Chapter 303 Too Willful
The Second Prince, watching from the sidelines, felt his teeth ache. He couldn't help but spit and cursed in a low voice, "Hypocrisy!"
It was very quiet in front of the throne. Although the Second Prince's voice was not loud, the Emperor and Zhao Xiang heard it clearly. The Emperor's face darkened again.
Zhao Xiang coughed, then smiled calmly, "Your Majesty, Your Highness is frank and outspoken. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding between you and me. I would like to have a private chat with Your Highness to clarify things. I beg for your permission."
The emperor believed in Zhao Xiang's ability and was eager for Zhao Xiang to guide his son more! Even if Zhao Xiang didn't say so, he would still mention it and ask Zhao Xiang to take better care of his son.
Hearing this, he nodded repeatedly and smiled, "Okay, Lord Zhao, please talk to him more in the future. It's a blessing for him to have Lord Zhao's guidance. Mo'er, you must not be rude to Lord Zhao, understand?"
The Second Prince sneered, snorted through his nose, and replied indifferently: "Got it!"
Zhao Xiang suggested that they talk it out in private, which was exactly what he wanted. He also wanted to ask him what the hell he was up to!
"Master Zhao, please!"
The second prince couldn't wait any longer and raised his hand stiffly.
Zhao Xiang nodded and smiled slightly: "Your Highness, please come too."
The second prince had already reached adulthood and was old enough to be crowned a king, but he was aiming for the position of crown prince, so he had never been crowned a king and everyone still called him "Your Highness".
Being alone, the Second Prince no longer needed to hide his true face. He clenched his fist and waved it at Zhao Xiang, showing off his power and being furious: "Zhao Xiang! What do you mean by this!"
"Your Highness, I do not understand what you are saying."
"Oh, stop pretending in front of me! Put away the airs you put on in front of my father, I won't fall for them! Have you forgotten how you returned to the capital? What? Are you going to burn bridges now?"
The smile on Zhao Xiang's face also disappeared. "Oh? Your Highness, when you say that, I am even more confused. Didn't the Emperor pardon me after seeing my loyalty and my achievements and contributions in Lingnan? Crossing the river and destroying the bridge? May I ask, Your Highness, what river did I cross and what bridge did I destroy?"
The Second Prince's expression fell apart. He was stunned.
"You, you."
Zhao Xiang was calm and composed, "Your Highness, have you misunderstood something?"
Second Prince: “.”
He didn't misunderstand! He was fooled!
He was not a fool, but he was of noble status and was favored by the emperor, so no one dared to provoke him. He did not need to use his brain to deal with anything he encountered in daily life, as his status was enough.
Zhao Xiang has made his point so clearly now, what else is there for him to not understand?
Zhao Xiang had never said he wanted to join him, and had never expressed his loyalty to him! He thought that what both parties had tacitly agreed to was actually just his one-sided understanding. Zhao Xiang had never said or expressed anything at all!
From the beginning to the end, it was all his wishful thinking!
Zhao Xiang was still the same Lord Zhao, still on the side of the Crown Prince. He had deceived Shu Min, and even more so himself.
He deliberately said some ambiguous words to make them misunderstand, and then denied it outright!
Damn it!
The Second Prince thought, how could it be possible! Even at this moment, he still felt that it was as impossible as a dream.
This is Zhao Xiang, isn't he always a modest gentleman, aloof and upright? How could he be so scheming?
The second prince felt that anyone could use scheming tactics, but Zhao Xiang would not, absolutely not.
Because of this, he believed it easily, without even a trace of doubt or overthinking.
He had been watching the Duke of Liguo's Mansion working hard to clean the house and make various arrangements for Zhao Xiang's return to Beijing, and he had secretly sneered and mocked them in his heart. He did not interfere in anything, but only gloated in his heart, waiting for the moment when "the truth would come out" and severely humiliated the Duke of Liguo's Mansion and the prince.
He believed this would deal them a huge blow.
But he never expected that when the truth came out, he would be the one who was hit hard!
Especially when he thought about how many people in his faction already knew that Zhao Xiang would join him, but it turned out not to be the case! The Second Prince was so angry that he couldn't breathe.
"Zhao Xiang! You bastard, I didn't expect you to be so cunning! You deceived me!"
Zhao Xiang glanced at the Second Prince calmly, then said after a moment of silence, "I didn't do that. Your Highness is overthinking it."
Zhao Xiang is no longer the Zhao Xiang of the past. An exile made him realize that some roads are blocked and continuing is a dead end. He may not care, but what about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?
The emperor has not been in good health in the past two years. When I returned to Beijing this time, I saw that he looked much older and most of his hair was white. Who knows how long he can last?
If the emperor knew that his life was coming to an end, he would not hesitate any longer. Concubine Yan and the second prince would not allow him to hesitate any longer. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is in danger.
The Second Prince laughed in anger, "Alright, alright, Zhao Xiang, just wait! I will definitely make you regret this!"
The second prince pushed Zhao Xiang away and left angrily.
Are Zhou Hansheng and the eldest daughter of the Zhao family going to the hunting grounds? Oh, then he will teach them a lesson and give them a slap in the face!
I guarantee they'll return empty-handed today! This will also allow everyone to see what kind of person the Crown Prince's cousin is.
Soon, all the ministers gathered before the emperor, shouting "Long live the emperor!" and horses neighing. It was a lively scene. Just looking at these teams of warriors with bright armor and sharp weapons made people feel excited.
Concubine Yan also came over and was with the emperor. She was smiling and saying something, which made the emperor nod frequently with a smile on his face.
Soon, at the emperor's command, the hunting teams galloped on horseback and headed straight for the hunting grounds.
Concubine Yan smiled nonchalantly and softly, "Your Majesty, I heard that Lord Zhao's daughter has also made her debut? And she's with the Prince of the Duke of Liguo's Mansion? Didn't they call off their engagement? When did they renew it? Lord Zhao was really good at keeping it a secret! But he only revealed it today, and everyone was shocked!"
The Emperor smiled and said, "Lord Zhao said that the two families did not cancel the engagement. That is all a rumor. Duke Liguo did not agree to cancel the engagement."
Concubine Yan's eyes flashed and she nodded: "So that's how it is!"
She also remembered that Zhao Xiang and his daughter had teased her and her son.
Zhou Hansheng brought fifty personal guards today, all of whom were carefully selected, including six female guards. He ordered them to follow Zhao Liya and protect her.
Zhao Liya may not need it, but she didn't refuse his kindness.
The group rode their horses into the hunting grounds. Zhou Hansheng seemed nonchalant, but he was actually on high alert, staying by Zhao Liya's side.
(End of this chapter)
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