How could things be the same as before? And they had to ride back to the city on horseback. What would it look like if someone saw them?

The little koi fish wagged its tail gloomily at the bottom of the water. Qin Zhao said helplessly, "I told you not to follow me out."

"I'm worried about you." The little koi blew out a bubble. "Anyway, no one would recognize me if I turned into a fish. If you were in any danger, I could still save you, right?"

Qin Zhao asked in return, "If you get lost in the mountains and encounter danger, how can I save you?"

Jing Li stopped talking.

Qin Zhaola stopped the horse and looked down at the little koi in the barrel: "Don't do this again, little fish."

"Just because you stumbled upon me this time doesn't mean it will be the same every time in the future. I don't want you to risk your own safety."

"I know..."

After calming down and thinking about it, Jing Li realized that he had indeed acted impulsively this time. He swam to the surface and said seriously, "I won't do it next time. I promise."

"You've said the same thing before." Qin Zhao sighed, his fingertips falling on the little koi's head and gently stroking it, "But you are the biggest contributor this time, I forgive you."

"I also think I'm a great contributor." The little koi swam back and forth around Qin Zhao's finger a few times, feeling very proud. "If it weren't for me, you might not have seen the emperor yet. I am still very useful."

"I told you, you..."

"I know I can't rely on koi luck." Jing Li interrupted him, "I don't rely on luck, but I can enjoy the surprises it brings occasionally. That's what you told me."

It was Qin Zhao who first taught Jing Li how to accept the advantages and influences brought by his physique, and it was also Qin Zhao who reminded Jing Li time and time again not to rely too much on the benefits brought by his physique.

"Sometimes I feel like you're an old man." Jing Li said earnestly, "You're only in your early thirties, so you should have some youthful vigor. Don't think of yourself as an old man just because others always call you sir."

“…”

Qin Zhao raised his eyebrows, and the little koi quickly dived into the water, not daring to come out again.

Qin Zhao and Jing Li walked and stopped until dusk before returning to the capital. Qin Zhao walked into the city, bought cakes and candied haws for Xiao Yuzai at the market, and returned home with his little koi.

.

The next morning, Xiao Yue, who was secretly stationed near the capital, received a secret letter.

The secret letter was unsigned. As soon as Xiao Yue opened it, an exquisite jade pendant slipped out of the letter.

Xiao Yue recognized this thing. It was something left by the late emperor to the current emperor.

The secret letter detailed all the defense and armament situations in the capital, as well as the number of imperial guards that the emperor would lead when he went to the ancestral temple. It even considerately offered the sender's strategy.

There is only a line of neat and clear big characters.

——Treat others in their own way.

Xiao Yue didn't look up for a long time after reading the letter. After a while, he kicked over the charcoal brazier in front of him: "Qin Shu, that bastard, is using me again!!!"

A great general would not be used so easily. Even if the two armies were to confront each other, the former regent could not be left alone. Xiao Yue immediately sent someone to the capital to find Qin Zhao, but the news he got was that Qin Zhao's family had already left the building and disappeared without a trace.

.

On December 16, the current emperor set out for the ancestral temple to worship his ancestors for three days.

On December 18th, the emperor was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants while returning to the city. Fortunately, the emperor was unharmed, but the empress dowager was greatly frightened and ordered a thorough investigation.