It is most taboo to leave the palace incognito and expose your whereabouts.
However, this time Zhu Xuxing was going to go to Huaizhou openly and openly. All the previous attempts to intimidate the Xie family were minimal, so he had to take action.
Huaizhou has suffered from disasters for many years, and it is adjacent to foreign countries. It suffers from internal and external troubles and disasters one after another. Nowadays, the situation is even more chaotic. Bandits and bandits are wreaking havoc, even daring to steal the royal rations from the imperial court. If the trouble continues like this, how will the court lose its face?
The majestic palace with exquisite cornices is filled with the quiet fragrance of tea.
Zhu Xuxing looked at the chess game in front of him with all his concentration, frowning his slender black eyebrows. Opposite him sat a fair and pretty woman. Her slender hands easily completed the fierce fight between the chess pieces.
One black and one white are on the chessboard, and a fierce battle is going on.
Zhu Xuxing hesitated for a long time, then retracted his outstretched hand and shook his head helplessly: "Sister, you are really powerful. I lost this round."
Zhu Weizhen still held a white stone in his hand: "How can a dignified prince admit defeat so easily?"
"I am willing to admit defeat and be fair and aboveboard, and there is no shame in losing to a master like my eldest sister."
When Zhu Xingchun heard this, he pursed his lips calmly, and his every frown and smile were full of clear charm: "The prince is also good at coaxing people."
"When I was little, my eldest sister coaxed me and took care of me. Now it's me who coaxes me."
They are very close siblings and don't shy away from talking.
The two of them talked about Huaizhou. Zhu Weizhen lowered his eyes for a long time and said thoughtfully: "The prince has grown up and stands upright, so naturally he doesn't need to be afraid of the dangers outside. But what exactly does the prince want to do when he goes to Huaizhou?"
Zhu Xuxing raised his eyebrows: "Of course, we need to thoroughly investigate the truth and eliminate the filth and scum in the court to alleviate the difficulties of people's livelihood."
Zhu Weizhen nodded: "Sure enough, everything is a good thing. But the prince also needs to know that even good intentions can lead to wrong things."
Zhu Xuxing looked serious: "What do you mean, elder sister?"
"The water in Huaizhou is deep, and the prince knows it in his heart. Huaizhou is like a big dye vat, where all the black and white are mixed together. How on earth can you tell who is white and who is black? Greedy ink is rampant and chaos is everywhere. Those officials are How many people can live alone in a place where everyone is in trouble?"
If something is clean and stained with something unclean, everything will become dirty.
Zhu Xuxing saw that the eldest sister wanted to give him some advice, so he humbly asked, "What good ideas does the eldest sister have?"
Zhu Weizhen said gently and kindly: "As the saying goes, one cannot tell the truth. When the prince is out and about, he will investigate the case clearly. All he needs to do is find the culprit, and the intricate relationships underneath will be slowly clarified later. Also, please be sure to find out, prince. Is there a collusion between officials and businessmen behind this case, or a collusion between businessmen and officials? Just one word makes a huge difference."
Zhu Xuxing nodded slowly and fell into deep thought.
Zhu Weizhen clicked until he finished, and threw the chess pieces in his hand into the chess box, making a clear and sweet sound: "The prince is smart and clever, and it is not my turn to teach him. What I said just now should be treated as a casual chat between you and me."
"No, I will keep your words in mind, eldest sister."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone from outside bowed and reported: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the Eldest Princess, the Marquis in Qing Yi would like to see you."
Zhu Xuxing said without any thought: "Let him come in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Zhu Weizhen deliberately avoided taboos.
Zhu Xuxing tried to persuade him to stay: "Sister, please stay. Wei Li rarely comes to Qianhua Palace, so let him pay you a visit."
Wei Li strode in. With a straight look on his face, he lifted up his robe and knelt down neatly to say hello: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Crown Prince, and Your Majesty the Eldest Princess, I would like to express my greetings to you, Thousand Years Thousand Years Thousand Years Thousand Thousand Years."
"Get up."
Zhu Weizhen glanced at Wei Li a few times, and saw Yue Yichuan walking in from a distance. For some reason, he looked at Wei Li with a sullen expression.
"It's rare that you all are here, just in time to taste this year's new tea."
She ordered the maid to serve tea to Wei Li and Yue Yichuan.
Wei Li took the tea and thanked him. He lowered his head and took a sip. His eyes glanced at the chessboard on the table intentionally or unintentionally. How could Heizi, who was sitting in the mouth of a double tiger, be chased and surrounded by Bai Zi?
It was so obvious that the prince deliberately lost. The eldest princess must have noticed it and stopped playing halfway through the chess game.
Yue Yichuan, who was next to him, took the tea bowl with both hands and said slightly nervously but respectfully: "Thank you for your humiliation, Your Highness, Princess."
The normally smooth voice was actually mixed with some indescribable hoarseness.
Wei Li glanced at him with disdain.
Zhu Weizhen was generous and smiled at them: "I heard that you are about to follow the prince to Huaizhou to do important things. I will serve tea instead of wine today to practice for you."
Yue Yichuan was the first to reply again. He straightened his back and said solemnly: "In your humble position, you must do your best to protect the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Weizhen said calmly: "You have always acted steadily and carefully. I am very relieved."
Seeing Yue Yichuan's "obedient" appearance, Wei Li raised his lips and said loudly, "I also promise to Your Highness that this trip will be safe and smooth."
As everyone knows, Zhu Weizhen turned his head and took a deep look at him, with a solemn look on his soft and gentle face that cannot be underestimated: "Such flattering words should not come out of your mouth, the Marquis of Qingyi. Today, you are drinking If you drink my tea, you must listen to me, and you must use all your wealth and ability to protect the prince. If there is the slightest mistake, come back to me with your head in hand."
The majestic murderous aura in the soft words is even more frightening.
Wei Li looked serious, lowered his head and said solemnly: "I obey."
…
The major case in Huainan has not yet been solved. The prince received the emperor's order and summoned Qingyi Hou Weili and two members of the Ministry of Industry and Household Affairs to go to Huaizhou to thoroughly investigate the case of theft of imperial grain in Huainan. However, the emperor only issued the decree this morning, and the next day he rewarded Xie Ningchao for his service in protecting the country. In front of all the civil and military officials, Xie Ningchao was so grateful that he was in full show.
Xu Zhihuai never thought that he would be able to step out of the palace one day, and he would go out openly and openly with His Highness the Crown Prince. She was a little worried. The prince's gentle and kind temperament was most at home in the palace. What skills would he have to fight against those corrupt officials in Huaizhou?
Could it be that Wei Li went on a killing spree all by himself? Also, the prince always thought that Huaizhou was her hometown, but she was not the real Xu Zhihuai and knew very little about Huaizhou. Jinhua was not by her side, so no one could help her cover up.
The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, and a hint of thirst gradually rose in her throat.
The curtain was lifted, and Xu Zhihuai stood up quietly, not forgetting to look back at the sleeping Zhu Xiuxing.
The warm tea fell into her throat, calming her down little by little.
The real Xu Zhihuai's background is very clean. His father Xu Dinglun is the only son of three generations. He won the imperial examination at the age of twenty-five, and later married the daughter of his enlightenment master. The husband and wife respected each other as guests and lived in harmony. Xu Dinglun also served as an official for two years. Because he couldn't stand the evil practices in the officialdom, he resigned and started a private school to live.
Xu Dinglun is a low-key man but has made many good friends. Three years ago, he, his wife and daughter were invited to Yangzhou as a guest. Unexpectedly, he encountered disaster on the way.
Because of their young age and light body, Xu Zhihuai and Jinhua managed to survive on the driftwood and were later rescued by a passing fisherman. However, her parents were not so lucky.
