"Who said that?"
"Your Highness..."
A faint light flashed in Zhu Xuxing's eyes.
"Huai'er, you don't believe me?"
"No, of course I believe in Your Highness."
Xu Zhihuai believed that Zhu Xiuxing was sincere at this moment, but people's hearts can change.
Being naive is a taboo.
Zhu Xuxing saw her frowning and tangled, and sighed: "It's reasonable for you to be worried. The world is unpredictable, who can predict it? Well, whether you believe it or not, we have to make good plans for An'er."
"I listen to your Highness."
Xu Zhihuai couldn't relax.
Zhu Xuxing patted her shoulder and said, "First, I want to sharpen a sword for An'er."
Xu Zhihuai understood instantly and his pupils trembled.
So suddenly?
Isn't one Wei Li enough? One more Wei Li is needed?
Zhu Xuxing already has several good candidates in his mind: "In three days, people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will bring some children over, but you and I should take a look together."
Xu Zhihuai was a little at a loss: "What do you think?"
“See with your eyes and see with your heart.”
Today, Zhu Xuxing still remembers the scene when he first met Wei Li.
According to the rules, the prince's escorts and bodyguards follow him day and night. Although he is still a child, he must learn to protect the safety of the emperor's heirs and abide by the rules of the palace.
Zhu Qingruo woke up from her nap, holding the baby sleepily, murmuring coquettishly, with an innocent look on her face.
Xu Zhihuai hurriedly picked her up and put her on his lap. She was so small, so soft, and so innocent. How could she cope with the torrential storms in the future.
Three days later, Eunuch Cui, the general manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, led three to five half-year-old children to Qianqing Palace respectfully.
"This servant would like to express his regards to the emperor, and to express his regards to Concubine Rong."
"Everyone is here?"
"Back to the emperor, all five children are kneeling outside neatly."
Zhu Xuxing glanced at Xu Zhihuai, who was slightly nervous, and said calmly: "Let's take a look today, don't make a decision in a hurry."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Eunuch Cui bowed and stepped back, standing at the door, beckoning: "Come here, everyone."
The five people are tall and short, their clothes are simple and clean, but their temperaments are different.
The tallest boy, who looked about eleven or twelve years old, his youthful face revealed a perseverance that was inconsistent with his age.
The youngest one is only five or six years old. He has a pair of black eyes, but is sallow and thin. At first glance, it seems that he is caused by long-term malnutrition.
"The common people (untouchables) bow to the emperor, long live my emperor."
Xu Zhihuai frowned slightly.
Why are there still untouchables?
Eunuch Cui shook his fly whisk and raised his voice to remind: "You all come forward one by one to say hello to His Highness and the Empress."
The eldest child bowed his head and came forward, kneeling on his knees: "Xiao Yi, a common man, pays homage to the emperor and pays homage to the empress."
Eunuch Cui spoke at the right time: "Your Highness, Madam, Xiao Yi is the second son of the head guard of the capital. He is eleven years old. He started practicing martial arts at the age of four and has achieved some success."
"The common man Seo In-an..."
"Your Highness, my dear, this child is the grandson of old General Wu. He was born late. He has an amazing bone structure and is a good material for martial arts training."
Xu Zhihuai looked at it carefully.
Sure enough, Seo In-an was the strongest among them and had the broadest shoulders.
In the end, the child still had a childish voice when he spoke, making others purse their lips and laugh.
"Untouchable Qin Mu..."
Eunuch Cui glanced at his little yellow-haired head: "Your Highness, Madam, this child is the youngest son of Mr. Qin, the magistrate of Xunzhou. He is six years old. He has never learned archery, riding, and archery, and has only attended school for two years."
Solitary son?
Xu Zhihuai blinked in confusion, looked at Zhu Xuxing, and asked softly: "Is he a guilty person?"
Zhu Xuxing nodded and said in a voice that was loud enough for everyone to hear: "Qin Haoran was arrogant and domineering, abused his private power, usurped hundreds of acres of people's land, and embezzled one thousand taels of royal tax. He was executed on the fourth day of July last year. He was young and opened Pardon, he is the only one left in the Qin family."
Qin Mu bit his lower lip tightly, trying not to cry.
Xu Zhihuai looked at Zhu Xiuxing with a puzzled expression. He couldn't figure out why he chose the son of a corrupt official?
Zhu Xuxing gave her a knowing smile and asked in a loud voice: "I'm calling you here today, and I just want to ask you one thing. Just answer it honestly. There is no right or wrong answer, and you will not be punished."
"yes……"
The children said in unison, some were excited and some were uneasy.
"My question is very simple. What is your greatest wish at this time?"
Xu Zhihuai was slightly startled. He felt that this question was too easy to answer. He could pass it smoothly by saying a few auspicious words about peace and prosperity.
Xiao Yi naturally stood up and answered: "Your Highness, the common people's wish is to grow up as soon as possible, follow in the footsteps of father and brother, serve the court, be loyal to the emperor, and shine the lintel of our Xiao family."
What a beautiful and neat answer.
Zhu Xuxing nodded with satisfaction.
After hearing this, Xu Zhihuai felt that the child's mind was a bit mature.
Seeing that Xiao Yi was speaking eloquently, others naturally imitated him. Xu Renan sounded the craziest, saying that he would become a general in charge of the country in the future.
Only Qin Mu was different. He held back tears and said hastily: "Your Highness, the untouchables just want to have a full meal."
As soon as he said this, others glanced at him with disdain, and even Eunuch Cui cursed in his heart: This little monkey boy is really unethical.
Zhu Xuxing smiled gently, neither embarrassing nor humiliating him, and waved his hand to the inmates to prepare meals.
When the hot food arrived, Qin Mu was so flattered that he almost forgot to thank him.
Eunuch Cui saw that he was in a daze and cleared his throat: "Why don't you thank me quickly? Thank you and go out to eat with you. Don't dirty the eyes of the emperor and the empress."
Unexpectedly, Zhu Xuxing spoke again: "Let him eat here, sit down and eat."
Eunuch Cui did not dare to contradict the emperor, so he personally brought a stool to Qin Mu and whispered in his ear: "Monkey boy, be smart."
Qin Mu was not afraid of being frightened by him. He sat down and ate the food with big mouthfuls. His cheeks on both sides were bulging, as if they were inflated.
Zhu Xuxing looked at him devouring his food and asked again: "Have you guys eaten yet?"
The remaining four people looked at each other and shook their heads.
It turned out that in order to meet the emperor, they did not eat or drink since dawn, so as not to commit three emergencies in the palace and be disrespectful in front of the emperor.
Xu Zhihuai shook his head gently: "Your Highness, why don't we discuss it after noon?"
"That's fine."
Zhu Xuxing asked Eunuch Cui to make arrangements.
Eunuch Cui thought they had all lost the election, and just as he was about to send them away, he heard another message from the emperor.
"Father, after they have finished eating, please find a place for them to rest for a while, lest His Highness turn around and order them down and we can't find anyone."
It's not over yet.
Zhu Xuxing and Xu Zhihuai were having tea together, and they were the first to ask: "Which one do you think is best?"
Xu Zhihuai couldn't express his satisfaction, so he compromised and said, "Actually, they are all good, but they are too young."
Zhu Xuxing smiled upon hearing this, as expected.
Xu Zhihuai asked: "Which one does your Highness think is the most suitable?"
Zhu Xuxing didn't even think about it: "Qin Mu."
