Regarding Xia Huan's reaction, Xia Yan was also expected.

The third prince, Xia Xu, wanted Xia Huan to rely on the work of grain and grass, and then gain a foothold in the court and divide part of the forces belonging to the prince.

Similarly, for Xia Last, it is natural to hope that Xia Huan can influence the prestige of the third prince Xia Xu and the general Ji Shu in the army.

Moreover, judging from Xia Huan's initiative to lead troops to the Qi State this time, he has obviously touched the interests of the great general Ji Shu.

Especially now that there are four armies under Xia Huan's command, it makes Ji Shu lose face.

In other words, Xia Huan's existence has already made Ji Shu feel threatened.

Even if the threat is insignificant, a little bit is enough to put the two sides on opposite sides.

"Brother Fool is naturally not that cold-hearted person, Brother Fool just wants to remind you to think about the path you want to take in the future as soon as possible. This Northern Expedition is also a big victory, and your credit is not small, so you must seize the opportunity. ”

Xia Yan's voice was not loud, but it was enough for the Empress Dowager Chu and Empress Jing on the side to hear it.

Empress Jing herself is a person who has insight into the court situation, and the prince has paved the way, so she naturally said casually: "Yes, Huan'er, now that you have a family, you also need to choose your future goals as soon as possible." Although your father is strict, he is also a meritorious person. Even if you want that Sanchuan County, it's okay to see it in this palace. ”

Since the beginning of Taizu, the state of Chu has always placed great emphasis on rewarding meritorious deeds and punishing those who have done so.

Even, even the current Chu Emperor Xia Ze fought more than ten battles before he was named the son of Taizu, who was only King Chen at the time.

In the past, Xia Huan didn't have any credit, and even had no reputation, so when she was crowned the king, Queen Jing was already very satisfied.

However, now that Xia Huan has made such a great contribution for the Chu State, Empress Jing will naturally not sit back and watch her son suffer.

After Queen Jing finished speaking, she didn't forget to look at the Queen Mother and said, "Queen Mother, you loved Huan'er the most in the past, but you can't let him suffer!" ”

Empress Dowager Chu nodded with a smile and said, "That's natural. ”

However, although Empress Dowager Chu said so, she did not say anything more specific. Obviously, she also knew that the initiative in all this was still in the hands of Emperor Chu.

"Thank you, Auntie." Facing the amiable Empress Dowager Chu, Xia Huan bowed respectfully.

"Queen Mother, I have also seen this plum blossom, the weather is cold outside, let's go back to the palace first." Just a mouthful, Empress Jing opened her mouth to stop the topic again.

Being in the harem, she obviously understands better what it means to be haste.

However, Empress Dowager Chu's love for Han Yi seems to have exceeded Xia Huan's estimates.

Originally, it stands to reason that Xia Huan should have left with Han Yi. However, the Empress Dowager Chu liked it too much, so she had to pull Han Yi to talk for a while.

Taking this opportunity, the crown prince Xia Yan said to Xia Huan again: "Old Seven, you may not have come back for a long time, why don't you go with your brother?" ”

Xia Huan glanced at the figure of the Empress Dowager Chu and the others leaving, and responded, "Huh." ”

In winter, the palace is not covered in silver, but it is also decorated with various evergreens and plum blossoms. It doesn't seem boring.

Since Xia Yan wants to talk to Xia Huan alone, he naturally has a strong purpose.

After the two brothers walked through a long palace road, Xia Yan said: "The third brother has ten days to return to the capital......

Xia Huan was silent for a while, and said, "It seems that it is a few days earlier than expected. ”

"Of course, he won't rest assured that you and my brother are in Shoudu at the same time." Xia Yan still had a calm smile, but the chill in his tone was a little worse than this winter day.

"The foolish brother doesn't understand what the elder brother means." Xia Huan shook his head and said.

Xia Yan didn't care about Xia Huan's pretending to be confused, but he put away the previous coldness.

"You and Lao Liu acted on your own in Qi Country, it would be good if it failed, but it's a pity that it went so smoothly. What do you think, what will the three brothers think? ”

"Naturally, I was very happy."

"Huh." Xia Yan smiled and said no more.

Suddenly, the palace road returned to its original tranquility.

I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, Xia Yan took Xia Huan unknowingly, and walked to the door of the main hall.

Today is not the day of the Imperial Court, so the door of the main hall is tightly closed.

However, the solemn appearance still carries a trace of inviolable majesty.

"After so many years, I finally figured it out......" At the entrance of the main hall, Xia Yan suddenly opened his mouth again.

Xia Huan leaned slightly and made the appearance of a listener.

"Once, I have been thinking, with my father's intelligence, don't you know what kind of impact his actions will have a hundred years later?"

Xia Huan's voice was very calm, but he heard Xia Huan in a cold sweat.

Slandering the monarch is a felony in any dynasty and generation. Even if Xia Yan is the crown prince, it is no exception.

"Although the world is much more peaceful today than that of the Warring States. However, it is still a troubled time after all. Xia Yan still didn't seem to realize how dangerous what he said, and still stared at the main hall, talking to himself.

"The nations will not perish, and wars will not cease. I remember my father saying this every time he taught us. Martial arts are in charge, where is the rule of culture? From the very beginning, Wenzhi was inferior to martial arts. ”

"That's the case, but my father still handed over the power of the armor to the third brother, so how can I, the prince, deal with myself?"

Speaking of which, it is not difficult to hear the resentment of the crown prince Xia Yan.

Xia Yan paused, a relieved smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said, "However, I understood a little later. ”

"Which point?" This was the first time Xia Huan couldn't help but ask.

"The State of Chu is inseparable from General Ji Shuji, just as the State of Han is inseparable from Zhou Yafu, and the State of Qi is inseparable from Kuai Mu. However, I am the son of the queen mother, so I am destined to be impossible to go on the same path with the Ji family. ”

Prince Xia Last's words were like a thunderbolt, which instantly exploded in Xia Huan's heart.

Since it is impossible for the prince and the pillar of the country to go together, it is better to choose one to preserve it than to burn the jade.

Then, it is self-evident who Emperor Chu gave up and who he saved.

If you want to destroy a man, you must first make a man mad. Or to put it another way, the first to blame is dead.

It is not difficult to imagine how the three princes, who have already mastered a certain strength, will react once the crown prince Xia Yan ascends the throne.

With the prestige of the current Chu Emperor Xia Ze, and the 50,000 Shenwu Army of the First Division of the World outside Shoudu, in the short term, the Three Princes and Ji Shu will definitely not dare to make a move.

However, once you fall behind, you will always fall behind.

The Three Princes and Ji Shu will be extremely scruples, but the crown prince, who occupies the righteousness and orthodoxy, can justifiably reduce the influence of Ji Shu.

The reduction of power will certainly bring about a further sense of crisis.

Either this season is under the growing sense of crisis of the three princes, and they choose to break out, or they will die silently.

But even if they resist, will they have a chance to win?

It is simply impossible to plan for the overthrow of the country without months or even years of preparation. Especially in the case of losing the opportunity, it is even more difficult.

Moreover, although Ji Shu's hands occupy more than half of the army, these generals are changed every few years. This means that it is extremely difficult for Ji Shu to completely control an army from top to bottom.

Without a regular army, the only force they can rely on is the nominal army that they have paid for and cultivated.

Suddenly, Xia Huan thought of the news that Emperor Xia Ze of Chu had privately revealed to him before the Northern Expedition.

From the very beginning, this Northern Expedition not only wanted to defeat Qi and Han, but also had the purpose of consuming the Fan army funded by those families.

Thinking of this, Xia Huan couldn't help but shudder.