Thinking

An hour later, in the Imperial Palace of the Jin Kingdom, in the Mingde Hall.

Di Youliang is the lieutenant general of Ruichu, the great general of the Jin Kingdom, and Emperor Hongjia sent him to fetch Yuankong back to the palace this time.

Yuankong's real name is Yu Ke, not the son of an ordinary official family, but the youngest son of Hongjia Emperor Yu Xiuyuan.

His biological mother had long since passed away. Not long after he was born, the heave master said that his fate was doomed, so he was sent to Fanghua Temple to lead him to practice, and kept his name incognito until today.

Yu Ke, who used to be Yuan Kong, after taking a bath and changing clothes, changed from a light green monk's clothes to a prince's imperial clothes. The young man was elegant and noble, sitting in the hall of Mingde Hall.

Qi Si randomly chose a military uniform and changed into it, and sat on the chair below.

Emperor Hongjia sat opposite Yu Ke, and Di Youliang had already stepped back.Xiao Yunsong changed into a bodyguard uniform and stood beside him.

All the palace people were sent down, and the palace was quiet.

Emperor Hongjia was dressed in a bright yellow royal uniform, with a resolute face. He was not confused in his old age. He fought east and west since he was young.

Yu Ke may be more like her mother, with a more delicate face, and after living in Fanghua Temple for many years, she has a gentle temperament.

Emperor Hongjia stretched out his hand to Yu Ke, and said in a deep and majestic voice, "Ke'er, come here, I will take a look at you."

Yu Ke got up and went over. Emperor Hongjia reached out to touch his cheek, patted him on the shoulder, looked at his youngest son carefully, and smiled softly.

"It looks like your mother, she's a little thinner, I can't see you these years, but I often hear about you."

The Mingde Palace just at night is brightly lit, and the tall palace is rich and majestic with carved beams and painted buildings, and the ticking sound echoes.

Xiao Yunsong was about to retreat, and Qi Si also planned to go out, but Emperor Hongjia said to Qi Si: "You are Ke'er's partner, and your name is Qi Si?"

Qisi was a little surprised that Emperor Hongjia knew his own name, and replied neither humble nor overbearing: "Yes."

Emperor Hongjia got up and stepped forward, patted Qi Si on the shoulder and comforted him: "I just heard from Lu Yingqiu that your father died in battle and sacrificed his life for the country. It's a good job. You should mourn."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongjia saw that he was also a little tired, so he said: "Go and rest first."

Qi Si then retreated, and the palace servants took him to the side hall to rest.

Only Emperor Hongjia and Yu Ke remained in the hall.

Emperor Hongjia asked Yu Ke many questions, mostly about life in Fanghua Temple, what books he read, etc. Yu Ke answered them one by one, and gradually eliminated the strangeness with Emperor Hongjia.

Emperor Hongjia seemed to have something to say, but in the end he just told him to go to bed early and come back to see him tomorrow.

Yu Ke was about to leave, but she turned around and asked, "Father... Royal Father, Qi Si is my best partner. His parents are gone, can he stay by my side?" Anxiety and anticipation.

Emperor Hongjia thought for a while, and replied: "Of course, according to Lu Yingqiu, that child has both civil and martial arts, and has an upright character. If he is willing, he can be your companion in the future."

Yu Ke felt relieved after hearing this.

The palace servants wanted to take him to the bedroom to rest, but Yu Ke asked, "Where is Qisi?"

The palace man was very clever, knowing who Yu Ke was asking, and replied, "Your Highness, that young master is in the Xipian Palace."

"Take me there."

After nightfall, the lights in the palace did not stop, and the drizzle fell silently on the ground, and the rain falling from the eaves accumulated into thin streams, dripping intermittently.

The palace servants held up lanterns and held up umbrellas to guide Yu Ke carefully.

When they arrived at the side hall, Yu Ke signaled the palace servants to go in alone without making a sound.

Qi Si knew that he would come to find him, and did not fall asleep. He changed into white single clothes, and sat alone on the side of the bed. The warm yellow dancing candlelight reflected his clear face with distinct shadows. There was a wooden box at his feet. The lid was open and he was packing his things.

There was no one else in the hall, Qi Si had already let the palace people go down, only a few lights remained.

Yu Ke went to sit next to him and watched him pick up his luggage one by one.

There was nothing in the box, except father's nameplate, mother's hosta, and a few pieces of clothing.But he didn't bring his saber, so he asked Lu Yingqiu to bring it later.

He touched Qisi's shoulder: "You can stay with me from now on, we are brothers."

Qi Si smiled, the boy's face was handsome and gentle under the candlelight: "Don't talk nonsense, your brother is also a prince."

Yu Ke also laughed when he heard that.

He knew that he still had two elder brothers, the eldest prince was virtuous and respectful, and the fifth prince was quick-witted, but he didn't know if they got along well.

"But you're my best friend, and I still want you to stay."

Qi Si raised her eyes to look at Yu Ke. Yu Ke had changed into the prince's robes, her jet-black hair was dripping with rain and hanging down her back.The luxurious clothes did not make Yu Ke look vulgar, but instead made him delicate and gentle, adding a bit of extravagance.

He used to be handsome in monk clothes, but he is still the little monk Yuankong in Fanghua Temple.

Yu Ke's eyes are very sincere, but Qi Si is unwilling to promise things that others are not sure about, just like his mother failed to wait for his father, he doesn't want to keep the promise and let people down in the future.Besides, the imperial palace is like a luxurious cage, Qi Si doesn't like it very much.

"If you need, I will be with you, and you are my best friend," Qisi replied.

The teenager is ignorant, and he still doesn't understand that fate is sometimes just a light boat in the turbulent undercurrent, and it may not be up to him where he goes.

The hall is empty, and the gorgeous curtain carvings are like a dream under the candlelight, and the rain outside the window is like a gentle curtain woven by heaven and earth, wrapping around the palace.

The two were lying in the large and soft tent in the hall, chatting from time to time, as if talking at night when they were children.

Qi Si joked: "It's a good thing you didn't shave when you were in Fanghua Temple, otherwise you would have to grow your hair for a few years when you come back."

Yu Ke laughed: "It shouldn't be too ugly."

The pillows and quilts were soft, and the incense smelled elegantly. While talking, the two of them fell asleep at some point, and the palace servants quietly extinguished the candles.

The rain is like more leakage, and there is no dream all night.

The two of them didn't sleep too much. In the early morning, the palace servants took care of washing and tidying up.An eunuch came to call and said that Emperor Hongjia was waiting for them in the study, so Qi Si accompanied Yu Ke there.

After the rain, the imperial palace has bright tiles and red walls, and the bricks and stones are blue and white. The atmosphere is less solemn and more soft. It is as elegant and peaceful as the houses in Jiangnan towns outside the palace.

Yu Ke wondered if she would see her two brothers today.

When they arrived at the study, the eunuch passed the pass, and Ji Si followed Yu Ke in.

Sitting behind the desk, Emperor Hongjia was dressed in imperial attire, majestic and dignified. Opposite the desk stood a tall man, dressed in the official robe of a general.

Yu Ke and Qi Si went in to salute, and Emperor Hongjia asked Yu Ke to go to him.

Standing beside Emperor Hongjia, Yu Ke realized that the person in the room was none other than Lu Yingqiu. He was wearing a general's uniform, tall and heroic, with a gentle expression on his face, looking at them with a smile.

Qisi stood still, turned around and found that it was Lu Yingqiu beside him, a little surprised.

Lu Yingqiu smiled at the two of them with a gentle expression on his face.

Emperor Hongjia looked at Qi Si and Yu Ke, feeling a little emotional, and joked with Lu Yingqiu: "Lu Yingqiu, do you think these two children are born alike? This is fate."

Lu Yingqiu replied respectfully: "His Royal Highness and Qi Si have been together since childhood, so there must be similarities. It is indeed a predestined relationship."

Qi Si and Yu Ke looked at each other and smiled at each other. In Luyang City, some people said that they were like brothers.

Emperor Hongjia nodded, stopped talking and joking, just looked at Yu Ke, and waved away the palace people in the house, leaving only the four of them, with a serious expression, and said: "Ke'er will be the prince when he returns to the court."

The three of them calmed down and looked at Emperor Hongjia.

Emperor Hongjia got up, patted Yu Ke on the shoulder, and walked to the desk: "The military situation has been kept under wraps these days and has not been disclosed to the public."

"—Half a month ago, Rui Chu died suddenly in the northern border."

Qi Si and Yu Ke were stunned. Rui Chu was called the God of War. His existence was like an iron wall and copper wall in the land of Jin State. He was the soul of the three armies of Jin State.

Emperor Hongjia was silent for a moment, and there was a dark current in his eyes: "Yan Kingdom and Great Liang formed an alliance to attack... Rui Chu died, and the army lost its backbone. In the middle of the month, I am afraid that the people will be in dire straits."

Qi Si thought to himself, what does this have to do with Yu Ke, why did he bring Yu Ke back at this time, and said these again.

Emperor Hongjia took out a volume of documents and slowly unfolded them on the desk: "On the third day after Rui Chu's death, the envoy from the Kingdom of Yan came and expressed his willingness to negotiate a peace."

Yu Ke and Qi Si looked at the volume of documents, but couldn't see what was written clearly.

"Is it related to me?" Yu Ke calmed down a bit, feeling something keenly.

Emperor Hongjia turned the unfolded document, and said to Yu Ke in a low and majestic voice, "Yan Guo wants a person."

Qi Si's heart trembled.

Yu Ke couldn't believe it, and didn't look at the document. She frowned and looked at Emperor Hongjia, and asked softly, "Yan Kingdom wants me?"

Emperor Hongjia nodded, and Yu Ke had mixed emotions: "They want me..."

——"Into the swallow, for the quality."

The room was eerily quiet and the atmosphere was heavy.

Emperor Hongjia's expression was as still as a mountain, resolute and firm, but his answer was like a soft sigh.

After a long while of silence, Yu Ke nodded and said nothing, her delicate eyebrows were as gentle as usual.

The master of Luyang City once said that Qin Zhuang Prince Chu entered Zhao, Yan Crown Prince Dan entered Qin, and Yu Ke, like Zi Chu and Yan Dan, would be the proton sent by his mother country to neighboring countries.

He didn't use any excuses to resist, both Hong Jiadi and Lu Yingqiu were surprised.But even if he refuses, it can't change anything, he has no choice.

Emperor Hongjia showed a complicated expression of approval: "The emperor is responsible, and your mother will be happy if she knows."

Looking at Yu Ke, Qi Si had mixed feelings in his heart. He lost his home, and Yu Ke returned home with great difficulty, but was immediately pushed out by his family.

Qi Si turned around and followed Lu Yingqiu out of the imperial study. Just before going out, he heard Emperor Hongjia ask Yu Ke: "Do you blame the emperor?"

Qi Si didn't hear Yu Ke's answer.

After going out, Lu Yingqiu and Qi Si stopped in the corridor.

He looked up at Lu Yingqiu. Today, Lu Yingqiu was dressed in the official uniform of a general. He was tall and heroic, with extraordinary momentum, but his expression was still gentle.

Qi Si felt sore, Lu Yingqiu opened his arms, and he stepped forward to hug Lu Yingqiu.Lu Yingqiu sighed and reached out to pat him on the back.

I haven't seen it for more than a month, and things are different.

Qi Si put her head down and took a deep breath, calmed down a bit, stood upright, looked at Lu Yingqiu, had a lot to say, but didn't know how to say it.

Seeing that he hesitated to speak, Lu Yingqiu said, "If you want to ask, just ask."