In the imperial palace, in the imperial study, the emperor held a secret letter in his hand with a solemn expression on his face. It seemed that the time had come to make a decision.
"Your Majesty, it's getting cold, please have a cup of hot tea to warm your stomach." Chen He handed over a cup of tea with both hands. The master kept this posture for a while. Maybe he encountered something difficult to decide again! Otherwise, he would never have this expression or look.
What allowed Chen He to serve the emperor in the imperial study was his self-knowledge and the ability to pretend to be deaf and dumb. He told himself that as long as he did his job well, other things were not his concern or attention.
"Chen He, who do you think I should send to the northwest?" This person must be familiar with the terrain of the northwest and be a reliable person. It is not easy to choose!
"I am a dull servant. I can only help the emperor with small matters like serving tea and water. As for military and national affairs, I know nothing about them. Please don't make things difficult for me."
The emperor did not really want to ask for his opinion. He just turned the secret letter in his hand over and over again. This was the news that King Jing had gone through a lot of trouble to send out. In the secret letter, he said that the Han family had been very active recently and had sent people to visit King Jing's residence at night many times, trying to steal the evidence in his possession.
Now the cousins of the Han family have surrounded King Jing and want to trap him. Perhaps they want to let them go after they have stolen the things back, or more likely they want to trap them to death to prevent future troubles.
King Jing asked the emperor what he should do now, whether to take action or continue to deal with the Han family.
The emperor didn't want to put his brother at risk again, so he planned to send someone to the northwest to rescue King Jing. But who was the right person? He hesitated.
"Has Achen entered the palace today?" the emperor suddenly asked.
"Enter the palace."
"Where is he now?"
"They should be with the Ninth Prince. They first went to Fengxiang Palace to pay respects to the Queen Mother, and then..." Chen He raised his head and quickly glanced at the Emperor, then lowered his head and said, "Then he accompanied the two young ladies of the Han family to visit the Imperial Garden."
"Hmph, the Han family..." The emperor probably dislikes the Han family and the Han family members the most right now. If he didn't want to stabilize the Han family members in Kyoto, why would he let his son and nephew act with him in order to confuse the Han family!
"Call Achen to the imperial study."
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, Yun Yifan and Yun Yichen appeared in the imperial study at the same time. Yun Yifan looked unhappy and Yun Yichen also had a cold face.
"What are you doing..." The emperor suppressed the urge to laugh and asked.
"Father, can you please not let Achen and I go to Fengxiang Palace anymore? At least I don't want to go there until the Han family leaves." Instead of wasting time on people like that, it's better to walk a cat or play with a dog to make yourself happy. The Han family's daughter's arrogant attitude of thinking she's the best in the world and unmatched is really disgusting. Yun Yifan thinks monkey trainers are cuter than the two of them.
"You really don't want to accompany Han's cousin?"
"In no mood."
If Yun Yichen had not heard from his uncle that he would be helping his father by dealing with them, he would have left long ago. Thinking of the two pretentious Miss Han, Yun Yichen felt like vomiting when he saw water.
"Chen and you go guard outside and don't let anyone in."
"I obey your order."
When only the three of them were left in the imperial study, the emperor said, "Achen, your father is in some trouble now. The emperor's uncle plans to send troops to support him. Who do you think is the most suitable person to go?"
The two cousins exchanged glances. Why were they being asked for their opinions on such a matter? Was their father (the emperor's uncle) testing them? When it came to the choice, they both thought of General Xiao, but these two young and immature men chose to remain silent, as the final decision rested with the emperor.
"Since you have no suitable candidate to recommend, then your uncle can just assign someone at random." The emperor said in an indifferent tone, "You little bastard, just wait and see how I'm going to deal with you today."
"Uncle Emperor, this concerns the safety of my father, you must not be rash. I think General Xiao is the most suitable candidate." Yun Yichen, who was frightened by the emperor, no longer dared to pretend to be deep and had to tell everything in his heart.
"My son also thinks General Xiao is suitable."
"Tell me what you think, why General Xiao is the most suitable!"
"He has led troops for many years and is very experienced. He has also been stationed in the northern border for many years and is familiar with the terrain. His ideas are flexible and he can always come up with ways that others can't think of. Sending him to help Uncle Wang will definitely have unexpected results." Yun Yifan concluded.
"Don't you have anything to say, Achen?"
Yun Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "In addition to the above reasons, I think that the emperor's uncle sent General Xiao for a good reason, because the fourth master of the Xiao family is in the northwest. If Madam Xiao falls ill from missing him, and the emperor's uncle sympathizes with his old ministers, he sent General Xiao to find his son and welcome my father back to Beijing.
This way, your sending people to the northwest won't cause too much discussion and speculation. As long as the Xiao family plays it well, even if someone suspects something, they won't dare to openly raise objections. Of course, those with ulterior motives are another matter."
"You are too cunning. No wonder General Xiao dislikes you. If I were you, I would torture you every day. I even plotted against Madam Xiao. You... It seems that the little girl from the Xiao family has a reason to quarrel with you." Yun Yifan pointed at his cousin and said, other people are just cunning, but this guy should be the one who is really cunning.
"Achen also likes to quarrel with others. Uncle Royal is very curious about this person!" the Emperor asked in surprise.
Yun Yichen glared at his cousin, shut up and refused to mention the quarrel with Xiao Yao.
"Since you recommended him, you can take care of finding Xiao Hu to go to the northwest."
Yun Yichen opened his eyes wide and looked at the emperor in disbelief. It was obvious that you could solve the problem with just one order, so why did you ask me to go here in person? This was something to ask for help. Prince Yun said that he was very... very... unwilling to do this.
The emperor was secretly happy and thought, "Today, your uncle will ask you to go and invite Xiao Hu in person. It's your fault that you always have a sour face and refuse to say a soft or nice word."
I, the emperor, am sometimes able to bend and stretch. You will suffer in the future for your stubborn character. Now is the right time. Xiaohu is your whetstone. Achen, your uncle wishes you success.
Yun Yifan completely inherited the emperor's tactfulness and intelligence. He guessed the emperor's intentions after a little thought. How could he miss such a lively event? So Yun Yifan pleaded, "Father, I am willing to accompany Achen to General Xiao's mansion."
Yun Yichen knew that his uncle was trying to make things difficult for him. He did not sense the good intentions, but he did feel annoyed and upset. If he went to ask Old Man Xiao for help, he would not be willing to do so. If he did not go, what would he do about his father's matter?
Even if he didn't go to beg the old man, the emperor's uncle would eventually order him to go to the northwest. But if he couldn't complete such a test, what would he do when facing greater challenges in the future!
When the Xiao family received the news that the Ninth Prince and Prince Yun were coming, everyone reacted differently.
General Xiao: It’s definitely not a good thing.
Qin: It is a great honor for my humble home to have you here.
…… ……
Xiao Yao: Where should I hide?
Xiao Yuan: The weasel is paying New Year's greetings to the chicken, it must have no good intentions.
After waiting for half a day, the distinguished guest had not yet arrived, but Mrs. Tong arrived with her little grandson.
"What's going on in your house..." Is the fourth master of the Xiao family coming back? I haven't heard any news! There is a banquet, but it doesn't look like it.
"The Ninth Prince and Prince Yun are coming to visit us. You maids, please be more serious. In-laws, please come in."
"Then it's a bit inopportune that I come here. Jiabao, can we come to see your sister Yao another day?" Mrs. Tong coaxed her grandson.
Xiao Yao really wanted to go with her grandmother now, otherwise she would have to kneel down to welcome the prince. She had been here for six years, but there were some things she was still unwilling to accept, such as kneeling down, or having three wives and four concubines...
"The Ninth Prince has arrived, and Prince Yun has arrived." Butler Feng came over to report.
Now no one has to run, let’s get ready to welcome the guests!
Yun Yifan was wearing a scarlet casual suit, and Yun Yichen was wearing a royal blue brocade robe. The two were three or four points similar, but Yun Yifan was gentler, and Yun Yichen was colder. If we only talk about appearance, Yun Yichen is better.
"Your servant Xiao Hu greets the Ninth Prince and Prince Yun." When he was in the Imperial College, General Xiao was their master and he never had to perform formal formal greetings to them. Today, the two of them were notified by the eunuchs first and then received a formal visit, so the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects was unavoidable.
"General Xiao, please stand up quickly. Madam Xiao, please stand up. It turns out that Madam Tong is also asking to stand up. Everyone, please stand up." Yun Yifan helped General Xiao up when he just saluted. His cousin would have something to ask of others soon, so he must not be too pretentious.
"Yun Yifan, Yun Yichen greets Mr. Xiao." The two men bowed and saluted General Xiao. The etiquette between master and disciple cannot be abolished. Not to mention that General Xiao is still teaching them now, even if one day they no longer practice martial arts in front of General Xiao, the rules of greeting when meeting will not change.
"Well, forget it." You came here with such a large force, but you are definitely not here to pay your respects to me.
"Please go to the living room to rest for a while and have a cup of tea." Tong Mingyu said with a decent smile on her face, dignified and generous.
"No need to trouble Mrs. Xiao. We are here to discuss some things with General Xiao today. I wonder if we can sit in General Xiao's study." Yun Yichen tried hard to act friendly, but the forced smile on his cold face made him look like he was about to cry.
Xiao Yao was kneeling at the back of the crowd. As soon as Yun Yifan shouted "Everyone get up", she stood up swiftly. She first helped her grandmother, and then pulled up her grandmother's arm. From beginning to end, she did not look up, did not speak, and quietly served as the background wall.
"Then please come in." General Xiao stepped aside and asked the two young but high-ranking princes and grandchildren to go first.
At the fork in the road in the front yard, General Xiao led the two to the study, while Qin and Madam Tong walked side by side and ran to the backyard with the female family members.
Qin was very disappointed with her granddaughter's performance today. This child usually looks smart, but it turns out that she was so timid that she kept hiding behind when she saw the noble person. She is really useless!
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