When Xiao Xiwei woke up, the bedside was empty, but where he slept there was a plum blossom hairpin carved from red jade, and the plum blossom carving on the hairpin was not from the hands of a craftsman, but should have been carved by him. Unconsciously felt that the corners of her lips overflowed with a little smile, and she reached out to pick up the purple jade plum blossom hairpin and carefully put it on her chest, feeling a sweet warmth welling up in her heart.

Suddenly, the door squeaked.

Xiao Xiwei hurriedly stuffed the hairpin under the pillow, but saw Hongyu walking in with a basin of hot water.

"What time is it?" Xiao Xi said in a low voice.

It was pitch black outside the window, and I couldn't tell what time it was.

Hongyu glanced out the window, and then said, "It's time for you......" After speaking, she turned her face to look at Xiao Xiwei again, "Princess, you wash your face first, and the slave maid will tidy up the quilt." ”

A trace of embarrassment suddenly flashed on Xiao Xiwei's face, "You ......"

Hongyu pursed the corners of her mouth and lowered her head, "When the prince leaves, let the slave come in and clean up." ”

With a 'poof', Xiao Xiwei's face seemed to have been burned by fire.

"Princess." Seeing that Xiao Xiwei was still dragging the quilt and was willing to get out of bed, Hongyu raised her eyes and called her again, "Princess, the hour ...... It's not too early, you see......"

Xiao Xiwei stood up as if she was being stepped on in the sore spot, wrapped in the quilt.

The closed windows were pushed open, and the cold wind poured in from the outside to blow the smell of the room clean.

Xiao Xi looked at the still dark sky outside, and the corners of his lips slowly hooked up a cold smile.

The darker the night before dawn, the darker it becomes, but no matter how dark the night is, it will not be able to reach the light to come. She believes that as long as she gets through this period of darkness, she will be able to hold the hand of pity and walk towards their bright future together.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival.

Early in the morning, the street vendors will be sold, although it is daytime, but the colorful lanterns have already been hung, selling sugar gourds, selling rouge, selling all kinds of gadgets have long been placed on the street, not long after, the street is crowded with people, this is nothing, if it is night, the street is crowded with people only afraid of becoming more and more lively. No one cares about how the dark tide under the capital is, how complicated the situation is, and what it has to do with them, ordinary people.

Chongde Hall.

The emperor was drinking medicine from Concubine Xiang's hand, when a little eunuch bowed down and walked in, whispering a few words in Zhang Shichang's ear. After listening to his words, Zhang Shichang nodded, motioned for him to retreat, and then walked to the emperor and blessed his body, and said, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent someone to spread the word and want to see you?" You see......"

The emperor paused, and a trace of complicated undercurrents crossed his dark eyes. And Concubine Xiang, who was holding a medicine bowl with auspicious patterns painted on a white background, flashed a trace of imperceptible coldness in her eyes when she heard the name of the prince.

For a long time, the emperor did not speak.

Just when Zhang Shichang thought that the emperor was going to refuse the prince's request, the emperor suddenly spoke, "I want to hear what he wants to say?" ”

"Yes." Zhang Shichang bowed his head and replied respectfully.

Chongde Hall is as solemn as before, but today there is a faint loneliness in this solemnity, stepping on the marble floor that can be seen by the light, every step of the way, it seems to be able to hear the footsteps echoing in this empty palace.

Although incense was lit in the hall, a faint smell of medicine could still be smelled.

"The son of the emperor greets his father." Chu Yanzhi said, stretched out his hand to lift the corners of his robe, and knelt on the ground with his knees bent.

For a long time, I didn't hear the emperor's voice sound.

Chu Yanzhi raised his head, just in time to touch the emperor's cold gaze.

"Father." He shouted again.

"How can I be worthy of such a great gift as the prince!" The emperor said coldly.

Chu Yanzhi looked at the emperor, his brows were slightly twisted, his eyes were full of complexity, he looked at the emperor for a long time, but he didn't say anything in the end.

After being silent for a long time, the emperor couldn't sit still, "What do you want to say when you come to see me?" ”

"Erchen just wants to know, is my father planning to abolish Erchen? If this is the case, please also ask your father to order her sons to go to the imperial tomb to compensate their mother. Chu Yanzhi said coldly.

The emperor sneered, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Are you threatening me?" ”

"Who in this world can threaten you, Father? The assassination on Chinese New Year's Eve has clearly told Erchen that no one in this world can threaten you. Chu Yanzhi met the emperor's cold gaze and responded with some sarcasm.

The emperor's eyes widened, looking at the face in front of him, which looked like a jewel, for a while, he only felt that his heart was mixed, "Are you weird?" But have you ever wondered why I did this? You are my most beloved son, and I have worked hard for you, plotting for you, and helping you sit in the position of prince? But you...... How did you repay me? ”

If today, Chu Yanzhi is replaced by Chu Xizhi, or even his other sons, then he can accept what he does, but this person is him...... Even though he owes it to everyone, he doesn't owe him?

"Father, don't you think that you are extremely reckless towards me, but I am so ungrateful and ungrateful?" Chu Yanzhi met the emperor's eyes and said coldly.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, "Isn't it?" ”

Chu Yanzhi lowered his eyes, and finally couldn't help laughing, "Father, you haven't changed at all...... Whether it's to the mother concubine or me, you are wishful thinking that what you do is for our good? But you see, is it really good for us that you say it is good? ”

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean......" Chu Yanzhi laughed a few times self-deprecatingly, "Back then, you said that you snubbed her for the good of your mother, and you watched her being bullied but kept silent, and even let Zheng Wei take me away from her in the end?" Is this what you call her good? Do you think she needs it? ”

The emperor opened his mouth several times, but suddenly found that he really couldn't refute Chu Yanzhi's words.

Because he clearly remembered that before Baozhu left, he refused to even look at him.

"Even if I am sorry for your mother, what are I sorry for you that makes you disobey me again and again?" The emperor glared at Chu Yandao angrily.

"Except for this prince? What did you give me? When I was a child, when I was bullied by Chu Jingzhi, could you say a word for me? The person you taught to write by hand was Chu Xizhi, and the person you admonished and taught was Chu Jingzhi? Even if it is the most inconspicuous Chu Muzhi, you will occasionally mention him a few words, but is there one of them who is me? ”

"I'm just afraid of ......"

"I'm afraid I'll be the target of public criticism. Father, you used these four words on your mother, and now you use them on me...... But do you really think that's what's good for us? That's all you call protection? If to be the one you love is to live humbly and humiliatingly, then I'd rather not! Chu Yanzhi said coldly.

The emperor's chest froze, but he still refused to give in, "Even so, do you have to turn your head against me?" Don't forget, it was I who single-handedly helped you to where you are today. ”

"Father, are you going to deal with your son, or are you going to deal with you? Yes, I confess, I resent you for neglecting me and my mother, and for disobeying you, but what have I done to hurt you? Chu Yanzhi stared coldly at the emperor.

The emperor was stunned, and before he could speak, he heard Chu Yanzhi's voice sound again.

"It's you, Father...... Just because I disobeyed your intentions, I knew that the Chinese New Year's Eve incident was designed by Concubine Yan and the King of Qin to frame me, but you still pretended not to know and pushed the boat down the river to confirm my charge. Compared with his sons, doesn't my father think that you are the most cruel and the one who cares the most about the love of father and son! Chu Yanzhi stared at the emperor, and word by word popped out from between his teeth, with an awe-inspiring chill.

"You, you talk nonsense, if it weren't for you......"

If it weren't for the fact that you pressed him everywhere to make him feel that the throne was unstable, how would he have made such a decision...... But the emperor couldn't say these words, especially at Chu Yanzhi's eyes like a cold pool.

Eventually, the Emperor sighed, "That's it, I'm old, and the throne will be passed on to you after all." I just want you to do your part as a prince. ”

In any case, he is his biological son with Baozhu after all, as long as he is not excited and does his crown prince in peace, he will never depose his crown prince.

Chu Yanzhi pursed his lips, as if he had some doubts about the authenticity of the emperor's words.

"Tonight, I'll let you go upstairs on my behalf." The emperor looked at Chu Yanzhi and said slowly.

A trace of consternation flashed in Chu Yan's eyes, but then he came back to his senses, raised his hand and saluted the emperor, and said, "Erchen...... Compliance. ”

The Emperor nodded, "It's okay, you can step aside." ”

"The retainers retired." Chu Yanzhi stood up, took two steps back, and then turned around and prepared to leave.

He had barely taken a few steps when the Emperor's deep voice rang out, "Yanzhi, you are my most beloved son, there is no doubt about that, I just hope that you will not do anything that disappoints me again." ”

Chu Yanzhi's footsteps paused, and after a while, he turned around and bowed to the emperor, "Son, remember your father's teachings." ”

"Go ahead."

"Yes."

Seeing Chu Yanzhi's figure disappear at the door, the emperor's deep eyes crossed a trace of indescribable undercurrent.

"Your Majesty, take a sip of tea." Zhang Shichang held the teacup, bowed forward and said to the emperor.

The emperor retracted his gaze and glanced up at Zhang Shichang, "You say, will he take what I said to heart?" ”

Zhang Shichang held the teacup in his hand, and the smile on the corner of his mouth was a little stiff, but he still bowed his head and said respectfully to the emperor, "Your Majesty, your hard work for the crown prince, the prince must be able to feel it." ”

The emperor tugged at the corners of his mouth lightly, "I hope." ”

He no longer has the ability to raise up a son to fight against him, and he only hopes that he will really listen to him.

Outside the door, Concubine Xiang heard the emperor's words, and an extremely cold smile flashed across the corner of her lips.