Chapter 116: Deposed Emperor Becomes a Slave (7)
7
At night, a bonfire was lit in the camp.
Zhu Qingchen changed into clean clothes, sat by the campfire, strung naan with a clean branch, and roasted it over the fire.
The hunting has not officially started yet, and the first prey must be reserved for the emperor. No one is allowed to hunt at will.
So tonight, they had no meat to eat and could only eat the dry food they brought with them.
Zhu Qingchen felt that the naan was almost done, so he turned it over.
"Tongtong, can you make something edible?"
“No, there is no such function.”
Zhu Qingchen made a "wu" sound, took the naan back, blew on it, and reached out to break off a piece.
It turned out that he underestimated the temperature of the baked cake.
"Ouch! It's so hot!" Zhu Qingchen quickly pulled his hand back and pinched his earlobe.
Yuwen Shu sat next to him again and handed him the water bag filled with milk.
Zhu Qingchen did not take the water bag, but turned his head and looked at Yuwen Shu seriously.
Yuwen Shu's hand remained in the air for a long time, then he turned his head and asked, "What happened to Master Zhu?"
Zhu Qingchen asked: "Why do you always follow me? Don't you know anyone else?"
Yuwen Shu said: "No, I only know Master Zhu."
"Nonsense." Zhu Qingchen looked around, "Everyone here knows you, go and have a drink with them, don't bother me."
"But I only know Master Zhu." Yuwen Shu paused and asked, "Master Zhu is still angry? What happened this afternoon?"
Zhu Qingchen pursed his lips: "Yes, I'm still angry."
He picked up two or three weeds and handed them to Yuwen Shu: "Unless you weave another little rabbit for me."
"Little rabbit?" Yuwen Shu shook his head, "No."
Zhu Qingchen looked at him seriously: "Really?"
Yuwen Shu did not hesitate: "No, but I can make up a little pig."
Yuwen Shu handed him the water bag and took some wild grass.
While eating, Zhu Qingchen watched Yuwen Shu make a straw pig for him and observed carefully.
By the time Zhu Qingchen finished eating, Yuwen Shu had also finished braiding his piglet.
Yuwen Shu held the piglet in his palm and handed it to Zhu Qingchen.
Zhu Qingchen gently pinched the piglet's ears, lifted it up, and observed it carefully towards the campfire.
Zhu Qingchen was looking at Xiaozhu, and Yuwen Shu was also looking at Xiaozhu.
Zhu Qingchen looked left and right, trying to see some clues.
Yuwen Shu suddenly called out, "Wish you a happy birthday."
Zhu Qingchen turned around suddenly and looked at him in disbelief: "What did you call me?"
"Call it." Yuwen Shu pointed at the piglet in his hand, "Little piglet, green little piglet, call it 'Zhu Qingqing'."
"You are the piglet!" Zhu Qingchen was so annoyed that he threw the water bag back into his arms, picked up the piglet, and turned away.
Yuwen Shu turned around and looked at him: "Master Zhu..."
"Go away, go away." Zhu Qingchen went straight back to his tent without even turning his head.
The villain system said: "Sometimes you really are annoying. Count it yourself. How many times have you offended him today? No wonder Zhu Qingchen hates you the most. No matter how many vests you change, he still hates you the most."
Yuwen Shu smiled and turned back: "I hate it if I hate it."
Zhu Qingchen returned to the tent, opened the box, pushed aside his clothes, made some space, and put the straw pig inside.
His system was also shocked: "You are not really in love with Yuwen Shu, are you?"
"No, to preserve the evidence."
"What evidence? He didn't kill anyone or set any fire. What evidence do you want?"
"It's not what you think anyway."
The system sighed quietly: "Alas, the child has grown up and has his own little secrets. As a parent, I am beginning to be annoying."
"..." Zhu Qingchen choked.
He put his things away, then went out again, taking his guards for a walk around the camp.
This was their first night in the hunting grounds, so they couldn't take it lightly.
Zhu Qingchen went to see the Duke of Zhenguo, who patted his chest and said, "No problem, young master, don't worry. I have arranged for the night watch. Twelve people form a team and take turns to watch. I will be here in person, so nothing will go wrong."
"Okay, thank you very much." Zhu Qingchen approached the Duke of Zhenguo, glanced at the Northern Zhou's camp, and lowered his voice, "I hope you can pay more attention to the Northern Zhou."
The Duke of Zhenguo bumped shoulders with him and said, "Don't worry, I know."
"good."
After a brief inspection of the camp, Zhu Qingchen went to the emperor's tent.
Before I got close, I heard a few kids talking and laughing inside.
Xiao Chengan asked a little worriedly: "What if I fail to shoot the prey tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Your Majesty is blessed by heaven and has the dragon energy to protect you..."
Eunuch Cheng wanted to comfort him, but Chu Yunyang said, "If you can't hit the target, just keep shooting. Anyway, we brought hundreds of arrows this time."
Xiao Chengan became even more worried: "Ah? Doesn't that mean everyone will watch me shoot arrows?"
"Isn't that so?"
At this time, Wei Yuan said: "Your Majesty, please relax."
Xiao Chengan thought he was trying to comfort himself, but Wei Yuan said, "If you can't hit the target, have the guards throw a dead rabbit. A dead rabbit won't run away, so you can always hit it."
"Hmm..." Xiao Chengan hesitated, "It should be possible."
"If all else fails, let Chu Yunyang hide in the tree and help Your Majesty shoot an arrow. We will pretend not to see it."
“…”
Zhu Qingchen stood in front of the tent, the corners of his mouth twitching.
This is a really good idea. Xiao Chengan’s study partners are really resourceful.
Zhu Qingchen clenched his fist, cleared his throat, and reminded them: "Ahem——"
The dormitory inspection teacher is here.
The people in the tent immediately fell silent.
Eunuch Cheng came over to help him open the curtain: "Oh, the young master is here."
The three students had all taken a shower, were wearing clean clothes, and were sitting in a row on the beds.
It looks like he is getting ready for bed, as we were just having a late night chat.
The three people quickly stood up and saluted Zhu Qingchen: "Teacher."
"Yes." Zhu Qingchen nodded, found a seat and sat down, looking at Xiao Cheng'an, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Your Majesty has trained very well in the hunting ground. Tomorrow will be the same as usual. Do your best and leave the rest to fate."
Xiao Chengan nodded obediently: "I remember it."
Eunuch Cheng brought some tea, Zhu Qingchen took a sip and said, "I came to see you so late, mainly because there are some things I want to remind you of."
The three students looked at him seriously: "Teacher, please speak."
"This time we came out hunting not just for fun, the Northern Zhou delegation also came along."
Chu Yunyang raised his hand: "I know, teacher, don't worry, I will catch a lot of prey and will not embarrass Da Xia."
"It's not just that, nor is it all that." Zhu Qingchen said seriously, "The prey is secondary. The most important thing is that you should protect yourself. Do you know why the teacher specially arranged for you to live together? Is it just so that you can talk together?"
Xiao Chengan shook his head obediently and replied, "No." "That's right, the teacher asked you to live together because he hopes you can support each other and take care of each other if there is any trouble."
Chu Yunyang sensed an unusual atmosphere: "Teacher, is there some conspiracy waiting for us in the Northern Zhou Dynasty? Is it that Yuwen Zan..."
"Alright, alright, stop guessing." Zhu Qingchen interrupted him, "Yun Yang, you are good at martial arts, you must protect them both."
"yes."
Zhu Qingchen was really worried, so he gave each of them a few words of advice to make sure they all remembered it. Seeing that it was getting late, he prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he did not forget to give his final instructions to Eunuch Cheng: "I've been very troublesome to you recently. These three children are sometimes too naughty. I'm afraid they will have too much fun and run away without the servants. Please keep an eye on them all the time."
Eunuch Cheng smiled and said, "Young Master, you are too kind. This is my job, so why should I talk about how hard it is? If there is anything, I will send someone to inform you immediately."
"good."
Zhu Qingchen spoke to him a few more words and then prepared to go back.
To avoid any unexpected events, his tent was very close to the emperor's tent.
Zhu Qingchen stood in front of the tent and took a last look at the Northern Zhou tent.
This can't go wrong, right? Everyone surrounded Xiao Cheng'an from all sides and protected him well. This can't go wrong, right?
Thinking this, Zhu Qingchen returned to his tent and prepared to wash up and go to bed.
*
At the same time, in the Northern Zhou camp.
Yuwen Zan was lying on the bed and Chen Xun was rubbing his head.
Yuwen Zan asked: "Did I really faint from a headache during the day?"
"Yes." Chen Xun nodded. "His Highness looked very seriously ill, so I ran out to call the imperial physician. But when the imperial physician came, His Highness was fine again, and I was scolded by the imperial physician."
Yuwen Zan frowned: "But why don't I remember anything?"
Chen Xun didn't believe it in his heart, thinking that he was just playing a trick on him, but he said, "It may be that Your Highness has been overworked recently. When I return to Northern Zhou, I must ask the imperial physician to take a closer look."
"Um."
"If Your Highness is still like this, I will still go and ask the imperial physician, even if I get scolded."
Yu Wenzan closed his eyes. Although he couldn't recall what happened when he had a headache, he vaguely remembered the scene that flashed before his eyes.
It was like a dream.
Chen Xun gently rubbed his head and spoke to him in a soft voice.
After an unknown amount of time, Yuwen Zan fell asleep.
Chen Xun breathed a sigh of relief, put his head down, blew out the light, and went to sleep on the small couch next to him.
In the middle of the night, Chen Xun was suddenly awakened by a loud bang.
He got up and saw that Yuwen Zan had overturned the things beside the bed, and was lying on the bed with his head covered in pain.
Chen Xun put on his clothes, walked forward, and called out twice: "Your Highness? Your Highness?"
Yuwen Zan lay on the bed and slapped his head hard.
Countless images flashed before his eyes and many voices sounded in his ears.
In the hunting grounds, military camps, and the Northern Zhou Dynasty's imperial palace.
——"Please...save me...reward..."
——"Please leave me here."
——"I am a grassland person."
Chen Xun thought he was pretending at first, and didn't want to find the imperial physician, so he just poured a glass of water and handed it to him: "Your Highness, drink some water."
But Yuwen Zan ignored him and knocked over the teacup with his hand.
Chen Xun was afraid of being hurt by him accidentally, so he stepped back a little. Unexpectedly, Yuwen Zan suddenly raised his head and looked at him with sharp and fierce eyes, full of murderous intent.
Chen Xun was startled by him and took a step back to avoid his sight.
He had seen such a look before. It was the same look he had when Yuwen Zan grabbed his collar and warned him not to have any such thoughts in the inn.
He wants to kill him!
Chen Xun was on guard against him while retreating until he reached the door of the tent and then rushed out.
"Imperial Physician...Imperial Physician...someone come!"
Yuwen Shu, who was in a nearby tent, heard the sound and sat up from the bed.
What the hell is going on?
He got off the bed, walked to the tent, lifted the curtain and took a look.
Chen Xun ran between the tents in panic, shouting, "Someone come! The Fifth Prince is in trouble again!"
Yuwen Shu frowned and said to the soldier at the door: "Go and check to make sure he doesn't disturb others."
"yes."
The soldier strode forward and grabbed Chen Xun: "What are you arguing about?"
Chen Xun said in horror: "The Fifth Prince has a headache again, hurry up and call the imperial physician, hurry up and call the imperial physician."
The soldier wanted to find the imperial physician and asked Chen Xun to go back to look after Yuwen Zan, but Chen Xun refused and insisted on going with him to find the imperial physician.
Yuwen Shu stood in the tent with his hands folded, watching the farce quietly.
Not long after, the imperial physician came over with a medicine box.
But he had just entered and before the curtain was lowered, he left angrily.
Chen Xun chased after him and apologized, "No, I really saw it... Your Highness really had a headache, and he looked at me with a very strange look, as if he wanted to kill me..."
The imperial physician didn't listen to his explanation at all. He thought he was playing a trick on him and turned away.
The imperial physician and the soldiers left, and Chen Xun returned to the tent alone, trembling with fear.
The light was always on in the tent.
Chen Xun was so frightened that he didn't dare to sleep.
Yuwen Shu frowned and thought for a moment. He felt that he could not delay any longer, so he grabbed the outer garment hanging on the side, put it on, and walked out of the tent.
He bypassed the patrolling soldiers, came to the window of the Grand Tutor's tent, and called out twice in a low voice: "Grand Tutor Zhu? Grand Tutor Zhu?"
It was estimated that Zhu Qingchen was sleeping with his head covered in the quilt and did not hear him shouting.
Yuwen Shu simply quietly lifted a corner of the window and climbed in through the window.
Sure enough, Zhu Qingchen curled up in the quilt, sleeping like a little ball.
Yuwen Shu patted Zhu Qingchen's quilt and said, "Master Zhu?"
His systems all woke up and helped him shout: "Minister, minister, minister."
After calling out several times, Zhu Qingchen finally woke up dazedly and poked his head out from under the quilt: "What's wrong?"
He saw Yuwen Shu standing at the head of his bed and almost jumped out of bed: "What are you doing?"
Yuwen Shu held him down: "Chen Xun is looking for the imperial physician again."
"Ah?" Zhu Qingchen came back to his senses while wrapped in the quilt, "Looking for the imperial physician again?"
"It is said that Yuwen Zan has a headache again."
"What did the doctor say?"
"When the imperial physician went, he was sleeping soundly."
"How could this happen?" Zhu Qingchen loosened the quilt and fanned his face to calm himself down.
Zhu Qingchen pondered and said, "Either Yuwen Zan is really ill but he doesn't know it, or the two of them are just acting. There is no other possibility."
"If it's a show, why would they do such a show? To lower your guard? This shouldn't be the case. What kind of trick is this?"
"If he is really ill..." Zhu Qingchen raised his head, "Have you poisoned him recently?"
"No." Yuwen Shu sat down beside the couch. "It's not auspicious for someone to die on your territory. I plan to kill him when I get back."
"Then he..." Zhu Qingchen scratched his hair, unable to think of any other possibilities.
There was no light in the tent, and the two men sat in the dark, speechless for a moment.
Yuwen Shu said: "Maybe it's justice from heaven."
“…”
"If you do evil, you will perish on your own. We don't need to do anything. He will die on his own."
“…”
"It's possible..."
Zhu Qingchen interrupted him: "Shut up, you are not reliable at all."
Yuwen Shu said weakly: "It's not me, I didn't say that."
The villain system flew cautiously to Zhu Qingchen and said, "I am the one speaking."
"Oh, it's you. Go ahead and tell me."
"Is it possible that Yuwen Zan... has been or will be reborn?"
Zhu Qingchen and Yuwen Shu looked at each other: "Rebirth?"
"Many wife-chasing crematorium novels are written like this: in the previous life, the protagonist killed the protagonist, and in this life, the protagonist is reborn, saves the protagonist, and reconciles with the protagonist."
"Is it possible that the plot summary you saw before was just a summary of the plot in the previous life? Is it possible that the story actually began after Yu Wenzan was reborn?"
*
The next morning.
Eunuch Cheng came to the outside of the Grand Tutor's tent and whispered, "Grand Tutor Zhu, are you up?"
"Hmm?" Zhu Qingchen jumped up from the bed, covered Yuwen Shu beside the bed with a blanket, and replied, "Get up, I'll be right there."
"good."
Zhu Qingchen heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the footsteps of Eunuch Cheng leaving. He lowered his head and Yuwen Shu just came out from under the blanket and met his eyes.
Last night, Yuwen Shu came to him to tip him off, and the two of them discussed the question of "whether Yuwen Zan was reborn" until late at night.
Later, Zhu Qingchen couldn't hold on any longer, his head nodded, and he fell asleep with his body tilted.
Yuwen Shu didn't go back either. He lay on the bed and stayed with him all night.
Until just now, Eunuch Cheng came to see him.
Zhu Qingchen asked: "Prince Regent, how are you going to go back now?"
Yuwen Shu held up the blanket and said, "Let's go back like this."
"It's daybreak, there are people outside, how can I tell others that you ran out of my tent in dishevelled clothes?"
This really means she is having an affair with a man. Yuwen Shu thought for a moment and said, "Let's just say we were discussing state affairs late at night and forgot the time."
Zhu Qingchen pursed his lips and pulled the blanket down on his head: "Why don't you cover your face and go out? It'll be fine as long as others can't recognize it's you."
"I rushed all the way back to my own tent. Master Zhu, do you think they can't see it?"
There was no other way, so Yuwen Shu could only bite the bullet and pretend to walk out of Master Zhu’s tent generously.
The question is "discussing state affairs", open and aboveboard!
*
The sun is shining and the sky is cloudless.
The Xia Kingdom had the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven before the autumn hunt.
Xiao Cheng'an wore a long sword on his waist, a bow and arrow on his back, and held incense in both hands. He stood on a high platform, respectfully alerting heaven and earth, and praying for good weather, strong soldiers and horses in the summer.
The sunlight was shining brightly, and it seemed to add a layer of golden light to his armor.
He had a stern face, a serious expression, and an upright figure, and indeed had some of the majesty of a young emperor.
Afterwards, Chu Yunyang led his warhorse over, Xiao Cheng'an grabbed the reins, jumped onto the horse with swift movements, took off the longbow hanging on his body, and raised his arm to shout.
"All soldiers, listen to my orders. Follow me into the mountains to hunt!"
Xiao Cheng'an rode his horse into the mountains, accompanied by a group of court officials and soldiers.
Before entering the woods, Xiao Cheng'an heard strange noises coming from the bushes in front of him.
Xiao Cheng'an reacted quickly, and carefully pulled out an iron arrow from the quiver and put it on the longbow.
With a "whoosh" sound, the arrow sank into the grass. With a "squeak" sound, a hare jumped out of the grass and fell to the ground.
Chu Yunyang was pleasantly surprised: "You are really good..."
He didn't dare speak too loudly, and immediately went up with his servants, picked up the rabbit, and presented it to Xiao Cheng'an with both hands.
"Your Majesty is valiant! Great Xia has strong soldiers and horses, and the country is prosperous!"
Everyone dismounted and saluted: "May the Great Xia nation prosper!"
Xiao Cheng'an was riding on the horse with beads of sweat on his face. His originally stern expression finally showed a hint of smile and he felt a little more relaxed.
Fortunately, I didn't embarrass myself.
He cleared his throat and said, "My dear ministers, please stand up."
The emperor captured his first prey and gave it to his most beloved tutor, Zhu.
Afterwards, the emperor watched the army drill on a high platform and ordered the soldiers to form teams and go hunting in the mountains, counting the prey at night.
The soldiers took the order and left. Xiao Cheng'an finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his face and looked at Zhu Qingchen.
Zhu Qingchen smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up.
The emperor did a great job today!
*
At noon, Zhu Qingchen had the rabbit given by His Majesty cleaned and roasted for food.
In the afternoon, several students came over and wanted to invite him to go hunting with them.
"Teacher, let's go, don't stay in the tent all the time."
"We've all come back from a trip to the mountains. Now the sun isn't so strong, so we can go out."
There was no other choice, Zhu Qingchen could only ride on his horse and follow them.
A group of people were strolling in the mountains. Perhaps they had caught all the prey nearby, so they didn't see any prey along the way and unknowingly walked deeper into the mountains.
At the same time, Yuwen Zan and Chen Xun were also wandering in the mountains.
After what happened last night, Chen Xun always felt that Yuwen Zan looked at him strangely, and unconsciously wanted to stay away from him.
The two men were passing by a mountain road when suddenly, Yuwen Zan covered his head again.
Chen Xun saw his familiar behavior, and hurriedly pulled the reins and took a few steps back: "Your Highness... Your Highness, what's wrong?"
What's going on? Is it starting again?
Yuwen Zan slapped his head twice and couldn't help but roar like a wild beast: "Ah——"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please don't scare me!" Chen Xun said, but he couldn't help but step back and look around.
The soldiers around Yuwen Zan were all Yuwen Shu's men, only Chen Xun was his man, so this time he came out, he only brought Chen Xun with him and no one else.
This is a remote place, what if...
The next second, Yuwen Zan roared, fell off the horse and slid down the hillside.
Chen Xun shouted, "Your Highness!"
He was just about to dismount to save people, but suddenly he remembered the look he gave him last night.
Chen Xun raised his head and met the same gaze as Yuwen Zan.
Chen Xun fumbled and climbed back onto the horse: "Your Highness... I'll go call for help!"
Anyway...anyway, Yuwen Zan will get better on his own. This slope is not steep. Once Yuwen Zan gets better, he will be able to climb up. If he goes up, what if he is killed by Yuwen Zan? What should he do then?
Anyway, Yu Wenzan’s headache will be gone in a while, so he will just go back and call for help.
Yuwen Zan fell down the hillside, pounding his head with both hands, and countless scenes flashed before his eyes. He fell down this hillside, and then someone came to save him.
That person saved him, but he recognized the wrong person and tortured him in every way.
Who is that person? Who is that person?
Yuwen Zan was lying on the hillside, and the scene before his eyes slowly overlapped with the scene in his dream.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Qingchen and three students also arrived at this mountain road.
An ownerless horse was spinning on the mountain road, and someone's groaning could be heard from the horse: "Help... Help."
The three students turned around quickly: "Teacher! Someone is asking for help!"
Zhu Qingchen frowned and said, "Let's go and take a look."
"good."
For safety reasons, Zhu Qingchen rode his horse to the front and let the three students follow behind him.
As the group got closer, they saw a man lying in the grass on the hillside, covering his head and screaming continuously.
Zhu Qingchen recognized Yuwen Zan at a glance, so he immediately stopped Chu Yunyang who was about to go up to rescue him.
"You are not allowed to go." Zhu Qingchen turned around and winked at the guards behind him, "Go down and take a look, and bring him up."
"Yes." The guards were nimble and swift, sliding down the hillside and carrying the man up.
It was indeed him.
Yuwen Zan fell to the ground, covering his head with his hands, with a ferocious expression, looking a little scary.
Zhu Qingchen asked again: "Has the accompanying military doctor arrived?"
"My Lord, the military doctor is not here yet."
Zhu Qingchen pursed his lips and dismounted from his horse.
The students shouted, "Teacher!"
Zhu Qingchen waved his hand at them: "It's okay."
He had long suspected that there was something fishy about Yuwen Zan's headache, and now that it happened, how could he not go and check it out?
Zhu Qingchen held the sword at his waist with one hand, walked lightly, and approached slowly.
Eunuch Cheng also got off his horse and walked in front of him: "Young Master, let me do it."
The two men walked up to Yuwen Zan. Suddenly, Yuwen Zan raised his head, stared at them intently, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Who are you?"
Zhu Qingchen glanced at Eunuch Cheng, thought for a moment, and replied indifferently: "Young Cheng from Changqiu Palace."!
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