On the way back to the palace, Qin Han finally decided to ignore the strange eyes of the people and resolutely sat on the roof of the carriage.

In the carriage, the queen sitting opposite Xia Yuan held Xia Chi's hand tightly.

"The queen mother? It's okay, I'm not going to walk around. Xia Chi gently patted the back of the queen's hand with his other hand, even if he couldn't see it, he could feel that the queen's face was definitely full of worry now.

"Mother, don't worry too much, isn't there still me here? I, who is an elder brother, will definitely protect Ah Chi. ”

"That's right, Queen Mother, if you have anything to do after you return to the palace, you can go and get busy first, I don't care, I will follow my brother firmly." Xia Chi nodded vigorously from the side.

"Ugh." The queen let out a long sigh, "I'm just afraid, after entering the palace, in case, in case someone wants to have an accident with Ah Chi, but what to do, I don't know ...... Yi'er now"

"Mother!" Xia Yuan hurriedly interrupted the queen's words and gave a look in the direction of Xia Chi.

She also realized that she had just subconsciously said the wrong thing: "Okay, okay, my mother won't say it." ”

After a while, the three of them were silent, Xia Yuan looked at the street scene speeding by outside the window, the queen looked sideways at Xia Chi beside her, and Xia Chi lowered his head, and from his face, he couldn't see what he was thinking at all.

The carriage stopped steadily outside the palace, and Xia Yuan took the lead in stepping out of the horse, carefully helping the queen and Xia Chi down.

The sky has begun to darken, counting the time, it should be time for the dinner to begin, sure enough, Xia Yuan got off the carriage, and saw that many carriages had stopped at the gate of the palace.

The little eunuch who stood outside the palace to greet him was full of smiles, his eyes looked at the subordinates on the side, and motioned for them to quickly take the things from the coachman's hands and lead them to the banquet hall.

"Queen Mother Chitose." The little eunuch saw a few people walking towards this side from a distance, and hurriedly handed over his work to the eunuch beside him, and he hurriedly greeted him.

"Well, excuse me."

The little eunuch raised his head, then looked at Xia Yuan, who was standing in front of the queen, and said with a frown: "Ouch, Your Highness, you can be regarded as back, the emperor has been looking for you for a long time." ”

"Father looking for me?"

"But no, this banquet is about to start, but His Royal Highness is not in his room, the emperor is worried, and he is still sad."

"Xiao Yuan, you can take Ah Chi first." The queen put Xia Chi's hand into Xia Yuan's hand, "You have to show Ah Chi to me." ”

"What about you, mother?" Xia Yuan turned around and took Xia Chi's hand and looked at the queen.

"I still have some things, I want to see the Queen Mother first, you go first, I will come with your father and the emperor later. Xiao Chenzi, I'm sorry for you. ”

"Yes, sissy." The little eunuch stepped aside and turned sideways, "Two Highnesses, please come here." ”

The whole banquet hall was very spacious, and the invited adults sat on both sides, and a few people who did not meet often on weekdays were talking excitedly about something, and several ministers who were more familiar with each other were also whispering in adjacent seats at the moment.

"Brother, are there a lot of people here?" Before he entered the house, Xia Chi had already heard a different voice coming from inside, and he tugged at Xia Yuan's clothes with some fear, trying to hide himself behind Xia Yuan.

"What, Ah Chi doesn't like crowded places?"

Xia Chi shook his head, and then suddenly realized that Xia Yuan was facing away from him, maybe he didn't see himself shaking his head, and then added: "I don't like it, it's quite lively." ”

"Shall we go in and sit then?"

Xia Chi nodded vigorously: "Hmm! ”

He still grabbed Xia Yuan's clothes tightly, and walked behind him cautiously, although it was dark in front of him, he could still feel it as if nothing, the moment the two stepped into the banquet hall, everyone was quiet, many eyes tracked on him, and even heard the topic of sudden change in everyone.

"Is that His Highness Xia Chi?"

"I always feel like it's a little different from what I remembered."

"Looking at it like this, it is estimated that he was choked by His Royal Highness the Prince."

"It's really pitiful, such a simple child is really not suitable for living in the palace."

"Eh, have you noticed if his eyes are ......?"

"Don't talk nonsense, what if you get heard."

Xia Chi grabbed Xia Yuan's clothes tighter, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Xia Yuan suddenly felt the strangeness of the person behind him, and hurriedly pulled the person to the place and sat down, while he sat down by him, sharing a table with him.

"Ah Chi, ignore them." Xia Yuan gently leaned into Xia Chi's ear and said, "These people like gossip the most when they are idle, you must not let them affect your mood." ”

"Well, I know, brother, don't worry."

Soon, the hall returned to its original liveliness, and the discussion about Xia Chi only appeared for a moment, and it was left behind by everyone.

"Your Majesty, the queen has arrived!" The little eunuch snorted his throat, and for a moment, only the shrill voice of the little eunuch echoed in the air in the entire hall.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long live! Queen Mother Chitose Chitose Chitose! ”

The emperor happily walked out from behind the screen with the queen, sat on the dragon chair with his hands behind his back, and naturally saw Xia Chi sitting next to Xia Yuan, so he smiled and said to everyone below: "All Aiqing are polite, today is my birthday banquet, I thank you Aiqing for enjoying your face, and in the next time, you can enjoy it to your heart's content." ”

Xia Huai waved to the door, and the sound of silk and bamboo music immediately sounded from outside, and several musicians held their respective instruments from outside, surrounded by the music, and walked into the hall. Behind him were several palace maids holding small fans and wearing veils.

They spread out and stood still, dancing to the music.

Xia Huai looked at the palace maids who danced like fairies, closed his eyes slightly, hummed music in his mouth, and beat the rhythm on the table with his hands.

Hearing only the sound of "bang", suddenly a gust of wind struck, blowing everyone a little unable to open their eyes, and also blew out all the fire in the hall, the banquet hall fell into darkness in an instant, and the palace ladies stopped dancing, hid behind the musician, and looked at the door that was suddenly blown open with a little fear.

"Ahh A palace maid sat on her knees with her mouth covered, and a musician fell in front of her, blood spurting from his neck, spilling everywhere in an instant, and the instrument in his hand was dyed red in an instant.