Zhong Zhiheng looked at his face. Zhong Zhiling was not young anymore. He would be fifty in the new year. Although he had no white hair yet, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were already very obvious. Zhong Zhiheng looked at his tired eyes. Suddenly, he remembered the innocent and clear eyes of the young man in the past. His heart was full of complicated feelings.
"It's not too late now." After a while, Zhong Zhiheng smiled faintly, "Do you want to be a rich and useless prince from now on?"
"I do want to, but I have a lot on my shoulders. Winter is coming, and the small countries in the Western Regions are facing a period of shortage. There is no guarantee that there will be friction on the border again. I am worried all day long," Zhong Zhiling shook his head helplessly, "I am afraid I am so worried that I am dying."
"If you don't want to work any more, I won't force you." Zhong Zhiheng raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhong Zhiling. This time he didn't say anything teasing like before, "The Great Zhou doesn't lack a brave general to guard the border. But I lack a little brother who can come to the palace to talk to me and relieve my boredom."
Zhong Zhiling was startled, obviously he didn't expect Zhong Zhiheng to say such a thing. He looked up at Zhong Zhiheng, a little puzzled: "Brother, do you mean..."
"You are not young anymore. You are almost fifty years old. No matter how healthy you are, you can't bear it anymore. You should live a peaceful life. Besides, you are almost old. I can't bear to let you go, right?" Zhong Zhiheng still smiled, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. "You have suffered in the northwest for thirty-four years. I feel bad every time I think about it. Now that you are willing to let go of your worries and return to Beijing, then stay. Don't go back to suffer anymore, and don't make me worry anymore."
"What are you worried about, my brother?" Zhong Zhiling also smiled. He placed the cup on the small table and turned his head to look at Zhong Zhiheng with a smile. "Are you worried about my health, or are you worried that the northwest will also have troubles like the southern border? I thought that after the big case in 20 years, my brother had completely trusted me. I didn't expect that my brother was so steadfast."
"Seventh Brother!" Zhong Zhiheng immediately frowned and put the cup heavily on the table. He looked at Zhong Zhiling with a sullen face, "You are already an old man. You don't know what to say or what not to say. Do you still need me to teach you?"
"Yes, I have overstepped my authority. Please forgive me, my royal brother." Zhong Zhiling pursed his lips, but still bowed deeply to Zhong Zhiheng.
"Think about it carefully. After all, you are already old enough to know your destiny. Isn't it more comfortable to live peacefully in the capital instead of fighting and killing in the northwest?" Zhong Zhiheng's face lightened up a little. He looked at Zhong Zhiling and sighed softly, "While you are still young, live a peaceful life and marry a wife. It's not good for a son of a rich family to be single all his life."
"Yes, thank you for your concern, brother." Zhong Zhiling curled his lips sarcastically.
"Okay, go back and think about it carefully." Zhong Zhiheng waved his hand, opened the memorial and read it with his head down.
"Yes, I'll take my leave." Zhong Zhiling stood up, looked at Zhong Zhiheng coldly, then bowed and walked out.
Not until the footsteps completely disappeared did Zhong Zhiheng slowly raise his head. He stood up, walked slowly to the window, gently pushed it open, and saw Zhong Zhiling walking slowly in the silver sky, his dark cloak fluttering in the wind. He walked forward in the snow without an umbrella, his back as straight as before. Just looking at him from behind, one could not tell that he was a middle-aged man in his fifties.
Zhong Zhiheng stared at Zhong Zhiling's back without blinking, until he walked down the stairs and got into the sedan chair. Only then did Zhong Zhiheng breathe a sigh of relief.
The turmoil in southern Xinjiang has been resolved. Chi Chongyuan and Cheng Xiangyang, two poor boys, replaced the Xu family and went to southern Xinjiang with his expectations. He was relieved, but when he thought of the northwest, his heart became heavy again. Compared with Xu Chengjin, Zhong Zhiling was his biggest worry. Whether in terms of birth, reputation, or position in the army, Xu Chengjin and Zhong Zhiling could not compare at all. Therefore, Zhong Zhiheng's feelings for Zhong Zhiling have always been very subtle. This man was his youngest brother whom he once valued and protected the most, and this man was also the opponent he could never let go of in his life. Whether in terms of emotions or other aspects, Zhong Zhiling would always be a big stone pressing on his heart. It's just that this big stone used to be far away in the northwest, and the sky was high and the emperor was far away. Even if he wanted to move it, he didn't have the opportunity and strength. But now it's different. This big stone is right in front of him. As long as he wants, this big stone can't go anywhere in his life, and he can only stay in front of him honestly.
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