Chapter 406 The Jiusu You Know Should Like You

Xu Jiayun's eyes lit up and he asked in surprise, "You agreed?"

"Let's talk about it later. I'll go back and think about it." Chen Zhao left a word and quickly walked into the alley with the wine jug in hand. He was so fast that even Xu Jiayun didn't react.

He hid behind the wall and looked at the furious Xu Jiayun.

His heart sank. He agreed, which was undoubtedly courting disaster. However, he wanted to hear what Jiusu had to say.

——

It was rare that all the palace gates were not locked, and one door was left open.

Jiusu's face was solemn as he left the palace. He fell asleep in Jiang Jing's arms in the carriage. He was really exhausted during the past two days. Finally, after the emperor said that Xu Changrong had been defeated three times in a row and was taken prisoner.

The taut string was completely loose and broke.

The emperor wanted to send the prince and the two of them.

At this time, the emperor, the empress and the prince were discussing matters in the imperial study.

Empress Xu's face was not looking good. She said, "At that time, the prince signed a life-or-death agreement. Now that he has been captured as a prisoner, if he has any backbone, he should show it to the three armies instead of kneeling on the city wall and crying out to the heavens, begging for mercy in agony. Even a three-year-old child knows what backbone is!"

Emperor Xu felt angry and sad.

"That's my son."

"Isn't the Crown Prince your son?" Empress Xu asked, "What can he accomplish by going? The Deputy General didn't dare to rescue him despite being ill, so would the Crown Prince dare?"

Emperor Xu had an idea. He glanced at the Empress and the Crown Prince with a guilty look and said, "If the Imperial Concubine knew..."

Empress Xu laughed at herself bitterly. Was she, an empress, less important than a royal concubine?

She straightened her back and said, "As the crown prince, it is Qi Huai's responsibility to protect his country, but even if he goes, he may not be able to save the prince's life."

Xu Qihuai, who had been kneeling on the ground, raised his head.

"It can be protected."

Suddenly, he understood what Jiang Jing had said to him, 'Weakness means retreating again and again; filial piety means being filial from the heart'. He would give his father whatever he wanted.

He is a poor man.

He is a sensible prince.

Emperor Xu's face lit up with joy: "Prince, are you serious?"

Look, as long as Xu Changrong can be saved, the emperor will be happy. Xu Qihuai exhaled, bent down, and said in a complicated tone: "I am the crown prince, and perhaps my status is more important. If I exchange hostages with my second brother, the Kingdom of Heaven will definitely agree."

Emperor Xu sat up excitedly.

"Qi Huai, are you really willing?"

Xu Qihuai looked up and met his father's eyes, which were filled with joy because Xu Changrong was about to be rescued. His heart ached. His face turned pale and he forced a smile: "Yes, father, I am willing."

Empress Xu could hardly control herself and she gave the child a puzzled look.

But when she saw the subtle determination in the prince, her heart was filled with huge waves. She had always been very strict with the prince, but she also showed care from time to time.

But she also knows her son very well.

"The Crown Prince is concerned about his brothers, and I cannot stop him, but the Emperor must promise me one thing."

Emperor Xu was quite moved. He couldn't help but think of how the Crown Prince was so sensible and obedient when he was a child. He said, "Don't mention just one thing. I promise ten!"

Empress Xu walked to the desk, ground ink for him, and whispered.

"The prince has suffered a series of defeats. Not only has he been captured, but he has also lost cities. He no longer has the virtue to lead the army. He should be removed from his position as general and return to Shengjing. The position will be filled by the crown prince."

Emperor Xu did not hesitate and wrote down the Queen's request.

He said, "Queen, you have raised a good son."

It was clearly a compliment, but to the queen's ears, it sounded very ironic. She took the imperial edict and walked out of the emperor's bedroom. The mother and son looked at each other in silence until they walked away and reached the palace gate.

Empress Xu then leaned against the wall and slowly squatted on the ground, unable to bear the bitterness in her heart.

See her son helping her.

She grabbed her son's arm and said, "Son, why bother?"

Xu Qihuai chuckled: "This son has no choice. This is what the emperor has in mind. There is a difference between a son speaking out and an emperor giving an order. Don't worry, this son knows what is going on."

Empress Xu choked up and said, "Shuo'er is still so young, and you've left twice."

"Shuo'er and the Crown Princess will be left in the care of your majesty." Xu Qihuai's eyes flashed with reluctance. He turned around, then tightly grasped the Queen's hand, saying tearfully, "If I, your son, cannot return, you will support Shuo'er to ascend to the throne. That fool Xu Cairong will never be able to gain the rightful throne. In addition, if Ying'er finds someone she likes, she can marry someone else."

The road to the palace is difficult to walk on and there are many stones.

Xu Qihuai picked it up and held it in his hand, thinking that he was practicing his ruthlessness.

…

At the gate of Jiang Mansion.

The carriage stopped and Chen Zhao followed. Seeing the two of them getting off the carriage hand in hand, his heart suddenly ached. Compared to their relaxation, he was a little nervous.

"Jiusu, I want to say a few words to you."

Jiusu asked politely, "Is Godmother looking for me?"

"No." Chen Zhao looked around with a serious expression, "There are people here."

Zhongqin whispered a few words into Jiusu's ear, telling him about Chen Zhao's whereabouts in the afternoon.

Jiusu gestured to go to the mansion to talk.

This was Chen Zhao's second time to come to the Jiang Mansion. Last time, his attention was all on Jiusu. This time, he finally took a look at the appearance of the mansion, and he fell into deep inferiority.

The wind blew from all directions in the pavilion, cooling down Chen Zhao's hot heart.

The maid brought tea.

Chen Zhao knew it was excellent tea, but Jiang Jing's tolerance made him feel guilty. He didn't dare to look them in the eye, and the fragrant tea tasted bitter to him. "Xu Jiayun found me and asked me to kill Jiang Jing."

The red silk hanging on the pavilion was blown into beautiful curves by the wind.

The couple looked at each other.

Zhongqin tightly grasped the sword in her hand and stared closely at Chen Zhao's movements. If there was any danger, she would kill him with one move.

Jiusu looked at the steam rising from the cup and asked, "Is this the purpose of your trip?"

However, being so blatant is not his style.

Chen Zhao calmed down and said, "The princess asked me to infiltrate the army and go with you to Mobei to find an opportunity to kill Jiang Jing. With my familiarity with Mobei over the years, I have a high probability of doing so."

It is easy to dodge a spear, but hard to guard against an arrow from the dark.

Jiang Jing understood this principle. He said, "But when you say it, it seems that you won't take action. It's more like you are reminding us to be careful."

Chen Zhao nodded. "Harming others is indeed becoming increasingly boring. I prefer a simple life now. I have told you such important information. Can I change the question?"

"Yes," she said.

Chen Zhao clenched his hands nervously. He always thought of the days when he went hunting and Jiusu picked wild vegetables at the foot of the mountain.

"Have you ever liked me?"

After a while.

Jiusu looked at the tea leaves floating in the teacup and said, "The Jiusu you know should like you."

Chen Zhao thought this question only meant "like" or "dislike". He looked puzzled and asked with difficulty: "W-What is the Jiusu I know?"

Jiusu brewed for a while.

Recalling the day when she traveled through time.

"Your brother was a gambler and owed the gambling house ten taels of silver. He mortgaged Jiusu to the gambling house. That day, the gambling house wanted to capture her and make her a concubine for Master Tian. She refused and hit her head against the wall and died."