Hua Yi simply could not understand it. Wasn't taking office supposed to be a matter of mutual consent?
Why was he being forcibly recruited now??
If the soft approach failed, they would use force, was that it??
Hua Biao's face was full of bitterness. This son of his had been bullheaded since childhood. Back at the Imperial Academy, he had dared to write essays mocking Cao Shuang, and later Duke Xuanwen as well.
At the time, Hua Xin's lingering prestige had still carried weight, so neither Cao Shuang nor Sima Yi had pursued the matter.
It was precisely this bullheadedness that Lu Yu had admired when he married his daughter to him.
And Lu Yu had always held him back, refusing to let him enter office, partly to build up his son-in-law's reputation, but also, in truth, to protect him.
With that temperament, if he became an official, something disastrous would surely happen!
After Lu Yu and the others failed, Hua Yi had accepted no invitations from either side and returned straight home.
When the court ministers made their move, Hua Yi had also planned ahead for his father, allowing Hua Biao to claim the foremost credit.
But this did not mean Hua Yi intended to assist the emperor. In fact, Hua Biao had urged him many times to accompany him to an audience with the emperor, but the man simply refused.
His position was clear: he felt he must always stand on the same side as Lu Yu. As his son-in-law, having received his kindness, he must also share the responsibility.
Seeing his son's expression, Hua Biao inwardly cried that this was bad.
Sure enough, Hua Yi shot straight back, "Your Majesty summons me by force, but how do you know I lack the resolve to die on Mianshan?"