The years I was in the human world

Xie Huaiyu tried to win over the resentful prince according to the words he had used to persuade Chu Zhaoli in his memory, but he still failed to impress him. Xie Huaiyu didn't know what the problem was. He sighed and admitted defeat to Xiao Fengzhuo: "I have no other choice. You come and talk to him."

"Okay." Xiao Fengzhuo responded and took over the control of the body. He picked up the tea brewed by Chu Zhaoli and took a sip. It must be said that it was a very strange feeling.

The royal family of the Western Dynasty also advocated elegance. He was scolded a lot by his emperor and father for being too vulgar. He secretly practiced the skills of burning incense and tasting tea, but his emperor, father and teacher were still not satisfied. Now he was tasting the tea he brewed in the past as someone else. How could it be as bad as others said?

It's just a stereotype of those people, Xiao Fengzhuo sighed in his heart, or he was unwilling to admit that a mediocre person like him could do such good work. His king and father always looked down on him, and his evaluation was also unfair: "Good tea."

He praised her intentionally to please Chu Zhaoli and to affirm his past self. Xiao Fengzhuo still couldn't let go of the past, but he was much older than when he was the King of Ding'an. His resentment gradually faded, and he became more and more confident in himself.

Xiao Fengzhuo is not afraid to face the past. It is clear from the fact that he dares to bring his beloved to see his past self that even in the most hysterical period, he still feels proudly and confidently that his past self is presentable and is not afraid of anyone's scrutiny.

He is naturally good after being stripped of all his glitz and glamour, but he is also good in the past when he was full of love and hate. Ever since he was beaten to death by the rebels as Chu Zhaoyun's scapegoat, he stopped complaining about himself, because someone told him that he was passionate and beautiful, and they were the ones who were wrong.

Chu Zhaoli was obviously delighted by his two words, and his gloomy temperament was visibly dissipated. Lu Zhouxue, who was watching quietly, keenly noticed the changes in Chu Zhaoli. After a little thought, she understood all the reasons and thought that the King of Ding'an was also pitiful.

He is unloved by his relatives, has no father or mother, and has probably never heard any sincere praise. He is also known as a mediocre person, so he must have been belittled and abused even more. Otherwise, why would a grown man in his twenties be as happy as a child when he hears a simple compliment?

"Mianmian, have some tea." Xiao Fengzhuo suddenly turned around and reminded Lu Zhouxue to drink tea. He also pushed the steaming tea next to his hand towards him, his eyes sparkling, like a child eager to seek praise.

Why did Xiao Fengzhuo keep asking for praise for the tea Chu Zhaoli brewed? Lu Zhouxue looked at him suspiciously, but in the end, he didn't refuse his favor and took a sip of the teacup as he asked.

Hearing Xiao Fengzhuo addressing Lu Zhouxue, Chu Zhaoli paused and then looked directly at this person whom he had not paid much attention to at first. Then, he really saw something about him. Xiao Fengzhuo secretly observed Chu Zhaoli's reaction but did not point it out.

"What's the matter?" Xiao Fengzhuo asked Lu Zhouxue with a smile. For some reason, Chu Zhaoli also looked at him with a burning gaze.

It’s true that although Chu Zhaoli doesn’t look like an expert in this field, his skill in making tea is quite good. The tea is clear in color and rich in aroma, at least much better than Xie Huaiyu’s.

"The tea is a little worse, but Your Highness's craftsmanship is very good." Lu Zhouxue felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by two real gazes, but he still expressed his opinion truthfully.

Xiao Fengzhuo was satisfied, and he was visibly pleased, his eyes curved. Lu Zhouxue was very picky, if he said it was good, then it must be good. Xiao Fengzhuo didn't care what others said about him, but in front of Lu Zhouxue, he must not embarrass himself.

Obviously, Xie Huaiyu didn't understand what Xiao Fengzhuo was doing. He was not like Lu Zhouxue who would indulge him in everything, so he asked directly, "It's not you who made the tea. You are only praising Chu Zhaoli. Why are you so happy?"

Xiao Fengzhuo ignored Xie Huaiyu's teasing, turned his head to look at the chessboard where Chu Zhaoli had not finished playing, and then laughed: "Your Highness plays chess very well."

"Why don't we play a few games?" Chu Zhaoli asked, raising his hand to clear the chessboard, but was stopped by Xiao Fengzhuo, who said, "Just continue with this game."

Hearing that the two were going to play chess, Lu Zhouxue also became interested and hurriedly leaned over to take a look at the chessboard.

He played chess every day in Mount Buzhou during the time he was experiencing the tribulation, and he was considered to be an expert at the game. However, Chu Zhaoli played chess in a rather chaotic and disorganized manner, with no rules at all, and even someone of his level couldn't understand it.

Xiao Fengzhuo calmly picked up a chess piece and placed it without thinking in a position that Lu Zhouxue did not expect.

"Azhuo's technique is also quite mysterious." Lu Zhouxue really couldn't understand his thinking, but it was not easy to directly point out that he was doing something wrong and ruin his plan, so he spoke in a rather obscure way.

Xie Huaiyu said bluntly: "What a mess you made?"

Xiao Fengzhuo rarely responded calmly: "Don't be impatient."

He never thought that his random chess moves would actually get Chu Zhaoli's tacit approval. The latter did not say a word of objection, but stared at the chessboard for a moment and also made his own moves, which were naturally just as shocking.

Lu Zhouxue's eyebrows twisted together. He looked again and again, and finally couldn't help asking: "Is it the five-in-a-row game you two played?"

Xie Huaiyu: "..."

"Yes." Xiao Fengzhuo chuckled in response. The children's game actually made him and Prince Ding'an play it seriously, "Your Majesty, when it comes to playing chess, I can't help but think of an old friend."

"Oh?" Chu Zhaoli didn't know what Xie Huaiyu was up to by not leaving after his attempts to win him over had failed, nor did he continue to persuade him, but he also listened to Xiao Fengzhuo patiently.

"I didn't understand Qi Lue to begin with. I know nothing about it. The way to play this game was taught to me by a friend I met on a snowy night." Xie Huaiyu was a celebrity and it was impossible for him not to know how to play chess. Xiao Fengzhuo could only be talking about himself, and Chu Zhaoli had obviously heard the hint in his words and his eyes changed color as he looked at him.

"You--" Chu Zhaoli's pupils shrank slightly. He seemed very surprised about something and was eager to prove something.

"Your Highness, I know you are very anxious, but you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Everything I say next is true, so you must listen carefully." Xiao Fengzhuo smiled and made a gesture to silence him, signaling him to calm down.

"Then what? What happened to that friend?" Chu Zhaoli finally calmed down, but his eyes were still fixed on Xiao Fengzhuo. Considering that Lu Zhouxue was beside him, he restrained some of the urgency on his face so as not to lose his composure on the spot.

But his focus was obviously quite strange. Instead of asking about Qi Lue's game, he asked about Xiao Fengzhuo's "friend".

Lu Zhouxue and Xie Huaiyu were also puzzled. Wasn't Xiao Fengzhuo going to talk about something very important? Why did he turn to talking about these trivial matters?

"Then he left on a snowy night." Xiao Fengzhuo answered calmly. Chu Zhaoli's eyes dimmed for a moment after hearing this, and he was obviously disappointed. But then he heard the former say in a brisk tone, "But many years later, I saw him again in a palace where osmanthus flowers grew."

It was like an incomplete story that was made up for. Chu Zhaoli was surprised for a moment: "Really? Where is he now?"

Xiao Fengzhuo did not answer him, but turned to ask Lu Zhouxue softly: "Mianmian, are you hungry?"

Chu Zhaoli understood instantly.

"No." Lu Zhouxue didn't know why Xiao Fengzhuo suddenly asked him if he was hungry. He had just finished eating so many snacks, how could he be hungry?

"Oh, okay." Xiao Fengzhuo looked a little disappointed. He casually picked up the teacup and filled Lu Zhouxue's cup with tea. Lu Zhouxue's eyes fell on his moving hands. Inexplicably, he felt that Xiao Fengzhuo's action of making tea was somewhat similar to Chu Zhaoli's just now.

The thought only flashed through his mind briefly and he quickly put it out of his mind.

After this episode that was very strange to Lu Zhouxue and Xie Huaiyu, Xiao Fengzhuo told Chu Zhaoli about joining forces to deal with Xiao Ling. Chu Zhaoli's attitude softened significantly, but he still had no intention of changing his mind: "I don't like Xiao Ling, but I also hate you, the hot-blooded ministers of the state."

This statement is full of hypocrisy. After all, when it comes to being passionate and courageous, who can be more passionate than him?

"But why do I remember that Your Highness was also a passionate person when he was young?" Xiao Fengzhuo boasted about himself without any shame, but Xie Huaiyu wanted to cover his mouth: "Aren't you afraid of flattery? Chu Zhaoli hates people talking about his past the most."

Xiao Fengzhuo ignored Xie Huaiyu's impatience and just calmly waited for Chu Zhaoli's next words. What he didn't want to mention was never the past. On the contrary, he never felt that his past embarrassment was something difficult to talk about. He slaughtered all the old people of the Western Dynasty just because they were the source of the stigma that fabricated his name.

Chu Zhaoli has been denied and slandered for too many years. What he wants is just "fairness".

"So?" Chu Zhaoli's expression remained the same, but his slightly clenched fingers revealed his inner turmoil. "Xiao Ling is very good at governing a country. My fight with him has caused the country to fall into dire straits. Am I the kind of person who disregards the common people for my own selfish desires?"

"If Xiao Ling was truly concerned about the country, Chu Zhaoyun would not have fled south in such a panic. Fighting for power with Xiao Ling may cause chaos for a while, but it will bring long-term stability." Xiao Fengzhuo could only say this. "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Your Highness should understand this."

"That's all I have to say. Your Highness, please think about it carefully. It's getting late, so we'll go back first." Xiao Fengzhuo stood up and called Lu Zhouxue softly, "Mianmian, let's go."

"Just leaving like that? Chu Zhaoli hasn't agreed to anything yet." Xie Huaiyu was still a little unwilling.

"What else? Chu Zhaoli is not a fool. He knows what to do." Xiao Fengzhuo said confidently. He knew very well what Chu Zhaoli was thinking at this moment.

As soon as the two of them left, Lin Shuyang, who was waiting in the carriage at the door, asked hurriedly: "Why did you come out so soon? How is it?"

"It's done." Xiao Fengzhuo said, "Just go back and wait and see what happens."

The whole time, Lu Zhouxue was like the pendant on Xiao Fengzhuo's waist. He came inexplicably, sat for a quarter of an hour, and left inexplicably again. The sugar man in his hand looked dazed.

"Why haven't you finished eating yet?" Xiao Fengzhuo looked down and saw that Lu Zhouxue was still holding the candy figure in her hand. He opened his mouth and took a bite. Suddenly, only half of the beautiful and exquisite candy figure was left.

"Hmm, so greasy, no wonder Mianmian doesn't like to eat it." Xiao Fengzhuo said vaguely.

"It's okay, actually." Lu Zhouxue said as she took a bite of the gap left by Xiao Fengzhuo. The folk sugar figurines were not very delicately made, with a burnt aroma, very much like the worldly life.

The two of them shared the candy, taking turns to eat bites. Lin Shuyang, who was driving the cart in front, whipped his horse whip silently, and was even more silent than when he came.

After returning to the camp, a few days passed peacefully. Xie Huaiyu went in and out of the palace and was not seen for several days. Before the end of June, he brought back a piece of news: Xiao Ling was promoted to prince, named Yongling, and was given the nine tripods of the emperor.

The three people present had already anticipated this news, so Xiao Fengzhuo just said lightly: "Chu Zhaoyun will not live to August."

As expected, at the beginning of July, Emperor Zhaoyun abdicated and made way for someone more virtuous. Prime Minister Xiao Ling was of high character and capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility, so he took over as emperor and changed the reign title to Taihe.

Except for the common people and high-ranking officials, who didn't know the trick? The Prince of Ding'an was still in the capital, and he would give the throne to Chu Zhaoli. How could it be the turn of Xiao Ling, a foreigner? But no one pointed it out.

Lu Zhouxue curiously asked Xiao Fengzhuo: "What does Chu Zhaoyun think? Even if he is at odds with his elder brother, he shouldn't let outsiders take advantage of him."

Xiao Fengzhuo, who was sharpening his sword, smiled and glanced at Lu Zhouxue, explaining: "Mianmian, do you really think that Chu Zhaoyun wants to abdicate?"

"It was Xiao Ling who forced him to give up the throne. How could he have any choice? Besides, he wanted Chu Zhaoli to take the blame, but Prince Ding'an didn't want the throne at all."

After Xiao Ling proclaimed himself emperor, he began to carry out drastic reforms. At that time, the Wuxiang people were causing chaos on the border, but he was not in a hurry to clean them up. Instead, he sent envoys to ask for peace talks.

On the one hand, he confronted the royal family and nobles, and strongly demanded that the military power be returned to the imperial power. Prince Ding'an did not respect the imperial power. He was helpless for a while, so he set his sights on the Northern Palace Army, which had suffered a defeat and was still guilty.

"They dare not touch Prince Ding'an, so they start with our Northern Army." Lin Shuyang came back from the parade ground angrily and went to discuss countermeasures with Xie Huaiyu. "That military supervisor really thinks he is something with the imperial edict, and he wants to change the military system. With his fat head and big ears, he knows nothing about leading troops."

Lin Shuyang's words were full of innuendos. He openly scolded the military supervisor, but in fact he was mocking Xiao Ling who had just attempted to usurp the throne.

"He may not know how to lead troops, but holding Xiao Ling's imperial edict is a useful thing." Xiao Fengzhuo slowly sealed the written letter and handed it to Lin Shuyang, "You go find Chu Zhaoli once, you don't need to say anything, just give this thing to him."

"Yes." Lin Shuyang took the letter. He didn't know the other party's plan, but he didn't understand politics after all, so he just obeyed the orders.