Chapter 224 Visit
When Zhao Youchen left Fu Mingyi's place, he walked for a while in the cold night wind, and the smell of alcohol gradually dissipated.
At this moment, the palace was still under curfew, and people were patrolling the main roads outside the palace.
Zhao Ziyuan had already returned to the Zhao residence. Only he didn't want to go back, so he slowly walked towards the direction of Nanhua Palace, walking slower and slower until he finally stopped at an alley corner, leaning his entire back against the cold, hard wall behind him.
It's that lion head jade again.
He should have known that what the Fu family knew, Fu Mingyi would also know. In fact, Fu Mingyi knew even more clearly.
He even knew that, besides the lion-head jade given to him by His Majesty, there were other ancient jade pieces that were being passed down as guardians of the nation.
He felt that, throughout the entire Great Xiao Dynasty, probably no more than ten people truly knew the details of this matter.
Fu Mingyi is one of them.
But even so, he did not avoid Zhao Ziyuan.
Fu Mingyi hoped that his uncle would stay in Nanhua for the time being, while he would go to Feng County.
He could understand Fu Mingyi's thoughts.
Three years ago, when Fu Mingyi handed the Imperial Guards over to him, he made it clear that the Imperial Guards protecting His Majesty and Nanhua Palace must be firmly in his hands, or at least be people he was close to and trusted.
Zhao Ziyuan can be considered this person.
As his closest uncle, Zhao Ziyuan occupied almost all of his time after he came to the Zhao family and until he was assigned to Nanhua.
He trusted this uncle, and even for a period of his youth, he admired and worshipped him.
At that moment, he thought, "If only Zhao Ziyuan were my biological father."
This is also the main reason why he made a promise with Fu Mingyi that no matter what, he must not let anything happen to his uncle.
Feng County has so many unknown stories about its past.
So whether it's for His Majesty, for himself, or for the Zhao family, he's willing to make this trip.
The sooner the better.
He thought of what Fu Mingyi had said about the matter that His Majesty had not yet decided, and felt a slight warmth in his heart.
If the Lion Head Jade truly foreshadows some mysterious and powerful force, then his trip to Feng County, though fraught with danger, would be entirely beneficial to His Majesty if he could successfully activate its power.
But His Majesty hesitated because of his safety.
This made him feel that he was very important to His Majesty.
To be honest, this feeling is actually quite good.
However, this only strengthened his resolve to go to Feng County.
Fu Mingyi is right about one thing.
No one can stay in the same place forever.
Whether for His Majesty's sake or for his own, he wanted to become stronger, and he wanted His Majesty to trust him as much as He trusted Fu Mingyi, and rely on him as much as He relied on Fu Mingyi.
He wanted to single-handedly ensure that His Majesty could live a carefree life and do as he pleased.
Just thinking about that feeling made his blood boil.
The heavy sound of the palace gates being ripped open from the middle seemed to travel slowly through the bluestone bricks to Zhao Youchen's feet.
He closed his eyes briefly, then looked up at the gray sky, and finally strode resolutely toward the heavy palace gate.
In Chengde Palace, Xiao Qing's daily life had become very regular.
She got up in the morning and practiced the mental techniques and skills taught by Mr. Wu for half an hour. Then she had breakfast with Ma Hong and Mingxiu.
After breakfast, she would take a short nap.
Then they decided whether to read the book or go to the South Study to check the memorials.
Although this kind of review was just homework assigned by the Grand Tutor, there was a lot of reading but very little that actually required imperial annotation.
However, recently, due to the possibility of taking over the reins of power, she has become much more attentive than before.
However, now that she has sent all those men home, and to show that she is not in such a hurry to assume power, it seems that she no longer needs to visit the Southern Study so frequently.
"Is Commander Zhao on duty today?" Xiao Qing asked.
Ma Hong thought for a moment, "It seems that Vice Commander Li is on duty today."
Xiao Qing immediately laughed.
"Then let's leave the palace."
She looked at Ma Hong, "Same as always, but this time you have to bring Mingxiu along."
It's good that Zhao Youchen isn't here; if he were, he would be extremely strict in this regard.
"Mingxiu, you should go and make some preparations."
She needs to prepare well.
Mingxiu raised her eyebrows in delight, "Your Majesty, it is..."
Xiao Qing nodded gently and patted her arm.
Although the selection of a concubine had almost fallen through, she could not break her promise to Mingxiu.
Looking at their almost ecstatic expressions, Ma Hong felt a little hesitant.
Before His Majesty went to Yingzhou with the Grand Tutor, he would often think about going out whenever the Grand Tutor was too strict with him. But since returning, he has never mentioned such a thing again.
He also thought that His Majesty would grow up and stop being willful after going out for a while.
It seems we were too hasty to relax now.
However, young people are naturally playful, and His Majesty is only thirteen years old.
There have been many unpleasant things happening in the palace lately. The Inner Palace Affairs Bureau has been up to no good, causing rumors about His Majesty to circulate throughout the palace.
These lackeys have some serious nerve!
His Majesty was frowning the other day, but today he is in a rare good mood, so let it be.
With that thought in mind, Ma Hong went out to make the arrangements.
Xiao Qing then took out her latest "makeup bag" and started to fuss over herself.
Previously, her hidden weapons, such as the small bamboo tube, had fallen off the cliff during his descent.
Later, Mr. Wu gave her a new set of disguise tools, and she also asked Mingxiu to sew her a cloth bag that could be fastened inside her clothes so it wouldn't fall out. She called it a "makeup bag".
As for hidden weapons, since no suitable and effective ones have been found, the matter has been temporarily put aside.
However, she doesn't need it for the time being, so she just feels it's a pity, but she's not in a hurry.
By the time she and Mingxiu were dressed up, Ma Hong had almost finished making the arrangements.
Ma Hong, a hidden guard, thought it over and over and decided that there was no danger, so he came over to invite them.
So the three of them set off with their waist tags on.
When Zhao Youchen arrived at Chengde Palace, Xiao Qing and the other two had just left the palace.
He found the deputy commander and learned that it was Ma Hong who arranged this matter. The imperial guards who were protecting His Majesty did not follow him openly, but were all disguised and hidden among the people. He asked about the details carefully, for fear that there might be any omissions.
Finally, he couldn't stay in the palace any longer, so he decided to go find Xiao Qing.
Meanwhile, Fu Mingyi received news that His Majesty had disguised himself and left the palace.
Fu Mingyi thought for a moment and asked, "Which direction did you go?"
"It's still unclear where it's headed, but it seems to be the place where high-ranking officials live."
Fu Mingyi thought for a moment, and was about to ask a question, but Fu Shan quickly came in and whispered in his ear: "Sir, there is someone outside who claims to be an old friend of Ping An and has come to visit."
Fu Mingyi was stunned for a moment, and then smiled after a long while. "I thought he wasn't coming."
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