Yun Su was shocked and raised his eyebrows slightly, "Okay, I'll accompany you."
Xiao Zhuo gave him a complicated look, "This road is difficult. Are you sure you want to accompany me instead of joking?"
"Is it more difficult than me becoming a country boy in trouble? When I say I will accompany you, I mean I will accompany you. When you sit in that position, remember to find me a virtuous and dignified girl to marry me. I want to have a family full of children and grandchildren.
people."
Xiao Zhuo was amused by him and said loudly, "Okay, it's a deal."
"It's a deal."
Yun Miaomiao and Gu Fengqing heard their noise and looked back, and both of them smiled in unison.
The next day, Yun Miaomiao got up early. She still had the chicken soup from last night. She put the soaked millet into the pot and cooked it into porridge, then poured it out and let it cool.
Yun Su and Xiao Zhuo also changed their clothes and came out of the room. Their faces were tense without a trace of smile, and there were bruises visible to the naked eye. It was obvious that they had not slept well all night.
Yun Miaomiao and Gu Fengqing had a tacit understanding and no one said anything about it. After eating, Gu Fengqing had Qing Mo hook up the carriage, and they got in the carriage and walked towards the gate of the palace.
In the eighth year of Jinyun, the imperial examination of Tongzong changed!
In the past, when Xiao Zhuo took part in the joint examination and the provincial examination, he always put something on his face to change his appearance, and others couldn't help but come. Today, not only did his face have nothing on it, but he looked more delicate.
He was wearing a green robe, and his blue silk hair was tied up high. His whole body exuded majesty, making people unable to help but take a few more glances.
"Look, that person is the number one in the test. He's really good-looking."
"Yes, it is said that he is the direct disciple of the dean of Ruishan Academy."
"Get out of the way, get out of my way, young master." A familiar voice came, and Yun Miaomiao and Gu Fengqing couldn't help but look back.
Xu Shaoqing held a fan in his hand and looked a bit unruly, dressed in red and swaggering towards Yun Miaomiao.
Seeing this, Yun Su pulled Yun Miaomiao's sleeve and said, "Sister, Brother Xu is ranked third in the test. He is only two places behind Xiao Zhuo. He is really not a fool."
"Hey, hey, I'm just listening here. Do you think I'm deaf?" Xu Shaoqing held up a fan and was about to hit Yun Su's head. Yun Miaomiao grabbed his hand in advance, "What are you doing?"
Xu Shaoqing curled his lips and complained dissatisfiedly, "He scolded me first."
Xu Shaoqing actually got third place in the exam. Yun Miaomiao was quite surprised, "Are you really the third place, not another Xu Shaoqing with the same name?"
As soon as these words came out, Xu Shaoqing quit immediately. He raised his chin with contempt in his eyes, "There is no other person named Xu Shaoqing in the world. My ability is not something I just talk about casually. Yun Miaomiao, what are you doing now?"
Divorce Gu Fengqing and you still have a chance to marry me. But when I enter the Jinluan Palace and win the top prize, you won't have such a good chance."
Yun Miaomiao exclaimed, "My husband-in-law was already a Jinshi at the age of twelve, and the number one scholar at the age of fifteen."
Xu Shaoqing's face was livid with pain. He is sixteen this year.
Why are you just one year older?
Xu Shaoqing glared at Gu Fengqing at the side angrily, and said in a mocking tone, "I heard that you have severed ties with the Gu family?"
Gu Fengqing glanced at him, "The bloody storm in the Jinluan Palace is probably the most unforgettable scene for you. Xu Shaoqing, you should open your eyes and take a good look."
Yun Miaomiao looked sideways at Gu Fengqing. He was giving Xu Shaoqing some advice, "The palace door is open. You can go in quickly."
They could only wait outside the palace, and the rest was a battlefield for Xiao Zhuo alone.
Xiao Zhuo stood in the center of the palace gate, his eyes as bright as a torch. The last time he came out of here, the position of prince became someone else's. Today he entered here to get his position back.
The eunuch in front stood on the high steps, holding a white whisk in his hand, looking down at the people underground.
"Xuan, Jinke Jinshi came to the palace to meet~"
The long street was long, Xiao Zhuo lifted up his robe, stepped forward step by step, straightened his back and walked forward. As he walked forward, his heart became calmer and calmer.
"Are you the Huiyuan of this Spring Palace... Your Highness the Crown Prince?" The eunuch stood in front, wanting to show Xiao Zhuo the way. His flattering smile froze in place when he saw the other person's appearance.
Xu Shaoqing stood close and when he heard these words, he couldn't help but look at Xiao Zhuo. He saw the amazing aura on his body. What Gu Fengqing just said came to his mind. He suddenly understood that these guys are really...
Don't die.
Xu Shaoqing stepped forward and blocked Xiao Zhuo, "Eunuch Xu, the emperor has summoned us in the Jinluan Palace. It is our first time to come to the palace, so we have to trouble you to lead the way for us."
Eunuch Xu looked up at him, and the corners of his mouth twitched unavoidably, "Yes, Young Master Xu, please come this way."
If Xu Shaoqing comes here for the first time, Eunuch Xu will not believe it even if he beats himself to death. After today, the situation in the palace will probably change.
He didn't dare to offend the Xu family, so he could only lead the way obediently.
The others were not like Xiao Zhuo and Xu Shaoqing. They were very nervous. They didn't dare to raise their heads and look around. They looked in a daze. No one noticed the relationship between Xiao Zhuo, Xu Shaoqing and Xu Eunuch in front of them.
dialogue.
In the Jinluan Hall, hundreds of officials stood on both sides, and sitting in the middle was their sage and majestic emperor.
Xiao Zhuo stood at the door, not knowing what he was thinking on his face. Eunuch Xu sighed in his heart. His Highness the Crown Prince originally said that he was trapped in a mountain den by bandits and died of illness. When he was sent back, there was only an urn. The Emperor said nothing.
He was sent to the imperial mausoleum, and then turned around and gave birth to a new prince with the imperial concubine, and publicized the new prince vigorously. Now no one thought that His Highness the prince, who was already a handful of ashes, not only came back alive, but also came back from the dead.
I climbed all the way up the imperial examination.
Face to face confrontation with the emperor, there were many people from His Royal Highness in the court. Eunuch Xu was so uneasy that he did not dare to go to the emperor, so he could only stand obediently at the door.
"Jinke Jinshi has arrived!"
The emperor lazily opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent, "Xuan."
His voice echoed in the hall, majestic and deep.
Except for Xiao Zhuo and Xu Shaoqing, everyone else's faces turned pale, without any blood. This was the first time they had seen such a big scene, and the first time they had met Long Yan. They accidentally said the wrong thing.
Who is not afraid of losing his head?
Xiao Zhuo straightened his back, the invisible pressure suddenly changed, and his momentum became even more amazing. Eunuch Xu looked at Xiao Zhuo's back, and he was filled with emotions. The dragon's power on the prince's body was even more powerful than that of the emperor. This time, the emperor might be afraid
Can't stop him.
He glanced at Jinluan Palace and took a deep breath. After all, he was getting old and his heart became timid.
In the court, except for the emperor, everyone else looked forward to the top scholar of Jinke. Everyone looked outside. Xiao Zhuo was the champion this time and was the first to bear the brunt. Xu Shaoqing
She was walking on his right side with a calm expression.
Many people came close, and when they saw Xiao Zhuo's appearance, they all took a breath.
Naturally, other people also heard the sound of squeezing, thinking that the other party was good-looking, and looked over with interest. When that shocking face appeared in front of them, their whole bodies were as if struck by lightning.
"This~"
"how come?"
There were a lot of sighs, and the emperor couldn't help but glance at the person standing below. Just such a casual glance made him stand up from the dragon throne in a hurry.
"Zhuo'er?"
No, it's impossible. Xiao Zhuo is already dead, but he personally sent his ashes to the imperial mausoleum. How could he still be alive?
Xiao Zhuo stood close and saw the expression on the emperor's face clearly.
"Father, my son is back."
Xiao Zhuo bowed his hands in a salute, with a faint smile on his lips and a hint of teasing and ridicule in the corners of his eyes, which directly hurt the emperor's heart.
"Where did you come from, monsters and ghosts? My prince is dead a long time ago. Who are you? You dare to pretend to be my prince? Come, bring him down and chop him down!" The emperor came back to his senses and said angrily.
.
Everyone present was also awakened by his angry shout, "Here, His Royal Highness is back?"
Several of them were aides to the Crown Prince's East Palace, and several of them were teachers of the Crown Prince. Because of the premature death of the Crown Prince, everyone had become decadent. The concubine group was promoted by the Emperor, and they were constantly suppressed, but they firmly believed that one day they would
Although they were promising, they did not expect that their Crown Prince would be back.
"It's the prince. Your highness, you are finally back."
"I finally got His Highness the Crown Prince back."
Xiao Zhuo's eyes were slightly moist, "Teacher, Grand Tutor, I am the one who has made you worry. When I was surrounded by bandits on the road, I was fortunately saved by a nearby farmer. I was seriously injured and could not walk even after I recovered.
After a long journey, I later recovered and found out that my father announced my death to the world, and I did not come back. This time I came back for the sake of the suffering people. My father, I am a son-in-law, a son-in-law.
It’s not a monster, and I’m not dead. As for who impersonated someone else’s ashes as my palace, please let me know clearly.”
The prince's words not only comforted the hearts of the old ministers who relied on him, but also directly pointed out that there was a villain at the beginning, and asked the emperor to issue an order to find out.
The emperor clenched his fists. The eunuch on the side saw that his back molars were almost crushed, so he knew that the emperor was angry.
He suddenly put on a smiling face, "Is it really my Zhuo'er?"
Xiao Zhuo lifted up his robe and said, "Father, my son is back. He has a birthmark on his chest. You, your mother and concubine, and many other people know about it. Take a look."
One of them opened the clothes on his chest, revealing the location of the birthmark. When the others saw his face, they already believed that he was the prince. Now that they saw that he had the birthmark exposed, they were even more convinced that this person was the original prince.
Already.
"It's really the prince, my highness the prince is back."
"Great~"
The emperor's face suddenly darkened, "Okay, okay, it's really my Zhuo'er who is back. Come and call the Queen. Zhuo'er is back. Since you left, your mother has been worried about your safety. Later,
After hearing your bad news, I couldn't help but feel ill. Now that you are back, go and see your mother."
Xiao Zhuo packed up his clothes and straightened his back, "Father, my son is back now. Don't worry, I'll be with you for a long time. My son is back this time for the people who are suffering outside."
"Haha, he is indeed my good son. He cares about the people so much. I am very comforted." The emperor laughed loudly, "However, the people are now living and working in peace and contentment. Why are they suffering? Zhuo'er should go back and have a good rest. It's not easy for you."
When you come back, I will ask the imperial kitchen to cook your favorite meals, and look at how thin you have become."
Xiao Zhuo knelt down and sneered in his heart that it was not easy for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, luckily he could tell.
His eyes are dull, but he is really his good father.
"Father, have you read the book about Ruizhou?" Xiao Zhuo pointed it out directly, kneeling without any movement, and the expressions of the others also became strange.
Many people knew what happened in Ruizhou, but the imperial concubine's group wanted to hide it. Others, without Xiao Zhuo, did not dare to offend the imperial concubine's group, so they chose to remain silent.
Now that Xiao Zhuo mentioned it like this, the people from the prince's group immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please make the decision for the people of Ruizhou~"
For every one, there were two. Nearly half of Xu Shaoqing's officials knelt down. He also walked to Xiao Zhuo's side and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, Wei Chen is Xu Shaoqing, the third Jinke Jinshi. This is a love letter written by Wei Chen on behalf of Ruizhou, Ruishan Academy and all the surrounding villages. Please consider that they are all His Majesty's subjects.
Save them and let them make the decision."
"You...Xu Shaoqing!" The Prime Minister looked at Xu Shaoqing who stood up and glared angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? I have never heard of people suffering, so how can you make the decision?"
Xiao Zhuo glanced at the Prime Minister, "The Prime Minister is high above the temple, so naturally he knows nothing about the sufferings of the people. Who here is from Ruizhou, but can you stand up and talk about the situation in Ruizhou? What is the current situation in Hubei?
what's the situation."
At this time, Eunuch Xu came in from the outside in a panic, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is not well. Many people are kneeling outside the palace gate. They are all celebrating the safe return of His Royal Highness. They said that His Royal Highness is considerate of the people, and the Ruizhou County magistrate did not accept the refugees.
People starved to death, people were displaced in the earthquake in southern Hubei. If it weren't for the prince and magistrate Zhao, they would all have died underground, as well as the people of Jiangning Village captured by the water bandits of the Qinlan River, Ruizhou Academy..."
One after another, everyone in the court fell silent after hearing this. They were far away in the capital, and they didn't even know that the chaos outside was like this, to the point where people were starving to death.
Then they had previously put pressure on the local government to collect grain taxes just to celebrate the new prince. Wouldn't this make things worse for them?
The emperor, the prime minister and his entourage were completely darkened when they heard this.
The Prime Minister rolled his eyes and stood up, "Your Majesty, as soon as the Prince comes back, there are people making trouble outside. I don't know who is instigating all this. This is driving a wedge between Your Majesty and the people. Your Majesty must order a strict investigation."
"
"Yes, we are going to order a strict investigation." Xiao Zhuo sneered, "So many people died, and dozens of notes were written. None of them got into the hands of the emperor, and none of them were written to ask for help from the imperial court.
People went to save people, and a prefect and a county magistrate died. In the eyes of the Prime Minister, they are not as important as the people outside who beg the Emperor for relief. It is more important whether there are people who are willing to instigate. I think, Prime Minister, you have been sitting in the position of Prime Minister for too long.
I have forgotten what I am doing in this position."
Xiao Zhuo's words were overtly sarcastic, and the emperor said with a dark face and gritted his teeth, "Prime Minister, why didn't the zhezi come into my hands? It's up to you to investigate this matter yourself. Zhuo'er, you are back today, and the matters in the court will be settled.
Stop getting involved and go back and have a good rest."
Xiao Zhuo made no move, "Go back? Father, I can't let go of the suffering people in my heart, and I can't enjoy all this with peace of mind. I know that my father has a new prince, and now that I am back, I will definitely not
For those who have snatched the crown prince position from my second brother, please ask Father to abolish my position as crown prince and leave the position to my second brother."
The emperor stared at him, "Do you really want me to issue an edict?"
"Yes, please give me the decree, Father." Xiao Zhuo's eyes were firm.
What he wants is never as simple as a crown prince position. If the imperial concubine thinks that the crown prince position is so important, then let it be given to her.
The emperor was silent. Xiao Zhuo appeared with great force and even wanted to decree the abolition of the crown prince's position. What was he planning?
Even the Prime Minister on the side looked at him in surprise. That was the position of the Crown Prince. Xiao Zhuo didn't want the position that the imperial concubine had only obtained through all kinds of calculations.
Naturally, the Taifu and others would not allow the emperor to do this, "Your Majesty, think twice."
"Your Majesty, think twice. Not only that the new crown prince is still young, but also that the people kneeling outside are all here for the crown prince. If your majesty abolishes the crown prince's position at this time, it will definitely arouse public outrage.
, then it will not only bring bad reputation to the new prince, but also have the opposite effect."
"Yes, Your Majesty, if the people all have opinions about the new prince, even if the new prince grows up, he may not be able to win the hearts of the people."
At first, Xiao Zhuo only brought a few people to Ruizhou for disaster relief, and the people all saw it. Later, when they heard that Xiao Zhuo died on the way, many people were sad and heartbroken. Now no one can surpass the people.
The Xiao Zhuo in my heart is not even the current emperor.
If the emperor dares to let the new crown prince usurp the crown prince's position, they dare to say that the people will be the first to stand up and disagree, and the trouble will even get out of hand.
The emperor naturally thought of this, but the position of prince belongs to Huang'er, not Xiao Zhuo. I am the master of the world.
"Since you made this request, I will satisfy you."
"Your Majesty, no!"
"Your Majesty, think twice~"
"Okay." There was already a hint of impatience on the emperor's face, "I have complied with Zhuo'er's decision. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can tell him. I will also inform the world. This is Zhuo'er's decision. You don't have to
Besides, now that Zhuo'er has come back and given up the position of crown prince, it is not appropriate to continue living in the East Palace. Prince Jing'an's palace is still vacant. Zhuo'er will make you Prince Jing'an today, and you will live in Jing'an from now on.
Let’s go to Prince An’s Mansion.”
Xiao Zhuo's eyes were filled with smiles, "My son, I would like to thank my father for the gift."