On this day, there was some excitement in the usually quiet Yizhibian Palace. Although it was not a big fight, there were many more carriages and horses than usual, and they were all officials who came to visit.

There was no other reason than that the Crown Prince of Chu, who had been training in the army, returned to Kyoto.

Xiao Jinghong walked out of the palace and looked at the guests arriving at the palace opposite. There was a burst of sarcasm in his heart. "There were not so many officials who came to visit me when I was assassinated. It is true that there are many discerning people."

Meng Duanzhang was silent on the side, he didn't know how to answer these words. Prince Zhao's palace was far away from the court, and even though Prince Zhao was His Majesty's younger brother, no one would cling to him without real power. The officials in the court were all extremely shrewd people.

Don’t you understand?

"When Jinghao comes back, I should go and check it out." Xiao Jinghong said.

Meng Duanzhang reminded him softly: "Your Majesty, you still need to pretend your injuries look more serious."

Xiao Jinghong smiled and tightened his gray velvet robe. "After so many days of cultivation, it's time for the dead to be fed. My little injury is not worth mentioning."

Xiao Jinghong walked towards the palace opposite, which he had not entered for a long time. Meng Duanzhang naturally followed behind.

In the back garden of the palace, a woman is holding an ancient book in her hand. The lady is still wearing a plain white velvet robe, but the ancient book has been changed. In a few days, she can memorize the contents of a book.

A maid named Xiao Nu was waiting on the side. When she saw the lady walk into the pavilion and sit down, putting down the ancient books, the little slave dared to step forward. The lady did not like to be disturbed when she was studying. Although the lady had a gentle temperament and did not punish her servants.

, she never even said a harsh word. But Xiaonu knew that Madam didn’t want to be pleased by anyone, especially those in the palace.

The little slave walked behind the lady and gently rubbed her temples to make her feel better.

The madam is a beautiful woman, and she is still beautiful now, let alone when she was young. In Xiaonu's eyes, the madam is like a person who walked out of a painting. Her face is like white jade, and the eyes under her eyebrows seem to be able to see through people's hearts at a glance.

The lips are light red, like a girl's, and the slim figure is slightly fat, but it does not ruin the overall posture.

Every aspect of the lady is as if the painter had thought for a long time before carefully sketching it out. Only in this way can such a beautiful woman be born.

"Madam, the Crown Prince is back in Beijing today. If Madam doesn't take a rest and see His Highness the Crown Prince later, I'm afraid His Highness will blame Xiao Nu for not taking good care of Madam." Xiao Nu said.

After hearing this, the lady finally closed the ancient book. "Tell me again the interesting things you told me a few days ago. You can write down even the most difficult poems in the book, but you have forgotten these interesting things."

Xiaonu smiled and said: "Madam, she is thinking about the interesting things in the book and forgets the interesting things in the world." As a maid, she knows that the most beloved thing of Madam is His Royal Highness. For this reason, she always pays attention to things outside the window that she doesn't want to care about.

Otherwise, there seems to be no topic between the two.

Madam is extremely smart and well-read, and can pick up any topic she thinks of. "These interesting things are not interesting at all. Hao'er has always felt that I was too boring in the palace all day long in Kyoto, and I didn't want him to worry.

"

The little slave smiled lightly, thinking that the madam really cared about His Highness. Suddenly, she felt that what she said was wrong. How could a mother not care about her children?

"However, that kid named Yu Zhi is quite interesting."

"Hmm, the young master of the Bai family identified Yu Zhi as the gangster who kidnapped him. This person is quite strange to say."

"Oh? What's the strange method?" the lady asked next.

Seeing Madam's interest, the little slave continued: "I heard that Yu Zhi is the nephew of Master Li. Master Li was a national scholar at that time. He was very knowledgeable and had many literary talents under his sect, but this nephew... is...

After entering Taoist Academy, he failed the college entrance examination for three consecutive years and stayed in Tiandao Mountain for six years. He was also called the shame of Taoist Academy. This has also damaged Master Li's reputation."

"Are you talking about Master Li or Li Qingru?" the lady asked in surprise.

Xiaonu responded: "Yes. Master Li has been serving as the superintendent of the Taoist Academy outside Kyoto these years."

"That's Qingru's nephew, he should be the son of an old friend. If I have the chance, I will meet Yu... and know." Since her own child died at birth more than ten years ago, she has had many thoughts about her old friend's nephew.

I felt some concern. Seeing that they were similar in age, I remembered that my children would be so handsome if they were fine.

"Mother."

From a distance, I heard a hearty voice coming from outside the courtyard wall. I saw a young man wearing black tiger-patterned armor appear from behind the rockery. The young man was extremely handsome, but there was a hint of sinisterness hidden deep in his beautiful eyes.

His skin is slightly dark, the result of years of training in the military camp.

He is Xiang Jinghao, the eldest son of the King of Chu.

Seeing the young man's figure, the lady's eyes became softer. "The army is very dangerous. If your father hadn't insisted that you go to the army to train, I would not have been willing." The lady held Xiang Jinghao's rough hands.

, said distressedly.

Xiang Jinghao smiled and consoled him: "Mom, look at me, I'm fine. Don't worry. Besides, how can your child be a coward? Only by making contributions to the country and opening up new territories can you show your true qualities as a man."

The madam nodded. She only hoped that Xiang Jinghao would be safe. "Now that you are back, stay in Kyoto for a while and let my mother take good care of you."

"I will stay until the spring of next year when I come back this time. His Majesty asked me to take over the reception of the Steppe Wolf Court's delegation. I think it will take some time." Xiang Jinghao said.

"You have to be more careful about these things. There are more dangers in Kyoto than in the army. Your Majesty has a purpose in asking you to start the reception. Don't let Your Majesty down." Madam reminded. The Great Chu Dynasty was open to politics and had no objection to women.

Discussing politics. When she was young, she had been in the court of Dachu, and she knew that the court was treacherous and dangerous. "Today, I heard the sound of many carriages and horses outside. They must be visiting you. You go and receive them first.

Come back in the evening and talk to mother about your time in the army,"

Xiang Jinghao said nonchalantly: "Those people thought they were visiting my father and asked them to wait. Anyway, my father will not come back. He will eventually leave if he gets tired of waiting."

"It's better to go and receive some reception."

When Xiang Jinghao walked to the front hall, there were already many officials waiting. He had met these people last year. Every time he came back, he would always come and praise him. Although it was hypocritical, it still sounded very good.

comfortable.

Xiang Jinghao called out names one by one. He had been familiar with the ways of being an official since he was a child. Even if he didn't know each other, as long as he greeted him with a smile, he would treat him like an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time.

Don’t reach out and hit the smiling person.

After seeing off the officials, big and small, one by one, they heard a notification coming from the door. The person coming outside was none other than Xiao Jinghong, the eldest son of Prince Zhao.

Xiang Jinghao was confused. He was a few years younger than Xiao Jinghong but did not have any close friendship with Xiao Jinghong. He didn't know what Xiao Jinghong wanted to do here.

"Brother Jinghao, you have just returned to the capital this year. You must have accumulated great military exploits and returned to the capital to receive a title." Xiao Jinghong's voice had already reached the front hall when he saw his figure.

Xiang Jinghao was stunned by the unwarranted praise, and then immediately responded: "Brother, you are so complimentary. The military is difficult, and military achievements are the result of the accumulation of flesh and blood and life of our compatriots. How dare I be awarded the title, brother?"

Xiao Jinghong's expression remained unchanged, and he thought in his heart: "Hypocritical." He said again: "Brother is humble." Isn't he also a hypocritical person.

The two of them had a short chat, and because they were both heirs of the prince's family, and they were close in age, they didn't have too many taboos.

"Jinghao, you are not in Kyoto. Do you know the situation in Kyoto?"

Xiang Jinghao smiled inwardly and thought: "Finally we get to the point."

"The situation in Kyoto? Brother, what do you mean by this?" Xiang Jinghao said.

Xiao Jinghong is not a fool. He is more proficient in using official language like this than Xiang Jinghao. Since Xiang Jinghao asked, he said: "Currently, there are only two situations in Kyoto. One is the visit of the envoy. Your Majesty has asked you to start this matter

Deal with it, you will know when the time comes. Secondly..."

Xiao Jinghong signaled Xiang Jinghao to retreat, and then lowered his voice and said: "The second is between our Crown Prince and the Third Prince."

Seeing Xiang Jinghao's frown, Xiao Jinghong said again: "You don't need to hide it from me. The King of Chu has always been in the same party with the third prince, and all the officials in the court know about it. Of course, Your Majesty also told this matter

See it in your eyes."

"What does brother mean?" Xiang Jinghao was not nervous and asked the question again.

Xiao Jinghong was neither impatient nor impatient. He took a sip of tea and said, "You may have just returned to Kyoto and don't know what is going on in the palace. Rumor has it that His Majesty is going to grant a marriage to the prince, and it is not difficult to guess that the woman is Prime Minister Li's wife."

A morning girl."

"Your Majesty is a wise Majesty. Balancing the forces between the two parties is the top priority. His Highness the Crown Prince has been weak for a long time, and the wings of the third prince are gradually becoming fuller. After all, they are father and son. Your Majesty will always help a group of His Royal Highnesses."

Xiang Jinghao thought this was funny. His Majesty and the Crown Prince have a deep love as father and son. Is it possible that the third prince is not His Majesty's heir?

These words were just what Xiang Jinghao said in his heart.

"With the help of the Prime Minister, the prince's position is stable. It will be difficult for the third prince to enter the East Palace."

Having said so much, Xiang Jinghao seemed to understand the meaning of this uninvited brother. "So brother, how will you deal with yourself when the time comes? Should you stand by His Highness the Crown Prince, or become the arm of His Highness the Third Prince."

Xiao Jinghong smiled slightly, "Brother, I came here to recommend myself. I hope brother Jinghao can introduce me to me."

Xiang Jinghao was confused, "My brother and the third prince are all relatives, so they should be more familiar with them than me. Why do you need me to introduce them?"

"Although the Third Prince and I are relatives, we still need an acquaintance to introduce us to such important matters," Xiao Jinghong said.

"Rogue bandits need to submit a name certificate to join the gang. Brother, when you go to see the third prince, you should always bring a gift so that my brother and I can gain some face."
Chapter completed!