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

After the advance troops are gathered, Shen Yuan, the Crown Prince and others will take the emperor's order and rush to various prefectures to prepare for disaster prevention.

Xie Chengze and Xie Zimiao personally went to the city gate to see them off.

Xie Jinyu carefully tied the rope on Xie Chengze's red fur coat to prevent him from getting cold. There was a look of concern in his eyes, as if the person being sent out was Xie Chengze. He carefully reminded him, "Second brother, you stay in the capital alone, take good care of yourself, don't make enemies with the ministers in the court, and wait for me to come back."

Xie Chengze nodded, "Brother Crown Prince, you must be careful when you are outside."

Xie Jinyu suddenly smiled, stretched out her hands to hug Xie Chengze, her eyes fell on the man in white who was leading the horse behind him, and gently rubbed Xie Chengze's shoulder, "Then I will leave."

After saying that, he reluctantly let go of Xie Chengze and told Xie Zimiao, "Xiao Si, you are in Beijing, take good care of your second brother."

Xie Zimiao pointed at himself: Huh? Me?

But two days ago, my royal brother, you told me to stay away from my second brother?

Scratching his head, Xie Zimiao still replied obediently, "I know, brother."

Xie Jinyu turned around and got on the carriage, and rushed to Yingzhou with everyone. Xie Chengze watched him go away until the sound of sporadic horse hooves was heard behind him, then he turned around and looked at Shen Yuan who was late.

Shen Yuan was wearing a white fur coat, with half of the hilt of the green sword he carried with him faintly visible at his waist. His high standing green ponytail and the tall and fat black horse complemented each other perfectly, making the man look very dashing and charming.

"Minister Shen." Xie Zimiao greeted him, "Be careful on your journey."

"Thank you, Fourth Prince." Shen Yuan raised his hand to express his gratitude, then turned to look at Xie Chengze, "Second Prince."

"Minister Shen." Xie Chengze responded perfunctorily, repeating Xie Zimiao's words without changing a word, "Be careful on your way."

Hearing this, Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, and said with a half-smile, "Just now I saw the Second Prince and the Crown Prince hugging and saying goodbye. I was watching from afar and was very envious. I wonder if I have such an honor as well?"

"If the Second Prince favors me and encourages me, I will travel to Liaozhou this time as if I were assisted by God and will double my speed. I will return victoriously soon to comfort Your Majesty." The man took a step closer, raised his hand and pulled off the rope of the red fur coat, and his slender fingers entwined back and forth to tie two knots.

He looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction, "Your Highness, you are not so stingy, are you?"

Xie Chengze: ...

Who is the stingy one? He just said something mean, but he had to do it back!

However, Xie Chengze still agreed to his rude request, raised his head and said proudly, "Then you can hold me."

He won't take the initiative anyway!

Shen Yuan smiled, the sky was covered with gray cumulus clouds, snowflakes gradually fell from the sky and landed on the man's eyelashes, revealing a gentle and white look.

He took a step forward and embraced the young man in his arms.

"Your Highness, are you really not going to Liaozhou?" Shen Yuan lowered his eyelids, looking at the red-fur young man in his arms who was saying one thing and thinking another, with a half-smile, "Revisiting an old place may be a different experience."

"..." Xie Chengze reached his hand into the man's white fur coat, pinched his waist fiercely, and cursed in a low voice, "Shut up and get out of here."

Shen Yuan did not hide, and let him vent his anger until his subordinates came to urge him to set off. Then he lowered his head and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, you must be careful when you are alone in the capital."

Xie Chengze blinked his eyes and loosened his arms, "You don't have to worry about it."

Shen Yuan laughed deeply, then jumped on his horse, clasped his fists and said, "Take care, Your Highness."

In the snow, the man rode away, his long black whip stirring up the biting snow and wind, his black hair and white fur coat fluttering in the wind, his demeanor as righteous and majestic as described in the book.

Wherever he goes, it will be a place of justice and safety.

The figures of a man and a horse were walking farther and farther away. Suddenly, a cold wind blew. Xie Chengze couldn't help but wrap himself in his red fur coat. He felt that the capital city had become even colder.

This seemed to be the first time he and Shen Yuan were separated.

For some reason, he always felt empty, as if he was missing a layer of protective shell. He stood alone in this huge and unfamiliar capital city, feeling crisis on all sides, feeling uneasy, with no one to talk to or rely on.

"Brother, let's go back."

Xie Zimiao's voice came from beside him. Xie Chengze came back to his senses and responded softly.

Shen Yuan...

You have to come back as soon as possible.

……

……

……

Hahahaha! Shen Yuan! You'd better come back later!

In Chenghuan Palace, Xie Chengze sat on the warm kang, in front of him was a large copper basin with hot pot burning in it.

Zhu Xiaobiao, Jing Ze and Wuhen Wuji sat together. Xie Chengze crossed his legs, holding a small bowl, and raised his little head to stuff a mouthful of hot meat into his mouth.

Ah! It feels so good!

Going to court every day and just eating and drinking is so cool!

"Painter, are you done with the painting?" While eating, Xie Chengze did not forget to ask the court painter not far away.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. We're almost there." The painter sketched the scene of people sitting around a hot pot on paper, but he always felt that something was missing.

Xie Chengze walked over with a small bowl in his hand, and after observing for a while, he said, "Add more heat, it will seem warmer."

It's extremely cold here in Liaozhou, and Shen Yuan must be almost freezing to death there. If he sees the painting he sent, he will definitely be defeated, right?

Xie Chengze thought maliciously.

The painter followed his instructions and added a lot of heat around everyone. The whole painting really became warm instantly, making people want to get in and experience it for themselves.

Xie Chengze was very satisfied and was about to send someone to collect the reward silver when suddenly a guard staggered in from outside, rushing towards Xie Chengze with a cold wind, making him shiver.

"Your Highness! Something bad has happened! There's a message from the palace saying that Lord Shen is missing!"

"Crack——!"

The jade bowl in his hand suddenly fell to the ground and broke into three pieces. Xie Chengze rushed over and grabbed his collar, shouting, "What did you just say? Who's missing?!"

"Minister Shen! Lord Shen Yuan!" The guard swallowed and replied quickly.

He hadn't seen the Second Prince angry for a long time, and there was even... a hint of panic in his expression.

"How could he disappear?"

Xie Chengze felt his mind go blank. In the original book, Shen Yuan had never disappeared in Liaozhou!

"They must have encountered bandits. Lord Shen was attacked by bandits on the mountain while escorting supplies back to the city! By the time the people in the state government reacted, the sudden heavy snow had covered up all traces of Lord Shen!"

Xie Chengze's expression suddenly became stern.

There is no mention of bandits in the original text, perhaps because the decree from heaven came late and no one knew how much area it covered, so when the heavy snow came, the bandits in Liaozhou were not prepared in time and froze or starved to death in the mountains.

This time, the news of the coming snowstorm spread, and in order to survive, the bandits went down the mountain to stock up on winter food in advance, and even set their sights on government grain...

Even though Shen Yuan was a skilled martial artist, two fists could not defeat four hands. However, since he was missing and not dead, it meant that Shen Yuan was very likely still alive, but just had difficulty moving, such as being injured...

Or maybe he was hiding in the bandit's lair waiting for reinforcements, but was trapped in the snowy mountains and couldn't send a message...

No matter which one it was, he had to go and see it for himself.

He was afraid that if he didn't care, Shen Yuan would really die in Liaozhou.

Here, only Shen Yuan has the memory of his previous life, and only he can purge the treacherous ministers in the court, allowing Xie Chengze to be at ease as a hands-off boss without having to fear life and death.

He couldn't trust anyone else.

With both hands he raised the red fur coat and put it on himself, Xie Chengze ordered in a cold voice, "Prepare the sedan chair, I want to go to the Golden Throne Hall!"

He wanted to see which group of desperate bandits dared to rob his people!

Inside the Golden Palace, the ministers stood in a circle, discussing the matter.

Shen Yuan disappeared and the government grain was robbed. Not only did Liaozhou lack a key general to resist the snow disaster, but the royal majesty was also provoked and slapped in the face. The fact that the Minister of Justice was "killed" by bandits was simply a disgrace to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the most important thing now is to arrange for personnel to take over Liaozhou as soon as possible, send troops to eliminate the bandits, and search for Minister Shen!"

"Not good! It's already snowing heavily in Liaozhou. Going up the mountain to suppress the bandits and search for people now will only lead to casualties, which is not worth the loss!"

"So you mean to ignore Minister Shen?"

"That's not what I meant. I'm just stating the facts! Minister Shen's life is important, but the lives of the people and soldiers in Liaozhou are equally important!"

The ministers argued fiercely, and no one was willing to give in. Some insisted on suppressing the bandits and finding the man, while others said that Minister Shen might have died. Although it was a pity, the most urgent task was to deal with the snow disaster and continue to transport supplies.

Emperor Jian was exhausted after listening to this, and finally asked, "Is there anyone willing to take over the affairs of Liaozhou?"

The hall suddenly became quiet.

Everyone knows that taking over Liaozhou at this time not only means reorganizing all disaster prevention matters in Liaozhou, but also trying to deal with the bandits, looking for Shen Yuan's traces, and perhaps even recovering the stolen government grain.

With such a big mess, anyone with a clear head would know not to go.

"No one is willing to go?" Looking at these ministers who were as silent as quails, Emperor Jian angrily slammed the dragon table with both hands and scolded, "What's the point of me keeping you! It's better to chop off your heads and spill your blood on the snow. Maybe it can melt the thick ice and snow for the people of Liaozhou!"

All the ministers nodded in agreement and lowered their heads, not daring to look at Emperor Jian.

At this moment, a very crisp and clear voice suddenly rang out outside the hall, like the sound of nature, saving the ministers from danger.

"Your son is willing to go to Liaozhou!"