After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

"A knight-errant uses his martial arts to break the law!"

At the beginning of her reign, Empress Wu severely cracked down on wandering knights and forbade commoners from carrying swords.

After years of campaigns in the east and west, the assistance that wandering knights provided to the army became apparent.

So, with a wave of his hand, he not only lifted the ban on wandering knights, but also vigorously promoted martial arts among the people.

Furthermore, a military examination was held every year.

The selection of generals for the imperial court was carried out by the various prefectures and counties, and the same applied to the fiefdoms of princes and marquises.

Zhou Yi was very interested in the military examinations, and he had always personally presided over the Liangzhou provincial examinations.

The martial arts examination was a grand celebration for martial artists.

Even those who don't participate in the selection come to observe and learn from each other, just to enjoy the spectacle.

At that time, the entire city of Liangzhou will be filled with people carrying swords and spears.

The Mahayana sect chose that time to assassinate Zhou Yi, making it almost impossible to prevent.

……

Beside the lotus pond, inside the pavilion.

Zhou Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze wandering far away.

The dark python robe swayed gently in the wind, and the embroidered four-clawed golden dragon seemed to be so lifelike that it looked as if it was about to soar into the heavens.

The three Si brothers were momentarily dazed. Where was their cousin? It was clearly a dragon that had descended from the sky.

Tsk tsk, he's gotten even stronger, and even more unfathomable.

With a sigh in his heart, the brother clasped his hands and bowed in respect:

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yi!"

“My three elder brothers, as I have said, there is no need to stand on ceremony with me.”

"The proper etiquette between ruler and subject must not be transgressed!"

Si Gao looked very serious.

Since the Si family has boarded Zhou Yi's chariot, they naturally hope to put him on the throne and let him inherit the throne.

Therefore, Zhou Yi is first and foremost their king, the master of the Si family.

Secondly, there was their cousin.

Since the age of eight, when Zhou Yi was enfeoffed as the King of Liangzhou.

Si Xuan never dared to think of marrying his maid, Hu Die.

She stopped bothering him and they slipped out of the mansion to play together.

Of course, before that, his cousin never played with him.

Zhou Yi waved his hand, and Hu Die served three cups of tea and a plate of pastries.

"My three elder brothers, please try this. It is a peach cake made according to His Highness's recipe."

The second brother, Si Zeng, grabbed a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.

Si Gao picked up a piece and savored it carefully.

Only Si Xuan took a sip of tea, showing no interest in eating the pastries.

However, Zhou Yi looked at the pastries with a hint of determination in his eyes.

Helpless, Si Xuan picked up a piece of pastry with two fingers, stuffed it into his mouth, and said in a muffled accent:

"The Cangnan Martial Arts Examination case has been confirmed to be the work of the Mahayana Sect."

"Hiccup—This humble general has received a secret report that they will assassinate His Highness next..."

Zhou Yi slowly raised his cup, took a sip of tea, and asked, "How is it?"

"The Mahayana sect rebels intend to overthrow the Great Qian Dynasty..."

"I'd like to ask, how does the dodder cake taste?"

"Hmm, how is it?" Hu Die nodded, her dark eyes full of anticipation.

"..." Si Xuan was speechless for a moment.

I'm talking to you about matters of life and death, about dynasties and the world...

You two, master and servant, are only concerned with these pastries.

Although he swallowed one, he never tasted the pastry.

Si Xuan quickly ate another piece of dodder cake:

"Mmm, sweet, sticky, with tiny fruit seeds, and chewy."

"Dodder softens blood vessels, and its seeds aid digestion."

Hu Die smiled and said happily, "I'll send some to Grandmother later."

"What brings my three elder brothers here to see me?"

"move place!"

Si Zeng waved his hand, and a group of well-dressed, strong servants carrying ropes walked in:

"Should I move back to the Si residence?"

"Yes, the Mahayana sect intends to harm Your Highness. Your grandmother and father request that you temporarily move back to the Si residence."

Si Gao specifically emphasized that it was the order from his grandmother and his father, who was the governor.

Because this Prince Yi always respected and loved his maternal grandmother and maternal uncle, and rarely disobeyed his two elders.

The three brothers came together, intending to forcibly move the property if they couldn't reason with them.

I don't know.

"No need."

Zhou Yi smiled calmly, "Go back and thank your maternal grandmother and uncle on my behalf."

After saying that, he waved to his servants, signaling them to leave.

The servants glanced at Si Xuan, then silently bowed and withdrew.

Although his general was domineering, he had no temper in front of Prince Yi.

Si Xuan immediately became anxious:

"Your Highness, you may not be aware of the Mahayana sect, but it has already raised its banner in rebellion in several prefectures."

"You witnessed the tragic scene at the Feng residence yourself. It seems they are connected to that monstrous creature..." Si Gao chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

Si Zeng kept winking at Hu Die.

Hu Die smiled and did not speak up for them.

Mahayana Buddhism is indeed troublesome, and its sins are terrifying...

However, she trusted her prince.

If His Highness says everything is alright, then everything will be alright.

There has never been an exception over the years.

"Okay, if you're not moving, then... I'll stay here."

Si Xuan said angrily, "Wherever you go, I'll follow."

The number of guards at Prince Yi's residence was limited, and the Si family repeatedly sent additional guards, but Zhou Yi refused them all.

It would be safer to have Si Xuan's heavily armored cavalry guarding outside the mansion.

Zhou Yi nodded, not minding at all.

"There is one more thing, Your Highness must agree to," Si Gao said.

"Brother, please speak."

"A secret report says that the Mahayana Church attempted to assassinate someone during the martial arts examination. Therefore, you cannot preside over the examination this year."

Secretly, Si Xuan also frantically winked at Hu Die.

His Highness Prince Yi has few interests; apart from cultivation, only the martial arts examination can pique his interest.

It would certainly be extremely difficult to persuade him to give up presiding over the martial arts examination.

If Miss Butterfly could lend a hand and persuade them, there might still be some hope.

Hu Die smiled and pushed the plate of pastries in front of him.

She pretended not to notice the glances her two brothers gave her.

Sigh, this girl is just as unreliable as His Highness.

Si Xuan sighed inwardly: he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue to persuade him.

“Okay,” Zhou Yi readily agreed.

"This humble general knows that His Highness will certainly not agree. My grandmother and father will come in person..."

Si Xuan suddenly stopped talking, so startled he almost bit his tongue:

"Your Highness, you...you've agreed?"

"Say it again?"

"No, you don't have to."

Si Xuan was excited and bursting with pride.

For the first time in his life, he tried to persuade Prince Yi to change his mind.

This is something he can brag about for a hundred years.

Si Gao and Si Zeng both looked surprised.

Everyone knows that once His Highness Prince Yi makes a decision, nothing can sway him.

However, the surprise did not cloud his judgment; Si Xuan had another mission.

He chuckled and said:

"Your Highness, I will follow you wherever you go these days."

"can."

Today, Zhou Yi was unusually easy to talk to. "How about I take you out to play?"

"Okay!"

Si Xuan clapped his hands suddenly, almost jumping up: "Where are we going to play?"

Going out with Zhou Yi was his childhood dream, almost an obsession.

Unexpectedly, my childhood wish came true.

Si Xuan was overjoyed, unable to hide his excitement.

At this moment, he hardly resembled a general leading troops; he was clearly a playful rich young master.

It's simply because the obsession with playing with Zhou Yi runs too deep and has long been ingrained in her heart.

"Play? Come along, come along!" Si Zeng had barely opened his mouth when Si Gao stopped him.

He knew that Si Xuan was by Zhou Yi's side to fulfill his duty of protection.

"If you want to have fun, of course go to the most prosperous place in the world."

Zhou Yi asked with a smile, "Where is the most prosperous place?"

"The most prosperous? Kyoto, of course."

"Okay, let's go to Kyoto."

Kyoto...?

Si Xuan's expression changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Highness, this is no joke!"

The emperor did not summon him, and the prince returned to the capital without permission, which was considered a plot to rebel.

That would be a heinous crime, punishable by the extermination of ten generations of one's family.

"Ten days later, it will be the 20th anniversary of my parents' death."

"It's time to settle the case from back then."

"..."

a bolt from the blue!

The three Si brothers were so shocked that they were speechless for a moment.

No wonder His Highness readily gave up presiding over the martial arts examination.

It turned out that he wanted to return to the capital to pay respects to his parents and family and to personally kill the enemy who had wiped out his family years ago.

To avenge his father and kill the current Empress Wu?