After a pause, Chu You calmed down and continued, "It was not until after my grandfather passed away that my father discovered that several of his letters were missing. He did not want to make it public, so he quietly sent people to search the Yangxin Palace from top to bottom, but still couldn't find them. He thought that my grandfather had destroyed some of his letters before he passed away."
"If those notes were not destroyed, but were discovered by my brother..."
Chu You opened his eyes, turned around and wanted to walk down the hunting platform, feeling a little impatient.
"Your Highness, please be patient." Yuan Zhe held Chu You's wrist and used his eyes to persuade him to stay.
Chu You raised his sword-like eyebrows at an angle, his eyes like sharp swords.
Yuan Zhe casually straightened the creases on his sleeves, pointed calmly at the most luxurious shed below, and said in a calm voice: "There must be someone who is more anxious than you."
The person he was referring to was not Chu Yi, but Baili Yin who was drinking next to him, and his tone was meaningful.
Chu You narrowed his eagle eyes and also looked at Baili Yin, as if thinking about something.
The power of the new flintlock rifle is bound to arouse Baili Yin's vigilance. The people of Nanyue are ambitious, so how could they sit idly by and watch Dajing possess such a powerful weapon.
Baili Yin will take action sooner or later!
"So, Your Majesty, don't worry." Yuan Zhe patted Chu You's shoulder, a determined smile appeared on his gentle face, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. "The eldest prince has been in Nanyue for eight years. This is his achievement, but also his biggest weakness."
"If the eldest prince makes the slightest mistake, whether intentional or unintentional, it will be a serious crime."
Chu Yi was a hostage in Nanyue for eight years for the sake of his country, so both court officials and common people must remember his sacrifice during these eight years.
However, this is also a stain that Chu Yi, as the eldest prince, can never erase! Yuan Zhe waved his sleeves casually, stood leisurely with his hands behind his back, and his every move showed the confidence and composure of a mastermind.
Chu You was awakened from his dream by Yuan Zhe's advice, and his mind immediately became clear.
When he looked down at Chu Yi again, his eyes were tinged with a hint of mockery.
"I'm afraid my royal brother will miscalculate this time..." Chu You said as he gently rubbed the Nine Dragons pattern on the jade pendant on his waist with the tip of his index finger, with the corner of his lips raised.
The emperor asked Chu Yi to replace him to entertain Baili Yin. He had his own plans and wanted to pave the way for Chu Yi.
However, if this plan is not handled properly, it may backfire.
Chu Yi has been in Nanyue for so long. If anything goes wrong in his mission this time, they can impeach Chu Yi for sacrificing the interests of Dajing and currying favor with Nanyue.
Neither the court officials nor the common people understood Chu Yi.
The gap created by the missing eight years cannot be easily filled!
Seeing that Prince Kang had calmed down, Yuan Zhe was relieved. He stroked his sleeves, smiled again, and said seriously: "The current situation is good for you, Your Majesty."
"The eldest prince is so prominent today because he wants to gain a firm foothold as soon as possible."
In Yuan Zhe's opinion, the eldest prince was too young and impatient. Weapons like the new flintlock rifle should be kept hidden and mass-produced as quickly as possible in secret so that they could become the killer weapon of their Dajing.
This is the best strategy.
But the eldest prince was obviously anxious and wanted to gain a foothold in the court as soon as possible, so he made such a stupid move. He even took out this new type of flintlock rifle to show off. It was really a way to attract attention!
As a result, it only aroused the vigilance and covetousness of the South Vietnamese!
Stupid and short-sighted.
Alas, the eldest prince was indeed spoiled by the people of Nanyue. Yuan Zhe sighed in his heart.
Following Yuan Zhe's unhurried words, Chu You completely calmed down, let out a long breath of relief, and nodded, "My cousin is right."
"Thanks to my cousin who was there to give me advice."
Chu You bowed to Yuan Zhe.
Yuan Zhe smiled faintly and accepted Chu You's gift. He was neither arrogant nor impatient, neither humble nor overbearing, and had the transcendent bearing of a child from a noble family.
The mountain wind was still howling beside us, and the chill was biting.
Occasionally, a few fallen leaves were blown by the mountain wind, flying and swirling around the hunting platform.
Yuan Zhe gently brushed off a fallen leaf on his shoulder and reminded him, "Your Highness, Taizu's letter is secondary."
He was also worried that Chu You would be blinded by the immediate benefits and forget their long-term goals.
Taizu's letter is important. I am lucky to have it, but that's all.
What matters to them is the throne.
"Cousin, I understand."
Chu You stood facing the wind with a long sword hanging from his waist. His long dark black eyelashes were covered and there was a slight shadow in his pupils, which spread little by little.
“De de de…”
A burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from the forest on the other side, and at least eight or nine people were galloping towards this side.
The hunting platform was located at a high vantage point, and Chu You could see everything clearly at a glance.
Those who went into the forest to hunt have returned! The sun has already set, casting a golden glow over the mountains and forests, and the sky is full of sunset clouds.
The young men who went out hunting returned from the hunting grounds one after another and gathered in this open space.
Their return made the surroundings even more lively.
Today's champion was finally won by Master Yu Wu from General Longwei's Mansion, attracting countless envious glances and a thunderous applause.
Under the burning gazes of the young masters, Chu Yi first gave him the pocket watch and then encouraged him.
Immediately afterwards, Baili Yin ordered the middle-aged Yue man who was missing an eyebrow to hand the Persian scimitar to Master Yu Wu, and said a few polite words such as "a precious sword is given to a hero".
"Thank you, Third Prince Baili, for the sword." After taking the scimitar with both hands, Master Yu Wu bowed to Baili Yin.
He was well-mannered, neither losing his demeanor nor showing any sign of being flattered.
Originally, this scimitar from Persia was considered a rare item. The blade was strong enough to cut hair, and the scabbard was inlaid with many precious gems. However, compared with Chu Yici's pocket watch, it was inferior.
After all, although scimitars are rare, they are not difficult to obtain. They just cost some money.
Master Yu Wu casually played with the scimitar for a few times, then put it on his waist and stepped back.
He held the enameled silver pocket watch solemnly in his right hand, his eyes sparkling.
This pocket watch is different. There are only so many people in the whole Dajing who can have it, not even his father! As soon as Master Yu Wu walked out of the shed, the young masters waiting outside rushed towards him like a tide, surrounding him in three layers inside and outside.
"Yu Laowu, let me see your pocket watch."
"Show it to me first, Brother Yu Wu. Last time I got the Hundred Years Good Wine, you were the first person I thought of."
"Go away, I'm still his cousin."
“…”
All the young masters crowded over, vying to talk non-stop, wanting to broaden their horizons.
Looking at these noisy teenagers and young men, the smile on Baili Yin's lips froze for a moment.
Then, he returned to normal, showing an interested smile, and said to Chu Yi with emotion: "Master Yi, I heard that Emperor Tianli is a god sent from heaven, and he has made many good things. It is rare for me to come to your country. I wonder if I can have the honor to see one or two?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a Yue man in his twenties walked quickly into the shed, bent down and whispered to Baili Yin.
The middle-aged Yue man next to him pricked up his ears and vaguely heard the three words "Xiahou Qing" floating over.
Xiahou Qing?! The middle-aged Yue man showed fear on his face and couldn't help but look at Baili Yin.
“……” Baili Yin pursed his thin lips tightly, and his expression gradually became solemn.
Even though he had lost to Chu Yi in public while hunting tigers before, he had never lost his composure like this.
The young masters were still playing and pushing each other. Lu Si approached Chu Yi with a smile and said, "Your Highness, shall we come to the spring hunt again next year? I will definitely be the champion next time."
Lu Si looked at Chu Yi eagerly, and almost asked if the eldest prince could take out a pocket watch as a prize next time.
Upon hearing this, the other young masters also looked expectant.
Chu Yi did not agree, nor did he object. He said something meaningful: "Emperor Taizu once said that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared."
He smiled slightly, gently and elegantly, without even looking at Baili Yin.
Baili Yin clenched his fists, quickly suppressed his emotions, looked at Chu Yi with a smile on his face, and said in a calm voice: "Master Yi, it's getting late today..."
"Indeed." Chu Yi then looked at Baili Yin and followed his words and said, "It's getting late, we should also return to Beijing."
Then, Chu Yi arrived and everyone stood up to see him off respectfully.
As soon as they left, the children of noble families could no longer stay and could not wait to get on the carriages. The huge convoy set off in a mighty manner.
Wei Jiaoniang and Lu Qin didn't want to travel with the girls from wealthy families, so they asked Gu Yanfei to stay and play shuttlecock for a while longer.
At dusk, the sky suddenly became gloomy, with dark clouds gathering, and the sky was so dark that it seemed as if night had come early.
"God, he changes his attitude faster than I do."
Wei Jiaoniang was afraid that it would snow, so she asked the girls to set off quickly.
They were all worried about getting wet in the rain, so they rode as fast as they could along the way.
Even so, they still couldn't escape. It didn't rain halfway through the journey, but it started snowing.
In an instant, goose-feather-like snowflakes floated down densely, covering the sky, and the sky became silver-white...
The wind is strong and the snow is heavy.
They had only traveled a few miles when a thin layer of snow accumulated on the road.
What's worse is that the snow is still getting heavier.
Gu Yanfei touched Hongyu's neck soothingly. Hongyu tilted his neck confidently and called out twice, as if to say, don't worry.
Good boy! Gu Yanfei touched it again.
She frowned slightly and looked around. The snow was too heavy...
It was too dark, the snow and wind would block their vision, and they were all riding horses. If they were not careful, the horses' hooves would slip on the snow, and the consequences would be disastrous! They could no longer continue on their way blindly.
(End of this chapter)
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