How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

The air fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, Shen Yuan suddenly stepped back and Xie Jinyu stood up suddenly.

"Second brother——"

"Your Highness, the Second Prince, what do you mean?"

"Minister Shen, please don't misunderstand me," Xie Chengze lifted Shen Yuan's chin and said with a smile, "My body is not very healthy now, but there are still many termites in this court that are eroding the fortune of our great Jian'an Dynasty. I hope you can stay by the side of the crown prince and serve him loyally."

Shen Yuan was startled, and looked at Xie Chengze with an increasingly deep expression.

He thought that the reborn Xie Chengze said those words just now in order to win him over, and he was even prepared to reject him sternly, but he didn't expect that Xie Chengze would actually push him towards the prince on his own initiative.

why?

In his previous life, Xie Chengze had clearly told him time and again that he wanted to win him over. He was also very aware of how much of a help he could be to the prince. If Xie Chengze was smart, he would not give up on winning him over, lest he join the prince's camp.

Now pushing himself away, what exactly does he want to do?

Is he afraid that joining his camp will change the course of his past life? Is Xie Chengze also planning ahead based on the course of his past life to implement a foolproof plan to overthrow the prince?

Originally, based on Xie Chengze’s views on the court and Yizhou, Shen Yuan felt that Xie Chengze had made a lot of progress after his rebirth. But now it seems that he is still stupid and incompetent.

It seems that he is paranoid.

Shen Yuan took a step back and said in a heavy voice, "I know what's going on. Your Highness, don't worry about it!"

He will join the prince on his own, so there is no need for Xie Chengze to add fuel to the fire!

Xie Jinyu also stepped forward and held Xie Chengze's hand, "Second brother, I don't need anyone else, as long as you accompany me."

Shen Yuan almost couldn't catch his breath.

He knew that the prince valued brotherhood, and he also knew that the prince had just grown up, but Shen Yuan, who was already a powerful official, was so angry when he heard this that he felt like smoke was coming out of his head, and he felt very disappointed in himself.

It is a big taboo for the crown prince to be soft-hearted!

Xie Chengze also looked at Xie Jinyu with complicated eyes: No, my friend, you really dare to say anything.

This is why Shen Yuan was taught by Tutor Shen, who taught the prince etiquette, ethics and morals, and was a staunch monarchist. Shen Yuan followed Tutor Shen from childhood to adulthood, so naturally he also followed this philosophy, "loyal but not stubborn, conspiracies but not rebellion", and was the emperor's favorite loyal minister who would not rebel.

If there was any other ambitious and powerful official in power, he would have kicked out this indecisive prince and ascended the throne himself.

Xie Chengze pinched his brows and said with a tired look, "I will talk to my father about the matter of going to Yizhou. You guys go now. I am tired."

"Second brother..." Xie Jinyu wanted to say something, but was glared at by Xie Chengze. He had no choice but to purse his lips and leave with Shen Yuan.

After leaving Chenghuan Palace, Xie Jinyu's face, which was still full of grievance and dependence, suddenly became gloomy.

"Minister Shen." Xie Jinyu shot a warning look at Shen Yuan, "You just rejected my second brother. Do you want to join him?"

Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then he understood. It seemed that the prince knew the importance of the matter. He was afraid that he would join Xie Chengze's sect and strengthen the power of the second prince's lineage, thus threatening his position as the prince.

"Your Highness is worrying too much." Shen Yuan surrendered, "Since ancient times, the court has been most afraid of princes forming cliques for personal gain. Naturally, I will not join the Second Prince's school, but will work hard for Your Majesty."

"I'm glad you know." Xie Jinyu felt slightly relieved.

As soon as Shen Yuan returned to Beijing, he was favored and valued by his second brother. He was really worried that his second brother would ask to take Shen Yuan away, and then treat Shen Yuan as he did when they were children and ignore him.

He had finally been able to reconcile with his second brother, and now he would not tolerate any sand in his eyes.

"Let's go. I'll take you to meet some people. Then we can go south to Yizhou, which will be helpful to you and your second brother." Xie Jinyu said coldly.

Shen Yuan saluted: "Yes."

……

After Shen Yuan and Xie Jinyu left, Wuhen landed behind Xie Chengze silently, "Your Highness."

Xie Chengze turned around and asked, "Found it?"

Wuhen half-knelt down, raised his sleeve to wipe the fine sand off his feet, and put on the red shoes and boots for him, "Yes, it's done."

"You don't have to help me put them on." Xie Chengze shrank his feet. As a grown man, it always felt weird for him to ask another grown man to help him put on his shoes.

Wuhen's men stopped moving, looked up and said puzzledly, "Your Highness has been acting strange lately, as if he has become a different person."

Xie Chengze: "...Put them on, put them on, I like you to put on my shoes the most."

Wuhen lowered his head, and a faint smile flashed across the corner of his lips.

Your Highness, you have never changed.

After putting on his shoes, Xie Chengze took Wuhen and walked towards the imperial study. As soon as he went out, he saw a familiar figure climbing up the wall of his palace on a huge bamboo ladder.

The guard at the door scratched his head and tried to dissuade him, "Fourth Prince, please stop climbing. If you fall, how are we going to explain to Second Prince?"

"Don't bother me! I sneaked in here, it has nothing to do with you!" Xie Zimiao climbed the bamboo ladder diligently, carrying a small mahogany box on his back. "I'll just take a look at Second Brother from a distance, and I'll leave after I send the old ginseng off!"

Xie Chengze was amused and said loudly, "Then you continue to climb. Second brother will leave first."

“Okay!” Xie Zimiao responded. After two seconds, he reacted and turned around to look, “Second brother? Second brother, you’re out?”

He turned his head quickly, and the wooden box on his back seemed to be quite heavy. Under the effect of gravity, it fell backwards. The two guards widened their eyes in fear, but they did not dare to let go of the bamboo ladder in their hands, for fear that the ladder would fall and injure Xie Zimiao.

"Ah - Second brother, help me!" Xie Zimiao covered his eyes in fear.

Xie Chengze stepped forward quickly, lowered his arms slightly, and firmly caught the falling Xie Zimiao, saying helplessly, "Next time you fall, cover the back of your head first."

Xie Zimiao opened the ten fingers that were covering his eyes. The boy, who had just tied his hair, smiled with an extremely innocent look in his eyes, "Second brother, I remember this."

Xie Chengze put him down and straightened his messy green palace robe for him. "I'm going to my father's place. You give the things to the guards and go back to Yufu Palace."

Xie Zimiao quickly handed the heavy wooden box on his back to the guard next to him, and tentatively moved closer to his side. Seeing that Xie Chengze showed no sign of disgust, he quickly took advantage of the situation and hugged his arm, "Second brother, I'm going to see the emperor too!"

Xie Chengze rubbed his head and said, "Okay, whatever you want."

The two went to the imperial study, and were told by the guards that the emperor had gone to the imperial garden. So the two chose another way to the imperial garden and found Emperor Jian who was enjoying the flowers and playing chess in the pavilion.

Without the trouble of memorials, Emperor Jian seemed to be in a much better mental state. Seeing Xie Chengze and Xie Zimiao, he waved at them with interest, "Come on, come on, both of you, come and play chess with me. **'s chess skills are so bad that I really don't want to play with him!"

The ** on the side laughed awkwardly twice.

Xie Zimiao pretended not to hear, sat down in the deputy seat and started to fiddle with the tea. Xie Chengze had no choice but to sit opposite Emperor Jian and look at the chess game on the board.

Emperor Jian's black pieces are calm and experienced, and can be said to be playing steadily and steadily, with both offense and defense ready, making them very difficult to attack. Although **'s white pieces are in a losing position, they are also quite clever, and with a little use of them, it will not be difficult to win the game.

It seems that ** is giving in. As a minister, one always has to please the emperor. It is not acceptable to lose or win.

But as a son, you don’t need to be polite.

Xie Chengze killed the black chess pieces so badly that they were covered in dust. Emperor Jian was so angry that he put down the chessboard and stopped playing. "Xie Chengze, you are so good, you won't give me any concessions?"

Xie Chengze swiftly dodged the attack of the chess piece and said with disdain, "Father, your chess skills are really bad."

If you lose, you lose. Why are you still so angry?

Xie Zimiao handed over the teacup attentively, "Brother, have some tea~"

Emperor Jian: ...

Where's my tea!