Regarding the emperor's proposal, Qin Xingyi was inconvenient to oppose it in person, and he was embarrassed to reveal his personal feelings for Xuanyuan Mingyu, and said: "Your Majesty, the affairs of the three princes are widely implicated, involving the interests of the three kingdoms of Tanjiang State, Western Qin State, and Xuanyuan Dynasty, and need to be treated carefully!" Wait for the minister's sister to carefully consider it tonight, write a recital, and present it to the emperor tomorrow. ”

The emperor understood that this matter could not be rushed, so he immediately agreed, and took Qin Xingyi to the imperial garden for a banquet to pick up the wind and wash the dust for the imperial sister.

At the banquet, the emperor sat in the center, and Qin Xingyi and the two imperial concubines sat sideways. In the process of pouring wine for the palace maid, the emperor proposed: "The imperial sister is suitable to recommend the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, how is her martial arts?" Now you might as well summon a drill. ”

Blacksmith Xu entered with an edict, his demeanor was calm, he drank a cup of imperial wine given by the emperor, took off his coat, and performed a set of drunken boxing that he was proficient in, with ingenious movements and a drunken state.

The emperor watched the performance, his heart was relaxed, he felt that it was really outstanding, and said to Qin Xingyi: "Senior sister, the position of the commander of the Imperial Forest Army is extraordinary, this person has been recommended by senior sister, and his skills must not be bad." However, it still needs to be assessed and convinced to make a decision. ”

The emperor said nothing, seeing that the imperial sister did not object, and issued an order to Xu Blacksmith: "You and Deputy Commander Yu go to the eldest princess's mansion and invite the third prince Xuanyuan Mingyu to enter the palace to meet." ”

The Imperial Forest Army has been serving as the deputy commander for three years, and has been looking forward to being promoted to commander, but he has never been able to do so, and he has been obsessed with this main position.

A newcomer suddenly appeared at today's banquet, recommended by the eldest princess, and actually wanted to climb on his head to become the commander, he was very unconvinced, and he just took this opportunity to embarrass this newcomer, and his inner thoughts were: A blacksmith, don't go to iron, and come to fight with me for an official position for no reason, I don't know how high the sky is and how deep the water is!

When Blacksmith Xu heard that the tolerance to be performed was to invite the third prince into the palace, he beckoned Qin Xingyi to come over and say a few words.

Qin Xingyi said goodbye to the emperor for a while, walked over and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Blacksmith Xu knew that Qin Xingyi's attitude towards the third prince had improved a lot, and he didn't regard him as an enemy like before, but he thought that the girl's mind was like a needle under the sea, changing three times in a moment, and he couldn't grasp it accurately, and asked: "Your Highness, this matter makes Xu a little embarrassed." ”

Qin Xingyi knew that Blacksmith Xu had always walked the rivers and lakes, and later lived in seclusion in Moli Town for several years, and had never done anything for the royal family, thinking that he was under a lot of pressure, and he was inevitably nervous when he went out for the first time, so he comforted: "Don't be embarrassed, if you have any questions, you can ask the deputy commander." ”

"Not that." Blacksmith Xu wants to say that it is difficult for himself to say what the emperor ordered! The third prince is not in good health, if he refuses to enter the palace, will he violate the morality of the rivers and lakes and force him to come? Besides, I don't care about being an official, I hope I don't hurt my good friends.

Qin Xingyi understood that Blacksmith Xu was upright and conscientious, and this time he agreed to be the official position of the commander of the Imperial Forest Army completely for the sake of his own face, and said understandingly: "No one forces you to do anything. You can decide for yourself according to the situation and don't worry about anything else. ”

Blacksmith Xu meant that he and the three princes got along for some days, rescued each other several times, and became friends with each other, in case the three princes refused to enter the palace, he could not force him. However, this place is not suitable for saying more in front of the emperor, so I have to nod.

Deputy Commander Yu was good at stammering, and took the initiative to ask Blacksmith Xu what weapons he needed to equip.

When Blacksmith Xu used to walk the rivers and lakes, he had a nickname called "Iron Axe Three Smiles", and he used to use iron axes, hoping to find two iron axes for himself.

When Deputy Commander Yu heard this, he turned his mouth to the south. The weapons that the Imperial Palace Guards are generally equipped with are knives, spears, swords, and halberds. Weapons such as iron axes are mostly used by countrymen, and they are almost used when walking rivers and lakes.

Deputy Commander Yu secretly laughed in his heart that Blacksmith Xu was old-fashioned, and said politely on the surface: "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't find the iron axe for a while, I don't know if I can change the saber?" ”

Blacksmith Xu agreed, took a saber handed over by a soldier beside him, said goodbye to Qin Xingyi, and followed Deputy Commander Yu out of the palace.

Deputy Commander Yu led more than a dozen soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army to hurriedly walk on the streets of the capital. Blacksmith Xu followed behind everyone and came to the door of Qin Xingyi's eldest princess's mansion.

Deputy Commander Yu said to the guards at the gate in an official tone: "We are the Imperial Forest Army, and we are invited by the emperor to enter the palace. ”

There were two guards standing at the gate, and one of the guards replied, "Master, we can't do this thing. Her Royal Highness the eldest princess is not in the mansion now, and she needs to go in and report this matter to the third prince. Please wait outside the door. ”

One of the guards dodged through the door and ran to report it. After a while, he came out and replied, "Everyone, please go back first." The third prince said that he was unwell and could not enter the palace. ”

When Deputy Commander Yu heard this, he was angry, hated the other party for not knowing the situation, and scolded: "We are on the emperor's orders, not to discuss in a low voice!" Even if you are unwell, you have to enter the palace, and it is kind to say that the invitation is a kind word! If you don't agree, you will become a toast and don't eat and drink, and you will be arrested and put into the palace! ”

The guard at the gate was a person who was not convinced, and defended: "This is the eldest princess's mansion, and the emperor has always favored the eldest princess, so you royal guards dare to be rude here?" ”

Deputy Commander Yu was a little stiff when he saw the matter, turned his head to Blacksmith Xu and said, "Future Commander, how do you think this matter should be handled?" ”

Blacksmith Xu stood aside and watched, feeling uneasy in his heart, it seemed that his worries just now were not superfluous! said to the deputy commander: "Why don't you take someone to wait here, I will go in and have a private chat with the third prince and persuade him." ”

Deputy Commander Yu knew the outcome of this matter, and expected that he would have to use force to solve it today, but he didn't want to offend the eldest princess, so he agreed to Blacksmith Xu's proposal, and it didn't hurt to wait.

The two guards at the door let Blacksmith Xu walk in the gate, and closed the door tightly with a "bang", regardless of the deputy commander Yu Standing outside the door angrily, how would the group of people scold in their hearts?

Blacksmith Xu frowned, walked into the backyard with a heavy heart, came to the door of the guest room, knocked on the door and said, "Master Xuanyuan, are you awake?" ”

Someone in the house immediately echoed, and Xiaodi was heard crying out happily: "Ah, Daddy is here!" ”

Xu Xiaodi ran to the door and opened the door, pulled Xu Blacksmith's sleeve, and said, "Does Daddy know?" Someone wants the little brother to enter the palace, but the little brother is unwilling to go, what do you think about this matter? I promised to protect my little brother. ”

Blacksmith Xu smiled awkwardly, in view of his identity, it was difficult to answer this question for a while, took his son's hand, walked to the bedside, and still according to his previous title, asked, "Prince Xuanyuan, why don't you want to enter the palace?" The eldest princess is now in the palace, and the emperor has set up a banquet for her in the imperial garden, and if you go, you can drink a few glasses of imperial wine. ”

Xuanyuan Mingyu sat leaning on the head of the bed and asked lonely, "What am I doing in the palace?" ”

Blacksmith Xu decided to explain the reason to Xuanyuan Mingyu clearly, and said with a guilty face: "The eldest princess recommended Xu to the emperor to be the commander of the Imperial Forest Army. Xu played a set of drunken boxing at the imperial banquet, and was ordered to come over with Deputy Commander Yu to invite the three princes into the palace. If the third prince doesn't go, this matter becomes tricky. ”

Xuanyuan Mingyu didn't trust the emperor of the Western Qin Kingdom, and politely refused: "Uncle Xu, it's okay not to go to the land of right and wrong." The emperor of the Western Qin State decided that I was a murderer, so why should I send myself to the door to ask for trouble? ”

Blacksmith Xu replied truthfully: "Deputy Commander Yu led more than a dozen Imperial Forest Army to wait outside the door, if they knew that the third prince did not agree to enter the palace, they would rush in and forcibly arrest people." ”

"I'll resist arrest!" Xuanyuan Mingyu replied firmly.

Xiaodi shouted anxiously next to him: "Daddy, you want to be an official?" Be an official and have a conscience to catch the little brother into the palace, or don't be an official! ”

Xu Xiaodi's words touched Blacksmith Xu, who felt that his son's words were worth considering, and hesitated.

"Daddy, the little brother resists arrest, let's help him! Why don't the three of us run away together? ”

Blacksmith Xu listened to his son's suggestion, thought for a moment, and said to Xuanyuan Mingyu: "Master Xuanyuan, since we met, we have all taken care of each other, and Xu will not embarrass you to do anything!" Today's incident is extraordinary, if my father and son help you resist arrest, you will definitely offend the eldest princess, which is equivalent to being the enemy of the emperor of the Western Qin Kingdom! ”

"The eldest princess is sincere to me, if she knows what I mean, she won't force me to enter the palace, it's not an offense to her! As for the Emperor of the Western Qin State, he has always regarded me as an enemy, and there is no room for relaxation. ”

Blacksmith Xu thanked Xuanyuan Mingyu for his openness and honesty, and asked, "Your body has not recovered yet, and you can't break out alone." Xu is willing to work with Xiaodi to protect you and rush out. This official position of the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, don't do it! ”

"Great!" Little Flute cheered.

Blacksmith Xu looked at his son with a smile, and then said: "It's just that we have to discuss where to go, probably the city gate has been closed, and we can't leave the capital for the time being." ”

Xuanyuan Mingyu was grateful to Blacksmith Xu for his deep understanding of righteousness, and said without thanks: "I know that there is a place that is now an empty house, and the officers and soldiers will not go in to search it, and it is full of food and drink. ”

"Where is it? So good. Xu Xiaodi hurriedly asked.

"Prime Minister Hu Cheng's Mansion. Uncle Xu also knew that yesterday Prime Minister Hu and they left in a hurry and returned to their hometown. It should be a safer haven. ”

Blacksmith Xu nodded in agreement, and ordered Xuanyuan Mingyu and Xiaodi to wait in the house, and went to the door to prepare to send Deputy Commander Yu to leave.

Deputy Commander Yu and more than ten soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army waited impatiently, discussed breaking into the door, and suddenly saw the door open, Xu Blacksmith appeared at the door with a saber in his hand, his eyes were very firm, and his easy-going appearance was completely different from just now, and said in a resolute tone: "Everyone, the third prince will not enter the palace with you, and Xu has decided not to go back." ”

Deputy Commander Yu sneered in a nasal voice and threatened, "Do you think the Royal Forest Army can be sent away so easily? If the three princes dare to resist arrest, we will be ordered to kill them! ”

Blacksmith Xu rotated the saber, drew an arc in the cold light, and sneered: "Your fox tail is finally exposed?" pretended to invite the three princes to the palace for a banquet, but in fact, he was looking for an opportunity to kill him? Fortunately, the three princes have bright hearts. But, truth be told, this saber isn't bad! ”