Seeing his son acting vigorously and resolutely, all the officials surrendered and all the people returned to their hearts. On the other hand, these sons of his own have accomplished nothing except fighting for power and profit. Emperor Xuanwu suddenly felt an unbearable headache and asked with a frown on his face: "Lu Yao, tell me, why don't any of my sons make me worry-free?"
Lu Yao lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes, and replied respectfully: "Princes have their own problems, and I dare not make any unreasonable comments. But -" He changed his words quietly and glanced at Emperor Xuanwu's expression without leaving any trace. Then he continued, "As far as I know, His Royal Highness Prince Huai has been adhering to his duty, staying true to his integrity and being humble in all these years."
"Lao Qi?" Emperor Xuanwu's expression changed, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he said quietly, "Well... Lao Qi is indeed a sensible person. I left him in Beiluo's sect and ignored him for so many years. I thought he He would be as unwilling to see me as before, and would rather stay in Fomalhaut than come back. I didn’t expect him to come back.”
He stared at the tea cup in front of him, a layer of mist seemed to be floating in his slightly squinted eyes, and he looked thoughtful, "In recent years, his brothers have been instigating each other, causing chaos in the court, but he just doesn't It’s a little bit dusty, but it’s neither fighting nor grabbing, which really surprises me.”
"His Royal Highness King Huai left the palace in a fashionable and young age. He also received the words and deeds of Master Shen at Beiluo Shimen for many years. Naturally, his mind has broadened a lot. I am afraid that what happened back then has been completely forgotten." Lu Yao said this. , the corner of his mouth raised a slight arc, with a bit of flattery and sincerity, "His Royal Highness King Huai has become a lot closer to Your Majesty in the past few years since he returned to the palace. Not only does he often come to pay your respects to Your Majesty, but he also celebrates His Majesty's birthday every year. I have put a lot of thought into this secretly, but it has remained unknown to His Majesty. His Majesty, Prince Huai, must have been thinking about you very much during these years in Beiluo Division."
Emperor Xuanwu's eyelids suddenly raised, and he looked at Lu Yao meaningfully, with a sharp edge hidden in his slightly scrutinizing gaze.
Lu Yao's smile froze slightly, and after a brief stiffness, a trace of uneasiness flashed across his face, but it soon disappeared without a trace, just like water passing through without leaving a trace.
Emperor Xuanwu withdrew his gaze calmly and asked enigmatically: "So, do you think Lao Qi is really aloof from the world, or is he deliberately suppressing his talents and keeping a low profile?"
Lu Yao's eyelids twitched, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he replied calmly: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, so he must have his own calculations in his heart. I am a eunuch with a short-sighted mind. He only knows how to serve your Majesty with all his heart. As for other things, I I don’t understand.”
Emperor Xuanwu suddenly smiled, with a pair of smiling eyes showing keen insight, "You have been by my side since I was the prince. I am afraid that no one in this palace has more vicious eyes than you. So. It's been rare for many years to see you speak for someone. It seems that Lao Qi is indeed a talented person." The smile on his face gradually faded, his eyes turned to the distance faintly, he shook his head and sighed, "It's just that Lao Qi wants to take this path. The road is more difficult than others! He has nothing to rely on and no foundation, so it is very difficult! If Lao Qi had been by my side..."
An indescribable complex look suddenly flashed across Emperor Xuanwu's eyes, and a faint contemplation appeared in his eyes, "I still remember that after Lao Qi was born, Concubine Ling refused to let me take Lao Qi out of the cold palace until she died of illness. I was able to take out Lao Qi. But this child has not been close to me since he was a child. He even looked at me with cold eyes. I don’t know if he has been resenting me because of Concubine Ling’s incident."
Emperor Xuanwu seemed to be feeling something, and there was a bit of confusion on his face, which was in a trance.
Seeing this, Lu Yao comforted him and said, "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. His Highness Prince Huai was only three years old when Concubine Ling passed away. How could a three-year-old child remember things? Besides, Concubine Ling invited her here on her own. She was in the cold palace. She found out she was pregnant after entering the cold palace. Your Majesty, you also let her and the prince in your belly stay in the cold palace in order to protect her and the prince from being plotted by others. How could His Highness, King Huai, resent your majesty?"
"Even if Lao Qi didn't remember the incident at the time, the confidant next to Concubine Ling did not forget it. After she came out of the cold palace, she has been protecting Lao Qi, guarding me like a scourge. I know that what happened back then is indeed my fault. I was ashamed of Concubine Ling, but later on I loved her sincerely and wanted to make it up to her, but she insisted on never seeing me again."
Emperor Xuanwu closed his eyes with a gloomy look, and slowly exhaled. Those feelings that had been buried by the dust of the years, when he recalled them, emerged uncontrollably, making him involuntarily feel a sense of nostalgia.
"I still remember the first time I went to see Lao Qi. He was so pretty, and his eyebrows were just like the fairy boy in the painting. I really liked this kid from the bottom of my heart, but when he saw me , and actually called me 'Your Majesty'."
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh twice. The smile barely stayed on his lips, with an unspeakable bitterness, and he lamented: "Master and servant, they are not even willing to say 'Father'." Lao Qi, I think he must have hated me."
Lu Yao secretly lowered his eyes and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Although Concubine Ling has been dead for many years, she has left a thorn in His Majesty's heart. Over the years, this thorn has taken root, and every time she thinks of it, she feels a dull pain. If everyone in the harem hadn't noticed that His Majesty was interested in cultivating King Huai, they wouldn't have joined forces to force King Huai away. Otherwise, the position of the crown prince...
Lu Yao sighed silently and said consolingly: "Many years have passed, and Concubine Ling must have forgiven your Majesty a long time ago, so why should your Majesty be so sad? Now, His Royal Highness King Huai is extremely elegant and possesses both civil and military talents. I should be happy if Concubine Ling is alive in heaven. Besides, Your Majesty and His Highness Prince Huai have blood thicker than water, and that is a bond that no one can break."
Lu Yao's words seemed to touch the depths of Emperor Xuanwu's heart, and the forced smile gradually solidified on the corners of his lips, with a hint of worry, "Yes, blood is thicker than water..." After all, I am ashamed of them..."
He held the tea cup tightly, as if he was restraining the emotions floating in his heart. The sharp eyes in the past had a desolate and desolate look at this moment. If he is willing to call me 'father', it will chill my heart just like his mother and concubine. I will not let him and A-Ling's confidants be trampled by the people in the palace, and let those bastards try their best to humiliate him. .Originally, I just wanted to teach Lao Qi some lessons and let him know that only I am the master of the world and can protect him. But I never expected that Ah Ling’s confidant would be so strong-willed that he would die to tell the world that Lao Qi The humiliation I have suffered in this harem for many years. At that time, people all over the world had different opinions, and they were all waiting to see how I would deal with the people in the harem. However, the harem and the former dynasty were affected by the whole body. I had to save them, so I could only abandon the seventh child and put them together. He was sent to Fomalhaut to practice martial arts in the name of the prince, and he stayed there for nine years."
Emperor Xuanwu sighed deeply, with a lingering sadness in his eyebrows.
Before Lu Yao could offer words of comfort, he heard the young eunuch guarding outside the palace bowing at the door and reporting:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince would like to see you."
