After lunch, Zhao Yao returned to his tent to rest.
Tongxi brought the chopped raw mutton. Zhao Yao took it, picked up a small piece with chopsticks and fed it to Xiaobai.
"Your Highness, Xiaobai seems to have grown up on you." He never saw Xiaobai leave His Highness's body. "Xiaobai is still small now and can still wrap around your arm, but what will happen when it grows up?" Tongxi imagined Xiaobai growing into a big snake and wrapping around Zhao Yao, and was frightened.
"When Xiaobai grows up, he won't be so shy." Zhao Yao stretched out his fingers and gently touched Xiaobai's little head.
Xiaobai felt very comfortable being touched, and even took the initiative to rub Zhao Yao's fingers with its little head.
"Your Highness, Xiaobai seems to have grown up a bit."
Zhao Yao looked at Xiao Bai carefully, then stretched out his palm to gesture.
"It has indeed grown a bit, almost a foot long."
Tongxi stared at Xiaobai, and suddenly found that there seemed to be a word on Xiaobai's head, and exclaimed: "Your Highness, do you think there is a word [王] on Xiaobai's head?"
After hearing what Tong Xi said, Zhao Yao lowered his head and took a closer look at Xiao Bai's head, and found that there was indeed a vague word "王". If you don't look carefully, you really can't tell.
"Xiao Bai, why do you have the word "王" on your head?"
Xiaobai tilted his little head and asked with doubt in his tone: [Wangzi? What is the word? 】
Zhao Yao suddenly thought of a possibility and said with some excitement: "Xiao Bai, are you the Snake King?"
【Snake King? 】Xiao Bai said, 【I am not the Snake King, but I should be the leader of our clan. 】
"The leader of the White Snake Clan?" Zhao Yao said enthusiastically, "Isn't that the Snake King?"
Xiaobai didn't understand it very well. After all, not long after it was born, its parents were gone. It was able to grow up safely thanks to the help of White Deer.
"Xiao Bai, I didn't expect you to be the Snake King." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "I found a treasure."
"Your Highness, Xiaobai is really the snake king." Tongxi was also very excited, "This...if he is really the snake king, can Xiaobai command all the snakes?"
Zhao Yao asked: "Xiao Bai, can you command all the snakes?"
Xiaobai: [I don’t know, I haven’t tried it. 】
"When you grow up, you can try it." Zhao Yao imagined the scene of Xiaobai ordering all the snakes, and he felt very excited.
Xiaobai said obediently: [Okay. 】
"Come on, keep eating meat." Zhao Yao picked up another piece of mutton for Xiao Bai.
Although Xiaobai is small, he has a big appetite and finished a large bowl of mutton.
After feeding Xiaobai, Zhao Yao was ready to lie down and rest. At this time, Ling Yun flew in.
When Xiaobai saw Ling Yun coming, he was so frightened that he crawled into Zhao Yao's sleeve and wrapped himself around Zhao Yao's arm.
Ling Yun had eaten snakes a lot in the past. They are the natural enemies of snakes. Xiaobai will naturally be afraid when he sees them.
Emperor Wu of Zhou would definitely take Ling Yun with him when he came for spring hunting.
During the morning hunting, Ling Yun caught several hares and foxes.
He gave half of the rabbits and foxes he caught to Zhao Yao, and kept the remaining half for himself.
Ling Yun had just finished his big meal, and there were blood stains on his beak, chest, and paws.
"Laifu, you stink so much, stay away from me." Zhao Yao smelled the stench of school on Ling Yun and looked disgusted.
Ling Yun said unhappily: [Where do I stink? 】
Zhao Yao pointed to Ling Yun's mouth, "You still have blood on your body. Did you just eat the hare?"
【yes. 】
"It's so dirty." Zhao Yao said to Tong Xi, "Go get a basin of warm water."
"Slave, go now."
After a while, Tongxi brought a basin of warm water.
Zhao Yao pointed to the basin and said to Ling Yun: "Fly in and I'll wash you, otherwise I won't hug you."
Ling Yun said reluctantly: [It’s really troublesome. 】It said this, but it still flew into the basin obediently.
Zhao Yao squatted on the ground, took a kerchief and carefully washed Ling Yun's blood on his beak, chest and paws.
"By the way, Laifu, you will fly to the woods to the north later and help me see if there is anyone or anything there?"
[The woods to the north? 】
"I went hunting in the woods to the north in the morning. Apart from birds, there was no other animal. Do you think it's strange?"
[That is quite strange. I will help you check it out later. 】
After cleaning Ling Yun, Zhao Yao used a piece of cloth to dry its feathers.
Zhao Yao yawned and said, "I'm sleepy, so I need to take a nap first. You can tell me when I wake up."
【good. ] After Ling Yun finished speaking, he flapped his wings and flew out.
When Ling Yun flew to the woods to the north, he saw some people. These people were sent by the Fourth Prince to the woods to the north to check.
The forest to the north was very large, and Ling Yun carefully inspected it from beginning to end.
Before Ling Yun flew back to Zhao Yao's camp, the people sent by the Fourth Prince had already returned.
"Your Highness, we didn't dare to go too deep, but there were indeed no other animals in the place we checked."
"Your Highness, there are many thorns and bushes deep in the woods to the north. If someone is hiding there, it will be difficult to find them."
"Your Highness, the atmosphere in the woods to the north is indeed strange."
Wei Mian asked in shock: "Is there really an assassin hiding in the woods to the north?"
The fourth prince frowned and said nothing.
"What are you doing hiding in the woods to the north?" said a man in guard uniform. "The woods to the north are remote and no one goes there to hunt. Who are you hiding there to assassinate?"
"If they plan to come to the camp at night to assassinate, they are just throwing themselves into a trap."
"These assassins wouldn't be stupid enough to come to the camp at night to assassinate them, right?"
The camp was heavily surrounded by Imperial Guards, just like Tietong. Let alone a person, not even a fly can fly into the camp. Also, the camp was patrolled by the Praetorian Guards and Royal Guards.
Even if the assassin breaks in, he will be captured by the guards and guards in the camp. He might even be shot into a sieve.
Since the last time the prince was assassinated at Hulong Temple, Shen Hu and Chu Ying had strengthened their defenses.
"The woods are interconnected and not separated." The fourth prince said with sharp eyes, "You can go from the woods in the north to the woods in the east and south."
Hearing what the Fourth Prince said, Wei Mian and the others all looked astonished, and then their expressions became solemn.
"Your Highness, you mean that the assassins first hid in the woods to the north, and then passed through the woods to the east or south from the woods to the east or south?"
"Yeah." Because there are more prey in the forests to the east and south, there are also more people hunting in these two places. Especially in the woods to the east, my father and the others often go hunting. The guards will carefully inspect the forest on the east side from inside to outside, and will also guard it to never let a suspicious person appear there.
There was no way the assassin could hide in the woods to the east or south. As for the forest in the north, due to its remote location and the fact that no one goes hunting, the inspection of the forest in the north is not so strict.
Wei Mian asked with some horror: "Your Highness, what should we do next?"
"I'm going to see my father." Regardless of whether there were assassins hiding in the woods to the north, he had to tell his father about this.
"Your Highness, we have not found any assassins in the woods to the north. What should you say to the Emperor?"
"Tell it truthfully." The fourth prince said seriously, "Whether there are assassins or not, I have to remind my father to be careful." Be careful to sail the ten thousand year ship.
"That's what His Highness said."
In Emperor Zhou Wu's camp, he had finished playing chess with He Xiang.
He Xiang was a little tired, so he went back to his tent first.
Shen Hu and the others did not go back because the three of them wanted to protect Emperor Wu of Zhou.
"By the way, boss, our brat is playing with your youngest son, did you know?" Chu Ying said.
"Yes, they had a good time with His Highness Ten."
"They were hunting together this morning."
"I already knew about this, let them play."
Hearing Emperor Zhou Wu's answer, Shen Hu and others were a little surprised: "Boss, you don't object?!"
Chu Ying was not surprised: "The tenth prince is not someone else."
When Shen Hu and Zhang Gong heard Chu Ying's words, they understood instantly.
While he was talking, he heard the sound of saluting the fourth prince coming from outside the account.
Shen Hu and the other three stood up immediately.
Sun Doudou walked in, saluted Emperor Zhou Wu first, and then reported: "Your Majesty, the fourth prince wants to see you."
"Let him in."
After a moment, the fourth prince walked in.
Shen Hu and the other three hurriedly saluted the Fourth Prince: "I have met His Highness."
The fourth prince nodded politely to the three of them, and then saluted Emperor Wu of Zhou: "My son, I have met my father."
Emperor Wu of Zhou said warmly: "Get up."
Seeing that the fourth prince had something to tell Emperor Wu of Zhou, Chu Ying and the others withdrew knowingly.
"Father, I have something to report to you."
"you say."
The fourth prince told Emperor Wu of Zhou about the anomaly in the woods to the north, and also reported his guess to Emperor Wu of Zhou.
After hearing this, Emperor Wu of Zhou nodded and said, "I know, I will send someone to investigate."
After the fourth prince finished speaking, he did not disturb Emperor Wu of Zhou.
Just when he was about to leave, he suddenly spoke again: "Father, there is something strange in the woods in the north that was discovered by my tenth brother."
"Xiao Shi discovered it?" Emperor Zhou Wu was a little surprised.
"In the morning, my tenth brother and General Shen and their youngest son went hunting in the northern woods together. They found that there were no other animals except birds in the northern woods. They thought it was strange, so they told my son about this."
"I didn't expect this kid to be quite sharp."
The fourth prince said nothing more, "Father, I won't disturb you anymore, please leave now."
Emperor Zhou Wu nodded lightly and said warmly: "Go back and have a good rest."
"Yes, Father."
After the fourth prince left, Emperor Zhou Wu called Shen Hu and others in, and then told them some things.
After Shen Hu and the others heard this, their expressions instantly became very solemn.
He originally planned to go hunting with the fourth prince in the afternoon, but Zhao Yao didn't wake up until early in the morning from his nap. By this time, it was already evening.
While he was sleeping, the Fourth Prince and Chu Huan both came to see him. Seeing that he was still sleeping, he didn't let Tongxi wake him up.
When Zhao Yao woke up, he saw Ling Yun sleeping on his pillow.
Seeing that Zhao Yao was ready, Ling Yun gently pecked his little face with his beak.
Zhao Yao rubbed Ling Yun's little head. Seeing that it was very dark in the camp, he subconsciously asked, "What time is it?"
Ling Yun said: [It’s getting dark soon. 】
"Ah? It's getting dark soon?" Zhao Yao was startled. He sat up suddenly and looked outside the tent. Sure enough, it was also dark outside. "I slept all afternoon?"
Ling Yun said: [Well, you slept all afternoon. 】
Tong Xi, who was guarding outside, heard something moving in the tent and hurriedly walked in to check. Seeing that Zhao Yao was awake, he said happily: "Your Highness, you are finally awake. If you don't wake up, I will call the imperial doctor."
Zhao Yao stretched and said, "I didn't expect that I slept for so long." He had a dream all night last night, in which he was chased by assassins. He ran all night and was exhausted. I woke up early this morning and was hunting all morning, so I was a little tired.
"Your Highness, are you feeling uncomfortable in any way?" Tongxi asked nervously.
"I don't feel uncomfortable at all." Zhao Yao said, "I feel refreshed now."
"That's good." Tong Xi breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, "You don't know that you haven't woken up in the afternoon, and the fourth prince is very worried. He comes to see you every other hour, and he just left."
"Ah? Didn't fourth brother go out hunting?"
"The fourth prince didn't trust you, so he didn't go hunting." Tongxi added, "Mr. Chu and the others also came to see you in the afternoon. The empress also came to see you several times, and the emperor also sent Eunuch Sun to see you."
Zhao Yao was shocked by Tong Xi's words, "I just took a nap, why did I disturb so many people?"
"You haven't woken up and everyone is worried." Tongxi asked again, "Your Highness, are you thirsty or hungry?"
"Kind of."
Tong Xi first poured a cup of hot tea for Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, please take a sip of tea first."
Zhao Yao finished his tea and asked, "Did anything happen in the afternoon?"
"Nothing big happened in the afternoon..." Tongxi suddenly thought of something and said hurriedly, "I noticed that the patrols in the camp have become stricter."
Zhao Yao said: "The fourth brother must have told Father about the woods in the north." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his eyes to Ling Yun and asked hurriedly, "Laifu, did you find anything when you went to the woods in the north this afternoon?"
Ling Yun said: [There is someone. 】
"how many people?"
Ling Yun: [Quite a few. 】
"Sure enough, there are people!" Zhao Yao thought to himself, these people could not be assassins sent by Bago.
"Your Highness, do you mean there are assassins in the woods to the north?" Tongxi's face showed a look of horror and uneasiness, "There are assassins... this..."
"Fourth brother told my father that he should send someone to the woods to the north."
"My servant has never heard of an assassin."
Zhao Yao thought for a moment and said, "It's possible that my father didn't want to alert the enemy."
Ling Yun added: [Not an assassin. 】
"What, not an assassin?" Zhao Yao asked in surprise, "Didn't you say there is someone in the woods to the north?"
[There is someone, but it’s not an assassin. 】Ling Yun said again, 【I didn't find the assassin. 】
"You really didn't find the assassin?"
【No. 】Ling Yun said, 【However, there are wolves. 】
"Is there a wolf?"
[Well, there are quite a few. 】
"How come there are no assassins?" Zhao Yao thinks this is unreasonable.
[There are no assassins in the entire paddock. ] After Ling Yun checked the woods to the north, he also checked the woods to the east, south and west, but no assassin was found. [There is a bear deep in the woods to the west. 】
Ling Yun's eyesight was very good. If it didn't see the assassin, that meant there really wasn't an assassin.
"Isn't the assassin hiding in the paddock?" Zhao Yao asked again, "Then why are there no other animals in the woods to the north?"
【Been eaten by wolves. 】
"Were there wolves in the paddock before?"
[There were wolves, but not as many as now. 】Ling Yun said, 【This is a complete wolf pack. 】
"Is that dangerous?"
[There are many people, so it’s okay. 】Ling Yun said again, 【There are so many people that the wolves dare not approach. 】
Hearing what Ling Yun said, Zhao Yao felt relieved.
"That's not right, where is the assassin hiding?" Bago specifically told him, there is no way there is no assassin.
"Your Highness, there are no assassins?" Tong Xi was confused by Zhao Yao's words.
"Rifford said it found no assassins."
It's strange, how could there be no assassins?
If the assassin wasn't hiding in the woods of the paddock, where was he? It's impossible to suddenly appear and commit an assassination, right?
The paddock was guarded by layers of guards, and the assassins could only fly in. However, when it flies in, it is very likely that it will be shot into a sieve by the archers.
"Your Highness, are there really no assassins?"
"possible."
"It's better if there are no assassins." Tongxi said, "Your Highness, I will go and get you something to eat."
"You go and tell Fourth Brother and Mother Concubine first that they said I'm awake."
"Slave, go now."
After a while, the fourth prince came over. He felt relieved when he saw that Zhao Yao's face and energy were good.
"Tenth brother, you go to my tent at night and sleep with me."
Zhao Yao looked surprised: "Huh?"
"Don't want to?"
Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "Fourth brother, if I sleep with you, won't it disturb you?" After all, he was not very honest when sleeping.
"No." The fourth prince smiled, "Please clean up and follow me to my tent later."
"Okay." Did the fourth brother know something? Otherwise, the fourth brother would not ask him to sleep in his tent.
After Zhao Yao packed up, he obediently followed the fourth prince to his tent.
The two stayed in the tent for a while, then went to the grass outside the tent to have dinner.
The bonfire had already been set up and was burning very brightly.
Around the grassland, many torches were lit. The torches lit up the grassland like daylight.
Many people came to the grass and sat down. They were talking about this afternoon's hunting competition.
In the afternoon, Emperor Wu of Zhou did not go out hunting, but stayed in the camp to deal with political affairs.
The prince and the king went hunting together. The prince was invited by the king, but the prince did not refuse.
The king also invited many generals and their sons to hunt together.
Naturally, Shen Hu and their sons did not participate.
The ministers and their sons who supported the king and the prince all participated, and it turned into a competition.
Almost all the people on Dai Wang's side were generals who were good at riding and shooting. Most of the people on the prince's side were civil servants, and there were no generals who were good at riding and shooting, so they lost to the people who were acting as kings.
The competition in the afternoon was very fierce and exciting, but it was a pity that Zhao Yao slept all afternoon and did not see it.
The food for dinner tonight is the prey that Dai Wang and the Crown Prince hunted in the afternoon.
On the other side of the lawn, Queen Xie took her concubines to have dinner.
Jiang Chuan returned to Queen Xie and whispered in Queen Xie's ear: "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."
Queen Xie nodded slightly.
(End of chapter)
