Three days later, Pei Ze set off for Suzhou in the northwest, only fifty people when he left, Kong Qing and Li An followed Pei Ze in the palace of Wucheng Wang, and then selected ten elite soldiers from the private army to follow, and the rest of the people all stayed in the palace of Wucheng to protect Xiao Yanzhi, and the original nursing home and private army under the management of Kong Qing were all handed over to Xu Ren, and Donggui took up the position of Li An. Pei Ze was not there, but the atmosphere in King Wucheng's mansion was even more dignified than when he was there.

There was no Pei Ze in the court, Xiao Yanzhi ran to the palace every day, at first he was waiting for the emperor and Xu Lishan to go down to the court in the imperial study, but later the emperor saw that he couldn't stop him, so he let Xiao Yanzhi return to the court.

Xiao Yanzhi originally thought that he would be made difficult in the court, but perhaps the attitude of the emperor, Pei Ze and Xu Lishan was too clear, and when Xiao Yanzhi returned to the court, no one spoke for Xu Liqian anymore, and no one even spoke out to make things difficult for Xiao Yanzhi. It's just that Xiao Yanzhi can see that some people don't really agree with the emperor's attitude, they just give up reasoning with the emperor after realizing that words don't work.

And the disapproval seen in the court also made Xiao Yanzhi a little more vigilant.

The more you keep your grievances in your heart, the more dissatisfaction will accumulate, and in today's situation, it is easy for these people to turn against each other and have to let go.

"Lord Zhao," after lunch, Xiao Yanzhi and Xu Lishan left the Liangyi Hall together, and when they walked to the gate of the hall, Xiao Yanzhi turned his head and said to Zhao Kang, who came to see him off, "When I sprinkled and swept the Liangyi Hall these days, I was tired and made people pay more attention, but all the objects that were born in my eyes were burned, and if the things sent by outsiders had to be accepted, they were also secretly taken and burned." The father's diet also cost Lord Zhao a lot of trouble, and the people in the Shangshi Bureau checked it again, no matter which concubine sent it from the harem, Lord Zhao just accepted it, and informed his father, and then don't let his father touch it. ”

"Your Highness is still careful," Zhao Kang replied with a smile, "Your Highness rest assured, the old slave will definitely take care of it for His Majesty." ”

Xiao Yanzhi said again: "Has my father taken that medicine for a while?" ”

Zhao Kang was shocked, and pretended not to understand and asked Xiao Yanzhi: "The old slave is frightened, I don't know what kind of medicine His Highness said?" ”

"Don't play dumb with me," Xiao Yanzhi glanced at Zhao Kang, "I'll tell you, that's naturally what I already know." ”

"It's the old slave who has offended, please forgive your Highness." Zhao Kang immediately bent his waist lower, "Your Majesty has used the medicine given by the Imperial Doctor Department this year. ”

This is what King Wucheng told King Shu, right? His Majesty also specially instructed King Wucheng not to sue the King of Shu, so King Wucheng also had a time when he was untrustworthy?

However, Zhao Kang thought about it carefully, but found that although the emperor had instructed Pei Ze not to tell Xiao Yanzhi about the matter that day, Pei Ze did not answer, and when he talked to the emperor that day, Pei Ze was silent most of the time.

Co-author King Wu Cheng thinks that if he doesn't speak, he won't make a promise, and he can turn his head and sue King Shu? However, he also felt that the King of Shu should still know about this.

"Well," Xiao Yanzhi nodded, "The next time Lord Zhao goes to get the medicine, talk to the people from the Imperial Doctor's Department, and say that if there is another prescription for the medicine, you can try to change it for your father, and if you eat the same prescription for a long time, I am afraid that it will have no effect." ”

"Your Highness is very right, the old slave must tell the imperial doctors of the Imperial Physician's Department about this."

After thinking about it, Xiao Yanzhi changed his words again: "That's it, I'll go to the Imperial Medical Department to talk about this matter." ”

"Huh?" Zhao Kang was taken aback, and then he was puzzled, "Your Highness, let's let the old slave go." ”

Xu Lishan turned his head to look at Xiao Yanzhi's side face, and then said to Zhao Kang: "It's okay, this king will personally send the imperial brother to the imperial doctor's office, and Lord Zhao just needs to take care of his father." Father's health is not as good as before, don't let your father stay up all night, Lord Zhao helped persuade him. ”

"Brother Huang is right," Xiao Yanzhi also said to Zhao Kang, "It is inevitable that my father will be negligent alone, and with Lord Zhao always by my father's side, we can be more at ease." ”

"Yes, rest assured, the two highnesses, the old slave must take care of His Majesty wholeheartedly, and never let His Majesty make the slightest mistake." Zhao Kang solemnly responded.

Xu Lishan nodded with satisfaction and said, "Then Lord Zhao will go back to his father's side, and this king and the imperial brother will leave." ”

Zhao Kang immediately bowed down and said, "Congratulations to the two highnesses." ”

Pushing Xiao Yanzhi out of the Liangyi Palace, Xu Lishan looked around and joked about Xiao Yanzhi: "I really don't know whether to say that the imperial brother is being protected or watched by others now, Brother Pei really arranged all the elites of the Wucheng Mansion by your side." ”

"But it's not," Xiao Yanzhi chuckled, and instructed Xu Lishan again, "You should also be more careful, you are our backbone, if something happens to you, it will be in vain for me and Pei Ze to do anything." ”

Xu Lishan sighed: "Brother Huang, don't worry, if Xu Liqian wants to deal with me, then he will find someone to assassinate, and it is not difficult to take precautions, but he has always wanted to take away Brother Huang, so his father and Brother Pei are so worried." ”

Xiao Yanzhi pouted and said, "I really don't know where he wants to take me." ”

"Where are you going," Xu Lishan sneered, "He just saw that his father really loved the imperial brother, so he thought that if he had the imperial brother in his hands, he would be able to blackmail his father, and the imperial brother was quite convinced by the courtiers, and if the imperial brother helped him in the future, he would be able to smooth sailing, just like me now." ”

"Then I'll have to be willing to help him." Xiao Yanzhi sighed.

Xu Lishan glanced at the top of Xiao Yanzhi's head and said, "When he catches you, there will be a way for you to use it for him." ”

"That's just as well." Xiao Yanzhi nodded approvingly.

"So I also ask the royal brother, the imperial brother must protect himself." Xu Lishan patted Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder heavily.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled: "I know." Other than that...... If there is anyone else to use, send someone to search the city. ”

"What's wrong?" Hearing this, Xu Lishan looked at Xiao Yanzhi in puzzlement.

Xiao Yanzhi narrowed his eyes and looked ahead, and said: "After the failure of the pursuit that night, I have never heard from Xu Liqian, north to Yanzhou, south to Jinzhou, west to Qinzhou, east to Luozhou, all the places within this range have been searched, but there is still no trace of Xu Liqian, I am afraid that he has returned to Chang'an City." ”

"Won't it?" Xu Lishan frowned when he heard this, "How could he come back to Chang'an?" If he is caught, he will die. ”

"But after that day, the only place we haven't checked is Chang'an City." Xiao Yanzhi turned his head to look at Xu Lishan, and said, "But that's what I said." ”

Xu Liqian fled temporarily that day, and no one was outside to answer him, so he always had to go in a certain direction, right? But the chasing soldiers sent by the emperor couldn't find Xu Liqian's trace for several days in a row, and this person seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, which made Xiao Yanzhi faintly uneasy.

Xu Lishan twisted his eyebrows and said, "For the sake of prudence, I will arrange for someone to search the city." ”

Xiao Yanzhi nodded.

When he arrived at the Imperial Doctor's Office, Xiao Yanzhi discussed the emperor's prescription with the imperial doctors, although Xiao Yanzhi couldn't say why, but he could still understand what the imperial doctors said, and the rest was to put on the shelf of the King of Shu and pretend, so that these imperial doctors could cheer up and do their best to cure the emperor's illness.

After leaving the Imperial Doctor's Office, Xu Lishan sent Xiao Yanzhi back to the Wucheng Palace, and then led the guards back to the Qi Palace.

Xiao Yanyi stepped into the gate of Wucheng Palace, and Xu Ren, who was hidden in the shadows, jumped out of thin air.

"Lord Wang, did you say that Xu Liqian would really be in Chang'an City?"

When he heard the King of Shu and the King of Qi talk about this just now, he always wanted to ask, if Xu Liqian really sneaked back to Chang'an City, then they were not in danger?

Xiao Yanzhi looked at Xu Ren and smiled, and said, "How do I know this?" Anyway, be careful. ”

"No," Xu Ren touched his chin and said, "The humble position is still very confident in the defense of the Wucheng Palace, but if Xu Liqian sneaks back to Chang'an, will he contact the courtiers?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi was pushed by Xu Ren to walk to the backyard, and after hearing this, he thought for a while, then nodded and agreed: "If I were him, I would make another last effort to win over a group of people...... Or threaten some people to be more effective. Xu Ren immediately sent someone into the palace to tell Lord Zhao Kangzhao to let him find an idle hall in the palace, and from today onwards, all the people who are responsible for taking care of his father's food and clothing will live together, and if there is a family, they will also take their family members into the palace to protect them. The same is true of the Imperial Physician of the Imperial Physician's Department. ”

"Yes!" Xu Ren immediately beckoned a person out of the shadows, and after whispering a few words in the man's ear, the man flew away.

"King Shu, you're back." Hearing that Xiao Yanzhi was back, Donggui greeted him with a letter in his hand, "This is the letter sent back by the prince today." ”

Since Pei Ze left, he would send a letter back to his family every day, and even the secret letters sent to the emperor were not so frequent, probably because he was afraid that Xiao Yanzhi would be too worried.

"I'm tired." Xiao Yanzhi took the letter with a smile, and then opened it casually, and read a letter from beginning to end, but Xiao Yanzhi did not show the same smile after reading the letter a few days ago, but asked Donggui and Xu Rendao, "Your prince should be in Suzhou at this time, right?" ”

Xu Ren replied: "The people brought by the prince are all extremely powerful, and the horses are all good horses given by His Majesty, if we calculate the speed of our rapid march in the past, we should have arrived about four or five days ago." According to the prince's habit, he would probably make an unannounced visit in Suzhou in disguise first, and only after a general understanding of the situation would he go to see the general of the Northwest Army. ”

Xiao Yanzhi twisted his eyebrows and said, "Then how long will it take for this letter to be transmitted from your lord's hand to us?" ”

"One day," Xu Ren said without thinking, "it was the eagle that His Majesty and the prince raised in the leopard riding. ”

The trick of using the eagle to transmit messages was learned from the Turks.

Donggui looked at Xu Ren, then at Xiao Yanzhi, and asked, "Lord Wang, what is written on this family letter?" ”

Hearing Donggui's question, Xiao Yanzhi directly handed the family letter in his hand to Donggui, and asked Xu Rendao: "In other words, this family letter was written by your prince yesterday?" ”

"Probably." Xu Ren touched his chin and went to Donggui's side to read the family letter.

The family letter stated that Pei Ze had met with the general of the Northwest Army, and it was determined that the general of the Northwest Army had no connection with Xu Liqian, and did not support Xu Liqian's treason, and Pei Ze would take the Northwest Army back to Chang'an with the general to assist in the arrest of the rebels.

After reading this letter, Donggui didn't understand how Xiao Yanzhi could have so many questions unrelated to this content after reading the letter, but Xu Ren frowned.

"What is the prince doing with the Northwest Army back to Chang'an?"

Although it is possible that Xu Liqian may also cooperate with the garrisons in other places, it is not possible to transfer the Northwest Army back to Chang'an so early, right? The Northwest Army is quite difficult to handle, if it is found that Xu Liqian did not have time to collude with the local garrison, then bringing the Northwest Army back to Chang'an will not be worth the loss?

Xiao Yanzhi's hand was propped up on the armrest of the wheelchair to support his head, and with a cold face, he said, "Let's go, go to the study." ”

As soon as Xiao Yanzhi's words fell, he heard Qi Cheng's voice.

"I've seen the prince. Lord Wang, it's really hard for you to go to the court in a wheelchair every day. ”

A warm smile instantly bloomed on Xiao Yanzhi's face, and he turned his head to look at Qi Cheng and asked, "I haven't seen you for the past few days, what have you done?" ”

"What else can my subordinates do," Qi Cheng scratched his head and complained to Xiao Yanzhi, "Although Kong Sima went out to run errands with the prince, he arranged for others to keep an eye on me to train, and every day from morning to night, his subordinates were so tired that they didn't bother to move." ”

Xiao Yanzhi nodded and said, "No wonder I feel that the world is clean these days, Kong Qing finally thought of a way to cure you." ”

Qi Cheng pursed his lips, and then came to Xu Ren and Donggui, and asked, "Did the prince come back with a letter from home?" What is written on it? ”

Donggui immediately put the letter away.

Xiao Yanzhi said with a smile: "The prince's affairs have been completed, and he will probably come back soon." ”

"Really?" Qi Cheng said excitedly, "The prince didn't encounter any danger, right?" ”

"No," Xiao Yanzhi shook his head, "What?" Do you still hope that the prince will encounter something dangerous? ”

"No, no, no," Qi Cheng hurriedly shook his head, "The subordinates just ask, if the prince really encounters any dangerous things, the subordinates can go to the rescue." ”

"Just you?" Xu Ren looked at Qi Cheng disdainfully, "The hair hasn't grown Qi, so you can stay in the house and take care of the family." ”

Hearing this, Qi Chengcheng looked at Xu Ren with round eyes, and said, "You look down on me? ”

Xu Ren sneered and said, "I really don't look up to you, what's the matter?" ”

"That's Bibi!"

"Compared to you?" Xu Ren rolled his eyes at the sky, and then made a move in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, he knocked Qi Cheng to the ground, "Do you want to compare with me with your reaction?" Let's go back and practice with my brothers. ”

slapped Qi Cheng's face defiantly, Xu Ren got up and pushed Xiao Yanzhi to the backyard.

I have long heard that there is such a thorn in the house, if Kong Qing and they were not busy, they would have given him a good look, how could they still let him jump up and down in front of the king of Shu all day long? Their prince doesn't like people to be disrespectful to the king of Shu the most.

When he arrived at the study, Xiao Yanzhi asked Donggui to go to Pei Ze's bedroom to find the wooden box that Lian Sheng asked him for, which neatly contained all the family letters that Pei Ze had passed back.

Xiao Yanzhi took out the first letter and threw it on the table, and then said to Xu Ren and Donggui: "Compare the handwriting to see if it was written by your prince himself." ”

Donggui and Xu Ren were shocked, and hurriedly began to compare.

Xiao Yanzhi took the tea made by Lian Sheng, and while drinking it, he thought about all the situations that Pei Ze might fall into at this time, and only felt that his head was about to explode.

After comparing the handwriting between Xu Ren and Donggui over there, their expressions did not become more beautiful, but became more and more ugly.

Donggui opened his mouth and said: "Lord Qiqi, the handwriting on these two family letters ...... It's the same. ”

Hearing this, Xiao Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

If the handwriting is the same, then Pei Ze is probably still safe, at least he can write well with a pen. So the letter was written under duress? That Pei Ze was coerced?

Xiao Yanzhi pursed his lips.

"Yes." Xiao Yanzhi took a deep breath, and then said, "Xu Ren, write a reply letter, just say that my father knew about it and ordered the Northwest Army to stand by. ”

Xu Ren was stunned and asked, "Genus, do you write it?" ”

When Xiao Yanzhi heard this, he turned his head to look at Xu Ren and changed his words: "I'll write it." ”

Within a quarter of an hour, Xiao Yanzhi's reply was written, and Xu Ren immediately went to the leopard riding with the reply, borrowed an eagle and sent the letter back to Pei Ze.

It was already dark when Pei Ze received the reply, and Pei Ze was indeed in the camp of the Northwest Army at that time, and he was indeed safe and sound, but he lived in a tent alone, and there were ten elite soldiers of the Northwest Army guarding outside the tent.

The general Zhang Maocheng angrily approached Pei Ze's tent with the reply letter, raised his hand and threw the letter on the only table in the tent.

"You wrote that the Northwest Army is going to Chang'an?!"

Pei Ze, who was sitting at the table drinking tea, calmly glanced at the crumpled reply, and then picked up the letter and read it unhurriedly, and after reading it, he folded the reply and put it in his arms, but did not answer Zhang Maocheng's question.

Zhang Maocheng was furious, slapped his palm on the table, and shouted: "I'm asking you what you wrote on that family letter!" ”

Pei Ze raised his eyes to look at Zhang Maocheng and said coldly: "Isn't what is written on that letter written by the general to ask this king?" General Nashin has also seen it. ”

The previous letter to the family was written by him under the coercion of Zhang Maocheng, he deliberately only wrote official affairs unusually, and specially wrote that he wanted to take the Northwest Army back to Chang'an, judging from the reply letter written by Xiao Yanzhi to him, the kid Bacheng saw the flaw, as for whether Xiao Yanzhi sent the letter to the emperor, he did not know.

Zhang Maocheng said angrily: "Isn't that a letter from home? Why would Majesty know? ”

Pei Ze said coldly: "How does this king know? Why don't the general let the king go back and find out? ”

Zhang Maocheng was so angry that he gasped.

The Northwest Army was going to march to Chang'an, and someone would report to the emperor only from Suzhou to Ganzhou, and then the road would either be completed safely with the emperor's promise, or it would be fought all the way. Originally, he was worried that if this was really going to be fought, what would happen when they arrived in Chang'an, but he didn't expect Pei Ze to come at this time, so he immediately imprisoned Pei Ze and planned to take Pei Ze back to Beijing with him. With the famous King Wucheng here, there should be a lot of trouble along the way.

Zhang Maocheng suddenly pulled out the saber on his waist and put it across Pei Ze's neck, and said angrily: "Persuade Your Majesty to agree to the Northwest Army to return to Beijing, quickly!" ”

Pei Ze raised his eyes and looked at Zhang Maocheng calmly, as if the sword on the side of his neck didn't exist at all: "Why?" ”

Zhang Maocheng gritted his teeth and said: "General Ben has heard a lot about the deeds of King Wu Cheng, and General Ben also knows that King Wu Cheng is not afraid of death, but King Wu Cheng doesn't care about the lives of those who came with the prince?" ”

Staring at Zhang Maocheng for a moment of silence, Pei Ze said again: "This king wants to see them." ”

Zhang Maocheng sneered and said, "Does the prince think that General Ben will let you meet?" ”

Pei Ze lowered his eyes again and said, "They are born, this king is born, they die, this king is dead." If the general can afford to gamble, give it a try. ”

"Huh!" Zhang Maocheng didn't believe it, and said, "Lord Wang, will you pay for the lives of a few subordinates?" What should Princess Wucheng do, who is still in Chang'an City? Seeing that you have to write family letters every day when you go out, you know that you have a deep relationship with the princess, are you willing to let the princess be widowed? Maybe the princess is already pregnant with the prince's child in her belly at this time? ”

Zhang Maocheng only knew that Pei Ze had a very beloved woman in his family, so he thought that it was Princess Wucheng. But after Pei Ze listened to Zhang Maocheng's words, not only did he not show the hesitation that Zhang Maocheng expected, but laughed directly.

Princess Wucheng? Is Xiao Yanzhi the princess of Wucheng? That sounds like a really good name. But pregnant with a child? This scene is really unimaginable, and I guess it will never happen in this life.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Maocheng suddenly felt a little flustered.

Pei Ze smiled again in an instant, looked at Zhang Maocheng coldly, and said: "This king wants to settle his words, and the general has made a decision to come to this king again." ”

"You!" Zhang Maocheng was so angry that he couldn't speak.

Pei Ze added: "But if tomorrow's letter from home does not arrive on time, this king does not guarantee this king's ...... Will the princess ask His Majesty for something because she thinks something has happened to the king, the general still doesn't think too long. ”

couldn't say Pei Ze, Zhang Maocheng was so angry that he turned around and went to the tent to find a way to find the military advisor sent by Xu Liqian.

Pei Ze calmly sat in the tent and drank a cup of tea, and when he swallowed the last sip of tea, it was just the time for the guards outside to change shifts.

Pei Ze watched the figures on the tent go back and forth, suddenly got up at a certain moment, walked quickly to the corner of the tent, opened the tent and got out. Pei Ze, who was wearing a black coat, ran wildly as soon as he got out of the tent, and quickly ran to stand behind a tree not far away, and escaped the eyes of the guards by taking advantage of the darkness and the cover of the tree trunk.

When the newly appointed guards outside the tent began to stand in a daze, Pei Ze left cautiously, scurrying around in the camp of the Northwest Army, and met Li An and Kong Qing on the way, but after gesturing to each other, they went to their respective destinations.

People who didn't fight with them back then never knew what they could do, so Zhang Maocheng thought he could really imprison them? How could he and the soldiers he brought out be imprisoned if they wanted to?