"Haha! I didn't expect Prince Chen to be so thoughtful. After only a few months of not seeing each other, as soon as he learned that Prince Chu and his wife had returned to the capital, he personally lined up at the city gate to welcome you two! I think Prince Chen must have missed you two very much!" Upon hearing Xi Lin's words, Qi Jingyuan opened his eyes again, full of mockery! However, before those gloomy eyes looked at Chu Feiyang, they first swept over Yun Qianmeng. The hidden meaning in his words was self-evident!
Chu Feiyang's expression remained the same, and his handsome smile revealed his determination to never back down!
Chu Feiyang lifted the carriage curtain, and his narrow, handsome eyes swept across the scenery outside. After lowering the curtain, he turned his gaze to Qi Jingyuan with a smile. After seeing the defensiveness in Qi Jingyuan's eyes, Chu Feiyang slowly said, "You have been clinging to my carriage for a long time. Isn't it time to leave?"
Qi Jingyuan just shrugged, knowing that Chu Feiyang was observing how long the driving distance to the city gate was, and he understood the meaning of his words even better!
But the guard in his eyes did not weaken at all. Looking at Chu Feiyang gently hugging Yun Qianmeng, Qi Jingyuan smiled arrogantly, and asked with interest in his eyes, "Why is King Chu in such a hurry to send me away? Since I have boarded this carriage, I will not leave so soon! What's more, I have more than one purpose for this trip! King Chu's carriage is the safest and most convenient. How can I miss such a good opportunity? But, King Chen has been waiting at the city gate so hard, doesn't King Chu plan to go out and see him? Maybe King Chen has a lot of intimate things to say to King Chu!"
"Perhaps Prince Chen has received a secret report and has come to capture the prince! The prince is also aware of his noble status. If you were in our hands, Emperor Ling Xiao would probably nod his head even if Northern Qi was asked to cede land and pay compensation! In comparison, the prince's life is much more valuable! Didn't you see that Prince Chen is ready to go, holding a long sword. His awe-inspiring righteousness makes people only dare to watch from afar and not dare to approach!" Chu Feiyang raised his thin lips slightly, and fought back without losing the upper hand. The look in his eyes was solemn and serious, as if it was true!
"Will the King of Chu let the King of Chen discover that there's an enemy prince hidden in your carriage? If Jiang Muchen already knew this, do you think he would still be waiting at the city gate for the carriage to approach? Chu Feiyang, you and I both know what Jiang Muchen's intentions are. Why are you trying to cover it up? You're trying to cover it up!" Facing Chu Feiyang's pair of black eyes that concealed shrewdness and wisdom, Qi Jingyuan sneered softly and spoke with a hint of sarcasm! He didn't believe that Chu Feiyang would still laugh after he had made his words so clear!
"Hahaha!" Little did people know that Chu Feiyang not only laughed out loud, but also laughed with his head tilted back!
"Your Highness, that's a good idea! Even if Prince Chen finds the Prince in my carriage, I have a way to distance myself from him! If I tie the Prince up and bring him to the palace, do you think the Emperor will punish me severely or reward me?" A cold light flashed in his smiling eyes. Chu Feiyang's words were not just a joke, but a naked threat!
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is alone now, so he is naturally in a bad mood! Why are you adding fuel to the fire? However, the Royal Concubine is now safe and sound, and I believe the Crown Prince knows who is the biggest contributor. Why does he always have to pick on us? Crown Prince, don't forget, this land belongs to Western Chu, and this carriage belongs to the King of Chu!" Yun Qianmeng smiled lightly and spoke, pointing out some facts in her words, but also made Qi Jingyuan face the reality!
As expected, as soon as she said this, Qi Jingyuan didn't immediately retort like he did to Chu Feiyang! His eyes, which had lost their brutality and revealed wisdom, stared intently at Yun Qianmeng, who looked calm and composed. In the end, he closed his eyes and stopped talking!
The carriage fell silent for a moment. Chu Feiyang and Yun Qianmeng smiled at each other. They both understood that for Rong Rong, Qi Jingyuan would grit his teeth and swallow his blood even if he was insulted. What's more, they were just asking him to shut up!
"Your Highness, we've arrived at the city gate!" After the carriage had traveled for another half an incense stick of time, it felt as if the speed was gradually slowing down, and Xi Lin's voice of reporting was heard outside the carriage!
"Stop the car!" As Xi Lin finished speaking, a clear voice came from the front!
The entire convoy suddenly came to a slow stop, and the sounds of the city defense troops checking could be heard from outside from time to time!
"Xi Lin!" Chu Feiyang spoke calmly, took off the badge from his waist and handed it to Xi Lin outside the car!
Less than half a cup of tea later, the sound of horse hooves could be heard outside the carriage, followed by a familiar, cold voice: "The King of Chu has returned from Youzhou, how can he not show up?"
Hearing Jiang Muchen's voice, which was tinged with hidden anger, Chu Feiyang held Yun Qianmeng's hand and smiled playfully at her. However, he did not move from his seat because of Jiang Muchen's words. He just spoke slowly, "Prince Chen truly cares about the country and the people. He patrols the city gate every day. I'm sure the emperor will be very pleased!"
Hearing this, Jiang Muchen stared angrily at the carriage whose curtains remained uncovered. His hands gripping the reins tightened slightly, a dangerous glint flashed across his face, and he spoke, "The King of Chu's sacrifice of his own family for the greater good will greatly please His Majesty! Could it be that the King of Chu feels ashamed to face the people of Western Chu because of what happened to the Chu family, and plans to hide in this carriage for the rest of his life?"
"I am thin-skinned and cannot compare to King Chen! A dignified prince actually serves as a city defense soldier! If you don't know, you would think that the prince was stripped of his title and demoted to an ordinary citizen by the emperor!" Holding the soft and boneless green jade hand in his big hand, Chu Feiyang was in a very good mood and exchanged courtesies with Jiang Muchen. He didn't care at all about how angry his words would make Jiang Muchen. He just held the person next to him tightly and refused to let go!
"I didn't expect that after three months of not seeing you, the King of Chu is still so eloquent! But the defense of the city is my duty, so I will naturally put more thought into it! But you can't compare to the King of Chu. You obviously went to Nanxun for the peace talks between the two countries, but you didn't expect that you would attract a beautiful woman and make Princess Nanlan of Nanxun obsessed with you! It also caused the Princess of Chu to almost die in Nanxun! The King of Chu is really capable. Even when he was on a diplomatic mission to Nanxun, he could make a woman risk her life for you! But, he was too derelict in his duty to fail to protect his own princess! Or is it that Princess Nanlan is really so beautiful that the King of Chu doesn't want to leave his country?" The ridicule outside the carriage continued to flow into the carriage. King Chen did not restrain his voice, and even caused the people coming in and out of the city gate to stop and watch!
After hearing what Jiang Muchen said, Qi Jingyuan slowly opened his eyes and stared at the two people in front of him with sneer in his eyes, as if he was watching a farce, or as if he was waiting to see Chu Feiyang look embarrassed!
But at this moment, Chu Feiyang was concentrating on staring at Yun Qianmeng's hands, with a half-smile on the corner of his mouth!
However, Yun Qianmeng raised her eyes after noticing Qi Jingyuan opening his eyes. Her eyes, as bright as black jade, met Qi Jingyuan's in mid-air with a faint smile. The calmness in her eyes made Qi Jingyuan snort coldly and temporarily put away his expression of watching a good show!
"You are no match for Prince Chen. After three months of not seeing him, his mind hasn't changed at all! However, from what His Highness said just now, it seems that he is very fond of Princess Nanlan. If I had known this, I would have informed Emperor Feng Jing on his behalf and asked him to marry Princess Nanlan to Prince Chen, making this a great marriage! What a pity, now that the beauty is gone, His Highness can only be happy for nothing!" Chu Feiyang raised his black eyes to sweep across Qi Jingyuan's gloomy expression, and spoke lightly, but the last sentence was full of double entendres, which made Jiang Muchen outside the carriage frown suddenly!
"Ning Feng, return the badge to King Chu!" Jiang Muchen suddenly stopped the confrontation between the two of them, nodded and gave the order to Ning Feng beside him!
"Yes, Your Highness!" How could Ning Feng not understand what his master meant?
Ning Feng tapped his feet lightly on the horse's belly and led the horse closer to the carriage. Just as he was about to lift the curtain in front of the carriage with his hand holding the badge, suddenly, Jian Xilin rushed out from the side of the carriage and said in a cold voice, "Thank you, Guard Ning! Please give me the badge!"
Everyone only saw Xi Lin standing in front of the carriage on horseback, his left hand tightly grasping a long sword across the curtain, and his right hand, with the palm facing up, asking for the badge in Ning Feng's hand. His face was as gloomy as water, but there was a hint of murderous intent in it!
"Guard Xi, you have worked hard along the way! But this badge was ordered by the prince for me to hand over to the King of Chu personally. Do you, Guard Xi, think you can represent the King of Chu?" Ning Feng was not willing to be outdone. He had already retracted half of his hand that was reaching for the curtain, and held the badge tightly in his hand and did not put it into Xi Lin's hand!
"It's my duty to protect the Prince and Princess! Besides, does Guard Ning think you're qualified to see the Prince of Chu?" Xi Lin had been with Chu Feiyang for years. He seemed taciturn on weekdays, but when it came to his master's interests, he became sharp-tongued! Especially now, with Prince Chen and his companions clearly harboring ill intentions, how could he allow Prince Chen to see the Princess as he wished? Furthermore, there was an uninvited guest sitting in this carriage!
"This guard is also following the orders of our prince and personally handing the badge back to King Chu! Is Guard Xi so bold as to dare to block the way of His Royal Highness Prince Chen?" Ning Feng is not someone to be trifled with. In a few words, he brought up Jiang Muchen and suppressed Xi Lin with his status!
The two men glared at each other, neither willing to give in, and were about to start a fight!
"Prince Chu has such good upbringing! How dare a guard go against his will!" Jiang Muchen spoke coldly at this moment, his eyes already showing an expression of impatience. He understood more and more that Xi Lin's boldness in stopping Ning Feng was all due to Chu Feiyang's instructions! But he just didn't intend to let Chu Feiyang get his wish!
"Prince Chen is also very well-behaved. How dare a guard lift the curtain of my carriage!" Chu Feiyang did not shy away from his duty and retorted without stopping. The coldness in his tone was obvious! He also understood in his heart that Ning Feng's disregard for dignity was the result of Jiang Muchen's indulgence!
"I heard that the King of Chu was returning to the capital with his princess, and thinking that you and I were serving in the same court, I specially went out of the city to welcome you. But the King of Chu kept me at a distance and refused to even see me! Does the King of Chu look down on me? Or does he think that you can do whatever you want because you have made contributions to the court this time?" A cold snort came out of Jiang Muchen's heart, and then he severely criticized Chu Feiyang for avoiding him!
"I am not a worm in your stomach, how could I know what is in your mind, Prince Chen? If you had said this earlier, how could I have misunderstood your good intentions?" Everyone felt a flash before their eyes, and the curtain was lifted in the blink of an eye. Chu Feiyang walked out with a faint smile on his face, but in the blink of an eye, the curtain was quickly closed again, preventing outsiders from seeing the scenery inside the carriage!
"It's been a few months since we last met, and Prince Chen seems to have lost a lot of weight. Could it be that he's too busy with official duties, and has been running around without getting a good rest?" Standing in front of the car door, Chu Feiyang's tall body blocked all view, but he spoke with a warm smile on his face, and his tone was full of concern!
"Nothing compares to the King of Chu! He's so lucky to have such a beautiful woman after just one mission to Nanxun. No wonder the King of Chu hasn't changed at all. He must be so happy! No wonder he couldn't even protect his own princess at that time, and was so tired that she fell off the cliff!" Jiang Muchen's face, which was already as cold as ice, became even more gloomy when he saw Chu Feiyang coming out! His eyes, which were faintly filled with expectation, frequently looked towards the car door, but found that the car door was blocked tightly by Chu Feiyang's body. For a moment, he felt a little angry and embarrassed, and faced the smiling Chu Feiyang with a cold face!
In the carriage, Qi Jingyuan heard Jiang Muchen finally turn the question to Yun Qianmeng, and a sarcastic sneer appeared on his handsome face. It seemed that Jiang Muchen was not going to let Chu Feiyang enter the city easily today!
And how could Yun Qianmeng miss Qi Jingyuan's smile!
He sighed inwardly. He couldn't let Jiang Muchen really block Chu Feiyang outside the city gate! This group of thousands of people stood here, and being seen by the people passing by, who knows how many rumors would be spread! What's more, Jiang Muchen was deliberately trying to smear Chu Feiyang's image. If this continued, I'm afraid that the people of the entire Western Chu would know what Nan Lan had done to Chu Feiyang!
Yun Qianmeng stretched out her finger and lightly lifted the car curtain. She saw that the sun was setting and it was almost dusk, but the two people outside the car were still confronting each other!
Yun Qianmeng stood up gracefully, gently stroking the slightly wrinkled hem of her skirt with both hands, then lifted a corner of the curtain. Under the dual gazes of Chu Feiyang (who raised his eyebrows) and Jiang Muchen (who was secretly delighted), she walked out of the carriage with a graceful demeanor!
"I didn't expect Prince Chen to be so enthusiastic that he would personally welcome my husband and me into the city! However, if Prince Chen has a lot of things in his heart that he wants to say to my husband, please go to Prince Chu's Mansion to reminisce about the past! This city gate is the entrance for the common people to enter and exit. How can our team of thousands of people block everyone's way?" Receiving Chu Feiyang's dissatisfied look, Yun Qianmeng gave him a soothing smile, then gently snuggled up to Chu Feiyang and said these words in a calm voice!
Jiang Muchen stared intently at Yun Qianmeng, who was not far away. She looked slender and petite in her pale yellow dress, but the smile on her face was always so confident and bright that it made the setting sun in the sky seem to lose its original brilliance. Her clear voice was unlike the affectations of those rich young ladies, and her elegance was revealed in her unassuming manner.
However, the person standing beside her and letting her lean on him was not himself!
Thinking of this, Jiang Muchen's eyes suddenly froze, and the ecstasy that had just appeared in his eyes was instantly replaced by ice. Looking at the big hand that was gently around her waist, he actually had the urge to chop it off and feed it to the dogs!
"Since Your Highness has already met me, let's say goodbye!" Chu Feiyang said calmly, not wanting to linger on such a battlefield! Especially when Yun Qianmeng had already emerged, he didn't want the man in front of him who coveted his wife to keep staring at Yun Qianmeng!
"I heard that the King of Chu personally escorted Chu Pei to the capital. I wonder how the King of Chu plans to accommodate Chu Pei! It doesn't seem to be in accordance with the rules to let Chu Pei live in the King of Chu's Mansion now!" Seeing Chu Feiyang supporting Yun Qianmeng and about to turn around and walk back into the carriage, Jiang Muchen spoke immediately!
"Before the emperor issues an edict, he is still a high-ranking official on the frontier! Neither you nor I have the power to judge him! Besides, the division of labor in the court is clear. Even if we want to investigate this matter, there is the Minister of Justice. When does Prince Chen need to do it himself? If Your Highness has nothing to do, you might as well think about the matter of the richest man in Jiangcheng! The reason why the young lady of that family became like that is because of Your Highness, isn't it?" After speaking, Chu Feiyang got back into the carriage and coldly ordered Xi Lin to set off again!
With a gloomy and cold face, Jiang Muchen watched the convoy slowly go away, but this time he did not speak out to stop it. Instead, he was thinking about Chu Feiyang's last words in his heart!
"Prince, we've already entered the city. You're not planning on staying in the Prince of Chu's Palace, are you? The world is vast. Even if this isn't Northern Qi, the Prince of Hai's Palace is your father-in-law's palace. Why don't you go and bother him?" Qi Jingyuan sat leisurely in the carriage, showing no sign of leaving! Chu Feiyang also showed no sign of being anxious, simply reminding Qi Jingyuan where to go!
"Why, have I frightened the always majestic King of Chu?" Qi Jingyuan spoke lightly with his eyes half opened. Without any strong hostility and arrogance, Qi Jingyuan was also a handsome man who could make a woman's heart beat fast at the first sight!
Chu Feiyang smiled calmly and then slowly said, "The Prince of Chu's Palace never keeps freeloaders! Not only has the Crown Prince made no contribution to the Prince of Chu's Palace, but he is also always trying to hinder it. Do you think I will let you live in the Prince of Chu's Palace?"
"Just now, Prince Chen mentioned Nanlan, and I thought of my little sister in the palace! Nanlan is stupid, but my princess from Northern Qi is very smart. If Prince Chu is interested, I will naturally be happy to act as a matchmaker. In this way, we can be a family. Even if I live in Prince Chu's Mansion, I am afraid I will not be criticized!" Looking at Chu Feiyang's behavior of doting on Yun Qianmeng, Qi Jingyuan felt uncomfortable. He felt that these two people either did it intentionally or deliberately, so he sneered and expressed his opinion!
"I didn't know that the princess of Northern Qi was so eager to get married? Is there no good man in Northern Qi? Why does she like to pick married men? Or is it that stealing other people's husbands is the hobby of the princess of Northern Qi? The prince is well aware of this matter! Since the prince does not want it done to himself, please do not impose on others!" Yun Qianmeng covered Chu Feiyang's with her hands, and a hint of coldness flashed in her black eyes that flashed with a faint smile. The words she said instantly blocked Qi Jingyuan's mouth, leaving him no other excuses!
Hearing Yun Qianmeng's words, Qi Jingyuan looked away in a slightly embarrassed manner, a trace of annoyance in his eyes! Yun Qianmeng was indeed a sharp-tongued person who couldn't stand the slightest loss, yet she managed to hit him sore spots, leaving him speechless!
The expression on his face grew colder as Qi Jingyuan said in a cold voice, "Put Miyamoto down at the corner ahead and leave a good horse for me!"
"Xi Lin!" Chu Feiyang called out to Xi Lin outside!
"Your Highness, I understand!" Xi Lin, who had been guarding outside, obviously heard Qi Jingyuan's order. He immediately replied to Chu Feiyang and ordered his subordinates to go and prepare!
"Chu Feiyang, your princess is extraordinary. I believe Jiang Muchen will never give up in his life!" The carriage stopped slightly at the corner. Qi Jingyuan lifted the curtain and was about to step out of the carriage. After leaving these words, he left!
"So what? Meng'er's heart is always with me!" Seeing Qi Jingyuan hurriedly leaving the carriage without waiting for him to speak, Chu Feiyang muttered this, then lowered his head with a reproachful look, looked at Yun Qianmeng nestled in his arms, and whispered, "You shouldn't have gone out!"
Yun Qianmeng imitated Chu Feiyang's previous movements and raised her eyebrows slightly. With a hint of laziness in her tone, she said, "I can't let you bicker with him endlessly at the city gate! Not only will it make Qi Jingyuan laugh, but it will also make the entire court look ridiculous!"
But Yun Qianmeng was not prepared to be laughed at by others!
Seeing Yun Qianmeng half-closed her eyes, Chu Feiyang must have been a little tired after sitting in the carriage for a whole day. He put his arms around her body, bent down and kissed her forehead, allowing her to rest for a while before returning to Chu Xiangfu!
"Here it comes, here it comes!" At this time, outside the Prime Minister Chu's Mansion, Steward Hong and others were standing. Seeing the carriage of Prince Chu's Mansion gradually coming into sight, everyone couldn't help but exclaimed excitedly!
"Are we there?" Yun Qianmeng opened her hazy eyes as the carriage stopped due to inertia. After blinking hard a few times, a clear light reappeared in her eyes!
"We're home!" Chu Feiyang curled his lips into a smile, straightened the jade hairpin that was crooked in her hair, and then helped Yun Qianmeng out of the carriage!
"Your servant greets the prince and the princess!" The maids and servants of Prime Minister Chu's mansion immediately and uniformly saluted the two people who got off the carriage, their joy clearly revealed!
"Everyone has worked hard, please stand up!" Chu Feiyang said in a deep voice, and raised his right hand slightly to let everyone stand up!
At this time, Han Shaomian dismounted and walked over. Seeing that Chu Feiyang had been safely sent to Chu Xiangfu, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, I will take my leave first!"
"Thank you, Minister Han!" Chu Feiyang nodded slightly, agreeing to let Han Shaomian leave first, while he himself helped Yun Qianmeng step onto the steps of Prime Minister Chu's residence surrounded by everyone!
"Your servant greets the prince and princess!" Unexpectedly, the voice of Eunuch Yu sounded behind him!
A hint of coldness flashed across his joyful eyes, but Chu Feiyang still turned around and said with a faint smile, "I didn't expect that Eunuch Yu would come just after I returned to the capital!"
"Your Highness has worked hard! The Emperor misses you very much. Please follow me into the palace!" Eunuch Yu naturally understood the meaning of Chu Feiyang's words, but it was difficult to disobey the emperor's order!
Hearing this, Yun Qianmeng immediately looked at Chu Feiyang and saw him smile softly at her, "Meng'er, go back and rest first, I'll be back later!"
After saying that, Chu Feiyang got on the horse led by Xi Lin and rushed towards the palace with Eunuch Yu. However, at the palace gate, he met Han Che who was also galloping towards him!
"Your humble servant greets the prince!" When he saw Chu Feiyang, a hint of surprise flashed in Han Che's eyes, but after seeing Eunuch Yu behind Feiyang clearly, Han Che's eyes instantly returned to calm!
"Why do you say that, Prime Minister Han? You are now the Left Prime Minister. How can you call yourself a subordinate in front of me? Don't you embarrass me?" But Chu Feiyang spoke with a smile, without looking at the slightly changing expression of Eunuch Yu!
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