The strange and uneasy feeling in his heart became stronger and stronger, and finally, looking at the fire that was large but had been gradually controlled, the young general called the few royal guards who relied on him to quickly run in the direction of the Flying Feather Courtyard.

It's not that he is too cautious, but he knows very well that the crown princess, who can make His Royal Highness the crown prince very popular, is definitely a person as smart as ice and snow, how can this kind of person be willing to be guarded like a prisoner in the palace and not take action?

This fire came too strangely, and the time was too coincidental, under these many strange and coincidental coincidences, he had to hang his heart high, only after making sure that the crown princess stayed in the Flying Feather Courtyard safe and sound, he could really feel at ease.

However, to the surprise of the Royal Foresters, when they were cooperating with the people of the palace to fight the fire, several figures quickly moved along the back wall of the palace to a remote corner; Then, a rather strong figure crossed the wall, only to hear a few pops of flesh falling to the ground outside, followed by a crisp birdsong from outside.

Hearing the signal, Wuchen helped Chu Xingyue to climb the back wall first, followed Chu Xingyue and jumped down from the wall, and was steadily caught by the people waiting below; According to this action and order, Chun Xing and Xiao Ruiyuan were also sent out like this.

Therefore, when the Imperial Forest Army realized that the situation was not quite right and came to the Flying Feather Courtyard, what they saw was a picture of people going to the empty courtyard.

The young general of the Royal Forest Army looked at the empty room with a face of defeat, and gave an order to the brothers behind him: "The person should not have run too far, take the person and chase and arrest him at full speed; Remember, if we can't find the crown princess, our lives will be over. ”

Hearing the young general's order, everyone immediately scattered, and everyone did their best to do this with a gloomy face.

No one thought that the crown princess would take advantage of the fire in the mansion and suddenly hide, you know, during the day, she had just experienced injuries and illnesses, and her body left in such a weak condition, did she really disregard her life?

The young general of the Imperial Forest Army suddenly thought of the child hiding on the rockery and setting off fireworks, and glanced at the person who followed him, and the person immediately understood and quickly went to investigate; Within half a cup of tea, the man found out and came back to report to the young general.

"The child is also gone, the whole palace has been rummaged, and the brother on the back wall was attacked and knocked unconscious, and the mother should have escaped from the back wall; It's also our fault that the guards are inevitably looser when they only care about fighting the fire, which makes her seize the opportunity. ”

The face of the young general of the Royal Forest Army was very ugly, and he said, "No! From the very beginning we were fooled, what fire, what fireworks? These were all planned by her; It should be someone who should take Niangniang away from the outside, and that fireworks is her signal for help, blame us, underestimate the enemy, and let people slip away under their noses. ”

No one expected that a half-year-old child would be so good at acting that he would deceive all of them.

The young general walked quickly towards the door, and the person behind him asked, "Where are you going?" ”

The young general's ugly face was hidden in the night, and he could only hear the tightness of his tone at this time through his voice: "There is such a big thing in the Ling Palace, I can't hide it from the emperor, I want to go to the palace and tell the emperor about the situation in the palace; The rest of you, send a team to continue to guard the palace, and the rest of the people are all sent out to find people. ”

"Yes."

……

King Ling's Mansion is in dire straits because of a fire, and Zhao Ling, who is under house arrest in Changxin Palace at the moment, has changed out of the prince's clothes on his body and put on the royal forest army suit handed over by Xiao Gang; And Xiao Gang simply draped the clothes that Zhao Ling had changed into on his body, looking at the posture, as if he wanted to replace Zhao Ling in this Changxin Palace.

After Zhao Ling changed his clothes, Xiao Gang shouted at the gate of the palace, and followed, and four young generals dressed as the Imperial Forest Army walked in from outside the palace, and the young generals came to Zhao Ling, and immediately kowtowed and saluted: "Subordinates, see His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

Zhao Ling quietly glanced at the four young generals kneeling on the ground, and at the same time turned his head to look at Xiao Gang standing beside him, and asked silently.

Xiao Gang said: "Your Highness, these four people are not the emperor's people, but the best brothers that your subordinates have made in the Imperial Forest Army over the years, and they will loyally follow Your Highness and protect Your Highness from the palace." ”

After Xiao Gang finished speaking, as if in response to his words, the four young generals kneeling on the ground immediately said in unison: "My subordinates are willing to follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the death and be willing to be loyal." ”

Seeing this scene, Zhao Ling believed that Xiao Gang was sincerely helping him.

It's just that since he is the person of his father and the emperor, and he has betrayed himself, why is he so good to himself now?

Zhao Ling looked at Xiao Gang with deep eyes, the man in front of him was the most loyal brother when he was still in the palace, he regarded him as a close friend, and when he enjoyed the glory and wealth, he never forgot his merits; Even Zhao Ling thought in his heart more than once that if one day, he ascended the throne and became emperor, he would definitely not forget these people who had really helped him when he was weak.

However, the reality told him that his thoughts and thoughts were really a bit ridiculous, Xiao Gang had never been his person, but a secret stake sent to him by his father; As long as he thinks that all his true feelings have been trampled on and ignored by others over the years, he can't wait to drag the person in front of him out and never see each other again.

But now, seeing him wearing his own clothes to stay in Changxin Palace instead of himself, Zhao Ling hesitated, he really wanted to know, in his Xiao Gang's heart, did he really not have the love of sharing weal and sorrow for so many years?

"Over the years, you have been watching me for my father, and after betraying me, have you ever had a troubled conscience?"

Xiao Gang didn't expect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to suddenly ask him this question, he thought that this answer was no longer important to His Royal Highness, in the Tai'an Palace, after knowing his true identity from the mouth of Emperor Showa, he was already chilled by him to the extreme, but he didn't expect that he still asked this question.

Could it be that His Royal Highness has some affection for him?

Xiao Gang has followed Zhao Ling's side for several years, and the two have been heart-to-heart, so Xiao Gang knows more about Zhao Ling; He clearly knew that the master he followed was a man of love and righteousness, he was not as cold as he seemed on the surface, but in fact he was very kind and soft in his heart; This is also the real reason why over the years, there have been more and more people around him who are willing to follow.

However, it was because of knowing this that he felt extremely guilty, and Xiao Gang couldn't tell lies at this time.

He hung his head and said, "Since the moment my subordinates were led into the palace, the master who was loyal to follow him was the son of heaven; Whatever the master wants me to do, my subordinates will do, and I dare not slack off, let alone be disobedient. ”

When Zhao Ling heard this answer, he couldn't recognize it and smiled: "Of course Your Highness knows your loyalty, Xiao Gang, what Your Highness wants to know is that Your Highness is very attentive to you, even if you cover a stone in your heart, that stone should be hot, what about you?" Is your heart harder than a stone? Father is the master to you, so what is His Highness to you? Is it really just the object you're looking at? ”

"Your Highness, your subordinate is a dead eye, and after deciding to follow one master, you can't give your loyalty to a second person."

"Good! You don't have to answer too much, Your Highness knows your answer. ”

Zhao Ling put away the softness in his heart, and when he looked at Xiao Gang again, his eyes were full of coldness: "It's really the most loyal dog by my father's side, what you are doing to His Royal Highness now should only want to make up for it; If one day, my father asks you to continue to stare at His Highness, you will still do it as usual, won't you? ”

Xiao Gang's head hung lower, so that Zhao Ling could barely see the expression on his face, only his tense body.

Zhao Ling sneered twice and said, "Xiao Gang, no matter what position this Royal Highness is placed by you in your heart; But after today, the comradeship between you and me who fought side by side is also broken. Tonight, His Royal Highness will accept your affection and follow the person you have arranged out of the palace; However, after His Royal Highness stepped out of the palace, even if you and I were even, no one owed anyone, and the grievances were cleared; From now on, if you say goodbye, it will be a stranger. ”

After speaking, Zhao Ling put the black hood hat on his head, followed, took the four young generals of the Royal Forest Army who followed behind him, and walked out of Changxin Palace without looking back.

Listening to the footsteps getting farther and farther, Xiao Gang finally raised his head slowly.

Seeing the black figure disappear into the night, hot tears finally rolled out of the corners of his eyes that had been moist for a long time.

As the saying goes, men don't flick when they have tears, but they haven't reached the sad place.

He knew very well that from the moment his identity was revealed, he was no longer qualified to stay by His Highness's side; Over the years, no one knows better than him how sincere His Highness has been to him; But after all, he failed His Highness's sincerity.

Therefore, he does not resent anyone after such an end.

He also knew that the question His Highness asked him just now also wanted to give him another chance, as long as he could seize this opportunity tightly and say a few words of goodwill, with His Highness's character, he would definitely forgive him for the wrong things he had done over the years.

However, after all, he couldn't pass the threshold of conscience, and in the end, he still said such things to hurt His Highness.

However, he did not regret doing this at all, because he knew that what he was asking now was not to say some good words and get His Royal Highness's forgiveness, but to embark on a path of atonement to repay His Highness's kindness to him over the years.

Thinking of all this, Xiao Gang quickly calmed himself down; Then, sit in the position where His Highness had previously sit, and instead of His Highness, stay in the Changxin Palace.

As for the consequences he would have to endure if he was discovered, he had no idea what he would do.