C192

It was only when she saw the snow that she realized that winter had really arrived.

Zhao Su squatted in the snow like a ball of fluff, poking at the snow with her fingers. Her meaty hands were covered in snow, and the maid hurriedly squatted down to help him wipe it off.

"Su'er, come here." The messenger king stood not far away and called out to him with a smile.

Zhao Su looked over when she heard the sound and her eyes lit up. She threw away the snow in her hands and ran over with big steps with her arms spread wide, "Grandfather! "Hold him!"

King Xin bent down and picked him up and chuckled. "Your father has become a lot heavier. Did he even think about it?"

Zhao Baiyi was sitting at the side, dozing off. When he heard the sound, he opened his eyes and called out, "Father!" Then he stood up. "It's too heavy! I can't even carry him!"

The king glanced at him. "It's been so long since you've returned. Why don't you take another look at your son? You think it's too heavy?"

Zhao Baiyi laughed happily. "That's a good thing. It means you can eat well and grow strong — just like me."

"You sure know how to talk," King Xin scolded with a smile. Rubbing his grandson's head, Zhang Xuan smiled lovingly.

Zhao Baiyi asked, "Father couldn't have come all of a sudden just to find Su'er, right?"

Prince Xin asked, "Is that impossible?"

Zhao Baiyi quickly smiled apologetically, "Fine, fine, fine. Why can't I?"

Xin Wang put Zhao Su back on the ground and smiled, "Have you ever tried flying a kite in the snow? Go and ask your fifth uncle to bring you a kite to play with. "

Zhao Su was stunned. She looked at her father and said, "Father …"

Zhao Baiyi knew that his father had something to talk to him about, so he nodded and said to the maid standing beside him, "Take the young master to the fifth young master's room to pick up the kite and play."

The two female attendants bowed their heads and replied, "Yes." One of them bent down and held onto Zhao Su's hand, then whispered, "Young Master, shall we go and play?"

Zhao Su liked to play with her fifth uncle more than staying by her father's side. Naturally, she agreed willingly. She bowed, then followed the servant girl and left on her short legs.

Zhao Baiyi turned his head to look at the King of Letters and asked, "Father, you were looking for me?"

"You've been back for half a month, right?"

Zhao Baiyi was slightly startled, but he nodded. "That's right. It has been more than ten days since we last met."

"Mo'er is still sick, isn't he?" King Xin sighed lightly.

Zhao Baiyi said, "Seventh Brother's health is not good. It's normal for him to rest for a few days after this crisis."

King Xin narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering, "Mo'er is soft on the outside but tough on the inside. Is he really that evasive?" For half a month, there was no sound at all. Fourth Brother allowed him to come … What exactly did you guys encounter? "

Zhao Baiyi smiled bitterly, "Father, you have asked this question more than a hundred times, and have told me everything I know. "Other than that, I don't have Seventh Brother's clever brain. If he were to hide it from me, I wouldn't be able to guess anything at all."

The King of Letters looked at him deeply. Just when Zhao Boyi thought his father was going to say that he didn't want to read anymore, he heard another sigh, "This is good as well. It's not a bad thing to be a bit muddle-headed. Everything can be seen too clearly."

Zhao Baiyi was puzzled. "Royal Father?"

Duke Huai regained his senses and smiled faintly, "It's nothing. Mo'er, he is still a child after all. "

Zhao Baiyi's eyes twitched, and he couldn't help but remind him, "Seventh Brother already became the champion, not small. When I was the age of Seventh Brother, I fought a few battles with you. "

"If you are like this, I won't have to worry about twenty or twelve." But Mo'er, his legs are inconvenient, and what he sees and hears are the things in Liang City. No matter how big the Qi Wang Manor was, or how big the Liangliang City was, how big could it be? Moreover, he wouldn't be able to learn how to lie to us. "

"Deceiving?"

The messenger king muttered to himself, "He has too many things on his mind to be able to tell if he is hiding more of them. That's why in the eyes of others, he might be deep in thought. But in front of us, it was obvious that he was unnatural. He wanted to deceive, but he could not say such a thing. She wanted to help him, but she couldn't bear to force him to say the words he had tried so hard to hide. This child... "Hai."

Zhao Baiyi was silent for a moment. "Actually, Royal Father doesn't need to think of Seventh Brother as so weak. He has his own determination and judgement. I believe he can handle this himself. Since Fourth Uncle does not intervene, it means that Fourth Uncle is willing to believe Seventh Brother, right? "

The king shook his head, not wanting to say more, "Alright, we can talk about this after this. I have something else to tell you after I've come here today."

Zhao Baiyi heard the exhaustion and seriousness in his father's voice and quickly said, "Please speak, Father."

"You … You must be thirty, right? " "All these years, I was the one who brought you along to familiarize you with the Seven Deadly Slaughter. Now, the Seven Deadly Army should be handed over to you."

"Father, what do you mean by that?"

"I don't want to give you all of Seven Deadly Slaughter, but from now on, you will also have to learn how to decide for yourself and shouldn't blindly obey my orders. This time in the West Lake, your military order was very perfect, it was a good start. "

All of this had originally been a very common thing. Zhao Baiyi was the eldest son, so taking over Seven Deadly Slaughter was something that would happen sooner or later. However, at this moment, when his father spoke in such a solemn manner, he could not help but tremble unhappily, "Royal father, what do you want me to decide for myself?"

"For example." The messenger was quick and decisive, without the slightest bit of delay, but the hesitation was inevitable. "In the future, when the new emperor ascends to the throne, who will you support?"

Zhao Baiyi stared blankly for a moment before his expression slowly changed. He had a rough temperament, but he was not stupid, especially when it came to matters everyone in the imperial court speculated about. Even though Zhao Baiyi had been so blatantly punctured by this, he still couldn't help but be at a loss for what to do.

After waiting for a while, seeing that Zhao Baiyi's complexion had returned to normal, the King of Letters did not intend to force him to speak. "You must know that the Royal Family has no brothers or sisters. When my royal brother ascended the throne, he was still young, and I was just a child. For forty years, I've been glad of it all the time. "

Zhao Baiyi's bloodied lips opened and closed a few times. He forced out a dry and hoarse voice, "How will Royal Father choose?"

King Xin smiled. "I won't choose, you choose. Regardless of whether it's trust in the King's Manor or the Seven Slaughter Army, they are all yours in the future. You have the right to choose. And I, will support all of your choices. "

"All of a sudden." Zhao Baiyi clenched his fist. "How should I choose?"

After a while, he stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "Think carefully, there's plenty of time. Don't ask me about your choice. I won't help you. Letter to Crown Prince … "Don't always hide behind me and take your time." Smiling faintly, he turned around and left.

— —

Green smoke billowed within Funing Hall. The snowy winter was exceptionally quiet. The light reflecting off the snow illuminated the entire hall through the window, brightening it up.

"Pa!" Song Ren Zong pressed a son down and slightly raised his eyebrows, "Why are you so absent-minded today?"

Zhao Shu was stunned. She looked at the half-eaten Hei Zi and snapped out of her daze. She hurriedly got up and knelt down. "Your son has thought of something else and is lost in thought. Please forgive me, royal father."

"What are you thinking about that made you so lost in thought?" Song Renjian asked casually as he nodded, "Stand up. You're just lost in thought. Where did your crime come from?"

Zhao Shu stood up. After a moment of hesitation, she answered honestly, "I'm thinking about Seventh Brother."

Song Ren Zong looked surprised. "Oh? Why did you remember him? "

Zhao Shu said, "Today, I heard people talking about the first day. I remember that I used to watch the firecrackers with my second brother and seventh brother. Seventh Brother also loved the liveliness."

"Thirteenth Brother, is Mo'er still staying in the bamboo garden and not coming out?"

Prince Huan raised the flute that was wrapped in a piece of cloth and looked it over. Hearing Ren Zong's question, he put the flute down, "Yesterday, I went to the Qi King Manor. I said that Mo'er never came out."

Song Renjian muttered, "Are you deliberately not going to meet anyone?"

Prince Huan lowered his eyes to look at the flute in his hand. After a moment, he said, "He's used to trying to be brave. Fourth Brother should let him do what he wants. He's not afraid of getting sick from holding his breath."

Song Ren looked at Zhao Shu, then at Duke Huai. "You two can't pull him out?"

Zhao Shu was stunned. She was just about to shake her head when she heard Prince Huan mumbling, "How is it that we can't pull him out? I think even Royal Brother sent him an Imperial Decree, so he might just leave it up to his sickness."

Ren Zong could not help but laugh, "It's not like he has never done this before."

Prince Huan spread out his hands. "If he's determined to hide in the bamboo garden and not come out, I reckon only Fourth Sister-in-Law can call him out."

Ren Zong sighed, "Let him be."

Prince Huan thought for a moment before looking at Zhao Shu. "How about we go together tomorrow?"

Zhao Shu was slightly startled, but she nodded. "Alright."

Ren Zong said, "Someone sent a painting a few days ago. Mo'er should like it. Bring it along with you."

Duke Huan blinked his eyes, "Painting? It should be able to trick Merle to come out and meet us, right? Do you want to bring either Xun or Xu'er with you? is it more likely that he will show up? "

Zhao Shu asked, "Isn't it inappropriate for us to visit a patient?"

Ren Zong said with a smile, "This idea is not bad. I agree."

Prince Huan smiled mischievously. "Then I'll bring the two of them along?" He turned to Zhao Shu. "Do you mind if I borrow Xu'er for a while?"

Zhao Yu seemed rather helpless. "Uncle Wang is joking. Xu'er happened to have asked me when little brother Mo would be coming to the palace. I think he'll be very happy to bring him with me."

Prince Huan said, "That's good. It's best if we can trick him out of it. That way, someone will help me write down the Qilin Hall's files."

Seeing Qin Lie's joyous expression of "finally finding labor," Ren Zong and Zhao Shu looked at each other and laughed helplessly.

Prince Huan said, "That's right, royal brother. "Since my deputy minister has left without reason for so long, can I withhold his salary?"

Ren Zong replied with a smile, "Sure, as long as you are willing to deduct his salary, you can do as you wish."

Prince Huan sighed, "To tell you the truth, Imperial Brother, this year's harvest of my feudal fiefdom was extremely bad. I'll be counting on Mo'er's salary to live with."

Ren Zong cast a sidelong glance at the cracked flute in his hand. "I heard that you spent dozens of taels of silver to buy that flute in your hands? This flute should be enough to support your royal palace, which does not have more than thirty people, right? "

Prince Huan rubbed his chin, looking deep in thought. "Speaking of the Royal Mansion, the servants there said yesterday that my courtyard is in space, and they didn't get angry."

Ren Zong asked, "How about I find a suitable marriage for you? And then, I will choose some clever people from the palace and send them to the estate to serve. "

Duke Huan shrugged. "What's suitable? If one were to look at any family in the imperial court, they would not have eighteen unmarried ladies. Does royal brother plan on arranging a young lady for me? "

Ren Zong laughed and scolded, "Bullsh * t. If you give up on your plans and start a family, I will naturally pick one for you."

Prince Huan said, "Forget it. I'm happy and at ease by myself."

Zhao Shu asked, "How about buying a few birds to raise?"

"Good idea!" Prince Huan's eyes lit up. "I'll buy a few chickens to raise tomorrow. How about we wait and eat after New Year's Eve?"

After a moment of silence, Zhao Yu asked tentatively, "Is there anyone selling chicks right now?"

"No?" Prince Huan asked. He looked towards Ren Zong with an inquiring expression.

Ren Zong seriously thought for a moment, "I'm not too sure, but I think there should be."

Zhao Shu probed again. "Uncle Wang, can we eat that chicken until New Year's Eve?"

Duke Huan was stunned. "How old are the chicks?"

Zhao Shu pointed in a circle and gestured in a small circle. "It's about this big?"

Duke Huan was stunned, "She's that young? Are you for real? Are you sure? "

Zhao Shu looked at his fingers hesitantly before enlarging them again. "That big?"

Duke Huai's voice rose, "There's actually only that little?"

Zhao Shu simply enlarged it to the size of a fist. "It might be that big."

Prince Huan calculated the New Year's Eve date, "Feed them more, won't they grow faster?"

Zhao Shu thought for a moment. "Maybe it's too late to grow it to the point that it's edible?"

Duke Huan said stubbornly, "It will definitely be possible. We can stew a few more."

Zhao Shu asked doubtfully, "It didn't grow up and taste good?"

Prince Huan said, "It shouldn't be that bad, right?"

Zhao Shu asked, "Then why are ordinary chickens so big?" It was the size of a steamed chicken.

Prince Huan said, "Perhaps it's because of its growth that it can be sold at a good price. It's also because it's too small for its meat, so it can't earn the money of a chicken."

Zhao Shu agreed. "So, Ru …"

"You two?" Ren Zong finally could not bear it any longer and opened his mouth, "You are planning to discuss in front of me how you intend to raise chickens in a prince's mansion? Once the gates are opened, the yard will be filled with chickens? "

Duke Huan explained, "There isn't that much. We can raise a few and make a pot with it."

Ren Zong's eyebrows twitched, "So why do you raise chickens?"

Duke Huan said slowly, "Royal brother, you should know that I have already caused a locust plague in the feudal fiefdom, so my harvest is only fifty percent of what it was in the past. Well, if I take the rent as usual, they'll starve to death, so I've waived their rent this year and shipped ten carts of food. Then... "Right now, the whole Mansion can only rely on my salary to survive …"

There are only twenty-four of you in all. I've heard that half of your servants go home every year and return in a month and a half." "Tell me, can a secret envoy's salary not support that many people?

Duke Huan sighed, "Imperial Brother, you don't know this, but many places have been affected by locusts this year. Although it is not a serious situation, there will always be a few hungry people who will come out to rob the passersby. "Those servants who want to go home, if you don't have enough time, if you meet someone who dares to walk the path of doom, what will happen if you lose your life?"

Ren Zong raised his hand to hold his eyebrows, "So you intend to raise chickens in your manor?"

"No." "Royal brother, a fixed amnesty every three years was originally set for November. However, this year, in order to avoid Mo'er's coming of age ceremony and because of the locust plague, the amnesty was temporarily expanded to include more time, so I didn't think it was wrong. However, with the sudden increase in the power of amnesty, the Emperor naturally had no problem with it. However, there were no lack of people who wielded power in remote places. After the plague of locusts, people were already panicking, and the treasury was not a small amount of money. "In that case, my younger brother is worried that this will lead to chaos in the martial arts world."

Ren Zong was slightly startled, and then he understood the purpose of the blabbering. He looked at Zhao Shu, who was standing by the side with his hands hanging, and asked, "You also mean that?"

Zhao Shu said, "I thought Uncle Wang was right. It is a eventful autumn, and it is not appropriate to let the amnesty be too big. The incident that happened to Brother Mo this time had no lack of provocation from the underbrush of the martial arts world towards the noble king. royal father's second edict to strengthen himself has not been issued yet, please reconsider. "

Duke Huan stood up and knelt down on the ground, "I ask that royal brother reconsider."

Ren Zong said slowly, "This matter has been mentioned frequently in the recent days in the imperial court. Even you are coming to stop me now?"

Prince Huan said, "The amnesty was originally the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and the Privy Council. Since his duty was to do as he was told, his younger brother could not ignore it. Moreover, Chendi would never forget the drought twenty-three years ago. There was no harvest from the fields and everyone ate each other, so he didn't mind cooking the babies until their stomachs were cooked! "Chendi pleads …"

"Enough!" Ren Zong took a deep breath, then suppressed his anger and asked slowly, "Are you saying that I am an unconscious monarch? Do you want to trap the people of the world into a dead end and abandon the people of the world? "

Duke Huai bent down and said, "This subject dares not. Your royal brother has always ruled with kindness, so the world knows about benevolence. How could he fall into the world where food is sold to women? "

"Alright." After a long time, he sighed and said, "I will reconsider. You don't need to say anything more."

"Yes, then younger brother shall take his leave first."

Seeing that Ren Zong had nodded, Zhao Shu also knelt down and said, "Your son shall take his leave." Leaving with King Huai.