Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

"As the eldest sister, instead of leading your younger siblings to the family banquet, you made such a fuss, what's the point?" King Qing severely reprimanded without mercy.

Zhao Yilin twisted her shoulders and stomped her feet, her brows stood on end, angrily, and said angrily, "Third brother, you don't ask me what's wrong! It's clear that the old seven is talkative and mean-spirited. Are you being ridiculed by him?"

"Third brother, don't listen to her nonsense! There are a circle of people standing around here, and the younger sisters are also there. You should ask them, who is the first to speak rudely? Who doesn't know that Huangjie has been so mean since she was a child? I can bear it." She said, but she didn't know how to restrain herself, kicking her nose on her face, swearing and hitting people——" The seventh prince Zhao Zewu spoke quickly, but before he could finish his explanation, the eldest princess interrupted him: "I'm mean? Huh, Don’t you talk nicely? What kind of bastard words did you just say?” Zhao Yilin was furious, her brows were stern, she pointed her thin white index finger painted with bright red Kodan angrily at Zhao Zewu, and complained to King Qing: “Third brother, look Look at the seventh brother, he is always mean to my sister like this, and he cursed me all my life to die in my boudoir, my relatives are not going well, why is he so happy, is it plausible? Third brother, you are judging me!" Zhao Yilin acted like a baby. Stamping his feet, pouting his lips and making a cold face, all the nuns and maids tried their best to comfort him.

King Qing stood upright, with a heavy complexion, nodded, and said slowly: "I want to comment, but you are a little excited, and you don't seem to be able to listen to the truth. Brothers and sisters in the family, just because of trivial matters, bickering and arguing Fight! As long as everyone backs down half a step and says a few words, it will be over, but you are going to make a big fuss, for fear that outsiders will not know? Since you two are not afraid of trouble, simply make it bigger, please father How about judging and judging, earnestly judging right and wrong?"

"I—" Zhao Yilin opened her mouth, restrained her arrogance a little, bit her lip and turned her face away.

"That, that's not necessary." Zhao Zewu was also stunned, suppressing his boredom, without even looking at the eldest princess, he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Third brother, we were just joking, why did we really fight? Don't tell me Father, I know you are the most reasonable."

The sixth prince, Zhao Zewen, also stepped forward, and said in a low voice helplessly: "Third Brother, calm down, they have always been like this, and I can't stop them, alas, it's fine if they stop. A family banquet once a month, it's not appropriate for the emperor to worry about it."

"Xiaoqi, what do you think?" King Qing asked majesticly.

"That's right, brothers have taught you a lesson!" Zhao Zewu gave a thumbs up and worked hard to deal with the aftermath. For his own secret wish, he must not bear to anger his father in the near future, so he earnestly said: "You two brothers, don't be angry, I swear: never again. Dare to ridicule Huangjie as an old lady, she will definitely find her son-in-law as soon as possible—"

"Still talking? You still talking? I really want to tear your mouth apart!" Zhao Yilin became angry with embarrassment, her pink face flushed, she was extremely wronged.She is 22 years old, her youth is fading away, and she is very anxious. She wished she could choose a satisfactory son-in-law and get married within a day!However, after many years of hard work and no results, he was full of worries and couldn't sleep at night.What's even more embarrassing is that she hasn't married yet, and her two younger sisters are already married. The second princess got married at the beginning of the year, and she is building the princess mansion and preparing for the dowry.

"Enough! Both of you shut up, go back and reflect on yourself."

King Qing raised his voice and stopped, feeling very headache. Seeing that the family banquet was about to start, he had no time to discuss it in detail, so he could only remind him: "Let's go to Qianming Palace first, the family banquet is about to start, do you want your father to wait?"

"Okay. Xiao Wu, let's go." Zhao Zewen breathed a sigh of relief, pushed his younger brother, pushed Zhao Zewu to the Ninth Prince's side, and asked: "You take Xiao Jiu with you."

"Seventh Brother, Second Sister, Third Sister, shall we go?" The Ninth Prince, who was too young to talk, took his elder brother's hand and invited the two princesses.

"Xiao Jiu has grown a lot taller, and she may be taller than me after a while." The second princess pinched the younger brother's cheek affectionately, then turned her head to say hello: "Sister, come here."

"En." The third princess agreed in her throat. She was timid and introverted, she dared not speak the whole time, she was stunned like a log, she looked at her brother, and said softly: "Brother, shall we go together?"

The eighth prince who was also taciturn smiled and nodded: "Okay. Third brother, I'm going to be late."

"Right away." King Qing looked at the eldest princess who was stalemate in anger, and stared majesticly until the eldest princess conceded and compromised, pouted and said, "Let's go!" She twisted her waist and stepped forward heavily, a gust of wind It seems to be blowing to the front, to the side of the Seventh Prince, what just happened——

"Ahem." King Qing spoke in time.

"Bah, you bastard!" The eldest princess gave the Seventh Prince a vicious look, and passed by angrily. The Dahong Palace went away in the light of countless palace lanterns, like a ball of burning fire.

"Hey, what are you looking like?" The Seventh Prince was annoyed, but he took a glance out of the corner of his eye, quickly swallowed back the word "old lady", frowned and said, "Third brother, look, I really can't blame me for being angry, the imperial sister is too much How can she have the air of an older sister? If only she was as gentle as the younger sisters."

"Xiao Wu, don't say a few words, okay? I'm tired of watching every family banquet." Zhao Zewen reprimanded weakly.

King Qing warned: "Lao Qi, the sisters have not left the cabinet yet, and their life is managed by their parents and elders. As brothers, we can and should care, but we must pay attention to the way and measure. Girls are thin-skinned, so you are not allowed to talk casually from now on." Yell."

"I didn't wrong her, I just told the truth." The Seventh Prince muttered angrily.

"Huh?" King Qing glanced majestically.

"No, it's nothing! The third brother is right, I will take a detour when I see her in the future, hey, I'm too lazy to quarrel with her." The seventh prince pouted contemptuously.

The second princess was generous and cheerful, she led her younger sister to her elder brother, and complained with a pursed smile, "Seventh brother, why did you drag me and my younger sister into a quarrel with the imperial sister? Is it easy to bully me by looking at us? I also want to ask the third brother to comment." Judgment."

"What's the point of comment? The two younger sisters have been wronged, so just vent your anger." Prince Qing smiled, grabbed the Seventh Prince's shoulders casually, and twisted it lightly.

Zhao Zewu grinned his teeth cooperatively, twisted his face, put on a show, and cried out in pain, "Oh, oops! I know I was wrong, my sister has a lot, please forgive me, my father rewarded a box of Dongzhu the day before yesterday, tomorrow String beaded flowers for my sisters."

"It's time to fight! Who told you not to listen to advice all day?" Zhao Zewen laughed and scolded, and flicked his brother's finger vigorously.

The Ninth Prince couldn't help but patted the Seventh Prince's arm, and said sympathetically, "Seventh Brother, bear with it, let the two sisters calm down."

"Hahaha~" The second princess was so teased that she covered her mouth and laughed, and the brothers and sisters played around, and in a blink of an eye, they forgot about the farce just now.

However, all the joy has nothing to do with the eighth prince siblings.

Although the Zhao Zening brothers and sisters were in the middle of it, there were smiles on their faces, but the smiles did not penetrate into the eyes and hearts, but floated on the surface, polite and alienated, unable to blend into the playfulness among relatives.

——They are like outsiders, watching with cold eyes, forming a family of their own.

Zhao Yiqi relied on her brother's clothes and followed her in small steps. She had reached the point where she should avoid suspicion, but she couldn't change it for a while, she was still clinging to her brother's little tail.

When turning the corner and stepping onto the winding corridor, Zhao Zening was a few steps behind, and asked softly, "How are you?"

"I'm fine." Zhao Yiqi shook her head, with thin yellow hair, slender and petite, she dared not look at people directly, she always glanced hurriedly with her head lowered and her eyelids rolled up.Only in front of the closest people did she stand upright, showing a pair of beautiful big wet eyes.

"Has Zhao Yilin bullied you recently?" Zhao Zening asked as usual.

"No, no."

"In front of me, my sister doesn't have to hide it. You are also a golden branch and a jade leaf, so I'm afraid! She is unruly and vulgar, a shrew. Zhao Zewu is right, she is destined to die of old age and a boudoir in this life." Zhao Zening sneered, lips pursed into a straight line.

"I...really not. Brother, don't worry, I'm living very well in Qixia Palace." Zhao Yiqi said softly.

"Then, Concubine Zhuang and Yishan, how are they treating you?"

"Okay, very good!"

Zhao Yiqi raised a smile and said gratefully: "They never mocked mother, nor us, they are kind, even Brother Fifth, every time he visits the palace, he always prepares two copies of all kinds of novelty gifts. The second sister’s is mine.”

Zhao Zening felt sad and bitter, touched his sister's soft hair, and said apologetically: "I have been busy supervising the construction of the mansion these days, so I seldom enter the palace. Fortunately, the third brother was willing to help and send you to Qixia Palace. Otherwise, what would I do outside?" rest assured?"

"The third brother is also very good. He always quietly taught me not to be timid, and even said to pick me up to live in Prince Qing's mansion. Unfortunately, the second sister is going to leave the cabinet next year. I wanted to spend more time with her, so I didn't agree."

"Okay, you're doing the right thing."

The curved corridor has nine turns and loops, and a pair of red lanterns are hung every few steps. Two long strings are hung lively, sometimes illuminating the pale side face of the Eighth Prince, and sometimes the corridor pillars cover and hide his face, which is strange and bizarre.

Zhao Yiqi played with Sipa, hesitated for a while, hesitated to speak, quietly discerned her brother's face, and carefully mentioned: "Brother, mother has entered the limbo, she is very ill, life must be difficult, I want to visit—"

"No!"

Zhao Zening vetoed it flatly, and said coldly: "Don't worry about her affairs, I will take care of them, do you hear me clearly?"

"...Mmm." Zhao Yiqi bit her lips in a daze, and nodded timidly, completely not understanding what "resistance" was.

Zhao Zening's face softened, and he said soothingly: "When the mansion is completed, I will ask Father for instructions to take you out of the palace for a while. In the Eighth Prince's Mansion, you just let go and play, and you don't have to look at anyone's face, okay? good?"

"Okay! I really want to see the world outside the palace." Zhao Yiqi's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't hide her longing.She grew up to 15 years old. Since she became sensible, she has never relaxed. She is always in fear, sometimes even panic all day long. She sleeps and dreams, and is afraid every night.

Zhao Zening was not only sad, but also had a sore nose. He solemnly promised: "Soon, it will be spring next year, and later, it will be in the middle of next year. After the furniture, flowers, trees and ponds are arranged, I will ask you to take you out of the palace to play."

"That's great!" Zhao Yiqi jumped with joy, her whole body glowing with the brilliance of a royal pearl.

At this time, King Qing, who had been walking for a while, turned his head back worriedly, and greeted loudly:

"Eighth Brother and Third Sister, hurry up, the banquet starts soon, don't be late."

"it is good."

"Here we come." Zhao Zening gently pushed his sister, and quickly chased after her.

A quarter of an hour later, the royal family banquet began.

Although it is a monthly family banquet, not all concubines can attend. Except for those with children, only some of them who have a face or a powerful natal family can attend.

The emperor and empress sat at the head, and Concubine Han was seated alone, at the emperor's lower right hand, only a few feet away.The rest of the princes sit in a case of three people, on the left side, with a few screens erected in the middle of the hall, on the opposite side, headed by Concubine Zhuang, several rows of concubines, and several concubines and their children, the three princesses are located behind the prince's head seat, All together, the seats are arranged in order to avoid disputes to the greatest extent.

"Tonight is a family feast, there is no need to be cautious, the family chats about the current situation, cares for each other, that's it." Chengtian Emperor raised his glass kindly, removed most of his imperial dignity, and said: "Come, drink with me, may we achieve great success forever Bandai, prosper and prosper."

Everyone had already stood up, raised their glasses, and declared in unison: "Long live my emperor, my success will last forever." After speaking, they all drank their glasses.

"Whatever you want, don't be restrained." Emperor Chengtian put down his wine glass, smiled, and looked proudly at his concubines and descendants.

There were seven, eight, and nine people sitting at the last seat of the princes. Zhao Zewu didn't say hello to any of them. He pinned the eighth prince in the middle to the back with his arm, and handed Yaodi half a glass of wine, coaxing him with a smirk: "Little Jiu, try Taste it, it's a good thing."

The Ninth Prince held the sweet soup in his hand and looked with his head. Just as he was about to speak, Emperor Chengtian said slowly, "Lao Qi, what are you doing? Xiao Jiu is still young, so I will give him a drink in two years."

"That's right, children can't drink at home. It's important to study hard." The queen agreed with a dignified smile.

Concubine Chen, the biological mother of the twin dragon sons, said helplessly, "Wu'er, don't mess around."

"Xiao Jiu, come up." Emperor Chengtian waved as usual, ignoring the grandchildren who were present, always doting on Lao Laizi.

"Yes." The Ninth Prince hurriedly stood up, bowed slightly, and did not forget to say to his seatmate: "Seventh Brother, Mynah, I'm going up."

"Go, don't keep father waiting." The eighth prince was extremely kind and friendly.

Zhao Zewu said happily: "Hurry up! Father is afraid that I will spoil you, hehehe~"

"Ah."

In the blink of an eye, the Ninth Prince went to the emperor's hand, and Li Deying skillfully moved out the round stool that had been prepared in advance.

Only Zhao Ze'an enjoyed his father's greetings at close range.

But no one is jealous, after all, Zhao Ze'an's biological mother died of dystocia, and she was childish, at most she could get some favors and rewards, but she couldn't compete with her older brothers.

In this way, the seventh and eighth princes sat at the same table again.

It's annoying!The old bastard, putting on airs, is annoying to watch.

Zhao Zewu moved the seat farther without showing any signs, sniffed, sometimes drank and ate food, sometimes turned sideways to chat with his brother on the right, and ignored the lonely Zhao Zening.

In the same situation as above, there is also the chairman.

The eldest princess was preoccupied, sitting stiffly, sulking alone, her pink face was covered with frost, making people afraid to get close to her.Naturally, the other two princesses would not be in a hurry, they were seated next to each other, talking and laughing softly, in an intimate and harmonious way.

The other side

"...The notice has been posted for more than three months, announcing to the world that all people of insight can enter Beijing to apply for recruitment, join the northern camp, and serve the country." King Qing replied solemnly.

The eldest son of the emperor nodded happily: "You are good at running the army and fighting wars. You will definitely be able to bring out a group of elite soldiers. Congratulations to you for everything going well." He raised his glass as he spoke.

"Thank you, big brother." King Qing raised his glass immediately, touched him in a low voice, and drank it down in one gulp.

The second prince talked and laughed with a forced face, absent-minded, didn't touch a few chopsticks and dishes, but drank a lot of wine, showing a faint look of sadness, which caused the empress to worry anxiously, but there was nothing he could do.

"As soon as September is over, it will be another year in a blink of an eye. Time flies like an arrow." The eldest son of the emperor glanced at the drunken man.

"That's right." The second prince said casually,

"En." King Qing replied politely with a nasal voice.

"A while ago, Mrs. Dingbeihou's wife celebrated her birthday. I went to sit down. It was really lively. The old lady is still so healthy." The eldest son of the emperor said again.

"All the relatives and friends are interested, just wanting to have fun with the old man." King Qing answered in a well-mannered manner.

"Hey, let me say Zeyong, you are not young anymore, is it time to put your mind to it and start a family?" The eldest son of the emperor urged his younger brother with a smile.

"Thank you, brother, for your concern." King Qing replied.

"Is there a suitable candidate?" The eldest son of the emperor was full of interest.

some.Prince Qing said in his heart, with a smile in his eyes, but he said: "Recently, I am busy with official duties, and I will talk about the urgent matters at hand after I finish my busy work."

"Official duties are of course important, but don't delay getting married. We brothers, except for the younger one, you are the only one who is single." The eldest son of the emperor talked and laughed happily, refined and refined, not aggressive.

"Brother is right." Prince Qing was tight-lipped, and he was already mentally prepared for a long-term confrontation.

The royal imperial wine is clear and long, although it is not strong, but it has stamina. The second prince has an average capacity for alcohol, and soon gets a little drunk. You can keep it, but don't take it seriously."

Holding the wine glass, King Qing remained expressionless, collected himself, and asked nonchalantly, "What did Second Brother say? Why can't I understand?"

"Hmph, you kid, why are you pretending to be stupid! Isn't it just that little imperial envoy?" The second prince lowered his voice, raised his neck and drank another cup, his cheeks were flushed, and he lost his composure.

The eldest son of the emperor took the opportunity to discuss: "Bringing up the imperial envoy, I don't know how the trial of the Hejian corruption case is going. It is said that the evidence is so strong, why has it not been convicted yet? In my opinion, it is enough to judge according to the law and close the case as soon as possible. Don't delay it until next year." go."

"Corruption case? I don't know much about it." Prince Qing replied calmly.

The second prince opened his mouth, but he didn't say anything. His anger flashed, and he restrained himself immediately, trying to suppress his displeasure.

"Brother Xiang, do you know?" the eldest son of the emperor asked with a smile.

The second prince raised his head and denied with a slack in his neck: "How do I know?! Father didn't ask me to participate in the trial." This sentence was a little louder, causing Cheng Tiandi to glance around in confusion, and the queen gritted her teeth bitterly. She quickly squeezed out a loving smile, and said softly to the Ninth Prince: "Jiu'er has become thinner recently, come on, use more. Is the homework too heavy? You should combine work and rest at ordinary times, and you are still growing up at a young age. "

"Thank you for your concern. The homework is not too heavy. Every three to five days, the master will give you a day and a half off." The ninth prince stood up, bowed to receive the dishes from the queen, and obeyed the palace rules and family rules in his words and deeds.

The queen's move successfully drew her husband's attention back. Concubine Han sat upright, held up a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and covered up a sneer.

"Hehehe~" Emperor Chengtian said with a smile, "Jiu'er is indeed getting thinner, he is growing taller and has reached my shoulders."

The three of the emperor and the empress chatted and laughed happily, and the banquet hall was filled with joy, and the banquet ended happily.

However, after the banquet was over, King Qing was left by the emperor to speak.

"Father, I want to change clothes." Zhao Ze'an frowned and looked at his lapel, and accidentally spilled two drops of soup somewhere.

"Well, let's go." Emperor Chengtian nodded with a smile.

"Your Highness Nine, be careful of the threshold." Li Deying followed closely behind, stretching out his hand to support him, meticulously protecting the emperor's treasure.

Emperor Chengtian walked towards the small study next to the dormitory with his hands behind his back, and greeted without looking back: "Yong'er, come here."

"Yes."

Zhao Zeyong followed silently, the father and son were very similar in figure and demeanor, but the emperor was old and weakened day by day.

When he met the threshold, Zhao Zeyong silently helped his father, Emperor Chengtian accepted it readily, and patted his son's arm when he let go.

After a while, the emperor took his seat.

The father did not speak, and the son could only stand.

"Yong'er, you are not young anymore." The emperor said straight to the point.

Zhao Zeyong took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

Emperor Chengtian closed his eyes and rested his mind, kneading the back of his neck, his fatigue was evident, and he said calmly, "If you hadn't guarded the northwest for ten years, you would have started a family by now."

Zhao Zeyong didn't answer.

"Concubine Shu is dead. I take the marriage between you and Jiu'er very seriously. Two days ago, I asked the empress to invite your grandmother into the palace. First let their wives discuss and find a virtuous and dignified concubine for you. It’s better to appoint another side concubine, so as to spread the branches as soon as possible. Don’t worry, there will be a position of side concubine, and when you meet someone you like in the future, as long as the other party’s family background is clean, you can be included.”

"My son, thank you for your father's love." Zhao Zeyong knelt down, kowtowed his head upright, and said righteously: "But at present, the Beiying is full of things, and everything is busy. The father entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, and the construction has already consumed a huge amount of money. , but it has not yet been completed, and the ministers are anxious day and night, fearing that they will disappoint the trust and high expectations of the father, how dare they be distracted and delay?"

Hmph, brat!

"I know you have always been diligent and hardworking, but getting married is a major event in your life, how can you delay it because you are busy with official duties?" Emperor Chengtian tried to persuade him, but it has not yet been revealed.

"Father is wise and wise, with a long-term vision. He defies all opinions and decrees to build the camp in the northern suburbs. How can the son be able to do it? He was appointed as the commander. The elite barracks, willing to die and die—"

"Alright, alright!"

Emperor Chengtian interrupted with a wave of his hand, and reprimanded angrily: "You are young, so you can say all kinds of unlucky things."

"Father, calm down."

"If you want me to feel relieved, start a family as soon as possible, give birth to a few big fat boys, and bring the emperor and grandson into the palace. I will reward you a lot!" Emperor Chengtian pretended to be angry with a straight face.

Zhao Zeyong evaded and did not answer, and stood on his knees, embarrassingly insisting: "But recently, my minister is busy recruiting recruits, and I really can't be distracted."

Oh, how come you are free when you hang out with that little champion?

Emperor Chengtian raised his eyebrows, full of ridicule, and ordered without disobedience: "I will give you half a year, after you finish your emergency military affairs in the Northern Camp, you will have a family next year no matter what!"

"My son——" Zhao Zeyong was about to speak, but hurried footsteps came from outside the door. The imperial servant rushed in, plopped down on his knees, and reported in a panic: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Eldest Princess fell into the lake in the imperial garden." !"

"What?" Emperor Chengtian stood up suddenly, his expression suddenly changed.

"Father, don't worry." Zhao Zeyong immediately got up to support him, and quickly asked, "Where is the person? Immediately pass on the imperial physician!"

"People, people... the guards say they haven't found them yet," the servant complained hesitantly.

"What?" Emperor Chengtian cried out in shock, his eyes darkened and he shook.

Right now

Zhao Zening had already left the palace, sitting in the sedan chair, reclining lazily on the cushions, with blood stains under the nails of his right hand.He tilted his head, showing a twisted and violent smile, put his right index finger into his mouth, and slowly licked off the blood.