Ruthless debt

Sure enough, three days after the end of the winter hunt, the Zuo Mansion received an imperial edict personally drafted by the lord of the country.The old man, Qian Hai, who was ordered to proclaim the decree, has always been the most trusted servant of the king. He usually puts on airs in the palace more than the current ministers, but when he comes to the Zuo Mansion, he is still respectful and dare not neglect him at all.He waited on the side when the lord of the country was drafting the imperial decree, and the content was naturally clear. When he stepped into the mansion of Lie Zanying for the first time, he knew that this was the Zuo mansion where three generations of important ministers had been born. It will definitely be a pillar that will not fall down in Qu Country. Looking at this momentum now, I am afraid it will continue and become stronger.

Zuo Jiyun led the mansion up and down and knelt in the hall to receive the order. Father-in-law Qian Hai smiled and read in that half-yin and half-yang voice: "The lord has an order. The son of the superior doctor Zuo Jiyun, Zuo Qi, is a young man. He is brave, wise and intelligent, and won my heart. I will give you a thousand taels of gold, ten red rabbits and horses, and a pair of silver armor. I will also call him to enter the palace on the same day, enter the Prince's Hall, and seal him as a companion. I respect you."

Hearing Qian Hai finish reading the imperial decree, Zuo Jiyun was stunned for a moment, and then kowtowed to receive the decree.Qian Hai entrusted the imperial decree to his hands, respectfully helped him up, and said: "Doctor Zuo will give the reward first, and then let Young Master pack up some soft things, and then enter the palace with the servant, so that the servant can go back and reply to the decree."

Zuo Jiyun looked at his son with downcast eyes and no words, and said to the father-in-law again: "The dog has never entered the palace alone, there are some things that need to be explained to him, father-in-law, please wait a moment." With a wink, the eldest son Zuo Zheng immediately understood, ordered people to bring money, and rewarded Qian Hai and the officials who came to proclaim the decree one by one.

In the study, Zuo Qi said to his father with a dissatisfied face: "My child doesn't want to enter the palace, and I don't want to be the companion of that crybaby."

Zuo Jiyun's face sank: "Nonsense, this decree has been issued so you can't help it. Besides, he is the prince, the future lord of the country. You can just say this in front of me. Don't go to the palace." If you say these insignificant words, even if you are a father, you will not be able to protect you."

Although Zuo Qi is young, he also knows a little bit about his father's intentions, just like what he ordered him to do on the eve of the winter hunt, it was nothing more than wanting him to show off so that the king would notice, and everything today must have been expected by him middle.Although he is under one person and above ten thousand people, fighting for power and favor is a long-term thing to do. Today he is a pawn in this fight for power and favor, so how can he not be annoyed.

Zuo Jiyun said again: "Father knows that you don't want to. Once you enter the palace, you can't be as casual as you are in your own mansion. You need to be cautious in your words and deeds. You have such a casual temperament, so you will naturally feel uncomfortable. But You have also seen that the prince's personality is gentle and honest. Although this is a good thing, it is difficult to take care of the overall situation. If you are sensible, go to the palace and accompany the prince well, and he will definitely let you assist him in the future. You are the one I saw growing up when I was young. You can also make up for the shortcomings of the prince. What you did for the father is all for the future of the country, not just for your own selfishness. Aqi, do you understand what the father said?"

It is rare for a father to be so solemn and serious. These words from the bottom of his heart inevitably dispelled what he had just thought in his heart.Zuo Qi put away his dissatisfied expression, and said seriously: "I understand, this time, it seems that I am indeed ignorant."

Zuo Jiyun nodded gratified. Among the three sons, Zuo Qi in front of him was the one he had the most high hopes for.When he was young, he was smarter than children of the same age, and even when he was older, he would still be able to talk to him about important matters of the family and the country, and the opinions and insights he occasionally expressed made Zuo Jiyun feel that he was a talent for governing the country. With such thinking and vision, Zuo Fu has inherited the mantle for a hundred years, who else can inherit it besides him?

He stroked Aizi's hair bun: "You don't need to pack anything, I will go to the palace with Shun'an, your aunt will take good care of you in the palace, as long as there is no big trouble, she can still protect you of."

Thinking of not being able to stay with his parents forever in the future, Zuo Qi, who never shed tears, also had red eyes.He took a deep breath and suppressed the bitterness in his heart: "My child knows."

Speaking of the prince Che in the palace, ever since he learned that Zuo Qi was going to enter the palace to be his companion, he has been looking forward to it. Not only did he order Jin'er to tidy up the room early, but he even went to the mother's palace to ask for more than a dozen items. Delicious pastries.The Prince's Palace where he lives has a garden dedicated to raising animals. There are red-billed geese, silky chickens, and Prince Che's favorite rabbit. These are all ingredients in the imperial dining room, but he likes them because of their appearance. They all became pets, and all the delicious food and drinks were kept in the garden. Over time, they became his treasures.

As soon as he entered the palace, Zuo Qi was brought to Qian Qi by Qian Hai, he didn't say anything, he just praised him a few words, and asked him if he wanted anything, if so, he ordered someone to send it to the prince temple.Zuo Qi thanked Sheng En, Qian Hai led him to the Prince's Hall.

The prince Che was playing with a clumsy red-billed goose at this moment, when Jin'er came to report that Zuo Qi had arrived, and asked if he should wait first or call someone in.Prince Che said: "Don't worry about those etiquette, just let him come in directly."

Zuo Qi was led by Jin'er, passed through the front hall, and went through several doors before coming to the courtyard. He saw the crybaby he hated the most was having fun with a duck in his arms.Zuo Qi couldn't help frowning again, his immature face revealed a gloom that didn't match his actual age.

Zuo Qi walked forward slowly, then knelt down on one knee, cupped his fists and said, "I have seen His Royal Highness the Prince."

Prince Che straightened up, holding the red-billed goose in his arms with a spring breeze on his face. He looked at the kneeling boy in front of him. This person was a little different from that day in Dongshou. Maybe it was because of his attire. Compared with him, he lacked a heroic look, and lacked the childishness when he was fighting for food, because he kept his head down, I don't know what his expression is at this time.

Prince Che said: "Get up, you will be exempted from these etiquettes in the Prince's Palace from now on. You and I are cousins, so you can call me Ache in private. Similarly, can I call you Aqi?"

Zuo Qi thought to himself, he directly called the prince by name, if others listened to him, he would be punished for disrespect.It doesn't matter if they are cousins, the difference in status between the two is there, he is a dignified prince, he can call himself whatever he wants, but he can't go beyond the rules.Zuo Qi got up, before he had time to brush off the dust on his robe, he said: "If Your Highness likes it, I can do whatever."

Prince Che didn't notice what was going on in Zuo Qi's mind, he took a step forward, and said to Zuo Qi, "Ah Qi, isn't this red-billed goose very pretty? Don't look clumsy, it can fly."

Zuo Qi blinked: "Ducks...can actually fly?"

As soon as the words came out, Jin'er next to him immediately laughed out loud. Everyone knew it was a duck, but Prince Che had always been reluctant to call him that, and he did not allow others to call him that.Zuo Qi made a taboo when he came, and he didn't know what expression his highness should have for a while.

This time Jin'er guessed wrong, not only did Prince Che not change his face, but he said uncharacteristically: "You will know when you see it."

Speaking of the days in the Prince's Hall, Zuo Qi only felt that it was boring, not only had to patiently listen to the prince introduce his pets, but also patiently listened to the Taifu's lectures on the lessons he had memorized by heart.Prince Che is not stupid, but he can't concentrate. He often stays in a daze below when the Taifu is giving lectures. As an accompanying reader, Zuo Qi is naturally obliged to supervise him, and occasionally bumps him with his elbow to pull him back from his thoughts.Sometimes he would accompany him to complete the homework assigned by the Taifu. Of course, the Taifu also commented on it. Zuo Qi always got the praise of the Taifu, but Prince Che often complained about the few typos circled with a red pen in the homework. Distressed and shed a lot of tears.

The homework assigned by the Tai Tuo today was to silently write University Ji’s No. 16. Zuo Qi finished it very easily. When he went to see Prince Che again, he was biting the tip of his pen with a distressed expression on his face. There were only a few scattered words on the white rice paper. It was crooked and had ink stains in a few places.Zuo Qi frowned as usual, seeing that most of the candles on the candlestick had been burned, he must have stayed with him until late at night again.It's not that he never thought of helping him, it's just that the prince Che never asked him for help, and his stubbornness didn't fit his crying nature at all.

Waiting on the sidelines was too boring, so Zuo Qi picked up the barnyard official novel that he always carried close to his body and read it. The author of this book is not only talented in writing, but also a good hand at compiling stories. He has read this book no less than ten times , not only the twists and turns of the plot are fascinating, but also the literary talent is unique and uninhibited. Reading this is much more interesting than reading the Analects.

It has been more than a hundred years since the author passed away. It is rumored that he was the son of an important official in the court of the Qu Kingdom. There are traces to follow in the past. The man's surname is Ye, and his name is Dai Shu. His father was an official in the court. It is said that this person is the ancestor of Taiwei Ye in the current dynasty, but Ye Yibiao never admitted that there was such a person in his ancestors, and the identity of this person has become a mystery since then.

It wasn't until the candle torch was burned out that the room fell into darkness. He then pulled his attention away from the book, got up and lit a new candle, and when the flickering flame illuminated the study room again, he realized that Prince Che was lying on the table. Fell asleep.

Zuo Qi stretched out his hand and pushed him, and the disturbed dreamer let out a few dissatisfied ravings, changed his position before even opening his eyes, and fell asleep again.Zuo Qi was a little annoyed, it was early spring at this time, the night was slightly cold, he couldn't wake him up but he couldn't just let him sleep here.

He took a fur coat to cover him, put out the candles, and then got up and walked to his bedroom.

The night was breezy and bright, and the long dark corridor was shrouded in the silvery white and quiet moonlight. The mist covered the flowers and plants in the courtyard, and formed clear dewdrops on the green leaves and petals. of gloss.He let out a long breath, only to feel that the light clothes on his body could no longer block the coolness of the night, and then he thought of Prince Che who was sleeping on the table, so he couldn't help but stop, hesitated for a moment, then turned back.