Chapter 103 The General is Humiliated (6)
6
As dusk fell, the palace was brightly lit.
All the officials stood outside the palace. As the old eunuch's drawn-out voice of "All officials enter the palace" rang out, the palace door opened wide and all the officials filed in.
Everyone stopped and heard a voice saying "Your Majesty has arrived", and they quickly bowed in greeting.
The emperor walked in from outside the hall, dragging the hem of his black crown robe.
When passing by Chu Yunyang, he deliberately stopped, looked at Chu Yunyang deeply, and showed the rosary on his wrist.
Originally, the emperor and his minister should have smiled at each other, and then the emperor should have held his hand, led him to the steps, and let him have the imperial meal with him, which would have become a famous story.
But Chu Yunyang stood like a piece of wood behind Zhu Qingchen, with his fists clasped and leaning forward, not moving a muscle.
The emperor stood in front of him for a while, but he seemed unaware and just stood there with his back bent.
The old eunuch cleared his throat and wanted to remind Chu Yunyang, but the emperor raised his hand to stop him.
The emperor turned and left, taking his seat alone.
He had just met this very suitable prey, and now was the time to indulge him. It didn't matter if Chu Yunyang was rude occasionally.
The emperor sat down on the high seat and raised his hand, saying, "My dear ministers, please stand up."
All the ministers took their seats. Zhu Qingchen and Chu Yunyang, as the protagonists of this palace banquet, were arranged to sit at the front.
The emperor raised his glass and said: "There are many talented people in our dynasty. General Weiwu is young and promising, and he is invincible. I am very lucky to have such a good general. This glass is for General Weiwu's congratulations."
All the ministers raised their glasses and said in unison: "Congratulations to the mighty general, congratulations to your majesty!"
Zhu Qingchen also raised his glass and looked at the emperor.
The emperor was indeed very good at disguise. At the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, he was considered young among emperors.
With a warm smile and appropriate words, he looks like a gentle and polite wise king.
The court officials attending the banquet today were said to be officials from all over the country, but in fact they were also carefully selected.
General Wei, who was beaten with a stick, and Censor Chen, who had a broken forehead, were naturally not qualified to attend the banquet.
Those who attended the banquet were all officials who were unaware of the inside story. They all had smiles on their faces, and were talking and laughing in a happy atmosphere.
The emperor wanted to create an image of a "wise monarch and loyal ministers" in front of Chu Yunyang so that Chu Yunyang would trust him more.
Zhu Qingchen held the wine glass close to his lips and drank the wine.
The emperor put down his wine glass and looked at Chu Yunyang again: "Young general, this is your first time in the capital. Stay for a few more days and enjoy the scenery of the capital."
Chu Yunyang stood up and saluted: "Yes."
The emperor turned to look at the others and named two names: "Xu Yi, Jiang Xian, you two will accompany the young general around for a while."
Two officials in their twenties stood up to receive the order, then turned around and nodded to Chu Yunyang: "Young General."
Chu Yunyang politely responded, "Master Xu, Master Jiang."
Zhu Qingchen picked up a piece of roast goose and stuffed it into his mouth: "System, what are the origins of these two people? Are they the emperor's confidants?"
"Yes, in the original book, the emperor also assigned these two people to accompany him. When Chu Yunyang came to the capital, the first two people he met were them, and they were also his best friends."
"Later, they kept forcing Chu Yunyang to drink at the banquet. Chu Yunyang got drunk and asked them to help him out of the palace. As a result, they handed Chu Yunyang over to the eunuchs and sent away the guards waiting at the palace gate."
Zhu Qingchen understood: "So they are two ghosts."
These two men looked fresh, handsome, generous and magnanimous, but like the emperor, their eyes and brows were full of calculation.
I don’t know if this is the first time I have done this for the emperor.
The two men held wine glasses and, with the emperor's tacit consent, came in front of Chu Yunyang.
Chu Yunyang was a little nervous and subconsciously looked at the teacher.
Zhu Qingchen raised his glass towards him and said, "It's okay."
As long as it's under his nose, it's fine.
These two people were indeed quite skilled. They surrounded Chu Yunyang and talked incessantly about eating, drinking and having fun in the capital.
Even though Chu Yunyang was extremely vigilant from beginning to end, he was sometimes inevitably led astray by them.
Before Chu Yunyang could react, they had already agreed to go to the polo field outside the city to play polo tomorrow.
Chu Yunyang looked at Zhu Qingchen again.
Teacher, what should I do?
Before Zhu Qingchen could say anything, the emperor sitting on the high throne said, "I heard that Duke Ying was a strict teacher before, but it seems that is not true. If he was a strict teacher, why would the young general keep looking for a teacher?"
Zhu Qingchen raised his head, smiled, and answered politely: "I am a strict teacher. I have disciplined the young general too much. He dares not have fun anymore."
"That's not good. We've already arrived in the capital, so we should just mind our own business. I'll make the decision. Tomorrow, General Chu will go with them to play, and the Duke of England will stay in the mansion to rest."
Chu Yunyang became a little anxious and was about to stand up and refuse.
He's not going out with this group of people!
Zhu Qingchen gave him a look, asking him to calm down, and stood up. "Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. If so, I think it is better to share the joy with others than to have it alone. Why don't you let Your Majesty preside over it? All the gentlemen present should go to the polo field, and let the young general make more friends."
The emperor smiled and said, "Just as the Duke of England said."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chu Yunyang breathed a sigh of relief. It would be better if there were more people. Nothing would go wrong if there were more people.
Then, the emperor said, "The original Duke of Ying's Mansion has been in disrepair for a long time. Are Duke of Ying and General Chu used to living here? If not, I will ask them to tidy up the Wuying Hall in the palace."
Zhu Qingchen returned the greeting: "The young general and I are both foreign men, and it is not appropriate for us to live in the palace for a long time. The former Duke of Ying's Mansion is also very good. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
The emperor looked at him with a smile and did not argue any further: "If that's the case, then forget it."
The two people sent by the emperor always surrounded Chu Yunyang, telling him how fun the capital was, encouraging him to go out with them, and trying to test his drinking capacity.
Chu Yunyang drank almost half a pot of wine, then he held his head and said he felt dizzy and refused to drink any more.
The two men continued to persuade each other to drink, and after drinking half a pot, Chu Yunyang lay directly on the table and began to snore.
The two looked at each other and chuckled. This was the young general's only alcohol tolerance.
The emperor also smiled and said, "Young general, you need to practice your drinking capacity more."
After the palace banquet, Zhu Qingchen asked his servants to help the "drunk" Chu Yunyang up, and they left the palace with the other ministers.
When Chu Yunyang was helped up, he quickly raised his head, blinked at Zhu Qingchen, and quickly lowered his head again.
He wasn't drunk at all.
But his teacher told him to keep it to himself and not show his true alcohol tolerance in front of others.
He remembers it all.
Zhu Qingchen smiled, touched his head, and asked with concern: "Young General, can you still walk?"
Chu Yunyang responded vaguely: "Yes... we can go..."
Two attendants supported him and walked in front, while Zhu Qingchen followed behind.
The officials left the palace, walked down the steps and walked along the palace road.
Suddenly, Zhu Qingchen felt someone tugging at his sleeve and stuffing a balled-up handkerchief into his hand.
Zhu Qingchen turned his head and looked around.
When the courtiers came, they were in neat order. But now, almost all of them had drunk wine and were supported by their servants, walking unsteadily. They were no longer so neat.
There are people everywhere.
He couldn't tell who had stuffed the handkerchief into his hand.
He didn't dare to take it out and look at it now, so he could only calmly put the handkerchief into his sleeve and wait to look at it after leaving the palace.
The guards were waiting outside the palace gate in a carriage.
Zhu Qingchen had already told his guards that no matter where he and Chu Yunyang went, they had to wait until he and Chu Yunyang came out before they could drive away.
No matter who it is, if anyone says that the young master is drunk, the young general is drunk, or the personal guards should leave first, it will not count.
The guards helped the drunk Chu Yunyang onto the carriage, and Zhu Qingchen also sat firmly, and then the carriage started moving.
Zhu Qingchen took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, and saw four crooked words written on the crumpled handkerchief:
Be careful and walk fast.
Chu Yunyang came over to take a look: "Who gave this to the teacher? Was he also bullied by the emperor?"
"I don't know either." Zhu Qingchen shook his head, "There were people all around at that time."
Zhu Qingchen asked: "System, did you see it?"
The system said: "No."
Zhu Qingchen folded the handkerchief and put it in his arms: "No matter who it is, maybe this is a person who can be won over. He should know something."
"Yeah." Chu Yunyang nodded, "But, I thought the medicine would take effect today."
Zhu Qingchen looked at him and said, "You'll have to deal with him for a while."
"It's okay." Chu Yunyang raised his hand and showed his arm muscles to the teacher through his sleeves. "I have improved my martial arts skills recently. I can knock him down with one punch."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen smiled and nodded, "It's fun to play polo tomorrow. Teacher will go with you."
Chu Yunyang pursed his lips: "I'm just afraid I'm not in the mood to play basketball."
Zhu Qingchen said: "The emperor is the emperor, and polo is polo. How can the emperor be compared with polo? Just play well and beat them to a pulp."
Chu Yunyang smiled foolishly: "Okay."
*
The next morning.
Before the sun rose, the tent at the polo field was already filled with people.
Last night the emperor issued an order and all officials came with their families.
In the stands, Zhu Qingchen, wearing a wide robe with big sleeves, sat at the table and brewed tea.
Chu Yunyang was lying next to him, looking like he was still hungover.
His acting skills are getting better and better.
Soon, Xu Yi and Jiang Xian came over to pull him.
"Why is the young general still sleeping here?"
"Let's go, before the sun rises and the weather is not too hot, let's have a fight, we are in need of a little general."
Chu Yunyang looked at Zhu Qingchen, and they laughed again: "Hey, young general, you are already eighteen years old, why are you still looking at the teacher's face? Let's go."
Zhu Qingchen nodded: "Go ahead and make some more friends."
Make some honest friends, don't be like these two.
"Okay." Chu Yunyang held his head, took the sleeves handed to him by the servant, tied up his sleeves, and went on stage with them.
The spirited young general rode on the warhorse he brought from the northwest. Even the warhorse looked majestic and taller than other horses.
For a moment, everyone was stunned.
Chu Yunyang held the reins in one hand and the wooden moon staff in the other. He waved it twice in the air, creating a whirring sound in the wind.
Zhu Qingchen picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.
The system asked: "Why don't you play polo?"
Zhu Qingchen did not answer, and the system said, "Oh, I forgot, you are an uncoordinated little fool."
Zhu Qingchen choked up: "Don't say that!"
The system just wouldn't shut up: "You fought with the hooligans with a mop stick, but you ended up hitting your own little fool. When the other person's horse charged at you, you howled, little fool."
Zhu Qingchen drank the tea in the teacup in one breath, then turned the teacup upside down to cover the system.
system:?
"Chenchen, what are you doing? How did you become a bad person?"
Zhu Qingchen propped up his head and looked at the polo field as if nothing had happened.
He learned it from the big villain.
Chu Yunyang was invincible on the polo field and killed everyone in his path.
Yes, he learned his horsemanship on the prairie in the northwest. Compared with those polo-playing young men in the capital, he is naturally better.
The emperor arrived halfway through the game.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and saluted. He scanned the entire room, and his almost greedy eyes swept over Chu Yunyang.
At this time, the sun rose, and Chu Yunyang started to move around. There were beads of sweat on his face, and the sunlight shining on his face made him look more energetic.
The emperor said, "You guys are having fun."
Xu Yi and Jiang Xian smiled and flattered, "Young General Chu is so powerful that we cannot even catch up with him." The emperor also felt a little itchy, but was too embarrassed to play alone. He turned around and looked at the young boy behind him, "Cheng'an, you and my brother haven't played polo for a long time. Are you interested in a match today?"
The young boy nodded timidly and said softly, "I am very pleased that the emperor has invited you."
The emperor agreed and ordered the old eunuch, "Quick, bring me and King Kang's sleeves and moon staff."
In the tent, Zhu Qingchen propped up his head, gently opened the teacup, and asked curiously: "System, who is that child?"
This is really a child, he looks no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, small in stature and very childish.
"I won't tell you! Who told you to act like a villain and detain me..." The system took a closer look and said, "Oh, this is Prince Kang, Xiao Cheng'an."
Zhu Qingchen was puzzled: "King Kang?"
"The emperor's younger brother." The system said, "Come to think of it, he also has a role in the original book."
"Um?"
"In order to show the emperor's cruelty, the original book said that after he ascended the throne, he used various means to kill all his brothers, leaving only the King Kang, whose birth mother was humble and posed no threat."
"Chu Yunyang was trapped in the palace, and everyone avoided him. Only Prince Kang often came to visit him and brought him food and drinks. The two had a good relationship."
"Chu Yunyang tried to escape several times, and King Kang helped him. But he failed every time. Chu Yunyang was taught a lesson by the emperor... well, King Kang was also beaten badly several times."
"Yeah." Zhu Qingchen nodded, thinking, "What is the ending of this book?"
"The emperor regretted treating Chu Yunyang like that. He continued to sleep with Chu Yunyang, but he no longer touched him. He endured it for three months until he was almost exhausted. In the end, Chu Yunyang was deeply moved and offered himself to him. The two reconciled as before."
"Very disgusting." Zhu Qingchen choked up, "I'm asking about the ending of the original book, where the small world runs on its own."
"One night, when the emperor was in great joy, Chu Yunyang took out the dagger from under his pillow and stabbed him in the heart, killing him. As a mighty general, he helped King Baokang ascend to the throne."
Zhu Qingchen nodded: "I knew it. What is the character of this King Kang after he ascended the throne?"
"Although he is weak, he can distinguish right from wrong. He gave Chu Yunyang freedom and military power and asked him to return to the northwest to lead the troops. Unfortunately, Chu Yunyang's health was very poor and he died of illness after only a few years in the northwest."
"So." Zhu Qingchen sighed.
But it's not too late now.
Just at this moment, a loud noise was heard from the polo field.
Zhu Qingchen came to his senses and quickly looked up towards the polo field.
King Kang was thrown heavily to the ground by the horse.
He was originally thin and young, and had never ridden a horse, let alone played polo. This time he was completely forced by the emperor to ride the horse.
Somehow, the horse went mad and trampled around him. He could only protect his head and huddle on the ground.
Xu Yi and Jiang Xian protected the emperor while shouting "Someone, protect the emperor", and the others watched from the side.
Zhu Qingchen was startled, and quickly took two steps forward, jumped off the stands, and shouted, "Yun Yang!"
Chu Yunyang was at the farthest distance. When he heard the teacher calling him, he quickly turned around and saw the situation on the polo field.
He quickly turned around and headed back, holding the reins in one hand and the moon staff in the other.
The horse was still going crazy. At the critical moment, Chu Yunyang hit the horse's neck with a stick, making the mad horse roll away. Then he threw away the broken wooden stick, reached out his hand, picked up King Kang from the ground, and put him on his horse's back.
Chu Yunyang rode his horse and sent him to the teacher: "Teacher!"
Zhu Qingchen nodded: "I'll send someone to call the imperial physician."
Chu Yunyang grabbed his collar and wanted to put him on the ground, but Xiao Chengan was still in shock and hadn't reacted yet, so he grabbed the horse's mane tightly.
Chu Yunyang patted his hands in confusion: "Your Highness Prince Kang?"
Xiao Chengan finally reacted and quickly let go of his hand: "I'm sorry..."
He was put on the ground, and Zhu Qingchen supported him: "Your Highness, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Cheng'an shook his head. Chu Yunyang was about to leave, and he just remembered to thank him. He hurriedly said, "Thank you, General Chu."
Chu Yunyang rode back to the emperor and reported: "Your Majesty is frightened."
The emperor was protected by Xu Yi and Jiang Xian behind him. He looked at Chu Yunyang with a look of surprise in his eyes.
This little general is really a treasure.
Then he became a little irritated again.
Xiao Chengan was the same. He couldn't even play polo and he fell down. It was really a disappointment.
"Let the imperial physician check Cheng'an, and send someone else to the field. This match isn't over yet." The emperor looked at Chu Yunyang, "I'm afraid General Chu didn't enjoy it enough."
Chu Yunyang didn't say anything.
Is there any brother who treats him like this? His brother fell down, but he was still busy playing polo. Chu Yunyang thought, if his brother treated him like this, he would have rushed up to fight with Chu Yunqing.
The emperor thought he had acquiesced and said to the old eunuch, "Find another person. General Chu's moon staff is also broken. Bring my moon staff to General Chu."
The polo game continues.
Xiao Cheng'an fell quite hard, so Zhu Qingchen supported him and slowly moved him to the stands, then asked the attendant to call the imperial physician over.
Xiao Chengan felt a little embarrassed and whispered, "I'm sorry to bother you, Duke Ying. I...it's all my fault."
Zhu Qingchen said gently: "You are injured, not guilty. Is there anything strange about that?"
"Thank...thank you very much, young master." Xiao Cheng'an seemed a little touched. He lowered his head and responded softly.
Since he was a child, he witnessed the emperor slaughtering his other brothers. It was not easy for him to live alone in the palace. He was trembling with fear and walking on thin ice.
It happened that he was in poor health and sometimes fell ill. The eunuchs would scold him and think he was troublesome, so he developed the habit of saying "I'm sorry" first when he was injured or sick.
This is the first person who told him that being sick is not a mistake.
Zhu Qingchen asked his servants to temporarily hang up the curtains in the shed and then take them down.
Zhu Qingchen said, "Your Highness, please take off your clothes so that the imperial physician can take a look."
"Okay." Xiao Cheng'an nodded and reached out to untie his belt.
Zhu Qingchen turned his back and didn't look at him.
Xiao Chengan is thin and has not much flesh on his body. His ribs are almost visible.
He unbuttoned half of his clothes, and suddenly, a crumpled handkerchief floated out from his arms and landed at Zhu Qingchen's feet.
Zhu Qingchen looked down and saw Xiao Chengan holding his clothes. He rushed forward and picked up his handkerchief: "I'm sorry."
Zhu Qingchen blinked and looked at him with a smile: "It doesn't matter."
Just at this moment, the attendant came in with the imperial physician.
Xiao Chengan stuffed the handkerchief into his pocket and then lay down on the small couch.
He was not respected by his brother the Emperor, and even the eunuchs looked down on him.
He looks bright and handsome on the surface, with new clothes and accessories, but in fact, the food and things he eats and uses are the worst.
The imperial physician came forward with a medicine box, took a quick look and said, "Your Highness, this is an external injury. Just apply some medicated oil and it will heal."
Zhu Qingchen turned his back to them and said calmly, "Thank you, Imperial Physician."
The imperial physician was stunned for a moment and said: "Young Master, you are too polite." Since the Duke of England had spoken, the imperial physician did not dare to be perfunctory anymore.
The imperial physician opened the medicine box again and examined it carefully for a quarter of an hour before he was done.
Xiao Cheng'an lay on the small couch, raised his head and looked at Zhu Qingchen's back as he stood with his hands behind his back.
No wonder General Chu is such a nice person, because his teacher is also a good person.
The imperial physician evenly applied the medicated oil on Xiao Cheng'an's back and used a little force to push away the bruises on his back.
Another quarter of an hour passed before the imperial physician put the medicated oil away and said, "I will give the medicated oil to your Highness's attendants and instruct them to apply it to your Highness every day."
"Okay, thank you." Xiao Cheng'an nodded, climbed up from the couch and put on his clothes.
Zhu Qingchen said, "Give me the medicinal oil. I will send my servant to deliver it, so you don't have to make a trip."
"Yes." The imperial physician put down his things and left.
Zhu Qingchen picked up the medicinal oil and handed it to Xiao Chengan: "Can you apply it to your back yourself?"
Xiao Chengan thought about it and shook his head seriously: "No."
Zhu Qingchen knew that the servants around him would never serve him well.
If the attendant was good to him, why would Xiao Chengan say that he couldn't wipe it off? He should have said that the attendant would help him.
Zhu Qingchen asked worriedly: "What should we do then?"
Xiao Chengan gave a silly smile: "I'll just apply it casually, it will be fine in a few days anyway."
Zhu Qingchen sighed and took out a handkerchief from his arms: "Your Highness, please wipe your hands. The medicine oil seems to have stained your hands."
"Thank you." Xiao Chengan took the handkerchief and wiped his hands carefully, but suddenly found that the handkerchief...
It’s the handkerchief with “Be careful” and “Go away” written on it!
He raised his head and looked at Zhu Qingchen: "Duke of England..."
Zhu Qingchen looked at him seriously: "There is no one else here, my servants are watching outside, Your Highness can tell me the truth."
"I..." Xiao Cheng'an hesitated, "I don't know the truth..."
"The handkerchief I gave Your Highness is exactly the same as the one you just picked up." Zhu Qingchen asked, "Why did Your Highness tell me to 'be careful' and 'go quickly' last night?"
Xiao Cheng'an lowered his head and rubbed the handkerchief, as if he wanted to wipe off the words on it. He said in a whisper, "I...I saw the young master of General Wei's family being bullied in the palace last time, so I wanted to remind the young master and General Chu."
Zhu Qingchen opened his eyes wide: "Did you see it?"
"Yes." Xiao Cheng'an explained, "I was worried that General Chu might... I didn't dare to tell you, so I wrote it on the handkerchief, hoping that you would be more careful."
I see.
Xiao Cheng'an also had good intentions. He understood the emperor and had seen the lesson of Young Master Wei, so he wanted to remind them.
In a flash, Zhu Qingchen seemed to understand something again.
"On the day Young Master Wei was bullied, you were the one who sent someone to the General's Mansion to invite General Wei to the palace?"
Xiao Chengan raised his head and was about to cry.
Zhu Qingchen must have been right.
"I originally wanted General Wei to come and rescue Master Wei, but I didn't expect that my brother would punish General Wei. I am the one who harmed the Wei family."
No wonder.
Since the emperor allowed Young Master Wei to enter the palace, he would definitely not send anyone to look for General Wei.
It turned out that Xiao Cheng'an saw it and wanted to save him, so he sent someone to the general's mansion to deliver a message.
Xiao Cheng'an's eyes were red and he cried, "I didn't expect things to turn out like this. I just wanted to save him. Young Master, I was wrong. I'm sorry. It was me who harmed General Wei..."
Zhu Qingchen quickly hugged him and patted his back: "This is not your fault, don't cry."!
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