Three days before the holy birthday, the envoys of the Qiang State who came to worship finally arrived in the capital, and the next day they met with Emperor Qingping. What is surprising is that in addition to the crown prince who has participated in the political affairs of the court, and the second prince who is observing and studying, Emperor Qingping actually invited the three princes in the study to meet the envoy of the Qiang State together, and Xiao Ping was naturally among them.

Qianyang Palace, the main hall.

Emperor Qingping is high, and the more prominent below are the five princes, the prince is the head, Xiao Ping is the last, and then the civil and military officials stand respectfully in two rows, and the court is solemn and majestic.

Xiao Ping was a little intoxicated, this was the first time he officially stood on the main hall of the court, he didn't feel the slightest fear and panic, but his whole body was full of blood, and his heart was eager to shout left and right in this solemn and majestic court, pointing out the country, so that thousands of subjects chanted and bowed, thinking of these, he couldn't help but close his eyes, fell into fantasy and indulged in it.

"Hey, your ambition is all written on your face."

Xiao Shan, who was standing next to him, whispered in his ear with a smile on his face, Xiao Ping was startled, opened his eyes, his face distorted for a moment, and he was secretly relieved to see that no one around him noticed him.

"How could someone as smart as you have that mind? I don't believe it. ”

Xiao Ping also replied to Xiao Shan, although he also realized that his performance just now was really undesirable, but he was still unhappy that Xiao Shan made fun of him, saying as if he was really a hermit master with a pure heart and few desires and indifferent to fame and fortune, but he was also a vulgar person.

"I'll just warn you, don't forget the one who is on top, it's clear below."

Xiao Ping was suddenly taken aback, wanting to look up to see if Emperor Qingping had noticed his abnormality, but he didn't dare to make more movements, so as not to attract more attention, so he pretended to be a quail, lowered his head, shrunk his shoulders, and continued to be his transparent prince.

Looking at his appearance, Xiao Shan felt funny, and couldn't help but point at him and laugh, "You, you, the fifth brother is really a joke." ”

The voice was loud and unscrupulous, and the ministers on the left and right couldn't help but squint at him.

"Why are my four princes laughing?"

Seeing that Xiao Shan was so wanton in the court, Emperor Qingping was not only not dissatisfied, but asked with a smile.

Xiao Shan restrained his laughing posture, smiled with a smile, and bowed down and said, "Back to my father, just now the fifth brother said that the hundred officials of the previous dynasty stood on both sides of the line, just like the harem concubines and mothers sitting on both sides of the Fengyi Palace, I couldn't help but be stunned, or my son woke him up, he said this, my son couldn't help laughing, how can the harem of the previous dynasty be comparable?" ”

Xiao Ping knew that this was Xiao Shan's relief for his inappropriate behavior just now, but he still gritted his teeth, as soon as Xiao Shan's words came out, he compared the harem women with the hundred officials of the previous dynasty, didn't he completely offend all the civil and military ministers present? But he couldn't justify it, if he couldn't round that moment of exposure, Emperor Qingping must always be vigilant about himself, the prince who has been ambitious since he was a child, and he will be under surveillance in the future, and he will be helpless to do anything.

So at this time, he had to follow Xiao Shan to speak, and at the same time secretly warned himself that he should not expose his true thoughts on any occasion, and he was as passive as today.

Sure enough, the ministers of civil and military affairs all looked at Xiao Ping angrily, but they dared not speak angrily, as soon as Xiao Ping was a prince and his status was noble, they had scruples; Second, the harem concubines used as a metaphor are also noble, and some are daughters or clansmen present. So even if they are compared to women in the deep palace, they have to hold back their displeasure, scold angrily in their hearts, and don't care about the shaft.

Emperor Qingping, who was sitting on the throne, dispelled the uncertainty of seeing Xiao Ping's ambition exposed, and laughed in his heart, how could the mediocre fifth prince have that kind of mind, he was just a child.

However, what he said really has some truth, these civil and military ministers are indeed like women in the deep palace, competing for fame, fortune and status.

"This is a fresh statement, why do you think so?"

Seven-year-old Xiao Ping ignored Xiao Shan, who was looking at him narrowly, and stood up from among the princes, ignoring the scrutiny of the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs and the rest of the people, he puffed out his cheeks shamelessly, his eyes were ignorant, "Isn't what the child said right?" So many people are the same as the concubines and mothers, and the children look at the same battle. ”

He sighed secretly in his heart, why hasn't he grown up? The acting school can't stand the onlookers with the bright eyes of the masses, and sooner or later they will have to show their flaws.

As soon as he finished speaking, General Murong who was standing among the courtiers couldn't help but glance at Second Master Murong and shook his head secretly, the fifth prince is also seven years old, how can he still be so ignorant and don't understand human feelings? Such outspoken offense offended the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs.

They didn't know the bitterness in Xiao Ping's heart, he was really careless and paid a heavy price, he wanted to shamelessly sell cuteness and perform a big show for onlookers, the onlookers did not applaud, all of them had black faces, and secretly scolded themselves, which was a painful lesson.

Emperor Qingping, who dispelled his doubts, waved his hand, let Xiao Ping return to his position, and said, "Xiao Wu is just a child, and all Aiqing should not be like him." ”

The ministers hurriedly said, "Don't dare, don't dare." ”

By the way, he couldn't help but praise Xiao Ping a few words, "Although the five princes are ignorant, they are sincere, and they are quite rare. ”

Emperor Qingping laughed in his heart, uncared about it, and then got down to business.

"Yesterday, the prince of the Qiang Kingdom came to the capital, and he went to worship today, so let's announce that they will go to the palace."

The ministers listened attentively, without the slightest commotion.

"Prince Xuanqiang goes to the palace."

The shrill voice of the chief eunuch Qian Gonggong was loud and loud, and it was heard far away.

All of them secretly craned their necks and waited for the arrival of the prince of Qiang, either curious, or pondering the purpose of the prince's coming, or some other unknown purpose.

Xiao Ping is also one of them, he is purely curious, what is this prince like, is it extraordinary, or has other exotic characteristics.

Soon, the three people who came in did not disappoint.

A very mature young man, dressed plainly and not luxuriously, with an angular and knife-carved face, about 1.8 meters tall, lined with Manchu Dynasty civil and military affairs have become flying catkins, fragile weak chickens.

The other two were supposed to be servants, and they both bowed down and carried a tray covered in silk, Xiao Ping guessed that it should be a gift from the Qiang State to Emperor Qingping's holy birthday.

"Qi Yun, the prince of Fanbangqiang, greets His Majesty." The young man bowed, rested his right hand on his shoulder, and performed the ritual of their Qiang country.

The two servants, however, knelt down and held aloft their silk-covered gifts.

"Get up."

Qi Yun bowed deeply again, "Thank you, Your Majesty." ”

Emperor Qingping looked at Qi Yun, who was standing straight, with a handsome appearance, firm eyes, and a tall figure, and gave an evaluation in his heart, this son is extraordinary.

"I heard that Prince Qi Yun is only fifteen this year, but I didn't expect him to be so tall, which surprised me."

After seeing the ceremony and looking at it, Emperor Qingping began to talk nonsense.

As soon as these words came out, not only did the ministers in the palace talk about it, but Xiao Ping was also dumbfounded, this great man was actually only fifteen years old, what is the fourteen-year-old second prince?

Xiao Ping couldn't help but squint at the second prince who was more than one meter and five points, and really wanted to step forward and pat him on the shoulder, brother, don't be sad and go against the current, my younger brother is forty and seven this year, and he is still a child.

"Thank you for your majesty's praise, Qi Yun is ashamed." Qi Yun bowed deeply again, "This time Qi Yun came to the Shang Dynasty, but he came for two things. ”

Directly without procrastination, you can say that he is resolute and decisive, or you can say that he is rude and rude, but Qi Yun obviously doesn't care much about what others think of him.

He got up and walked to the servant who had been kneeling, and lifted the silk on his left, "First, I came here to celebrate Your Majesty's birthday, and I specially present the twelve lotus seeds of the lotus flower that grows on the top of the snow-capped mountains on the grassland. ”

Then he lifted the silk on the right, "A relic left by the living Buddha of the grassland when he passed away, both of which are national treasures of the Qiang State, this time my father specially asked Qi Yun to bring them to His Majesty." ”

Emperor Qingping was silent, the lotus seeds of the twelve snow lotus flowers and the relics of the living Buddha are indeed the national treasures of the Qiang State, but it is true that they must have asked for such a heavy gift.

He said, "I heard that there is a drought on the grasslands of Qiang this year, there is no abundance of pasture, cattle and sheep are hungry, and the herdsmen are also having a hard time. ”

Qi Yun did not hesitate, and his face was expressionless, and he said frankly, "Don't hide it from Your Majesty, the Qiang Kingdom has not rained in the spring and summer this year, the pasture is not abundant, and the herdsmen really can't live, so my father entrusted Qi Yun to ask Your Majesty for help, if Your Majesty can help the Qiang State, the Qiang State is willing to be a state forever." ”

Emperor Qingping laughed shamefully, "What if I don't agree?" Is the Qiang State still preparing to invade the Central Plains in the south? ”

Qi Yun bowed his head and was silent, if the Qiang State had the strength to invade the Central Plains, he would not let him come here to ask for help if he was wronged, and he would kill him directly with a big knife, okay?

Emperor Qingping didn't want to be too persecuted, and really let the herdsmen of the Qiang State not survive, regardless of the southward Central Plains, and start the war lightly, so he said, "This is a national matter, although I can make a decision as the emperor, but it is precisely because I am the emperor, let alone hasty, I can't give the prince an answer now, after tomorrow's holy birthday, I will definitely give the prince a result, what does the prince think?" ”

Seeing that Emperor Qingping did not refuse, Qi Yun couldn't help but loosen his tight heartstrings, and his face was also relaxed, he bowed down and retired, "Your Majesty, Qi Yun wishes Your Majesty immortality for a long time, long live and prolong life, Qi Yun retires." ”

His idiom is blunt, and he should have just learned it.

Emperor Qingping nodded, Qi Yun retreated, and the servant next to him handed the gift to the eunuch who came up and left.

Xiao Ping squinted at the back of Qi Yun leaving, thinking to himself, the grassland is dry, and the herdsmen are not happy, is this a good time to reach out to the grassland?