The night is getting dark and the wind and snow are getting tight.
A gorgeous black-covered carriage was slowly moving towards the imperial capital Jiankang, escorted by a group of royal guards.
Xiao Yu carefully pushed the heavy curtain on the car window and took one last look through the gap at the dilapidated courtyard where he had been imprisoned for five years.
A feeling like being in a dream made him slightly dizzy. Everything seemed so unreal, but it actually existed.
Recalling the dazzling car lights and the rapid sound of the horn, he didn't know where the real him was.
Maybe...that dream is now!
Putting down the curtain, he took a deep breath, but for some reason his body couldn't relax.
The nagging words of Manager Zhao just now were repeated in my mind... Sir, your madness has not been cured yet, so don't talk nonsense in front of the emperor!
Xiao Yu frowned. No matter what, he had to sort out his thoughts before seeing the emperor.
After a while, he roughly sorted out two questions.
One is the so-called madness, and the other is the emperor who wants to summon him.
Eight years is enough to change a person. If it is true as those eunuchs said before, and if the emperor is Xiao Yuheng, what kind of tyrannical and unjust monarch will he be?
And more and more thoughts began to linger in his mind, and they kept expanding and full.
If you are really suffering from madness, who would take the words of a madman too seriously?
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu groaned. He suddenly pushed open the window and stretched half of his body out of the window, making a funny move of trying to run out of the window.
And half of the body was quickly stuck there, and this action immediately caused a commotion in the team.
The carriage stopped and a group of people gathered around, but most of them didn't seem to want to intervene, but looked at Xiao Yu like a fool.
Only the young eunuch guarding the car stepped forward to help Xiao Yu who was stuck.
"Hey, little prince, what are you doing! Go back quickly...I'll help you!"
"Hey, where are you taking me!" Xiao Yu shouted, "I'm not going, I want to go home, back to my own home!"
The guards and eunuchs laughed again when they saw Xiao Yu's embarrassment.
Only the little eunuch looked anxious, and it took a lot of effort for him to put Xiao Yu back into the car.
"My young prince, you can't go back, you have to go to the palace to face the saint."
"Mian Sheng? What is Mian Sheng?"
"To meet the Holy Spirit is to meet the Emperor."
"Who is the emperor?"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is of course your Majesty!"
"Is it Xiao Yuheng?"
Xiao Yu's words were like thunder on a sunny day. The laughter surrounding the carriage immediately stopped, and the atmosphere of the entire marching team suddenly became weird.
Suddenly another high-pitched voice pierced the cold night sky:
"Bold slave, you are really looking for death!"
The little eunuch trembled and suddenly knelt down on the snow, and the whip like raindrops hit his body, which turned into soft sobs and begging for mercy.
Xiao Yu hurriedly retracted his head into the carriage. Hearing the whipping and begging for mercy outside, he felt a little sorry.
Addressing the emperor by his first name was a treasonous crime. He had learned this in the costume TV series, but when he first came to this world, he couldn't help but forget to avoid the taboo.
Besides, would a lunatic avoid this? If he avoids taboos, then his secret will be revealed!
Brother, I'm sorry... Xiao Yu thought silently.
The royal family has this privilege. There will always be someone to take responsibility for your mistakes. Even if you are a fool, there will be someone to take responsibility for you silently.
Thinking of this, he shook himself and the carriage continued to move forward.
"Xiao Yuheng, have you really become the emperor..."
Xiao Yu muttered silently, his eyebrows gradually knitting together and unable to relax for a long time.
Before I knew it, it was getting bright outside.
This group of troops slowly crossed the Qinhuai River and marched towards the Zhuque Gate.
After a long time, Xiao Yu opened the window again and looked out. The little eunuch was no longer in his sight.
The heavy snow had already fallen from the sky, covering the rows of shops and restaurants on both sides of the royal road with a layer of plain clothes. This scene was like a dream, and the comfort and leisure made him feel unreal.
He had no intention of lingering in the bustling streets of the imperial capital. With the carriage shaking slightly, they slowly crossed Xuanyang Gate and Da Sima Gate and moved forward.
Through the car window, Xiao Yu was dazzled by the tall and majestic jade-carved building. This is the ruling center of the empire, Jiankang Palace...
In front of an inconspicuous side palace wall, the carriage finally stopped, and there was another trivial sound outside.
Xiao Yu was about to lift the curtain to take a look, but the high-pitched urging voice of the elderly eunuch could already be heard outside.
"Prince Pig, please get out of the car!"
Xiao Yu frowned, opened the curtain and climbed out of the carriage.
It's just that he wasn't used to kneeling on the carriage, so his legs went numb and he almost fell off the carriage.
This gesture was extremely indecent, which caused the accompanying eunuchs to chuckle quietly.
It seems that this is what people with madness should be like, Xiao Yu smiled bitterly in his heart.
He disapproved of this and even laughed with the eunuchs.
At this time, he glanced at the little eunuch who was quite respectful to him.
He was standing at the end of the line. He did not grin and laugh like the others, but looked down at his toes respectfully. There were just a few bruises on his delicate face.
He didn't have time to think about other things, but at this moment, another high-pitched, slightly older voice came from behind.
"Presumptuous, you... why are you laughing! You are getting more and more unruly. I wonder if you have eaten all the things that the Za family taught you back then?"
At this time, all the eunuchs, big and small, suddenly became respectful and lowered their heads in fear.
Xiao Yu looked back and saw a slightly rich old eunuch staggering towards him.
Apparently because of his age, the old eunuch's legs and feet seemed to be not very flexible.
And behind him followed a group of palace guards not far away.
Xiao Yu knew this man. He was a high-ranking official who was close to the late emperor back then.
It's just that after not seeing each other for many years, this easy-going and respectful old internal official looks much older, and he has a lot of white hair on his head. Perhaps it is due to obesity. The wrinkles on his face are not very obvious, and he looks like a child with white hair.
"Father, why are you here?" The previously arrogant official took a few steps forward and said with a smile.
"Huh, monkey boy, the Za family naturally can't worry about you guys." The senior internal official glanced at the senior internal official, then he walked a few steps forward and saluted Xiao Yu, "Little prince, follow me. , don’t be like these bully dogs.”
"Father?"
Xiao Yu blurted out, obviously he was curious about what the senior internal official called the senior internal official.
But as soon as he said this, the high official trembled all over, and the whisk in his hand almost fell to the ground. However, other people present had different reactions, some were surprised, and some were snickering.
In their opinion, this mad young prince actually called an old eunuch "father". Which slave could bear such a call?
"It's my fault, young prince, you have broken my old slave. You can't do it! You can't do it!"
Only then did Xiao Yu realize that his previous unintentional words had caused such an uproar here.
Stupid people are stupid, so just make mistakes like this and see how they react.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu pretended to be ignorant and asked: "Father, they said they wanted to take me to see the saint. Where are they going to meet the saint?"
Another bolt from the blue flashed through Gao Naiguan's heart.
It is said that the prince of Jiangxia fell from a tree when he was ten years old and became a fool. He was usually as dull as a dull gourd, but who would have expected that when he opened his mouth, he would say something amazing and extraordinary.
But...how can there be any reason for a royal relative to call an eunuch "father"? I guess it was this young prince who was imitating Zhou Neiguan who was imitating Zhou Neiguan and shouted casually. He really wanted to drag out the flattering Zhou Neiguan and beat him up.
But the people here are too busy to stay for a long time. It is only right to bring this silly boy to the emperor quickly and make a deal with him as soon as possible.
Gao Naiguan no longer explained too much to Xiao Yu, but he was afraid that this fool would do something outrageous again, so he simply stuck the whisk on his back and pulled him towards a small door.
And the team of Ouchi guards followed closely behind them.
After following for a while, Eunuch Gao looked back at the guards:
"Hey, I say you guys don't need to follow so closely. Although the young prince has a bad mind, as long as the old slave is here, he can't escape!"
Several guards looked at each other, but fortunately they still kept some distance apart.
"Father, where are we going?"
Xiao Yu pretended to be ignorant again, but he deliberately kept the title "father" on his lips.
"Hey, just call Eunuch Gao, don't call me father or father. This old slave is an honest man and I really can't bear it. Jiangxia... The Pig King is your father! Don't talk about this for now. Your Majesty is waiting. Looking after you!"
"What are you doing with me?"
Xiao Yu suddenly stopped and refused to leave without saying anything.
Eunuch Gao was a little panicked.
"Oh! I invite you to go, you just go, why are you asking so many questions..." Gao Naiguan is a kind-hearted person, and he doesn't have so many words to avoid for a fool, "Misfortune and fortune are determined by God, who knows?" It can't change my fate, but I don't know why a fool was born in the emperor's family, and I don't know whether today's events are good or bad."
"Father, what are you talking about...I don't understand..."
"Hey, it's useless to say it. It was a blessing in disguise for you to fall from the tree and become a fool. I thought that the emperor had forgotten you a long time ago and you would be safe... Who would have thought that last night he woke up in the middle of the night and kept shouting Your name, I will recruit you into the palace."
"Oh...what did you dream about me for?"
"What a fool..." Gao Naiguan sighed again. He looked around and saw that the guards were far away from them. Since he was a fool, he said a few more words: "Your Majesty's thirty-eight brothers and sixteen uncles, although the emperors outside the border are also afraid of them, they don't dare to take action. Just talk about these in the capital, no matter what Whether he is a man of literary and military skills or someone with mediocre qualifications, he will either die or be imprisoned, but I will let you, a fool, be let go... I am afraid that now that the emperor is possessed by nightmares, even you, a fool, will not be let go!"
This high-ranking official was really an honest person. He revealed so much to a fool like him, but when he thought about it deeply, Xiao Yu still felt a chill running down his back.
At this time, Gao Neiguan poked Xiao Yu with a whisk and whispered: "I'm talking too much today. Young prince, please don't talk nonsense in front of His Majesty!"
Xiao Yu understood, but pretended to be ignorant and nodded.
The right way to survive right now was that his brain was spinning rapidly and he was constantly calculating.
After much deliberation, let’s sit back and watch what happens! He would rather others regard him as a fool, even if he calls the old eunuch and his father to lick the emperor's feet, he will not hesitate to do so. As long as he can survive, there is hope.
Just as Xiao Yu was thinking about this, his stomach suddenly rumbled non-stop. At this critical moment, he felt that the sphincter in his lower body had an inappropriate reaction.
"Father, I want to shit..."
Xiao Yu shouted with a bitter face.
This is not a lie, I’m afraid yesterday’s beer and skewers also traveled through time together!
"My little prince, there is no Gonggong here. You just have to bear it. If you make the emperor wait in a hurry, then you will definitely regret this last shit. You should see the emperor first and let me hand over the errands. Let’s talk about it later!”
Although Xiao Yu heard his stomach growling, and although he knew it was bad for his health, he still tried hard to hold it in in order not to burden others.
Gao Naiguan didn't talk nonsense to him anymore. He held his hand and walked forward quickly, but no matter how he walked, he walked slowly.
At three o'clock in the morning, they arrived at an unknown side hall.
From far away, Xiao Yu heard bursts of mournful wailing coming from the palace. His heart felt cold, and he was forced to hold it back.
At this time, Gao Neiguan sighed and said: "Oh, I don't know which prince is suffering again."
Xiao Yu noticed that he didn't seem to be talking to a "fool" like him, but he still nodded in understanding.
They walked up the bluestone steps to the main hall together.
The threshold in front of him was really ridiculously high. As soon as Xiao Yu stepped over with one foot, his other foot stumbled and he almost collided with Gao Naiguan.
At this time, a young voice came from the hall.
"Hahaha... Idiot, this is not how you kneel when entering the door!"
Xiao Yu raised his eyes and saw that the face that needed beating in his memory had obviously matured a lot. The surly crown prince had indeed become the emperor.
Since you all think you are a fool, then don't worry about the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers. This really pisses me off, I won't care if you are the emperor or not, I will still beat you up, at least I will wear it again and I will still be a good man.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu stood there motionless, while the senior official beside him was already prostrate on the ground and did not dare to raise his head.
I saw the disheveled young king in front of me looking at Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yu also looked at him.
Not seen for many years, Xiao Yuheng now looks about twenty years old. He looks half a head shorter than Xiao Yu, but there is a cruelty in his pale face and bloodshot eyes. Killed with a strange cold light.
At this time, Xiao Yu felt his trousers being pulled.
"My young prince, kneel down before your majesty!" the senior official reminded in a low voice while his head was resting on the floor tiles.
"Father, who is this!" Xiao Yu pointed at Xiao Yuheng with disapproval.
As soon as these words came out, the high official was trembling with fear, and other palace people in the palace were too angry to take a breath.
Xiao Yuheng didn't seem to be angry because of Xiao Yu's rudeness. He walked quickly to Xiao Yu and laughed out loud at the "idiot" in front of him.
"Fool, who did you call father just now?" Xiao Yuheng suddenly became interested.
"That's him!" Xiao Yu pointed at Gao Naiguan who was shivering on the ground and said, "You are not allowed to bully my father!"
Unexpectedly, when he heard this, Xiao Yuheng burst into laughter again. He patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder and said, "Well done, well done! I feel comfortable hearing it. It deserves a reward! It deserves a reward!"
"You haven't told me who you are yet?"
"Who am I?" Xiao Yuheng felt curious, "I am your cousin Xiao Yuheng? I am also your emperor."
"Xiao Yuheng?" Xiao Yu said with a wink.
"Bold, dare to call His Majesty by his first name!" The eunuch following Xiao Yuheng suddenly shouted.
"I'm here, it's not your turn to talk!" Xiao Yuheng turned his head and showed a Shura look. He kicked the eunuch to the ground. In the blink of an eye, he showed a playful smile to Xiao Yu. "How about... I didn't expect that I would become the emperor!"
"Hmm..." Xiao Yu nodded pretending to understand.
"Follow me." Xiao Yuheng said and took Xiao Yu's wrist with great interest and walked into the dark hall. "Although it sounds pleasant to your ears, that eunuch is not your father. Let's go! I will take you there. Look at your real father."
Although Xiao Yu's face was expressionless, he vaguely felt one of Xiao Yuheng's fingers intentionally or unintentionally place on the pulse point on his wrist, which made his heart beat uncontrollably.
He peeked at Xiao Yuheng. The young emperor didn't seem to notice anything, and there was an indescribable interest on his face.
The further they walked into the palace, the louder the sounds of heavy breathing and moans became, and the smell of blood filled the air.
When the thick black curtain in the depths of the hall was lifted by the palace attendants, Xiao Yu felt a surge of emotion in his stomach, and he almost vomited.
In front of you is the Palace of Hell.
All kinds of horrific instruments of torture were placed everywhere, and the irons in the brazier burned red. Several men with disheveled hair were being tortured on different instruments of torture, and some of them were already suffering from internal injuries and were on the verge of death.
There were three people crowded in a narrow iron cage against the wall, and Xiao Yu actually knew all three of them.
The first one was his cousin Xiao Ziqi, the king of Jiujiang, the second was Xiao Wei, the prince of Huainan, and the third one...he almost couldn't recognize him, that was his father, Xiao Ziqian, the king of Jiangxia.
