In the Zhengdian Hall of the imperial palace, the queen entertained the wives of various ministers and nobles, and their families and children were also entertained in the side hall of the Zhengdian Hall, headed by Prince Li Chengqian.
But the prince Li Chengqian is only nine years old, and the children from other families are not too old. The eldest is Cheng Huaimo from the Cheng Yaojin family, who is twenty years old. He has been sent by his father to join the army for training. He originally didn't want to come. This year is the best time. The purpose of participating is to bring the second brother Cheng Huailiang who is here for the first time.
Apart from Cheng Huaimo, the oldest one is really Xiao Rui. Even without the status of the quasi-consort of Xiangcheng, Xiao Rui was qualified to participate by virtue of his title as the eldest son of the Duke of Song Dynasty.
But the problem is that this time it is not just the noble children, but also the royal family members.
Xiao Rui didn't want to hang out with a bunch of brats, let alone such a messy place.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered the door of the side hall, he saw a dramatic scene. Prince Li Chengqian was surrounded by three layers inside and three layers outside, surrounded by sycophants.
Xiao Rui is two years old and the prince is only nine years old. Can he understand your flattery? No, you guys, the older one is fifteen or sixteen, the younger one is eleven or two, are you all so active? Did you learn to flatter yourself at such a young age?
"Brother, are you here? Come in quickly. I heard from my father that you will eat with us. I have been waiting for you for a long time." As soon as Xiao Rui entered, Xiao Changle ran out, holding his hand and walking into the crowd.
"Make way, make way, Brother Prince, brother-in-law is here, brother-in-law is here..." Xiao Changle shouted to Prince Li Chengqian.
Everyone turned around following the sound. Everyone treated the six-year-old little Changle as a little baby and didn't take it seriously. Although no one dared to offend him, no one cared about it. Who are you talking about? Are you introducing me to the prince?
But there was one person in the crowd whose face turned pale instantly after seeing Xiao Rui - Changsun Chong, who had been psychologically repaired by Xiao Rui.
Prince Li Chengqian's eyes changed slightly, but he quickly pretended to be nonchalant, walked down from his seat with a smile, and walked towards Xiao Rui.
"Is it Xiao Yushi? The lonely king has long wanted to get to know him."
Um? Xiao Yushi? Lone king?
Xiao Rui looked at Li Chengqian, who was as old-fashioned as a little adult in front of him, and laughed out loud. He couldn't help but reached out and rubbed his head: "You are only nine years old, right? Don't imitate the seriousness of adults. Being a serious lady is not fun. Relax. Yes, tonight is all about eating, drinking and having fun.”
"Presumptuous! Who are you? Dare to talk to His Highness the Crown Prince like this? Can you touch His Highness the Crown Prince's hair?" General Zuo Xiaowei, the eldest son of Xue Guogong Sun Shunde, and the eldest grandson Jiaxing stood up and yelled.
A group of boys followed and glared at Xiao Rui, but Cheng Huaimo looked at Xiao Rui with a puzzled face and stood in an inconspicuous place with his younger brother, while the eldest son Sun Chong stretched out his hand to pull eldest son Jiaxing and whispered: "Uncle, do not talk……"
Changsun Shunde is Changsun Wuji's uncle, so Changsun Jiaxing is one generation older than Changsun Chong.
Seeing Changsun Chong's performance, Changsun Jiaxing threw away his hand and said dissatisfied: "Xiao Chong, you are the eldest son of the Duke of Qi and the prince's cousin. At this time, you should stand up for the prince."
Get ahead? Changsun Chong glanced at Xiao Rui cautiously. He seemed to be smiling, but when he looked at Changsun Chong, he had a look that could kill someone. It was terrifying! horrible!
"Hey, what do you want to do? Do you want to bully eldest brother? This is my future brother-in-law. No one is allowed to bully him." Xiao Changle angrily protected Xiao Rui behind him.
At this time, due to her age, Princess Xiangcheng was visiting various princes and princesses with her mother, so Xiao Rui's only acquaintance was Xiao Changle.
How could Xiao Rui be protected by a child?
He stretched out his hand to pull Xiao Changle aside, turned to look at Changsun Shunde and said with a smile: "You asked Changsun Chong to stand up for the prince? Haha, ask him if he dares? Changsun Chong, everyone here doesn't seem to recognize me. Why don't you help me?" Introduce me and tell them what my name is."
Um? I……
"What? Disobedient?" Xiao Rui raised his eyebrows, and Changsun Chong almost sat on the ground in fright.
Changsun Chong said quickly: "He is Xiao Rui, the eldest son of Duke Xiao Yu of the Song Dynasty."
After saying that, he seemed to be running away and hid at the farthest table, meaning that everything has nothing to do with me, so don't bother me.
who? Xiao Rui? Who is Xiao Rui?
Many people don't recognize him because they are all children and are usually controlled by their families. How do they know about the officialdom of Chang'an City.
However, one-third of the children had heard of Xiao Rui's name and unanimously withdrew from the confrontation, slowly moving towards Chang Sun Chong's table.
Cheng Huailiang asked his eldest brother Cheng Huaimo in a low voice, "Brother, who is Xiao Rui? Why are so many people afraid of him? He even dares to..."
Cheng Huaimo covered his brother's mouth and whispered, "He is the nephew Xiao Xian that dad calls him."
What?
Cheng Huailiang exclaimed, interrupting the brief silence. Everyone looked at the two of them. Cheng Huaimo quickly came out to smooth things over, held his hands in his hands and said with a smile: "Don't get me wrong, my brother is choking on something. Your Highness, I will take him to drink." Please order the paste. Brother Xiao, I am Huai Mo, and this is my younger brother Huai Liang. My father, Su Guogong, often talks about you. If you are free, eldest brother often goes to my house to play."
Su Guogong?
When Xiao Rui heard this, he thought, haha, isn't that the child of Cheng Yaojin's family? Yes, the two boys are good, and they know they are one of our own.
He reached out and rubbed their heads, completely forgetting that he was not as old as Cheng Huaimo, and said with a gentle smile: "Okay, quickly take Huai Liang to drink some physalis, and come over later to have a meal with my brother. "
The two of them left in a hurry under the sullen eyes of Prince Li Chengqian.
Cheng Huailiang whispered: "Brother, why does he like to rub people's heads so much?"
"Stop talking. Brother Xiao even rubs the prince's head casually. What's your head? Be careful and wait for a beating." Cheng Huaimo is still sensible.
Xiao Rui turned around and saw the anger in Li Chengqian's eyes, and sighed in his heart, okay, he's not old and has a bad temper, but he has such a big heart?
"Didn't I say that tonight is the New Year's Eve banquet? Why haven't we started the banquet yet? Aren't you hungry?" Xiao Rui asked.
On Li Chengqian's side, all the children, big and small, turned to look at him. Li Chengqian said dissatisfied: "Xiao Yushi, have you forgotten the etiquette when you meet the lonely king?"
Xiao Rui pulled Xiao Changle and whispered a few words in her ear, and then Xiao Changle ran out quickly.
Without Xiao Changle's protection, the arrogance of Li Chengqian and his followers became even more powerful.
Xiao Rui smiled and walked forward step by step, looking like a smiling tiger. Li Chengqian scolded guiltily: "You are so presumptuous, what do you want to do? Come here..."
The guard outside the door heard the shouting and rushed in hurriedly.
Xiao Rui turned around and said coldly: "Back off! I'm waiting for a banquet with the prince. Are you going to get into trouble?"
When the guards saw it was Xiao Rui, they looked at me and I looked at you and stopped hesitantly.
Li Chengqian smiled proudly and said: "Xiao Yushi, although you are famous, this is the palace, and they are the palace guards, so they will not listen to you."
Xiao Rui smiled, turned around and asked, "Really? Why don't the prince ask them who has the final say here today."
Li Chengqian was confused and looked at a group of guards.
I saw the guards confessing to the prince, then bowed their heads and retreated.
Li Chengqian's face turned red with anger, and a bunch of little legs were also very confused, why couldn't the prince command the palace guards?
