Chapter 307: Eager to Return Home

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang served as inspectors, and with the special order issued by Luo Wen'an, they spent three months to inspect various government affairs in three prefectures far away from Chengdu Prefecture. After returning to Chengdu Prefecture and reporting and handing over to Lord Luo, they immediately returned to the capital in the wind and snow.

Eager to return home, the two rode horses to hurry on the road regardless of the cold weather and difficult roads. Fortunately, in the past six months, the two princes who were raised in the deep palace and grew up to be noble and noble have trained themselves to be strong and able to endure hardships. After more

than half a month, they finally arrived in the capital on the 24th day of the Ramadan.

Seeing the majestic city gate tower in the distance, King Xiang slowed down his horse, and King Chu followed him and slowed down his horse.

"Brother, I was eager to go home all the way, but now that I am at the doorstep of my home, I feel a little homesick. This feeling is a little complicated."

"Third brother, I know the knot buried in your heart. Think about your uncle, uncle Qi Wang and brother Wei Wang, maybe you will be able to see through it a little bit."

"Brother, I want to ask you something that is hidden in my heart. Is the legend of "axe sound and candle shadow" true?"

A trace of pain appeared in the eyes of the King of Chu. "It is not groundless."

The King of Xiang smiled bitterly. "No wonder you avoid the throne like a snake or a scorpion?"

The King of Chu was in a heavy and depressed mood and it was a bit difficult to breathe. The King of Xiang, in turn, counseled his eldest brother who valued friendship and loyalty. "Brother, fortunately Zhao Defang has the same temperament as his uncle, and he also values ​​blood ties. Otherwise, how long will the brothers kill each other and take revenge?"

"Let's go! It seems that there are people welcoming us at the city gate. I wonder if they are welcoming us two brothers."

The capital had just had a heavy snowfall. On the snow at the city gate, a black-covered carriage was parked there, and more than a dozen guards on horseback were guarding the carriage.

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang rode closer surrounded by guards, and a man got off the carriage.

: "It's the Regent Prince, he's here to pick us up." The gloom in the King of Chu's heart immediately dissipated.

The Regent Prince Zhao Defang was wearing a black cloak, standing tall on the snow like an unyielding, proudly standing cedar.

Looking at the two people approaching, he smiled warmly and cordially: "My two brothers, you've worked hard all the way, let's go back in the carriage together!"

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang dismounted and greeted their brothers, then got into the warm carriage.

: "How is it? Have you gained anything in the past six months?" There was a sophisticated smile in Zhao Defang's deep eyes.

"I have gained a lot. People say that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, but I think traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as going to the land of Western Shu." The King of Chu said the truth while joking.

The Regent Prince Zhao Defang smiled, "It seems that you two have really gained a lot."

"Regent Prince, I have something to ask you in person." The King of Xiang looked directly into the eyes of the Regent Prince Zhao Defang, and asked with courage, "My father suddenly fell ill and fell into a coma. Was it you who did it?"

The King of Chu sighed in his heart, but did not scold his third brother.

Regent Prince Zhao Defang looked directly at Prince Xiang, who clenched his fists nervously, without any guilt or remorse, "No! The late emperor suddenly fell ill and fell into a coma, which is still a mystery. All the doctors can't find the cause. Even Uncle Ghost Hand and Doctor Qin can't find the cause. You saw all this with your own eyes."

Prince Xiang's heart gradually settled down, he let out a long sigh, and his clenched fists slowly loosened. He said with guilt: "Brother, I was rude and offended, please forgive me!"

The Regent Prince Zhao Defang smiled lightly and patted him on the shoulder: "Third brother, this is what a son should do, I won't take it to heart."

The prince of Xiang, who had completely untied the knot in his heart, felt a little guilty. He shouldn't have suspected the Regent Prince who had always been upright.

Zhao Defang's face was still as warm as jade, and he said in his heart: I did it. If I don't avenge my father and brother, I am unworthy of being a son, but I just won't admit it. Li'er said that I am a black-bellied man, and this name is not for nothing.

There was silence in the carriage for a while, and the King of Chu said sincerely: "Brother, I want to go to Shu to be a county magistrate and gain experience there for three years. I earnestly ask the emperor and brother for approval."

The Regent Prince Zhao Defang patted his shoulder and said, "Yuan Zuo, I have an important task to entrust to you two."

"What is the important task?" The eyes of the King of Xiang were full of expectations. "

Next March, I will lead my army to the north to recapture the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. There, it has been ruled by the Khitans for many years, but the Han people account for the majority. After recaptured the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, I want to implement the new policy of West Shu there and make a test point."

The King of Xiang slapped his thigh excitedly, "Very good! To implement the new policy in West Shu, we must also consider the key points. "The interests of the aristocratic families and local tyrants are all in the interests of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. In addition to the Khitan nobles, the local tyrants are also a few Han traitors. You can kill them all and go for it!"

Hearing the roughness of the common Han people in the words of the King of Xiang, Zhao Defang almost laughed out loud, and quickly covered up and praised, "The third brother is really smart and has a sharp eye. "You have seen the essence of the problem. It is worth the trip!"

The King of Chu also smiled and praised his third brother, "My third brother is smart and clever. When he was an inspector in Shu, he was good at discovering problems and often came up with wonderful tricks. Lord Luo Wen'an also praised him endlessly."

Being praised by his two amazing and brilliant brothers, the King of Xiang was very happy in his heart, but his mouth was He said modestly: "No, no, compared to the broad vision and amazing talent of my two elder brothers, I am just a little smart. I still need your advice and guidance from time to time."

After a long conversation, the three brothers who were related by blood became closer to each other, and the King of Xiang, who had a distance in his heart, also felt a real closeness to his brother, the Regent Prince.

The carriage drove directly into the palace, and after meeting the little emperor and exchanging a few polite words, the King of Chu and the King of Xiang went to visit the Queen Mother and the Consort in the harem together.

In the Empress Dowager Mingde's Shuning Palace, the two princes were startled by the large glass mirror in the bedroom. The Empress Dowager Mingde came out from the inner room with a smile and explained: "This is called a glass mirror. It is a new toy that the Regent Princess has come up with. She sent someone to deliver two glass mirrors, one large and one small, to this palace. When they were first placed here, anyone who walked in front of them would be startled."

The two brothers hurriedly greeted their mother, continued their farewell feelings, talked about some of the strange and beautiful scenery outside, and then went to pay respects to their mother again.

Arriving at the Shouning Palace, the two brothers entered the door and knelt down to pay respect to their mother.

Concubine Li Taixian said with tears in her eyes, her voice choking, "My son, please get up soon. I've been away for half a year and I've missed you so much. I miss you day and night and I'm worried about you!"

When the King of Xiang saw that his mother looked haggard and thin, he couldn't help but feel sad, "A mother worries when she travels thousands of miles away. I'm unfilial and have made you worry."

The King of Chu consoled her gently, "Mother, don't be sad. My third brother and I have been traveling abroad for half a year. We have gained knowledge and broadened our horizons. You should be relieved and happy." Concubine

Li Taixian had no good feelings towards this eldest son whom she was born to but never got close to. She said coldly, "You have given up the prosperity of the capital and instead went to the remote land of Western Shu to stay in a den of rebellious people in the mountains and rivers for half a year. Which mother would not be worried?"

The King of Xiang smiled bitterly. It's no use talking to someone who doesn't agree with you!

Looking around the room, she wanted to change the subject and asked, "Mother, where did you put the big glass mirror that Mother placed in the main hall?"

This question really stirred up a hornet's nest. Tears immediately flowed from Concubine Li Taixian's eyes. She cried with a miserable, sad, and aggrieved heart, "Heng'er, you don't know that the hateful and stupid princess is about to trample me into the dust and bully me to death.

The glass mirror she shook out not only She didn't let me buy a share, and I shamelessly asked for a small glass mirror with a dressing box, but she was stingy and refused to give it to me.

But she not only gave two glass mirrors, one large and one small, to the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Zhaoning, but also gave two glass mirrors, one large and one small, to the other ladies in the palace, and refused to give me a small one.

Isn't this deliberately treating me differently and bullying me?"

"Mother, the emperor's sister-in-law has always been generous and magnanimous, why didn't she give you a glass mirror?"

Concubine Li Taixian cried angrily, "I just scolded her a few times. The dog servants are always talking too much. When the silly princess heard it, she deliberately used it to bully me?"

The brothers King Chu and King Xiang looked at each other, smiled bitterly and shook their heads. Mother is still the arrogant and extravagant character when she was the most favored concubine in the harem and was worshipped by thousands of people!