Lou Yan said he wanted to take his wife to visit the mountains and rivers, so he dropped everything and took Qin Zhen out of the capital.
The two went to Lingjin Temple first and stayed there for a while. Before they could wait for Master Hui'an, they left Lingjin Temple and headed south again. Finally, they changed from land to water and followed the canal all the way south. The scenery along the way was picturesque.
The two of them were having so much fun that they didn't want to go home.
Just when Lou Yan was taking Qin Zhen to visit the mountains and rivers, the fourth prince Xiao Yao, who had been away from the capital for a long time, suddenly returned to the capital.
Now that the crown prince's position is vacant, the third prince has even become a shopkeeper and taken his wife to travel around the country. There is a shortage of manpower in the court, so that the fourth prince is reused by His Majesty as soon as he returns.
Although he was not officially crowned prince, the actual power in his hands was the same as that of a prince.
As time passed, the wind direction in the court changed again.
When the prince's accident first happened, they hurriedly gave the emperor some advice and asked him to make the third prince the prince. But now, the third prince has run away, and a fourth prince is waiting for him.
The fourth prince is a direct descendant. If we want to establish a prince, he is the most suitable person.
Looking at the importance the emperor now attaches to him, the courtiers gradually began to care.
As a result, the petitions for the canonization of Lou Yan as the crown prince turned into petitions for the appointment of Xiao Yao as the crown prince. There were even more petitions than before, filling the emperor's desk.
On this day, Xiao Chengye called Xiao Yao in front of him, pointed at the folders on the table, and said, "Take a look?"
Xiao Yao reached for the booklet and looked through it. After seeing the contents inside, he raised his eyebrows slightly, without much surprise on his face.
He put back the book in his hand, stared at the pile of books, and asked, "Are these all?"
Xiao Chengye nodded: "Both."
"Isn't this nonsense?" Xiao Yao laughed and said to Xiao Chengye, "My son is just a bastard who loves to eat, drink and have fun. How can he deserve the position of prince? These ministers are fooled by lard and don't want to think about it.
If you entrust me with such a heavy responsibility, can I afford it?"
Xiao Yao took a step back, looked at Xiao Chengye and said, "If I didn't feel sorry for my father, I wouldn't come back."
Xiao Chengye chuckled lightly: "I went out to play for a while and my heart went wild. I don't want to come back? That's not possible. If you don't come back, who will take care of my huge country?"
"The second brother is in poor health, so I won't bother him. But the third brother is in good health. With him here, father, are you still worried that no one will take over your job?" Xiao Yao said with a smile, "I am optimistic about the third brother.
"
"But your third brother has the same idea as you," Xiao Chengye said, "You have also seen it. Before you came back, he took his daughter-in-law to travel around the mountains and rivers, and she has not returned yet."
Xiao Chengye shook his head, sighed, and said, "When will I be able to relax with this old bone?"
Xiao Yao was silent for a moment and asked, "It's been almost a month since the third brother left, right?"
Xiao Chengye: "You brat, I promised you a month, but it's been almost two months and I still haven't come back."
Xiao Yao smiled: "I guess I'll be back soon, father, don't worry."
Xiao Chengye shook his head and waved his hand for Xiao Yao to leave.
As soon as Xiao Yao left, the smile on Xiao Chengye's face slowly disappeared.
He stared at the pile of memorials on the desk, his eyes growing colder.
Xiao Yao is no better than Lou Yan. He is the direct descendant of the empress. He has been running the court for many years and his influence is deeply entangled.
If the position of prince is really given to Xiao Yao, he may not be so obedient by then.
Xiao Chengye slapped his hand on the table and said angrily: "Xiao Jue, you idiot!"
If Xiao Jue had not repeatedly sought death, he would not have had to depose Xiao Jue as the crown prince, and there would be no need for him to be hesitant about the title of crown prince today.
———
Lou Yan and Qin Zhen returned to Beijing two months later.
This was the result of Xiao Chengye's imperial edict and two urgings.
The two kept a low profile and went straight back to the palace after returning to Beijing. If Lou Yan hadn't entered the palace to greet the emperor, others might not have known that they were back.
At the entrance of Qinzheng Palace, Xiao Yao and Lou Yan ran into each other.
Xiao Yao had a smile on his face and called out loudly: "Third brother, long time no see."
Lou Yan glanced at him with a dull expression and only nodded in response.
"Still so unkind," Xiao Yao laughed, "We are brothers after all, why don't you just say a few words to me?"
Lou Yan didn't say a word, just stared at him silently.
Xiao Yao raised his hand: "Okay, okay, if you don't want to say it, don't say it."
"Third brother is getting married, and I haven't sent you a gift yet." Xiao Yao took out a small box from his arms and handed it to Lou Yan, saying, "This is a gadget I got in Shu. It's not worth much.
Brother, let’s play with it.”
Lou Yan reached out to take it and said, "Thank you very much."
Xiao Yao smiled: "No need."
After a pause, he added: "After third brother goes back, say hello to the princess for me. If I have a chance, I'll have a drink with her again."
Lou Yan waved his hand with the small box and returned directly to the palace.
Xiao Yao stood there, watching Lou Yan leave, the smile on his face faded little by little.
His good third brother, who had ever taken him seriously when he first entered the court?
Who would have thought that a child born from a humble commoner woman could reach this stage.
Even the eldest brother fell into his hands in the end.
Xiao Yao lowered his head, sneered, and said to himself: He really underestimated his third brother back then.
On the other side, Lou Yan returned to the palace with Xiao Yao's gift.
Qin Zhen saw something in his hand and asked, "What?"
"Xiao Yao gave it to me as a wedding gift." Lou Yan looked at Qin Zhen's expression, "Want to see it?"
Qin Zhen looked away and said, "There's nothing interesting to see."
Lou Yan suddenly laughed, came over and hugged him, muttering: "Aren't you friends? Why, you don't even want to see the gift he gave me?"
Qin Zhen sneered: "Then take it over and let me take a look?"
Lou Yan immediately hugged him tightly: "No."
God knows how jealous he was when Qin Zhen and Xiao Yao got so close and the two met for drinks and chats every day.
Lou Yan has been eating that old vinegar until now, and the more it tastes, the more sour it becomes.
It was precisely because Qin Zhen saw this that she avoided Xiao Yao's gift to avoid touching this sensitive nerve.
As a result, he got better and became more reluctant.
Lou Yan hugged the person and said softly: "You can't accept gifts from other men in the future. I can give you whatever you want. Just ask me for it."
Qin Zhen rolled her eyes, stretched out her hand to push the person away, and asked, "He didn't say anything else?"
"He also said that he would meet you for a drink when he has time." Lou Yan said reluctantly.
Qin Zhen paused and then said: "In that case, let's do it tonight."
Lou Yan: "What?"
"I have something I want to talk to the Fourth Prince," Qin Zhen glanced at Lou Yan, "Go and invite the Fourth Prince, and say I'll have a drink with him."