Chapter 326 Commoner Xiao Congze

After hearing Huangfu Ruoxi's words, Emperor Xiaowu did not ask any further questions, but instead put a piece of roasted mutton on Huangfu Ruoxi's plate.

"You should eat more too. When I go on an inspection tour to the north next year, I will take you there to eat the best mutton," Emperor Xiaowu said.

Huangfu Ruoxi smiled, her eyes crinkling, and nodded happily.

Actually, life in the palace wasn't that boring.

With so many things to deal with, I haven't even had time to think about the wonderful life in the North.

Fortunately, my mother arranged for several capable nannies and maids when I entered the palace, otherwise I would have been completely blind!

Fortunately, His Majesty still remembers this matter!

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will eat more. When we arrive in the North, I will ride a horse with you."

......

The following afternoon, after Emperor Xiao Wu finished processing the memorials, he suddenly ordered Hu Zhouquan to prepare a carriage.

"Your Majesty, are you going to the Duke of Dingguo's residence?"

"It seems that Madam Shen has made an appointment with Madam Huangfu to go to Chunbuwan today," Hu Zhouquan hurriedly said.

"I know! Prepare the carriage first, I need to go to another place."

"An ordinary carriage will suffice," Emperor Xiao Wu said.

Hu Zhouquan dared not ask any more questions and quickly ordered the palace servants to prepare a carriage.

Emperor Xiao Wu got into the carriage in plain clothes, and only after the carriage left the palace gate did he say to Hu Zhouquan, "Go to the Prince of Qin's residence."

Hu Zhouquan's heart tightened.

The Prince of Qin's Mansion?

He dared not ask any more questions and immediately drove towards the Qin Prince's Mansion.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

Hu Zhouquan carefully helped Emperor Xiao Wu down.

Emperor Xiaowu looked at the once magnificent Qin Prince's Mansion, now desolate.

The two large stone lions have been moved away.

The red paint on the gate is also quite faded.

The plaque above the gate that read "Imperial Decree for the Construction of the Prince of Qin's Mansion" is also gone.

There were only two imperial guards standing at the gate.

The two imperial guards were startled when they saw Hu Zhouquan and Emperor Xiao Wu. They were about to pay their respects when Emperor Xiao Wu stopped them.

"Where is the side gate?" Emperor Xiaowu asked.

"Your Majesty, I will lead the way for you." A guard hurriedly bowed and led the way.

Three years ago, during the Qin Palace coup, he was demoted to a commoner and kept in the Qin Prince's mansion.

Although the main gate had not been opened for three years, the side gates were frequently opened.

Daily necessities sent from the Imperial Household Department all passed through the side gate.

Emperor Xiao Wu didn't want anyone to know he was coming here, so he simply went through the side gate.

However, after entering the side gate, Emperor Xiao Wu was still surprised by the scene before him.

The once luxurious Qin Prince's Mansion is now more desolate inside than outside.

There were only a few palace servants and eunuchs; two palace servants who looked quite old were sweeping the courtyard.

Emperor Xiao Wu frowned.

It's true that he issued an edict demoting the Prince of Qin to a commoner, but he still specifically instructed the imperial treasury to ensure that all provisions were made according to the rations for a prince...

"Your Majesty! The Imperial Household Department has sent palace servants and eunuchs to attend to you."

But the Third Prince sent them all back.

They said it was just the three of them, so they didn't need that many people. Hu Zhouquan explained quietly from the side.

Emperor Xiao Wu sighed softly.

I lifted my foot and walked from the front yard to the back.

As soon as I reached the entrance of the second courtyard, I heard a child's voice.

"At birth, human nature is inherently good..."

“Zhi’er, it’s that we are similar in nature, not that we are far apart in nature!” A woman’s voice came over.

Emperor Xiao Wu remembered the voice.

This is the voice of the Queen Consort of Qin from back then...

Hu Zhouquan coughed as he slowly stepped into the courtyard.

The people in the courtyard all turned around abruptly.

When they saw that it was Emperor Xiao Wu, the former King Qin and Queen Qin were stunned.

Is this... the Seventh Prince from back then?

Have you grown this tall?

In particular, the King of Qin stared intently at Emperor Xiao Wu for a long while before recognizing a familiar look on his face.

This is the seventh prince from back then...

The current emperor, Xiao Wu...

He and the Queen of Qin exchanged a glance, and the King of Qin saw the terror in the Queen's eyes...

"This humble subject, Xiao Congze, greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" The King of Qin immediately knelt down.

After the King of Qin reminded her, the Queen of Qin also realized what was going on.

She quickly pulled her four-year-old son down to kneel as well.

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"

Emperor Xiao Wu did not speak, but walked to the small stone table in the center of the courtyard and sat down.

"Get up, all of you! Why are you still kneeling?" Emperor Xiaowu said calmly.

King Qin and Queen Qin then slowly got up.

They didn't understand why this ancestor had come now, after three years.

Humiliate them?

impossible!

The King of Qin knew that he was originally going to be executed, but it was this former royal brother who saved him.

What is it?

"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, come and sit down!" Emperor Xiao Wu said again.

The King of Qin trembled.

Third brother...

He called him Third Brother...

"I won't sit! Your Majesty, please sit down, I'll go make you some tea!"

As she spoke, the Princess of Qin gently nudged the Prince of Qin, then hurriedly walked towards the backyard.

The King of Qin was stunned for a moment before sitting down with his son below Emperor Xiao Wu.

Emperor Xiao Wu looked at the child beside the Prince of Qin and smiled.

"Is this my little nephew? He's grown so much in three years!"

The King of Qin nodded, then gestured for the child to call out to someone.

"This is His Majesty, quickly pay your respects to His Majesty!"

The four-year-old child carefully stepped out of the King of Qin's arms and was about to bow to Emperor Xiao Wu when Emperor Xiao Wu pulled him back into his arms.

"How old are you? What's your name?" Emperor Xiaowu asked.

"I'm four years old! My name is Xiao Yuzhi! My grandfather gave me that name," the child said, his eyes shining.

This is their first guest!

He spends every day in this courtyard, and this is the first time he has ever seen someone from outside.

Emperor Xiao Wu remembered.

When the Princess of Qin gave birth to the crown prince, the Emperor was overjoyed and immediately gave him a name.

Xiao Yuzhi... What a nice name!

"What were you reading just now? The Three Character Classic? How many of those can you read?" Emperor Xiaowu asked with a smile.

"I just learned it yesterday, and I can read a little bit of it!"

"Your Majesty, can you also read the Three Character Classic?" the child asked excitedly.

"Yes, I can too! I learned when I was three years old," Emperor Xiaowu said.

Upon hearing this, the child immediately stood up straight and recited the Three Character Classic he had just learned once more.

"Third Brother, who taught the child his early education?" Emperor Xiaowu asked.

"His mother taught him; I lack the patience to teach him. His mother was well-read, and his early education was quite good," the King of Qin said with a smile.

Emperor Xiao Wu nodded, then turned and gave instructions to Hu Zhouquan behind him.

"After you get back, go to the Shangguan residence and ask your grandfather to find a tutor for you."

For royalty, early education is no small matter!

Hu Zhouquan agreed.

The King of Qin was stunned.

Princess Qin, who brought over the tea, was trembling, her eyes filled with tears...