Looking at Zhou Chen in front of him, who was intact, with calm eyes and a familiar smile, he suddenly felt like crying.
"Why are you not happy when you see me well and want to cry?"
Being teased by Zhou Chen, Ji Shiyi didn't care at all. Instead, he approached Zhou Chen and said softly: "I thought Master was imprisoned by His Majesty."
Zhou Chen smiled and said, "You don't have any confidence in me?"
"It's not that I have no confidence in Master. I have always believed in Master the most. I just have faith in Your Majesty..."
She didn't say anything further, but Zhou Chen understood what she meant.
Although this time he came for the sake of Qin Wang Qingjun, after all, there was no formal edict and he privately sent a large number of troops to Zhongzhou, which was a serious crime.
Even if he was trying to help the emperor this time, there was no guarantee that the emperor would be suspicious of him and stage a ruthless scene of repaying kindness with hatred. This was a normal operation for the king.
"Eleven, no matter when or what happens, you just need to believe in me. No one can hurt me."
With his current internal strength and physical fitness, in this ordinary world, it is impossible to fight one against a thousand. But even if he is surrounded by hundreds of well-trained and well-dressed soldiers, it may be difficult for him to win, but there is absolutely no problem in escaping.
of.
"I believe in Master."
Jian Shiyi was really relieved. To her, nothing mattered, as long as her master was fine.
"However, His Majesty did allow me to stay in the palace for a while. I can't refuse. I plan to stay for a few days and then return to Xizhou."
"Your Majesty agrees to master's return to Xizhou?"
"Otherwise, even though your Majesty is young, he also understands the situation. I want to guard Xizhou."
"That's the best thing."
Shiyi showed a happy smile. Rather than letting Zhou Chen stay in Zhongzhou, she actually wanted her master to return to Xizhou, because in her eyes, Zhongzhou was full of troubles and was far less peaceful than Xizhou City. She didn't want her master to stay here.
A place of chaos.
"Master, is this the palace you lived in before?"
"Well, I was raised by the late emperor since I was a child, so I live here just like the late emperor."
"It turns out that this is really the place where Master lived when he was a child. It's so nice."
Nao Shiyi was in a happy mood. She felt very happy to be able to see the palace where her master had lived since she was a child.
Suddenly, a group of palace maids passed by, but ignored the two of them, which surprised Jian Shiyi.
"They don't know us?"
"It looks like it is."
Nao Shiyi's eyes moved and he suddenly said: "Master, this time King Qin, except for a very few people, no one knows that King Xiao Nanchen is back, so we must remain anonymous in the palace."
When Zhou Chen heard this, he knew what she was planning, so he smiled and cooperated with her.
"It seems, right."
Jian Shiyi looked happy and asked cautiously: "Then, can I not call you master? If I call you, the secret will be revealed immediately."
Zhou Chen smiled and nodded: "That makes sense, then you can call me by my first name. No, calling me by my first name may arouse suspicion, so just call me Zhou Chen."
This is his real name. Although he cannot say it openly, there is no problem at all in using it as a pseudonym.
Nao Shiyi's expression was even more joyful, and he immediately shouted softly: "Zhou, Zhou, Chen."
At this moment, a chamberlain suddenly came over and said that the Queen Mother invited Zhou Chen to come over.
Zhou Chen frowned slightly, and then he understood what the Queen Mother meant, so he nodded, and then said to Shi Yi: "On the 11th, you go find the military advisor first."
After saying that, he followed the chamberlain to the Queen Mother's bedroom, but he did not see the Queen Mother. Instead, he saw a woman wearing monk's robes, long hair, and no makeup.
The moment he saw her, Zhou Chen knew who she was.
King Xiao Nanchen's childhood sweetheart, Gao Huaiyang, later in the plot married the Gao Huaiyang who was sworn to his eldest brother, King Ping Qin.
This Gao Huaiyang has feelings for King Xiao Nanchen, but neither the former King Xiao Nanchen nor the current Zhou Chen has any affection for her.
However, thinking that Gao Huaiyang was indeed a pitiful person, and that he was sworn to his eldest brother, King Ping Qin, Zhou Chen treated her more politely and sat down with her to chat.
After a long time, Zhou Chen left the Empress Dowager's bedroom and returned to the palace assigned to him by the emperor. As soon as he came back, before he entered the door, he saw a dazed Kao Shiyi standing outside the door.
"looking at what?"
Hearing the voice, Yu Shiyi hurriedly turned around. When he saw it was Zhou Chen, he didn't even bother to salute. Instead, he asked jealously.
"Master must be tired after meeting his old friend. Let's go to the palace and rest."
After saying that, he bowed and prepared to leave.
But Zhou Chen stopped her: "Where are you going?"
Yao Shiyi didn't even look back: "Get out of the palace."
"The palace gate has been closed long ago."
Jian Shiyi turned around, pursed his lips, and said, "If important ministers have important matters, they can come in and out."
Seeing her like this, Zhou Chen understood. It seemed that the past few years of getting along with each other had made Yang Shiyi have different feelings for him, so he behaved like this after knowing that he met Gao Huaiyang.
Being liked by an excellent girl is a pleasant thing, not to mention that this is the person he has been with and taught for a long time and has always treated her as his future wife.
"I have already sent someone to report to Cao Mansion. You can stay in the palace tonight."
"oh."
Although he pouted and was unhappy, Shiyi did not disobey Zhou Chen's order. Seeing Zhou Chen preparing to enter the palace, he even reminded him in a low voice.
"Master, His Majesty is in the palace."
Zhou Chen took Yang Shiyi into the palace and met the emperor Liu Hui. After saluting, Zhou Chen took Yang Shiyi and sat down opposite Liu Hui, while military advisor Xie Chong served and poured wine.
Because Liu Hui was happy, he drank some wine and became a little tipsy. When he saw Zhou Chen, he was even more happy and very affectionate.
"Uncle Emperor, you have made a great contribution this time, what do you want me to reward you with?"
Zhou Chen replied: "No need."
But Liu Hui seemed not to have heard it and asked tentatively: "Jewelry? Title? Or territory? Or marriage?"
As soon as she heard about the marriage, Shiyi's expression immediately became nervous, and she stared at Zhou Chen closely, fearing that Zhou Chen would tell some answer she didn't want to hear.
But Zhou Chen just smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty, I cannot have a marriage."
"Uncle Emperor, I know you have made a vow, but even if you cannot perform the wedding ceremony, as long as you are in love with each other, you can still stay together for life."
Military advisor Xie Chong, who had always had this idea, praised loudly: "Yes, Your Majesty should understand clearly what the use of wedding ceremony is. Love and intention are what matter."
Having said this, his eyes unconsciously glanced at Yu Shiyi. He was so old, had never experienced anything, and was always by Zhou Chen's side. How could he not see Yu Shiyi's little thoughts?
Seeing that Zhou Chen was silent, Liu Hui persuaded him again: "I don't want you to have no heirs. If you have any heirs, bring them to the palace and I will help you raise them myself. Let's see who dares to say anything."
Zhou Chen knew that Liu Hui might be somewhat sincere, and he himself didn't care about Zhou Shengchen's oath, but he really couldn't do such a thing by handing over his child to someone else to raise him.
"I appreciate your majesty's kindness, but there are ten adopted orphans in my palace, as well as eleven, so I don't have no successors."
How much can one trust an emperor's words, so Zhou Chen would naturally not be honest with him, not to mention that he had already discovered the hidden aura around him before entering the palace.
After dinner, Liu Hui invited Zhou Chen to play chess together. During the chess game, Xie Chong deliberately knocked over the utensils and made a sound when it fell to the ground, attracting the imperial guards outside. Liu Hui angrily shouted back the imperial guards, and then
With a pitiful look on his face, he told Zhou Chen his grievances.
Speaking later, Liu Yuan was mentioned again, and he also deliberately tested whether Zhou Chen would plead for mercy, but Zhou Chen naturally would not.
After getting a satisfactory answer, Liu Hui left.
"Military advisor, what you just did is unnecessary."
"Your Highness, I am also thinking about you."
Xie Chong's face was heavy. He had just deliberately tested it, just to let Zhou Chen understand that this palace was not a place where he could stay for a long time, and he had to be on guard at all times.
Of course Zhou Chen understood what he meant. He had already discovered those imperial guards, but he just didn't expose them.
Although he had just rescued Liu Hui, after all, he had hundreds of thousands of troops and could easily help Liu Hui bring order to the chaos. As the emperor, Liu Hui was young, but after all, he had been the emperor for many years and still had some influence in the city. Who could
I can't guarantee whether he will do something ungrateful.
"Zhongzhou is not a place to stay for a long time. We will return to Xizhou when it calms down a little bit."
He had no interest in the position of emperor, so naturally he did not want to stay in the capital of Zhongzhou for a long time.
As the saying goes, a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as your own doghouse.
Xizhou is his home in this world. Even though he has not lived there for long, he definitely has a deeper affection for the familiar Xizhou than Zhongzhou and has a greater sense of belonging.
"Your Highness is very true to what he said." Xie Chong agreed very much with Zhou Chen's words.
After Xie Chong left, Zhou Chen walked out of the dormitory alone, went to the prison in the palace, and met with Liu Yuan, who had been imprisoned.
When he returned to the palace, he found that Jian Shiyi had not fallen asleep yet, sitting alone at the door of the palace in a daze.
After seeing Zhou Chen return, she stood up and went to greet him.
"Master, it's so late, where have you been?"
"I went to meet an old friend. What about you, why are you still up so late?"
"Can't sleep."
"Something on your mind?"
Ji Shiyi glanced at Zhou Chen secretly. She did have something on her mind, and it was closely related to Zhou Chen.
"Master, I have also heard about the poisonous oath you swore. Are you really prepared not to marry and have children for the rest of your life?"
Zhou Chen smiled slightly and said: "Not necessarily. If I really meet someone who can make me give up everything and not be afraid of poisonous oaths, I might change my mind."
"ah?"
Shiyi looked shocked. The ancients valued oaths very much, especially in her eyes, Zhou Chen was a gentleman who kept his word, so she was very shocked when she heard Zhou Chen said that he might change his mind.
So she couldn't help but blurt out: "Is it the childhood sweetheart Gao girl who can make Master give up everything?"
"Gao Huaiyang?"
Zhou Chen shook his head and said: "You are overthinking it. She and I just knew each other. After so many years, if I hadn't seen her today, I might not have remembered her."
"oh."
Miao Shiyi felt a little happy in her heart. Ever since she learned about Gao Huaiyang's existence, she had been worried. Now that she heard Zhou Chen's words from his own words, her worries were relieved.
"Then what kind of person does Master like? What kind of person can make you, Master, give up everything?"
Zhou Chen pondered for a moment and gave an answer.
"The one I love, the one who loves me."
With this answer, Ji Shiyi couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about what kind of person the master said he loved would be...
Early the next morning, Zhou Chen saw Jiao Shiyi again and suddenly remembered something.
"Eleven, there was something I forgot to tell you yesterday. Maybe you have heard that King Guangling passed away the night before."
King Guangling Liu Zixing was the nominal fiancé of Chu Shiyi, but when she heard that Liu Zixing had passed away, there was no trace of sadness on her face.
"I heard what grandma said, but I don't know what happened?"
It was also because she didn't care about Liu Zixing, so even though she knew Liu Zixing was dead, she didn't think of asking what happened yesterday, and she didn't take it to heart at all.
Zhou Chen said: "King Guangling died for Beichen and His Majesty. I admire his behavior very much, but I just feel a little sorry for you..."
Jian Shiyi said hurriedly: "It doesn't matter, Master, the marriage contract between me and King Guangling was just a verbal contract, it was the intention of the family. If it were me, I would not be willing to get married at all."
"Okay, as long as you're not sad, that's fine."
Zhou Chen didn't say anything more on this topic. Instead, he changed the subject and said, "Tai Fu has resigned, and now King Guang Ling is gone. Your marriage to the royal family is gone. I'm worried that Tai Tu will do it for you."
The Niao family may allow you to marry a member of the royal family again, or let Nianfeng marry the royal family. After all, you are the only two unmarried people in your Wushuifang generation, so you and Nianfeng must be mentally prepared."
"Ah, Master, how could you guess it?"
Nao Shiyi's expression suddenly changed. King Guangling's unexpected death made her feel that she was liberated. But if the master was right, it would not be a good thing for her or her brother Nao Feng.
Zhou Chen didn't explain much, just asked her to pay attention.
As Zhou Chen expected, one day later, Guang Guang took the initiative to find the Queen Mother and the Emperor and talked about the marriage of Zhu Shiyi. Since King Guang Ling was gone, the marriage was naturally invalid.
However, in order for the Tao family to marry into the royal family, he asked for a marriage for his third son, Tao Feng, to Princess Xinghua.
In fact, Princess Xinghua was not a princess of the Liu family, but the niece of Queen Mother Qi Zhenzhen. She was brought into the palace to be raised and made a princess.
Although she is not of royal blood with the surname Liu, she is the title of princess after all, which can completely represent the marriage between the royal family and the Miao family.
Therefore, Nao Shiyi was liberated, but Nao Feng suffered a tragedy and became a tool for family marriage.
Cao Feng had already fallen in love with Hong Xiaoyu, and of course he was unwilling to agree, so after returning to Cao Mansion, he wanted to get his father Cao Guang to refuse the marriage. For this, he would rather be beaten than agree.
But facing his father who had come to the end of his life, in order to let his father rest in peace, he finally had no choice but to endure the grief and agree.
This is the helplessness of the children of ancient families. They have no control over their marriage.
But this is actually understandable. After all, everything you have is given by your family. As a member of the family, you cannot just want to get the benefits of the family but be unwilling to make sacrifices for the family. If no one in the family is willing to sacrifice
, this family is destined not to go far.
For a noble family like the Piao family, especially the legitimate sons and daughters, almost no one can make the decision on their own marriage.
Not only in ancient times, but also in modern times.
