Chapter 400: Not Returning Until Drunk

Capital city.

Several clear bursts of applause were heard from the house rented by Zhu Lan and his companions.

Chu Xin spoke slowly, using a much more mature voice that Zhu Lan was not used to:

"You are indeed the top scholar. His Majesty chose you to participate in all this. He did not make a mistake in choosing you.

But your majesty probably wouldn't have thought that you would guess the truth so quickly."

"No." Zhu Lan shook his head and said in a deep voice: "There are still many things that I haven't figured out. Can you tell me now?"

Zhu Lan raised his eyes and looked directly into Chu Xin's eyes.

"Like - who are you anyway?"

Chu Xin stood up, paced a few steps with his hands behind his back, his face showing a maturity that was inconsistent with his age.

"The doubts in your mind will soon be revealed, but now is not the time."

"Why, isn't this game of chess finished yet?"

"The outcome has been decided, but it's not over yet." Chu Xin glanced at Zhu Lan.

"But I can tell you one thing now. Northern Xinjiang will not be in chaos, and you don't have to rush to the palace to see the emperor."

Zhu Lan was silent for a moment, feeling a little depressed. "So what else do you want me to do next?"

Chu Xin shook his head. "No, you have already fulfilled all of His Majesty's expectations. Now all you have to do is wait."

"Waiting for what?"

"Wait for a result."

Zhu Lan paused, then asked, "Since the ending is already decided, why can't you tell me the whole truth now?"

"Because this story is still missing the most important listener. Don't worry, you will know everything soon." Chu Xin said lightly.

"Audience? Who is it?" Zhu Lan asked, with an answer vaguely emerging in his mind.

"Prince."

…

Imperial Palace, Ziyun Hall.

There is no wind today, the sun is shining outside the window and the temperature is just right.

In the Ziyun Hall, however, a charcoal fire, which was only used in winter, was burning, and the doors and windows were tightly closed.

Emperor Liang, who had not attended court for several days, had his hair loose and was wearing only a loose white undershirt. He staggered to a wall.

There is a portrait of a woman hanging on the wall. The person in the painting is standing under a peach tree, holding a scripture in her hands, with a smile on her face.

Emperor Liang stretched out his hand and tried to take the painting down from the wall with trembling hands, but his hands were shaking so badly that he failed to perform this simple action after several attempts.

"Your Majesty, please let me do it." The eunuch stood behind Emperor Liang and wanted to help him.

"I will do it myself, you leave..."

After the eunuch left, Emperor Liang took a long time to take down the painting.

He leaned against the wall and slowly sat down on the ground, his posture as relaxed as that of a 70-year-old man who was idle at home.

Emperor Liang picked up the painting, looked at it, and put it down again.

He supported himself on the ground with one elbow and reached for the bronze mirror from the low table next to him with his other hand and placed it next to the portrait.

He looked at the person in the painting, then at himself in the mirror, and suddenly smiled like a child.

"Look, I'm so old, but your appearance has never changed.

We'll meet downstairs soon. Do you still recognize me?"

He frowned again and said to the woman in the painting:

"If you don't recognize it, I will punish you. I will punish you... by making you eat the bean paste cake that you dislike the most!"

The woman in the painting still had a smile on her face and did not respond at all.

Emperor Liang looked at her with reluctance, as if he could never see her enough, and said with emotion:

"Forget it, I won't punish you. I promised you three things, but now you have only done two.

There's no chance of getting the remaining one, so how about we cancel them out?

I have made achievements and mistakes in my life. Lan'er, when I am gone, how will the future generations judge me? A wise ruler? A foolish ruler?

No matter if he was a wise ruler or a foolish one. Back then, I was obsessed with power and killed so many meritorious officials to consolidate my foundation. Fortunately, you said to me at that time -

Conspiracies and tactics may bring temporary benefits, but they cannot protect the country forever.

The stability of the world depends on the people and their hearts, which cannot be achieved by conspiracy.

It's a pity that those who deserved to die died, and those who didn't deserve to die also died. I can't turn back. But I still chose a kind and loving crown prince for them, so I didn't let down the country.

As for how future generations will comment on me, I cannot do anything about it, so I will just let them be."

…

A few days later, Yan Changwen's carriage finally arrived outside Yunzhou City.

He observed carefully for a moment, frowning slightly.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Murong Lian asked solemnly, "Is it because of the strict inspection?"

"No, as usual, not even any additional guards were sent." Yan Changwen said.

If something is too normal, it will become abnormal.

Murong Lin was also a little uneasy, "Is there a trap?"

Yan Changwen thought for a long time, but finally decided not to take the risk and told the driver:

"We won't enter the city. We will go around the city and head to the Northern Frontier Camp."

…

In Yunzhou city, government office.

"Sir, a suspicious carriage was found outside the city. The person inside the carriage must be Prince Qi."

Ding Wangyuan put his hands behind his back and asked in a deep voice, "Have you entered the city?"

"No, they wandered around for a while and then went around the city. Judging from the direction, they should be heading to the Northern Frontier Camp."

Seeing Ding Wangyuan remained silent, the subordinate who came to report asked, "Sir, should we send someone to intercept him immediately?"

"No need." Ding Wangyuan said, "Follow from a distance and report back if there is any situation."

It takes about a day to travel from outside Yunzhou City to the Northern Frontier Camp.

Now that the Sixth Prince has met the Prince of Zhenbei, all he needs to do is cooperate with him on the rest of the matters.

…

After traveling for another day, Yan Changwen's family's carriage finally arrived outside the Northern Frontier camp in the evening of the next day.

There were many people in the Northern Frontier Camp, so Yan Changwen did not get off the car directly. Instead, Murong Lian entered the camp first.

She came back quickly, and then took Yan Changwen and Liang Fei to avoid the main gate of the camp, quietly entered the camp through a small door, and went straight to the tent of King Zhenbei.

When Yan Changwen saw King Zhenbei, a smile finally appeared on his face.

"My son-in-law greets his father-in-law."

Although he had come a long way, Yan Changwen's demeanor remained dignified, without showing any sign of being a refugee.

King Zhenbei also smiled and stepped forward to help him up, without asking him why he came, and just greeted him as usual.

Murong Lian had not been to Northern Frontier for many years, and he had a lot to say to the King of Zhenbei.

Princess Liang felt unwell, so she went to rest in the tent arranged by King Zhenbei.

There were only three people left in the main tent. Yan Changwen sat opposite the King of Zhenbei. After exchanging pleasantries, he finally got to the point and leaned forward and said:

"I came to the Northern Frontier this time to discuss important matters with my father-in-law..."

Before he finished speaking, King Zhenbei laughed, his tone very natural.

"Hehehe...Your Highness has just arrived, there is no need to be so anxious. Our family has not seen each other for many years, so let's just talk about family matters tonight.

As for the rest, why don't you wait for Your Highness to have a good rest for the night, and then we can discuss the details tomorrow?"

After King Zhenbei finished speaking, he took out several jars of fine wine that he had prepared earlier.

Yan Changwen's smile froze for a moment, then he smiled and poured wine for King Zhenbei himself.

"My father-in-law is absolutely right, it is my fault.

Okay, let’s just talk about family matters tonight, and we won’t go home until we’re drunk!”