Zhu Beifeng sat firmly on the high seat, Shuangxi and a group of imperial guards stood behind him as a backdrop.
The Royal Guards were all tall, with muscular bodies, shiny armor, and shiny swords.
King Xiaoyao accidentally burped, and the royal guards all stared at him.
The fat on King Xiaoyao's face trembled and he subconsciously covered his mouth.
"Today, we are not kings or ministers, but simply talking from the heart. I raise my glass and invite you, father, to enjoy a drink."
Zhu Bifeng toasted, and King Xiaoyao held the wine pot and hurriedly poured himself wine. Princess Zhou, Concubine Tang, and the two princes also raised their glasses. Zhu Bifeng drank it all in one gulp, and everyone also drank with their hearts' content.
"Father, do you have any plans for the future now that you've returned to the capital?"
King Xiaoyao has lived a carefree life all his life. He has no answer to Zhu Beifeng's question at all. He plans to send the two newly caught crickets to the bean fighting insect competition. When he wins money, he will ask two painters to draw the fighting scenes of the crickets.
If he told the truth, he would inevitably be scolded by Zhu Beifeng, so he repeated what Zhu Beifeng said.
"I'm exhausted on the way back to Beijing. I've suffered a lot for my father. I just want to rest after returning. As for future plans, plans can't keep up with changes."
Zhu Bifeng curled his lips into a cold smile, "Father was showing off all the way back to the capital. Now that he's back in the capital, he should take a good rest."
"Father has endured so much hardship along the way, why is the wind making fun of me?"
Zhu Beifengdan smiled silently, his smile was sinister. Princess Zhou's heart began to beat fast. Could it be that the emperor knew about the harsh words she had said before and was deliberately looking for trouble today?
She quickly winked at Concubine Tang, but Concubine Tang lowered her head deeply, humble and timid, and did not receive the look from Princess Zhou at all.
If your helpers are not helpful, you have to rely on yourself.
"Feng'er, when our family returned from the fiefdom, the soldiers and officers on the road were very strict in checking us. Your two sisters are both delicate little girls, and I'm a woman. Your father is just living a life of drunkenness and debauchery. If I hadn't acted a little more domineering, the soldiers wouldn't have let me pass."
After saying that, he took out a handkerchief and wiped away the non-existent tears on his face.
Zhu Bifeng said, "If you are stopped by officers and soldiers, just take out your pass. The officers will let you go once they see it."
Princess Zhou looked embarrassed and said, "I lost my pass on the road."
Zhu Dunyi felt a surge of anger rising in his heart, and Princess Zhou immediately shirked responsibility.
"Your father was drunk and lost his pass. If you want to chop off someone's head, chop off his head."
King Xiaoyao lowered his head and listened attentively. When he heard that he was going to be beheaded, a look of panic appeared on his face and his hands shook involuntarily.
"Don't chop off my head. If a son chops off his own head, he will be punished by God."
Zhu Bifeng closed his eyes in pain. How could he have such an unworthy father?
However, Zhu Bifeng soon let it go. If King Xiaoyao had not been uneducated and simple-minded, he would have lost his life long ago.
As a member of the royal family, the dumber one is, the more stable his status is.
King Xiaoyao stared at Zhu Bifeng and raised his voice: "Is there something on my face?"
Zhu Bifeng shook his head helplessly.
Princess Zhou raised her elbow and gave Prince Xiaoyao a slap. "Fool, the Third Prince has finally come back. Hurry up and beg him for an official position."
"I can't even be a good father, let alone an official."
King Xiaoyao refused to speak, and Princess Zhou pushed her two sons, but they were still hopeless.
Princess Zhou had no choice but to send someone to invite her two daughters, the sisters Zhu Mengdie and Zhu Yudie, to come hand in hand.
The twin sisters have the same appearance and wear the same clothes, but their personalities are very different.
Yudie is impulsive and irritable, while Mengdie is gentle and quiet.
After the two of them came forward to meet, Yudie asked directly: "Mother said that my brother must make me the imperial concubine. Is it true?"
Zhu Yudie spoke a lot, and after listening, Zhu Bifeng asked, "What else?"
"Also, the residence of the Princess Protector of the Nation must be built to be more luxurious and taller than the gate of the Three Concubines' Academy."
"Are you done?"
"Your Majesty, I have finished speaking."
"Well said. Don't say it next time." It was impossible to tell whether Zhu Bifeng was happy or angry in his words, but King Xiaoyao knew clearly that the third brother was angry.
Zhu Beifeng didn't get angry, King Xiaoyao started to criticize first.
"Princess Guardian of the Nation, Princess Protector of the Nation, the gate of your mansion is even higher than the one for the Three Concubines Academy. The land for the Three Concubines Academy was provided by Concubine Xi, and the construction was personally supervised by Concubine Xian. The money was also donated by the other concubines. Why are you building such a large mansion? Can you live in it alone?"
Princess Zhou stepped forward and twisted Prince Xiaoyao's ear. "If you dare to scold my daughter, I will beat you to death."
"That's enough!"
King Xiaoyao stood up and roared, "I am a useless piece of rotten wood. Fortunately, my son has made great achievements and caught the eye of the late emperor, ascending the throne and ruling the country. The palace has not helped Feng'er at all. As soon as he returns to the capital, he wants this and that. How many dynasties that are engaged in large-scale construction have maintained a stable rule? If you keep making such nonsense, you will all go back to your fiefdom."
King Xiaoyao's sudden shout shocked Princess Zhou.
In the end, it was Zhu Mengdie who smoothed things over. "Sister was just joking. Father, please don't get angry. You might get yourself hurt."
Zhu Yudie followed the steps her sister had set up for her and went down. "Father, I was just joking. Please don't take it seriously."
King Xiaoyao was furious and said angrily, "Are you kidding? If it's a joke, why are you crying so loudly?"
Zhu Yudie had tears on her face and forced herself to smile twice.
King Xiaoyao calmed down and ordered, "You all step aside. I have something to say to the Emperor."
The princess said to the maid, "Go down, go down quickly."
Maids and servants filed out.
Shuangxi looked up at the sky. Princess Zhou pretended to be confused even though she knew the truth. She clearly understood what the prince said, but she pretended not to understand.
"You go down too."
Princess Zhou was reluctant to leave and refused to go.
Zhu Mengdie was responsible for clearing the area by dragging and pulling.
At this time, only King Xiaoyao and Zhu Beifeng were left at the table.
"Feng'er, you are my son and the monarch of Xuanhua Kingdom. Don't come back to Xiaoyao Palace. If you come back, the princess will have many unnecessary and unfounded thoughts in her heart. If one thought is not extinguished, it will become a knot."
"As a father, I can no longer offer you any assistance. As a subject, all I can do is be loyal."
King Xiaoyao's face was full of wrinkles and his temples were gray.
"The ruler should be respected, the minister should be loyal, the father and son should be close, and the husband and wife should be obedient. I have never forgotten the knowledge that my father taught me."
Zhu Bifeng stood up and left the table. Prince Xiaoyao saw him to the door. His voice was old but penetrating: "This old minister respectfully bids farewell to the emperor."
King Xiaoyao knelt respectfully on the ground, surrounded by kneeling people. He sat on the imperial chariot, feeling extremely lonely in his heart.
Zhu Bifeng walked further and further away, and the plaque of Xiaoyao Palace was like a drop of ink, getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
Loneliness was like a club that knocked him into an endless abyss.
Although it was summer, he felt cold to the bone, and the wind blowing from all directions made him feel upset.
The eunuchs carried the imperial sedan chair into the palace, and Zhu Bifeng fell into a drowsy sleep leaning against a soft pillow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
