Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Meeting gift?

The crown prince and the other princes sneered.

A commoner brings a gift?

With their status, they must have seen all kinds of rare treasures. Why would they be interested in things from a commoner like you?

However, Chu Huai, who was sitting on the dragon throne, showed a look of relief: "It seems that your mother has taught you very well. Present your gift."

He is my son after all, and he is being sent to the front line as a scapegoat. I can't just refuse to accept Chu Ning's gift, right?

Chu Ning took out a jade pendant half the size of his palm from his bosom and said, "This is a gift from your son to your father."

Chu Huai's expression changed slightly: "Bring it to me immediately!"

The eunuch chief Zhao Ming immediately took the jade pendant and handed it to Chu Huai.

Looking at the still warm jade pendant in his hand, Chu Huai showed a look of nostalgia.

This is a gift from me to Chu Ning's mother.

I didn't expect that she kept it and passed it on to Chu Ning.

She must hate me for not going to find her.

"I like this gift very much!"

After calming down, Chu Huai, feeling indebted to Chu Ning's mother, said in a deep voice: "You gave me a gift, and I will give you something in return."

"Come here, give my sword to Chu Ning."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Crown Prince, the other princes, and the civil and military officials all looked terribly disappointed.

The emperor's sword is a treasure that represents the emperor himself. With this sword in hand, no one dares to disrespect Chu Ning.

The crown prince was the first to object and said, "Father, this sword..."

"Prince, are you questioning my decision?"

The emperor interrupted the prince before he could finish, saying, "Chu Ning will be going to the frontline soon. With this sword in hand, he can control the soldiers on the frontline!"

The prince didn't dare to talk back, but a sinister gleam flashed across his cold eyes.

He had been eyeing this sword for a long time, but he didn't expect that Chu Ning would get it now.

At this time, Zhao Ming came to Chu Ning holding a sharp sword with a bright yellow scabbard.

Reaching out to take the sword, Chu Ning said in fear: "Father, this sword is too valuable. I think the prince seems to like it very much. Why don't we give it to him?"

The prince's eyes lit up!

You are a smart boy. You should hand over the things that are not yours!

The prince looked at the emperor with great joy: "Father, it is rare that Chu Ning has such a heart, this sword..."

Chu Huai said coldly: "Humph, this sword is used to control the soldiers on the front line. Do you want to go to the front line, Prince?"

The prince was immediately silenced.

Although he wanted the sword, he didn't want to go to the front lines.

Fortunately, the emperor also knew that scolding the prince in public would damage his dignity, so he turned to look at Chu Ning and said, "How can you just give away the things I gave you?"

"Father taught me that!"

Chu Ning bowed his head and said respectfully, "I am new here and don't know the rules, so I'm just using this as a gift to apologize to my brother, the Crown Prince."

As he spoke, he pulled out a cloth from his sleeve.

After opening the three layers inside and outside, the true appearance was revealed - a pile of emerald green tea leaves!

Chu Ning said sincerely, "I know the prince and my brothers have no shortage of rare treasures, but this tea was planted and picked by me personally. I hope you will accept this as a token of my appreciation."

After all the fuss, they were still mysteriously saying it was a gift for meeting, but in the end it turned out to be a pile of tea leaves?

It's just green tea, and you dare to bring it out to embarrass yourself?

The prince's mouth twitched: "We appreciate your kindness, Eighteenth Brother, but you should keep the tea for yourself."

Chu Ning sighed: "Brother Crown Prince, you look down on the green tea I planted with my own hands."

The emperor saw the disappointment in her eyes.

These rebellious sons!

Even if Chu Ning is a scapegoat, he is still your brother.

Do you still refuse gifts given to you by others?

The emperor raised his eyebrows and said, "Chu Ning, you are so thoughtful. I and your brothers will accept these tea leaves."

"Zhao Ming, please divide the tea leaves among us."

The eunuch chief Zhao Ming responded, then took the tea from Chu Ning and distributed some to the princes, leaving most of it to the emperor.

The prince looked at the glowing green tea leaves in his hand with disdain in his eyes.

I'll go out of the hall and find a dog to feed!

"Father, everything is done. It's time to adjourn the court." The prince couldn't wait to throw away the green tea in his hand.

The emperor nodded slightly and was about to call for the court to be dismissed, but Chu Ning suddenly said, "Wait."

The prince frowned: "What else do you want?"

Chu Ning said a little embarrassedly: "Brother Crown Prince, as the saying goes, courtesy should be reciprocated. I gave you all a gift, but you haven't given me a gift yet."

The Crown Prince and the other princes were stunned.

Asking for a meeting gift in public?

Is there anyone so shameless?

Can you please have some shame?

The green tea you gave them is worth only a few dollars, and you still dare to ask them for a return gift?

The ministers were silent at this moment.

Chu Ning has already returned to his ancestral home, and his name has been recorded in the family tree of the clan office. Logically, the princes, as Chu Ning's elders, should indeed give him a gift when they meet him.

However, this is the family affair of the princes, and they don't want to offend all the princes because of Chu Ning.

Sitting on the dragon throne, the emperor was shocked at first. He couldn't believe that Chu Ning dared to ask for a gift.

But then his eyes showed relief.

This is right!

Chu Ning is also a prince, and has been granted the title of a prince, so he should be on equal footing with other princes.

This gift must be given!

Looking at the silent princes, the emperor stroked his goatee with his right hand and said with a smile: "As brothers, you should give me a gift when meeting me."

"Besides, you just accepted Chu Ning's gift, so it's only right that you return the favor."

As soon as the emperor opened his mouth, the princes could no longer stand.

The crown prince was the first to speak out: "Father, you are right. I am willing to give ten good horses to my eighteenth brother!"

A top-quality horse costs at least two hundred taels of silver!

The prince couldn't just give a horse as a return gift.

But the gift cannot be too expensive. Ten horses is not too much, but not too little either.

The other princes calculated the value in their minds and stepped forward one after another.

"Eighteenth brother, I have two cloth shops in the south of the city for you!"

"I will give you two blacksmith shops."

"Send a hundred rolls of silk to my brother!"

"I'll give you a pair of night-shining pearls!"

……

Although I am unwilling, but since the emperor has asked, who dares not to send it?

The princes felt as uncomfortable as if they had eaten a dead fly when they thought that such a precious thing of theirs was exchanged by Chu Ning for green tea.

The emperor was very satisfied. He stood up and said with a smile, "Chu Ning, why don't you thank them quickly?"

"Thank you, brothers!" Chu Ning bowed to the princes with a sincere face.

The emperor laughed and said, "Now you are like a family. From now on, you must support each other and ensure the prosperity of our Great Chu."

"By the way, you have just arrived in Kyoto and are not familiar with the environment here. I will send two guards to follow you in case you get lost."

"Thank you, Father!"

Chu Ning bowed and then two guards accompanied him away.

But at this moment, Crown Prince Chu Wei stared at Chu Ning's departing back with a gloomy face.

No, to be precise, he was staring at the emperor's sword in Chu Ning's hand!