I've Got this Cannon Fodder's Back

The third prince suddenly stood up straight.

The third prince's eyes lit up.

Lu Deng had already developed a memory, so he quickly walked over to take the fried glutinous rice balls in Gu Ai's hand, held them tightly in his arms, and helped Gu Ai into the door: "Sir, the Third Highness is here for a flaw check."

The protagonist's eyes followed the tempting plate of fried glutinous rice balls for most of the way. He was bumped lightly by Lu Deng when he entered the door before recovering. He took a deep breath and saluted Gu Ai respectfully.

"Lu Liang has met Gu Xiang—the royal father heard that Gu Xiang was in Yi Wang's mansion, thinking of today's Shangyuan Festival, he was very concerned, and sent Lu Liang to visit him."

He said that this series of oral instructions was obviously memorized, and the recitation was smooth and smooth without any fluctuations. At the end, he smiled apologetically at Gu Ai, cupped his hands again and said: "I just came to deliver a message, and I didn't even have time to eat when I got home. So I asked my father's imperial envoy to come over. I sent the original words, and Gu Xiang just listened to it, so I really don't need to take it to heart."

This time Gu Ai was first attacked and accused, and then punished inexplicably. No one believed him when he said that he had no resentment in his heart.

The emperor has been pretending to be low-key these days, but he has been using the aristocratic family to test his bottom line.Originally thought that Gu Ai was someone who would do whatever he wanted as long as he protected the new law, but he didn't expect that today Lu Cheng would rob people on the way of kneeling for punishment. No.

Today, if he can use this action to resist the order and resist punishment, will he not want to be unwilling to fight against the imperial power tomorrow?

The Emperor Shogi has come to this point, all because of his boldness of reform that completely disregarded his life and death for Gu Ai.If this single-minded lonely official suddenly starts to cherish his life, I'm afraid that in the end, both sides will suffer, and even the dignity of the imperial power may be threatened.

With these in mind, the emperor's Shangyuan feast was naturally not good.Feeling uneasy to the extreme, I planned to send someone to find out.

Anyway, he is a decent uncle, no matter what, he must send a decent prince there.

This may have disturbed many troubles, the crown prince can't be allowed to stir up this troubled water, and the eldest prince is so domineering that he has no brains, after thinking about it, only this unremarkable third prince who doesn't cause much trouble is suitable.

If Lu Liang came back later, he might not even be able to return home, and the eunuch who passed the decree at the city gate would force him to come to Yi Wang's mansion with both soft and hard tactics.

These obstacles are clear to several people in their hearts, but they don't point it out, they just sit down politely.Gu Ai heard him say "I didn't even eat a mouthful of rice", so she pushed the plate of fried glutinous rice balls on the table out of politeness: "Family food is crude, three If Your Highness does not dislike it, then eat a little—”

The third prince's eyes lit up instantly.

Lu Deng heard it anxiously, sat up straight and was about to speak.Unexpectedly, Gu Ai held hands comfortingly under the table, her face flushed, and she forgot most of what she wanted to say.

He is still young in this world, and his lover doesn't remember the past, even if there is a tug and touch, it only ends at the wrist.At this time, the table was blocking the view, so Gu Ai pulled his hand down, and it just happened to land his hand in the palm of his hand.

The little prince who was protecting the food had a hot face, he was honestly being gently held by the warm palm, and stopped talking.

The gentle and indifferent Third Prince shouldn't act like a wolf.

Lu Liang's figure was still steady, and his movements of holding the chopsticks were also graceful, but the speed was almost too fast, and he didn't even care about talking to the two of them, he was so absorbed in chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing.

The glutinous rice balls are fried, the surface is cold, and the inside is still hot.Lu Deng was nervous looking at it, but Lu Liang ate like crazy, the tears in the corners of his eyes were scalding, and he smiled and thanked Gu Ai calmly.

Lu Deng suddenly felt that the character set drawn by the system for him was actually quite good.

At least "gentle and easy" cannot bring Gu Ai back from the kneeling palace gate to the warm palace.

It's hot and crying and can't fly.

A little contentment throbbed in my heart, bursting with tiny tickling sweetness.

Lu Deng pursed his lips and looked up.

Gu Ai's eyes just happened to cast over, his dark pupils were full of candlelight, he was casually talking to the third prince, but his gaze was always on him, with a warm smile in his eyes.

Lu Deng's face was faintly hot, and he raised his head and smiled at him, and he didn't feel so sad if he didn't eat fried glutinous rice balls.

Things made of glutinous rice are always full, even hot and sticky. Lu Liang quickly swept the plate with his hands, and he was so full that he couldn't eat anything.Holding my stomach and suppressing the urge to burp, I thanked Gu Ai gratefully: "I almost starved to death in the wind and snow all the way, thanks to Gu Xiang for saving my life, I am very grateful..."

His lips and tongue were so hot that he gasped when he spoke.Gu Ai still didn't seem to notice, she raised her hand a little bit to signal that you don't have to be polite, and said patiently with a smile: "The third prince is full?"

Lu Liang blinked and nodded blankly.

"it is good."

Gu Ai nodded happily, and suddenly got up and left the study.

Lu Deng was about to get up and follow, but he smiled and pushed him back to the table to sit down, and walked out the door by himself.

It took nearly a quarter of an hour to go.

Things happened strangely, and the two grandparents and grandchildren of the royal family left in the room looked at each other in blank dismay.Just when Lu Deng's system started to urge the host to beat up the main character who was stealing food, Gu Ai came back with a plate of freshly fried glutinous rice balls.

The fried glutinous rice balls just out of the pan are still crackling slightly.Sprinkle sesame seeds and sugar finely on top, and put a small dish of honey and a small dish of thick fine milk.

Compared with the previous plate, it is more golden, more crispy, more oily, and more seductive aroma of sweetness and glutinousness.

Lu Liang: "..."

"The last plate was just for practice - the glutinous rice balls in the house are freshly wrapped, unlike folks who freeze them with ice and snow, and the taste is not good after frying. Originally, I wanted to persuade His Highness to eat less, but seeing that the Third Highness really ate deliciously, I didn't like it." I didn’t have the heart to stop it.”

Gu Ai smiled at him, put the freshly fried glutinous rice balls in front of the young prince, and conjured a bowl of rosy and attractive honey water hawthorn from behind: "And this, I just ordered the kitchen to make it, and the third highness probably can't eat it anymore , don’t force it.”

Lu Liang: "..."

Lu Deng raised his head, and his tiny satisfaction suddenly swelled into unbelievable joy. He raised his hand and grabbed his sleeve forcefully, the corners of his lips curled up uncontrollably.

So lovely.

Putting the surprise look of the little prince into his eyes properly, Gu Ai rubbed Lu Chengru's head, smiled and nodded at him: "Okay, eat slowly."

The third prince ran away crying.

After the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the year is considered to be over.

The heavy snow that has fallen all winter has finally turned sunny. Every household sweeps the snow to welcome the spring, and the streets are bustling again.

It has been several years since the new law was promulgated, and the changes in the common people can be clearly seen.The crowded streets that used to be full of sewage have become clean and tidy, lively but not cluttered, people live in their own places, there are no bullies who bully others, and there are few refugees who drag their wives and children to beg.

Although there are reasons why Gyeonggi is indeed rich, it is far better than the decadent state of the past.

After all, Gu Ai still has official business to do, so Lu Chengru can't always leave the prime minister in the remote palace corner.When Gu Ai's leg was completely healed, he personally sent him back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, and he also lived there with him.

After these days of training, he has become more and more proficient in handling domineering and arrogant postures. Even though he is unreasonable and firmly protects Gu Ai, no one can do anything to him.

On the contrary, the Prime Minister, who had never been involved in political power in the past, seemed to have been led a little sideways by the young prince. He began to know how to use the name of a powerful minister to eliminate dissidents and gain a foothold, and gradually established contacts with those officials in the court who also supported the new law.

The power of the wealthy family was weakened layer by layer by him, and the charges imposed on him were lifted one by one. The two sides fought with each other, showing a faintly evenly matched posture.

I heard that the emperor can't sleep every night, and has already dropped several memorials in the study.

Lu Deng didn't care about these, while using his identity to protect Gu Ai, he quietly went to the protagonist to discuss usurping the throne.It's a pity that the protagonist's family system is strictly controlled, and the two of them really don't have many opportunities to talk in private, and it has been delayed until March Spring, and they haven't been able to get a definite reply.

Gu Ai's life was also dragged down like this.

"Isn't your lord not studying today?"

Finally got a chance to feel proud, the subordinate officials are smiling these days, and they feel closer to Lu Chengru when they see Lu Chengru.As soon as he saw him enter the door, he hurried over to take the cloak: "My lord said, when I come back from the next court, I will personally test and teach the prince's knowledge..."

"Sir said—when?"

Lu Chengru's expression changed slightly, he took the handkerchief, wiped his face, and hurried to the study.

The little prince took good care of the prime minister, and the attitude of the subordinate officials was no longer the same as in the past. He smiled and followed him to help him carry things: "Your Excellency said in the morning, seeing that the prince was fast asleep, he didn't wake him up, and only regarded him as a accepted."

Lu Deng paused, coughed twice, sighed heavily, and resigned himself to his fate and plunged into the study.

These days, Jing Jing has been raised in Xiangfu, and all his injuries have completely healed.Recently, I am interested in spear shooting in the ancient world.I have studied with the masters in the army for a few days, and now I have a good look. I go out to practice every morning and then come back, but I don't know that I have another exam today.

The ancient prose is a mouthful, which is much more troublesome than his modern classwork.Even with the help of the system, it may not be able to pass smoothly.

The subordinate officer went to make tea for him refreshed, and Lu Deng temporarily hugged his feet and buried himself in his studies, and only then recited an article, when he heard Gu Ai's return from outside.

There is still coldness in March, but it has turned into spring, the time of the morning court has been moved forward, and the end is also earlier.

Lu Deng couldn't help putting down the books, got up and walked out quickly.Gu Ai was handing over the cloak to his servant, when he saw him, he smiled, waved his hands and said softly: "What are you doing at home, all alone is boring?"

"After practicing martial arts, I was just studying."

Lu Deng blinked his eyes in response, met the invisible smile in his eyes, went over to let him lead them, and walked back to the mansion together.

Gu Ai's expression was calm and his tone was gentle. At first glance, he couldn't tell anything.Lu Deng walked with him, hesitated for a while before probing again: "Do you want to test me, sir?"

"Ok?"

Gu Ai was in a trance, and stood up straight after listening to his question, met his clear eyes, smiled at him, and shook his head lightly: "I'll let you go today, I want you to relax."

The little prince is smart. Although he doesn't like reading very much, he is far more talented than those who have studied hard for decades.Gu Ai was not willing to let him go to waste, and taught him his homework every day, but he couldn't help being soft-hearted at times, and would always raise his hand to relax some demands.

On weekdays, Lu Chengru would unconsciously show joy and relaxation when he heard that there would be no exams, but today he didn't see any clues.Gu Ai was curious, raised his eyebrows and was about to speak, but Lu Chengru raised his hand to grab his sleeve: "Sir, is it not going your way?"

Gu Ai was slightly startled, looking at the young prince who was too sharp in front of him, and slowly stopped in his tracks.

Lu Deng looked at him, and felt his hand tightening on his cuff.

Originally, according to the plot, it was supposed to be Ling Chi in March, because the big families were too busy to take care of themselves, and they didn't even have an eyebrow. Gu Ai was still alive and well, and even cleaned up those big families.He still has the fief soldiers bestowed by the late emperor in his hands. He has a solid foundation in the court and is supported by the people.Once he started not following the rules, none of those aristocratic families could do anything about him.

Logically speaking, at least right now, there shouldn't be any problems...

"Nothing, don't worry."

Gu Ai was silent for a moment, then smiled at him, and raised his hand to rub the top of the young prince's hair: "It's just that I'm a little tired these days, and I just feel distracted."

Lu Deng frowned and didn't speak again.

Ever since he showed his interest in the affairs of the court, Gu Ai has been patiently teaching him, and he does not shy away from the struggle between the court and China, explaining everything clearly, this is the first time he has been perfunctory to him.

It might be a very serious matter to make the current Gu Ai unable to do anything.

Lu Deng asked the system to help him find out what was going on, and he accompanied Gu Ai back to the study. Not long after, a mechanical voice hurriedly returned in his mind: "Master, someone in the court rode a horse in the street before impeaching the host. At that time, I still owed fifteen rod punishments, and some people used this impeachment target to lax law enforcement and break the rules..."

Lu Deng's heart skipped a beat, and then he remembered what he had forgotten.

It's been so long that he doesn't even remember it.At that time, Gu Ai only said that he would be punished after he recovered from his injuries. This injury has been healed for nearly three months. Now he has no obstacles to practicing martial arts. If he is not punished again, it will be unreasonable.

If you make a mistake, you will be punished. Since the regulations are formulated in this way, it is only natural that you should be punished.

Looking at the figure who was thinking in front of the table, Lu Deng hesitated for a moment, and then quietly went over: "Sir, did you forget about the cane punishment before—"

"Who told you that?"

Gu Ai's heart sank, and seeing the young prince's stare, which was obviously startled, he took a light breath to suppress his thoughts, and said in a gentle voice: "We'll discuss this matter later, I'm practicing martial arts today, didn't I get up early? Go take a nap and get up Time for lunch."

The more he avoided talking about it, the more confirmed Lu Deng was in his heart, and he said anxiously: "Sir! If someone uses these to criticize the new law—"

"That's also Mr.'s business, and has nothing to do with you."

Gu Ai cut off his words again, and his expression sank: "Cheng Ru, this matter is aimed at me, you don't have to follow me, just go."

Seeing that his expression was unquestionable, Lu Deng was silent for a moment, then nodded obediently, got up and went back to the bedroom.

A day flies by.

The embankment of a thousand miles often collapses in an ant's nest, and the fifteen-stick punishment is by no means a big deal, but it has become the most vulnerable loophole for the prime minister who has always been upright.

For two consecutive days, the DPRK and China were at loggerheads because of the mere matter of fifteen boards.

Gu Ai remained silent, but bit him to death and refused to carry out the execution. Even if the execution was carried out, the Ministry of Punishment would punish him.The aristocratic family only said that he must be executed in the street in order to cover up, as a warning to others.The two sides were arguing endlessly, and the emperor didn't care about it, and it seemed that there was a tug-of-war.

"If the public knows that the stern and selfless Prime Minister Gu also has selfish intentions, and the law enforcement is lax and the penalties are unfair, how much do you believe in the new law?"

Jiang Yanghou sneered, and stood on the court hall with his arms folded, with a dark look in his eyes: "If this matter is made public, can the Prime Minister sit upright? Can you still have a clear conscience?"

"Master Xiang also said, but it's only fifteen sticks. Since this etiquette is fixed, it cannot be abolished."

Minister of the Ministry of Rites twirled his beard, nodded and said in agreement: "For such a trivial matter, I have been arguing with the court for so many days. Wouldn't it be a big joke to talk about it..."

"After all, we all know that we should be punished. It would be a bit inappropriate for Xiangye to do this again. If you say it, it will make people think that Xiangye is covering up for selfishness——"

"In the past, the Prime Minister was merciless when punishing the courtiers and the royal family. Why do you shirk like this today?"

"If this misfortune can be avoided, can ours also be avoided? After all, the law enforcement is not strict, so how can we be punished!"

……

The court insisted on this point, and continued to criticize.Gu Ai's expression became more and more gloomy, and his eyes turned to the figure on the dragon chair.

The emperor never interjected, but his eyes fell on him gloomyly, and the corners of his lips raised a cold chill that seemed to be a smile but not a smile.

Gu Ai's heart sank more and more.

He knows what these people are doing.

When the emperor was still the prince, he was punished for breaking the law. He was whipped in the street and had a four-clawed dragon robe. He was once exiled to the mountains and countryside for several years.Because of this incident, the emperor has always held grudges against him, and he has been criticized by others in the past few days, it may not be that the emperor is not behind to fuel the flames.

In the eyes of these people, if Lu Chengru is gone, they will naturally lose their arm.

There is nothing wrong with calling the Ministry of Punishment to punish, but the executioners of those candidates are waiting at the street corner, and all of them are experienced hands in laying boards in the yamen, holding old wooden sticks stained with blood.

Gu Ai could almost imagine the strength of the fifteen boards.

Lu Chengru would die.

It was true that there had been punishments, but when countless people were determined to take Lu Chengru away from him through this rod, he really couldn't let it go.

"Gu Xiang—but have you made up your mind not to punish him?"

Seeing that the stalemate between the two courts has become a deadlock, the emperor slowly sneered, lowered his eyes and said slowly: "In this case, I will decree to spare the punishment of the emperor's uncle, and it is not a big deal..."

"emperor!"

Gu Ai's heart was agitated, his blood was almost retrograde, and he took a step forward suddenly: "Your Majesty—does it have to be like this?"

The reason why he has not competed with the emperor these years is precisely because he knows that although the new emperor has damaged personal morals, he is not fatuous and absurd, and has great ambitions.Even if this life is handed over, the new law will not harm it.

But once this decree is released now, it means that the rule of man can still override and destroy the rule of law. No matter what happens in the future, it can be pardoned with a light decree. No matter how carefully the new law is compiled, it will become a pile of waste paper.

The emperor looked at him with a cold look in his eyes: "This is what Gu Xiang forced me to do, isn't it?"

Gu Ai's throat was full of sweet blood, slowly took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled: "Okay."

Since he is the one who hinders the new law, it will be fine as long as he disappears.

Gu Ai took off his official hat, put the seal in his sleeve and put it under the steps, and slowly untied his official robe.The emperor's eyes were always cold and cold, and when they fell on him, there was still a cruel intention that seemed to be a smile but not a smile.

Chaozhong gradually quieted down.

Gu Ai unbuttoned his official robe halfway, and a figure suddenly flew in from the door, staggered and knelt down on the steps: "My Majesty——Prince Yi has been punished since he went to the street!"

Following his voice, the court hall was completely silent, and everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, astonished as if they were caught off guard.

Gu Ai's heart was shaken, he didn't care about other thoughts at all, he copied the official hat seal letter on the ground, didn't even bother to say goodbye, turned around and hurried outside.

will die.

What would happen to Lu Chengru if something happened to him?Will he be disheartened and go to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, and spend his whole life in a daze, or——

The emperor's sinister gaze in the court hall still clearly appeared in his mind.

He has a legacy of the first emperor in his hand, which has never been used.

It was a matter of the country, and it was originally planned that even if this edict was brought into the soil, it would never be taken out and used lightly.

I thought that the loss of personal morality does not harm the overall situation, but now it seems that this is not the case.Gu Ai's eyes darkened, he didn't care about beating the horse and galloped away, a horse snatched it out from nowhere, and walked with him with its four hooves spread out.

While urging the reins, the third prince lowered his voice and said: "Master Gu, don't be in a hurry! I have secretly changed the executioner, and the little prince said hello there, everything will be fine..."

Hearing what he said with certainty, Gu Ai's heart slowed down, and he gradually reined in his horse and turned around: "Third Highness, are you serious?"

"Really, the little prince is afraid that Gu Xiang will be in a hurry, so teach me to say something."

Seeing that he had calmed down, the third prince finally breathed a sigh of relief, pulled him off the horse, and walked quickly to the streets of the busy city where horses are not allowed: "Don't worry, Mr. Gu, people are selected. Those people have their own. We have our plans, and we also have our means - it's just that Gu Xiang is too upright, these means are beyond our imagination..."

Gu Ai's heart was still churning and he couldn't calm down, he only heard the general idea of ​​what he said, he just walked forward in a hurry, and saw the thin figure surrounded by layers of people, and the punishment rod was being raised and slammed down .

Lu Deng has a pain shield, and the torture rod is thunderous and rainy, so he doesn't feel pain at all.He was quietly being tortured with his head down, when he suddenly heard commotion in the crowd, he raised his head to look over, and suddenly met Gu Ai's dark eyes that were like deep pools.

The third prince still pulled him with all his strength, and tried his best to comfort him: "Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I'm the one who found the person, they all have their own sense of proportion, and nothing will happen—"

Before he finished speaking, the little prince who had tied up all the elite soldiers who were in charge of guarding him in the prime minister's mansion before hopping out of the house was too guilty, gritted his teeth and lowered his head to meet the gaze of the prime minister, just in time for the board to fall high, and bit his tongue too hard to avoid it. is on.

With a muffled snort, a thin line of blood seeped down the corner of his mouth.