Mr. Huo still devoted most of his time to work. If Miss Jiang hadn't gotten pregnant, Steward Su would've doubted they were even a couple.

But even though he felt they weren't like a married couple, Steward Su never once thought Huo Jilin might be gay. After all, you couldn't tell from Huo Jilin's appearance—he was like a cold, emotionless machine. Steward Su even worried the man might end up single for life.

And now, not only was Huo Jilin not single, but he was telling him he was in love with Doctor Chen.

Steward Su wasn't stupid. One look at how Huo Jilin gazed at Chen Jue, and he could instantly tell the difference between love and indifference.

Huo Jilin had never once looked at Miss Jiang like that.

No wonder that when Doctor Chen died in his past life, he'd hired a feng shui expert and personally scattered his ashes all over the country.

He'd thought it was because Huo Jilin felt guilty toward Doctor Chen.

Now it all made sense. Steward Su, having worked half his life in the prestigious Huo household, had a high EQ.

He quickly sorted out the whole situation. He wouldn't ask about what he shouldn't, and he wouldn't say what he shouldn't.

He just smiled and clasped his hands toward Chen Jue again. "So you're Doctor Chen. Wonderful. You're alive, so Mr. Huo can rest easy now. You have no idea how devastated he was when you died!"

Chen Jue looked at Huo Jilin, who smiled back and said, "Chen Jue, this is my steward from my original family. He was on the plane with me back then."

So that was it. Chen Jue said to him, "Sorry for dragging you into this, Steward Su."

Steward Su quickly waved his hand. "Doctor Chen, don't say that. You're the one who got dragged into this."

Even though Miss Jiang and the child didn't make it, and Steward Su was deeply grieved, he also understood it wasn't Doctor Chen's fault. Doctor Chen had done everything he could. They all knew the child had issues and that Jiang Xinhe was in poor health, but none of them could talk her out of it.

What's more, Doctor Chen had been pushed down the stairs and killed by the Jiang family because of this. He was the one who'd been truly wronged.

Steward Su saw things clearly and knew right from wrong.

Although he was now inwardly wondering about Mr. Huo—when had Mr. Huo fallen for Doctor Chen? Had he loved him even back in his past life? And what about Miss Jiang?

She'd been pregnant with his child!

Huo Jilin seemed to read his thoughts and said calmly, "Steward Su, this is a new era now. We'll never see the people from the past again. So let me tell you the truth about what happened back then. Xinhe's child wasn't mine. She married me to give that child a home."

In his past life, he hadn't realized he loved Chen Jue, so he'd never said a word about it.

He'd also never told anyone that the child in Jiang Xinhe's womb wasn't his, because his marriage to Jiang Xinhe had been mutually beneficial. To keep up appearances, he'd kept it well hidden and helped Jiang Xinhe protect her child.

The Huo and Jiang families had been close for generations, and he considered Jiang Xinhe family.

Huo Jilin didn't know if the deceased Jiang Xinhe might also be alive in this world. He hadn't seen her, so he wouldn't speculate.

If possible, he hoped she'd survived, with a healthy body, and could marry someone she loved, without being separated by life and death.

When Steward Su heard this, everything finally clicked. All the things he couldn't make sense of before now made perfect sense.

He looked from Huo Jilin to Chen Jue, not knowing what to say about the two of them.

These two had been through so much. Doctor Chen had suffered the most.

Heaven really did play cruel tricks on people.

But good things come to those who wait. After all the twists and turns, these two were finally together, and they even had a kid.

This child—was he Mr. Huo's? Was he his biological kid?

Steward Su looked at the child sitting in Huo Jilin's arms, whose features resembled Huo Jilin's, and was overwhelmed with emotion, saying over and over, "So that's how it is... So that's how it is... Young master, can I hold you?"

Huo Yu saw him reaching out and twisted his little body to burrow into Huo Jilin's arms, refusing to let Steward Su hold him. But he poked his head out from Huo Jilin's embrace and flashed Steward Su a sweet smile—he was playing peek-a-boo with him. Steward Su's face visibly crinkled into a big smile.

"Good, good, so adorable. Just like you, sir, just like Doctor Chen. So much alike. Wonderful!"

Steward Su was so emotional he was rambling. Huo Jilin knew he needed time to digest all this, so he let him take it in slowly and said, "Uncle Su, we have a long road ahead. Let's take it one step at a time. With you here in this household, I feel at ease."

After deciding to come to the capital, it wasn't just Chen Jue who worried about how to manage the marquis's estate—he'd thought about it too. The estate was too big. Without a reliable person to manage it, it would be a hassle. Neither he nor Chen Jue had the temperament for handling household affairs.

He'd planned to start looking for Steward Su once they settled in, but unexpectedly, Steward Su was already waiting for him at home.

Huo Jilin glanced up at the sky this time. If there were gods, then this time they'd arranged things well.

Huo Yu, seeing that the adults had finally finished talking, pointed outside with his little hand. "Go, go, look..."

Steward Su smiled and said, "Right, right. Mr. Huo, Doctor Chen, let me show you around this home. It's pretty similar to the old Huo family estate."

The old Huo family estate referred to where Old Master Huo lived. Old Master Huo had settled in a princely mansion inside the Second Ring Road.

Though this courtyard couldn't compare to the luxury of the later Huo family estate, the scenery was nice and the grounds were big. The young master would have plenty of room to run around in the future.

"Alright, let's go check it out." Huo Jilin stood up, holding Huo Yu.

The Beijing General's Mansion covered about twenty mu of land—roughly three acres...

Chen Jue coughed lightly. Having lived in Pingshan Village for so long, he tended to measure everything in mu, not acres.

The Beijing General's Mansion was quite spacious—not as grand as Prince Gong's Mansion in Beijing, but not far off either.

It had front and back gardens, about eight courtyards, and a few small lakes.

Huo Yu was fascinated for a while, especially by the pond in the back garden. When Chen Jue scattered fish food, the orange, gold, and red koi fish scrambled to the surface, and he kept squealing with excitement.

After that, wherever he went, he'd take one look and then drag Huo Jilin back to the pond.

Chen Jue said, "No more feeding. If we feed them more, the fish will get too full."

Only then did Huo Yu agree to leave.

That evening, they all retired early. Since it was Huo Yu's first time here, Huo Jilin and Chen Jue still had him sleep with them, having set up a small bed beside their own.

Even though there was now a nursemaid to look after him, Huo Yu needed to transition gradually.

Exhausted from the journey, Chen Jue slept deeply. He only stirred when Huo Jilin got up. The lamps outside were already lit, and there was the soft sound of the steward moving about outside.

Huo Jilin said to him in a low voice, "Sleep a bit more. I'm going to the morning court."

Chen Jue murmured an acknowledgment. Right. Today he had to meet the emperor.

Since Huo Jilin had come to the capital, he had to attend the morning court.

Yesterday, Lord Liu had personally delivered the court robes and given him instructions on court etiquette.

It happened that Huo Jilin had never attended one before and hadn't watched many TV dramas, so he listened attentively.

Steward Su was even more professional than Huo Jilin in this regard. After Lord Liu left, Steward Su personally helped Huo Jilin try on the court robes and explained some matters of the court, having picked up plenty about court affairs while serving the former Lord Wang.

With the capable Steward Su around, Huo Jilin had no trouble attending the morning court.

Huo Jilin was a mature thirty-year-old at heart. Though he had a modern soul, he was by no means a reckless youth. He was quite shrewd—able to advance or retreat as the situation demanded, and would never fail to keep himself safe.

That was the real reason Chen Jue felt at ease.

So Chen Jue went back to sleep.

Huo Jilin picked up Huo Yu, skillfully helped him pee, then handed him to Chen Jue.

Huo Yu never opened his eyes the whole time, only letting out a sleepy whimper. Once in Chen Jue's arms, he wrapped his little hands around Chen Jue's neck and fell back asleep, breathing softly.

Huo Jilin watched the two of them curled up together and almost didn't want to go to court.

But he had to.

Huo Jilin tucked the blanket over them and went outside to change.

He had to put on the court robes—three inner layers and three outer ones.

By the time he washed his face, Huo Jilin was fully awake. At this hour on a normal day, he'd be up anyway. There wasn't much to do for fun here at night, so he went to bed early and could still get seven hours of sleep before court.

If this went on constantly, even an iron man would break down. Luckily, court sessions were held only once every five days.

If they had to hold court and bicker every day, nobody would get any work done.

When Huo Jilin arrived at the palace gate, he wasn't too early or too late—quite a few people were already waiting outside.

The weather in late October was already bone-chillingly cold. A thin layer of frost covered the ground, and every breath turned to white vapor in the early morning mist.

Colleagues he knew were chatting among themselves. When they saw Huo Jilin get down from his carriage, some nodded in greeting. They didn't know him, but they saw the Huo family plaque on the carriage and figured it out.

Huo Jilin didn't go over to them either.

Steward Su had told him some court gossip he'd picked up yesterday. The court was currently divided into two factions: the old-school officials led by Grand Tutor Liang Chengqi, and the other faction of new scholars and southern officials led by Li Chaochen.

Looking at these factions, it was clear the new emperor's power was still weak.

He didn't want to get involved in either faction.

The current emperor's intention, he figured, was also to keep him out of any faction—to make him an independent blade, a military general wholly loyal to him.

Though Huo Jilin wouldn't completely become his loyalist, at least on the surface he would appear to be.

In any era, self-reliance was the most important thing. To be his own faction, he needed his own strength.

Huo Jilin thought calmly—since he was here in this dynasty, he had to plan for the future.

Now he had Chen Jue and Huo Yu, and he needed to hold up a sky for the two of them.

Just as Huo Jilin was lost in thought, a man in a dark purple court robe approached him.

That color of official robe signified the rank of second-grade.