East Palace.

In the main hall.

Hu Fei and Prince Zhu Biao played more than ten games of military chess in a row, and Hu Fei defeated Zhu Biao with a crushing result in every game.

He would not deliberately flatter someone just to flatter him, and Zhu Biao also knew that he was not such a person, so facing such an ending, neither he nor Zhu Biao was surprised.

After finishing the chess game, Zhu Biao asked someone to make a pot of good tea and drank it with Hu Fei.

While drinking tea, Hu Fei had noticed that Zhu Biao at this time was completely different from Zhu Biao when he was playing chess, so he concluded that Zhu Biao was finally getting to the point.

Perhaps, that was the real reason why Zhu Biao wanted to see him.

"Since your wedding, you have been highly praised by your father again and again with your farm strategy, the corruption case in Dadu and military chess, which made your father think more and more of you."

"I'm afraid that the name Jiu'an Hou is already known to the whole world. There are more folk legends about you than even this palace. Do you have anything to say about this?"

Zhu Biao looked at Hu Fei while drinking tea, and asked seemingly casually.

"Is there any? The emperor is so complimentary."

"It's just a coincidence. When I did those things, I never thought about getting anything from them. I just felt that I should do it, so I did it. As for the other things, I never thought about it."

"No matter how many legends there are, they are just idle talk of ignorant people and cannot explain anything."

"Your Majesty, you are the Crown Prince of the East Palace and the future heir to the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, no one dares to talk about you in private? This is the difference."

"In the final analysis, this world belongs to my father and my brother, and I am just Ming Dynasty, a chess piece in the hands of your majesty and brother. Just like this military chess, how to make each step depends on

Only my father and brother can make the decision."

Hu Fei smiled and said slowly.

"Are you really not selfish?"

Zhu Biao looked at Hu Fei, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly asked directly.

"What does the selfishness that the emperor refers to specifically?"

Hu Fei smiled and asked lightly.

"You have obviously been telling everyone that you just want to be a free idler, not to become an official, not to be restrained, and just want to enjoy yourself in time."

"But for so long, you have stunned everyone time and time again, and you have become a blockbuster again and again. From being the number one dandy in the capital to now being the number one talent in the Ming Dynasty, the God of Poetry, the Marquis of Jiu'an, and the Prince Consort, you only

It took half a year.”

"Is this all an accident? Didn't you do it intentionally?"

Zhu Biao stared at Hu Fei closely and asked word for word.

After listening to Zhu Biao's question, Hu Fei couldn't help but laugh, laughing so hard that tears almost flowed out.

Seeing such a strange Hu Fei, Zhu Biao couldn't help but frown, wondering what Hu Fei was laughing about and why.

"Brother Huang finally spoke out what was in his heart. Thank you very much for not hiding it and asking these questions so straightforwardly."

"Someone once asked me the same question. It seems that what I do is not consistent with what I say. I always feel that I am deliberately trying to show off and try every means to attract everyone's attention and make myself more and more important."

After Hu Fei stopped laughing, he said calmly.

"Then how did you answer him?"

Zhu Biao looked at Hu Fei and asked seriously.

"I said I have to live."

Hu Fei slowly raised his head, looked at Zhu Biao, and suddenly became extremely serious.

After hearing Hu Fei's answer, Zhu Biao frowned and did not interrupt, waiting for Hu Fei to continue.

"Brother Imperial, you should understand how many people in the civil and military circles of the Manchu Dynasty want to bring down my father, and how many people want to accuse my father of treason, and the minister who conspired against him will definitely die!"

"As the son of the prime minister, if something happens to my father, I will be implicated, and in the end I will have no choice but to die."

"But why do I have to die? My father has never thought about betraying my father. Perhaps what he has done in the past has made people suspicious, but how can a person who sincerely rebels against my father openly without any scruples? Isn't that right?

Aren’t you seeking death?!”

"So I have to live, and if I want to live, I can only let the world know my abilities. I admit that those things that happened in the past, whether intentionally or unintentionally, I did have selfish motives."

"But what I'm asking for is not to be promoted to an official position, let alone any grand ambition, and I don't have any conspiracy. I just want to find a way to survive."

"If this is wrong, then the emperor will do whatever he wants to do with me without any complaints, but I will never regret it!"

Hu Fei looked at Zhu Biao and spoke word by word, his voice full of emotion.

After listening to Hu Fei's self-narration, Zhu Biao suddenly became silent. His eyes looking at Hu Fei were full of complicated expressions, as if countless emotions were arising deep in his heart in an instant.

He was moved by Hu Fei's unabashed confession, and he did not expect that Hu Fei could tell all his thoughts in front of him without any scruples.

At this moment, he suddenly understood Hu Fei's thoughts, as if he felt the same and understood everything.

"I believe you."

After a long time, Zhu Biao looked at Hu Fei and slowly said three words.

Although there are only three short words, these three words are worth a thousand words.

Hu Fei's expression stiffened for a moment, then he slowly stood up and bowed respectfully to Zhu Biao.

"Thank you, my dear brother!"

In fact, from the moment Zhu Biao asked the question without any scruples, he already knew that deep down in Zhu Biao's heart, he already believed him, but maybe even Zhu Biao himself didn't realize it.

Or to put it another way, Zhu Biao was more willing to believe Tang Bing, thinking that he had already determined that Hu Fei was the person who could help him keep the Ming Dynasty stable.

His father had Xu Da, Song Lian, Tang He, and Li Wenzhong. He hoped that Hu Fei could become such a person, so he had been trying every means to take Hu Fei into his own hands.

"Get up, there is no need for so many etiquette between you and me."

Zhu Biao raised his hand and said seriously.

Hu Fei agreed and stood up slowly.

"From now on, let Yun Wen and Seventeenth Brother go to the princess's house when they have time. If you have time, give them some guidance. Since you are their teacher, you should also contribute a little."

Zhu Biao looked at Hu Fei, suddenly changed the topic, and spoke slowly.

This sentence not only expressed his trust in Hu Fei, but also showed that he valued Hu Fei.

"My brother is teaching me a lesson, but don't be disappointed when the time comes. With my mediocre ability, I may mislead my disciples."

Hu Fei smiled bitterly and said helplessly.

"You are too humble. If you are considered mediocre, no one in the entire Ming Dynasty is qualified to be their teacher."

"They are still young, so there is no need to deliberately teach you any Tao. It is enough for them to learn a thing or two about your cleverness through their ears and eyes."

Zhu Biao laughed and said slowly.

In his eyes, Hu Fei's talents no longer need to prove anything. He only hopes that one day they can be as outstanding as Hu Fei.

"Now that the emperor has spoken, I can only be respectful rather than obey."

Hu Fei cupped his hands and answered seriously.

Afterwards, the two chatted for a while, and then Hu Fei left the military chess set, said goodbye to Zhu Biao, and left the palace.

When Hu Fei turned around and walked out of the hall, he and Zhu Biao both had a look of solemnity on their faces, and their respective thoughts emerged in their minds.

On the way back.

Hu Fei sat in the carriage and slowly took off his coat, trying to dry the cold sweat on his back.

He guessed that Zhu Biao had something on his mind, but he didn't expect that Zhu Biao would ask so straightforwardly. As expected, that old boy Hu Weiyong got it right. His rapid rise has attracted the attention of others.

However, he was not sure whether everyone except Prince Zhu Biao had noticed this.

But no matter what, he has no way out. Even if everyone doubts him, he must try his best to make everyone believe that no matter what, he will not be the person who will be disloyal to the Ming Dynasty in the future.

"Master, are you okay?"

Chundie, who was sitting aside, looked at Hu Fei, who looked solemn, and asked worriedly.

She had never seen the young master's face so solemn.

Hu Fei didn't answer, just shook his head gently. There are some things that you just know in your heart and can't be said out loud.

When Hu Fei returned to the princess mansion, he found that someone had been waiting for him to return.

The person who came was none other than the steward of Prince Yan's Mansion, Ge Yang...
Chapter completed!