Your Majesty, he is as beautiful as a flower

During the 20-day journey from Chizhou to Beijing, they walked for 21 days.

Liu Huan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, brought a few officials to greet him downstairs at the city gate, saying that he was here at the order of His Majesty.

After a group of officials saluted, Cheng Wanqiao stood on the shaft of the chariot and looked at Liu Huan, "Lord Liu, can you tell me when the emperor will face the saint?"

The servant of the Ministry of Rites cupped his hands, "Going back to His Highness Fifth, His Majesty said that the god is tired from traveling all the way, so he rests in Yixiang mansion today, and will enter the palace tomorrow to meet the saint."

Cheng Wanqiao asked, "Has everything been packed?"

The servant of the Ministry of Rites said: "His Royal Highness is relieved, knowing that the emperor arrived in Beijing today, the official ordered people to clean up a courtyard in Yixiang Mansion."

Cheng Wanqiao said: "Then Mr. Liu will lead the way."

Liu Huan responded, mounted his horse and led the way.

Yixiang Mansion is the place where the royal family accommodates distinguished guests and envoys from various countries. Although it is a mansion, it is divided into large and small courtyards. The exits of each courtyard are different, and the people living in different courtyards of the mansion are different Interfering.

Cheng Wanqiao went to Yixiang Mansion with him. Although he had heard of Yixiang Mansion since he was a child, it was the first time for Cheng Wanqiao to come here. After coming, he realized that there are carved galleries and painted buildings here. It is no better than a first-rank official in the capital The mansion is poor.

The yard given to Yuchen was called Qinyuan, and it was kept clean and tidy, with guards and maids who did chores on weekdays.

After Yuchen was settled, Cheng Wanqiao was still not at ease. He checked the guards all over the mansion again, and he was relieved when he found no problems.

Back in the front yard, Yuchen was standing by the lotus pond in the yard, looking at the lotus in the pond.

It was the end of summer at this time, and the flowers in the lotus pond were gradually withering, leaving only a few sporadic flowers standing among the green leaves.

"Young Master Yuchen."

Yuchen turned around, "Your Highness finished reading."

Cheng Wanqiao said: "Well, I have checked everything, and the guards everywhere are properly guarded, so you can stay at ease."

"I didn't say I was worried."

Cheng Wanqiao smiled faintly, "Tomorrow I will go to the palace with you to face the saint. It's not early today, so I'll go back home first."

What Cheng Wanqiao said was returning to the mansion, not the palace, Yuchen was curious: "You are the prince, shouldn't you live in the palace?"

Cheng Wanqiao said: "I moved out of the palace three years ago and have my own mansion, but since I moved out of the palace, I have been fighting outside all year round and have not been back for nearly two years."

Yuchen shook the fan in his hand, and said clearly: "It's time to go back and have a look."

Cheng Wanqiao cupped his hands at him, "Then I will take my leave."

Cheng Wanqiao came out of Yixiang mansion, and went straight back to the mansion. He lived in that mansion three years ago. He has not married a wife yet. Apart from him, he is a servant in the mansion. He has fought in the battlefield all these years, all of them are Uncle Zhang. No matter, he rarely asks about the affairs of the family.

For returning home, he had nothing to look forward to, but he was thinking about Yuchen along the way, always worrying that he would not get used to it when he came to the capital.

He got off his horse at the gate of the mansion, and the young man who was sweeping the floor at the gate saw it, his eyes lit up, and he was as happy as New Year's, and shouted inside: "His Royal Highness is back! His Highness is back!"

He threw away the broom while shouting, and ran towards the door, "Your Highness, you are back."

Cheng Wanqiao smiled at him, "Uncle Zhang, are they all right?"

The boy grinned, "All good, all good."

As soon as Zhang Bo was said, Zhang Bo came out, and he hurried over and said: "Your Highness, you are finally back."

Cheng Wanqiao walked inside and said, "I've been away for the past two years, Uncle Zhang has worked hard."

"The slaves are terrified, staying at the mansion every day is definitely not hard work." Uncle Zhang kept smiling, "I heard that the Jing army was defeated, so your Highness will be stationed in the capital this time?"

Qi State and Jing State have been at war for nearly six years, and now the Jing army has been defeated, and it is no longer possible to fight, and Da Qi has been exhausting people and money these years, and he cannot continue to fight. Maybe he will be able to live a stable life in the next few years.

Cheng Wanqiao said, "Maybe."

Uncle Zhang suddenly remembered something, "His Royal Highness, Shang Shu Ling Qianjin heard that you are returning to Beijing today, so she came to the mansion early and is waiting in the front hall."

Cheng Wanqiao was a little surprised. He didn't expect that someone was waiting for him. Shang Shuling's daughter, Wu Fangxue, and him were childhood sweethearts. Wu Fangxue was the Empress Dowager's niece. Back then, the palace specially opened a school for princes and princesses, and there were also a few princes and nobles' children But attend classes together, Wu Fangxue is one of them.

Cheng Wanqiao and her can be regarded as classmates, but since he went to the battlefield at the age of 15, he has met her very few times, and he is a little strange.

He went to the front hall first, and sure enough, he saw a woman in a pink dress, a woman who had turned into a female student, and he almost didn't recognize it at first glance.

Wu Fangxue got up first, blessed her body, "I have seen His Highness Fifth."

Cheng Wanqiao raised her hand, "Miss Wu, you don't have to be polite."

Wu Fangxue raised her eyes and looked at Cheng Wanqiao. The moment she saw him, her eyes seemed to be filled with stars, "Fang Xue heard that His Highness is returning to Beijing today, so she came here. If there is any abruptness, I hope His Highness will forgive you."

Cheng Wanqiao has dealt with all the men in the military camp these years. Suddenly there is a delicate woman, and he really doesn't know how to deal with it. "I'm glad that Miss Wu can come, and she won't be abrupt."

Wu Fangxue said: "Your Highness must have suffered a lot in these years of fighting on the battlefield."

"The responsibility lies."

"The Queen Mother learned that His Highness is going back to Beijing. She told me a few days ago that she wanted to make some better clothes for His Highness. I have learned some female celebrities over the years, so I took this matter." Wu Fangxue motioned to the maid behind her. , the servant girl stepped forward and opened the wooden box she was holding in her hand, and inside were two clothes, "The embroiderer may not be as good as the embroiderer in the palace, please don't dislike it, Your Highness."

"Miss Wu has a heart." Cheng Wanqiao turned to Zhang Bo and said, "Zhang Bo, accept it."

"Yes." Uncle Zhang stepped forward and put away the two boxes.

It's just that Wu Fangxue hasn't seen him for a long time, but now that she sees him, her joyful heart has been satisfied. She sympathizes with his journey, "Your Highness just came back and was exhausted. You should take a rest. I don't want to disturb you, so I will take my leave first."

Cheng Wanqiao said: "Uncle Zhang, send Miss Wu off."

Uncle Zhang made a gesture of invitation to Wu Fangxue, and sent her out.

After seeing off Wu Fangxue, Cheng Wanqiao walked to his dormitory. He was not familiar with this mansion. During the three years since he moved in, he only came back once two years ago. After staying for half a month, he went to the border again.

Cheng Wanqiao came out in a different outfit, and sat in the front hall drinking tea while listening to Uncle Zhang's report on the affairs of the mansion in the past two years. It’s not easy to refuse, so I accept them all.”

Cheng Wanqiao took a sip of hot tea. Although he and Wu Fangxue had some classmates, he never liked to owe favors. "In this case, you personally pick some gifts for the stage and send them to Shang Shuling's mansion, and it will be regarded as a return gift."

"Okay, the slave will do it tomorrow."

"Also." Cheng Wanqiao put down the teacup and said to Zhang Bo: "If I leave Beijing in the future and she comes to deliver things again, she will refuse to accept it. Just say it's my intention."

Zhang Bo understood what Cheng Wanqiao meant, and hurriedly said, "I understand."

-

The next day, Cheng Wanqiao woke up early, changed into court clothes and went to court in the palace.

Everyone knows that the five princes, who are brave and skilled in fighting, retreated from the Jing army and made great contributions to opening up the territory for Daqi.When all civil and military officials saw him, they came to greet him one after another. Suddenly he became the object of all officials' fawning, and he had a unparalleled reputation in the court for a while.

After leaving court, Cheng Wanqiao went to the imperial study alone, Cheng Yan invited him to have lunch together, and called his mother and concubine together, the two father and son had a rare conversation.

Tonight, His Majesty is holding a banquet in the palace for all the officials, one is to celebrate the victory of the war with the Jing Kingdom, and the other is to clean up the dust for the gods.

When they left the palace, it was already noon, Cheng Wanqiao didn't even return to his mansion, so he rushed to Yixiang Mansion impatiently, and brought Yuchen into the palace to attend the evening palace banquet together.

"I lived in Yixiang Mansion yesterday, are you still used to it?" Cheng Wanqiao looked at Yuchen and asked in the carriage.

Yuchen tilted his head, propped his elbows on the low table, "I'm not used to it."

Cheng Wanqiao heard that he was not used to it, so he asked with concern: "But what's missing?"

"Someone is missing."

Cheng Wanqiao's first reaction was that there were not enough servants in Yixiang Mansion, he said: "I will talk to the steward of Yixiang Mansion later, and ask him to add a few more servant girls for you to order."

"There are so many maids and servants in the yard that I can hardly squeeze them in. I have no shortage."

"That is……"

Yuchen looked at him, "Isn't the missing person right in front of you?"

Cheng Wanqiao's expression froze, and he didn't react for a while.

Yu Chen said: "Since I left Yulingxi, His Highness has been by my side all the time. I'm really not used to not seeing you yesterday."

It turned out to be because of this, Cheng Wanqiao said, "I'll get used to it after a while."

It was evening after entering the palace, Cheng Wanqiao first took him to the side hall to rest.

Gong Yan was in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Yu Chen was a guest, and he could only enter the hall to face the saint when all the civil and military officials were present.

Cheng Wanqiao entered the hall first, and sat with several other princes. At this time, the hall was already very lively.

The third prince, Cheng Jinliang, was sitting next to Cheng Wanqiao, and he started the conversation very enthusiastically, "I haven't seen you for two years, brother, you are now a famous general, and I can't wait to catch up."

Cheng Wanqiao said modestly, "Brother Huang, you are too proud."

Cheng Jinliang sighed, "To be honest, I envy you. You are younger than me, but I can't match you in anything."

"I am born to be useful, so don't underestimate yourself, Brother Huang."

"I'm telling the truth. Among us princes, no one can match you."

The crown prince sitting at the front, Cheng Kunling, clenched his fists with the hands under his sleeves when he heard the words. Cheng Jinliang's words just now were clearly insinuating that he, the crown prince, was not as good as Cheng Wanqiao.

He turned around, "Third Brother, you are being modest. If you are willing to go to the battlefield, you might be famous all over the world."

Cheng Jinliang smiled, "Brother Huang is just kidding me, don't you know how much I weigh?"

Cheng Kunling said with a cold face, "If you don't fight for it yourself, why should you envy others."

Cheng Jinliang smiled obsequiously, "What the emperor said is true, what the emperor said is true."

Cheng Wanqiao listened to the two of them quarreling, and did not interrupt the whole process. The prince and the third prince had always been at odds, and this was not a new thing. He never participated in many open and secret battles between the princes.

"Please enter the palace!" The old eunuch stood in front of the palace and shouted loudly.

All the people in the Hall of Supreme Harmony looked towards the entrance of the hall. Yuchen was dressed in a luxurious purple dress, with a golden crown on his head, and slowly walked towards the hall. beautiful people.

When Yuchen Road was short, Wanqiao slightly turned his head to look at him, and Cheng Wanqiao returned a faint smile.

"Grassman Yuchen, pay homage to Your Majesty." Yuchen raised his wide sleeves and cupped his hands.

Cheng Yan on the dragon seat raised his hand, "You don't need to be polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Cheng Yan looked at Yuchen with a smile, "Shenjun is really extraordinary, as soon as you come in, my Hall of Supreme Harmony will be filled with fairy spirit."

Yu Chen said: "Your Majesty is absurd, my family only left a trace of the blood of the gods, after all, it is still a mortal body."

Cheng Yan said: "In any case, the gods are descendants of the gods. It is a great fortune to have the gods on my Daqi territory. I will definitely not treat them lightly in the future."

Yu Chen said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Cheng Yan said again: "It's rare for a god to come to the capital, why don't you stay longer, what do you think?"

Yu Chen said: "The capital is bustling and bustling, with outstanding people and wonderful places. If your Majesty doesn't say anything, I also want to stay longer."

Cheng Yanlang laughed a few times, "Okay, in a few months we will have the Dragon Sacrifice Ceremony, and I hope that the gods will sacrifice with me at that time, so as to ensure the longevity of my Daqi forever!"

"It is my fortune to be able to sacrifice to the dragon with His Majesty."

Hearing this, Cheng Wanqiao felt inexplicably happy. The Dragon Sacrifice Ceremony was held in November, and it is only July now, which means that Yuchen will have to live in the capital for at least four months.

Yuchen took his seat, and his seat was just opposite him, separated by an aisle more than ten feet wide in the middle. After the palace banquet started, there was music in the hall, and a group of dancing girls outside the hall filed in, waving their hands in front of the hall. The brightly colored sleeves danced one by one, just blocking the sight on both sides.

After the song was over, the dancers retreated one after another. There was no obstacle in between. Cheng Wanqiao looked up and found that Yuchen was already looking at him. Qiao's heart skipped a beat, and Fu looked down at the wine in the glass again. He didn't hold enough alcohol, so he didn't dare to drink too much, and he only drank a little when toasting.

Cheng Jinliang, the third prince next to the voice, leaned over and leaned into Cheng Wanqiao's ear, "Imperial brother, you said that this divine monarch was born with a beautiful face, if it were a woman, it would be great, but it's a pity that he is a man."

Cheng Wanqiao's face was displeased, "Brother Huang, the emperor is the honored guest of the father, so don't be rude."

Cheng Jinliang said: "It's just you and my brother discussing in private, don't need to be so serious."

Even in private, Cheng Wanqiao couldn't stand him talking about Yuchen like that, so he said with a straight face, "Such things should never be said at any time."

Cheng Jinliang smiled submissively, "Yes, yes, it's up to you."

Another group of dancers came up in front of the hall, wearing masks and wearing very cool clothes, dancing an enchanting dance with their waists twisted.

Cheng Jinliang couldn't keep his mouth shut, now he finished talking about Yuchen, and then he talked about Cheng Wanqiao, "Imperial brother, you are already twenty-one, and the children of princes and noble families should get married. It’s time to think about it when you return to Beijing.”

Cheng Wanqiao's expression paused. He had been fighting outside all these years, and he really hadn't been able to take care of his family. He subconsciously looked to the opposite side, and the woman dancing on the aisle made room for him to see Yuchen on the opposite side. Said: "In matters of marriage, you should obey your parents' orders."

"Father is always busy, I'm afraid I haven't thought about it for you, why don't I mention it in front of him someday?"

Cheng Wanqiao refused simply, "No need."

After the palace banquet was over, Cheng Wanqiao left the hall first and waited at the entrance of the hall. Seeing Yuchen coming out, he greeted him, "I will escort you back to Yixiang Mansion."

Yuchen smiled faintly, "Thank you, Your Highness."