The Way of the Consort

A group of people kept a close eye on His Highness the Crown Prince who was sleeping on the bed.

When Zong Zhen's eyelashes trembled slightly, Bao Qing, Cheng Shen, and Aunt Zhang hurried forward, huddled beside the bed, and looked at him nervously.

Zong Zhen's eyelashes trembled again, and they didn't even dare to breathe.

Zong Zhen slowly opened his eyes. He had just woken up from a dark sleep, his eyes were blurred, and for a moment he couldn't even tell whether it was a dream or reality.She thought she was the Zong Zhen who was imprisoned by Ji Zhao, trapped in a room where the sky was unknown, and watched him weaken day by day, until he was killed by Ji Zhao with a sword with a smile.

The corners of his mouth trembled from time to time, but he couldn't speak. He didn't know whether he was afraid or angry.

until--

"Your Highness, Your Highness, are you awake? Your Highness..."

When Aunt Zhang's voice sounded, his eyeballs rolled around, and only when he saw Aunt Zhang who had passed away five years ago in his previous life did he completely wake up from that seemingly endless dream.

The confusion, fear, anger and other mixed emotions in Zong Zhen's eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by indifference and calm.

He tried to get up from the bed with his hands on his hands, but his body didn't cooperate. Bao Qing and Cheng Shen stepped forward, and they carefully helped him up. Aunt Zhang wiped her tears and said, "Your Highness is awake." When the tea cup came, Aunt Zhang took it, bent forward, and fed him a few sips of warm water. Zong Zhen moistened his throat, looked at Aunt Zhang, and unconsciously lowered his voice: "I'm fine, Auntie, don't worry."

Aunt Zhang turned her face away, not to let him see the tears, and walked out: "I'll ask Doctor Luo to come in."

Zong Zhen glanced at the candles lit on the table, and asked, "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Your Highness, you have been in a coma for four hours, but your Highness is still coughing? What's wrong?"

Zong Zhen didn't speak, but looked at one place, not knowing what he was thinking, Bao Qing and Cheng Shen looked at each other, not daring to speak anymore.

Zong Zhen was thinking about Ji Zhao.

Before he passed out, he was indeed extremely angry, but now he calmed down.

In his previous life, Ji Zhao was his brother-in-law, his courtier, and his most trusted friend. He thought he was the one who knew Ji Zhao best.

Of course, after death, he knew that he was wrong.

Back from the dead, he thought he had nothing to worry about.

He has mastered too many "prophets".

Today I just discovered that Ji Zhao has so many faces. Who would have thought that Ji Zhao, Ji Sanlang, who was once the most sought after in Jinling City, would be lying on the wall like that, talking like that, with no image, even seven or eight years old. Children are not as good.

Ji Zhao, how many faces are there?

What is Ji Zhao's intention when he is lying on the wall today?What was Ji Zhao thinking at this moment?

Could it be that Ji Zhao knew that he was outside the alley, and everything was done on purpose?Calling him "brother" is also intentional?

Zong Zhen's mind was full of Ji Zhao, thinking about Ji Zhao's intentions, thinking about Ji Zhao's means.

Yes, he is the crown prince, with absolute power, he can assassinate, or even kill Ji Zhao directly.

Fu Chen didn't like this son-in-law at first.

But what's the point of this?

In the previous life, who will repay the pain suffered by my sister and clan members?

Death is always the best relief.

"Your Highness, Doctor Luo is here." Aunt Zhang came in softly.

Zong Zhen took a deep breath and grinded slowly, so that Ji Zhao would be tortured and taste the pain of losing everything.

He stretched out his arm, and Doctor Luo stepped forward to feel his pulse again.

Ji Zhao was eating dinner when he suddenly sneezed several times. Mother Wei hurriedly said, "Hundred years old! Our elder brother Zhao will live a hundred years old!"

Chen Xing giggled: "Who is thinking about our husband?"

"Who cares about me?"

"It's Miss Wang! When I was in Yangzhou last time, when I went to Daming Temple, she secretly stuffed you with a purse!"

Ji Zhao was taken aback, there is such a thing?Miss Wang?Could this be the sweetheart of Ji Zhao's ancestor?

Seeing this, Wei's mother stepped forward and clapped his hand: "You bastard, get down quickly! Don't talk nonsense!"

Chen Xing was not convinced: "Ms. Wang is even more beautiful than the princess! She is also gentle, and her maid will give us rose candy!"

Now, before Wei's mother got angry, Ji Zhaoxian said seriously, "If this is the case, don't talk about it in the future, otherwise you will cause a big disaster."

Mother Wei patted him again, and Chen Xing replied honestly: "Mr. Lang, I won't say any more, don't be angry."

Ji Zhaocai smiled again. He drank half a bowl of soup, then put away his smile, and said worriedly: "I don't know where that brother is today, and I don't know if he will wake up?"

Mother Wei already knew what was going on, and persuaded: "Don't worry too much, sir. I don't blame you for today's matter. Since the doctor said it's okay, he must be awake. He is a Huizhou merchant and has no shortage of money. , and got so many good medicinal materials from you, it will surely cure the disease."

"Oh, I forgot to ask his name." Ji Zhao was still thinking about it.

"Then let's send someone to Huizhou to inquire about it? That Mr. Lang has an extraordinary appearance, so he must be easy to inquire about."

Chen Xing quickly raised his hand: "Okay, okay! I remember the appearance of that gentleman, and I will help draw it!"

"Okay!" Ji Zhao became happy again, hurriedly finished his meal with soup, put down the bowl, and took Chen Xing to the study to draw.He didn't expect that Chen Xing's painting skills are very good, he praised a few words, Chen Xing laughed "hehe" and said, "Your lord taught me from childhood! What is my idea! You are so good, lord!" "

Ji Zhao felt extremely guilty, he was sorry for the old ancestor.

From now on, Mr. Ji Sanlang will have no more paintings and poems to keep!

Chen Xing quickly finished the portrait. He glanced at it, tapped it with a pen, and said, "That brother has a tear mole under his eye!"

Chen Xing suddenly realized: "Yes, yes, yes! I forgot! You should look carefully!"

After adding the tear mole, Ji Zhao asked everyone to go out, put the painting of Chen Xing aside, spread out another piece of paper, and took a pen to follow the painting.Ji Zhao had never painted in his previous life. He tried it a few times and found that he was much more talented in painting than in poetry.

At least, according to Chen Xing's painting, he also drew a portrait that is almost the same.

He was very satisfied, and used the new seal given to him by Princess Fuchen, and stamped it in the lower left corner.

Afterwards, he rolled up the two scrolls, Chenxing's was tied with red silk, and his own was tied with blue silk, and he left the study in peace.Yin Ming has come over, and he wants to talk to Yin Ming about sending people to Huizhou.

In Prince Zheng's Mansion in Jinling City, Zong Mi and Zong Yan were sitting opposite each other, and on the table in the middle was the set of books sent by Zong Zhen.

The two brothers were silent for a long time, Zong Yan couldn't bear it first, and asked: "Brother, what does the prince mean... Could it be..."

Zong Mi is a person with gentle brows and eyes, with a handsome appearance, but his brows are furrowed at this time, he nodded: "That's right, the crown prince knows that I am in Jinling."

"Ah——" Zong Yan took a breath and asked worriedly, "Are you okay? How could the crown prince know that you are here? Didn't he never care about these things? He didn't even go to court meetings, and he rarely showed up when he went to the palace for so many years. , even I have only met him a few times. Not to mention you brother, the prince doesn't even recognize you!"

Zong Mi was also very distressed: "Maybe when did you reveal your secrets? Although I said that I have never been to Jinling since I was named the crown prince at the age of five, but the empress dowager passed away three years ago, but the concubine mother came here once, and there are always people in Beijing who have seen her. "

"Yes, you look like your mother, maybe someone recognized you!"

"It should be exactly so."

"Then, brother, do you want to enter the palace to meet His Majesty and the Crown Prince?"

Zong Mi glared at him: "The son of the prince, who came to Beijing without a call, is a serious crime equivalent to treason!"

"But he already knew!"

"Since he didn't say it clearly, he must be willing to let this matter go lightly, and he shouldn't tell His Majesty."

Zongyan scratched his head: "But I always feel that the prince's words today are not right. Hearing those words, why does it sound like he is beating us? We have no other thoughts. Brother, you just haven't come here for many years. You just came secretly because you were curious about Jinling. , neither father nor mother knew."

Zong Mi listened to his younger brother's words, but did not respond.

Have no other thoughts?

They are all descendants of the clan family, they are all the blood of Taizu, who can have no other thoughts?More or less, everyone has it.However, in His Majesty's prime, although the crown prince is not in good health, he has lived well for so many years.Although he has so many thoughts, but only so much.

This time I came to Jinling secretly, could my father not know?

The father, queen, mother and concubine knew it all, but they still turned a blind eye.

What if, what if the crown prince——

Such a thing can only be understood.

He looked at his younger brother who was thinking hard, and couldn't help but smile, it was also a blessing to be able to do this.

The proverb asked again: "Since the prince is willing to ignore it? We have to show something, right? It's not easy to go to the palace, or...or we can go to the princess mansion to give gifts! The prince loves our cousin the most!"

Zong Mi thought of the new son-in-law whom he saw today, Ji Zhao.

Zong Yan already said again: "That's right! I'd better give that son-in-law a gift! That son-in-law looks very good, I'm afraid of Fu Chen, every time I see me, she looks too lazy to talk to me, she is so fierce, The son-in-law is too pitiful, I don’t want to marry such a fierce girl when I get married in the future! Brother, let’s go give gifts to the son-in-law? I heard that Fu Chen likes this son-in-law quite a bit, but it’s true, Ji Zhao looks too good, right? , brother, I think he is prettier than Fu Chen, Fu Chen is so domineering, seeing his face, don't you feel angry?"

Zong Mi couldn't help laughing, tapped his forehead, and said with a smile: "Okay, let's give gifts to the son-in-law."

The next day, Ji Zhao was waiting for someone to come to pick up the paintings in the study, when Chen Xing came in and said, "Mr. Lang, the fifth son of Prince Zheng's residence came to pay a visit."

"Ah?" Ji Zhao was a little confused, what is he doing here?

"He has already entered the mansion, brother Yin Ming is drinking tea with him in the flower hall."

This was the first guest to come to the door, and his status was also precious, so Ji Zhao had no choice but to put the picture scroll tied with red silk on the Duobaoge in his hand, and he immediately walked to the flower hall, and explained: "You wait here So, after they come, you remember to give them that picture scroll, the one with the ribbon, it’s right at hand, don’t give it wrong, remember to give Yin Ming some silver, and you must find that Your Majesty!"

"Okay! Don't worry!"

Ji Zhao walked out, Chen Xing entered the study, saw the blue silk picture scroll tied on the table, didn't think much about it, hugged it in his arms, went out and stood on the porch waiting for someone to come over.

Ji Zhao met Zongyan, the fifth son of Prince Zheng's residence, in the flower hall.

Ji Zhao is not very good at talking, but Zongyan is very good at speaking, and he is still a "brother-in-law" one by one. He gave him a lot of gifts, and said with a smile: "I have heard about the reputation of brother-in-law for a long time. I thought I would never see it. It is me." Good luck, I saw you yesterday, I was thinking about my brother-in-law all night!"

Ji Zhao chuckled, being thought of by a man all night...

Zong Yan continued to talk, talking east and west, Jinling City, and the customs and customs of Guizhou Prefecture on Guangnan Road, their fief.

After talking for nearly an hour, Zong Yan left happily, he didn't know why Zong Yan came, was it just a gift?

He thought about it and called Fanta over because he wanted to drink Fanta today.

He said: "You go to the princess mansion, present this gift list to the princess, and tell him about the fifth son's visit just now."

"Yes!" Fanda repeated, then carefully put the gift slip into his clothes, turned and went out.

Ji Zhao looked at the ceremony on the table and asked people to watch and not move until the princess came back with something to say, then turned around and went back.

Chen Xing had just sent him away, when he saw him coming, he said with a smile: "Mr. Lang! Yin Ming has already set off with them! If you are lucky, you might be able to catch up with them on the waterway!"

Ji Zhao was relieved, with a smile on his face, nothing happened, and took someone to Ji's mansion again. After all, he was going to move out, so he wanted to say something. He knew the basic etiquette.Although he has no feelings for the Ji family, he is currently sensitive to his status. If he is brought up in front of the prince and said he is not filial, the censors are annoying, and the prince is even more annoying. He can't keep his pigtails.

Zong Zhen was practicing archery in the shooting range next to the back garden of the East Palace.

The six arts of a gentleman, as a prince, he has to learn, and he has never failed in any of them since he was a child. It's just that his body is too poor, and he gradually slack off in shooting and defending.Last night, he asked Doctor Luo carefully, if he wanted to be strong, he had to move more.In the past, the imperial doctors did not dare to persuade him because they were afraid of making a mistake, so they wished to make him lie on the bed every day.

But he has died once, what is more terrifying?

Dragging this sick body is death, it is better to change the method.

Early this morning, after reading for an hour, he came to the shooting range to practice archery.He has already arranged everything, one day of archery, one day of horseback riding, and another day of practicing martial arts accompanied by his guards. In addition to reading, he will try his best to walk around the yard as much as possible, even if it is just a walk.

It's just that his body has been weak for too long, holding the bow, but after pulling it a few times, his arm began to ache.

He put down his bow and arrow, took a few breaths, Baoqing hurried forward and handed him the teacup: "Your Highness, drink some water!"

Zong Zhen received it in his hand, drank half of it, took a deep breath, raised the bow and arrow again, aimed at a target not far away, and shot an arrow, but still missed, and the feathered arrow fell lightly to the ground.

There was silence on the shooting range, and everyone was afraid that he would get angry.

Zong Zhen was not angry, he turned around and asked Chen Keye: "What's wrong?"

"His Highness's posture is fine. Just now, the arrow also went towards the bull's-eye. It can be seen that His Highness's eyesight is also very good. It's just that His Highness hasn't practiced for a long time, and his strength is not enough, so he failed to hit the target."

Zong Zhen nodded. He had indeed aimed at the bull's-eye just now. After all, he had practiced when he was a child, and he was not strong enough.

He put down the bow and arrow again, Bao Qing came up to rub his arm, he waved his hand, handed the bow and arrow to Bao Qing, and rubbed his arm.If one day fails, then two or three days, and one day, he will be able to hit the bull's-eye.

While he was rubbing his arms, Cheng Shen came from a distance, seeing that he had something to say, Chen Keye and others all retreated, only Bao Qing was still by his side.

"Your Highness, Fanda has something to say."

Zong Zhen's hand paused: "Fanta?"

At first glance, this name sounds ordinary, but after a closer look, it always feels a bit strange to pronounce.

"Uh, Fanta is the former Hu Wen, and the son-in-law changed his name."

"The other three have also changed?"

"Yes, there are three other people called Coke, Sprite, and Quer." Cheng Shen also felt that these names were getting more and more strange, "Fanta just said three things, one is what happened yesterday."

"Oh?"

"Fanda said that the son-in-law didn't want to compose poems with the students in the academy, so he went to the hut under the pretext of being drunk, and then ran away. The specific reason is that they haven't gained the trust of the son-in-law yet, and we don't know yet. Extremely tight."

Zong Zhen nodded: "Two other things?"

"The son-in-law sent Yin Ming out of the city. There are five of them in total, and their whereabouts are currently unknown. Fanta saw Yin Ming holding a painting in his arms."

"there's one more thing……"

"The son-in-law has moved into Pingyanghou's mansion. Today, the fifth son-in-law came to visit with a gift. Fanta was sent by the son-in-law to the princess' mansion to inform about this."

Zong Zhen sneered in his heart, and moved to be alone early, probably in order to cultivate contacts earlier.

He took the bow and arrow from Baoqing's hand again, took a deep breath, squinted his eyes and aimed at the bull's-eye, and shot an arrow with all his strength, and the feathered arrow hit the bull's-eye. The rest of the eunuchs and guards standing around also shouted happily.

However, before the cry had passed, the feathered arrow, which hadn't pierced too deeply, fell to the ground again.

Everyone was silent again, but Zong Zhen himself twitched.

One day, that arrow, if it hits it, it will hit it, and it will never fall again.

He put down his bow and arrow, turned around and left the shooting range, feeling rarely happy.

Bao Qing hugged the bow and quiver, and Cheng Shen caught up with him, asking, "Does Your Highness still practice?"

"It's not good to be too greedy, walk around the shooting range a few times, and practice later." Zong Zhen told Cheng Shen as he walked, "You send someone to follow Yin Ming and the others, and see where they are going. I don’t know what is painted on it, take it back and give it to me.”

"Yes!"