Drunk Bamboo

"I swear I won't tell anyone." Xie Yuzhu raised her hand to promise.

Hua Qinfeng sat down and spoke slowly, "I was not good at studying since I was young, so my father was very unhappy. At the age of thirteen, I joined the Xiao family army and garrisoned in the western border with the army. I only returned to Zhongdu to see my father once every one or two years, and the relationship between us became increasingly distant. Three years ago, I came back from the western border to celebrate the New Year, and brought back the news of a great victory over the You Kingdom. My father was very happy and rewarded the soldiers of the three armies. I was promoted directly from the General of Chariots and Cavalry to the General, and was named General Changfeng. In the same year, I was a young man, and before my birthday, my father named me the King of Wind in advance and gave me a palace. I also moved out of the palace, bringing with me my nanny and Bai Guo, as well as some palace servants who had served me since I was a child."

"On the eve of New Year's Eve, I accompanied Madam to dinner. You know, family dinners are for casual conversation. I casually said a few words: some old officials in the court look old and pale, probably because they spend too much time in the study and don't exercise often. When they get old, they should enjoy their old age like Madam and not work too hard. My father's complexion is not good either. Tomorrow at the family dinner on New Year's Eve, I will talk to him and teach him a set of health exercises to stretch his muscles and bones."

Xie Yuzhu continued, "Your Highness, did this with good intentions but ended up doing something bad?"

Hua Qinfeng sighed lightly, and soon showed an indifferent expression: "I haven't done anything yet, so I have no chance to attend the New Year's Eve dinner. The next morning, my father summoned me to the palace. In Baoping Hall, my father, the prime minister, the imperial censor and other old officials were waiting for me. Only then did I understand why the old officials gave up the happy time at home playing with their children and grandchildren, and rushed to the palace to angrily rebuke me, the prince who had just been promoted to general and crowned king."

It was obvious that someone was targeting Hua Qinfeng and couldn't bear to see him being promoted repeatedly and being crowned king.

Xie Yuzhu asked: "Someone spread what you said that night, and it wasn't your original words, but exaggerated them?"

Hua Qinfeng looked at her in astonishment, then praised her, "You are indeed smart. At almost the same time that night, my father and those old ministers received the news. The news was delivered in different ways, some were delivered in writing, some were delivered orally by spies, and some were left by unknown people... The content completely misinterpreted my words, roughly meaning that I did not respect old ministers, despised civil officials, was proud and complacent, and offended His Majesty, which was disrespectful. My father was furious and immediately removed my position as a general and demoted me to a captain. He also fined me one year's salary and ordered me to reflect on my mistakes for three months, and I was not allowed to step out of the palace gate."

He had lived in the palace since he was a child. Even though his mother protected him very well, he could still hear some gossips from the palace maids and eunuchs, and he was not completely unaware of the right and wrong in the palace. But his mother only taught him that fathers should be kind and sons should be filial, brothers should be friendly and younger brothers should be respectful, and that he should be upright, have a sense of propriety, be honest and have a sense of shame, be open-minded and fearless. He did so over the years.

After hearing this, Xie Yuzhu was stunned, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

She watched Hua Qinfeng talk about his miserable life in a normal tone, but without a trace of resentment or hatred. How broad-minded did he have to be so open-minded?

Xie Yuzhu suddenly wanted to know more about him, so she asked, "After the reflection, the prince went to the western frontier and never returned to Zhongdu?"

"If I hadn't married you, I wouldn't have been able to come back. But I don't want to come back either, I just miss Mammy and want to see her. Now it's not that easy to go back."

"Did you find out later who betrayed you?"

"We have found out. Except for the people who are staying in the mansion now, they are all."

Staring at him in disbelief: "All of them!"

How many people want to harm him?

"There are people from my father, people from my mother, and people from the Imperial Concubine." Hua Qinfeng chuckled and looked at Xie Yuzhu with his bottomless eyes. "How is it? Are you scared?"

Xie Yuzhu: You can still laugh? You must have an extraordinary mental strength.

Those are the three people closest to him!

How terrible is the palace? His biological father and the two mothers who grew up with him want to harm him?

Is it useful to hide in the west? There is nowhere to hide.

Xie Yuzhu was scared just thinking about it, but the person in front of her looked so relaxed and contented.

But she thought again, what was there to be afraid of Hua Qinfeng, who was impulsive and stubborn? She shook her head, put the Poisonous Grass Sutra aside, picked up the teapot on the other side, and poured herself a glass of water.

He drank some water to calm down, then raised his eyelids slightly, a little helplessly: "I'm scared. Even if the prince returns to the west, I'm afraid they will cause trouble for me."

Hua Qinfeng laughed loudly. He didn't expect Xie Yuzhu could still calmly confront him. It was really interesting.

"Don't worry, I am only a captain now, a prince without real power. I have no foundation in the court, and no courtiers support me. I am not a threat to anyone. Moreover, I am lucky to marry you. The Xie family will not enter the officialdom, and you will not fight for anything. I am very satisfied."

"Don't worry? Do you know what these three people represent? Supreme power, unshakable status, one word can make people fall into the abyss, one word can also make people shine, just one word from them. How can you remain indifferent, Your Majesty?" No wonder Chaoyang and Nanny Bai were so worried, they had taken on all his share.

He naturally reached out and took the teapot and cup in front of Xie Yuzhu, poured water and drank it himself.

Hua Qinfeng grinned: "Didn't you say that they are all my relatives, what can they do to me? Now it's not very good, my father has given me a marriage, my mother and the imperial concubine have given you gifts, they are very polite, just like a family."

Xie Yuzhu's face was gloomy: "Although the Xie family has no official career, their students are all over the world."

He looked indifferent: "So what if there are many students? Do they all follow what the Xie family says? Reading and learning, understanding civilization and reason, aren't they learning how to be loyal to the emperor and the country, and serve the court?"

Seeing that he was so open-minded, Xie Yuzhu didn't say much, just said: "I hope it will be as the prince said."

"I feel relieved after saying it. I didn't dare to say these words to Nanny and Chaoyang. If they heard me, they would think I was daydreaming and worry about me. I'm not stupid. I understand what they said, but they are all my relatives who are connected to me by blood."

Hua Qinfeng stretched out his two slender legs, put his arms on the table, looked relaxed, and said to her with a smile: "Xie Yuzhu, I find that you are really amazing. When I talk to you, I can speak out my thoughts unconsciously. It's really refreshing. And you can understand what I want without me saying much. You are not like Chaoyang who frowns and looks miserable at every turn, and you are not like Nanny who looks worried and sad. But you listen carefully, think, respond, and stop when it is enough."

Is this a compliment?

Xie Yuzhu smiled and said, "I am honored to be the prince's confession tree hole."

“What is the Talk Tree Hole?”

“It’s a place where you can confide in others, a place where you can keep your secrets and not let them out.”

Hua Qinfeng was as happy as if he had discovered a new continent: "Isn't that a close friend?"

Xie Yuzhu repeated: "A close friend?"

He slapped Xie Yuzhu on the shoulder and said generously: "Xie Yuzhu, from now on you will be my close friend. If anyone dares to bully you, I will definitely vent my anger for you!"

Unable to bear the force, he leaned forward, then rubbed his shoulder which was hurt by the slap: "Thank you, Your Highness. But, could you please hold back next time?"

He laughed: "Sorry, sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

Everything was discussed, but Hua Qinfeng had no intention of leaving.

Xie Yuzhu asked again: "Does the prince have anything else to say?"

Hua Qinfeng rarely showed hesitation, and discussed: "If I still sleep in the side room tonight, Nanny and Chaoyang will definitely come to me tomorrow morning to ask the reason. It's really troublesome. Besides, I don't know how many spies there are in the mansion..."

Xie Yuzhu's heart beat faster instantly. Are they going to consummate their marriage tonight?

There is no way to escape what has to be done sooner or later.

Xie Yuzhu lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty, please go to the bed first. I will come later."

Hua Qinfeng couldn't help but take another look at her rosy face, which he felt was so pink and tender and very cute.

Cute?! Hua Qinfeng was frightened by the strange words that popped up in his mind. He quickly stood up and walked towards the bed.

Xie Yuzhu sorted out the scattered papers on the desk and calmed her mind.

Take a deep breath and take a firm step forward.

When I came to the bed, I saw Hua Qinfeng lying on the bed with his arms and legs spread out, taking up the entire bed, and snoring loudly.

"Your Highness?" she called softly, bending down to see that his brows were furrowed.

Seeing that he didn't respond, she gently poked his forehead with her finger and called out, "Hua Qinfeng?"

The person in the sleep not only did not wake up, but instead opened his brows, wrapped in the quilt, turned over and slept even more deeply.

I actually fell asleep.

Xie Yuzhu: It seems that I think too much.