The prince is not doing his job [traveling]

Three days later, Pei Ze set off for Suzhou in the northwest, and he only brought fifty people with him. Kong Qing and Li An followed Pei Ze from Prince Wucheng's mansion, and then selected ten elite soldiers from the private army to follow, and the rest They all stayed in Prince Wucheng's mansion to protect Xiao Yanzhi, the nursing home and private army originally under Kong Qing's management were all handed over to Xu Ren, and Dong Gui assumed the position of Li An.In Pei Ze's absence, the atmosphere in Prince Wucheng's mansion was even more solemn than when he was present.

Without Pei Ze in the court hall, Xiao Yanzhi ran to the palace every day. At first, he waited for the emperor and Xu Lishan to go to court in the imperial study room. Later, when the emperor saw that he could not stop him, he let Xiao Yanzhi Return to court.

Xiao Yanzhi originally thought that he would be made things difficult for him in the court, but perhaps the emperor, Pei Ze and Xu Lishan's attitudes were too clear. When Xiao Yanzhi returned to the court, no one spoke for Xu Liqian, not even People made things difficult for Xiao Yanzhi.It's just that Xiao Yanzhi could see that some people didn't really agree with the emperor's attitude, they just gave up reasoning with the emperor after they realized that words didn't work.

The disapproval seen in the court also made Xiao Yanzhi a little bit more vigilant.

The more you keep your complaints in your heart, the more dissatisfaction you will accumulate, and under the current situation, these people are easy to defect and have to let go.

"Master Zhao," after lunch, Xiao Yanzhi and Xu Lishan left Liangyi Hall together, and when they were walking towards the entrance of the hall, Xiao Yanzhi turned his head and said to Zhao Kang who came to see him off, "These people who are sweeping Liangyi Hall these few days Sometimes, please ask people to pay more attention, but all the things that are interesting to see will be burned, and if the things sent by outsiders have to be accepted, they will also be burned secretly. The father's diet is also troublesome, Mr. Zhao , the people in the Shangshi Bureau will check again, no matter which concubine sent it in the harem, Mr. Zhao just accept it, and just inform the father, so don't let the father touch the thing."

"Your Majesty should be more careful," Zhao Kang replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, this old servant will take care of His Majesty."

Xiao Yanzhi asked again: "Did Emperor Father take that medicine for a while?"

Zhao Kang was startled, and pretended not to understand, he asked Xiao Yanzhi, "I'm afraid, I don't know what kind of medicine His Highness is talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Xiao Yanzhi glanced at Zhao Kang, "I'll tell you, that means I already know."

"It's the old slave who offended me. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Zhao Kang immediately lowered his waist, "Your Majesty has used all the medicines given by the Imperial Medical Office this year."

Was this something that King Wu Cheng told the King of Shu?His Majesty also specifically asked King Wu Cheng not to tell King Shu that he was coming, so when King Wu Cheng broke his promise?

However, Zhao Kang thought about it carefully, and found that although the emperor ordered Pei Ze not to tell Xiao Yanzhi about the matter that day, Pei Ze did not respond. When talking to the emperor that day, Pei Ze was mostly silent. with.

The co-author Wu Chengwang felt that if he didn't speak, it was not considered a promise, and he could tell the king of Shu when he turned around?But he also felt that the king of Shu should know about it.

"En," Xiao Yanzhi nodded and said, "The next time Mr. Zhao goes to get the medicine, he will tell the people in the Imperial Medical Office that if the medicine has other prescriptions, he can try to change it for the emperor. If you take the same prescription for a long time, it may not be effective."

"Your Highness is right, this old slave must have told the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Office."

After thinking about it, Xiao Yanzhi changed his tune again: "Forget it, I'll go to the Imperial Medical Office to talk about this matter."

"Eh?" Zhao Kang was startled, and then wondered, "Your Highness, let the old slave go."

Xu Lishan turned his head to look at Xiao Yanzhi's side face, and then said to Zhao Kang: "It's okay, I will send my brother to the Imperial Medical Office in person, Mr. Zhao only needs to take good care of my father. My father's health is not as good as it is." Don't let father always stay up all night, Mr. Zhao will help to persuade you."

"Your brother is right," Xiao Yanzhi also said to Zhao Kang, "Royal father will inevitably be negligent. With Lord Zhao always by his side, we can feel more at ease."

"Yes, your Highnesses, don't worry, this old slave will take good care of His Majesty wholeheartedly, and will never let His Majesty make any mistakes." Zhao Kang solemnly replied.

Xu Lishan nodded in satisfaction, and said: "Then Mr. Zhao, please go back to your father's side. This king and brother Huang will leave now."

Zhao Kang immediately bowed and cupped his hands, saying: "Respectfully send off the two Highnesses."

Pushing Xiao Yanzhi out of the Liangyi Hall, Xu Lishan looked around and teased Xiao Yanzhi: "I really don't know whether the emperor is being protected or watched by others. Brother Pei is really a martial artist. All the elites of Chengwang Mansion are arranged by your side."

"That's right," Xiao Yanzhi chuckled lightly, and told Xu Lishan, "You should also be more careful, you are our backbone, if something happens to you, what Pei Ze and I do will be in vain."

Xu Lishan sighed: "Don't worry, Brother Huang, if Xu Liqian wants to deal with me, he will probably find someone to assassinate me, and it is not difficult to guard against it, but he has always wanted to take Brother Huang away, so Father Huang and Brother Pei are so worried. "

Xiao Yanzhi pursed his lips and said, "I really don't know where he wants to take me."

"Where are you going?" Xu Lishan sneered, "He just saw that the emperor really loves the emperor, and he thought that if the emperor was in his hand, he would be able to blackmail the father. Besides, the emperor is quite convinced by the courtiers. Brother Huang helps him, and he will surely have smooth sailing, just like me now."

"That also depends on my willingness to help him." Xiao Yanzhi sighed.

Xu Lishan glanced at the top of Xiao Yanzhi's head, and said, "When he catches you, there will be plenty of ways for you to be used by him."

"That's true." Xiao Yanzhi nodded in agreement.

"So I also ask Brother Huang, Brother Huang, you must protect yourself." Xu Lishan patted Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder heavily.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled: "I see. Besides... If there is anyone available for the imperial brother, please send someone to search the city."

"What's the matter?" Upon hearing this, Xu Lishan looked at Xiao Yanzhi in puzzlement.

Xiao Yanzhi squinted his eyes and looked ahead, and said: "After the pursuit failed that night, I have never heard from Xu Liqian again. I went to Fuzhou in the north, Jinzhou in the south, Qinzhou in the west, and Luozhou in the east. , I have searched all the places within this range, but there is still no sign of Xu Liqian, I am afraid he has returned to Chang'an City."

"No way?" Xu Lishan frowned upon hearing the words, "How could he return to Chang'an? If he is caught, he will die."

"But after that day, the only place we haven't checked is Chang'an City." Xiao Yanzhi turned to look at Xu Lishan, and said, "But that's what I said."

Xu Liqian fled temporarily that day, and no one was outside to meet him. He must go in a certain direction, right?However, the pursuers sent by the emperor failed to find Xu Liqian after several days of investigation. This person seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, which made Xiao Yanzhi feel a little uneasy.

Xu Lishan frowned and said, "For the sake of caution, I will arrange for people to search the city."

Xiao Yanzhi nodded.

When he arrived at the Imperial Medical Office, Xiao Yanzhi discussed the emperor's prescription with the imperial physicians. Although Xiao Yanzhi couldn't explain why, he could still understand some of what the imperial physicians said. He put on airs so that these imperial physicians would cheer up and try their best to treat the emperor's illness.

After leaving the imperial medical office, Xu Lishan sent Xiao Yanzhi back to Prince Wucheng's mansion, and then led the guards back to Prince Qi's mansion alone.

When one of Xiao Yan stepped into the gate of Prince Wucheng's mansion, Xu Ren, who was hiding in the dark, jumped out of thin air.

"My lord, do you think Xu Liqian will really be in Chang'an City?"

When the King of Shu and the King of Qi talked about this just now, he always wanted to ask, if Xu Liqian really sneaked back to Chang'an City, wouldn't they be in danger?

Xiao Yanzhi looked at Xu Ren and smiled, and said, "How would I know? Anyway, be careful."

"No," Xu Ren rubbed his chin, and said, "I still have confidence in the defense of Prince Wucheng's mansion, but if Xu Liqian sneaks back to Chang'an, will he contact the courtiers?"

Xiao Yanzhi was pushed towards the backyard by Xu Ren. After hearing this, he thought for a while, then nodded, and agreed, "If I were him, I would make the last effort to win over a group of people... Or it would be more effective to threaten some people. Xu Ren, immediately send someone into the palace to tell Mr. Zhao Kang Zhao, let him find an unused hall in the palace. They all live together, and if they have family members, they will also be taken into the palace to protect them. The same is true for the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Office."

"Yes!" Xu Ren immediately beckoned a person from the dark place, whispered a few words in the person's ear, and the person flew away.

"King of Shu, you are back." Hearing that Xiao Yanzhi was back, Donggui came out to greet him, holding a letter in his hand, "This is a letter from the prince's home today."

Since Pei Ze left, he sent back a letter from home every day, and even the secret letter to the emperor was not so frequent, probably because Xiao Yanzhi was afraid that Xiao Yanzhi would be too worried.

"Thank you." Xiao Yanzhi accepted the family letter with a smile, and then casually opened it to read the letter from the beginning to the end, but Xiao Yanzhi did not show the same smile that he had after reading the letter a few days ago , instead asked Donggui and Xu Rendao, "Your lord should be in Suzhou now, right?"

Xu Ren replied: "The people brought by the lord are all very powerful, and all the horses are riding on the good horses given by His Majesty. If we calculate according to the speed of our past marches, we should arrive in about four or five days. According to the habits of the lord , he will probably make an unannounced visit in Suzhou in disguise first, and only after getting a general understanding of the situation will he go to see the general of the Northwest Army."

Xiao Yanzhi frowned and said, "Then how long will it take for this letter to be uploaded from your lord's hand to us?"

"One day," Xu Ren said without hesitation, "I used the eagle that His Majesty and the prince kept on the Leopard Rider."

They learned the trick of using eagles to send messages from the Turks.

Donggui looked at Xu Ren, then at Xiao Yanzhi, and asked, "My lord, what is written in this family letter?"

Hearing Donggui's question, Xiao Yanzhi directly handed the family letter in his hand to Donggui, and then asked Xu Ren: "That is to say, this family letter was written by your prince yesterday?"

"Probably." Xu Ren stroked his chin, and went to Donggui's side to read the family letter.

The family letter stated that Pei Ze had already met with the general of the Northwest Army, and confirmed that the general of the Northwest Army had no contact with Xu Liqian, and did not support Xu Liqian's treasonous behavior. Pei Ze would bring the Northwest Army back with the general. Chang'an, assisting in arresting the rebels.

After reading the letter from home, Donggui didn't understand why Xiao Yanzhi had so many questions unrelated to the content after reading the letter, but Xu Ren frowned.

"What does the prince bring the Northwest Army back to Chang'an?"

Although it is possible for Xu Liqian to cooperate with garrisons in other places, it is not possible to transfer the Northwest Army back to Chang'an so early, right?The Northwest Army is quite difficult to deal with. If it is discovered that Xu Liqian has not had time to collude with the local garrison, then bringing the Northwest Army back to Chang'an will not be worth the candle.

Xiao Yanzhi supported his head with his hands on the armrest of the wheelchair, said with a cold face, "Go, go to the study."

As soon as Xiao Yanzhi finished speaking, he heard Qi Cheng's voice.

"I've seen you, my lord. It's really hard for you to go to court in a wheelchair every day, my lord."

A warm smile appeared on Xiao Yanzhi's face instantly, he turned to look at Qi Cheng and asked, "I haven't seen you these few days, what have you been doing?"

"What else can my subordinates do?" Qi Cheng scratched his head and complained to Xiao Yanzhi, "Although Kong Sima went out to do errands with the prince, he arranged for other people to watch me train every day from morning to night. The subordinates are too tired to move."

Xiao Yanzhi nodded and said: "No wonder I feel that the world is clean these days, Kong Qing finally thought of a way to cure you."

Qi Cheng curled his lips, then leaned close to Xu Ren and Dong Gui, and asked, "Did the prince send the letter back from home? What was written on it?"

Donggui immediately put away the letter.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and said, "Your Majesty's business has been done, and he will probably be back soon."

"Really?" Qi Cheng said excitedly, "The prince didn't encounter any danger, did he?"

"No," Xiao Yanzhi shook his head, "What? Are you still hoping that the prince will encounter something dangerous?"

"No, no, no," Qi Cheng hurriedly shook his head, "This subordinate is just asking, if the prince really encounters something dangerous, his subordinates can go to rescue him."

"It's up to you?" Xu Ren looked at Qi Cheng disdainfully, "You don't even have full hair yet, so you can just stay in the mansion and take care of the nursing home."

Upon hearing this, Qi Chengcheng stared at Xu Ren with wide eyes, and said, "You look down on me?"

Xu Ren sneered and said, "I really don't think highly of you, what's the matter?"

"That Bibi!"

"Compare with you?" Xu Ren rolled his eyes to the sky, and then struck out instantly, knocking Qi Cheng to the ground in the blink of an eye, "You still want to compare with me because of your reaction? Then go back and practice hard with your brothers." .”

After patting Qi Cheng's face provocatively, Xu Ren got up and pushed Xiao Yanzhi to the backyard.

It has long been heard that there is such a thorn in the mansion. If Kong Qing and the others were not busy, they would have given him a good look. How could they let him jump up and down in front of the King of Shu all day long?Their princes don't like people disrespecting the king of Shu the most.

When he arrived at the study, Xiao Yanzhi asked Donggui to go to Pei Ze's dormitory to find Lian Sheng's wooden box, which neatly contained all the family letters sent back by Pei Ze.

Xiao Yanzhi took out the first family letter and threw it on the table, then said to Xu Ren and Donggui: "Compare the handwriting to see if it was written by your lord."

Donggui and Xu Ren were startled, and hurriedly started to compare.

Xiao Yanzhi took the tea made by Lian Sheng who followed him, and while drinking, he thought about all the situations that Pei Ze might be in at this time, and felt that his head was about to explode.

After comparing the handwriting between Xu Ren and Dong Gui over there, their expressions did not become better, but became uglier.

Donggui said, "My lord, the handwriting on these two family letters...is the same."

Hearing this, Xiao Yanzhi heaved a sigh of relief.

If the handwriting is the same, then Pei Ze is probably safe, at least he can still write properly.So this letter was written under coercion?That Pei Ze was coerced?

Xiao Yanzhi pouted.

"That's right." Xiao Yanzhi took a deep breath, and then said, "Xu Ren, write a reply letter, saying that after the father finds out, he ordered the Northwest Army to stand by."

Xu Ren asked in astonishment, "Will you write it down?"

Xiao Yanzhi turned his head to look at Xu Ren when he heard the words, and changed his words: "Let me write it."

Within a quarter of an hour, Xiao Yanzhi's reply letter was written, and Xu Ren immediately took the reply letter to Leopard Rider, and borrowed an eagle to pass the letter back to Pei Ze.

It was already dark when Pei Ze received the reply. At that time, Pei Ze was indeed in the camp of the Northwest Army, and he was indeed safe and sound. He just lived alone in a tent, guarded by ten elite soldiers of the Northwest Army.

General Zhang Maocheng approached Pei Ze's tent with the reply letter angrily, and threw the letter on the only table in the tent with his hands.

"You wrote that the Northwest Army is going to Chang'an?!"

Pei Ze, who was sitting at the table drinking tea, glanced at the crumpled reply letter calmly, then picked up the letter and read it unhurriedly. After reading, he folded the reply letter and put it in his arms. But he didn't answer Zhang Maocheng's question.

Zhang Maocheng was furious, slapped the table with his palm, and shouted: "I'm asking you what you wrote in that letter from home!"

Pei Ze raised his eyes to look at Zhang Maocheng, and said coldly: "Isn't everything written in that letter written by the king? The general also read the letter."

The previous family letter was written by him under the coercion of Zhang Maocheng. He deliberately wrote only business affairs uncharacteristically, and also specifically wrote that he would bring the Northwest Army back to Chang'an. Judging from the reply letter written by Xiao Yanzhi to him, that The kid probably saw the flaw, as for whether Xiao Yanzhi sent the letter to the emperor, he didn't know.

Zhang Maocheng said angrily: "Isn't that a letter from home? Why would His Majesty know?"

Pei Ze said coldly: "How does this king know? How about the general let me go back and find out?"

Zhang Maocheng was gasping for breath.

The Northwest Army was going to march to Chang'an, and someone would report to the emperor as long as they traveled from Suzhou to Ganzhou. After that, the emperor's permission was required to complete the journey safely, or they had to fight all the way.Originally, he was worried that if he really had to fight, what would happen if they didn't have enough troops in Chang'an, but he didn't expect that Pei Ze would come at this time, so he immediately imprisoned Pei Ze and planned to bring Pei Ze back to Beijing together.With the famous King Wu Cheng around, there should be less trouble along the way.

Zhang Maocheng suddenly drew out the sword at his waist and laid it across Pei Ze's neck, angrily said: "Convince His Majesty to agree to the return of the Northwest Army to Beijing, hurry up!"

Pei Ze raised his eyes and looked at Zhang Maocheng calmly, as if the sword on the side of his neck didn't exist at all: "Why?"

Zhang Maocheng gritted his teeth and said: "I have heard a lot about your King Wu Cheng's deeds, and I also know that King Wu Cheng is not afraid of death, but does King Wu Cheng not care about the lives of those who came with the prince?"

Staring at Zhang Maocheng in silence for a moment, Pei Ze said again: "This king wants to see them."

Zhang Maocheng sneered and said, "Does the lord think that this general will let you meet?"

Pei Ze lowered his eyes again, and said, "If they live, this king will live, and if they die, this king will die. If the general can afford the gamble, then give it a try."

"Oh!" Zhang Maocheng said in disbelief, "My lord, will you pay for the lives of some of your subordinates? What about Princess Wucheng who is still in Chang'an City? Seeing that you are away from home and writing letters from home every day, I know you You have a deep relationship with the princess, are you willing to let the princess be a widow? Maybe the princess is pregnant with the prince's child at this moment?"

Zhang Maocheng only knew that there was a very beloved woman in Pei Ze's family, so he thought it was Princess Wucheng.But after hearing Zhang Maocheng's words, Pei Ze not only did not show Zhang Maocheng's expected hesitation, but laughed directly.

Princess Wucheng?Are you saying that Xiao Yanzhi is Princess Wucheng?This title sounds really good.But pregnant?This scene is really unimaginable, and it is estimated that it will never happen in this life.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Maocheng was a little flustered.

Pei Ze suppressed his smile in an instant, looked at Zhang Maocheng coldly, and said, "I want to keep my word. The general will come to me after he has made a decision."

"You!" Zhang Maocheng was too angry to speak.

Pei Ze added: "However, if tomorrow's letter from home cannot arrive on time, the king will not guarantee it...Whether the princess will ask His Majesty for something because she thinks something happened to the king, the general should not think about it." Too long."

Unable to say anything about Pei Ze, Zhang Maocheng was so angry that he turned around and went to the tent to find a solution to the military adviser Xu Liqian sent.

Pei Ze sat calmly in the tent and finished his cup of tea. When he swallowed the last sip of tea, it happened to be the time for the guards outside to change their shift.

Pei Ze watched the figures on the tent go back and forth, and suddenly got up at a certain moment, walked quickly to a corner of the tent, opened the tent and got out.Pei Ze, who was wearing a black coat, ran wildly as soon as he got out of the tent, and quickly ran to stand behind a tree not far away. With the cover of the night and the tree trunk, he escaped the guard's eyes.

When the newly appointed guards stood outside the tent and started to stare blankly, Pei Ze left cautiously and ran around in the camp of the Northwest Army. On the way, he ran into Li An and Kong Qing, but after making gestures with each other , and went to their respective destinations.

People who had never fought with them would never know what they could do. Did Zhang Maocheng think he could really imprison them?He and the soldiers brought out by him can be imprisoned for a while if they want to?