After Yang Xuan returned to the mansion, he took a good bath to wash away all the decadence and other negative energy from his body.
He also knew that he couldn't go on like this forever.
Without Zhu Biao to share the burden, all state and government affairs fell on Lao Zhu.
It was clear that he was in pain and uncomfortable, but he still had to hold on and not fall down.
One can imagine how painful this period of time was for Lao Zhu.
Yang Xuan will not forget Zhu Biao's words, the country, the country and the country are more important than anything else.
He has to do his part.
Putting on a new set of clean clothes, I met An Qing, who had been waiting for a long time.
Yang Xuan felt a little guilty. He caressed An Qing's face and said softly: "I'm sorry, I've made you worry these days."
"Just seeing you're okay."
An Qing smiled.
"By the way, Miaojin is also worried about you these days. You have to tell her if you are okay."
Anqing reminded again.
"Okay, I understand." Yang Xuan nodded.
Then he went to the Wei Guogong Mansion to visit his junior sister.
The moment she saw Yang Xuan, Xu Miaojin threw herself directly into Yang Xuan's arms.
Crying loudly, he said: "Brother, do you know how worried I am about you during this time?"
"The princess said that you don't eat or drink, and you are in a daze, as if you have lost your soul."
"I'm so scared, afraid that you will leave suddenly like daddy."
Yang Xuan was stunned for a long time by his junior sister's actions. He didn't expect that she would rush over and hug him like this.
Today's little junior sister is no longer the little girl crying under the eaves.
She is already a thirteen-year-old girl.
As the saying goes, there are differences between men and women, coupled with the various rules of the feudal era, Yang Xuan pays great attention to the distance between himself and his junior sister.
To avoid being misunderstood.
But now that this happened, he couldn't do it directly.
But hearing the cry of his little junior sister, he felt a little distressed.
When she was very young, her father who loved her the most was gone. Although her brothers, sisters, and aunt were all very kind to her, they could not replace Xu Da after all.
Yang Xuan gently patted the junior sister's back and comforted her softly: "Why did I leave? Look at me now, I'm fine!"
"It's my fault for making you worry these days."
Under Yang Xuan's patient comfort, the junior sister's mood finally stabilized.
Only then did she realize that she was in her senior brother's arms.
She embarrassedly broke away from Yang Xuan's arms, turned around, blushed, and whispered: "Since you are fine, senior brother, then I will go back first."
She felt her face was so hot. She didn't know what would happen if she stayed here any longer.
Looking at the little junior sister who was running away, Yang Xuan touched his nose, chuckled and shook his head, but did not stop him.
…
Three days later, Yang Xuan entered the palace again to meet Lao Zhu.
Seeing Yang Xuan's mental outlook changed drastically, Lao Zhu nodded with satisfaction.
"This is so decent. Look at your decadent look a few days ago. We can't believe it's you."
"Excuse me for worrying, Your Majesty!" Yang Xuan said sheepishly.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense."
"Biao'er is gone. From now on, you will lead the cabinet and help us handle government affairs."
"Now, we feel more and more lack of energy."
"Old man, old man!" Lao Zhu sighed as he leaned on the dragon chair.
"Your Majesty has lived for thousands of years, and he is not old at all." Yang Xuan said quickly.
"Flattery is not honest at all." Lao Zhu pointed at Yang Xuan and said.
Yang Xuan smiled awkwardly and did not answer.
Zhu Biao is gone, and the person who has always protected him is gone. Yang Xuan can no longer be as unscrupulous as before. He must think twice before doing anything.
"Come for a walk with us!" After a moment of silence, Lao Zhu said.
"yes."
…
Royal Garden.
Lao Zhu and Yang Xuan walked slowly, one behind the other.
Suddenly, Lao Zhu asked: "Now, the position of crown prince is vacant. Who do you think among our sons can take on the big responsibility?"
Are you testing yourself... Yang Xuan thought to himself.
Then he cupped his hands and said: "The crown prince is the foundation of the country. Everything is decided by His Majesty. I dare not say too much."
"There are no outsiders here, just you and me, father-in-law and son-in-law. You can just say whatever you want." Lao Zhu looked at Yang Xuan and consoled him.
Yang Xuan didn't know what Lao Zhu's attitude was, and he didn't dare to express his opinion.
"I still say what I said, everything is decided by His Majesty!"
Lao Zhu was obviously not satisfied with this answer.
He looked at Yang Xuan and said in a deep voice: "Raise your head and look into our eyes."
Yang Xuan's heart skipped a beat and he could only slowly raise his head.
The next moment, he met Lao Zhu's sharp eyes.
The deep eyes are full of vicissitudes of life, but they seem to be able to see through people's hearts.
"You're scared!"
"You're afraid of us!"
Lao Zhu's voice rang in Yang Xuan's ears.
The words are not serious, but they put tremendous pressure on people.
Yang Xuan gritted his teeth and did not dare to answer Lao Zhu's words.
If you admit to being afraid, then why are you afraid?
Lao Zhu seemed to be able to guess what Yang Xuan was thinking, and he just heard him say: "You don't answer us because you are afraid of getting involved in the dispute for the crown prince."
"Or are you afraid that we will liquidate you?"
"I don't have this idea." Yang Xuan replied through gritted teeth.
"You are lying to us." Lao Zhu looked into Yang Xuan's eyes, shook his head and said.
"No." Yang Xuan refused to admit it.
"Okay, then you can answer our previous questions now."
"Who can be the crown prince?" Lao Zhu asked again, looking directly into Yang Xuan's eyes without blinking.
"It all depends on His Majesty's Holy Judgment!" Yang Xuan said the same thing, but his heart was beating loudly.
Beads of sweat also appeared on his forehead.
Facing such tough questioning from Lao Zhu, it was really difficult to hold on.
"You lied!" Lao Zhu suddenly shouted.
"We can already hear your heartbeat."
"We know that you support the fourth child in your heart."
"He is indeed like us, but according to the rules of brotherhood, it is not his turn."
"He also has the second and third sons above him."
"If we make him the crown prince, the second and third sons will definitely have objections."
At this point, Lao Zhu was no longer as tough as before. He turned around and seemed to be talking to himself.
"But the second child looks like he is not suitable for being a prince at all!"
Yang Xuan also breathed a sigh of relief no longer being stared at by Lao Zhu.
Even though Lao Zhu is old, as a founding king who emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, his aura is simply not something that ordinary people can bear.
"Yang Xuan, Biao'er treats you well, why don't you support making Yunwen the crown prince?"
"Or are you supporting him because you have a good relationship with the fourth child?"
Lao Zhu asked softly, seeming to really ask for an answer.
Yang Xuan didn't know whether he should answer this question. He was afraid that if he didn't answer well, Lao Zhu would be angry again.
But then I thought about it, Lao Zhu's eyes were too poisonous.
He can see what's going on in your mind.
What's the difference between admitting it and not admitting it?
Thinking of this, Yang Xuan no longer hesitated.
He answered Lao Zhu's question with only three words.
"What a great saint!"
…
