The prince is hard to serve

That night, the Xiaoxiao in the Lingxiao Pavilion did not stop for a long time, until the watchman outside rang the five-watch gong, and finally stopped.

When he stopped playing, Yan Wenhao couldn't help but blinked a little tiredly, and stretched his already stiff wrists.

Turning his head, Yan Wenhao looked at the still closed palace door in front of him, a look of despondency flashed in his eyes, but he soon regained his determination, he sighed softly, stood for a while, then turned around left.

At this time, the sky in the distance had faded from the boundless darkness, and turned a little white, and the breeze blew through the treetops, making rustling sounds.

Today, he is going to go to court, and the time is almost up now.

Here, in the main hall.

Fuquan stood outside the hall, frowning, and was waiting anxiously, seeing that the time for going to court was approaching, but his highness had not returned yet.

Instructing the maids to prepare warm water and washing utensils in advance, Fu Quan stood on tiptoe and poked his head. When he saw Yan Wenhao walking quickly not far away, his eyes lit up immediately, and he quickly walked up to meet him.

Walking in front of Yan Wenhao, Fu Quan bowed to him and said respectfully: "Your Highness, it's already halfway through Yinshi, Your Majesty will start the court meeting at three o'clock. Now, you need to hurry up."

Yan Wenhao nodded, turned to him and said, "Go and prepare water, I want to take a bath and change clothes."

"The old slave has already ordered someone to prepare water, your Highness, you can just go there."

Glancing at Fuquan, Yan Wenhao nodded in satisfaction. After thinking for a while, he handed the flute in his hand to Fuquan. After that, he turned his foot and walked straight to the bathroom.

Fuquan took the flute, took it back to the hall and put it away, and soon went back outside the bathroom. He took the court clothes from the court lady who was kicked out, pushed open the door of the bathroom, and walked in.

Fuquan lowered his head, his eyes fell on his eyes, and he whispered: "Your Highness, the court clothes have been prepared for you, let this old slave wait for you to change."

"Ah."

Nodding slightly, Yan Wenhao opened his eyes. The fatigue in his eyes just now had all dissipated. He stood up from the bath, then raised his head, puffed up his chest, opened his arms a little, with a solemn expression, and let Fuquan dress for him. .

Because Yan Wenhao is the eldest son of the emperor and the son of the late Empress Zhuang, he wears black court clothes, and the top of the court clothes is painted with five patterns of dragons, mountains, Chinese insects, and Zongyi, with dragons on both shoulders. , the mountain is on the back, Huo, Huachong, and Zongyi are on the two sleeves, three for each sleeve, and two chapters of embroidered algae and rice flour on the lower garment, a total of seven chapters, and a seven-bead jade crown on the head.

As for the other princes born to concubines, they wore blue court clothes, and there were only five chapters embroidered on the court clothes, and they only wore five-beaded jade crowns on their heads, distinguishing them from the eldest son of the emperor.

Wearing a court dress that symbolizes the eldest son of the emperor, Yan Wenhao retreated from the screen, and stood alone in front of the bronze mirror with his hands behind his back. He looked at himself in the mirror, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but his eyes were extremely deep, like a deep hole. Bottomless cold pool.

Waiting outside the door for a while, Fuquan raised his head, glanced at the sky, calculated the time in his mind, knocked on the door, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, it's time for you to go to court."

"I know."

Opening the door from the inside, Yan Wenhao raised his chin and said softly, "Let's go."

Raising his head slightly, Fuquan looked in front of him. Compared with the past, his own master, who appeared more majestic, did not dare to neglect him in the slightest. After he responded politely, he followed behind Yan Wenhao step by step, facing the empress dowager. He Dian went.

Although the Lingxiao Pavilion is in the palace, its location is extremely remote. When Yan Wenhao arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the civil and military ministers had already entered through the Meridian Gate, stepped on the ground paved with white jade, climbed the steps, and gathered in the hall.

At this time, Emperor Yan had not yet arrived, and the civil and military officials gathered together in twos and threes. Suddenly, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was very lively.

When Yan Wenhao strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony with his head held high, the ministers who were talking stopped one after another, and all their eyes turned to him. You looked at me and I looked at you, but they were all silent.

"Second brother."

Suddenly, a slightly surprised voice sounded suddenly, which immediately broke the silence in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Accompanied by this voice, soon, a blue figure rushed straight towards Yan Wenhao.

Yan Wenjin looked up and down at Yan Wenhao with a face full of surprise, her big eyes were very bright, "Second brother, you are all healed? It's great, I can go to court with you in the future."

For the past two days, he accompanied his mother and concubine to the Huguo Temple to worship the Buddha and burn incense. He just returned last night. As soon as he came back, he heard the manager of the mansion tell him that his second brother had recovered from his illness.

If he hadn't been stopped in time, he almost ran into the palace overnight in excitement, but even though he didn't enter the palace, he was still so happy that he didn't sleep well all night.

With a smile in his eyes, Yan Wenhao stretched out his hand to help him straighten his crooked skirt, and said softly, "Well, I'm all fine."

With an extremely excited expression on her face, Yan Wenjin blinked her eyes at Yan Wenhao, and said with a smile: "After the imperial court, the second brother will accompany me to see the concubine mother, she will be very happy to see you back to health of."

Remembering that he hadn't seen Concubine Xian for a long time, Yan Wenhao nodded and said with a smile: "Okay, just in time, maybe I haven't gone to pay my respects to Concubine Mother for a long time."

Yan Wenhao talked to Yan Wenjin in a warm voice like this, with a very gentle attitude and a faint smile on his face all the time. He was neither arrogant nor impatient, with a calm temperament, and his appearance was rare and peerless. The ministers saw it and thought about it in their hearts.

"Second Emperor Brother, Fourth Emperor Brother." At this time, another voice came in, and Yan Wenyuan walked into the hall unhurriedly, with a calm expression, the corners of his mouth slightly curved, and a faint smile appeared.

Hearing the sound and looking over, Yan Wenjin rolled her eyes in her heart, and said to herself, pretend again, keep pretending, but she still replied: "Brother Sanhuang."

This call seemed a bit perfunctory, but Yan Wenyuan never regarded Yan Wenjin as his younger brother, so he didn't care whether his attitude was perfunctory or not.

Turning his head to look at Yan Wenyuan, Yan Wenhao showed him a faint smile, and then called out, "Third Brother."

From the titles of 'fourth younger brother' and 'third emperor's younger brother', their closeness can be distinguished.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Yan Wenhao's court clothes that symbolized the eldest son of the emperor. Yan Wenyuan's hands hidden in his sleeves were clenched into fists, but he still didn't change his face, and said with a smile: "Yesterday, I heard that the second emperor brother Your illnesses for many years have all healed, and your father has also issued an order to let you return to the early court. Here, the emperor congratulates the emperor first."

What he said was mysterious. At first glance, it sounded like he was really happy for Yan Wenhao and congratulating him, but in fact, he was secretly reminding some ministers in the palace who were thinking carefully that Yan Wenhao had been ill for many years. Living in seclusion, even if they can go to court now, they can't be compared with him, let them think about it carefully, don't choose the wrong camp, and cut off their own way.

Yan Wenhao naturally understood what he meant, but his face remained calm. He returned Yan Wenyuan with a very happy smile, and thanked him earnestly: "Thank you."

After looking at Yan Wenhao's expression for a while, seeing that he didn't understand what he said, and still wanted to thank him sincerely, a sneer flashed in Yan Wenyuan's eyes, and he couldn't help shaking his head, feeling contemptuous towards him .

——For so many years, he has been living in the palace due to illness, even if he is the eldest son of the emperor, so what if he can go to court, how can such a foolish appearance be his opponent?

"Second Brother, you're being polite." After speaking, Yan Wenyuan walked to his usual position and stood there, and then stopped talking.

At this moment, the big and small officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony bent down and saluted Yan Wenyuan, Yan Wenjin, and Yan Wenhao one by one.

"Ministers, please excuse me." Yan Wenyuan smiled with his lips curled up, and spoke first.

Originally, Yan Wenhao, as the eldest son of the emperor, should be exempted from courtesy, which was in line with the etiquette, but now, the ministers present did not care at all.

Seeing this scene, several senior officials who had thought a little bit after seeing Yan Wenhao looked at each other, shook their heads, and sighed secretly with ugly expressions.

"Second brother, you..." Patted Yan Wenhao's arm lightly, and Yan Wenjin gave him a puzzled look.

Shaking his head to signal him to be calm, Yan Wenhao said softly, "Fourth brother, let's continue chatting after the next court."

After understanding the meaning in her second brother's eyes, Yan Wenjin suppressed her cheering heart, nodded obediently, and then fell silent.

Then, after a long silence, the ministers started whispering to each other in twos and threes.

At this time, Mu Jiyan arrived.

He has a serious face and a proud demeanor. After entering the palace, he bowed to all the princes present. After straightening up, he looked at Yan Wenhao alone, with concern in his eyes, and asked him : "Is Ziling feeling better after going back yesterday?"

Amidst the noise, his question did not attract much attention, but Yan Wenjin and Yan Wenyuan glanced at them.

With a slight smile, Yan Wenhao replied softly: "It's okay to be modest, you don't have to worry, Mr. Mu."

Hearing this, Mu Jiyan's expression relaxed a little. After he nodded, he bowed to Yan Wenhao again, then turned back and stood at the head of the civil servants.

"The emperor enters the palace—"

A sharp voice unique to eunuchs sounded, and all the officials fell silent immediately. They each returned to their positions, bowed their heads, and stood respectfully.

After a while, a bright yellow figure slowly entered the hall. Emperor Yan's eyes were sharp, and his expression was not angry. He swaggered forward, looked straight ahead, and walked step by step to the dragon chair at the highest position.

Standing respectfully beside Emperor Yan, Fuxi looked at the officials below with a solemn face, and then said loudly: "All officials kneel and salute—"

"See Your Majesty—" All the officials said in unison, and the resounding voice resounded through the sky.

Sitting down on the dragon chair, Emperor Yan glanced over the officials one by one, raised his hands slightly, and said with incomparable majesty: "Everyone loves you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After finishing speaking, the ministers all stood up, lowered their heads, and waited for Emperor Yan to speak.

Just at this time, Yan Wenzhi came late. Panting for breath, he walked quickly to the place where the prince was standing. When he saw Yan Wenhao, his pupils shrank, and he saw the black nine Zhang Chaofu's face immediately became very ugly.

Clenching his fists, Yan Wenzhi even forgot to hide his expression, and forgot to salute Emperor Yan.