It's easy to be a villain, but hard to be a princess

After sunset, there were fewer and fewer people on the street, and Han Zixiao carried the remaining painting to the Shu Palace.

As soon as Han Zixiao arrived, Song Bo directly led him into the palace, and brought him to see Chu Muqing.This was ordered by Chu Muqing early in the morning, if Han Zixiao is coming, there is no need to inform.

Chu Muqing sat in the front hall and seemed to be waiting for him. Han Zixiao handed the painting to Uncle Song, tore off the bulging money bag from his waist, and presented it with both hands, "This is the taels of silver from selling cloth today. How much is it?" Please take a look, my lord."

Chu Muqing took a sip from the cup of tea, "No need, you have already passed this level."

Han Zixiao was full of joy and said, "What about the Shu brocade business?"

Chu Muqing said sternly: "The brocade department produces no more than a thousand pieces of Shu brocade every year. Excluding those who pay tribute to the court and the merchants, there are very few left. Therefore, in the first year, the king will only grant you thirty pieces at most."

Thirty horses is not too much for a businessman, but Shu brocade is every inch of gold, and it is a great fortune to be able to manage it. Han Zixiao cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, my lord."

Han Zixiao grasped the key point of Chu Muqing's words, and asked: "The prince just said that he will only give thirty horses to the grassroots in the first year, does that mean it will be different in the second year?"

"The brocade department expands every year. If there is more, it will naturally be distributed more. If you don't want it, this king can't force it on you."

"Of course not." Han Zixiao hurriedly said: "If you can share more, you need as many grassroots as possible."

Chu Muqing took out a sign from her sleeve and handed it to the maid next to her, who then stepped forward and presented it to Han Zixiao.Han Zixiao looked at the token in his hand, and Chu Muqing said, "Take this token to the Brocade Office, and someone will arrange it for you."

"The grass people understand."

Chu Muqing glanced at him and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Han Zixiao heard that Chu Muqing's words meant chasing guests, and still said cheekily: "Caomin brought a painting and wanted to present it to the prince, please accept it."

Chu Muqing said lightly: "Boss Han has a heart."

Han Zixiao smiled, "It should."

Song Bo at the side said: "It's just time to have a meal at this time, why don't the concubine stay for a meal as well."

Han Zixiao looked at Chu Muqing's face, and Chu Muqing said, "Boss Han has a lot of work to do, so he probably won't stay."

"The grass people have nothing to do. If they can stay and have a meal, they would naturally wish for it." Han Zixiao said cheekily, but then he thought that his princess was also the one who had a meal with him, and he felt a little regretful, and his heart would ache by then. .

What Han Zixiao didn't expect was that the concubine, the birth mother of Xiao Shizi, did not appear in the dining hall from the beginning to the end.Han Zixiao asked tentatively, "Why don't you see the princess?"

Chu Muqing wrote lightly: "She is not at the house these days."

"So that's how it is." Han Zixiao immediately said again: "A woman who can make the prince fall in love with her must be a country and a city. It's a pity that the grassroots didn't see it."

Chu Muqing glanced at him lightly, "Boss Han seems to be very interested in this king's concubine."

"Don't dare, Caomin just ask casually." Han Zixiao hurriedly explained.

Chu Muqing ate quietly, while Han Zixiao held the rice bowl and glanced at him from time to time. He never expected to have dinner with him.When I was in the Prince Regent's Mansion, I never cherished the time to eat with him on the same stage, and now I really regret it when I think about it.

Han Zixiao's nose turned sore for no reason, and he pursed his lips and looked at Chu Muqing's side face. He had an idea in his heart that he wanted to stay here forever, even if Chu Muqing didn't forgive him, as long as he could be seen often.

Chu Muqing met his dazed eyes, tightened her hand holding the chopsticks, and turned her eyes away, "Boss Han thinks that the food in my palace is not to my liking."

Han Zixiao came back to his senses, and shook his head, "Why, it's too appetizing, and the grass people wish they could eat it for a lifetime."

Chu Muqing remained silent, eating her food expressionlessly.Han Zixiao saw that Chu Muqing didn't say anything, so he continued to eat with his head down, wishing that he would never finish this meal.

Before the meal was eaten, a soft voice came, "King Mu...King Mu..."

It was Chu Junyi, the little man led the nanny into the dining room, and the nanny smiled and said: "The little son has been clamoring to see the prince, so the servant brought him here."

Chu Muqing put down the bowl and chopsticks, got up, went to pick up Chu Junyi, and asked softly, "Is Yi'er full?"

Chu Junyi nodded, "Yes."

Han Zixiao looked at Chu Muqing's gentle look. In the past, Chu Muqing treated him so tenderly, but he never cherished it. Now that he lost it, he could never find it again.

Chu Muqing's tenderness has long been given to others.

Han Zixiao put down the bowls and chopsticks, and suddenly said to Chu Muqing: "Thank you for your hospitality, Caomin, please take my leave first."

Chu Muqing responded, hugged Chu Junyi, and stretched out her hands to straighten his clothes.Han Zixiao left the dining room and walked in the corridor of the palace, feeling mixed feelings, Song Bo chased after him, "Princess, wait a minute."

Han Zixiao stopped and turned around, looking at Uncle Song who was walking up quickly, "What orders does Uncle Song have?"

Song Bodao: "Although the old slave doesn't know what happened between the prince and the princess and they are alienated from each other, but the old slave has been with the prince for so many years, it can be seen that he still has affection for the princess. If it is not a big deal, the princess will take the initiative to obey. Ruan, let's rebuild the old with the prince. The old servant feels distressed seeing you two like this."

Han Zixiao smiled wryly, "If it was a trivial matter, I would have been willing to give in, but this time it is not a trivial matter."

"This……"

Han Zixiao said again: "Uncle Song doesn't need to worry about this matter. Anyway, if the prince is doing well, then everything will be fine. It doesn't matter if it can be restored."

"Actually..." Uncle Song wanted to say something, but stopped talking.

Han Zixiao waited for him to speak, but Song Bo sighed and said, "It's nothing."

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Princess, go slowly."

On the second day, Han Zixiao took some staff to the Brocade Office and showed his tokens. The steward of the Brocade Office led Han Zixiao to the warehouse, and allowed Han Zixiao to pick thirty pieces of Shu brocade. After paying the silver, he left.

He expected to stay in Bashu for three days, but he stayed for a few more days because of many things on the way, and he left Yunzhou for nearly a month. If he didn't go back, there might be troubles in the two shops.

After receiving thirty pieces of Shu brocade, Han Zixiao went to Liaocheng to thank Yuan Yisheng and Liu Hao, and invited them to have a meal at the best restaurant in Liaocheng.The next day, he set off for Yunzhou.

There is a ferry in Yunzhou, and there are boats going directly to the south of the Yangtze River. If you take a boat from Bashu and follow the flowing water, you can reach Yunzhou in ten days.

Tie Feng came back from the outside and went straight to the backyard, where Chu Muqing practiced sword.Tie Feng waited for him to practice a set of sword skills before he stepped forward and said, "My lord, my concubine has already left Liaocheng and boarded the boat to the south of the Yangtze River."

Chu Muqing took a handkerchief from the boy beside him, and wiped the sword in his hand. It turned out that he came to Bashu purely for business.Chu Muqing put the polished sword into the scabbard, "Whether he wants to leave or stay is his business, it has nothing to do with this king."

At this time, another young servant came in a hurry, bowed his body and said: "My lord, there are people from the capital who want to see you."

"The king will go after a while." Chu Muqing handed the sword in his hand to the young servant at the side, went back to the room and changed his clothes before going to see the guest.

It was a secret guard from the palace who came, and when he saw Chu Muqing, he first knelt down and saluted, "Please refer to the lord for humble duties!"

Chu Muqing recognized him, most of the hidden guards in the palace were trained by him.Chu Muqing said: "You are not protecting the emperor in the palace, what are you doing here?"

The secret guard presented a secret letter in his arms with both hands, "I am humbled to deliver this secret letter to the prince by the order of the emperor."

Chu Muqing took the secret letter and asked, "Does the emperor have anything else to say?"

"No."

Chu Muqing looked at the secret letter in her hand thoughtfully, and raised her head, "You have been on your way for several days, go down and rest first, the king will read the secret letter later."

"Yes." Uncle Song came forward to ask the hidden guards to go down, and arranged a room for him to rest.

Chu Muqing went into the study, opened the secret letter, and there were a few crosses inside that explained the situation of the court.The northwest war that has lasted for many years has become more and more fierce recently. Zhu Minggang, who was sent by Qi Guo two years ago, was at a disadvantage in leading the army, causing the entire army of [-] troops to be annihilated, and he himself was seriously injured.

Now there are only less than [-] troops left in the northwest garrison, and the northwest frontier is at stake.Half of the civil and military officials of the imperial court suggested peace, otherwise the imperial court would send troops to defeat again, and the country would be in danger of subjugation.The other half insisted on resisting the enemy.

The two parties argued endlessly in the court every day, and Chu Ruihong couldn't decide for a while, so he wrote a secret letter, ordered someone to send it to Chu Muqing day and night, and asked him what to do.

Chu Muqing received the secret letter and sat quietly behind the desk. He was not ignorant of the Northwest War, but he thought that Chu Ruihong could handle it by himself, so he didn't get involved.

But now that it has come to a critical moment that concerns the survival of the court, Chu Muqing has no choice but to take care of it.Fortunately, he chose to guard Shu, not far from the northwest area, and it was only about ten days' journey from here.

When he came to Shu, he brought fifty thousand soldiers and horses to guard it, and now it is time to use it.He first ordered his most powerful general, Tie Feng, to lead an army of [-] horses to the northwest battlefield for support, so that if there was any trouble in Zhan State, he would not be vulnerable.

Chu Muqing rushed to the capital overnight with several guards.

When the civil and military officials heard that the regent had returned to the capital, they all felt reassured. With the regent present, the country and society would be safe.And when Chu Ruihong saw that Chu Muqing had returned to the court, he felt a little bit of comfort in his heart.

In the past two years, he has been in charge of the court alone, and many affairs are on his shoulders, making him breathless, but he has become much haggard in just two years.Every time he was worried about state affairs, he realized how happy the regent was by his side.