The threat worked.
Although the Second Prince was unwilling to accept it, and his eyes were blazing with anger, he did not dare to risk calling Liu Zhao by his name.
He was really afraid that Liu Zhao would beat him.
Liu Zhao is a bastard, he can definitely do it.
This bastard has no bottom line in what he does.
He groaned for a long time. The pain from the sore on his buttocks made him feel as if his soul was leaving his body, and his facial features were distorted.
"You framed me, didn't you?"
Liu Zhao chuckled coldly, "Be careful what you say. You minted coins privately, and the evidence is irrefutable. You dare to say this is a false accusation? Do you know the consequences of slandering His Highness?"
Liu Zhao flapped his folding fan, one snap after another.
His eyes were teasing, and he looked at the Second Prince as if he were looking at a clown.
His gaze irritated the Second Prince.
The second prince struggled to get up, but he had no choice but to give up because of the torture from the stick.
His eyes were glaring. "Don't think no one knows what you've done. You're harming me simply to prevent me from becoming a military supervisor. Do you think that if you harm me, the Emperor will forgive you? Dream on! The Emperor will arrange for someone else to be a military supervisor. You want to achieve great things, to achieve success and fame, but no one agrees. You're destined to be just a pawn."
Liu Zhao sneered. He lifted the Second Prince's chin with his folding fan and said, "Who is the chess piece? You still harbor delusions. How pitiful."
"I'm not pitiful. The real pitiful person is you, you." The second prince shouted at the top of his lungs, trying his best to refute Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Which eye of yours looks at me with pity?"
"Hahaha... Aren't you pitiful? Do you really think you're not pitiful? Being a pawn to this extent is truly pathetic and lamentable."
The second prince struggled to get closer to Liu Zhao.
He lowered his voice and spoke maliciously, "Everyone knows that you played a vital role in our father's ascension to the throne. But what have you gained in return? No one mentions your contributions. You are ignored and suppressed. For killing a concubine, you were imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple for over half a year. Is this the treatment a meritorious official deserves?"
Everyone knows you're the one most familiar with Beirong, yet the Emperor refused to send you there. It wasn't until Marquis Lu became powerful and panicked that the Emperor finally agreed to send you to battle, simultaneously appointing me as his military supervisor. He used you while simultaneously guarding against you. You poor pawn, exploited so thoroughly by the Emperor, yet you're still smug, thinking you're not a pawn.
"Brother, my dear brother, I really feel sorry for you, and even more so, I feel pathetic for you. What's the point of living a life like yours? If you go to the northwest, even if you defeat Beirong, what will you gain? Nothing but intensified suppression and defense. Brother, give up! Marquis Lu is your uncle. It's better to watch him grow in power and watch the world change than to be suppressed by our father's suspicion."
Liu Zhao stared at the second prince with a deep gaze.
There was a piercing light flashing in the second prince's eyes.
"Hahaha……"
Suddenly, Liu Zhao burst into laughter.
The second prince stood there in a daze.
Liu Zhao slapped the Second Prince's cheek with his folding fan. "Sowing discord? Good idea. I only realized today that you're quite the talker. You've been holding this in your heart for a long time, wanting to tell me but never finding the chance. Now that you're letting it all out today, don't you feel particularly proud?"
The second prince's cheeks twitched and his expression was ferocious.
Liu Zhao waved his hand to stop him.
He then continued, "You've been conceited and arrogant since childhood, but because you're a bastard, you've had to suppress your true nature. These past few years must have been very difficult for you. You've always lived in my shadow, your talents were never showcased, and all the glory was on me. You've been jealous to the point of madness, yet you still have to act like a brother in front of others. It's really difficult for you."
“Ahhhhh…”
The second prince let out a scream of extreme terror, alarming the people outside.
The second prince's eunuch wanted to rush in but was stopped by Qian Fu.
Qian Fu pinched the Second Prince's eunuch's neck and whispered, "You won't die! Don't go in and disturb the two princes while they're talking. Otherwise, the Second Prince will be fine, and as for you dying, it will be the Bai family's death."
inside the house.
The second prince's face was distorted. Liu Zhao's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard.
It hurts, it hurts so much!
It made him feel so miserable that he wanted to die.
What's a sore?
The pain in the heart is the real pain.
"You, you...you should stop showing off."
Liu Zhao smiled, "Are you sure I'm just bragging and not telling the truth? Do you dare to say that you're not jealous of me?"
"You are just a loser. What qualifications do you have to make me jealous? Don't flatter yourself. It's disgusting." The second prince gritted his teeth.
Liu Zhao laughed heartily. "You've always been the one flattering yourself. What do you mean by virtuous, benevolent, and righteous? You just want the court officials to differentiate between you and me. In the eyes of the court officials, I'm a cold and unfeeling prince who does whatever he wants. And you, you must be a virtuous, benevolent, and righteous prince."
Even if you want to kill those nagging courtiers a hundred times in your heart, you must maintain the mask of benevolence and righteousness. Have you worn the mask for so long that it can no longer be taken off? Do you want me to help you tear off this mask and see how filthy you really are?
“Shut up, shut up!”
The Second Prince roared angrily, "You know nothing. You are nothing but a reckless man. The Great Zhou needs a benevolent and righteous ruler. That position belongs to me."
"You're such a hypocrite. You've worn a mask for so long that it's hard to tear it off. You're the pathetic one."
"Shut up! You have no right to call me pitiful. The truly pitiful person is clearly you. Your father neglects you and suppresses you, yet you wholeheartedly share his worries. You are angry, yet you desperately want your father's attention. You are the truly pitiful one."
Liu Zhao laughed and leaned close to the Second Prince's ear, whispering, "You think I do everything to gain Father's attention. You're ridiculous! Your arrogance is astonishing. Everything I've done, everything I've fought for to this day, for, you'll never know, nor will you ever understand. With your pathetic and shallow vision, it's no wonder you only think about vying for power. People like you, even if you die, can save some food."
"Nonsense! If you're not doing this to get the emperor's attention, then what's the point of doing all that? Don't try to confuse me. I won't be fooled."
The second prince has been struggling, trying to break free from Liu Zhao's destruction of his willpower.
But he was trembling and he was afraid.
At this moment, he really seemed to not understand Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao sneered, "Talking to you is such a waste of time. I should have listened to Xiao Jiu and not come to see you. Poor creature, take good care of your wounds. For now, you won't die."
"Shut up! Stop right there! I'm not a pitiful person, you're the pitiful one. If you go to the Northwest, you'll die. You will die in the Northwest, at the hands of Beirong."
Liu Zhao laughed heartily. "Even if this prince really died in the northwest, it would be a worthy death. And you, poor creature, take your time to reflect on your actions."
He stood up and left, no longer paying attention to the second prince's crazy shouting.
After walking out of the room, Qian Fu decisively let go of the second prince's eunuch.
As soon as the eunuch was free, he rushed into the room to check on the Second Prince.
The sky is blue and the water is blue!
Liu Zhao rode his horse and headed northwest.
He slapped his head and said, "What kind of idiocy did this prince commit to waste so much time talking to the second brother?"
Qian Fu wanted to complain, but was afraid that Liu Zhao would beat him.
Forget it, just shut up.
Liu Zhao turned around and looked at the capital city behind him.
"Your Highness, would you like to go back and set out again tomorrow?"
"Your Highness, absolutely not. Today is the deadline, no further delay is allowed. If you cannot reach the Northwest Camp on time, you will be punished by military law."
Lin Shuping was so shocked by Liu Zhao's actions that he almost fell off his horse.
Qian Fu also advised, "Your Highness has signed a military order in front of His Majesty. If you return now, His Majesty will have reason to punish you by military law."
Liu Zhao looked depressed. "Forget it, forget it. I will go back after we win the battle."
With nearly a thousand personal soldiers and guards, he rode two horses and rushed to the northwest camp a thousand miles away.
…
After Liu Zhao left the capital, Gu Jiu planned to move back to the eldest prince's mansion.
After packing up and choosing an auspicious day, Gu Jiu moved into the eldest prince's mansion with the children.
After a long wait, he finally waited for his master to arrive in such a huge mansion.
All the servants in the prince's mansion cried for joy.
I finally have the chance to show off my face in front of my master and get a reward. Oh, oh, oh, it’s not easy!
Soon, Gu Jiu welcomed his first guest, Princess Huyang.
"My nephew and his wife, happy housewarming! For such a big event, shouldn't we hold a housewarming party? Liu Zhao is not here, so if you have any difficulties, please tell me and I will take care of it for you."
Gu Jiu said, "There are tens of thousands of refugees outside the city, mouths wide open waiting for food. I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me to hold a large banquet here."
Princess Huyang said loudly, "What's inappropriate about that? We're moving into a new house and holding a housewarming banquet. Even my brother can't object. Other princes have held housewarming banquets when they move into new houses, so you can't be an exception."
Gu Ji pursed his lips and smiled, "Thank you, aunt, for making this plan for me. But Liu Zhao is not here, and there is no man at home to greet the guests, so it is not appropriate to hold a housewarming party at this time."
"When Liu Zhao is away, we have Yu Ge'er. Yu Ge'er is not young anymore. As the eldest son, he should shoulder the responsibilities of a man while Liu Zhao is away."
This made so much sense that Gu Jiu couldn't refute it for a moment.
Judging by the standards of this era, Yu Ge'er is indeed not young anymore. He can shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the eldest son and attend social events.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Let's discuss this later. It's so hot, I don't want to move."
"That makes sense. Let's wait until the weather cools down before holding the housewarming party."
Gu Jiu accompanied Princess Huyang on a tour.
"Your house is nice, much better than my princess's house."
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "If my aunt wants to live in a big house, just tell His Majesty. His Majesty will not be stingy in giving my aunt a house."
Princess Huyang shook her head, "I can't be too greedy."
It's really rare to hear these words coming from Huyang's mouth.
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