Being pinched by Pei Ze like this, Xiao Yanzhi trembled in pain, but because there were other people there, Xiao Yan subconsciously held back the faint smile on his face.

"Father...... I thought that the Taiji Hall was depressed, and I just went to relax with Jiang Guifei. ”

Why did Pei Ze pinch him? And it's so ruthless, it hurts to death!

"Yes," Pei Ze squinted at Xiao Yan, turned to a few palace concubines, and said, "The seats in the palace have been arranged, please come inside." ”

Ban Zhaoyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty hasn't come back yet, let's wait when we go in, it's better to talk here." ”

"That's it," Concubine Ji Xian echoed, "Your Majesty feels stuffy in the Taiji Palace, what are we going to do so early?" By the way, I heard that His Royal Highness is from Jiangnan, where is Jiangnan? ”

"It's a town not far from Xizhou, and it's a remote place, probably little people know about it."

The other party's questions were asked, and Xiao Yanzhi couldn't help but answer, but Xiao Yanzhi was really curious, where did these women find out about him?

"Oops! His Royal Highness really suffered a lot before entering the palace. Concubine Yun looked at Xiao Yanzhi with pity.

Xiao Yanzhi laughed dryly at Concubine Yun Shufei twice, then shuddered, and quietly took a step closer to Pei Ze, almost half of his body hid behind Pei Ze.

Pei Ze gave Xiao Yan a blank look, but he was also thinking about how to get rid of these women.

Duan Jieyu suddenly pulled the fourth prince Xu Lihong in front of her, pushed her in front of Xiao Yanzhi, and said with a gentle smile: "Your Highness hasn't seen Hong'er yet, right?" Hong'er, hurry up and salute the royal brother. ”

Hearing this, Xu Lihong actually knelt directly in front of Xiao Yanzhi, bending down to kowtow.

"Wait, wait!" Xiao Yan was shocked, and hurriedly stepped forward to help Xu Lihong, who was kneeling halfway, up, "They are all their own brothers, so you don't have to be so polite." ”

Xu Lihong looked up at Xiao Yanzhi, and then immediately took two steps back and hid behind Duan Jieyu, looking a little recognized.

Duan Jieyu looked at Xiao Yanzhi and pulled the corners of her mouth and smiled, and said embarrassedly: "This kid admits his life, it's rude." ”

Duan Jieyu's words just fell, and there was movement around Ban Zhaoyi over there.

"Mother, when can we go in?" The second princess Xu Liying looked dissatisfied, pulled Ban Zhaoyi's sleeve, and glared at Xiao Yan by the way.

Ban Zhaoyi immediately turned around and glared at Xu Liying: "What are you anxious about!" ”

Xu Liying threw off Ban Zhaoyi's sleeve and snorted coldly.

Seeing this, Xiao Yanzhi immediately smiled and said, "Don't let your younger brothers and sisters stand here, let's go in." ”

"Not busy, not busy," Concubine Yun Shu turned her head and glared at them one by one, "Your Majesty hasn't come back yet, not busy." ”

Xiao Yanzhi hurriedly turned his head to look in the direction where the emperor had left before, and his eyes lit up at this glance: "Father is back." ”

Several palace concubines turned their heads when they heard this, and sure enough, the emperor and Jiang Wan came slowly side by side.

"Phew! Came back so early. I don't know which concubine was hiding behind the crowd muttered, and then was immediately kicked.

I don't know what to say to Jiang Wan along the way, the emperor has already shown a good smile, but when he turned a corner, he saw a bunch of people gathered at the back door of the Taiji Palace, and after a closer look, he found that Xiao Yanzhi was still standing there, even if it was so far away, the emperor couldn't help but glare at Xiao Yanyi.

"Why are you all standing here?" The Emperor asked in a deep voice.

The concubines gave the emperor and Jiang Wan a salute again, and then Concubine Yun Shu smiled and said softly: "I have always heard that His Royal Highness came to the palace alone, you said that His Royal Highness is not much older than Qian'er, but there is no fine person around to take care of it, the concubine has been thinking about it in her heart, and always wants to ask His Highness if he is doing well in the palace, but there is no chance. ”

As soon as Concubine Yun Shu said this, the other concubines immediately nodded in agreement.

"What's missing?" The emperor turned his head and looked at Xiao Yanzhi suspiciously, "Do you lack anything?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi shook his head.

Concubine Ji Xian smiled: "Your Majesty, you asked this!" Or how can I say that men are not the same as women. ”

As soon as Concubine Ji Xian's voice fell, there was a series of echoes, and a few concubines said a word, and the emperor, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze were at a loss.

Jiang Wan said at the right time: "Your Majesty, my sisters just care about Your Highness. The days in the palace are convenient, and the food, clothing, housing and transportation are taken care of by the subordinates, but the subordinates are subordinates after all, and they only know how to do things according to the rules, and they are thoughtful, but they are not intimate. And His Royal Highness has been busy preparing for His Majesty's birthday banquet for a period of time, three meals a day are not accurate, and he often can't sleep well at night, and there is no fine person around His Royal Highness to watch, the concubines and sisters are really worried, and they think that if there is anything we can do, we will take care of His Highness more. ”

The Emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "You all have hearts. ”

The concubines all laughed, you and I said it again, and the words to please the emperor were one after another, and the sweet words were not sparing, as if there were no outsiders next to them, and Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze felt hot on their faces when they heard it.

The emperor was obviously accustomed to such a scene, and after listening to it for a long time, he slowly showed a satisfied smile, and then glared at Xiao Yan with a smile, and said, "I don't know where you are so rare!" ”

Xiao Yanzhi immediately smiled and waved to the concubines, and said, "Thank you for the love of the concubines and concubines." ”

The emperor smiled again: "Don't get used to him, discipline him well for me, he doesn't look serious all day long!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." The concubines responded together, and then surrounded the emperor into the Taiji Palace.

The side was finally quiet, Xiao Yanzhi breathed a long sigh of relief, and leaned on Pei Ze's shoulder as soon as he put his arm on it.

"Where did they ask so much? It's horrible! ”

Pei Ze's shoulders slanted and shook Xiao Yanzhi down, and said coldly: "Terrible? I think you're pretty happy. ”

Hearing that Pei Ze's tone was not quite right, Xiao Yanzhi carefully looked at Pei Ze's expression, and then laughed and teased: "What? Are you jealous or envious? ”

Pei Ze glared at Xiao Yan fiercely when he heard this, turned around and entered the Taiji Hall.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled, hurriedly ran two steps, and after Pei Ze caught up with Pei Ze when he stepped into the Taiji Hall, he unexpectedly kissed Pei Ze on the cheek.

Pei Ze was stunned for a moment, and his heart beat a beat in fright, and he just wanted to blame Xiao Yanzhi for his boldness, but Xiao Yanzhi had already walked away, leaving only a dashing back and a snickering side face, and Pei Ze was not smiling when he was angry.

The real banquet finally began, and immediately well-dressed Liyuan Youling flocked in.

This time, the outstanding singers of Liyuan did not arrange a play according to the script, but just prepared some music and dance to help the fun. Compared with the previous court meeting, the atmosphere in the Taiji Hall is much more relaxed at this time, whether it is the prince and concubine sitting in front of the emperor or the civil and military officials who are sitting a little farther away are drinking while enjoying the dance and music, occasionally exchanging words with the people around them, after three rounds of drinking, some people get up and walk around, looking for those colleagues who can chat with a few drinks together, this walking around, someone came to Xiao Yanzhi's face.

Xiao Yanzhi only felt that a shadow had fallen, and he looked up suspiciously, and saw an old acquaintance.

"Lord Qin, I haven't seen you for a long time." Xiao Yanzhi leaned back lazily, leaning on and looking at Qin Tai with a few smiles.

The emperor glanced at Xiao Yanzhi, although he felt that Xiao Yanzhi's frivolous behavior was inappropriate, but he didn't say anything after looking at Qin Tai.

And seeing that Qin Tai walked in front of Xiao Yanzhi, not only Pei Ze and the others tensed their nerves and paid close attention, but even the mighty officials craned their necks and looked around.

Qin Tai smiled and sat upright in front of Xiao Yanzhi.

"Thanks to the blessing of the prince, the minister has been very busy during this time."

"Busy?" Xiao Yanzhi chuckled, "It's good to be busy, this king is still afraid that after so many things have passed, Lord Qin will have nothing to do, but Lord Qin is still busy, which means that there are still things to be done by Lord Qin, and there are still people who need Lord Qin." ”

Qin Tai lowered his eyes, looked very guilty, and said: "The negligence of the minister caused the family to use power for personal gain, and the minister knew that he was ashamed of his trust in His Majesty, and he had no shame to face the ancestors of the Qin family. The minister did not ask for the understanding between His Majesty and the prince, but only wanted to atone for his sins and make up for the mistakes committed by the Qin family. ”

After listening to Qin Tai's words, Xiao Yanzhi couldn't help but praise Qin Tai in his heart.

Qin Tai's cheekiness is really thick, Qin Tai's arrogance and threats in Da'an Fang are still vivid, and the new and old accounts between them are stacked layer after layer, how can Qin Tai be ashamed of the emperor, the ancestors, and the whole world in just a few days? Qin Tai's speed of reform is really fast, and there is no one before or since.

Xiao Yanzhi also lowered his eyes, sighed, and said very regretfully: "It's good that Lord Qin knows." Lord Qin and his father have also been confidants for many years, but what the Qin family did really hurt his father's heart. Lord Qin's words, I should go and tell my father. ”

"What the prince said is that the prince respects the prince with a cup, and thanks the prince for mentioning it many times." As he spoke, Qin Tai picked up the wine jug he had brought, filled Xiao Yanzhi's cup with wine, and then poured himself another glass, put down the wine jug, and Qin Tai held the wine glass with both hands.

Pei Ze, the only one in the Taiji Hall who knew that Xiao Yanzhi couldn't drink, was nervous, and he was about to get up and go over to save the scene as soon as he put his hand on the ground, but as soon as his eyes turned around, he saw Xiao Yanzhi's slightly raised hand, Pei Ze's eyebrows frowned, and he looked at Xiao Yanzhi suspiciously.

Xiao Yanzhi took the time to glance at Pei Ze, gave Pei Ze an indifferent smile, and raised his hand to pick up the glass of wine.

The mighty and powerful people of the Manchu Dynasty are watching, they don't know the details, they have just watched the excitement, who is right and who is wrong in this matter, it depends on who has seized the opportunity to speak, and the person who speaks first will determine right and wrong, as for what will happen later, it depends on their own sophistry skills.

Now Qin Tai personally came to him to toast, what should be said was said, what should be done was done, and his repentance was revealed in public regardless of whether it was true or not, and when he didn't have time to explain or refute, Qin Tai's move was to challenge the temperament of the emperor's eldest son.

Lord Qin was polite. Lu Yao knows that the horsepower has been in the hearts of the people for a long time, and this king is looking forward to Lord Qin's expression. When the words fell, Xiao Yanzhi raised his head and drank the glass of wine.

Seeing Xiao Yanzhi's Adam's apple rolling, Qin Tai's eyes flashed slightly, and he drank a glass of wine cleanly.

"Thank you, Lord Wang."

Xiao Yanzhi waved his hand, signaling that Qin Tai could retreat.

Qin Tai had no reason to stay in front of Xiao Yanzhi any longer, glanced at the emperor, and saw that the emperor had never looked at this side, so he retreated to his position.

"Words?" As soon as Qin Tai left, Pei Ze couldn't help it, took a look in private, and saw that the lively officials still turned their eyes elsewhere, so he rubbed to Xiao Yanzhi's side, "Are you okay?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi only smiled silently, turned his head to look around, and hooked his hand at Lian Sheng behind him.

Lian Sheng didn't know what was going on, but Xiao Yanzhi called him, and he walked over with the wooden plate in his hand, on which was placed a cloth towel and a cup of mouthwash, which was originally prepared for the meal.

Xiao Yanzhi still didn't speak, just picked up the cloth towel to cover his mouth, as if he was wiping his mouth, but when he took the cloth towel, Pei Ze clearly saw that a wet piece was in the middle of the cloth towel.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled, picked up the cup of mouthwash again, rinsed his mouth, and spit it back.

"Phew! What kind of wine is so bad? How do you drink it? Xiao Yanzhi stuck out his tongue and waved his hand to signal that the winning streak could be retreated.

"Y-You didn't drink it?" Pei Ze looked at Xiao Yanzhi in a daze.

Xiao Yanzhi looked at Pei Ze amusedly and asked, "Do I look stupid?" ”

Pei Ze thought for a while and said, "Occasionally." ”

Xiao Yanzhi glanced at Pei Ze: "You can go back to your seat!" ”

"Are you really okay?" Pei Ze asked uneasily.

He remembered that Xiao Yan was messing with his relatives when he drank, and in this Tai Chi Palace, His Majesty was also there......

Xiao Yanzhi chuckled lightly and teased: "Otherwise, you can try to see if it smells of wine." ”

As he spoke, Xiao Yanzhi pouted at Pei Ze.

The corner of Pei Ze's eyes jumped, he picked up a grape from Xiao Yanzhi's table and stuffed it into Xiao Yanzhi's mouth, and then retreated to his seat.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and chewed the grape.

But Qin Tai opened this head, and then the hundred officials always ran to the place where Xiao Yanzhi and the four people were sitting, although Pei Ze wanted to stop all the people who went to Xiao Yanzhi's side, but in the end he couldn't stop it, Xiao Yanzhi saw that the situation was not good, so he used the excuse of drinking to get up, and slipped out of the Taiji Hall to blow the wind.

The Taiji Hall is far away from the Liangyi Palace, there are two palace gates in the middle, standing behind the Taiji Palace, looking into the distance, the farthest can only see the high palace walls on both sides of the Zhuming Gate.

Xiao Yanzhi leaned on the pillars of the back corridor of the Taiji Hall and looked at the palace wall from afar.

Not far away, Zhang Shaosheng looked at Xiao Yanzhi for a long time, and then walked over.

"Words."

Xiao Yanzhi turned his head when he heard this, and he was still a little surprised when he saw Zhang Shaosheng.

"Why is Shaosheng here?"

Zhang Shaosheng said with a smile: "Today, it is my turn to rest in the Wanchun Palace, but a friend is unwell, so I will come to the Taiji Hall to help him on duty." ”

"Really?" Xiao Yanzhi smiled, "Shaosheng is still the same as before, kind-hearted. ”

Zhang Shaosheng also smiled, but the smile was not as bright as it was two months ago.

"What's going on? Isn't it okay if you're not in it? ”

Xiao Yanzhi turned his head to look at the Taiji Hall, shook his head with a smile, and said, "I'm not that important, it's the same whether I'm there or not, and it doesn't affect anything." ”

The same is true of things in the palace, he just seems to be very important, but if he is not there, someone will do what he is doing in his place, and the reason why he did it is only for the emperor's good to him.

Zhang Shaosheng ridiculed when he heard this: "You still say that you are not important? You've done a lot of big things lately, and the people around you are talking about it, saying that you might be able to stay in the East Palace. ”

"Don't laugh," Xiao Yanzhi sat down on the stone steps next to him, "You know I can't do it." ”

Zhang Shaosheng shook his head and said: "I used to think that you couldn't do it, even if you have entered the palace and become a prince, I also think that you can only hang the title of this prince, and you can't do the things of a prince, but it turns out that you may have been born with this piece of material." ”

Xiao Yanzhi suddenly felt depressed, turned his head to look at Zhang Shaosheng and said, "Shaosheng, you block me every time, what are you here to tell me?" ”

Zhang Shaosheng was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "I didn't come to block you with my heart." I haven't seen you much during this time, and you don't seem to be going back to Wanchun Palace, so I just happened to have this opportunity to see if you were doing well. ”

"Do you think I'm doing well, or am I having a bad time?" Xiao Yanzhi asked curiously.

Hearing this, Zhang Shaosheng stared at Xiao Yanzhi for a long time, and hesitated: "I don't say it's good, I see that you are very popular in the palace, and His Majesty seems to be very good to you, it should be a good life, but ...... Well, it's useless to talk about that now. ”

Since Xiao Yanzhi entered the palace, he has always been regardless of the court fight, and he has also asked people about many things, and he finally knows that Xiao Yanzhi has entered the palace, not to mention that he will be trapped in the palace for the rest of his life, but he is afraid that he will not be able to cut off the evil relationship with the palace in this life. He didn't know what would happen in the future, but at this moment, whether he wanted it or not, whether Xiao Yanzhi wanted it or not, Xiao Yanzhi couldn't leave the palace.

Zhang Shaosheng didn't finish his words, but Xiao Yanzhi understood.

Sure enough, the people who grew up with him know his character best, but as Zhang Shaosheng said, it's useless to say anything now.

"You go get busy, I want to be alone for a while." Xiao Yanzhi looked at the palace wall in the distance and sighed.

Zhang Shaosheng smiled softly when he heard this, looked behind Xiao Yanzhi with some fear, and said, "I will retire from my humble position, but the prince doesn't seem to be able to stay alone." ”

Xiao Yan was stunned, looked at Zhang Shaosheng in puzzlement, and then turned his head to look back along Zhang Shaosheng's line of sight, and saw Pei Ze leaning on the pillar with an expressionless face.

Xiao Yanyi looked at Pei Ze with a depressed face and said, "I said what are you always doing with me?" ”

Pei Ze ignored Xiao Yanzhi, glanced at Zhang Shaosheng again, and saw Zhang Shaosheng turn around and leave, before he walked to Xiao Yanzhi and sat down.

"Don't want to stay in the palace?"

Xiao Yanzhi tilted his body, leaned on Pei Ze's shoulder, and said, "Didn't you already know this?" ”

Looking at Xiao Yanzhi, who had a comfortable face, Pei Ze frowned and said, "Can you pay attention to the people around you?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi said disapprerovitically: "What about the people around?" When it reaches my father's ears, he will at most find someone to teach me the rules, what else? ”

Pei Ze shook his head and smiled.

It's really thanks to Xiao Yanzhi's unserious temperament.

Restrained his smile, Pei Ze looked at Zhu Mingmen with Xiao Yanzhi, and asked in a low voice, "Do you blame me?" I took you back to the palace. ”

As soon as Pei Ze's voice fell, Xiao Yanzhi snorted and laughed.

"Blame you? What do you do with the blame? And I want to thank you. ”

"Thank me?" Pei Ze was puzzled, "Why?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi turned his head, put his chin against Pei Ze's shoulder, blew into Pei Ze's ear, and said softly: "Thank you for sending yourself to me, King Wucheng is so reliable, I will definitely be able to live well in the rest of my life." ”

Pei Ze turned his head abruptly to dodge, and then covered his ears and glared at Xiao Yanzhi, his face slightly red.

Looking at Pei Ze's appearance, Xiao Yan was overwhelmed with joy.

Pei Ze rubbed his ears and said, "If you follow me, I'm afraid you won't be able to stay away from the court in this life." ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and said, "Shouldn't this matter be the other way around?" If you choose me, you won't be able to stay away from the court in this life. No matter who uses you, you can still have a chance to get out, but my surname is Xu Li, who will let me go? ”

Pei Ze frowned and thought for a while, and said, "Why do you feel unlucky the more you think about it?" ”

Because his father was friends with His Majesty, when he launched a rebellion, he joined the army with his father when he didn't have time to choose his own life, and in a blink of an eye, everything was pushed along the river, and when he came to his senses, he was already an indispensable king of Wucheng in the court, and he didn't even have a chance to choose.

He has forgotten the arrogance when he fought side by side with his father, but he is familiar with the wisdom of protecting himself in the court, he has forgotten the heroic words of protecting his family and defending the country when he was young, but he can't leave this favored position, and he doesn't even have a chance to regret it.

How long had he been in this mess?

Xiao Yanzhi laughed when he heard this: "You are already very unlucky. ”

"Is that funny?" Pei Ze raised his eyebrows and looked at Xiao Yanzhi.

Xiao Yanzhi laughed and nodded.

The corners of Pei Ze's mouth raised slightly, and he kissed Xiao Yanzhi's head.

Xiao Yanzhi was so frightened that he immediately stopped laughing, and after Pei Ze retreated, Xiao Yanyi asked with a blank face, "What are you doing?" ”

Pei Ze smiled: "Retaliation." ”

"What should I do if someone sees me?" Who just told him to pay attention to his surroundings?

Pei Ze thought for a while and said, "If someone sees it, I will say that it is the King of Shu who attacked me and I am the victim, and then let His Majesty send you to learn the rules again." ”

"You!" Xiao Yanzhi couldn't cry or laugh when he landed, and kicked Pei Ze hard.

Pei Ze smiled proudly.

On the other side, Zhang Shaosheng, who had returned to his post, suddenly remembered that he still had something to say to Xiao Yanzhi, but as soon as he remembered Pei Ze's expressionless face, Zhang Shaosheng gave up the idea of going back to Xiao Yanzhi again, as for the thing that was not said, Zhang Shaosheng decided to hide it from Xiao Yanzhi for the time being, and it would be okay to give Xiao Yanzhi a surprise when the time came.

However, Zhang Shaosheng still has a question in his heart: King Wu Cheng has a straight face every time he sees him, but he obviously hasn't done anything to be sorry for King Wu Cheng, why is King Wu Cheng so unfriendly to him?