Dragon Pattern Roll Set

After Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang successfully arrived at Beihai Imperial City, under the guidance of his servants, they entered Xuanyuan Jie's mansion specially prepared for him.

Although it is also an imperial palace, the overall style of Beihai is very different from that of the Song Dynasty Palace. The overall architectural style is more rough and rough. In addition, it is covered with heavy snow and the altitude is high. The whole has a very majestic and shocking feeling.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang stopped in front of the gate of the Prince's Mansion, and saw many servants already waiting at the gate, still kneeling like that.

Zhan Zhao felt a little emotional, the people in Beihai didn't know anything else, but everyone must have been wearing knee pads all year round or had calluses at all, otherwise those who kneeled all day long would be crippled.

A young eunuch who looked very very clever ran out, knelt down and saluted, "Your Highness."

Bai Yutang glanced at him.

"The servant's name is Fu Gao, and he was sent by the emperor to serve His Royal Highness." The little eunuch was very attentive, but he was not annoying, and he handled it just right.

Bai Yutang nodded, walked in with Fu Gao, and asked, "Are you in charge of the operation of the entire mansion?"

Fu Gao nodded, "That's right, the prince can tell the little one what he wants."

After Fu Gao finished speaking, Bai Yutang was stunned.

Zhan Zhao was curious, "Prince?"

Fu Gao smiled and said, "Hey, Your Highness is the crown prince recognized by the emperor, and the servants already know it."

Bai Yutang thought it was funny, "I'm not sure if I'm the prince, but the prince?"

Fu Gao waved his hand, "The emperor himself told the servants that you are the future crown prince of Beihai, the next emperor of Beihai."

Bai Yutang frowned slightly.

Zhan Zhao on the side winked at him, what does that mean - low oil, or else just make a mistake like this?If you succeed Beihai as emperor, we will make peace with the Great Song Dynasty, and we will save ourselves from having to fight or not.

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao speechlessly, saw that there was some snow on his hair, and brushed him with his hand.

This hand touched Zhan Zhao's hair, and Bai Yutang also realized it... Oh, I'm used to it.

Zhan Zhao felt a little helpless - the mouse was exposed so quickly!

Bai Yutang withdrew his hand.

Zhan Zhao glared at him - pay attention!

Bai Yutang was embarrassed - I tried my best.

Fu Gao looked at Zhan Zhao and then at Bai Yutang, but said nothing, and gave directions with a smile.

While walking, Zhan Zhao asked Fu Gao, "Have you been working in the palace for a long time?"

Fu Gao nodded, "It's been more than ten years. Your Highness is new here. If you don't understand anything, just ask the servant."

Bai Yutang nodded.

At this time, Su Yi, who had arranged the troops, came in, bowed to Bai Yutang, and then bowed his hands to Zhan Zhao, "This little brother, you're really good at it!"

Zhan Zhao hurriedly waved his hands, "Laugh and laugh."

"It's not a joke." Su Yi was completely in admiration for Zhan Zhao, "My brothers and I have been eye-opening today."

Zhan Zhao chatted with him for a while, and felt that he was easy to get along with, not to mention, the few helpers sent by Xuanyuan Jie to Bai Yutang were quite decent.

"Your Highness, it's past noon, do you want to eat?" Fu Gao asked Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang thought for a while and asked, "Do you have any special food in Beihai?"

Zhan Zhao's ears perked up, now that his status is different, he can't be the same as usual, especially when there are people around, Zhan Zhao should try his best to behave himself.But sometimes the habit is hard to change, for example, he can't help but want to pinch Bai Yutang or hook his shoulders, but he can't do it right now.And Bai Yutang was even more awkward, he was used to shutting up the cat when he opened his mouth, and now he called Twelve.Fortunately, the name Zhan Zhao had a twisted interpretation of Yin Xiaozhu, so Bai Yutang could barely remember it, although every time he barked, the cat would secretly give him a white look.

"Because of the cold in Beihai, there are more soup pots in the palace." Fu Gao replied, "Ordinary people eat more quickly, and meat rolls are the most common food."

"Bake...meat rolls?" Zhan Zhao's eyes lit up a little.

Bai Yutang was afraid that he would be exposed, but Fu Gao was very clever. He had seen Zhan Zhao all the way up just now, and he was shocked. Moreover, Bai Yutang seemed to be having an affair with him.After all, Fu Gao has lived in the palace for a long time and has never seen anything. He thinks that this little brother is definitely trying to curry favor.So he even flattered him, "Brother Yin seems to be a person who likes to eat?"

Zhan Zhaoxin said - what a vision!So he nodded unceremoniously, but after all, he is a Beihai person in disguise, so it’s not easy to make it look like he doesn’t know anything, so Zhan Zhao asked, “I wonder if the meatloaf in the imperial city is the same as the one in my hometown?” What's the difference?"

"Of course there are!" Fu Gao smiled, "The meatloaf in the imperial city is very particular, and there are more than ten kinds of meat in it."

Bai Yutang knew that Zhan Zhao must be hungry since he "exercised" all the way up, so he said, "I really haven't eaten."

"The servant heard that His Royal Highness is from the south of the Yangtze River and has been living in the Central Plains. If the prince wants to try it, why not prepare a table of special Beihai delicacies, which are guaranteed to be unavailable in the Central Plains."

Bai Yutang nodded and let him do it.

Fu Gao ran away immediately.

After dismissing the others, Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao finally sat down to rest.

There are two rooms in the courtyard, since Zhan Zhao is Bai Yutang's personal bodyguard, so he justifiably lives next door, and the two rooms are next to each other.And the best thing is that the windows of the two rooms are adjacent to each other. Zhan Zhao can jump into Bai Yutang's room next door as long as he jumps out of the window. This is really convenient for the cat-like Zhan Zhao But that's all.

When there was no one around, Zhan Zhao twisted his neck and flexed his muscles, and joked with Bai Yutang who was washing his face, "I said, Your Highness, you have ten brothers in this imperial city, and everyone seems to look at you." Not very pleasing to the eye."

Bai Yutang sat down, "I should be even more displeased now."

Zhan Zhao smiled, and then asked Bai Yutang, "Did you notice something?"

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, "Which aspect?"

"There are very few people in Beihai." Zhan Zhao rested his chin, "Didn't Zhao Pu say that Beihai made a birth order many years ago? But why did the people we saw come from Northwest Hai County to the imperial city here?" so little?"

Bai Yutang nodded, "It's indeed a little less. Could it be that they all went to serve in the army?"

"I didn't see any military camps near the imperial city." Zhan Zhao felt that something was wrong, and asked Bai Yutang, "Shouldn't our first step be to figure out the strength of Beihai's troops?"

Bai Yutang nodded, thinking that Zhan Zhao's suggestion was good.

While talking, Fu Gao brought people in from outside and set up a strange banquet for Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao.

As expected of Fu Gao who knows how to handle affairs, the things he prepared were impeccable in every aspect. Bai Yutang sat down and gave Zhan Zhao a hand.

Fu Gao was stunned, looked at Zhan Zhao in surprise, and was even more sure... This Yin Twelve is not only good at martial arts, but also someone Bai Yutang values.

Zhan Zhao is helpless...that mouse is easy to pull, this habit can't be changed, so - squint him with his eyes.

Bai Yutang really got it right, how did he change it in a while, seeing that Fu Gao was still in a daze, he pointed to the opposite side, "Sit down and eat too."

Fu Gao was so frightened that he quickly waved his hands, "I don't dare, what a shame."

Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows indifferently, "I'm just a quack, sit down and chat while eating."

Fu Gao sat down tremblingly, looked at Zhan Zhao, and saw that Bai Yutang was still serving him food. The two got along more like friends than master and servant.

Zhan Zhao saw that Fu Gao was sitting on the side stupidly and didn't eat, so he picked up a chopsticks dish for him, "Eat more, you are the time to grow up at your age."

Fu Gao opened his mouth stupidly, staring at Zhan Zhao in a daze.He was a pariah since he was a child. When he was a child, he took his younger sister to live in exile, and he couldn't even eat enough.Ruthlessly entered the palace to be an eunuch, and endured hardships all the way up, only relying on foresight to save his life.He only knows master and slave, he has seen a lot of intrigues in the palace, who has ever regarded him as a friend... This is really the first time.

Fu Gao was eating, looked at Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao, and suddenly sighed.

Zhan Zhao was full of praise for a chicken roll, but seeing Fu Gao sighing and frowning, he was a little puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Fu Gao looked at Bai Yutang who was drinking on the opposite side, "Your Highness is so nice... how can it be done?"

Bai Yutang was stunned, but Zhan Zhao was amused, "Hey, Xiao Fugao, since you are his follower, isn't it a good thing to be a master? Why do you like to follow wicked people?"

Fu Gao shook his head and said, "Master Yin, if I were just an ordinary family, I would be lucky to meet such a kind master, but this is the imperial palace!"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other.

Fu Gao frowned, "Your Highness, you have lived freely in the rivers and lakes for a long time, but this palace is full of intrigues, you don't know..."

As he said that, Fu Gao lowered his voice, "Your Highness, those royal brothers and brothers of yours are not fuel-efficient lamps."

Bai Yutang smiled lightly and nodded, "I see."

"Hey, Your Highness, those trials just now were just a blow to the horse. If you are good at martial arts, you can survive it, but it's hard to defend against an arrow! No one will give in to anyone, but now we all have a common enemy, and it is you..."

Bai Yutang continued to drink silently, while Zhan Zhao looked at Fu Gao thoughtfully.

"Originally, the few princes are all in the same category, but the tenth prince may be favored a little bit." Fu Gao shook his head, "But now the emperor's favor for you can be seen by everyone, and the palace has already leaked it , Said that you are the next prince. Then you have become the target of public criticism, not only those princes and grandchildren, I am afraid that those ministers will also come back to make things difficult for you..."

Zhan Zhao was curious, "Princes and grandchildren can understand why jealousy turns into hatred. It's too late for ministers to curry favor with His Highness. Why do you want to hurt him?"

"Hey... Mr. Yin, you have never been an official, and your thinking is too simple." Xiao Fugao was helpless.

The corner of Zhan Zhao’s mouth twitched——I was an official, and the fourth rank is not too big but not too small...It feels like a failure...

"The ministers in the palace are basically divided into cliques and have their own masters who support them." Fu Gao said, "The most important point is that no matter what, those princes are all from Beihai, but Your Highness... your biological mother is Han people, that is to say, you are of mixed race..."

"There should be a lot of mixed blood in Beihai, right?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"Yes, yes, but mixed blood basically cannot enter the court to be an official." Fu Gao sighed, "Plus, your highness, you asked the emperor to abolish the registration system as soon as you met the emperor. Many ministers have hundreds or even thousands of people in their families. The untouchables work for them and make cattle and horses for them. You have saved many suffering people, but you have offended all the high officials in the court."

After Fu Gao finished speaking, seeing Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looking at him, he jumped up in fright, "I'm talking too much."

Bai Yutang pointed to the seat again, motioning for him—sit back.

Fu Gao then sat down and looked at Bai Yutang.

Bai Yutang didn't speak, and served Zhan Zhao with food while drinking.

Zhan Zhao ate Beihai delicacies, and felt that there was a unique roughness in the food, and the taste was also a mixture of several flavors, which was very special.

Fu Gao waited there for Bai Yutang to speak, but he didn't come after waiting for a long time, so he looked at Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao was busy eating right now, and from the expression on Bai Yutang's serving him food, Fu Gao could see a concern from the bottom of his heart, and for a while, he was a little lost in thought.

At this time, Bai Yutang asked, "After the abolition of the registration system, what happened to the untouchables who were originally enslaved?"

"Oh." Fu Gao said, "They will all become civilians, which means that they don't have to pay untouchable fees, and they don't have to pay fees for leaving their citizenship. Then they don't have to rely on working for their masters to save their lives, let alone They have been bought and sold, and if others hurt them, they can report to the yamen... Also, the most important thing is that they can live a stable life, get married and have children, and there is hope in the future. of."

"Except for the nationality system, are the other systems in Beihai close to the Central Plains?" Bai Yutang asked.

"Right." Fu Gao nodded.

"That's not bad." Bai Yutang expressed satisfaction.

Zhan Zhao asked Fu Gao, "You look like a smart person, did you recommend yourself to the emperor to serve His Highness, or did the Emperor order you to come?"

"Hey." Fu Gao smiled and said, "Actually, the emperor asked many servants at that time, but most of them refused. I recommended myself."

"You're also quite interesting." Zhan Zhao found it interesting, "With your cleverness, you should be able to see the stakes that those people can see. Why do you still take the initiative to jump into the fire pit?"

"Hey." Fu Gao smiled and said, "Actually, I have a younger sister outside the palace, who is fifteen this year."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, waiting for him to continue.

"Originally, our two brothers and sisters were all untouchables, and my younger sister could only marry an untouchable, but my sister is very good-looking, and there is a scholar who loves her! It's a pity that one of them is a commoner and the other is a untouchable. Intermarriage will be decapitated, now it's all right, I received the news yesterday that the scholar went to my house to propose marriage on the day he received the news that the registration system was cancelled, and they will get married in a few days." Fu Gao said, "I will repay my sister's favor."

Zhan Zhao nodded, "Are you a good brother?"

"In fact, there are many servants who are very grateful to His Highness." Fu Gao said, "We are all untouchables! Is it only the untouchables who are servants! This is all right! At least the family has hope!"

Zhan Zhao smiled, "Isn't that good?"

"It's good, but we have no power, unlike those high-ranking officials who have all their rights." Fu Gao said, touching his chin, "But then again, the emperor has the most power. It's done!"

"Besides the emperor, who else is in power in the palace?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"It's mainly the ten princes, each with their own fans." Fu Gao said, "The tenth prince Xuanyuan Jue is the most favored, but he is young and arrogant, so he basically has no influence. But the eldest prince and the third prince , Fifth Prince, and Seventh Prince, these four are the most powerful, and the First Prince and Fifth Prince are the most fierce contenders."

"I remember there is Xuanyuan Po in Northwest Hai County, why isn't he one of the top ten princes?" Zhan Zhao was curious.

"No!" Fu Gao shook his head vigorously, "The emperor divided the princes into three groups. The first group, mostly older ones, were all driven to the cold frontier and never entered the imperial city. Many of them were already dead. .”

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang wondered - there is such a father?

"In addition, the middle-aged ones are all county kings in various places, while the younger ones stay with them and enjoy real power. They are the top ten princes at the moment." Fu Gao replied, not forgetting to add, "Your Majesty They don't even like daughters, and all daughters are used to win relationships with courtiers who are courteous and rewarded."

Colleagues Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang both frowned, and felt a little helpless—Xuanyuan Po was really not favored, and he couldn't even enter the imperial city, so how could he fight for the throne?Could it be that after killing all the ten princes, it will be his turn to usurp the throne?

Afterwards, the witty and eccentric Fu Gao told Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang about the basic situation of the Beihai Dynasty and the power connections of the several princes. This lecture took almost an entire afternoon.

After listening to the two, they realized that the Northern Sea Dynasty was not as stable as the rumors said. Although Xuanyuan Jie monopolized the power, the internal structure of the Dynasty was quite complicated.

After Fu Gao finished speaking, he went outside to continue his work.

Zhan Zhao turned a cup on the table and asked Bai Yutang, "This Beihai Palace is much more complicated than the Song Dynasty Palace!"

Bai Yutang nodded, "That's right, the Zhao family is thin, and there are only one Zhao Zhen and one Zhao Pu. If Zhao Pu is greedy for power and has ambitions, he may cause some trouble, but he only wants to be an idle prince. He also tried his best to ensure that his nephew's country is stable, and no one can fight Zhao Zhen if he wants to."

"Yes, but there are too many heirs on Xuanyuan Jie's side. Besides, those princes have their own powers. Xuanyuan Jie is so cruel, and it is not impossible for them to usurp the throne." Zhan Zhao said, "We have entered the palace now , It is true that the legendary internal stability of the palace has been broken, but the problem is that we may be involved in endless palace struggles before we stop him from attacking the Song Dynasty!"

Bai Yutang frowned, "To a certain extent, it is indeed a bit more difficult to help Xuanyuanpo, a prince who can't even enter the imperial city, grab the throne."

"And..." Zhan Zhao said to Bai Yutang, holding his chin, "Once there is a mutiny in the imperial city, or if several princes fight for the throne, don't you think that the people of Beihai will be miserable?"

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, and laughed, "Do you really think that I will fail to be the emperor of Beihai? Xuanyuan Jie is so cunning that he doesn't even know what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd."

"That's true."

"Let's take one step at a time." Bai Yutang patted Zhan Zhao, "I always feel that Xuanyuan Jie must have other calculations, it's not that simple."

Zhan Zhao squeezed Bai Yutang's hand that was unconsciously placed on his shoulder, helplessly, "I said, Your Highness, you should pay attention, it's fine if there's no one here, if you do this twice in front of Xuanyuan Jie, maybe we Both of them are wearing clothes!"

Bai Yutang withdrew his hand embarrassingly, feeling that he really should change, not because of anything else, but because he was afraid that if he didn't pay attention, he would bring danger to Zhan Zhao.

The two rested for a while, and saw Fu Gao hurried in, holding a lot of clothes in his hands, "Your Highness, the emperor ordered that there will be a banquet tonight, so you quickly changed your clothes and prepared to attend."

"Now?" Bai Yutang felt a little sudden.

"The emperor came back suddenly, earlier than expected." Fu Gao was also quite anxious, "The first thing he did when he returned to the palace was to ask if you were here. Also, just now the eldest prince and the third prince went to see the emperor first. , I don’t know if it’s because I said bad things about you.”

Bai Yutang nodded and stood up, "Let's go."

"You don't change your clothes?" Fu Gao was surprised.

Bai Yutang saw a red one in the official robe and asked, "Is this mine too?"

"This belongs to Mr. Yin." Fu Gao replied.

Bai Yutang nodded in satisfaction, and handed over the official uniform to Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao is helpless, holding the government office - why do everyone like to make red official robes for him?Not domineering at all.

Zhan Zhao ran to change clothes.

Fu Gao was a little worried, "Your Highness, don't you want to change your clothes?"

"I'm not sure if I'm your prince yet. Why change clothes?" Bai Yutang picked up those yellow and golden robes with a knife and shook his head. He thought Xuanyuan Jie had good taste and liked white things, but after all The royal family still can't get rid of this ugly golden color.

Bai Yutang put the yellow robe back on the table in disgust, saw Zhan Zhao come out after changing clothes, looked him up and down, nodded, and took Zhan Zhao out.

As soon as the two left, Fu Gao chased after him, "Your Highness."

Bai Yutang looked at him.

Fu Gao looked at Zhan Zhao again.

Zhan Zhao knew that he might have something to tell Bai Yutang in private, so he went out first.

"Your Highness, if you're in the palace for a while, don't act like you're particularly nice to anyone..." Fu Gao said.

Bai Yutang looked at him in surprise.

"Uh... people in the palace, the most taboo thing is to have something they like. Once a person has something they like, no matter whether it is an object or a person, it will become a weakness to be exploited." Fu Gao reminded Bai Yutang, "Be careful in everything. "

Bai Yutang looked at him for a long time, nodded, turned around and walked out, and seemed to remember something, and took out two things to Fu Gao, "I will make a dowry for your sister."

Fu Gao was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head... and saw a beautiful jasper bracelet and two silver notes with a huge denomination in his hand.

Fu Gao opened his mouth wide - this new prince is so rich!

Seeing Bai Yutang come out, Zhan Zhao actually has good hearing, and he heard what Fu Gao told Bai Yutang just now, so he said casually, "Have you heard any rats? Stay calm later."

Bai Yutang pretended to be puzzled, "Slim face? I don't have any flesh on my face."

Zhan Zhaowangtian, "I'm serious! I'm your bodyguard now, so be a little more dignified!"

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao with great interest, "How dignified?"

"You just want to talk to me in a commanding tone." Zhan Zhao said, "You don't think of yourself as a prince, but in theory, young master, I want to treat you as a prince, and I have to obey your words, so don't move for a while. The feet disrupt my play!"

"Oh... give orders." Bai Yutang nodded, and looked at Zhan Zhao again, "You want to obey me?"

Zhan Zhao saw a smile in Bai Yutang's eyes, and was vigilant, "What are you doing?"

Bai Yutang leaned closer, and asked in Zhan Zhao's ear, "Cat, do you know what it means to obey what you say?"

"Nonsense." Zhan Zhao said to him, "It's not like I can't read!"

"It's good if you know." Bai Yutang reached out and patted Zhan Zhao's shoulder lightly, "You said it yourself, and you should follow what you say, remember." After speaking, he walked forward contentedly.

Zhan Zhao followed behind, scratching his head inexplicably—the conversation just now was fine, why did he feel like he was being cheated?