Lin Zikui had read countless books in his life, but this was the first time he had read something so ungentle. He was feeling guilty and was afraid of being seen by the servant boy. He was even more afraid that Xiao Zhaoling would suddenly come back and see him, so he turned over the quilt and took a few peeks.

However, he had only one eye, and through a crack in the quilt, a dim light shone onto the pages of the book.

There seemed to be pictures in this book, but Lin Zikui couldn't see clearly. He flipped through it all but still couldn't make sense of it.

Helplessly, Lin Zikui could only put the book back to its place, but as if possessed by a ghost, he brought the candlestick and opened the book again to take a look.

Just two glances made him almost knock over the candlestick. He threw the book back with a frown on his face, and in frustration, he pressed it down with a pile of Confucian books and several scriptures. His face flushed and he scolded: "It's really a disgrace to etiquette!"

Lin Zikui's idea was not sudden, but he wanted to thank Mr. San for his words. He thought about it for two hours before deciding to read the book.

He asked Third Master Xie whether Xiao Zhaoling was his junior fellow apprentice, but Third Master Xie's answer was to the point and he cleverly avoided the implicit question in his words.

It needs to be covered up, which seems to indicate that this fantastic speculation may be true.

According to him...

Maybe not a woman.

He fooled himself again.

If I marry him, how can I explain to my parents' spirits in heaven?

If you don't marry, you'll be breaking off the engagement.

The conflicting emotions made Lin Zikui feel uneasy and unable to sleep or eat. He buried himself in the quilt, and kept telling himself that as long as they were not sleeping in the same room, there was no difference between a man and a woman. When he returned home to get married and his fellow villagers asked him about it, he could say that his wife just liked to dress like a man. Once Zhao Ling put on her wedding dress, everyone would believe it.

As long as they are in different rooms...

Lin Zikui sighed and thought that he could pretend that he didn't know about this matter for the rest of his life.

He had read the book and could not accept having sex in that way. He was not gay, so how could he... do that to a man!

Lin Zikui still wanted to. What if this is all my imagination? Mr. Xie didn't explicitly say that Zhao Ling is my junior fellow apprentice. Does that mean that he could also be my junior fellow apprentice?

The bed was so stuffy that he couldn't breathe, and the overwhelming darkness embraced him.

Xiao Fu came back and sat beside the bed, watching him for a while. Without taking off his coat, he leaned against the head of his bed and took a nap. About an hour later, he took a carriage back to the palace to attend court.

After the emperor's death, the court officials were in a panic. If they didn't go to court to suppress the rebellion, who knows what they would be thinking if they stayed at home.

When Lin Zikui got up, he only felt a trace of warmth and smell remaining beside him.

He sniffed and found that it was indeed fragrant.

Is Zhao Ling back? Lin Zikui sat up and went to look for him. He pushed open the door and happened to see a carriage leaving the shore.

Xiao Zhaoling also told him about the situation in the past few days.

Lin Zikui knew that there was a funeral in his family and the seventh day had not yet passed, so he was very busy.

Looking up, I saw the lantern I had won by guessing riddles during the Lantern Festival was still hanging under the eaves, swaying in the wind, and the candle inside had burned out.

Xiao Fu reviewed the memorials last night and dismissed a number of officials. If there were vacancies, Xiao Fu would promote Chen Yuanqing to the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards without hesitation. Yuan Qing had made great military achievements and was also the regent's confidant, so the court officials were a little reluctant, but no one raised the issue.

And what the ministers are most concerned about today is indeed the issue of appointing a crown prince.

An old minister thought: "Your Majesty, since ancient times, the eldest son has been the heir and not the youngest son, and the legitimate heir has been the heir and not the illegitimate son. I think that Your Highness is the most suitable."

The young minister said bluntly: "Your Highness is almost ten years old, but he is still too young. I think the late emperor's brothers are in their prime, and the King of Zhao has made great military achievements and has made great contributions to our dynasty! I think the King of Zhao is a good choice."

Xiao Fu sat on the seat to the lower right of the dragon throne, his face supported by his palms. He was wearing a four-clawed python robe and looked a little tired. Hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes, his eyelashes half covering his black pupils: "What's your name?"

No one in the court dared to make a sound, yet he even dared to mention the King of Zhao. Did he want to die?

"Your humble servant is Zhao Mian, the Minister of Rites."

Xiao Fu said lazily, "That's a good point, but King Zhao and I have a grudge, so I won't consider it. Next."

Zhao Mian: “…”

I've heard that Regent Xiao Fu does things as he pleases and acts arbitrarily. It turns out that this is how he does things as he pleases.

After the court session, Xiao Fu had his meal in the palace. At 3 p.m., he tested the three princes' riding and archery skills in the palace training ground.

Naturally, the Fourth Prince was too young and could only sit aside and watch. Today, the sun came out and the palace maids brought fruits and tea. The little Fourth Prince sat next to Xiao Fu, his head only as high as his waist.

The eldest prince turned his head and looked at the third brother solemnly, thinking that the second brother had been banished to the cold palace and was no longer able to fight with him, and the third brother was left. The third brother's horsemanship was far inferior to his own.

After the Third Prince drew his bow, he shot several times but failed to hit the target, and he was sweating.

His Highness shot ten arrows with his bow and hit six or seven targets, so his archery skill is pretty good. Many soldiers are not as accurate as him. Every time he hit the target, the smug smile on his face would become more intense.

Xiao Fu rested his head on the soft pillow behind the chair and yawned.

His Highness noticed the bored look on the Regent's face from the corner of his eye. Was it because his shot was not good enough? He suddenly became nervous, and the wooden arrow flew out of his hand. The arrow was skewed and shot straight towards the eunuch standing nearby!

"Be careful!" The Third Prince ran towards the eunuch.

"Zheng——" a scimitar suddenly flew out, and before everyone could see clearly, they saw the wooden arrow being cut into two halves and falling to the ground.

Eunuch Liang was sweating and turned his head to look.

It was the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards, Commander Chen, who took action.

The Third Prince breathed a sigh of relief, while the First Prince turned pale: "Father, I didn't mean to do that. I was nervous for a moment and missed the target. Please punish me, Father!"

"It's good that you didn't shoot at our own people. You should be more careful when you have weapons in your hands." Xiao Fu said nothing, but waved his hand and said, "Come here."

The two princes walked over, wearing armor, their faces covered with sweat.

Xiao Fu asked: "Your Highness, do you like riding and shooting?"

"Yes!" His Highness nodded.

Xiao Fu: "Then the emperor's father will ask Commander Chen to teach you horse riding and archery." Before the eldest prince could get excited, Xiao Fu said, "The third prince will also come along."

The Third Prince showed a bitter look on his face, obviously not liking this horse riding and archery, but he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Okay."

The Fourth Prince said from the side: "Father, doesn't Xun'er need to learn?"

Xiao Fu glanced at him and said, "Xun'er is still young. He can't even hold a wooden sword. What's the point of learning martial arts?"

The Fourth Prince said in a serious tone: "Only if you learn it, you can protect your country."

Xiao Fu raised his head and glanced at Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing said, "I can make a light wooden sword for your Highness, and you can learn from me."

The Fourth Prince cheered: "Father, the commander-in-chief said that Xun'er can learn together!"

Xiao Fu smiled and nodded in agreement: "Then Yan'er can come along."

The high prince standing by suddenly understood.

No wonder the emperor called Xiao Si "Yun'er" because Xiao Si liked to call himself that and led the emperor astray.

The Grand Prince pondered for a while and began to address himself as such: "Yu'er has something I would like to ask the Royal Father."

Xiao Fu looked at him: "You say."

The eldest prince blushed: "Yuer can draw the bow with both hands every time. The left hand is more accurate and the right hand is more powerful. Yuer doesn't know which hand is better to practice alone. Father Royal just saw it. Can you give Yuer some advice?"

Immediately, the Third Prince looked at his eldest brother with a different look.

Xiao Fu thought for a moment and said, "Use your left hand. Your accuracy is natural, but you can practice your strength."

"Thank you, Father Royal. Yu'er understands."

Xiao Fu did not spend too much time with the three princes and asked them to go and keep vigil for Emperor Wen Tai.

The apparent calm cannot conceal the death of the emperor of the dynasty. Among these four children, the only one who wore mourning clothes properly was the third one.

It's hot now, but I haven't taken off my mourning scarf.

Xiao Fu had said before that he liked filial children, and it seemed that he was the only one who listened to him.

The Fourth Prince was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. He had no idea what his father's death meant, so he wasn't sad at all. He just asked Xiao Fu in confusion: "Father, will Xun'er's father never come back?"

"Yes, the emperor is gone," Xiao Fu looked down at the little prince, "from now on, the emperor will be your father."

The Fourth Prince said, "Then the Emperor's father will take my mother as his concubine? My mother is very beautiful."

Xiao Fu knocked his head and whispered, "The emperor has someone in his heart and won't marry anyone else. Did you hear these words from the palace gossips?"

"Well, I heard from the palace servants that the emperor is old and has not yet married and had children. The empress in the harem is young and beautiful, so maybe she can find another way out."

Xiao Fu didn't say anything, but just gave Liang Hong a look.

Eunuch Liang immediately understood that these gossipers were making up these things even before the late emperor's body was cold! Damn it!

Finally, Xiao Fu returned to the Duke of Changguo's Mansion. He had not been back since this incident. His parents sent people to look for him several times, but Xiao Fu chose to go see his Lin Lang whenever he was free, and had no time to care about his parents.

As soon as he returned to the Duke of Changguo's Mansion, his father took him into the study and closed the door.

She scolded him with shaking fingers: "You are so bold!"

"Dad, it was my eldest sister who appointed me as the regent. Do you think I want to do this? It's been dozens of hours, and my son has only slept for less than three hours. Do you think I want this?"

Duke Changguo knew that he didn't want to. If Xiao Fu wanted to seize power and usurp the throne and wanted supreme power, he would not be able to endure the loneliness and stay in a place like Guannei for seven years.

When he heard that his son hadn't slept for a long time, and looked at him now, he saw fatigue in his eyes and couldn't say anything to scold him.

"... Never mind. You know, this is a murky water. If you get involved, you will know the consequences. Bring good guards with you. No matter how powerful your martial arts are, you must be wary of the people around you. You must be very careful about what you eat and drink! Do you have enough people around you? I will send a few trusted people to serve you."

"That's enough. I have three experts by my side." Xiao Fu yawned. "If you have anything to say, wait until I have a good sleep."

"Then drink some soup, your mother made it for you!"

"Okay." Xiao Fu drank the soup and had a long talk with Princess Minghua. He couldn't hold it any longer so he went back to the boat and rested at the Duke of Changguo's Mansion.

As soon as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep without even taking off his coat. Princess Minghua called a servant to help Xiao Fu undress, but she didn't know who she recognized and called him Lin Lang.

Lin Zikui had to go to bed without waiting for Zhao Ling to come back.

The more they spent time together, the more Lin Zikui felt that he couldn't grasp Xiao Zhaoling.

Seven days later.

Emperor Wentai's coffin was still kept in the palace and had not been buried.

The Minister of Taichang Temple chose the time for burial, which was three days later.

The emperor has passed away and the country is in mourning. The matter of choosing a crown prince can no longer be delayed.

Xiao Fu asked Liang Hong to lead the way. They walked further and further away in the palace. The roads became narrower and narrower, and there were fewer and fewer palace maids.

The neglected corners of the imperial palace were extremely desolate, and this was the case with the cold palace. Many people had died there with no one paying any attention to them, and their bodies had even become rotten.

Xiao Fu walked outside the cold palace. The weather was getting warmer. The Second Prince was wearing a dirty, ill-fitting gown. His small figure was reading a book under the eaves in the light. He had a piece of white cloth on his head. It was not a special mourning scarf, but more like a piece of white cloth picked up from somewhere.

The cold palace is desolate and there is not a single eunuch.

Xiao Fu saw bruises on his face and was afraid that he had been beaten. Fortunately it was not the dead of winter, otherwise he would have frozen to death.

Xiao Fu didn't stand there for long before leaving.

Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiao has been heartbroken these days, her lips have turned pale and she looks haggard.

Xiao Fu reluctantly sat up straight and said: "The matter of appointing a crown prince can't be delayed any longer, we need to choose a new emperor as soon as possible. I talked to him about this when Duo'er was still alive. At that time, he was satisfied with the second son. Xu has taught the child well. I think the eldest and the third son are also good." The fourth son is naturally the last choice. Empress Dowager Xiao doesn't want people all over the world to criticize Xiao Fu for "being greedy for children to prolong his rule, and suppressing the wise and virtuous to monopolize his power."

Xiao Fu said: "From recent observations, I have the same idea."

Empress Dowager Xiao: "The eldest or the third? Have you ever sent him a letter?"

Knowing that he was talking about the emperor, Xiao Fu said, "I had someone take the letter to me. He wrote a single word for me, 'benevolence'. What he wanted was a benevolent emperor."

Yuwen Duo was taught badly, so he is unkind.

Xiao Fu didn't realize this back then. At that time, Yuwen Duo was still the ninth prince and had not yet ascended the throne. He was extremely respectful, modest and cautious towards Xiao Fu.

They are all young. If he were the emperor emeritus, Xiao Fu thought he might choose the third son.

Xiao Fu said: "Let the Second Prince be the new emperor."

Empress Dowager Xiao was surprised: "Second brother, you want to choose second brother?"

Xiao Fu nodded: "A young emperor who is too kind will make his subordinates disloyal. The power of the Second Prince's mother's family has completely collapsed. I am the only one he can rely on."

Empress Dowager Xiao shook her head: "I disagree, Xiao Fu, aren't you afraid that the second son will grow up and rebel, and use the power of the eunuchs to get rid of you?"

"Sister," Xiao Fu said calmly, "I won't let this happen. Besides, when he comes of age and is able to govern the country on his own, I will give him all the power."

Besides, he is very busy. He has been so busy these days that he has hardly seen his sweetheart.

Xiao Fu has no time to take care of state affairs. The Second Prince only needs some training to become an excellent candidate for emperor. The First Prince and the Third Prince are also okay, but I'm afraid they will waste too much of his time.

Xiao Fu didn't have the time, he was in a hurry to get married.

After persuading Empress Dowager Xiao, Xiao Fu sent someone to the cold palace to bring back the second prince, who had lost a lot of weight.

Even though he could not stand steadily, he still performed a complete bow to him.

"Your son, I pay my respects to your Majesty." Yuwen Xuan knelt on the ground. Xiao Fu walked up to him. Yuwen Xuan lowered his head and saw the black shoes and boots of the Regent.

"Xuan'er has suffered a lot." The arrogant regent actually squatted down and gently wiped the dirt off his face with a handkerchief. For many days, he had hardly eaten or drunk anything. He went to fetch water by himself, but was pushed into a well and almost died. When he got up, he was beaten again. Everyone said he was a sinner who had rebelled and harmed his father.

He was a discarded pawn, he deserved death, even the lowest eunuch could kick him at will.

Yuwen Xuan's eyes were wet and he couldn't stop trembling. He looked up and saw the handsome but sharp face of the Regent: "Father, I am not suffering. I am guilty."

Xiao Fu did not comment and asked him, "Xuan'er, do you want to sit on the dragon throne?"