Zhao Xin was bathing when Xiao Chenzi came crawling over, panting so hard that he knelt down beside the bathtub. His face was red and his expression was dazed, which was completely unlike the usually energetic eunuch.
"Your Majesty, this servant——"
He stopped talking halfway, fearing that Zhao Xin would blame him, and acted as if he was ready to kill, just like a dead pig that is not afraid of boiling water.
"Well, what happened?"
Xiao Chenzi tightly grasped the handful of gold leaves in his arms. Although he felt the pressure from the emperor, he could not speak carelessly for the sake of the gold leaves.
Zhao Xin squinted his eyes and enjoyed the service of the palace maids. One of them was holding a fruit platter, and another was wiping his body with her head down behind him.
"I don't want to ask any more questions, just tell me."
"Your Majesty, I didn't invite Concubine De here. I am useless."
Zhao Xin laughed contemptuously. It was rare that this eunuch could find his place one day.
"Why, today I finally realized that I am useless."
The little Chenzi didn't nod, nor did he deny. He just stood there in silence for a long time. Zhao Xin was not a good person either, so he called out directly.
"Someone come!"
As soon as he said this, there was an inexplicable look of displeasure on his face. Xiao Chenzi knew that His Majesty was definitely angry, but he really didn't know why.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty. I failed to invite Concubine De here. Please punish me severely!"
Zhao Xin simply used his fingertips to gently pick up a sign from the side and threw it directly to the eunuch.
"Bring me Cheng Huan Palace this time. If you fail to do so again, I won't mind feeding you to the wild wolves in the royal gardens."
"I understand, Your Majesty. I will!"
Xiao Chenzi also hurriedly picked up the sign and ran out, accidentally bumping into someone. However, Xiao Chenzi didn't even have time to look up and quickly called for the eunuchs under his command to quickly pick up the person.
As soon as I reached the door, I heard a voice coming from inside.
"No need. I'm going to the main hall tonight to discuss some important matters. As for the plaque, we'll talk about it tomorrow. Xiaochenzi, you can leave now."
"I know!"
Xiao Chenzi touched the sweat on his forehead and finally went back to his residence to rest.
There is one good thing about this emperor: he doesn't need the eunuch to keep watch at night, but he must have the eunuch present when he holds court.
If we hadn't arrived in time, there would be no need to talk about the consequences.
Zhao Xin lay in the bathtub, his whole body relaxed and his pores opened, feeling a rare sense of comfort. Then he squinted his eyes, glanced at the idle person next to him, and smiled with interest.
"Why, the Crown Prince of Dongwu has the leisure to come to Daqin today? Besides, aren't you afraid that I will report you as an assassin and have you arrested and killed?"
Qi Peng had a gloomy expression on his face.
"Why don't you go and save this prince?"
"Why should I save you, the prince? It must be your father who saved you. Do you think you recognize me as your father?"
Qi Peng was so angry that he slapped the precious porcelain next to him and broke it.
"Oh my... what are you so angry about? This porcelain is really expensive. His Majesty personally bought it from another country at a high price!"
Zhao Xin didn't remember that he had this hobby.
This is not written in the original book.
Besides, the protagonist of the original novel is Chu Zhan, so it is normal that not much time is spent on describing him as a villain, after all, he died young.
"This vase... was indeed collected from another country. It's worth ten thousand taels of gold. Could it be that it was sent to me as a gift?"
Qi Peng's expression was even uglier.
"This prince almost died in Dongwu. We were childhood playmates. How come you don't even have the thought of saving me now?"
After saying this, Qi Peng's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that Zhao Xin discovered something? Otherwise, why would he still be enjoying himself in the bathtub even though the emperor was forced to abdicate? If he hadn't come, he would have invited another concubine to sleep with him.
"Why, Your Majesty, you are in such a good mood. Did you have another orgy last night?"
Zhao Xin felt that taking a bath was boring.
Then he stood up.
The palace maids passing by with towels blushed at the sight of Zhao Xin's body and wiped him with shyness. After he put on his dragon robe, he gently brushed off the nonexistent dust on his body.
"Did you hear what I just said?"
"Your Majesty, you didn't say more than three sentences from beginning to end."
Zhao Xin coughed twice.
"I am His Majesty, and you call yourself the Crown Prince. Could it be that you are my younger son? However, I am not yet capable of giving birth to a son who is truly your age."
Qi Peng felt that it was fortunate that this was not his territory, otherwise people like Zhao Xin would be strangled to death by his men within a day.
"Just now I said I would go to the main hall with you to discuss matters. As for what happens next, I don't have any plans yet. For now, you come with me."
"I'm telling you, don't play any tricks on this prince. After all, the Dongwu people are not vegetarians!"
Then the two of them went to the main hall.
The night breeze was blowing gently, and the cool breeze blew on their clothes, making their hair a little messy.
There is also a hint of light under the shade of the trees, which looks really refreshing.
"Tell me, what do you want from me?"
After all, if you have nothing to do, you won't look for him.
"He was previously placed under house arrest by the emperor. He was locked up in the Eastern Palace and kept under strict surveillance. He was told not to come out and cause trouble."
Zhao Xin snorted coldly. It was considered unlucky for Old Qi to have such a son. This son was of no use at all.
"Oh? That has nothing to do with me."
“…”
This immediately shut Qi Peng up, and he began to wonder why he had come to the Qin Empire to cause trouble. He had traveled nearly nine days to reach the palace, but Zhao Xin had shown no sincerity at all.
"Just tell me what you want me to say. You haven't said the main point yet. What do you want me to say?"
"Your Majesty, please lend me some troops. This Crown Prince will overthrow this regime and take the throne no matter what!"
Zhao Xin was silent.
"Do you think I'm like a fool at your beck and call?"
Qi Peng naturally shook his head.
A few days ago, I unexpectedly saw a foreigner recruiting soldiers on the road. His clothes were probably not what people from nearby countries would wear. He was accompanied by a woman who seemed to have a black veil covering her face, with only a pair of eyes exposed.
Qi Peng was fortunate enough to see those eyes.
There was a murderous look in his eyes, and they always felt empty and distant, like... a puppet.
puppet.
He was curious, so he told Zhao Xin about it.
"Puppetry?"
Qi Peng had also heard of puppetry. There were records of it a long time ago. Puppetry was a kind of mechanical creation, and the puppets created were calm and indifferent.
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