The next day, Xiao Yi and the three of them went up to the court to meet Xiao Wusheng together. Facing these three sons who have not seen each other for five years, Xiao Wusheng has mixed feelings. Especially for the emperor's eldest son Xiao Yi, Xiao Wusheng's heart was full of thousands of words, but he couldn't say a word.

After a few casual polite words, the father and son were silent. In the end, it was Xiao Wusheng who asked them to withdraw from the imperial study, and this too heavy and embarrassing atmosphere was broken.

Not long after the three of them walked out of the imperial study, Xiao Yao breathed a sigh of relief, "The atmosphere just now was really overwhelming, and I forgot to breathe for a while." ”

Xiao Li smiled, didn't make a sound, saw Xiao Yi standing aside thoughtfully, knowing that he still had something to do, so he looked at Xiao Yao and said, "It's rare to come back, just now my father also said that the two of us are allowed to go to see the concubine." Without further ado, let's hurry up, the palace door will be closed after the time of Shen. ”

Then, he looked at Xiao Yi and said, "Big brother, I and Lao Qi will go over first." ”

Xiao Yi nodded, and did not forget to remind them repeatedly, "Remember to go to the queen's place to meet the queen mother before going to see the two mothers." ”

Xiao Yao pursed his lips, looking very unwilling. Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Yao, and added a sentence bitterly, "If you don't want to make trouble for the two mothers, this is something that must be done." Gifts must not be abolished. ”

"Got it......" Xiao Yao replied a little frustrated, Xiao Li patted him on the shoulder and walked with him.

Xiao Yi stood in place and watched the figures of the two brothers getting farther and farther away, then turned around and walked towards the palace gate. When he was about to dismount, he saw Xiao Zhan standing next to his carriage, looking at him with a smile.

When Xiao Yi first saw his face disfigured by the scar, he was stunned for a moment, and then walked up to Xiao Zhan and said, "Fourth brother, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

"Big brother, let's get in the car first." Xiao Zhan made an invitation, but Xiao Yi did not refuse.

When the two first got into the carriage, they were not in a hurry to speak, but just sat opposite each other, as if they were waiting for the other to speak first. Seeing that the carriage had already driven out of the palace gate, Xiao Yi suddenly said, "Is the fourth brother waiting for me when he gets off the carriage today?" ”

"Sort of, I haven't seen you for many years, and I want to talk to my eldest brother for a while. Later, let's find a tavern in the royal capital, fry a few side dishes, and have a good chat, you see. ”

"Very good," Xiao Yi smiled and nodded. At the same time, the words that Xiao Yao said last night resurfaced in Xiao Yi's mind. He was suddenly a little curious, wanting to see if Xiao Zhan would take him to Lan Yin Ji again.

Seeing that he had arrived at the East Gate Market, the carriage turned around and came to a small alley. Xiao Yi followed Xiao Zhan out of the carriage and looked up to see an inn with a quiet environment.

The four gilded characters engraved on the plaque on the black background of the inn are hung high, so not magnificent. Xiao Yi turned his head sideways to look at Xiao Zhan in confusion, Xiao Zhan seemed to know what he was thinking, and explained while pulling him inside: "This is also a restaurant, you can eat here but don't stay overnight." Of course, if the eldest brother wants to stay here for one night, I recommend the Tianzi room here. ”

"No, just eat." Xiao Yi refused solemnly, even though he knew that what Xiao Zhan had just said was polite.

The two of them were led to the private room on the second floor by the shopkeeper, Xiao Zhan ordered a few dishes with a familiar car, and then closed the door, "The wine and food have not arrived yet, if you are hungry, drink some tea soup and eat some pastries first." The food here is not bad. ”

Xiao Yi took the tea bowl handed over by Xiao Zhan with both hands, sniffed it with his nose, and glanced at the color of the tea soup again, then put it down and said, "It seems that the master here should be a glutton." ”

Xiao Zhan thought of Ah Jin, and the smile in his eyes deepened, "Probably." ”

He echoed and sat down on the futon, waiting for Xiao Yat to get down to business.

"Originally, I was going to look for you, but I didn't expect the fourth brother to wait for me at the dismount...... In fact, I am not surprised at all, you have always been the smartest among us, and my father made you the crown prince in the first place, and he did not choose the wrong one. ”

"It's all a bit of the past, and I'm already a waste prince after all." Xiao Zhan listened to Xiao Yi's words, but he was not angry, but sighed.

Xiao Yi stared at him for a long time, but he couldn't figure out his thoughts. He frowned slightly, and suddenly felt a little solemn, "Fourth brother, what has happened for a while is really difficult for you." ”

"It's not embarrassing. It's just that the fourth brother doesn't understand why the eldest brother has been guarding the border for more than ten years, so why did he come back to take this trip to the troubled waters. Xiao Zhan lowered his head and gently rotated the teacup placed in front of him with his hand. The teacup was small, and he was completely toyed with.

Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment, and said helplessly: "I'm not coming back to fight for anything, it's just that there are some things that can't continue so unclearly." ”

"Are you referring to the fact that the Jade Guiren was framed back then, or is it something else?"

"It refers to both this matter and other things," Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Zhan, "Don't blame the eldest brother for meddling in your affairs just after he came back, I can't stay in the royal capital for much time." This time, I want to solve all of these things together. ”

Xiao Zhan was silent for a while, and then shook his head gently, "But big brother, I'm afraid that this time, you won't be able to go back to your northwest immediately for the time being." ”

"Why?" Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Zhan with some confusion.

"You only want justice for the people of your mother's family and those who died in vain, but the people who have been dormant in the king's capital and waiting for your return do not think so. This time, you are resolute and resolute, and you have forced me, Song Wenyu and Luo Teng into a corner, which will make those people think that you are going to come back and fight for that position. ”

"Well, I've thought about it. So I'm going to stay for ten days and then leave, and I won't stay long. Fourth brother, the eldest brother is doing well in the northwest, and he doesn't feel angry...... When I leave, these people will naturally scatter. ”

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yi's sincere eyes, and suddenly wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. He thought that when he was still young, he had been with this brother, the queen had already given birth to Xiao Shuo at that time, and for the eldest son left by the former queen, he was not lazy, but cold enough, but Ren Guifei loved him very much. It was only later that his father appointed him as the crown prince, and the relationship between the two was unconsciously estranged.

Xiao Zhan was disappointed because of such a change, and once thought that he would snub him because he became the prince Xiao Yi, but now that I think about it, there are indeed some villains who have the heart of a gentleman. His eldest brother, although he lost his mother at a young age, was well protected by his elders, so that when he grew up, he always had a pure heart, no matter what kind of things he encountered, he would not change his simple thoughts.

Xiao Zhan lowered his head and didn't look at Xiao Yi anymore, "It's so good, big brother, you haven't changed for so many years, it's so good." ”

Xiao Yi frowned and looked at him, he didn't know where to start with this thoughtless sentence, he wanted to say Xiao Zhan, you haven't changed, but he remembered the scar on his face again.

The scar is so obvious, and I said that he hadn't changed at this time, wouldn't it be a little open and talking nonsense?

"Don't worry, I know what's going on in your mind. If the crown prince is deposed this time, you should be the prince. ”

"There is nothing that should not be done, if you say the most deserved, it should be you, big brother, isn't it," Xiao Zhan raised his head to look at Xiao Yi, and his sharp gaze made Xiao Yi stunned.

He waved his hand and said disapprovingly: "How many times have I told you, I have no intention of taking the throne." ”

"People won't believe it. What's more, this time the saint summoned you back, and it is estimated that there is also a meaning for you to replace Xiao Shuo. ”

Xiao Zhan's words really shocked Xiao Yi, in this way, Xiao Li and Xiao Yao also hinted to him last night, he only felt that it was nonsense. Now similar words were heard from Xiao Zhan's mouth again, and he had to take them seriously.

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yi's raised brows, and said, "Think about it, on weekdays, you can only return to the royal capital when you are about to celebrate the New Year." But this year, my father advanced the news of calling you back to the palace to report on your work for half a year, and it happened to be at the juncture of my trial of the Huainan County case. ”

Xiao Yi was speechless, and there was no sound for a long time. He strung together everything that had happened during this period of time, and realized that he might have been used as a gun. Xiao Yi sneered several times, with a sullen feeling in his heart, and there was nowhere to vent, "He is really calculating, watching me busy before and after, but turning a blind eye." The Zhu family is arrogant and domineering, covering the sky with one hand in the royal capital, and he can't help it after all. We want to completely uproot the Zhu family by the hands of our brothers, and even the prince will be ...... Just like he did to the Yuan clan at the beginning. ”

"It's different," Xiao Zhan shook his head, "At the beginning, he left behind the bloodline of the Yuan clan because of your bitter pleading and active self-exile. But this time...... He will not show mercy. ”

Xiao Yi's temples jumped when he heard this, "What the hell does he want to do?" Depose the prince and uproot the Zhu family, there will always be a new prince, and the prince will always have a new reliance. It's just that he has to play the same game every time. ”

“…… Big brother, if you don't go back to the royal capital, I will be the only prince in the royal capital. So, he recruited you back. He won't let you go until the prince is decided. Xiao Zhan said this, with some frustration in his words.

This father of his, when Zhu Liangxin wanted to kill him, he ignored it; Concubine Liang and Xiao Nuo disappeared, and his mother secretly assisted them to leave the cannibalistic palace, and he poured his anger on him again.

At this point, he was hopeless, and even resentful, of this man who had no title of father. But he didn't expect that when he thought about these things, he would have heartache.

"Don't think about the past. Those are just your guesses, and there is no real evidence, so why bother yourself. Seeing that he was sitting there gloomy and terrible, Xiao Yat reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan raised his head and looked at Xiao Yi, and said coldly: "He doesn't want any of us to be the crown prince, because he is still expecting Lao Jiu to come back." ”

Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Zhan in a daze, and then lowered his head for a while, "I knew this was the case...... Why bother at the beginning, didn't he think that at the beginning, didn't he think that Concubine Liang had an adulterous affair with someone, and the ninth brother was not his bloodline, so he would be so ruthless......"

The corners of Xiao Zhan's mouth hooked up a sarcastic smile, "That's an idea under anger, but after so many years, he regrets it." Perhaps, he had figured out the whole thing, but he just didn't want to admit how stupid he was in the first place. ”

"But the wood is already in the boat, what can I regret. If you do something wrong, you do something wrong, even if your father is a saint, you don't regret taking medicine. ”

"That's true," Xiao Zhan agreed, the topic was quite heavy at this point, Xiao Yi didn't have the heart to eat, and left after chatting casually with Xiao Zhan.

As soon as he left, Feiyun came in, "Childe, he ......"

Xiao Zhan gently pinched the small wine glass with two slender fingers, drank all the wine in the quilt, and then said: "Don't worry, my eldest brother hasn't changed at all, he came this time to seek justice, nothing else." ”

……

In the inner courtyard of the palace, Xiao Yao and Xiao Li asked Zhu Liangxin for peace before they came to the palace of the concubine.

As soon as Xiao Yao stepped into Wang Guiren's courtyard, he saw his mother standing by the door, looking forward to it. He walked over quickly, knelt down on one knee, and the mother and son were very emotional, "Mother ......"

"Hurry up, just come back, just come back." Wang Guiren held Xiao Yao's face with both hands and looked at his appearance carefully, as if he couldn't get enough of it. The mother and son helped each other into the room and sat down, and Wang Guiren smiled happily: "I'm thin, but I'm also strong." In this way, the concubine body will be relieved. ”

"Mother, have you received all those novelties that your son has sent to the palace over the years?" Xiao Yao was originally an optimist, and as soon as the sadness of the reunion after a long absence just now passed, a bright smile appeared on his face.

"It's been put away, it's all carefully stored...... Just now, you went to say hello to the queen. Wang Guiren was worried about his son's recklessness, so he asked cautiously.

Xiao Yao looked at his mother's cautious appearance and felt bad in his heart, he stretched out his hand, took Wang Guiren's hand and held it tightly, "The son is gone, mother doesn't have to worry." When I greeted my father in the imperial study just now, his old man didn't ask us about our return date this time. Erchen thought that this time Erchen might be able to stay for a longer time and be by his mother's side. ”

When Wang Guiren heard this, he suddenly smiled and narrowed his eyes, "Your father wants to marry you and several princes who have not yet married this time, so the deadline for you to return to the fiefdom has been relaxed. ”

Xiao Yao was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously repeated, "Marriage? ”

"Well, yes. Son, maybe after the marriage, you will be able to stay in the royal capital. Wang Guiren grabbed Xiao Yao's hand and said in a very excited voice.

Xiao Yao was silent for a while, and then smiled: "Yes, if you can stay in the royal capital to accompany your mother, of course your son is willing." ”

"But...... Mother doesn't really want you to stay at this time," Wang Guiren was happy, and whispered with some concern. Seeing Xiao Yao looking at her suspiciously, he hesitated for a while before he said again: "Recently, this royal capital has not been peaceful, and the concubine is worried that you will stay, but she will be involved in right and wrong. ”

"Mother is referring to the serial murders that happened in the inner city?"

Wang Guiren waved his hand, and first asked the attendants who were waiting in the room to step down, and then lowered his voice and said: "It's not just this matter, my mother always feels that your father has the intention of abolishing the prince. ”

Xiao Yao's mind moved, but there was nothing abnormal on his face, "Waste Prince? Why? ”

"It's a long story, and the concubine can't understand their crooked ways," Wang Guiren waved his hand and said quite arrogantly: "Mother is just worried about you, afraid of involving you." If that's the case, it's better to let you be a free king in the East China Sea. ”

Xiao Yao looked at his mother with tears and laughter, and asked half-jokingly and half-seriously: "Doesn't my mother want her son to be the prince at all?" Perhaps, my father will appoint a son......"

"You kid! How dare you say anything! Wang Guiren was so frightened that she hurriedly covered Xiao Yao's mouth, she looked at Xiao Yao's eyes angrily and anxiously, and said word by word: "Mother doesn't want you to be the prince of Laoshizi, Mother just wants you to be stable all your life, free from illness and disaster." Even if...... Even if we let our mother and son be separated for the rest of our lives, as long as we know that you are living well on the other side of the East China Sea, my mother will be satisfied. ”

Such emotional words, Wang Guiren rarely spoke. Xiao Yao didn't expect that his seemingly rough mother would think so much by herself, and she still thought about him everywhere. He only felt that his nose was sore, and he pulled down Wang Guiren's hand covering his mouth, "Erchen knows, in this case, don't talk nonsense." ”

"Well, that's right," Wang Guiren nodded again and again, thought about it, and looked at Xiao Yao very nervously: "Now that the prince is living in the East Palace again, he must know the news of your return...... You remember to visit your crown prince brother when the time comes, don't be lazy. ”

mentioned this second brother Xiao Shuo, Xiao Yao's face was full of disdain, but he didn't want his mother to be angry, so he responded indiscriminately.

At the same time, Xiao Li also sat in the bedroom of his mother Concubine Ying, and the mother and son drank tea and chatted, cherishing this rare time together.

"Mother, before the palace door is locked, the sons will leave the palace. But don't worry, tomorrow the ministers will come to accompany you after they go to court. ”

Concubine Ying put the tea bowl in her hand on the small coffee table next to her, "Don't worry, Bengong is thinking, this time you probably won't be leaving so soon." ”

Xiao Li smiled slightly, arched his hand to Concubine Ying and said, "The mother concubine is really exquisite, and the son also thinks so." ”

Concubine Ying glanced at Xiao Li, and seemed to dislike his flattering appearance, "Since you are back, go to the Great Compassion Temple on behalf of your mother to visit the concubine." There have been too many things happening in the past while, and the people in the palace are walking on thin ice, and the mother concubine doesn't dare to make a wrong step, for fear of hurting you. Now that you have returned to your mother, the mother is relieved. ”

When Xiao Li heard this, his expression narrowed a little, and said, "Let the mother concubine worry." ”

"Mother and son, mother and son, care about each other, naturally it is right," Speaking of this, Concubine Ying seemed to remember something, wanted to ask, but did not dare to ask. In the end, he simply fell silent.

Xiao Li looked at his mother's side face, the years still carved some traces on this beauty's face, and he couldn't help but feel a little distressed, "Mother, you don't have to worry too much about the affairs of the son, the son knows what he is doing and knows what he should do." ”

Concubine Ying turned her head to look at him, with a worried look hidden in her eyes, "This palace is afraid that you will carry it too clearly...... A while ago, Yan Shangshu and other officials jointly wrote a letter urging King Run to investigate the case, I'm afraid it was your handwriting. ”

Xiao Li looked at his mother, and he really couldn't hide it, so he nodded lightly. Concubine Ying looked at him like this and sighed softly, "You can't help but look down on your father and emperor too much, I'm afraid that from the beginning of your action, he will see it in his eyes, and even help you along the way." ”

"This point, Erchen has also thought about it. However, it doesn't matter what, at least things are already going in the direction that Erchen wants. ”

"Is that really the case?" Concubine Ying looked at her only son, even if she was in a hurry, she didn't raise her voice, but asked softly: "You are doing this for the prince." However, Xiao Duo will definitely not betray the prince. ”

"Why is the mother so sure?" Xiao Li still looked at his mother with a smile.

"He has grown up beside the queen since he was a child, and he is closer to the crown prince than a brother. Over the years, Xiao Duo has done many indecent things, and he has been taken care of by the prince one by one. In the final analysis, it is still better to be born than to be nurtured. ”

"Not necessarily," Xiao Li shook his head, "What if he knew the truth about the jade nobleman who was given poisoned wine back then." ”

Concubine Ying turned her head abruptly to look at Xiao Li, with some shock in her eyes, and after pondering for a moment, she shook her head again and said, "It's unlikely, after so many years of this matter, there is no proof of death at all." ”

"It doesn't really matter if there is evidence or not. Although Xiao Duo acted a little arrogant, he was not a stupid person, he may not have had no doubts over the years, what we have to do is to make him choose to believe this doubt. After Xiao Li said this, he picked up the tea soup in front of him with both hands, and tasted the bitter and slightly sweet taste of the tea with relish.

Concubine Ying knew that this was the meaning of her son's reluctance to discuss this topic anymore. She sighed, and finally didn't ask any more questions. Sometimes I don't know, but it's also a kind of protection for each other.

……

Five days later, King Run took Song Wenyu and Luo Teng to present an excerpt for the retrial of the Huainan County case, explaining the ins and outs of the entire case clearly. Even so, Runwang Xiao Zhan did not draw conclusions easily, and attributed all the charges to Xiao Duo, only saying that this case still needs to be reviewed and examined again. The first thing to do is to detain King Xiao Duo in Dali Temple.

Xiao Wusheng looked at the fold and did not give a conclusion on the spot, but summoned the three of them to the imperial study after the next dynasty. That night, Luo Teng came to the door with the officials of the royal capital yamen.

Not long after the porter went in to report, Xiao Duo walked out.

"Lord Qing, I'm sorry for you to go with the lower officials." Lorten saluted him and leaned sideways to give up his position. Xiao Duo looked up and found that a carriage was parked not far away. At this time, the curfew was approaching in the royal capital, and there was no one on the street.

Xiao Duo pulled the corners of his lips and smiled, "It's hard for Luo Ti to think so thoughtfully, and coming to arrest people at night can be regarded as saving face for the royal family." It was my father's request. ”

Luo Teng didn't make a sound, Xiao Duo knew that this was a tacit acquiescence. He took a few steps forward and looked up to see the starry sky, but there were dark clouds, and there was not a trace of moonlight, let alone stars.

If it weren't for the two lanterns in the officer's hand, his eyes would have been almost pitch black. Xiao Duo lowered his head and whispered helplessly, "I didn't expect that the last time I saw this sky in my life, it would be such a sky." ”

With that, he strode toward the carriage that had stopped beside him.

"Lord Wang!" When it was time to get into the carriage, Baoqin suddenly rushed out. He wanted to get close to Xiao Duo, but was stopped by the officials. Xiao Duo turned his head, looked at her indifferently, and didn't say anything. Looking at such eyes, Baoqin only felt cold in his heart, "Lord Wang...... Where are you going? Hug the piano and go with you. ”

Xiao Duo looked at her indifferently, wondering why he didn't kill her with a sword when he found out that she had betrayed her. Perhaps, it's because she plays the pipa like a mother. Or maybe it's because her profile looks like that woman.

Ah Jin's face suddenly flashed in front of his eyes. Xiao Duo turned his head a little irritably, and got into the carriage neatly, no matter how much Baoqin cried, he didn't open the curtain to look at her again and say a word to her.

"Lord Wang, Lord Wang! Why don't you want to talk to Baoqin? Baoqin really didn't betray you, Baoqin didn't! Baoqin cried heartbreakingly in the back of the carriage, her body staggering, and she was almost unsteady on her feet.

"Girl, girl, don't ...... like this" The maid looked at Baoqin, who was sitting on the ground, held her in her arms, and said very distressedly: "The prince just misunderstood you, he will always understand......"

"No," Baoqin shook his head, remembering his pipa that was broken by Xiao Duo, "He even fell on the pipa, he must have hated me, this misunderstanding...... It won't be unraveled until death...... Death won't ......"

With that, her eyes suddenly went black and she fainted.