Evening, city gate.
Zhao Wang Xiao Jun had been waiting for several hours in the teahouse near the city gate.
After Zhang Yan returned home, he conveyed everything Xiao Lin said to his ears.
After hearing this, Xiao Jun felt as if grass had grown in his heart.
In fact, these grasses have already taken root.
In order to please his father, he often went to the palace to meet the emperor and performed various efforts.
In addition, in order to grasp the trends in the palace, he placed many insiders in the palace, such as eunuchs and maids, and he spent a lot of money to bribe them.
These people continuously reported to his ears what happened in the palace.
Of course, what he wanted to know most was what was going on in the East Palace and Emperor Xiao.
The palace people focused on helping him to find out the trends in these two aspects.
But sometimes, some other news creeps in.
For example, about Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu was not considered favored. Emperor Xiao only went to her twice a month, and the rewards on weekdays were very few.
Among all the concubines competing for their beauty, Concubine Shu is also the least conspicuous one.
She is not the prettiest in appearance, nor does she behave in a discreet manner on weekdays. She looks very content and self-reliant.
Her son and daughter were just like her, neither smart nor stupid, plain and mediocre.
Xiao Jun never paid attention to such a person.
It's just that she is one of the four concubines, and she also gave birth to the prince Xiao Jue, so the news about Concubine Shu and Xiao Jue will still be gathered to him together with Xiao Lin's.
He really didn't pay attention at first, but later he accidentally discovered that the whereabouts of Emperor Xiao, Concubine Shu and their children often overlapped.
For example, Concubine Shu believed in Buddhism and would go to Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha every other month.
And during the same time period, Emperor Xiao will also appear there.
He always thought it was a coincidence.
But then one time, he went to visit Daxiangguo Temple and accidentally broke into the forbidden area of the temple. He unexpectedly bumped into Emperor Xiao and Concubine Shu, followed by their children, Xiao Jue and Xiao Xiyan.
The four of them were playing in the garden in the forbidden area, laughing and cheering constantly. They looked so harmonious and harmonious!
Concubine Shu was no longer the dull and boring Concubine Shu that he remembered. She was dressed beautifully and charmingly.
Xiao Jue was not as taciturn as he usually saw. In front of Emperor Xiao, he quoted scriptures and spoke endlessly.
The father and son didn't know what they were talking about, and they were talking very speculatively.
What surprised Xiao Jun the most was the way Xiao Emperor looked at Xiao Jue, full of praise and love!
The father and son put their arms around each other like friends, chatting and laughing.
That was something he had never gotten from his father!
Emperor Xiao was always very majestic in front of him and spoke very few words. He had very strict requirements for the princes and princesses, and they had to abide by all the rules. If they were not careful, they would be reprimanded by him.
Ever since he was little, Xiao Jun has been a little afraid of him.
He often came to his mother's palace. To outsiders, he loved her very much, but in fact, he didn't like her. Although he received many rewards, he rarely smiled at her.
But in front of Concubine Shu, Emperor Xiao smiled very happily, laughing loudly from time to time.
And Xiao Xiyan, who had always been so obedient and even a little dull in front of outsiders, changed from her normal behavior at this time, pulling on Xiao Emperor's sleeves to act coquettishly, and even bumping her head against Emperor Xiao when she was happy.
Xiao Jun couldn't even imagine the delicate and savage posture of a child like that!
He thought of his sister Xiao Zhi. Every time he saw his father, he was like a cat seeing a mouse, and he didn't dare to breathe.
Not to mention someone like Xiao Xiyan who was tired of acting coquettishly in his arms!
From then on, Xiao Jun felt that something was wrong.
However, he could never forget what Emperor Xiao once said to him.
That was four years ago.
Emperor Xiao came to his palace drunk and had a long talk with him for the first time.
He talked a lot. He said that he was the best among the princes. He said that Xiao Lin had too much desire to kill and might not be able to become the Holy Lord. He also said that he was the child who was most like him and he was so strict with him. , in order to better train him.
He talked for a long time, which made Xiao Jun confused.
Later, he told his mother and concubine about it. She was overjoyed and told her grandfather and uncle about it.
What happens after that?
Xiao Jun pinched his eyebrows, his forehead was beating so fast that his head hurt!
After that, he, his mother-in-law and his grandfather's family developed ambitions they had never had before.
After that, there was a years-long fight with the Xie family in the East Palace, which continues until now.
Now, how?
Xiao Jun thought of the heart-wrenching words Zhang Yan said and felt that his head was about to burst!
However, he knew that Zhang Yan was right, no, Xiao Lin was right. Until now, they were both losing.
The Zhang family was defeated half a year ago, and my grandfather and 20,000 Changfeng troops buried their bodies and returned to the mountain.
Defeat will naturally lead to punishment. As a result, the Zhang family's original power in the court was reduced by most. There was no one named Zhang in the three provinces and six tribes.
Now, it’s the Xie family’s 30,000-strong Lin Army, the prince Xiao Lin’s face is mutilated, and there’s no one with high power in the court named Xie!
They fought for several years, and in the end they consumed each other instead of one another.
Looking back now, all the power is concentrated in the hands of Emperor Xiao.
Thinking about it again, his good father who once confided in him had not looked at him seriously for a long time!
But he and Concubine Shu's habit of going to Xiangguo Temple has never changed.
That time, Xiao Jun was so surprised that he made a noise and was almost caught by the guards. After that, he went to the forbidden area again, but it was already deserted.
At that time, he didn't want to face that fact, so he deceived himself and did not continue the investigation.
But now, he knows that he can only face reality!
Xiao Jun took a deep breath, took a sip of wine, and looked up at the city gate.
At this time, a carriage was slowly driving from outside the city, followed by several guards on horseback on both sides of the carriage.
Xiao Jun saw the appearance of one of the guards clearly, and his heart thumped!
That was the inner guard beside Xiao Jue.
Therefore, Xiao Lin did not lie, Xiao Jue did go far away.
That is, Emperor Xiao was not seen.
Ordinarily, they should come back together!
"Your Highness, that person is Chi Xiao!" Duan Yu, the secret guard beside him, suddenly whispered.
"Which one?" Xiao Jun asked hurriedly.
Duan Yu carefully pointed to the person accompanying the carriage: "That's him!"
"But the face doesn't look like it!" Xiao Jun frowned.
"He must be disguised!" Duan Yu said firmly, "Don't look at his face, look at his body shape, movements, and the sword on his waist! That's the Qinghong Sword!"
When the Green Rainbow Sword encounters sunlight, it will show colorful shadows.
At this time, the setting sun hit the scabbard of the sword.
A ball of colorful light and shadow flickered, making Xiao Jun's eyes hurt and almost shed tears.
Chi Xiao is Emperor Xiao's shadow guard.
Shadow Guards, as the name suggests, are shadow-like secret guards.
