Everyone knows that Duke Chengguo was highly valued and loved by the late emperor. For other generals who had fought for many years and had white hair, it was extremely rare to be awarded an earldom. However, Duke Chengguo was awarded a dukedom at the prime of his life.

"In the beginning, it was not so much that the late emperor overcame all opposition, but rather that the crown prince tried his best to help."

Huang Cheng's study was once again filled with guests, with beautiful ladies and maids walking around and decorating the room. The aroma of wine, tea, rouge and powder mixed together and was intoxicating.

Huang Cheng sat alone behind a desk, drinking a cup of tea and talking slowly.

"I know this." A man raised his wine glass and said, "I was there when the prince gave advice to the late emperor in the study."

"Yes, yes, I've heard about it too. The late emperor and the crown prince had a dispute over this matter. The crown prince looked weak and gentle, but was also extremely stubborn. He quarreled with the late emperor, and the late emperor, in a rage, picked up the inkstone and smashed it at the crown prince, breaking the crown prince's head." Another man hurriedly pushed away the beautiful maid beside him and interrupted.

Huang Cheng smiled and nodded, then drank the tea in one gulp.

"Yes, the prince is weak and sickly, but he has a heroic spirit." He said with some reminiscence, "The heroic spirit of the founding emperor is a blessing to the country, but it is not good for the emperor who is inheriting the throne to be too heroic. Look, he has exhausted all his efforts and died first."

Everyone present laughed.

"So this is the wise leader chosen by heaven." Everyone said.

Huang Cheng raised his teacup.

"Come, come, congratulate the wise master." He smiled and said, "May our Great Zhou Dynasty be healthy and prosperous."

Everyone raised their glasses, smiled and cheered in unison.

"The title and reward were the crown prince's merits. Later, the Duke of Cheng was able to dominate the Northland because of the crown prince's support." Huang Cheng put down his teacup and continued, "The crown prince often told the late emperor that a general is not subject to the emperor's orders when he is away from home. He also repeatedly reprimanded the historian for sitting back and forgetting his worries, only caring about party disputes and not the overall interests of the country."

It has been less than ten years since the Crown Prince and the late Emperor passed away. Most of the people present had already entered officialdom by then, or some of them had low positions and had never come into contact with the Crown Prince and the late Emperor, but they all knew their behavior.

Thinking back on it now, I feel a little dazed.

"Let's not talk about these old things." Someone said, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.

Huang Cheng smiled.

"Yes, we can not talk about the past, but we can not forget it." He said, "The Crown Prince has passed away, and Prince Huai is haunted by evil spirits. We are all very sad. Duke Cheng must be more worried, right?"

Said with a smile.

"After all, Duke Cheng loves even the common people like his own children. He would rather sacrifice his own life to protect the common people, not to mention the son of the former crown prince who has been favored by him."

"Yes, it's so hot now. If it is sent to the imperial mausoleum with no one to look after it, I don't know if it can survive the summer." A man shook his head and sighed.

"So what? The emperor can't do anything. This isn't a disease. Just ask a doctor to take a look." Another person also shook his head and said, "What is he objecting to? Is he accusing the emperor of wanting to harm Prince Huai?"

As they spoke, they looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time.

"What if Duke Cheng has no objection?" a man said suddenly as he thought of something.

The room was quiet for a moment.

"That's nothing. Duke Cheng is just like that. No matter how much rewards and favors are given to such a person, he is still a dog that cannot be tamed." Huang Cheng said, "Using Prince Huai to let everyone know this is also considered to be making the best use of it."

They had nothing to lose anyway.

Everyone looked at each other.

"But there is still a key problem." A man said with a frown.

As soon as I opened my mouth, someone came in hurriedly.

"Sir," he said, bowing, "Prince Chengguo is outside Prince Huai's mansion."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room became nervous.

"This is the most mischievous one."

"If he insists on breaking in, he has his father to protect him. He can be beaten up and locked up for nothing. We can't kill him."

"Let the younger one take the lead, and the older one provide support from behind. This is not the first time that the father and son have done this."

“How shameless.”

Everyone talked about it.

The newcomer raised his hand to interrupt everyone.

"But," he went on, "the Golden Guard stopped it."

These words shocked everyone again.

"Can you stop it?" a man asked subconsciously.

The visitor nodded.

"I'd rather die than retreat," he said.

Such a strict order! Everyone present looked at each other in shock, as if even they themselves did not believe it.

Huang Cheng laughed out loud.

"Go, take the delicious soup on the stove to Princess Jiuli." He said, and then smiled again, "Also, tell Lord Lu that there is no need to worry about Prince Huai. Your Majesty is kind and will take good care of Prince Huai even if he is in the imperial mausoleum."

Even if the emperor didn't want to, he would convince the emperor to take good care of it. He, Huang Cheng, was a man of his word. Since Lu Qianhu had lent him the carriage, he had to return it. Only if he borrowed and returned it would it be easy to borrow again.

The person who came back went out in response.

"Okay, there is no problem with this matter." Huang Cheng said, raising his teacup to everyone again.

Everyone in the room hurriedly raised their wine glasses and tea cups and smiled again.

"Oh, by the way, Boqing, what do you want to say?" Huang Cheng looked at another man.

He was about to speak when he was interrupted by the visitor.

The man laughed.

"I was just about to tell the Duke of Cheng about his worries," he said, "it seems I was worrying too much. The Lord has already made arrangements."

As he spoke, he raised the glass high and leaned forward.

"The old man has made a thorough plan and has not missed any plans. I admire him."

Others also raised their glasses and leaned forward.

“Students admire me.”

"I admire you."

Hearing the compliment and seeing everyone in the room bowing their heads, Huang Cheng laughed out loud.

"What a honor, what a honor," he said, and drank his tea in one gulp.

…

Zhu Zan watched as a row of people in front of him fell to the ground, but then he madly got up and rushed over again without caring about anything, and then he saw more Jinyiwei coming forward.

Unlike in the past, the Royal Guards were still fierce this time, but they had thrown away their weapons and were ready to fight to the death.

There were already many Jinyiwei soldiers lying on the ground, some of them were seriously injured or knocked unconscious.

Zhu Zan clenched his fists and put one hand on his waist.

Hidden on his lower back was the short knife he usually used.

The dusk gradually faded, the night slowly approached, and the Prince Huai's Palace in front became gradually blurred.

Although blurry, it is close at hand.

Zhu Zan held down the dagger and took another step forward. Several people rushed out from behind and hugged him around the waist.

"Second brother, stop making trouble."

"Stop it, this won't work."

Sifeng shouted in a low voice.

Zhu Zan tried to break away, but the three men held him tightly.

"If you really kill a few Jinyiwei, it will be as they wish." Sifeng pressed his shoulder and said hurriedly, "This is Prince Huai's Mansion. Your crime will be irreversible."

"Yes, they are determined not to retreat. Second brother, you can't force your way in," Zhang Baotang also said.

Zhu Zan looked ahead with a sullen face, his body tensed, but his feet stopped.

Si Feng breathed a sigh of relief and winked at Zhang Baotang and the others, and everyone carefully let go of their hands.

Zhu Zan did not rush forward again.

"Second brother, although this is the prince's palace." Sifeng also looked towards Prince Huai's palace, his voice was deep and without the usual laughter, with a bit of leisure, "However, the emperor is no longer the emperor he used to be."

There was a pause in the street.

They didn't move, and the Royal Guards over there didn't move either, just like a dark wall piled up before their eyes.

"Let's take a long-term view." Sifeng whispered again.

Zhu Zan said nothing, turned around and walked away.