When Huo Chen went on his last expedition, Huo Xi was only four years old, but she always remembered her brother's heroic appearance.

His father and brother were his role models from a young age, and his pride was always in his heart.

Seeing her brother sitting alive and well next to her sister-in-law, chatting and laughing, Huo Xi felt a rare urge to get hot and red in her eyes.

He entered the room and bowed, saying, "Brother, sister-in-law!"

Huo Xingchen already knew about Huo Xi from Qingyou, and he looked at his gentle and handsome younger brother with a look of relief.

He stood up and patted Huo Xi on the shoulder, saying, "Little Xi has grown so much."

He still remembers Huo Xi as a child, a tiny pink dumpling, even more lovable than his own son.

Huo Xi's eyes held a hint of admiration. "Big brother hasn't changed much; he's still as heroic as ever."

It's so good that my brother came back alive.

Huo Xingchen said with a smile, "Not only have you grown up, but you've also become so eloquent."

Qingyou looked at the two of them with gentle eyes and smiled, "Sit down and have a good chat."

After the two sat down, she took Granny Qi out to arrange lunch.

After the family finished their lunch, they took a carriage back to the capital.

Huo Tong took Qiao Xinyue back to the Qiao family, while Qingyou and Huo Jiwen went to the palace to see the emperor.

The two of them brought Huo Xi along to the palace.

I encountered the Crown Prince just coming out of the Imperial Study.

He greeted Qingyou and Huo Chen with a smile.

Qingyou looked at him and asked with a smile, "Are you busy right now?"

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "No rush, Auntie, is there something you need?"

Qingyou said bluntly, "Xiaoxi is new to the palace and not familiar with it yet. We also have some things to do, so if you're not busy, please help take care of him."

Ever since she introduced "Master Qingfeng" to the emperor to detoxify the crown prince, the crown prince has become much closer to her.

She also interacted with the Empress more frequently.

Therefore, she didn't stand on ceremony with the Crown Prince.

She deliberately brought Huo Xi into the palace today to familiarize herself with the emperor and the crown prince.

After the prince's body recovered, the faint dragon energy that had previously emanated from him also returned.

Now surrounded by purple aura, he will undoubtedly become the next emperor.

Although the Duke's mansion does not participate in the struggle for the throne or take sides, it does not mean that it cannot be on good terms with the Crown Prince.

Huo Chen and the emperor had a good private relationship. Although he did not openly take sides, he did help the emperor when he was still the crown prince.

Therefore, after the emperor ascended the throne, he continued to heavily rely on the Huo family.

In the happy life of the original owner, the current crown prince is the new emperor.

After Huo Xi passed the imperial examination, his personality and style of doing things suited the new emperor's taste, so the emperor heavily relied on and promoted Huo Xi, and the emperor and his minister got along well.

This time, Qingyou sent Huo Xi to the Crown Prince ahead of time, creating an opportunity for the two to get to know each other.

When the Crown Prince ascends the throne and becomes the next emperor, Huo Xi will inherit the Duke's mansion and will also be given important responsibilities.

The Crown Prince had already heard from his father that the Duke of Zhenguo had returned alive.

Seeing the Duke of Zhenguo then made him less shocked.

He also knew about the assassination attempt on Huo Xi by the fourth prince and Huo Jiwen, as well as his father and aunt's decision to change the heir.

Compared to Huo Jiwen, the Crown Prince found Huo Xi much more pleasing to the eye from the first impression.

He naturally wanted to be on good terms with the future heir of the Duke's mansion, so he smiled gently at Qingyou and said, "Aunt and Uncle, please go and do your business. I'll take Huo Xi to the East Palace for a visit."

He was still very happy that his own aunt didn't treat him like a stranger.

Qingyou nodded and smiled, "Alright, we'll come to the East Palace to find him after we've finished our business." (cascoo.net)

Huo Xi followed the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace, where the chief eunuch of the Emperor's side also came out to invite the two into the Imperial Study.

After entering the imperial study, Qingyou and Huo Xingchen bowed to the emperor.

The emperor stared intently at Huo Xingchen.

He smiled with delight, "I am very pleased that you have returned alive."

His gaze fell on Huo Xingchen's bandaged head as he asked, "How is your injury?"

Huo Xingchen smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the emperor, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My injuries are not serious."

The emperor nodded, then turned to Qingyou, "Your mother misses you. Go and keep her company."

Qingyou immediately knew that the emperor was trying to get rid of her. "Alright, then I'll go find my mother."

After she left, the emperor ordered the chief eunuch to bring over a chess set.

Then he looked at Huo Xingchen and asked, "We haven't played a game of chess in all these years, shall we?"

Huo Xingchen knew that the emperor was trying to test him.

He had his memories and was quite skilled at chess, so he smiled frankly and said, "Okay."

As the two played chess, the emperor would occasionally say a few words, all about things that had happened with Huo Chen more than ten years ago.

Huo Xingchen not only agreed, but also took the initiative to say some things that only the two of them knew.

After the game of chess was over, the emperor confirmed that the person in front of him was indeed Huo Chen.

Several of the things they talked about were trivial matters in their daily lives, things that the spies could never have known.

Moreover, Huo Chen's chess playing style and approach are still the same as before, which is something that others cannot fake.

The two played three games in a row, each winning one, losing one, and drawing one, just like the results of their games when the emperor was still the crown prince.

The emperor smiled and said in a good mood, "It seems that although you have lost your memory, you haven't lost your chess skills."

Huo Xingchen smiled and said, "I have regained my memories."

The emperor then chatted with Huo Xingchen about court affairs and told him to return to the Duke's mansion to heal his head injury before attending the morning court session.

Huo Xingchen naturally wouldn't refuse. Now that he was the Duke of Zhenguo, he would take on the responsibilities of the Duke's Mansion.

After discussing the matters of the court, the emperor thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Do you know what Ji Wen did?"

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