Chapter 69: On the Eve of the Fall of Nanqiao
At that time, Concubine Wan was still Zhao Cainv, and was assigned to live in Mingyue Palace with Concubine Shu.
In order to bring down Concubine Shu, Concubine Dong secretly asked Zhao Cainv to help her collect various evidences of Concubine Shu's crimes.
After all, they were cousins, so Concubine Dong did not expect Zhao Cainv to reject her. She tried to persuade her openly and covertly, but Zhao Cainv remained unmoved.
Zhao Cainv just wanted to live in peace in a corner and didn't want to get involved in these fights.
People with different ideals cannot work together. Concubine Dong broke up with her and treated her as a stranger.
Therefore, on the day when Zhao Cainu gave birth to the little princess, he did not go to congratulate her, which led to her being bullied by Concubine Shu into that state.
Thinking of these past events, Concubine Dong shook her head again: "Tianbao is a smart person, unlike you, it's good."
Concubine Wan puffed up her cheeks in grievance, "So what if she's like me? She's so worried about things. I'm actually worried about her."
"You and I were born in the harem, so we can't be so naive. I'm very optimistic that Tianbao can be taught by the Queen. The Queen is right, knowing the ways of the world but not being worldly is the way to survive." Concubine Dong poked Concubine Wan's forehead and shook her head in disappointment...
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another five years have passed.
Tianbao is seven years old now. Her little round face has transformed into an oval face with smooth curves. Her forehead is full and beautiful, and her chin is a perfect arc. Her baby fat face is rosy and shiny without any rouge, and her skin is as white as porcelain.
At first glance, she is 50% similar to Concubine Wan, but her eyes are bright and confident, unlike Concubine Wan's timidity; when she smiles, she is full of energy, and there is a hint of the shadow of a tyrant emperor in her. She truly combines the advantages of both of them.
The cute little girl pulled out a bright red handkerchief from her bosom, raised it up and waved it, calling out in a sweet voice, "Little Golden Retriever!"
Accompanied by a high-pitched, sharp, and long "chi~" sound, a huge black shadow swooped down.
Zhiqiu and the others were so frightened that they drooled. No one had expected that the golden retriever that the little princess had raised for five years was actually a golden eagle, the overlord of the blue sky.
Tianbao was not afraid at all. Before the golden eagle landed, he pointed to the railing not far away.
This is a pole specially made for golden eagles. It is very similar to a horizontal bar, with several poles of different heights.
When the golden eagle approached, Tianbao's entire body was covered by its shadow.
Its sharp eyes scanned everyone around Tianbao one by one, and it flapped its huge wings, landed on the pole powerfully and gracefully, slowly folded its wings, and used its beautiful beak to comb the messy golden feathers on its wings.
Its fur color is extremely beautiful. Although it is only five years old, its feathers have already turned dark golden, shining brightly in the sun. The small tuft of golden hair on its head is particularly dazzling.
It held its head high, like a proud overlord, and chirped softly at Tianbao.
Tianbao stepped forward with a smile, and Zhiqiu was frightened and exclaimed, "Princess, be careful!"
The golden eagle looked at Zhiqiu with a sinister gaze, as if it was going to peck a piece of flesh from her face at the next moment. Zhiqiu was so scared that she swallowed her saliva and dared not make a sound.
"It's okay, the little golden retriever is very well behaved." Tianbao was fearless and raised his hand to touch the golden eagle.
Several palace maids were so frightened that they held their breath, but they saw the golden eagle lowered its head obediently, allowing its young master to help it comb the tuft of golden hair on its head. Its pale yellow eagle eyes were half-closed, and it seemed to be enjoying it very much.
"What do you want to eat today? Chicken, duck, fish, or mouse?"
The golden eagle raised its sharp beak and nudged it into the crook of Tianbao's neck, chirping briefly and sweetly a few times. It also raised its sharp claws and opened its round belly to show Tianbao.
Tian Bao was helpless: "Okay, it's really not good for the child to grow up. Why do you go out to find food by yourself every day? You don't even give me a chance to show my abilities."
What she likes most is to hold a fish in her hand and let the little golden retriever swoop down from high above to peck the fish away. It’s so fun!
The golden eagle's head nudged in the crook of her neck again, as if trying to please her.
Tian Bao was tickled by the rubbing and giggled: "Okay, okay, if you are hungry, you must tell me, I will prepare a lot of delicious food for you."
"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has found a new toy and would like to invite you to come and enjoy it."
Zhiqiu cast a grateful look at the palace maids of Deyun Palace. Every time the princess interacted with the golden eagle, she had to be extremely alert.
The eagle is a bird of prey and is no joke. One peck from it can blind you, and a handful from it can disfigure you.
The emperor and Concubine Wan forbade the little princess to tease the golden eagle in private, but the little princess often asked Zhiqiu to help conceal it. The little princess grew up under Zhiqiu's care, and when she acted coquettishly, Zhiqiu couldn't bear to refuse her...
At Prince Jing's mansion, Abar, in disguise, came again, his face gloomy and full of hostility.
As soon as he entered the study, he slammed the door shut. "It's been five years. How much longer does Prince Jing want us to wait?"
Prince Jing slowly raised his head and calmly closed the memorial. "Are you sure of victory? If not, you must continue to bide your time."
Abar was so angry that he touched his waist, where a whip was tied. "Wait, wait! Our king doesn't like to wait. You are teasing us!"
Prince Jing tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers. Five years of fooling around was indeed a long time.
He did want to usurp the throne at first, but after helping the incompetent emperor as the Minister of the Central Secretariat for five years and gaining control of half of Nanqiao's territory, he suddenly didn't want to be the emperor so much anymore.
Thinking of that pretty little girl, he didn't want to take this step.
Because I am afraid of losing, I dare not act rashly.
He has long been content with the current situation. It is good that Tianbao can leave the palace from time to time to accompany him. A hundred years later, Tianbao will definitely be there to see him off to the end.
Abar's eyes were glued to Prince Jing's face, not missing any of his subtle expressions.
After a long moment, Prince Jing seemed to have made up his mind. "Give me another four months. In four months, when spring comes and the flowers bloom, and the Emperor goes hunting, I will act accordingly."
Abar relaxed his brows and said, "Okay, I'll trust King Jing once more!"
Prince Jing nodded and had him escorted out through the back door.
After leaving Prince Jing's Mansion, Abar rode out of the city without stopping.
In the vast night, several dark shadows joined him. Abbar spat, "Pah! That idiot Prince Jing is stalling for time again! He must be scared! Send a pigeon to the king, and start the war! I will lurk in Nanqiao and use the letter of Prince Jing's rebellion to contain him. Then we will cooperate with the king from inside and outside!"
"Yes!" Several dark shadows responded in unison, and soon they dispersed on their horses and disappeared into the night.
A flock of birds started and scattered.
When everything was quiet, another dark shadow silently jumped down from the tree.
He looked around in the direction where the group of people had just dispersed, was silent for a moment, then turned and walked towards Xijing.
Soon, he led a horse out of the grass and galloped away.
At dawn the next day, a majestic figure rode into the city on horseback. The soldiers guarding the city looked at each other and respectfully saluted the man on horseback, "Prince Gong."
The mute Prince Gong nodded slightly and entered the city with a solemn expression.
After returning to Prince Gong's Mansion and hurriedly changing his clothes, he went straight into the palace.
He had been monitoring the Prince Jing's Mansion next door for five years, and this time, he finally found out the evidence of their crimes.
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