Two days later, in the afternoon, a light drizzle fell over the capital.
Xiao Ji was ordered to lead troops out of the city to bring the Crown Prince, who had been to Xiangyang two months earlier to provide disaster relief, back to the capital.
At three quarters past the hour of Wei (1-3 PM)
The city gates opened wide, and Xiao Ji's entourage, which had been sent out to greet the Crown Prince, entered the city precisely on time.
Inside the city gate, officials who had been ordered to welcome the Crown Prince back to the capital were already waiting.
The procession stopped, and the officials, oblivious to whether the servants holding umbrellas behind them had kept up,
They hurried forward and bowed to the carriage carrying Shang Changze:
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects and welcome you back to the capital!"
Shang Changze alighted from the carriage, with someone behind him holding an umbrella for him.
However, it wasn't the cold-faced, sword-wielding guard, but another guard whose face didn't look so cold.
Under the continuous drizzle, Shang Changze reached out and politely helped several officials up, saying:
"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities."
In fact, Shang Changze didn't need to get off the carriage at all, but Shang Changze's perfect prince persona...
He treated all officials in the court with courtesy, regardless of their rank, and never put on airs.
The next conversation,
It was nothing more than polite greetings between the crown prince and his ministers, very official.
Xiao Ji was a few steps behind Shang Changze, so the officials naturally saw him.
There were plenty of greetings between colleagues, but they remained just that – greetings between colleagues.
The ministers who came were all civil officials.
Civil officials and military generals don't usually get along in court, let alone when facing Xiao Ji, a killing god among military generals.
Back then, Xiao Ji massacred the city.
Civil and military officials engaged in dozens of lively and friendly exchanges in the imperial court, until Xiao Ji led his army in triumph.
This lively "friendly exchange" between civil and military officials only ceased at the daily court session.
There are many civil officials in the court.
There were a few who were on good terms with Xiao Ji, but not many. The rest were military officers, and of course, there were also military officers who had a lot of opinions about Xiao Ji.
In response,
The emperor was pleased with this outcome; Xiao Ji already held military power, and if he were to gain even more prestige, it would be a formidable situation.
The emperor intervened regarding the unpleasant rumors about Xiao Ji, not to clarify them, but to add fuel to the fire.
Xiao Ji knew, but didn't care.
The massacre of the city was indeed an order he gave, and since he had done it, he had to bear the consequences.
A gust of wind, damp with rain, swept through the city gate, brushing against the clothes of everyone present.
As if suddenly sensing something, Xiao Ji looked up and precisely caught the gaze falling on him through the light rain.
Upon seeing the woman leaning lazily against the window of the restaurant's private room, smiling radiantly, the sharp chill between his brows dissipated somewhat.
Inside the private room of the restaurant,
Shang Changge clicked her tongue as she looked at Xiao Ji behind her, who had no one to hold an umbrella for him, and then nothing more.
The rain wasn't heavy.
Xiao Ji was not a weak scholar who couldn't withstand the wind and sun, so what was there to say?
Qingyao came out today, holding her sword and standing by the window looking towards the city gate, puzzled:
"Princess, what do you think those ministers were saying to the Crown Prince?"
"Why can't we wait until the Crown Prince has gone to the palace to see the Emperor and Empress and returned to his residence before saying these things? Why do we have to say them now in the rain?"
Shang Changge took a sip of tea and smiled, "That's too much."
Although Qingyao is only 19 this year, she has a rather quirky and simple-minded way of thinking when she's not killing anyone.
But after all, she had spent more than ten years in the princess's residence and had frequently entered and exited the palace with Shang Changge.
So they still have the brains and shrewdness to understand the hidden meaning in their master's words.
However, she did not respond, because such a remark was not something a servant like her should or should respond to.
The procession did not linger at the city gate for long.
After exchanging pleasantries, Shang Changze boarded the carriage.
Led by Xiao Ji, the long procession slowly made its way back towards the palace.
When passing by the restaurant
Xiao Ji glanced over and his gaze met Shang Changge's, which was filled with interest.
Shang Changge blatantly stared at Xiao Ji through the rain and the half-open window, and as expected, caught the man's gaze out of the corner of her eye.
In a good mood, she was seized by a playful impulse, and with her full red lips parted, she uttered two unspoken, ambiguous words to Xiao Ji.
Downstairs, on horseback,
Xiao Ji's already deep eyes grew even deeper.
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