and the paper-like Father-in-law Xia.

When he was younger, he always had many folds on his face. It's like a wide skin on the bone frame, with a perennial slumped face, and a look of arrogance when he doesn't do anything, especially the mean corners of his mouth, which are extremely hateful.

He single-handedly trained Shen Xiulan, taught him how to please that woman, and taught him how to become a person who is loved by everyone.

It's just that Shen Xiulan doesn't like herself like this.

He didn't like to be like an animal, to play with that woman's poodle, to swallow so many sweets he didn't like, and to be pretended to be a boy who was neither male nor female, being pushed around by the women in the house, and saying auspicious words in his mouth.

But as soon as he made a look of resistance, Grandpa Xia would stare at him gloomily, and if he didn't correct it immediately, he would definitely eat him on his waist and buttocks.

Shen Xiulan didn't dare to cry. I had to keep laughing.

Father-in-law Xia is ruthless and vicious, and he screws everything that others can't see.

At first, Shen Xiulan hid in the quilt and cried countless times, crying how his mother entrusted him to such a scumbag.

Later, Shen Xiulan became more and more comfortable with this matter of pleasing him, and he received fewer and fewer punishments. The number of people he flattered also increased. He was finally able to stand in front of his father. His titular "sister", the woman's daughter, also grew to love to play with him—a good-looking and thoughtful teenager, who didn't like it?

Shen Xiulan had forgotten the pain of being physically punished by Gonggong Xia when he was a child, and he gradually believed that he had mastered the key to his fate. As long as he turns the key one more time, he can control his own destiny.

He will wash away his shame, and those days of wronging under the fence will be buried in the shadows, and he will stand under the light of heaven and enjoy the dignity and glory he deserves.

The mother's wails would still sound in her sleep, and Shen Xiulan was almost used to it.

Wait until that day... He's going to ruin everything that has hurt their mother and son, mother... Mother, you can rest assured!

He is like a dormant cheetah, waiting only for an opportunity.

It will pounce on it and bite off the enemy's neck.

At the age of seventeen, Shen Xiulan thought that his time had come.

My father almost didn't survive this catastrophe, and I saw that it was going to fail; The eldest brother died early, and the second brother was too sick to get out of bed... A few younger brothers just know how to run... This time, it's your turn!

As long as my father returns to heaven... Apart from him Shen Xiulan, who else is qualified and capable? As long as he sits on the throne of God, he will slowly eradicate the party of concubines... Then I moved my mother's clothes and crown into the temple...

Shen Xiulan secretly inquired, his father's injury was not light, even if he didn't return to heaven immediately, it was only a few months... It's all about this time, and it's time for him to prepare for the aftermath!

But... It is also necessary to prevent the concubine from getting in the way, so she has to help her younger brother to ascend to the throne and control the government by herself... No, you must install your own people by your father's side! Otherwise, even if the will is beneficial to you, it will inevitably be tampered with!

At this moment, an olive branch stretched out to Shen Xiulan - "Third Highness, come on, let's get what you crave together!" ”

At first, Shen Xiulan didn't want to be in the company of these courtiers. He knew very well that these people were all opportunistic people who wanted to help him ascend to the throne and get a lot of benefits.

Shen Xiulan was reluctant because it was unnecessary.

In Shen Xiulan's eyes, the throne will be his own sooner or later, and his father has no choice. There was no need for him to risk following these ministers.

However, they brought a piece of news that made Shen Xiulan feel that the sky was falling apart - the heir to the throne was not him at all!

His father said: "The third child is indeed likable, but he is too clever to be a play... It's really hard to deal with it..."

Shen Xiulan almost wanted to scold her mother.

You are a father, do you care about Lao Tzu's life or death?

If Lao Tzu doesn't do this, does Lao Tzu live to this day? Can you be reasonable?

After the madness, Shen Xiulan was completely desperate.

If his younger brother inherits the throne... Won't you never see the light of day?

In that case, let's fight to the death!

If you don't ascend to bliss, you will go to hell!

Shen Xiulan accepted the olive.

Everyone didn't know how much preparation had been made, how many secret arrangements had been made, and Shen Xiulan couldn't remember it clearly.

He only remembered that day, he knelt outside the palace gate, waiting for the news of his father's death.

It was a little cold, and his knees started to hurt.

He inexplicably remembered one day many years ago, when he and his mother knelt outside the Zhu Gate...

Let's end it! Let's get it over quickly!

He is tired of being a clown in the palace, he wants to show his fangs and show the world that he, Shen Xiulan, is not a joker who is entertained by others!

The palace doors opened.

But the eunuchs standing in the door were not eunuchs who came to announce the decree, but the red-faced father and the concubine with a pink face. Both were dressed up, apparently prepared for a long time.

Fooled!

Shen Xiulan seemed to be slapped on the head, and he lost his words for a while, but the habit he had developed over the years made his tears roll down, and he fell at his father's feet and cried:

"Erchen knows that Erchen's wise and martial father could leave Erchen so easily... Father, your illness, your son's sky has fallen... The son is willing to dedicate his life to his father... The son is useless, but he can make his father and mother happy... If you can exchange your son's life for the safety and smoothness of your father and mother, how can you not exchange it..."

Seeing his emotion crying, the concubine said softly: "Your Majesty, look, the concubine said, the third child is an honest man, and the concubine raised him, how can he not know?" ”

It turned out that this bureau was made by his father to test him...

Emperor Chirou nodded, then frowned again, "It's also yours." This kid is a good boy, and the people around him are too pickled. ”

The concubine nodded: "What Your Majesty said is that the concubines will go back and torture them, which one dares to contact the courtiers privately for the prince." ”

Shen Xiulan was in a cold sweat, no, if you do this, you will be finished! We must find an opportunity to get rid of the middleman!

was about to try to get out, but he heard the emperor say: "Come on, bring the Third Highness down." Take the subordinates around him down and torture them tightly, and don't let any of them go! ”

It turned out that his father did not dispel his suspicions, and detained Shen Xiulan because he was afraid that he would go back to confess.

It's over, it's over. Shen Xiulan felt that the world was spinning, but fortunately he was kneeling on the ground, if he was standing, he might have fallen to the ground.

Shen Xiulan was held here for three days.

He simply didn't want to eat. However, he knew that if he showed something wrong, he would suffer first.

I don't know how long it will take, but someone from the palace will come over: "Third Highness, you can go back." ”

"What?" Shen Xiulan was stunned for a moment, and then asked, "What did my father come up with?" Which... How dare a slave do me like this? ”

The palace man lowered his eyebrows, but said, "Third Highness, do you remember the slave?" ”

"You..."Shen Xiulan was speechless for a moment, "I've seen you, but... But..."

"Back to the Third Highness," the little palace man raised his eyebrows and beautiful face, "The slave maid is a pity." ”

"Li'er?" Shen Xiulan remembered, "You're not Grandpa Xia's goddaughter?" I've seen you once..."

"Exactly." "Right now, Your Majesty and Niangniang are over there." The slave happened to come and pass the word. ”

"Li'er," Shen Xiulan was so anxious that she wanted to cry, "What did they come up with?" ”

"Your Highness is smart. When I got back, I tried to get the letter and release the letter by myself, and I was not seen by those minions... It's just—" Li'er's eyes drooped, "how can they give up without trying out something?" ”

Shen Xiulan secretly raised a little monkey of a spirit beast, and when she returned to the capital, she ordered the monkey to release the letter, and then the informant took it outside the palace. Later, in order to avoid being discovered, Shen Xiulan had already destroyed the monkey. It can be said that God does not know the ghost.

"That's... So what's going on? Shen Xiulan was in a hurry, and Li'er always didn't say in the direction he wanted to know.

"You're safe." Li'er sighed, "It's just that the slave wants to tell you something else." ”

Shen Xiulan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's okay, speak slowly." Let's go back to your godfather, let's get together..."

"Godfather..."Li'er's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears fell, "There is no godfather... Before he left, he had to ask the slave to bring some words to the Third Highness..."

"What? He..."Shen Xiulan felt a bolt from the blue, "How could it be?" He doesn't know anything..."

"Your Highness! Don't be stupid! Li'er's voice raised an octave, almost crying, and after shouting this, her voice lowered again, "Your Majesty has the evidence you have taken from the minister... If the godfather doesn't recruit... How did you end up here... If they don't find out the results, how can they stop... When my godfather saw that none of them knew anything, he recognized it..."

Shen Xiulan's arms hung down weakly.

Li'er wiped her tears and continued: "Third Highness, my godfather didn't blame you... He also said that you are bold and careful, and you will be successful in the future... This time, it's just that you are too young to be planted in the hands of Your Majesty... In the future, be careful...

He said that he entered the palace since he was a child and never thought that he could have children... So he privately disciplines you as if you were his own son... It's just that... In the future, when you are older, you will not need him. If you have the ability in the future, go to the crossroads outside the city, burn some incense paper for him, and then his soul will pass by and come to eat, and if you can enter the palace, he will protect you..."

Li'er was already crying.

"Anything else?" Shen Xiulan muttered, "What else did he say?" ”

Li'er gritted her teeth to curb her crying, and said, "Third Highness, my godfather's surname is Xia, and his single name is a righteous word. You don't know, do you? Please remember his name... Sometime... Burn him more paper money in the future..."

Li'er shed tears again, and her words became blurred: "Your Highness, you don't know... My godfather doesn't lie to you... He bit off his tongue... But His Majesty still wants to delay him... And let's all watch from the side... He was cut nearly 3,000 times..."

Li'er began to cry as she spoke.

When there was a loud cry, Li'er saw Shen Xiulan slumped to the ground, her eyes blank.