295, Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road
295, Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road
Even after the banquet ended and everyone had left, Princess Ding still hadn't waited for her eldest son, who had been away, to return home.
After having the maidservant take her youngest son away, leaving only the maidservants and nannies in the room, Princess Ding finally revealed the unhappiness she had suppressed all day. After hearing the footsteps outside fade away, she instructed the maidservant who followed her, "Go and ask if the prince has returned home. If he has, have him come see me."
"Yes." The maid beside her responded and quickly turned around and walked out.
The maid arrived at the gate of the palace and asked the doorman, and learned that their prince had not returned yet. She had no choice but to guard the door, thinking that by guarding here, she would be the first to know that their prince had returned and let him go to the princess.
But she waited from day till almost dark, but her prince still didn't return home.
***
Zhao Lang was still in the small courtyard not far from Prince Ding's mansion. After he and Lu Mingfei had finished their meal, he called for someone to clear the dishes from the table. Lu Mingfei then had someone bring a few boxes of things into the house, and the two of them stayed inside to assemble the crossbow.
This crossbow is somewhat different from the previous ones. Lu Mingfei taught Zhao Lang step by step how to assemble this new version of the crossbow.
Zhao Lang had learned how to assemble this thing from Lu Mingfei before, so the newly improved crossbow was not too difficult for him. After Lu Mingfei's reminders of a few points, he quickly understood how to assemble the improved crossbow.
However, after the crossbow was assembled this time, they could not try it out in the yard immediately. The reason was that Lu Mingfei had made the arrowhead of the crossbow into a small bomb. As long as it touched something, the arrowhead would explode directly.
He told Zhao Lang about the special features of this arrowhead and said, "If we try it here, it will make too much noise and attract the attention of the people around us and the city garrison."
If the garrison found out, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves.
Zhao Lang's eyes lit up when he heard this. He tried to touch the arrowhead, but was grabbed by a hand that reached out from the side. He didn't struggle, but instead grabbed Lord Lu's hand and asked, "How powerful is this arrow?"
"We've tested it on wild boars. If we can kill one directly with a blast, we think we should be able to kill a human as well." Lu Mingfei didn't believe a human's skin was thicker than a wild boar's. The other time they encountered wild boars in the mountains, they used their new crossbows to shoot them, killing two fully grown boars at once.
Of course, they haven't tested this new type of crossbow on humans yet. They can wait until they face the enemy on the battlefield before testing it on the enemies.
"If the city gates weren't closed now, I would have taken you out of the city to try this thing out." Zhao Lang's tone was full of regret when he said this.
Hearing this, Lu Mingfei couldn't help but laugh, "One night is not a big deal. Let's go tomorrow. Find a deserted place tomorrow and we'll give it a try."
"Okay." This was the only way, Zhao Lang nodded.
"It's getting late, shall we go out and eat something?" Seeing that it was getting late outside, Zhao Lang called for people to pack the things in the house into boxes. The remaining things that had not been packed could be put aside for another day.
"Is there anything delicious to eat in this city?" Lu Mingfei was actually a little tired, but since Zhao Lang asked, there was nothing wrong with the two of them going out for a meal.
"What do you want to eat?" Zhao Lang asked. The meaning of this question was that as long as you want to eat, there is nothing I can't get for you.
Hearing the meaning behind this person's words, Lu Mingfei smiled and said, "Then let's go out and take a look. If we come across anything delicious, we'll go and try it."
"Okay." Zhao Lang nodded and called the people outside the house to prepare the carriage.
Lu Mingfei put the mask back on his face, took the cloak hanging on the rack and put it on, and also picked up the cloak that Zhao Lang took off and gave it to this person.
When they came out of the house, the carriage was already waiting for them in the yard.
Pingzhou City is naturally not as big as Kyoto Prefecture. There are only a few restaurants here. Zhao Lang brought their Lord Lu to the largest restaurant in the city.
However, as soon as they got off the carriage, they met his eldest brother who also came here to eat with a few people. The two sides met at the door of the restaurant.
"Hey, isn't this my second brother?" Zhao Rui led his men towards Zhao Lang. His gaze fell on a masked man following behind his brother. With a probing look in his eyes, he asked, "Who is this friend of yours? Why don't you dare show your real mask?"
"What does it have to do with you? Do I need to tell you who this prince is meeting?" Zhao Lang glanced at Zhao Rui with an arrogant look on his face, and took their Lord Lu into the restaurant.
Lu Mingfei glanced at Zhao Rui when he passed by. From Zhao Rui's appearance and the word "Second Brother" that the man had just called him, he knew that this man was Zhao Lang's half-brother Zhao Rui.
The two people's eyes crossed in mid-air. He was looking at Zhao Rui, and Zhao Rui and his friends were also looking at them.
The other guards also followed the two masters in front, and some people stayed downstairs and did not go up.
"Please come in, Prince." When the owner of the restaurant saw their prince bringing people to the restaurant, he hurried over to entertain them personally and asked the waiter to take their prince to the private room upstairs. Then he came over to greet the young general outside.
Seeing Zhao Lang leading his men away, the people behind him with Zhao Rui couldn't help but whisper in Zhao Rui's ear: "Brother Rui, I don't think he takes you, his elder brother, seriously."
"That's right! He just holds the title of a prince, and is inferior to you in every way. I don't know why he is so arrogant!" There were also people here who couldn't stand Zhao Lang.
The people who followed Zhao Rui today were all young masters from various families in Pingzhou City. Most of them came from families of military generals, their fathers served in the army, and they themselves also held idle positions in the army.
Zhao Rui was born in a royal family, and was the eldest son of Prince Ding's palace. His status and position were already much higher than theirs. Moreover, Zhao Rui had followed Prince Ding into the army since he was a teenager, and was personally brought up and taught by Prince Ding. It was obvious that he was a son that Prince Ding valued.
Another point is that although Zhao Rui is the eldest son of the palace, he is not arrogant at all and is willing to put down his pride and interact with them. Zhao Rui entered the army earlier than them, and those who entered the army later have been taken care of by Zhao Rui over the years.
Compared to Zhao Lang, the prince who went to Kyoto Prefecture as a hostage for more than ten years before returning, they are definitely more familiar with Zhao Rui and have a better relationship with him.
However, even when Zhao Lang was still in Pingzhou, he wouldn't get along with them because he always had an air of superiority and arrogance. Therefore, compared to the domineering Zhao Lang, they preferred the approachable Zhao Rui.
As the young master of Prince Ding's mansion, Zhao Rui's background was inferior to Zhao Lang's, but his ability was no less than Zhao Lang's. Zhao Rui had already become a major general in the army with his own ability.
Zhao Lang had just returned and joined the army not long ago. He was only a centurion now. It was said that the soldiers under Zhao Lang were those he brought into the army himself, and there was not even a single soldier willing to follow him.
Comparing the two young masters of Prince Ding's Mansion, it is clear who has a better future.
So even though Zhao Lang is back now, they didn't think of currying favor with Zhao Lang, the prince of the marquis's mansion, but instead became closer to Zhao Rui.
For example, when they met Zhao Lang today, they all stood on Zhao Rui's side, deliberately belittling Zhao Lang, the prince, and praising Zhao Rui in front of Zhao Rui.
Listening to the people around him belittling Zhao Lang, Zhao Rui did not say anything to stop them. However, after everyone finished speaking, he deliberately "explained" for his younger brother as an older brother: "He is still young and a little ignorant."
"Let's go inside and have some drinks. It's my treat today, so let's drink as much as we can."
Zhao Rui was initially a bit angry, but when he heard people around him belittling Zhao Lang, he thought that although Zhao Lang was the legitimate son, he was inferior to him in every way. Now their father valued him more as the eldest son. When he gained control of the military, it would be easy for him to kill Zhao Lang.
Now let Zhao Lang be crazy for a while, and someday he will make sure Zhao Lang dies miserably!
Putting away the anger in his heart, Zhao Rui smiled and still looked like a modest gentleman as he walked into the restaurant with a group of friends.
The owner of the restaurant had just heard the two ears' disrespectful words towards the prince, but his expression remained normal. He smiled warmly and invited the young masters in. "Young General, please come in. Young masters, please come in."
At this time, Lu Mingfei was standing at the second-floor window, looking down, and saw Zhao Lang's brother also entered the restaurant with a group of people. Just as he was lost in thought, Zhao Lang quietly approached him and asked in his ear, "Is there anything interesting down there?"
"I heard them scolding you." Lu Mingfei said somewhat unhappily.
"Or should I send someone to sew their mouths shut?" Zhao Lang pulled the man away and closed the window.
"..." Lu Mingfei looked at the man with a serious face. He suspected that if he dared to nod, this man would really send secret guards to the homes of these people in the middle of the night and sew their mouths shut.
"Forget it. If you send someone to sew their mouths shut now, they will definitely guess that it was you." He didn't want Zhao Lang to make so many enemies for him just because of a few words.
Besides, sewing someone's mouth together sounds a bit cruel.
"Are you worried about me?" Zhao Lang pulled Lu Mingfei to sit on the stool, and then sat down at the seat next to him. He picked up the teapot and poured tea for Lord Lu himself.
"Let's just say so." Lu Mingfei took the tea, took a sip, and nodded.
"What do you mean by 'tentatively'?" "Yes, it is, and no, it is not. There is no such thing as 'tentatively'." Zhao Lang obviously did not accept Lord Lu's ambiguous answer. "Just tell me, is it or is it not?"
Lu Mingfei looked at the handsome face in front of him and slapped him. Author's words: Thank you Bole 9492239 (9492239) for your support. Kisses! To know more exciting content, please leave me a message on Liancheng Reading.
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