Yang Hu cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Seeing the empty palace halls nearby, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, lifted his head, and strode forward.
These past few days, the emperor had certainly put Yang Hu through the wringer.
He deeply regretted his choice.
Had he known things would turn out like this, he would never have come to Luoyang!
He had thought Sima Zhao already lavished him with favor. Who could have imagined that this young emperor would outdo Sima Zhao?
He had no idea how to explain any of this to Sima Zhao and the others.
Was he supposed to say that the emperor had shamelessly latched onto him, and he could not shake him off no matter what?
Yang Hu had never met anyone like the emperor in his life. That excessive enthusiasm was enough to frighten off any minister. No wonder Sima Wang had abandoned even his post as General of the Guard and fled.
Turning at a junction in the paths inside the hall as he pondered these matters, Yang Hu sensed a wave of malice.
He looked up, and sure enough, the emperor was already standing before him, beaming.
"Uncle!!"
"What a coincidence! To think I would run into you here!"
Cao Mao stepped forward and seized Yang Hu's hand, as though afraid he would run away.
In just a few short days, Yang Hu had gone from Lord Yang to Uncle in Cao Mao's eyes.
Cao Mao had grounds for calling him that. According to him, although he and Sima Yue had not formally married, they were already husband and wife in fact.
Yang Hu was Sima Yue's own maternal uncle, Yang Huiyu's younger brother, so naturally, he ought to call him Uncle too!
Yang Hu wanted to deny it, yet could not.