The seventh prince, Xiao Rui, was kind-hearted, simple, and honest. Through the stories told by several palace maids who took care of him, he understood one thing: the lives of ordinary people were very difficult.
Thus, our kind-hearted seventh prince had a dream since childhood: to ensure that all the people in the world could have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear.
This wish was simple and practical, but unfortunately, it paled in comparison to the great talents and ambitions of his adult brothers.
When the seventh prince was young, he was not actually favored by Emperor Jingxuan, perhaps because he seemed too upright and naive.
Around the seventeenth year of Emperor Jingxuan's reign, Emperor Jingxuan's paranoia grew stronger, and the adult princes were frequently reprimanded. Instead, the unassuming seventh prince came into Emperor Jingxuan's sight.
Seeing his simple and honest son, Emperor Jingxuan felt that his life was more authentic, and so he doted on him.
However, it was precisely because of Emperor Jingxuan's trust and favor towards the seventh prince that he became enraged when someone told him that the seventh prince was plotting a rebellion and colluding with the general stationed on the border.
When the scouts sent word back that the Seventh Prince was indeed in the border town and spending all his time with Lu Yanzheng, Emperor Jingxuan's anger, mixed with disappointment, reached its peak.
Therefore, Xue Zian's next words left the Seventh Prince completely bewildered.
"His Majesty has already sent people to verify this. After learning that Your Highness was with the Grand General, he has ordered that you be arrested and brought back to the capital, and that the Grand General be escorted to the capital as well..."
Not only was Xiao Rui bewildered, but Lu Yanzheng also looked completely dumbfounded.
No, he just drove away the combined forces of Dayuan and Xiqiang, and the emperor is already going to discard him after he has served his purpose?
Jiang Qinyu felt a bit stuffy after returning home, so she went out for a walk while it wasn't too hot at night. As a result, she heard such shocking news when she got here, and her eyes widened immediately.
What kind of paranoid emperor is this? He wiped them all out with just one sentence from Liu Ruyi?
"Father... he believed I was plotting a rebellion based on just one person's words?" Xiao Rui murmured in disbelief.
Xue Zian looked at Xiao Rui with pity, "Your Highness, why are you still so sad? Our people in the palace have also sent word that ever since Liu Ruyi falsely accused you of treason, the First Prince and Prime Minister Su and others have begun to take action, using various means to present 'concrete evidence' of your treason to the Emperor..."
The implication is that the emperor did not initially believe Xiao Rui was plotting a rebellion, but was forced to believe it by other people's so-called evidence.
Xiao Rui gave a bitter smile, a smile filled with deep resentment and disappointment. "If Father Emperor hadn't truly suspected me, why would he have sent someone to arrest me?"
Lu Yanzheng felt sorry for Xiao Rui.
He had long been familiar with the emperor's paranoia; otherwise, how could Marshal Qin have died?
If even the generals who fought for him and guarded the borders could be lost so easily, what importance could a prince who did not participate in politics have?
But he still felt sorry for Xiao Rui, who was the emperor's most beloved prince.
Looking back now, it's hard to say how much of that affection was genuine.
Jiang Qinyu stood outside without making a sound, but how could the two experts inside not know that she was outside? It's just that Lu Yanzheng had no need to hide it from her, and Xue Zian also knew that Xiao Rui valued Jiang Qinyu, so neither of them spoke up.
But to everyone's surprise, Xiao Rui suddenly called out, "General's wife, there's no need to be shy, come in."
Lu Yanzheng and Xue Zian were both taken aback upon hearing this. Lu Yanzheng, in particular, looked at Xiao Rui with surprise. Could this Seventh Prince be a master?
Jiang Qinyu was embarrassed for a moment, but then she calmly entered the room and curtsied to Xiao Rui, saying, "I didn't mean to bother you, please forgive me, Seventh Prince."
She didn't eavesdrop on purpose, so there's nothing to apologize for.
Xiao Rui said with a bitter expression, "Madam, there's no need for that."
Perhaps he really didn't want to say anything at that moment. After Jiang Qinyu sat down next to Lu Yanzheng, he fell into deep thought.
Jiang Qinyu looked at Lu Yanzheng, and Lu Yanzheng happened to look over as well. Their eyes met, and for some reason, they both understood each other's meaning.
How will Xiao Rui respond?
What will Lu Yanzheng choose?
In fact, Jiang Qinyu's heart trembled several times when she heard that Lu Yanzheng would also be escorted to the capital.
But then she thought about it again. Lu Yanzheng was the kind of person who dared to cut off the arms of the previous magistrate of Yongshan County and send him to the imperial court. Suddenly, she calmed down.
No matter what, their decision is definitely better than hers, so why should she worry about it?
To be selfish, if Lu Yanzheng decides to be taken away by the court, she can still divorce him, as long as it doesn't involve Shufan and Pan'er.
Xue Zian was a little anxious, frequently glancing at Xiao Rui, and then at the composed Lu Yanzheng.
To be honest, he was originally a cold-hearted person, but when it came to matters of life and death, he felt that the situation was serious and time was of the essence. How come his master and Lu Yanzheng, the two people involved, didn't seem to care at all?
Just as Xue Zian was about to ask, Xiao Rui spoke up, "I wonder what General Lu's plans are?"
Lu Yanzheng put down his teacup and looked calmly at Xiao Rui. "I wonder what Your Highness's plans are?"
Jiang Qinyu and Xue Zian stared at the two of them with wide eyes, unable to understand what kind of riddle they were playing.
In terms of status, the Seventh Prince is a prince, and his status is noble. Although Lu Yanzheng is a general stationed on the border, he should not show such a lack of respect in front of him.
However, at this moment, the two were speaking to each other in an equal tone.
Xiao Rui and Lu Yanzheng looked at each other, and seeing the calm and composed look in each other's eyes, they secretly praised, "What an unshakeable Lu Yanzheng!"
If it were anyone else, hearing that they were guilty of a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family, and that people from the capital had already been sent to arrest them, they probably wouldn't be able to sit here calmly.
But Lu Yanzheng could still leisurely sip his tea and calmly ask him a question. This is the demeanor and composure of a great general!
Xiao Rui suddenly laughed and said, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. What's wrong with me going back and meeting them?"
Lu Yanzheng raised an eyebrow, "Your Highness, you don't regret it?"
Everyone knows that if Xiao Rui goes back and can't engage in a verbal battle with the group of "bears," then he will surely not return.
"Although I, Xiao Rui, am not yet twenty years old, I have done good deeds all my life and have always acted uprightly. How can Liu Ruyi and Prime Minister Su slander me?" The bitterness on Xiao Rui's face disappeared, replaced by pride, fearlessness, and a confident spirit!
He still had so many dreams that he couldn't realize. The people of Dai Viet were waiting for him. He certainly wouldn't die in such a sordid power struggle!
Upon seeing this, Lu Yanzheng suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a salute to Xiao Rui, and said, "I have nothing else to say but that if Your Highness has any needs, Yongshan County and Biancheng will welcome Your Highness to visit again at any time!"
Xiao Rui's eyes brightened slightly, and he bowed deeply to Lu Yanzheng, "Rui thanks the General!"
Jiang Qinyu was completely confused. What was going on? Wasn't Lu Yanzheng also going to be arrested? Why was Xiao Rui thanking her again?
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