Raising a prince who eats all the world

Yuan Chi sat in the royal carriage all the way to the palace, and when he reached the gate of the palace, he got out of the carriage according to the rules.

The guards and a few eunuchs had already greeted him at the gate of the palace. Dozens of court ladies stood in two rows holding lamps.

"Welcome to the Fourth Highness."

Yuan Chi's eyes swept over the heads of the crowd. This was the first time he was kneeled and worshiped by people, and he didn't feel elated, just felt it was ironic.

He remained silent all this time, and everyone kneeling on the ground couldn't get up, and everyone was a little terrified. Everyone knew that the fourth prince who was sent to Dongye Kingdom at the age of 14 was in the palace, and now he is back. , no matter what happens in the future, the fourth prince should not be underestimated by them, he is no longer that child waiting to die in the cold palace...

After a while, Yuan Chi finally said, "Get up."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After getting up, the headed old eunuch greeted him, "Your Highness, please."

Yuan Chi glanced at him, "Have I met you before?"

The old eunuch lowered his head even lower, bowed his waist and said: "The slave has been in the palace for almost 20 years, and His Highness should have seen it." He "served" this person back then, so don't be recognized...

"Oh..." Yuan Chi nodded with a half-smile, "Let's go."

He recognized it, it was the old eunuch who was bigger than him that night, so respectful now?

"Yes."

The old eunuch led the way, and the others followed behind Yuanchi, welcoming him to the hall like stars.

In the hall that was empty at this time, the lights were brightly lit at this time. After Yuanchi entered the hall, the civil and military officials in the hall watched intently at this 14-year-old who was sent away. Prince.

There were also Yuan Cheng and Yuan Jing at the banquet. They had already seen him at the gate of the city, but they didn't stare at him at the moment; while the majestic emperor sitting in the hall was staring at this strange young man. people.

"Greetings to the emperor." Walking to the front of the steps, Yuan Chi bowed down to the emperor without any haste, and the standard of posture was not wrong at all.

After a while, a low voice came from above, "Get up..."

Yuan Chi got up slowly, stood where he was, with his eyes lowered.

"Head up."

He slowly raised his head and looked at the old man who was over sixty years old in front of him. In the past four years, they have all changed to some extent.

The emperor looked at his fourth son. He had hardly seen him since he was about ten years old. He was sent to Dongye Kingdom as a hostage when he was 14 years old.

He had never thought about what this son would become, but when he saw him today, he was somewhat surprised, not only because of his handsome appearance, but also because he looked a bit like his concubine mother...

"You've worked hard these past few years." Finally, the emperor closed his eyes and sighed.

Yuan Chi didn't say much, just lowered his head slightly and said, "Thank you, Father, for your concern."

The emperor granted Yuan Chi the throne, and rewarded him with land, silver, and various jewels. Although it was rich, he could not see any more affection between father and son.

After the rewards were awarded, the reception banquet officially began, and at this time the emperor called someone to call Yuan Chi to the apse. Yuan Cheng and Yuan Jing sat on their seats and looked at Yuan Chi's back, with different expressions.

"What is Father looking for him alone?" Yuan Cheng muttered with dissatisfaction on his face.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Jing chuckled and said, "Father and son haven't seen each other for four years, so they have to say a few words."

"Father and son?" Yuan Cheng sneered, "Father never regarded him as a son, did he?"

"Brother, keep your voice down..."

"What are you afraid of!" Yuan Cheng picked up the jug and drank it up, pointing to the maid next to him, "Bring more wine." Then he said angrily: "The proton who has been a proton for four years has come back full of air, Have you forgotten who you are? You're just a motherless bastard."

Yuan Jing lowered her eyes, slightly raised the corners of her mouth, and said in a low voice, "But now, Father has already pushed him in front of all civil and military officials."

Yuan Cheng frowned, and slapped the table with a big palm, frightened the maid who brought the jug next to her staggered, almost fell, managed to stabilize herself, and backed away tremblingly.

Yuan Jing looked up and looked around, reached out to pick up the wine glass that had fallen to the ground and put it back on Yuan Cheng's table, and persuaded in a low voice: "Brother, you have to be calm."

Yuan Cheng glanced at him and snorted heavily.

Yuan Cheng was born of the empress, and he took it for granted that he would be the future emperor, so he was full of arrogance on weekdays.Although he didn't expect Yuan Chi to come back, he felt that even if he came back, Yuan Chi would not be successful and would not pose any threat to him.

However, he was still inexplicably a little irritable...

Yuan Jing looked at him, stretched out his hand to pick up the wine glass and took a sip at a leisurely pace. After putting it down, he said in a low voice: "Brother, don't be impatient. He just came back for less than a day. Although Father is looking at him seriously now, but he With no power, no power and no meritorious service, just having the identity of the fourth prince, even if it can stir up storms, it will not pose a threat."

After hearing what he said, Yuan Cheng's expression improved a little.

"Okay, don't talk about him, spoil the fun. Drink!"

Yuan Jing picked up the wine glass and touched him, and after watching Yuan Cheng finished, she slowly raised the corners of her mouth...

Yuan Chi followed the eunuch who led the way all the way to the apse, where the emperor received ministers and foreign envoys on weekdays. He stepped up the steps and entered the hall. There was a huge screen embroidered with Suzaku, and seeing the emperor half lying on the couch with his eyes closed, his face looked a little tired.

On the ground directly in front of him was a purple-gold censer, half a person's height high, faint purple smoke was floating from the hollowed out place on the censer, and a faint aroma of herbs was permeating the surroundings.

There was no one else around, not even the maids serving, and the entire palace was extremely silent.

"Come closer..." the emperor said suddenly.

Therefore, Yuan Chi took a few steps forward, bypassed the incense burner and stood in front of the couch. After a while, the emperor slowly opened his eyes and looked at him calmly.

"I've worked hard for you all these years."

Yuan Chi bowed his head and didn't speak.It would be too pretentious to say that it was not hard work.

The emperor sighed and sat up a little bit. "I know that you hated me in your heart when you were sent to Dongye Country, not to mention that you have been ignored for the past four years..."

Yuan Chi sneered in his heart, he didn't even care about it, he didn't even know that he was poisoned, if it wasn't for Li Yuan, his grave would be as tall as a person now... No, there might not even be a grave.

"Father puts the country and the overall situation first."

The emperor looked at him, pondered for a moment and said: "I know that I have been treating you unfairly, not only because of your mother and concubine, but when you were young, you once had the experience of coming back from the dead, and it was rumored to be 'unlucky', so Royal Father sent you to Dongye Kingdom."

Yuan Chi bowed his head in silence, with a sneer on the corner of his mouth.

Of course he knew, and that rumor came from the palace.

"I just didn't expect you..." The emperor paused, as if he had realized something, and didn't say any more.

"Father didn't expect that I would come back alive, right?" Yuan Chi continued, although there was a smile in his tone.

After looking at him for a while, the emperor sighed and said in a low voice, "Just come back..."

Yuan Chi raised his head and looked at him, but he didn't say anything after all.

The emperor sighed, "Go down." After saying that, he closed his eyes again.

"Yes." Yuan Chi said, thought for a while, and added, "Father, rest well."

The emperor waved his hand, Yuan Chi took two steps back, turned and left.

After leaving the apse, the hall not far away was filled with singing and dancing. Yuan Chi did not go back to the banquet, but left the palace directly. Although it was a reception banquet for him, he was not interested.

After leaving the palace, Yuan Chi returned to his mansion non-stop. After entering the door, the steward greeted him. He walked a few steps and asked casually, "Where's Li Yuan?"

"Young Master Li is in the backyard..."

Yuan Chi didn't listen to what he said, and went directly to the backyard. Before he reached the courtyard, he heard a burst of laughter when he was separated by a wall.

"It's so powerful?"

The speaking voice did not belong to Li Yuan.Yuan Chi frowned, and took a few steps forward, only to see Li Yuan and another person sitting on a stone chair talking.

The man asked again suspiciously: "Really? You can drink like this?"

"Of course." Li Yuan patted his chest, "I tried it myself, and it definitely works."

The man laughed lowly, his laughter was unusually brisk and joyful, he was already fair and delicate, and his smile at this time made people feel like a spring breeze.

Although they haven't seen each other for four years, Yuan Chi recognized at a glance that it was the second prince, Yuan Qing.

Didn't show up at his welcome banquet in the palace, but chatted happily with Li Yuan here?Yuan Chi frowned, and walked towards the two of them.

Yuan Qing saw him first, and was surprised for a moment, stood up and said, "Fourth Emperor Brother, you are back."

Li Yuan turned his head and saw Yuan Chi smiled, but found that the other party's expression seemed not quite right.

Yuan Chi glanced over Li Yuan's face first, then looked at the man beside him, chuckled lightly and said, "Second Brother, long time no see."

The sentence "Long time no see" made Yuan Qing a little excited.

"Why are you so early..." Li Yuan was wondering why Yuan Chi came back so early, but he interrupted him as soon as he opened his mouth.

"You don't have a place to talk here, go down." Yuan Chi said coldly.

Yuan Qing was taken aback, and Li Yuan felt that he had heard it wrong.

Because the maid who came to announce the second prince's visit said that Yuan Chi had an account, and when he was away, he would go to Li Yuan for anything, so Li Yuan came forward to receive the second prince. Unexpectedly, Yuan Chi suddenly let him go now, as if he couldn't get on the stage. look.Seeing Yuan Chi's indifferent expression didn't look like he was joking at all, Li Yuan felt blocked. This was the first time he saw Yuan Chi talking to him with such an expression and tone...

He didn't say anything to Yuan Chi, he smiled and said apologetically to Yuan Qing, "You talk." Then he turned and left.

Yuan Qing seemed to have noticed something, but didn't say much, just nodded with a smile.

Yuan Chi glanced at Li Yuan's back, then looked back at Yuan Qing, and asked, "Why didn't Brother Er Huang go to the palace?"

Yuan Qing smiled wryly and said: "I never like to go to the palace, so I came here specially to wait for you, so that I can talk to you quietly."

Yuan Chi thought for a while and said, "Go in and talk."

Yuan Qing nodded, "Okay."

Yuan Qing is four years older than Yuan Chi. Because he was born prematurely, his health was not good when he was born. He seldom goes out, reads and writes at home for many years, and doesn't socialize very much. He is proficient in all aspects of calligraphy and painting, and he can be regarded as a well-known calligrapher and painter today. Moreover, he is not only good at romance, but also has a lot of research in literature and martial arts. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a talent for managing the country.

The two entered the flower hall and sat down together. The servant brought tea up. In the moist white teacup, the green tea leaves slowly unfolded in the water and gradually sank to the bottom of the cup.

After the servant stepped back, Yuan Qing spoke first, "Congratulations to the fourth brother on his return."

Yuan Chi raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "Thank you, Brother Erhuang." After saying this, he didn't speak again.

They haven't seen each other for many years, and besides, Yuan Chi was originally the isolated one among the brothers, and he didn't have much friendship with Yuan Qing, so naturally he couldn't think of what to say, Yuan Qing's coming to him was enough to surprise him.

But Yuan Qing didn't care about his strangeness.He had been waiting for Yuan Chi to come back, and he had always believed that he would come back, so after knowing that Yuan Chi had returned to the South Deer Country, he rushed over to see him as soon as possible, although he knew that Yuan Chi would not appreciate it.

"How have you been all these years?" Yuan Qing asked, seeing Yuan Chi looking at him, smiled again and said, "Don't think too much, I just... want to know."

"Thank you, Brother Erhuang, for your concern." Yuan Chi smiled slightly, "It's okay. At least, he came back alive." There was a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

Yuan Qing nodded and sighed again, "Four years have passed in a flash. Brother Si Huang, I have been trying to inquire about your situation for the past four years, but there is no real news."

Yuan Chi just listened and didn't speak.

"Anyway, it's good that you're back. I just want to talk to you today..." Yuan Qing paused, and said solemnly, "I'm sorry."

Others don't understand, but Yuan Chi does.

He chuckled, "Brother Huang, it has nothing to do with you."

Yuan Qing shook his head, "For so many years, I have always wanted to tell you that I went there on the day you left, but I didn't catch up with you. I followed the carriage to call you, but I was stopped by the guards before I shouted twice... ..." He smiled wryly, "It's a pity that I'm not in good health, and I don't know much about martial arts, otherwise I will definitely catch up with you."

Yuan Chi laughed. He did hear someone calling him back then, but he didn't take it to heart.

So what if you catch up?He still has to go, he is a chess piece, he can be placed anywhere at any time.

"Second Brother, don't worry, it's all over."

Yuan Qing smiled slightly, "Yes, it's all over." He paused for a moment and asked, "Fourth Brother, what are your plans for the future?"

Yuan Chi didn't expect him to ask this, and shook his head.For him, there is no difference between returning to Nanlu Country and being in Dongye Country, but it is a different place.

Fortunately, he is not alone now.

Yuan Qing looked at him and didn't ask any more questions.After a while, he got up and said, "It's getting late, I'm leaving first. You've been running all the way, so take a good rest tonight."

Yuan Chi stood up to see him off, and the two walked to the gate of the courtyard, Yuan Qing suddenly turned around and said in a low voice, "Fourth Brother, you have to think well for yourself."

Yuan Chi was slightly taken aback, but seemed to understand what he meant, nodded and said: "I know." After a pause, he added: "Thank you, Second Brother."

Yuan Qing seemed to want to say something more, but finally turned around and left.

Yuan Chi watched his back until he disappeared. After a while, Zhang Zhao slowly walked out from the night beside him. "master."

"What did he tell Li Yuan?"

"I only talked about some herbal medicines and folk remedies. After Li Yuan heard that the second prince was in poor health, he told him some herbal tea recipes for health preservation. He didn't say much about the rest." knew.

Yuan Chi narrowed his eyes, and after thinking for a while, he asked, "What do you think of me, Second Emperor Brother?"

Zhang Zhao was taken aback for a moment, not knowing what he should say, but the master had to answer the question, and finally choked out a sentence, "Good man."

nice guy?Yuan Chi was amused, turned to look at him and asked, "How do you know he's a good man?"

Zhang Zhao lowered his head and said nothing.

"But you're right, my second brother is indeed a good person." Yuan Chi chuckled.Then he asked: "Where does Li Yuan live?"

He left in a hurry today, he didn't know where Li Yuan chose as his residence.

"The courtyard on the south side, the one with the garden." Zhang Zhao replied.

"I will pick a place." Yuan Chi muttered, "Go down and rest."

"Yes."

After Zhang Zhao left, Yuan Chi glanced at the moon hanging in the sky.

This is the roundest moon he has seen in the past four years, and he can't help but wonder if it is true that the moon in his hometown is rounder, although he has never regarded this place as his home.

Looking away, he thought for a while, then turned around and walked towards the south courtyard by the moonlight.

+ + + + +

Li Yuan chose the place where he lived, because he likes to grow herbs, so he chose a secluded yard. There was a two-story building in the yard, and he brought a not-so-small garden with flowers and grass in it. , There is also a small pond that draws running water, and he plans to set aside a place to grow herbs.

Yuan Chi found the yard and saw a room on the second floor with lights. After going up to the door, he pushed the door open without knocking. And shivered a few times, and then went inside, Li Yuan was lying on the bed facing the wall and back to the door, the quilt was covered up to the waist, and the shoes on the ground were turned sideways one by one...

Sighing, he walked over and sat down by the bed, and asked, "Sleeping?"

After a while, the person on the bed replied, "Sleeping."

Yuanchi was speechless.

"Why do you live in such a remote place?" He asked, "Wouldn't it be nice to live in the same hospital as me?"

This time Li Yuan didn't speak, as if he really fell asleep.

Yuan Chi waited for a long time without seeing him responding to him, thinking that he was really aggrieved by being his master, but he still said, "Just now, it was my fault."

Li Yuan on the bed slowly opened his eyes.

Yuan Chi said again: "Although he is my second brother, I don't want others to know that we are very close..."

close?Li Yuan finally couldn't help turning his head back, "What do you mean?"

"Didn't you fall asleep?" Yuan Chi asked with a smile.

"I was woken up by you, okay?" Li Yuan simply sat up, "What happened to you today? Why did you come back so early? Did you get angry in the palace?"

Yuan Chi shook his head, "I just came back because I was bored."

"Then what happened to you just now?" Li Yuan asked, he just talked to the second prince for a while, making it look like he was stealing... Wait, why did he think of the word "stealing"? !

Yuan Chi didn't speak. He really didn't like the way Li Yuan and Yuan Qing were together. Maybe it was because when he was in Dongye Kingdom, apart from Zhang Zhao, there were often only him and Li Yuan in the house, and Li Yuan was the only one who could talk. Create a feeling that they are the closest people.

Now that they have just returned to Nanlu, Li Yuan can chat and laugh with others. Yuan Chi doesn't know if this is considered jealousy, but he can be sure that it is a kind of possessiveness... However, Li Yuan may not understand .

"We have just come back. It is not clear whether many people are friends or foes. If people discover our relationship so quickly, people may take advantage of this."

"Ah?" Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, a little confused. Although his relationship with Yuan Chi was indeed better than that of ordinary masters and servants, but...

"But he's your second brother, and he's a pretty good guy." He muttered.

"It's always good to be careful." Yuan Chi said, and then asked a little funny: "But why were you so obedient just now?"

According to Li Yuan's usual temper, it should not be so easy to compromise and dismiss.

"Otherwise?" Li Yuan glanced at him, "Can I still refute your face in front of your second brother?"

Yuan Chi laughed, "Why are you so aware of the general situation all of a sudden?"

So Li Yuan is unhappy, what does it mean to "suddenly realize the general idea"?

"What do you mean by that? Don't you rely on me..." In the middle of speaking, he stopped suddenly, realizing that he almost said something he shouldn't have said.

"What about you?"

Relying on the fact that I like you... Li Yuan glared at him, "Don't you rely on the fact that I have nowhere to go!"

Yuan Chi raised his eyebrows slightly, "I didn't lock you up with a chain, you can go wherever you want at any time."

What bullshit!Li Yuan rolled his eyes.

"You haven't paid me a penny for such a long time, how can I leave? Go out and beg for food?"

Yuan Chi laughed, and said in a low voice, "How can I be willing to let you beg for food..."

He snorted, "Don't worry, I won't beg for food if there is such a day."

He still has confidence in his craft, and he won't starve to death if he really goes out to be a cook.

Sooner or later, he will leave, and he is ready.

"That day won't happen." Yuan Chi said.

Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, feeling a strange feeling in his heart for a while, just about to say something, but looking at Yuan Chi, he suddenly didn't dare to ask further.

"How is the matter in the palace?" He changed the subject.

"It's nothing." Yuan Chi replied, "I gave a lot of rewards."

"Your father... Your royal father didn't say anything?"

Yuan Chi looked at Li Yuan, his eyes were a little strange, Li Yuan asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Chi shook his head, "I didn't say anything."

"Didn't you express any apology for sending you to Dongye Country back then?"

Yuan Chi chuckled, "He is the emperor, and he will never need to apologize for what he does." He looked at Li Yuan, "I said, in fact, no one thought that I would come back alive, and no one expected me to live Come back, although I am not favored, I am also a trouble, after all, the crown prince has not yet been established."

"That's why you were poisoned?" Li Yuan asked.

"Yes, and it needs a slow poison, so that it will not arouse suspicion."

Li Yuan thought for a while, "You said it was because the crown prince was not established, so that means..." Was it someone from the South Deer Kingdom who poisoned him?

"That's right, as I said, the one who poisoned me was the head of the bodyguard I brought to Dongye country back then, although he could also be bought by people from Dongye country..." Yuan Chi frowned slightly, "But the one who wants me to die the most is Nan People from Lu Country." He has someone to suspect, but he can't be sure now.

Li Yuan was stunned, not knowing what to say.No wonder Yuanchi didn't have the joy of going home at all... He may never experience the feeling of being abandoned by his family.

He didn't know what to say, subconsciously reached out and patted Yuan Chi's hand on his knee.

Yuan Chi looked at him with gentle eyes, and said with a light smile, "Fortunately, I met you, and you saved me."

Li Yuan looked a little embarrassed by him, bowed his head and said, "Both each other... Anyway, you saved me."

When he was in Dongye Kingdom, he sometimes felt that he and Yuanchi had a feeling of "depending on each other". After knowing that Yuanchi was going back to Nanlu Kingdom, he even thought that it would be fine if he didn't go back, but it was only for a moment At that time, he was taken aback by his own thoughts.

Thinking of this, he said to Yuan Chi: "It's getting late, go and rest, I'm going to sleep." He lay down again, turned his back to Yuan Chi and pulled up the quilt, a little angry, but it was his own gas.

Yuan Chi smiled, didn't care, and reached out to pat his head, and said in a low voice, "I'm very glad that you can come back with me."

Li Yuan didn't move, and after a while, he muttered something in a low voice.

Yuan Chi laughed, helped him tuck the quilt, got up and left.