Chapter 164 You are not a fish in the pond, and you are not willing to be mediocre
Except for the Eighth Prince, everyone else's faces darkened at the same time. Chi Hongyuan was openly provoking them without any fear.
Chi Hongyuan was not afraid of these incompetent princes. The Kingdom of Yue lacked talented military leaders, and the emperor would definitely use him. What was there for him to be afraid of from these people who disliked him but could do nothing to him?
It's not worth it to be hypocritical with these people for even a quarter of an hour.
"I heard that my ninth brother eats and sleeps with the soldiers at the border, and trains the soldiers every day. The soldiers at the border trust my ninth brother very much, and are loyal to him and obey him in everything."
The fifth prince intended to backstab Chi Hongyuan in front of the emperor, and he spoke every word with gritted teeth.
Emperors have always been suspicious since ancient times. Whenever there is any sign of trouble among their ministers or even their own children, they will become suspicious.
Chi Hongyuan was very disdainful of such a despicable trick, but he still had to pretend to be serious on the surface: "I went to the border in the name of my father. I received an imperial decree. The soldiers are loyal to my father and will naturally be respectful to me."
Chi Hongyuan looks more like Concubine Rong, but Concubine Rong was born into a general's family and has a very heroic appearance. Chi Hongyuan has the demeanor of a general in both talent and appearance, and when he speaks seriously, he is full of righteousness.
"What Fifth Brother said is really strange. If the soldiers at the border do not obey my orders, it means they have ulterior motives and are suspected of treason. When facing the brave and warlike Hu people, the soldiers must be careful. If they do not obey the general's orders, what do you think we should do?"
He said it neither servile nor arrogant, and then looked at the emperor innocently: "Father, is what I said wrong?"
In front of the emperor, Chi Hongyuan showed absolute respect. He looked a little silly and like an honest man.
The Fifth Prince was choked by Chi Hongyuan's words and almost fainted on the spot. This man was really like his mother, both of them behaved like a bitch! When the Fifth Prince was furious, the Emperor turned his head and looked at him calmly.
"Your ninth brother is right. As a soldier, you should be loyal to the emperor and love your country. Disobeying the general's orders is against loyalty. When I asked you to lead the army to the border, you were unwilling to go. Yuan'er took on the challenge, but you are not grateful and even made sarcastic remarks."
The emperor snorted coldly and glared at the princes. The princes did not dare to look directly at the emperor and lowered their heads.
Except for the fifth prince who mocked Chi Hongyuan, the other princes were more or less dissatisfied with Chi Hongyuan, but they could not do anything to him.
"Father, I have been away from the capital for a long time and have not seen my mother for many days. I wonder if I can go and see her first before going to the palace banquet."
Chi Hongyuan glanced at the huge crowd surrounding the emperor. Concubine Rong was a concubine in the harem, and it was not appropriate for concubines to show their faces in public, so there was no figure of Concubine Rong among the people who came to the palace gate to welcome the triumphant soldiers today.
"Your mother is doing fine, but you've been away from home for half a year. Since you miss her, go see her."
The emperor is very satisfied with his son now. It is no big deal for him to meet his mother. Why not allow him to do so?
"Thank you, father!" Chi Hongyuan bowed to the emperor and thanked him. He hurried back to the palace to visit his mother.
The traveler was eager to return home, and Chi Hongyuan didn't even have time to take off his armor before he arrived at Concubine Rong's bedroom.
Today is the day of her son's triumphant return. Concubine Rong has made preparations early in the morning so that she can be the first to arrive as soon as the palace banquet begins.
Unexpectedly, her son was even more anxious to see her. When Concubine Rong checked her palace dress in the mirror for the umpteenth time, she suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from outside the palace: "Mother!"
Rong Fei's eyes were filled with tears, and she walked out quickly with a heavy golden crown on her head: "Yuan'er? Why are you here?"
When meritorious officials returned to the capital, they should first meet the emperor, then change clothes and go to the palace banquet, instead of coming to her.
"I miss you so much, so I asked for your permission to come and see you first...your face?"
Chi Hongyuan stepped forward to support Concubine Rong, feeling extremely excited. However, when he saw how younger Concubine Rong looked, he was stunned in shock.
He and his mother lived in the cold palace for many years and suffered countless hardships. His mother's face had wrinkles due to the poison, but how come her face became younger after not seeing her for half a year?
Concubine Rong knew that her son would inevitably ask her about her situation when he came back and saw her face, so she had prepared herself mentally.
"I haven't seen His Highness the Ninth Prince for many days. I want to talk to you two. You can go down first." Rong Fei sat down on the round stool and pulled Chi Hongyuan to sit down. Although Chi Hongyuan was a little hesitant, he still listened to his mother and sat down obediently.
"What's wrong with your face? I hope you won't hide it from me, otherwise I won't feel at ease." There was unshakable worry in Chi Hongyuan's eyes. He had been at the border for half a year and didn't know what had happened to his mother.
"After you left for the border, I went to see Doctor Bai regularly to remove the remaining toxins in your body. After the toxins were completely removed, I asked him if he had any medicine that could make a person look younger."
Rong Fei knew her son's temperament very well. If she didn't explain it clearly today, Chi Hongyuan could check it out himself.
Rather than hiding it and causing misunderstandings, it would be better for her to tell her son clearly now, so that he can feel at ease. Chi Hongyuan would be able to use someone in the future, and Bai Ziyu would be a great help to him. Concubine Rong didn't want her son to become enemies with him.
"Before giving me the medicine, the genius doctor has already explained to me the price I have to pay for taking this medicine." Concubine Rong said slowly.
Chi Hongyuan looked at his mother in confusion and asked, "What are the side effects of the medicine?"
Tao follows nature. Birth, aging, illness and death are irreversible. To make your appearance ten years younger, the price to pay is naturally not light.
"Ten years of life." Rong Fei slowly uttered these four words. When she caught the trembling emotion in her son's eyes, Rong Fei hurriedly held his hand and said, "I asked for the medicine myself and took it voluntarily. Don't blame Doctor Bai."
The face of his mother in front of him was as young and beautiful as before she was sent to the cold palace. Chi Hongyuan was very distressed. How many decades can a person have in a ten-year life span? The young general in armor showed a look of confusion and puzzlement on his face.
"I don't blame Doctor Bai, but I don't understand why you did this?" Chi Hongyuan asked Concubine Rong, wanting a reason.
After wasting many years in the cold palace and suffering the revenge of her family's extermination, Rong Fei's love for the emperor had long since disappeared.
For a man she no longer loved and had no attachment to, she took medicine to restore her appearance and spent ten years of her life on it. There must have been a reason that pushed her to do this.
"As long as I can help you achieve your great cause, mother is willing to sacrifice twenty years of life, not to mention ten years. You are patient, but I know that you are not an ordinary person, and you are not willing to be mediocre."
Concubine Rong stroked her son's face with resolute features. This face resembled the voice and appearance of Chi Hongyuan's grandfather, her father, when he was full of vigor and vitality. This was also what worried Concubine Rong.
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