On the white snow of the plum orchard, a woolen gold carpet several feet wide was spread.

Behind the carved gold glazed screen is the red plum full of snow, Emperor Hongyou sits on the throne, smiling and watching the treasures of Loulan's foreign envoys into the palace with the surrounding envoys.

The gold and silver wares of Loulan Kingdom have always been famous all over the world, and this year, in addition, spices and precious stones transported from far away from the Western Regions were sent and packed with several full boxes.

One by one, the chests were opened, and the dazzling gold was about to stain the snow everywhere.

The last box is even more inconspicuous in comparison.

When I opened it, it turned out to be some crudely made dairy products. According to the foreign envoy, they traveled thousands of miles to the capital, and they put a lot of effort into keeping it fresh along the way.

Emperor Hongyou didn't care much about this.

He smiled and nodded, not lingering on the box of dairy products for long, then looked at the envoy with a smile.

"It's really hard for an adult to travel thousands of miles to Beijing to celebrate my birthday."

The envoy immediately said a large number of high-sounding words.

Emperor Hongyou smiled and gave him a seat.

While everyone was talking and laughing, Queen Jiang on the side smiled and said, "I heard that the adults met Huining on the way just now?" The palace and His Majesty don't know what kind of Loulan dialect Huining learned. ”

As she spoke, she looked at Zhao Pu, who was sitting not far away, with a smile on her face.

It was Empress Jiang's people who received the foreign envoys, and as early as when they were introduced to the plum garden, they reported what happened on the road to Empress Jiang.

At this time, Empress Jiang had a spring breeze on her face, and Zhao Pu's expression was cold, but Emperor Hongyou, who was on the throne, raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Zhao Pu.

"Can Huining speak Loulan?" There was a faint surprise in his eyebrows, and under the look of surprise, there was a cold suspicion and temptation.

He still doesn't know when Zhao Pu learned Loulan's dialect, and he doesn't know what Zhao Pu and Loulan's envoys can say when they meet each other at a glance.

His gaze stopped at Zhao Pu's face.

saw that his daughter, who had always had an expressionless face, was still unfazed.

I saw her raise her eyes and look at him directly: "I have learned a few words occasionally, and there are still many things that my father does not know." ”

Emperor Hongyou paused slightly.

The envoys of various countries are here, and Zhao Pu's tone is really too face-saving for him.

But in front of everyone's eyes, as a benevolent monarch and an example for all countries, he can't reprimand and punish Zhao Pu in public and tarnish his reputation.

He looked at Zhao Pu for a moment, hid his stiffness in his smile, and said, "It's because I'm busy with political affairs and don't care enough about you children. ”

As he spoke, he turned to look at the queen and said with a smile: "I am really ashamed, it is better for the queen to pick out a few sets of hair fabrics for me, and I have the right to make amends for Huining." ”

The queen smiled and nodded, and was about to speak, but heard Zhao Pu under the seat speak again.

"It doesn't have to be so troublesome." Just listen to him. "Father, the emperor will reward the soufflé brought by the envoy to the son."

Emperor Hongyou turned his head to look at Zhao Pu.

He didn't open his mouth coldly, just to ask for that inconspicuous box of food? He doesn't know Zhao Pu's tastes and preferences, but something is abnormal, is it ......

Emperor Hongyou frowned and set his eyes on the box of dairy products.

He hesitated and was about to test it, but he saw Zhao Pu leaning back lazily and said, "Erchen doesn't need that much." The father took some out, and after checking it, he just rewarded his sons. ”

What does she mean by that!

Emperor Hongyou raised his eyes sharply and looked at Zhao Xuan aggressively.

Did she feel like she was suspicious of her? I think too much of myself! Loulan's envoys came all the way, she is a boudoir woman, but she can only speak two words of Loulan, so it will not make him suspicious!

Emperor Hongyou's chest rose and fell slightly, and under the gaze of all the envoys, he barely swallowed the words that came to his mouth.

"Hui Ning is used to laughing." He smiled reluctantly and said. "Since Huining really wants to taste it, I'll give it to you. But when it comes to inspection, you can't say it anymore, the adults of Loulan Kingdom are still here, isn't it too rude for you to say this? ”

But seeing Zhao Pu standing up slowly, he lowered his eyes and said very casually: "Thank you father." ”

Emperor Hongyou smiled and waved his hand, turning his eyes away from him anymore.

That's it...... After all, what good can it be to be the child of the poisonous woman? I have raised her to this day, and I can be regarded as worthy of heaven and earth.

But at this moment, another palace man hurriedly crashed into the plum garden.

Emperor Hongyou was already in a bad mood, and when he saw him panicked like this, he was even more angry.

"What's so flustered?"

With a calm face, he watched the palace people salute everyone present, then hurriedly bowed down and stopped in front of the throne, and whispered something to him.

Emperor Hongyou's face was even more ugly.

——

The beast of the Garden of Beasts is dead!

Fang Linyuan, who learned the news, was also shocked.

How so? Two days ago, when they sent the strange beasts into the garden, they and the palace people of the Hundred Beasts Garden inspected them one by one. These strange beasts have been taken care of all the way to be extremely well-cared for, and the envoys of the South Seas are also very cautious, how could they suddenly die!

The next words of the palace people who came to herald the order were even more shocking.

"It was said that he was killed by an arrow from the third prince!" He said. "Your Majesty has just rushed to the imperial study from the plum garden, summoning the general, you will enter the palace immediately to meet you!"

Fang Linyuan received the holy decree, immediately turned his horse's head, and followed the palace people towards the imperial city.

It turned out that the three princes suddenly rose up today and went to the Hundred Beasts Garden to watch the strange beasts newly sent to the capital.

These strange beasts were originally used for His Majesty's birthday, and it was not in line with the etiquette for the three princes to see them in private. But the third prince brought a number of entourages and friends with him, and insisted on entering the park. The palace people of the Hundred Beasts Garden did not dare to disobey him, so they opened the garden gate for the third prince.

Among the many strange beasts, the giant elephant is bulky, the peacock is boring, and the one that wins the heart of the three princes the most is the golden fox with a fierce mane and a mighty and strong mane.

The third prince stayed outside the cage for a long time, and then, in the compliments and praises of everyone around him, he asked the palace people of the Hundred Beasts Garden to pull the fox out of the cage for him to enjoy.

This cunning is a cannibal! The palace people of the Hundred Beasts Garden knelt on the ground, and they did not dare to agree to the request of the three princes.

Later, the third prince became angry for some reason, and actually opened the iron cage himself to lead the fierce beast.

The fox roared angrily, and the three princes were in a hurry, and they drew their bows and arrows and shot through the huge mouth of the fox.

He was killed instantly.

When Fang Linyuan heard this, his head hurt a little.

The third prince, Zhao Jin, has always been impulsive and irritable, but how dare he do such a thing? The strange beasts in the Garden of Beasts are not only a congratulatory gift for His Majesty's birthday, but also a friendly thing for all countries to present to Daxuan. Not to mention how precious a fox is, just saying that the envoys of various countries are still in the capital, his move will make the emperor unable to explain to all countries.

After thinking about it, Fang Linyuan heard the palace people who passed the word and said hesitantly: "General, you entered the palace today...... If His Majesty reprimands, please also ask the general to listen to the holy will. ”

Fang Linyuan paused slightly: "What?" ”

Then he saw that the palace man said: "The third prince has been sent back to the palace, according to the meaning of the third prince......"

The palace man looked at Fang Linyuan, hesitated for a moment, and said in a hurry.

"The third prince said that it was the sixteen guards who made a mistake with the strange beast, which caused the strange beast to burst out and hurt people."

Fang Linyuan's eyebrows locked.

Isn't this nonsense? The fox is a fierce beast, no different from a tiger or a leopard, how can it be played and entertained? It was reasonable for Zhao Jin to be attacked by the fox, how could it be a strange beast?

What's more, it's been two days since the alien beast was sent to the Hundred Beasts Garden, so what does it have to do with the Sixteen Guards?

He frowned and looked at the palace people, and before he could speak, he saw that the palace people smiled flatteringly, and lowered his voice to persuade him.

"The general is angry." He said. "The Hundred Beasts Garden is in charge of the management of the Ouchi guards, and they are the people in front of the emperor. Now that the foreign envoy is still in Beijing, if something goes wrong, it can't be out of His Majesty and His Royal Highnesses. ”

He said this clearly enough, even if Fang Linyuan was a fool, he could understand it.

The death of the alien beast cannot be because the prince is stupid, nor because of unfavorable breeding.

They were anxious to find a scapegoat, and the best of them was the Sixteen Guards who had escorted the beasts.

——

Before entering the imperial city, Fang Linyuan traveled all the way and gradually figured it out.

The emperor's order is above, and he cannot disobey it. The emperor sent an internal official to talk to him like this, just to tell him that the emperor knew who was taking the blame for the royal family.

Therefore, he could not escape the punishment. Demotion, military sticks, or fines and reprimands are all the graces he deserves.

When he walked to the front of the palace gate, Fang Linyuan actually gave birth to an unprecedented calm.

Being an official at the border is different from being an official in the capital. Winning and losing are black and white, but this capital is a muddy water that is unclear.

Sending someone to make it clear in advance that it was a great face given to him by the Holy Lord, and he should be glad that it was.

But at this time, the only thing he was happy with was that he was a high-ranking official, enough to resist this matter on his own.

It will not affect the young children of the Sixteen Guards, who are full of enthusiasm and are bent on thinking that His Majesty will reward and value them.

After that, Fang Linyuan didn't say anything more.

He dismounted with the chamberlain in front of the palace gate, all the way through the wide and flat front hall of the imperial city, through the palace gate, all the way to the front of the imperial study.

But at this moment, a faint cracking sound suddenly came.

Fang Linyuan looked up and saw the palace people standing outside the imperial study with their heads bowed.

The tall doors of the temple were closed, and there was a faint sound of argument from within

Came.

Fang Linyuan was slightly stunned.

Seeing that the palace people who were leading him in front of him were also startled, and then quickly walked forward and asked the palace people in front of the door, "What's going on?" ”

The people in the palace were so frightened that they were about to cry.

"Your Majesty was originally reprimanding the Third Highness, but for some reason, the Fifth Highness suddenly broke in from the harem!" The man replied with a sad face.

"We have all been driven out of it, and His Royal Highness the Fifth seems to have quarreled with His Majesty, and no one dares to enter to persuade him!"

The palace people who received it were taken aback: "Didn't the Fifth Highness enjoy the snow in the plum garden?" ”

"yes!" That palace is humane. "Otherwise, why would Your Majesty be angry? The Fifth Highness came to the imperial study to meet without saying anything, and the snow banquet was interrupted, and now the three Highnesses shot the strange beast, and all the foreign envoys knew about it! ”

The palace people who received it were so frightened that they couldn't stand anymore.

But at this moment, a cool wind swept beside him.

He turned his head and saw that it was An Pinghou, who had been following him without saying a word, and at this time he strode around him and walked straight towards the imperial study.

"General, General stay!"

The palace man hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

But it was too late.

I saw Fang Linyuan walk straight forward and raise his hand to push open the heavy hall door.

The bright sunlight outside the hall reflected the snow all over the ground, shining brightly along the wide open door of the temple.

"Smack!"

At the same time, Fang Linyuan saw that in the middle of the broken porcelain, the king standing on the high steps raised his hand high.

slapped Zhao Xuan firmly in the face.

"You wicked obstacle!"

——

Zhao Pu knew that Fang Linyuan must have been frightened.

The moment he pushed the door in, Emperor Hongyou just raised his hand to hit him. He didn't want to hide, and he wasn't afraid of this humiliation and pain, the moment he received his palm with his eyelids down and expressionless, he was knocked off his head, and just happened to see Fang Linyuan.

It was a dusty little general, and he was still wearing the unicorn trolling that he wore to greet the foreign envoy.

The golden red color especially flattered him, after all, he was a bright and clean man, and he was most worthy of such a warm color like the sun.

But his eyes suddenly lit up.

His eyes were red, and he looked straight at him, looking very pitiful.

He saw Fang Linyuan kneeling down in front of Emperor Hongyou, a loyal and upright minister who had always been respectful and had never been disobedient, broke into the Golden Palace like this today, and said to the emperor in a loud voice: "This matter has nothing to do with Her Royal Highness the Princess, please think twice, Your Majesty!" ”

Emperor Hongyou was so angry that his chest rose and fell violently, and he said angrily to him: "Why, my daughter dares to interfere in the affairs of the court, can't I teach a lesson!" ”

The little general's hands on the ground were trembling, but his voice was neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Majesty! If what His Majesty did was the killing of a strange beast by mistake by the three princes, then with all due respect, this is a family matter between His Majesty and Her Royal Highness the Princess. Her Royal Highness the Princess, as the daughter of Her Majesty and the sister of the Third Highness, wants to come to advise, which is understandable. ”

Emperor Hongyou sneered, and waved down the scroll pen and inkstone on the table.

Zhao Pu deceived his figure slightly, blocking two flying inkstone fragments for him.

"What if it's for your sixteen guards!"

I saw Fang Linyuan take a deep breath.

"The Sixteen Guards are yours, Your Majesty." Just listen to him. "On the shore of the land, it is not the king's minister. The sixteen guards do not belong to the micro-ministers, and the micro-ministers and them are just His Majesty's ministers. ”

Emperor Hongyou's chest rose and fell, but he was blocked by his sentence, and he couldn't say anything else to blame.

saw Fang Linyuan continue.

"It was two days ago that the strange beasts arrived safely in the Hundred Beasts Garden, and all the cages, beasts, and adults in the Hundred Beasts Garden were inspected when they entered the park. After that day, the duty of the Sixteen Guards was to welcome Loulan and the envoys of the rest of the countries, and I don't know what His Majesty said about the Sixteen Guards. ”

Emperor Hongyou understood what he meant.

Zhao Pu made the matter public, and Fang Linyuan was reluctant to take the blame with a tough attitude.

At this time, Emperor Hongyou had no other way, but in his anger, he noticed for the first time that the young general under him still had a clever tongue.

But Zhao Pu knew that Fang Linyuan's tongue was not clever.

He and Zhao Pu went all the way out of the imperial city, and they didn't speak again until they got into the carriage of the Hou Mansion.

Only the hand resting on his lap couldn't help but tremble.

The carriage drove up, and Zhao Pu was finally able to speak.

He tilted his head slightly, and his tone was lightened.

"Don't be afraid." He said. "Zhao Jin shot the strange beast today, it was in my plan. Now that the officials heading south are about to depart, I plan to ......"

Fang Linyuan suddenly spoke up and interrupted him.

"Does it hurt?"

His voice trembled, and Zhao Pu's heart trembled.

"It doesn't hurt." Almost as soon as Fang Linyuan's words fell, he replied quickly and firmly.

I saw Fang Linyuan turn his head to look at him.

The light in the carriage was a little dim, but Zhao Pu still saw that Fang Linyuan's eyes were red.

The moment his gaze fell on his face, the eye socket seemed to be red again.

Then, he saw Fang Linyuan raise his hand, as if he wanted to touch the half of his cheek that had been slapped once.

His movements were too careful, so that the pity in Zhao Pu's heart was about to overflow his body.

So much so that he lowered his head, grabbed Fang Linyuan's wrist with one hand, and put the hand that he had raised halfway up on his cheek as if he were verifying something for him.

Half of his cheek was a little hot at this point.

Even if Zhao Pu didn't realize it, he saw that Fang Linyuan seemed to care very much, and the hand on his face was slightly attached to him, as if he was not even willing to rub it.

"How can it not hurt." He heard Fang Linyuan whisper to himself.

Zhao Pu laughed softly soothingly.

He was about to open his mouth and tell Fang Linyuan that this little pain was nothing, just a slap in the face, and it wasn't even a humiliation for him.

However, he heard Fang Linyuan's smaller voice.

“…… I want to hug you. ”

——

Obviously, the one who needs to be hugged more at this time should be Fang Linyuan.

He seems to have lost some of his mind because of some extremely low mood, and it just so happens that Zhao Pu is also in front of his appearance, and there is not much strong sense of proportion left.

He raised his hand and slowly smoothed Fang Linyuan into his arms.

The delicate and soft brocade skirt shrouded the neat and thin narrow sleeves, and underneath that, two tall and tight bodies slowly leaned together.

The moment he hugged Fang Linyuan into his arms, Fang Linyuan's face was buried in his shoulder, quiet, low but very well-behaved, as if he had not entered the depths of Zhao Pu's heart.

For a moment, he heard Fang Linyuan's voice coming muffled from his shoulder and neck.

"I should have comforted you." He said. "You were beaten by your father for me."

For Zhao Pu, that person really can't be called a father.

Zhao Pu doesn't care about him, and he doesn't care about an insignificant slap in the power struggle between you and me.

But now, with such a person in his arms, how can he still think of so many things.

"I don't blame you." He raised his hand, holding Fang Linyuan's shoulder with one hand, and slowly running the other hand on the back of his neck and back. "Blame me for not telling you beforehand."

"How can he hit you?" But I heard Fang Linyuan say again. "It was Zhao Jin who clearly did something wrong."

…… Stupid, why are you still thinking about the gains and losses for him and the jackals?

"They're going to pay the price, not today." Zhao Pu's voice was extremely soft, as if he was telling a bedtime story to someone under the tent. "You don't have to be afraid."

Fang Linyuan shook his head, as if to tell him that he was not afraid.

But then, his shoulders stiffened, as if he realized something.

His movements buried in Zhao Pu's arms also stopped.

Then, Zhao Pu saw that he raised his head slowly and a little stiffly, and a pair of wet eyes looked at him from a very close distance, and there were two points of panic in which he woke up from a big dream.

"I ...... I'm just worried for a moment......" he said, and he was about to get up with Zhao Pu's chest. "I knew you were a man, I didn't think ......"

The bedtime story was just halfway through, and Zhao Pu didn't want to make any more careful tentative touches with him at this time.

With a slight force on the hand on the back of Fang Linyuan's neck, he pressed him back into his arms.

"I know, you never treated me like a woman." Zhao Pu said.

This time, the face buried in his arms seemed to be a little hot.

Fang Linyuan didn't struggle anymore for some reason.

It was only a moment later that his muffled voice came from Zhao Pu's arms again.

"We're all men, like this...... Wouldn't it be great? Just listen to him.

Where he didn't see it, Zhao Pu's lips hooked slightly, and there were ripples of unknown meaning in his drooping eyelashes.

There were clear red marks on his cheeks, because it was an adult man's unsparing palm, and there were slight cracks on the corners of his mouth.

A clear color of blood made his soft smile as bright as a demon.

"No, it won't." Just listen to him. "You're comforting me." ：，，.