Looking back at the majestic city wall, and then at the coarse cloth clothes on his body, Ember Bing's heart was full of emotion - in a few years, this city has not changed, but he has been completely different.

Stayed at the Lan family for eight days. In order to let Lan Yuyu step into the initial realm as soon as possible, he entered the Eight Heavens Mountain Forest in a row, and brought back all kinds of demon beasts that had not yet given birth to spiritual wisdom, as well as the medicinal materials of Pei Yuan to replenish qi.

On the eighth day, the injuries on Ember Bing's body were healed by eighty or ninety percent, and the "Frost Moon Record" practiced by Lan Yuyu, with the blessing of the true yuan of the "Ukiyo-lu" added to the medicinal diet, stepped into the initial realm in the surprise on Gui Yu's face.

This speed, although it was caused by Ember Bing, really made Ember Bing depressed. Thinking that he stepped into the first realm twice, it took longer and more difficult each time.

As for the deciduous tree, he was even more speechless.

After Lan Wuyu entered the primordial realm, Ember Bing left with Qi Yu. Three days ago, the two of them were also separated in the nearest city to the imperial city. returned to the imperial capital, and only Ember Bing was left.

After more than a month of travel, there are still four days left according to the "Antai Festival".

Before he could take two steps, Ember Ice walked towards a wonton stand. It's still early, and there is only one person in the stall. Even the shop has just boiled the water and poured in the ravioli.

Ember Bing walked to a wooden table and sat down, and said to the purple-robed old man who was staring at the wontons in the pot on the other side of the table: "I haven't seen you for a long time, Uncle Zhang is okay?" ”

The old man was stunned for a moment, raised his head, and vaguely saw the appearance of the young man through the morning light.

Ember Bing raised his right hand lightly, and a faint coercion enveloped the old man, preventing the old man from getting up and bowing down, but without hurting his body.

"The old minister has seen His Highness."

He couldn't get up, but the old man's other etiquette didn't fall at all.

Ember Ice smiled.

"Uncle Zhang, you know that I don't pay much attention to those etiquettes in private. And you, an elder, don't you torment me by bowing to me? ”

"You Cheng salutes the future Son of Heaven, what's wrong."

"That's the future, too. There aren't that many rules these days. ”

Zhang Jian smiled slightly when he heard this, compared with the rigidity of three years ago, His Royal Highness now obviously knows how to behave in the world.

"Isn't it okay to be a gift?"

Smiling, Ember Ice didn't delve deeper into it anymore.

"How is Uncle Zhang doing?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian smiled bitterly: "Everything else is fine, but the Antai Festival is really a headache." But now that His Highness has returned, all problems have been solved. ”

Ember Bing's eyes narrowed. He was only one year old when Ember Qianzhen took the throne, and although the change in his hair color when Ember Qianzhen broke through to the Star Lord later proved his bloodline, there were still people in the court who made a fuss about him and his mother, who never showed up.

It's time to talk to the old man, the court is going to be cleaned up.

He could already guess what Zhang Jian meant by "headache". It's just a little trick that some people use for power.

But he wasn't very happy to make a fuss about this kind of thing.

"Your Highness wants to enter the palace with the old minister?" Zhang Jian asked tentatively.

Ember came back to his senses and waved his hand in refusal.

If he could, he wouldn't want to go back to that place for the rest of his life. If you can go later, you can go later.

"Half an hour later, appear in the main hall, not too late."

An indifferent voice appeared in Ember Bing's mind.

The next moment, after saying hello to Zhang Jian, Ember Bing bounced up from his seat and hurried towards his dormitory. If he wore this outfit, he would probably die an ugly death.

......

"Your Majesty, the sacrifice is approaching, Your Highness has not returned from a trip, and the minister's proposal is considered by Your Majesty, and everything is based on the face of my Shu Kingdom, Your Majesty."

After many matters were discussed, the courtiers began to re-establish the program of these days.

"Nonsense! Is it child's play to recognize the righteous son? Besides, with Lord Yan's proposal, let Your Majesty temporarily recognize a righteous son to compete with the other two countries, wouldn't it be clear to tell them that there is no successor to my Dashu? Or do you have other plans, Lord Yan? ”

Ember Qianzhen watched the courtiers of the two factions below tear each other apart, his expression was calm, and there was no joy or sorrow.

It's time for the boy to come and add some firewood to them.

"Listen to Yan Shangshu's meaning, if Bing'er comes back, this matter of recognizing Yizi will be stopped?"

Yan Song was stunned, he really didn't expect the emperor to take a step back. But the original plan couldn't be messed up. As long as the emperor is forced to recognize this righteous son this time, with the character of the current prince who is lazy in the government, he is ninety percent sure that he can assist him in ascending to the throne, and when the time comes, he will have the skill of following the dragon, that is, one person under ten thousand people.

At that moment, Yan Song's mind was racing, and he had a plan, and said: "Your Majesty, according to Weichen's opinion, even if the prince comes back, this righteous son still has to be recognized." The minister knew that the prince's trip was for cultivation. But no matter how much you have the resources, you can only practice for three years. However, the three princes of the Sui Kingdom have been practicing since childhood, and it is said that there are three realms so far, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is allowed to fight, it will hurt the face of our country if he loses too quickly. ”

The corners of Ember Qianzhen's mouth set off an almost imperceptible arc. I hope this kid can surprise him this time.

A voice sounded outside the hall, and the originally refreshing voice was a little gloomy at this time, as if it was suppressing a lot of anger.

"What's the matter, this palace went to participate in the sacrifice and lost the face of your Lord Yan and Old Fox Yan?"

Everyone looked back, only to see that the person who came wore a white hosta with a beautifully carved dragon, dressed in a sky blue robe, wearing a long sword on the left, a sachet on the right, sword eyebrows and starry eyes, looking forward to it, it was not majestic. It is the prince of the dynasty who has been traveling for many years.

Ember Qianzhen narrowed the curvature of the corners of her mouth, but in her heart she was even more happy. There's no better way to deal with this kind of old fox and play hooligan. But who will play this hooligan, can be very particular.

First of all, it can't be him, otherwise those big clans will definitely take advantage of the topic. When the time comes, the rumors will be together, and the popular support he has managed to gather may soon be dispersed.

Secondly, it cannot be a military general. "Breaking the ban with force and disrupting the country with force" has been the most taboo thing for people in the world since ancient times. This kind of thing, whoever goes up and who dies in a group of generals can't be saved by Ember Qianzhen.

As for Wenchen, the last thing Wenchen is afraid of is Wenchen. If you move your mouth, you can't die.

And as the only heir of the royal family, it is only fitting for Ember Bing to play this hooligan. Everyone in the world knows that the holy harem is empty today, and there is only this one heir. Since ancient times, the folk have paid attention to "there are three unfilial pieties, and no queen is great", so even if Ember Bing makes a big mistake, as long as Ember Qianzhen can still hold it, or is willing to carry it, the final result can only be a small punishment and a big precept.

said that Yan Song didn't realize the seriousness of the matter at this time, and still looked at Ember Bing with a smile, and said, "Your Highness's words are really misunderstood." His Royal Highness is a talent, how can he be embarrassed. It's just that His Royal Highness doesn't know that this sacrifice is not a small scene like before, and it can't be solved just by showing up. If you really want to compete, even if Your Highness has had some adventures in the past three years, I am afraid it will be difficult to win. Your Royal Highness, the old minister is dedicated to Dashu and the royal family. ”

The word "Dashu", Yan Song bit very hard.

Ember frowned. This old fox's powerful methods, and after a few words, he was said to be a person who did not care about the overall situation and made trouble, and shaped him Yan Song himself into a loyal minister who was dedicated to the country.

The aura of the consummation of the two realms of "Ukiyolu" was released without reservation, suppressing Yan Song.

Since he is unwilling to be reasonable, then Ember Ice will use an unreasonable set with him.

There was a real discussion in the main hall, probably the content of which was that the generals judged the strength of this breath, and the ministers were silently embarrassed.

"Master Shangshu thinks that with such cultivation, it is possible to win?"

As he spoke, Ember glanced at Ember Qianzhen without a trace. The two looked at each other, and Ember Ice didn't see the slightest displeasure.

Looking at Yan Song, whose face was pale and suppressed by his own breath, Ember Bing sneered in his heart. It's not a coincidence today, this old fox didn't look at the yellow calendar when he went out, right? Catch up with the grandfather and son, the two have an unprecedented unanimous opinion.

"Your Highness, the candidates for the other two countries have already broken through the three realms, even if your aura is stronger than the ordinary second realm, but after all, it is only the second realm. Focus on the overall situation, Your Highness. ”

Yan Song supported it hard, looking selfless and bitter, but a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.

"Lord Yan's words are reasonable, this palace was indeed a little anxious before."

Yan Song sneered in his heart, little cub, do you still want to fight with him?

Ember Ice made an apologetic look. The salute was only halfway through when Ember Bing's tone changed abruptly.

"Huh? What did you just say? Yan Song, do you know what the consequences of openly insulting the palace above the court? ”

Yan Song was taken aback, just now he thought that he had the chance to win, and his words were too sharp. But after all, he was an old fox who had been in the officialdom for decades, and he forced the panic in his heart, made a frightened look, and said, "Chen An dares to insult His Highness? Your Highness can ......"

I have to say that Yan Song reacted quickly, and he understood Ember Bing's intentions in an instant. It's a pity that Ember Bing didn't plan to give him another chance to speak.

The next moment, with a "bang", our Lord Yan lay down on the steps in front of the hall, his head exploded, and red and white things splashed.

After a few moments, red blood gushed from his neck.

Looking at the brains of the white flowers that splashed under his feet, Ember frowned.

This kid is disobedient and has made the place so disgusting, he should be beaten.

"Presumptuous!"

A True Yuan knocked Ember Ice out of the main hall, and after it landed, Ember Ice spurted out a mouthful of blood.

At this time, the suppression that had been added to the generals and a few Wenchen who cultivated Confucianism and Taoism from the beginning of Ember Bing's departure was loosened.

The hall was in a clamor of noise. Wen Chen's eyes were full of fear and anger. A few people with poor endurance even bent over and vomited.

Most of the Wenchen who couldn't hold back and didn't vomit got together in twos and threes to talk about it. The military general was relatively silent, and his expression was complicated.

"The prince misbehaved, was grounded for half a year, faced the wall for reflection, received 200 rods, and received a punishment after the sacrifice. Yan Aiqing died in the line of duty and was buried with the specifications of the second grade, and the expenses were paid from the treasury. I'm tired, let's retreat. ”

"Your Majesty, no!"

"Please punish the prince severely!"

"Your Majesty......"

After overcoming the discomfort caused by the blood and brain plasma in that place, some officials from the same party as Yan Song spoke out indignantly. But I don't know if they are really angry because of Yan Song's death, or because of the position of that Shangshu.

"I said, retreat!"

A loud voice appeared in the minds of everyone in the hall, with endless coercion.

No one dared to object.

Ember Qianjing walked out of the main hall from the back of the hall.

"Hehe, the brain surnamed Yan is broken. Do you really think that if you are a member of the third grade, Your Majesty will not dare to kill him? He didn't want to think about how the previous position had been vacated. ”

"In the end, it's still a group of scholars who haven't experienced the last purge, and I don't know our Majesty's temperament."

A group of generals dared to speak at this time, but they were all happy.

The most unaccustomed thing to this group of big bosses is those who are vegetarian and fill their own pockets. It's better to be dead, it's better to be dead.

In the forbidden place, Ember stood in front of a one-man tall stone tablet engraved with names, erasing one of the top names.

"Why, you finally found a chance to do it?"

A middle-aged man walked to the stone tablet, saw the movement of Ember Qianzhen, and asked with a smile.

"That old fox is so well guarded, I can't find a chance. This time it was Bing'er's hand. ”

"Oh?"

The man was a little surprised.

"This trip, Xiaoice's personality has changed a lot."

Ember smiled, "This is exactly what I want to see." It's just a little bit more murderous. ”

The two returned to the pavilion.

"It's getting harder and harder for me to get those pests out of now."

"Okay, okay, don't you just want to be lazy, the date is set, you just wait to leave."

"Let's meet Su Tong first today, let him know first. After all, your daughter is still being raised there. ”

"Count... All right. ”

"Your Highness."

Ember Bing returned to the dormitory again, but saw several palace maids and eunuchs saluting neatly, and was a little stunned all of a sudden.

What does the old man mean? When he was a child, he didn't know how to do anything, he didn't give him a palace maid and eunuch, only people regularly cleaned up the palace, and his clothes had to be washed by himself, and now he doesn't need others to serve him, but he is equipped with a slave, what do you think?

Surveillance? Not necessarily, right? With the spiritual sense of the Star Lord, isn't he all clear about what he does?

As for the wounds in the temple, what wounds? He spat blood, but it was bruises from his previous injuries, and it was almost black when he vomited out. The pain almost didn't stun him, but it only hurt for a while.

"Dad, Dad, I heard that the prince's brother is back?"

Su Tong, who was enjoying genuine tea, heard her daughter's voice, took a sip, then put the white porcelain tea cup on the table and looked out the door.

After a while, a girl in a pink skirt ran in in a hurry.

Looking at her panting daughter, Su Tong was out of breath.

"What's the point of yelling?! How does Dad usually teach you? Girls should behave dignifiedly, be calm, and behave in..."

"Alright, alright, Dad, you haven't answered me yet."

Seeing that his father was about to start preaching again, Su Luoyun hurriedly sprinkled his coquettishness. This trick can be described as invincible.

Sure enough, Su Tong "snorted" and didn't say any more.

"It's back. Speaking of which, your prince brother is very powerful now, and as soon as he came back, he killed a third-grade master in the palace. The brains were splashed on my father's clothes. ”

Su Luoyun pursed his lips and was about to say something, when the bereaved servant hurriedly walked in and said in a low voice: "Master, someone from the palace has come to the palace, saying that you will be allowed to dine with the common emperor at dusk." ”

Su Tong's heart instantly hung in the air.

"Yun'er, tell your mother, you don't have to count me for dinner. I've got to clean up. ”

The girl nodded sensibly and retreated silently.

I glanced at the sky outside, and it was almost dusk. I want to know who is the one who was sent in at the right time.

After all, the sun had already set in the west when he returned home after he had finished his business.

Half an hour later, the temple of peace.

Originally, it was used to deal with government affairs, but at this time, a long table was set up, and the long table was covered with luxurious silk from Shudi's specialties, and all kinds of delicacies were placed on the top.

There are three chairs in front of the table.

"I've seen Your Majesty."

Su Tong bowed.

Seeing the emperor outside the main hall only needs to bow down, this is the rule set by the first emperor, and the new emperor has not changed it after he ascended the throne.

Sitting in the right position, Ember Qianzhen held up his right hand, and a force of true yuan held Su Tong up.

He patted the chair on his left.

"Come, sit."

Su Tong sat down uneasily, looked at the delicacies of the mountains and seas on the table, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty summoned the ministers to come, but there is something to order?" ”

Ember Qianqian smiled: "There is nothing else, a family banquet with nothing to do, I thought, Prime Minister Su, you shouldn't be absent." ”

Hearing this, Su Tong was even more uneasy, if it weren't for the big difference in strength between the Seven Realms and the Twelve Realms, I'm afraid he would have tried to escape a long time ago.

He glanced at the empty chair beside Zero, and his clothes were wet in a cold sweat.

"Since it's a family banquet, I'm afraid it's a little inappropriate for the minister here, right?"

He opened his mouth to temptation.

The smile in Ember Qianqian's eyes was even worse, but the smile on her face was restrained.

"No, that's appropriate."

Su Tong's nails had sunk into the flesh and blood of his palms.

"There is one thing I have always wanted to ask Prime Minister - Luo Yun, is his surname Su or his surname Ember?"

Su Tong was like a cat that had exploded, and he burst out with a Confucian spirit and rushed towards the palace gate.

"Don't be afraid."

As soon as Ember Qianyan said a word, Su Tong was pressed back into the chair by coercion, and the leaked Haoran righteousness was also pressed back into his body.

"Prime Minister, I'll show you someone."

As she spoke, Ember pointed to the empty chair beside her.

Su Tong looked down and saw that someone was already sitting on the chair that was empty just now. And that person was the man who often talked to Ember Qianzhen in the forbidden land.

At this moment, the man was nibbling on a lamb chop, and when he saw Su Tong looking over, he waved his free left hand, and he took it as a greeting.

"Let's talk."

With a smile, Ember Qianzhen's figure disappeared into the hall.

Reappeared, it was already the East Palace of Ember Ice.

A slight spell weakened the amount of spiritual energy around him, and Ember Ice, who was cultivating, quickly woke up.

"Father."

Ember Ice got up from the bed and saluted respectfully.

With a "hmm", Ember Qianzhen walked to the place where Ember Ice was sitting before and sat down, while Ember Ice stood on the side with great eyesight.

After looking at Ember Ice for a while, Ember Qianzhen suddenly spoke.

"The clothes are good, who bought them?"

To be honest, Ember Ice was a little confused. It was the first time for Ember Ice to start a conversation between father and son with this kind of topic.

"That girl from the Lan family, you've seen it before."

Ember Qianyan nodded: "I guess you don't have such a good vision yourself." ”

"Father taught me."

Ember Bing's back was already drenched with sweat. Today's words and deeds of Ember Qianzhen are really a little weird, and he really can't be bored for a while, but he should be nervous at all.

"Which part of the Dharma did you give her? Sword Pavilion or ours? ”

Ember Qianzhen was still in a casual posture, even if the things he asked had already been known through the message of Mei Enshrinement.

"Our family's "Frost Moon Record"." Ember replied truthfully.

There was a long silence.

Ember Bing was purely because of the shadow in his heart, and he didn't dare to say much.

But because she had been acting for too long before, she didn't know how to get close to her son. Originally, seeing that his brother was one step closer to recognizing his daughter, he also wanted to get closer to Ember Bing, but he didn't want to be self-defeating.

"The sacrifice is approaching, I'll tell you about the precautions."

With nothing to say, Ember Qianzhen finally chose to get down to business.

"Yes."

Ember Bing hurriedly made a deaf gesture.

"The reason why this sacrifice is called the Antai Festival is because the place where the sacrifice is held is in Mount Tai. Your master must have told you that before the advent of the Ming people, the mountains and rivers of this world were very different from now. Mount Tai, located in the center of the Three Kingdoms, was moved by the power at that time. The reason why sacrifices are held every few years is because that mountain seals a passage, the passage between the Ming clan's nest and this heaven and earth. In the past, the great powers paid a great price to seal this channel, and what the future generations have to do is to continue to consolidate this seal with national fortune.

"The artifacts of the Zhenguo of various countries, the Pingtian crown of our Dashu, the Zhenguo sword of the Sui State, and the five-clawed golden dragon robe of the Liang State are all magic weapons that have been handed down at that time to suppress and store the national fortune of a country. With the efforts of three things and successive dynasties, this is the only way to keep the peace of the world.

"At the end of the festival, there will be a competition for the new generation of the royal family of each country. The winner can climb the 'ladder' of Mount Tai half an hour in advance.

"The ladder is the greatest opportunity for sacrifice. It is also the return of the ancestors to the royal family. The higher you climb, the better the effect of the big tripod on the top of the mountain will be on you.

"If it were just that, the three countries would not have taken it so seriously. What really makes us pay attention is the attached trace of luck in the marrow of the cutting tendons. It is not the luck paid by each country, but the luck of this heaven and earth. This is also the reason why as long as there are no royal heirs in a country, the ladder will not be easily opened. That touch of heaven and earth's luck is almost equivalent to the guarantee of the Star Lord Realm. ”

After a pause, Ember Qianqian said again: "As far as I know, this time the Sui State appeared with their third prince, Chu Tianzhong, twenty years old, just after the crown ceremony, the Three Realms cultivated, and the practice was the Sui State's royal method "Rizhilu"; Liang Guo's is likely to be the twenty-third son of the old dragon, Ao Pan, because the demon clan has a long lifespan, this Ao Pan is nearly eighty years old, but it is equivalent to the seventeen or eighteen years old of the human race, and the same three realms of cultivation. And your goal, it doesn't matter if you win or lose, the ladder will either climb to the top or be first. ”

Ember swallowed.

"What? No way? ”

Ember Qianzhen looked up at Ember Ice.

"Okay."

What else can Ember Ice say.

"Let's continue cultivating. Let's go. ”

With a casual notice, Ember Qianzhen's figure disappeared.

Wiping the cold sweat from his head, Ember sat down on the bed.

"Huh?"

There was an extra plate of delicate pastries on the table. Osmanthus cake, with a hint of coolness.

Immediately, Ember Ice picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. Cool and soft, the delicacy of the pastry itself and the refreshing combination of the fragrance of osmanthus nectar on it, as if the whole person is in a pouring osmanthus rain.

took out a jar of osmanthus brew bought on the road from the wrench, poured a big mouthful, and took a piece of osmanthus cake in his hand, and Ember Bing suddenly felt a sense of peace of mind in his heart. The feeling was very faint, so faint that he didn't even notice it, but his rejection of this glorious palace seemed to be a little less.