Drive a RV and go farming in ancient times.

Without further ado, after listening to his wife's reminder, Xu Huaiyi decided to find time to have a good talk with Han Jun, but before the conversation, he met with Gu Xiaoyu first.

After dinner, the father and son played chess in the study. Xu Huaiyi leaned sickly on the couch, took a bite of an apple, and casually placed a piece.

In this season, the only fruit that can be taken out openly is apple. If picked in autumn and properly stored, it can be kept for more than half a year.

Compared with other unpresentable postures, Gu Xiaoyu's is much more elegant. Although he is just a young boy, he already has the demeanor of a graceful and elegant person. Just sitting there is pleasing to the eye.

His chess skills have improved rapidly in the past two years. With the guidance of a famous teacher and his own intelligence, he could have easily defeated Xu Huaiyi a long time ago. However, he did not use his full strength.

The father and son were just playing for fun. Winning or losing was not important. What was important was the content of the subsequent conversation.

Gu Xiaoyu vaguely guessed something, but he was not panicked because he already had the answer in his heart.

Xu Huaiyi finished eating the apple, wiped his hands, and asked directly without beating around the bush, "Your uncle has privately discussed with you about restoring your identity, right?"

Gu Xiaoyu nodded and said "yeah", then calmly placed a move, "My son didn't agree."

Xu Huaiyi raised his eyebrows and asked curiously, "Why don't you agree? Do you think it's not the right time yet?"

Gu Xiaoyu said honestly, "First, the timing is not right. Second, my son is reluctant to leave home."

The latter one is the most important.

Hearing this, Xu Huaiyi's eyes flashed with relief, and he said jokingly, "Prince Qi's Mansion is your home and your best destination in the future. Sooner or later, you will go back."

Gu Xiaoyu said calmly, "This is also my home. Does my father no longer want to recognize me as his son? Have you asked my mother?"

Xu Huaiyi glared at him and said unhappily, "Don't scare me with your mother. I didn't say I don't recognize you, nor do I mean to drive you away."

When he said this, he subconsciously glanced at the door, his henpecked image was fully revealed.

Seeing this, Gu Xiaoyu couldn't help but smile, "That's good, then I'm relieved. Otherwise, I have to figure out how to help you make your mother happy."

Xu Huaiyi laughed angrily and raised his hand to knock on his forehead twice, "You've grown a year older, but you're not as stable as before. Instead, you've become a lot more naughty. You even dare to make fun of your father!"

Gu Xiaoyu asked innocently, "Didn't you always dislike your son for being too mature and not childlike? You also said that father and son can get along like friends and don't have to stick to those dogmas. But your son has kept your teachings in mind and worked hard to change himself to satisfy you."

Xu Huaiyi choked and started to act like a rogue, "Then your father doesn't like children who are too lively and naughty now. You should be more mature and steady in the future, and be respectful to your father. If I tell you to go east, you can't go west. If I tell you to chase a dog, you can't catch a chicken..."

Gu Xiaoyu, "..."

Which of the two of them is less mature and steady?

Seeing that he was speechless, Xu Huaiyi stopped talking with satisfaction and got back to business. "How did you reject your uncle? What reason did you use?"

Gu Xiaoyu said in a complicated tone, "Even if the time is not right, it is still too dangerous to restore my identity now. There are all kinds of people in the Qi Palace, except for real blood relatives. My father is not here either. What's the difference between me going back and living under someone else's roof? Besides, now that I have a new mother, the word filial piety can suppress me so that I have no power to fight back. By then, even if my uncle goes to help me, he can't reach his hand into the backyard, and I..."

He took a deep breath, disgust flashing in his eyes, "I really don't want to waste my precious time on those intrigues. Every day, I don't think about how to study and practice martial arts, or chat with classmates and friends. Instead, I have to plan how to save my life and how to prevent people around me from murdering me. I also have to fight for interests and power with so-called relatives like wolves and tigers. It's too bad. My son doesn't want to live that kind of life anymore."

Xu Huaiyi was shocked when he heard this, and felt sad and helpless. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "But you have to go back anyway..."

Gu Xiaoyu took a deep breath and said, "My son knows, but, Dad, please feel sorry for me and let me live a few more years of normal life."

It was rare to hear such words of weakness and coquettishness. Xu Huaiyi was stunned for a moment and subconsciously explained, "I didn't want you to go back now, but since your uncle mentioned it, he must have felt that the opportunity had come. If you miss it, won't you regret it in the future?"

Gu Xiaoyu shook his head and said firmly, "My son will never regret it."

"You are young……"

"Dad, I understand what you mean, but this decision is the result of my careful consideration. Didn't you say before that when making a decision, if you don't know whether it will be right or wrong in the future, then you should live in the present and follow your heart? Now I am listening to my truest heart, so I won't regret it."

Having said that, Xu Huaiyi was speechless and patted him on the shoulder with relief. "Okay, since you have decided, your father will definitely support you. This is your home. Even if we divide the family property in the future, there will be a share for Ah Li and a share for you, even if you want to live here for the rest of your life..."

"how?"

"As long as you don't leave, your father will never chase you away."

When Gu Xiaoyu heard this, his whole face softened, and the smile in his eyes almost overflowed, "Thank you, Dad. I will definitely be filial to you and mom in the future."

Xu Huaiyi snorted stubbornly, "Who cares? I only have a small cotton-padded jacket to wear, which is enough for me." He then brought the topic back to the topic, "Your uncle didn't blame you, did he?"

Gu Xiaoyu shook his head.

Xu Huaiyi was half-believing and half-doubting, "Are you really not angry?"

Gu Xiaoyu said, "Really not. I just feel a little disappointed. After all, he hopes that I can go back and give it a try now."

Hearing this, Xu Huaiyi's eyes flickered. "Take a chance? Where are the chips? The court is now asking for the establishment of a crown prince, but your father is not in the capital, and there are no important officials to support you. How can you fight for that position? If you can make great contributions in the north in the future, perhaps you can have a little more hope. Now..."

If you are not stupid, no one will think highly of him.

Gu Xiaoyu said, "My son knows all these things. My uncle also understands them, but he..."

After a pause, he said with difficulty, "My uncle has some evidence that can disqualify the other princes from competing for the throne. Once they withdraw, father will be the only adult prince left. Even if the court officials don't want to choose him, there is nothing they can do. The situation is tense now, and we urgently need to appoint a crown prince to stabilize people's hearts and the country. Those who haven't set up their own palaces in the palace are too young to support it."

What he did not say directly was that Emperor Jianxing was in poor health. He vomited blood in front of all the civil and military officials in the court, and his reputation was also blemishes. For this reason, some people rebelled under the banner of clearing the court. All these were no longer conducive to Emperor Jianxing's continued control of the court. At this time, it would be most wise to promote a crown prince to take over the overall situation.

Everyone will be happy to see it happen.

Xu Huaiyi asked, "What evidence does your uncle have that can bring down the three princes at once?"

Gu Xiaoyu said self-deprecatingly, "It's evidence of murdering my son. Back then, when my son was born, it was said that there were strange signs in the sky. He was also given the title of the eldest grandson, so several of the emperor's uncles thought that my son would become a threat to them in the future. In addition, my grandfather treated me very well at that time, which made them even more intolerant. They attacked him several times. Some of my sons escaped by luck, but some did not. Just like the poisoning of Concubine Li before, in fact, Prince Duan was behind it. When I left the capital with my uncle, there were constant assassinations along the way, and several princes took advantage of the situation..."

Hearing this, Xu Huaiyi asked in astonishment, "Didn't we find out before that it was done by the Marquis of Changle Mansion?"

Gu Xiaoyu sneered, "It's just the difference between the mastermind and the accomplice. Those uncles wanted me dead, but they didn't dare to make too much noise. It just so happened that Changle Marquis' Mansion also wanted my life, which was exactly what they wanted, so they stepped on it. It's just that it wasn't so obvious, but my uncle still found out some things. Not to mention the crime of murdering my nephew, just the fact that they raised private soldiers, once it is exposed, the whole court will not dare to support it anymore."

Xu Huaiyi clicked his tongue twice and sighed, "Your uncle is a very capable investigator. He has evidence of the three princes committing crimes. It's not easy. It's amazing. It's really amazing."

This is definitely a royal bomb. If it is played, it is not certain whether the Prince of Qi will become the Crown Prince, but the other three princes will definitely be in trouble.

Because when the founding emperor established the dynasty, he had clearly stipulated that if the eldest son was mediocre in the past and other royal descendants were indeed outstanding, they could compete for the succession to the throne. Everyone would use their own means and whoever was more capable would succeed. However, there was a bottom line that could not be broken, which was that they were not allowed to murder each other's lives.

Once this line is crossed, unless there is no evidence, as long as it is discovered, that person will lose his/her qualification as an heir.

At that time, Emperor Jianxing was not the crown prince. It was his turn to ascend the throne because the original crown prince injured his leg. Some people suspected that he had harmed his eldest brother, but there was no evidence, so the matter was left unresolved.

Right now, Han Jun has evidence. If he takes it out, Prince Duan, Prince Jin, or Prince Qi will all be in trouble.

No wonder Han Jun wanted Gu Xiaoyu to return to Prince Qi's Mansion now? This opportunity is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

but……

He was just thinking about how to tell Gu Xiaoyu about the current situation when he heard Gu Xiaoyu say, "Dad, do you also think that even if those three princes withdraw from the competition, the court will not choose my father as the crown prince?"

Xu Huaiyi focused on the word "also" and asked curiously, "Do you think so too? Or has anyone told you so?"

Gu Xiaoyu said, "Mr. Jiang once discussed the current court situation with Doctor Jiao. I and several of my senior brothers overheard a few words. Mr. Jiang meant that the civil and military officials in the court would most likely choose Prince Duan to take the throne, but Grandfather Huang... might prefer to support the young prince. So, if Prince Duan was pulled down by his uncle, Grandfather Huang would be very happy."

"The cabinet will not agree, and the civil and military officials in the court will also oppose it..."

"What if my grandfather has some evidence or evidence of my father's crime? Without this backup, will there be no crown prince? The sixth uncle in the palace may not be an adult, but he is already twelve years old..."

In ancient times when people could get married and have children at the age of fourteen or fifteen, twelve years old was actually not considered very young.

Xu Huaiyi sighed, "Mr. Jiang is still very insightful."

Gu Xiaoyu calmly took over the conversation, "So, the possibility of success is very small, and I don't want to gamble. The best result is that my uncle will dethrone the three princes, but it will only make things easier for other uncles, and it is unlikely to fall on my father's head. Besides, my father doesn't have such ambitions. If he really becomes the crown prince, he can't handle the complicated and difficult situation in front of him, and his position will not be stable. It will be a disaster, not a blessing for him."

Xu Huaiyi nodded, "Your analysis is good. Right now, no one will end up well as the crown prince. I am relieved that you can think this way. Just focus on studying and practicing martial arts, eat and play. You are only eight years old, so don't rush to grab a position. Let the older generation do the hard work first, and then we'll see what happens in a few years."

Gu Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief and responded obediently, "I will listen to my father."

After the father and son had a heart-to-heart talk, Xu Huaiyi went to talk to Han Jun without any burden. It was much easier for adults to interact with each other. They just had to lay out the pros and cons. Han Jun was not stupid. On the contrary, he was very smart and knew how to be patient. He could figure out what was the most advantageous choice after a little thought.

It's just that I'm a little unwilling.

Xu Huaiyi advised a few times and made the matter more straightforward and thorough, "You are only thinking about the three princes. The key is still with the emperor. Can you still influence his thoughts?

In addition, those young princes may not have no supporters behind them, and the Prince of Qi is not in the capital, and he has no ambitions. If you force him to take the throne, do you think he can stay in the throne?

He now has a father-in-law who is the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, but Commander Xiao is very smart and will never support him wholeheartedly.

Who can the King of Qi rely on? You or me? Both of us have weak foundations and cannot support him at all.

But you know the current situation well. Without some ability, who can obey him? The war in the south has stopped, but the war in the north is still going on. Now there is an uprising army that needs to be suppressed, and the King of Chu is stirring up trouble. Do you think he can handle all these? If he can't handle it, it will only make the court officials and the people disappointed in him. It is not uncommon for a prince to be deposed in history. "

Han Jun looked at him with deep eyes, "According to what you said, there is no possibility for the King of Qi?"

Xu Huaiyi spread his hands and said very simply, "Not really. If any of the other princes have an accident, then the throne will belong to him."

Han Jun asked inexplicably, "Do you think that's possible?"

Xu Huaiyi smiled, "What's impossible? The royal family can do anything for that chair. It's normal for brothers to fight against each other. Don't forget, there is also the King of Chu..."

"So, the King of Qi can only wait for opportunities to come?"

"Hahaha, what's wrong with picking up a bargain? That's great luck. Luck is also a kind of strength, and it's hard to seek for it."

"..."

After Xu Huaiyi's persuasion, Han Jun's reluctance finally dissipated a little, and he no longer felt sorry for the evidence he had found. However, he still said in the end, "Jin'er, you have to go back sooner or later."

Xu Huaiyi said without hesitation, "Of course, I respect all his choices."