Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Another month has passed and it is almost the end of the year.

During this month, Bai Qingning did not make trouble for Xiao Zuochen, and Imperial Physician Lu also said that Concubine Cui's pregnancy was fine, and the officials of the previous dynasty did not ask for leave. It seemed that nothing that Xiao Zuoming had worried about before had happened. He originally planned to go on a private visit, but it was close to the end of the year and the weather was getting colder, so he gave up the idea.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty~"

Xiao Zuoming had just walked into the back garden to relax when Mu Dai hurriedly caught up from behind.

"What's going on? Why are you in such a hurry~"

Mu Dai ran to Xiao Zuoming and gasped a few times. Xiao Zuoming frowned and waited for him to speak.

"Your Majesty, General Bai is back!"

"What? How come he...he, I didn't call him back!?"

Xiao Zuoming was stunned. Could it be that Bai Qingning asked him to come back? No, Bai Qingning was being watched closely by someone he sent, so he had no chance to send a letter out~

"I don't know either. My subordinates reported that General Bai has entered the palace!"

The two of them stared at each other for a while.

"Then hurry back!"

Xiao Zuoming waved his hands anxiously. When he heard the news that General Bai had returned, he knew why he felt a little scared.

Kido, who was jogging beside him, comforted him.

"It's alright, Your Majesty. You are the emperor now, and you are not the real Third Prince. What are you afraid of him doing?"

These words made Xiao Zuoming curious.

"Did the third brother fear him before?"

When Mu Dai heard the emperor's question, his eyes widened and he became interested. He started gossiping with "Xiao Zuoming" about Xiao Zuoming's childhood.

"At that time, General Bai had not yet gone to guard the border, and the Third Prince was still young. General Bai would visit the Empress every day when he entered the palace, so the Third Prince could see his uncle the General every day..."

......

"real or fake?"

The master and servant chatted all the way to the South Study. Although his left foot had already stepped into the room, his body was still leaning out, wanting to hear Mu Dai continue talking.

"Cough cough!"

This awkward cough brought Xiao Zuoming and Mu Dai back to the present. They saw a man with a golden mask standing in the study waiting. This man was General Bai.

Emperor Mingren was not actually afraid of General Bai, but he could not control the fear that came from his heart. That was the fear that came from the real Xiao Zuoming, his fear of General Bai and his uncle.

"uncle..."

The word "uncle" came out of Xiao Zuoming's mouth subconsciously. Seeing that he was still as useless as usual, General Bai couldn't help but snorted coldly.

"Hmph~ According to our current relationship, Your Majesty should address me as 'General Bai'. Since ancient times, the relationship between monarch and subject has always been first, and then between father and son. Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, I hope you will always remember your identity and not let those with ulterior motives take advantage of you."

"That's what my uncle said."

"Ok?"

"General Bai is right!"

Xiao Zuoming secretly wiped the sweat off his face as he walked towards the chair behind the desk.

"Uncle... it's this time~ Why did General Bai come back suddenly? I remember that I didn't call you back?"

When General Bai heard this, he took a step back towards the emperor and then half-knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I have been stationed at the border for ten years. My sister has now become the Queen Mother, and I have not yet married or had children. So I plan to return to Tai'an City, retire, marry, have children, and spend my old age in peace!"

When Xiao Zuoming heard General Bai say this, his eyes widened.

"General Bai, you are only forty, forty..."

"forty three."

"Yes! You are only forty-three..."

Xiao Zuoming was smiling, but he couldn't smile anymore. Bai Qingning entered the palace at the age of 18. In the same year, Bai Qingning's brother, General Bai, won a victory while guarding the border. He was only 21 years old at that time. Now Xiao Zuoming is 22, and General Bai is indeed 43. In order to guard the border, he has not married and had children at the age of 43. If the emperor refuses him and does not agree to his return at this time, it will probably chill the hearts of the soldiers at the border.

"Well, by this calculation, you are actually old enough to have children and grandchildren around you. This is all my fault for not thinking things through. I should have issued an order during the coronation ceremony to allow you to return to the palace and have a good reunion with your mother."

"Since Your Majesty understands my feelings, why don't you have dinner with me and the Queen Mother today~"

Xiao Zuoming didn't expect General Bai to suddenly make this request. He could only agree with a fake smile while looking at Mu Dai.

"Of course, but my mother has been feeling unwell recently, so let Mu Dai go and ask her first. However, my mother will definitely be happy to hear that my uncle has returned. My mother is still living in Fengqi Palace. I thought it would be too troublesome for her to move there, so I didn't follow the old rules. I'm sure my uncle won't mind, right?"

"The Queen Mother will make the decision on this matter. This is not my palace, so I will naturally be impeccable."

"Okay! Mu Dai, go and ask about the Queen Mother's health and see if it's convenient for us to talk today."

"Yes~"

Mu appeared calm and left the study, but actually he ran out of the courtyard. The emperor had given him a difficult problem. How could Bai Qingning be willing to cooperate with the emperor in this drama? Wouldn't this cost him his life?

......

"emperor!"

"Hey! You said~"

"Regarding what I said about marrying a wife and having children..."

"Hmm~"

"...I am not saying this casually."

"Yeah, I know."

"I hope that the emperor will treat this matter with great respect."

"General Bai, rest assured, I will definitely choose one for you..."

"Your Majesty! What I mean is that I hope Your Majesty will hold a beauty contest for me to choose the general's wife."

After saying this, Xiao Zuoming looked straight at General Bai.

"General Bai, what do you mean by that? Do you want me to hold a talent show for you?"

Xiao Zuoming leaned forward, trying to use his body to put some pressure on General Bai, but General Bai was not afraid at all. He stood up straight, his left hand hanging naturally by his side, and his right hand pressed on his sword.

"Your Majesty is unwilling?"

Seeing his aura, Xiao Zuoming's originally serious expression suddenly turned into a smile.

"Uncle, what you said is ridiculous. Since we are selecting a general's wife, we should be as careful in selecting her as we are in selecting a crown princess. When Mu Dai comes back, I will ask him to prepare!"

When General Bai heard that the emperor had asked the young eunuch to do it again, he couldn't help but feel a little disgusted.

"Your Majesty should promote more capable people instead of relying on a little eunuch to do everything!"

"Yes, uncle is right!"

Xiao Zuoming still responded with a smile, and he endured the scolding for a long time until Mu Dai finally came back from outside and bowed to Xiao Zuoming.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother said that she is fine today. It's rare for General Bai to come to the palace, and she also wants to talk to him as soon as possible."

After Mu Dai finished speaking, Xiao Zuoming did not reply immediately, but stared at Mu Dai's expression to see if he had anything to say about himself. As a result, Mu Dai just kept smiling, and Xiao Zuoming felt uneasy. Was this arranged or was it just a show for General Bai? He really didn't understand until General Bai reminded him.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

General Bai's reminder scared Xiao Zuoming, and he hurriedly adjusted the angle of his smile.

"No, nothing. Let's go now!"

Xiao Zuoming signaled Mu Dai to lead the way. General Bai was not polite and stood up and walked in front of Xiao Zuoming without any regard for his emperor's face.

Xiao Zuoming, who was standing behind him, had already turned gloomy when General Bai turned his back to him.

"I will kill you sooner or later!"