There were five people in the room at this time. Standing respectfully in the corner was Fu Zi, the second best master in Nanjing, the head of the palace secret guards, and Shen Buci's predecessor.
Fu Zi has only two masters in his life, one is the current emperor, and the other is Xiao Xiang, the father of the crown prince. No matter from which angle you look at it, Xiao Xiang is undoubtedly the other master of the vast land of Nanjing.
The emperor would not leave the palace easily. The one who was escorted by Fu Zi all the way from Nanjing to the capital to Beiyuan Yuzhou was the Prime Minister of Nanjing, Xiao Shiqing.
The three people kneeling on the ground were in danger. They grew up in the palace and often had to meet the emperor. The emperor was good-tempered and often talked and laughed with them. They were able to adapt themselves in front of the emperor, but in front of Prime Minister Xiao, whether it was the naive study partner, the taciturn face-numbing woman or the gentle and capable sister, they all cowered together, lowered their heads and dared not breathe.
Xiao Xiang's voice came from above: "Where is the prince?"
Zhou Huairang opened his mouth to reply, but Bai Yu gently pulled him back. He quickly closed his mouth. He knew that he could not handle such a situation. If he was not careful, the three members of the East Palace would all be finished. So he should let Bai Yu do it.
Bai Yu raised her eyes cautiously. She didn't dare to look at Xiao, and only saw the man's well-shaped jaw and slightly cold lips. He stood in front of them, and the night behind him seemed to be a little darker.
Bai Yu tried to remain calm and said, "Prime Minister, His Highness has not told us where he is going."
Zhou Huairang was motionless, not even daring to stare. He didn't know why Bai Yu lied to Xiao Xiang, and he wouldn't dare to do so even if he had a hundred guts. But he believed in Bai Yu, she must have her reasons for saying so.
Xiao Shiqing glanced at the three people one by one and said, "You are the prince's personal attendants, how could you not know where he is?"
Bai Yu sweated profusely on his forehead: "I really don't know. His Highness didn't let us follow."
"Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month," Xiao Shiqing said, "The prince is with Wei Zhenfeng."
Xiao Xiang's voice was low and oppressive. Zhou Huairang didn't say a word but was already sweating coldly.
In comparison, Bai Yu was calm: "I don't know."
She could feel Xiao Xiang's gaze fixed on her, exerting an irresistible force.
"I am here on the orders of the emperor. If you have lied, you will be charged with deceiving the emperor." Xiao Shiqing said in a very calm tone, "I will ask you again, where is the prince?"
The crime of deceiving the emperor could result in death at the least and extermination of the entire family at the worst.
Bai Yu's fingertips hidden in his sleeves trembled constantly, but he still uttered those four words: "I... don't know."
She couldn't say it, not even in front of Prime Minister Xiao.
First, Your Highness came here voluntarily tonight. Your Highness has always attached great importance to the dignity and dignity of the Crown Prince. If she told Prime Minister Xiao the truth, and if Prime Minister Xiao went straight to Fengzhai with Fu Zi in a rage, Your Highness would not be able to put down her face.
She would never let His Highness fall into any embarrassment.
Second, if the three of them really became the ones who revealed the whereabouts of the prince and caused the prince to lose face, Prime Minister Xiao might not let them off easily.
Xiao Xiang's tone was hard to tell: "You are quite clever." After that, he let her go for the time being and turned to the other two: "Do you have anything to say?"
Although Zhou Huairang and Shen Buci did not know Bai Yu's intention to conceal His Highness's whereabouts, they had great trust in her. Bai Yu must have done so for His Highness' sake, and they could not ruin her plan.
The two men said in unison: "Prime Minister, we don't have any."
Xiao Shiqing looked at the three people, not missing the slightest change on their faces: "Do you want to die with her?"
The two men lowered their heads even lower. Zhou Huairang's sweat had soaked his clothes, but he still clenched his teeth and didn't say a word.
After a long while, Xiao Shiqing raised a fairly satisfied smile: "Not bad."
Bai Yu felt as if he had been pardoned, and the heavy pressure on his heart fell to the ground the moment it was released.
She knew that she had made the right bet.
Xiao Xiang raised his hand and signaled them to leave: "Go and do your job."
The three of them retreated. After walking a few steps, they still didn't dare to talk. After walking far away, Zhou Huairang wiped his sweat and said, "I was really scared just now."
Bai Yu had the illusion that she had survived a catastrophe. Her legs went weak and she almost fell, but fortunately Shen Buci supported her.
Shen Buci asked: "Why don't you tell the Prime Minister the truth?"
Bai Yu forced a smile and said, "Believe it or not, if we had dared to 'betray' His Highness just now, we would never see His Highness again."
"How can this be considered 'betrayal'?" Zhou Huairang said as a matter of course, "Your Highness is the son of the Prime Minister. Isn't it normal for a father to be concerned about his son's whereabouts?"
Bai Yu patiently explained, "In the eyes of the Prime Minister, His Highness is not only his child, but also the crown prince of a country. The Prime Minister does not need us to be loyal to him, nor does he need us to obey him. He only wants us to always put His Highness the Crown Prince first and put His Highness first in everything. We must know who our 'king' is, so that we are qualified to serve the future king. Moreover, think about it carefully. The Prime Minister has already found us here. How big is Benquan Academy? It would be easy for him to find His Highness. Why does he have to force us to tell us?"
Shen Buci suddenly realized: "The Prime Minister is testing our loyalty to His Highness."
Zhou Huairang realized what he had just experienced, and got goosebumps all over his body. He folded his arms and rubbed them: "Oh my God, this is too scary. How did I survive in the East Palace before..."
Bai Yu revealed the truth in one sentence: "When you met the Prime Minister in the East Palace before, His Majesty was usually present. When His Majesty was there, the Prime Minister would not be so cold."
Zhou Huairang nodded his head vigorously: "Yes, yes, it is true."
Shen Buci pondered and said, "The Prime Minister asked us to do our duty. What does this mean?"
Bai Yu thought for a moment and said to Zhou Huairang, "Xiao Rang, go to Fengzhai secretly and tell His Highness that Prime Minister Xiao is here."
Zhou Huairang was about to leave, but Bai Yu called him back: "Also, remember to bring a set of fancy clothes with you."
Xiao Shiqing sat alone in the Crown Prince's room waiting.
The room was spotlessly clean, the clothes hanging on the screen were exquisite and luxurious, and the table was always stocked with Dian Chunzhi, the prince's favorite drink.
It can be seen that the people in the Eastern Palace took good care of the prince.
Xiao Shiqing's attention was drawn to a half-played chess game. He saw at a glance that the prince was holding white pieces, but the black pieces were slightly better. The white player was obviously distracted and eager to succeed, which led to many loopholes and ultimately his own trap.
What could make the prince so upset
Xiao Shiqing brewed himself a cup of Dianchunzhi tea.
Not long after, Fu Zi walked in: "Prime Minister, I found His Highness. His Highness is in a secluded Fengzhai, and he is indeed with the Little Prince of Beiyuan."
A thin crack suddenly appeared on the teacup in Xiao Xiang's hand.
Xiao Shiqing asked: "Anything else?"
"Also, Zhou Huairang is on his way to Fengzhai. I guess he is going to pass on the message." Fu Zi said, "Prime Minister, do you want me to stop him?"
Xiao Shiqing said, "No need, let him pass it on. The prince has grown up, and he must be treated with dignity and respect. As for others..." Xiao Shiqing narrowed his eyes, "Whatever you want."
Fu Zi understood and said, “Yes.”
When Wei Zhenfeng withdrew, Zhao Mian had completely lost consciousness. In fact, Zhao Mian had closed his eyes the entire time during the tenth session, with only his furrowed brows and trembling eyelashes telling of his feelings.
Zhao Mian usually looked down upon others with his eyes, but when he closed his eyes, his arrogance was reduced by half, and the advantages of his appearance were highlighted.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is truly handsome, so handsome that he can bewitch people. Even if he is in a semi-conscious state and cannot give him any response, he can still mobilize all his desires and impulses.
I really want to stay in Zhao Mian's body forever, but it's just a thought.
He still wants to die.
Wei Zhenfeng cleaned himself and Zhao Mian with hot water, then went back to bed, hugged Zhao Mian and closed his eyes. It was still half an hour before dawn, but they could sleep as long as they wanted.
He was not too sleepy, and he closed his eyes to rest while eating the tofu of His Royal Highness. Suddenly, he seemed to catch a glimpse of something unusual. He slowly opened his eyes, and after confirming that it was not an illusion, he got out of bed, put on his coat, casually tied his long hair into a ponytail, and took out the short knife he carried with him.
The person was just outside Fengzhai and didn't seem to have any intention of coming in. It seemed that he was waiting for him to take the initiative.
Wei Zhenfeng looked back at the Crown Prince lying on the bed, then pushed the door and walked out.
At this time, the sky was just beginning to brighten, the clouds and fog were rolling, and what greeted him was not the faint sunlight, but a rapidly approaching flying blade, right at his head.
Wei Zhenfeng did not move, but just slightly turned his face. The flying blade just brushed his hair, and then seemed to turn on its own and flew towards his chest again. Its speed was several times faster than the previous one.
It was too late to dodge to the side. When Wei Zhenfeng reacted, the blade was only an inch away from his chest. He suddenly leaned back, and his waist bent into an arc that was almost perpendicular to his legs at this moment, and he dodged the attack without any danger.
Wei Zhenfeng was a little impressed with himself. After spending the whole night with Zhao Mian, he could still bend his waist like this.
I can only say that it’s a good thing he is young.
A voice sounded behind him: "Not bad."
Wei Zhenfeng suddenly turned around and saw a strange man: "Who are you?"
The man looked him up and down and commented impartially: "He has a very good appearance."
Wei Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow: "Thank you."
The man ignored him and acted as if he was doing his job. Wei Zhenfeng could feel that this man was extremely powerful. The two moves he had made with him were meant to test him, and he had not used his full strength at all. This man should not be an assassin.
Wei Zhenfeng softened his tone and said, "I wonder who you are."
The man did not comment, his eyes passed through Wei Zhenfeng and fell on the gate of Fengzhai.
Wei Zhenfeng's heart trembled. Could it be that this expert was coming for Zhao Mian
"I'm looking for Prince Nanjing." The man said, "Get out of the way."
Wei Zhenfeng didn't move at all, his face no longer showing the politeness he had just shown, and he said coldly, "Get lost."
"You don't know your own limitations." The man said, and rushed straight to Fengzhai. Wei Zhenfeng came forward with a knife, blocking the door and not letting the man move forward.
The man was able to handle it well at first, and didn't even draw the sword at his waist. But he soon found that the young prince of Beiyuan was trying desperately to stop him from approaching the door, and his moves were aimed at his vital points. Even he had to deal with it seriously.
Thinking that the boy fighting with him was not yet twenty years old, the man became alert in an unusual way.
The man kept his master's instructions in mind and did not engage in direct confrontation with the young prince. He went straight for the door, but the young man's obstruction forced him to draw his sword.
Just as he was about to touch the gate of Fuzai, the young man suddenly flashed from behind him to in front of him, blocking the door with his flesh and blood body, facing his blade.
He sheathed the knife very quickly, and the knife suddenly stopped only a finger's distance away from the young man.
"You don't dare to kill me?" The young man smiled ostentatiously under his knife. "Why, your master won't let you?"
The man's evaluation of the little prince of Beiyuan added the eight characters of "judging the situation, brave and resourceful". When he returned to Nanjing, he would report all these to the emperor. Because the emperor had specifically instructed him before he left: "Help me see what Wei Zhenfeng looks like now, and how Mianmian was kidnapped by him."
The man held the knife firmly on Wei Zhenfeng's neck, looked to the side, and said, "If you say a few more words, the master may not stop you."
Wei Zhenfeng followed the man's gaze and discovered that there was one more person at the scene.
The man was dressed in black, had a tall and slender figure, a handsome face, and his eyes were particularly deep under his sword-like eyebrows. When he looked at you, you felt a sense of dangerous oppression.
Putting aside the feeling of oppression, his dignified demeanor was... exactly the same as Zhao Mian's.
The young prince's face cracked slightly, and he had a bad feeling - it couldn't be what he thought.
Just then, the door behind him opened.
The Crown Prince was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with his hair tied up and a jade crown on his head. He looked completely different from the one he had been in bed last night. His originally pale face looked more radiant with the gorgeous clothes. He walked out slowly without looking around. The ring hanging around his waist was still hanging quietly as he walked, without making a sound.
It is to behave with respect and stand with virtue.
Wei Zhenfeng blurted out, "Zhao Mian?"
Zhao Mian didn't look at Wei Zhenfeng. He forced himself to stand on his almost unsteady legs and walked forward step by step until he stood in front of the man.
Zhao Mian lowered his eyes and saluted dignifiedly: "Father."
The young prince's face completely collapsed.
(End of this chapter)