The Way of the Consort

At Zongzhen's place, after talking about He Qiniang's affairs, Chen Keye said: "Your Highness, He Qiniang said something to the son-in-law earlier, let's stay away, and the subordinates heard bits and pieces of "death" and so on. , she also mentioned Mrs. Yin Huaiyu, have you ever listened? "

Zong Zhen nodded, he heard it too, and was thinking about how to make Ji Zhao willing to tell him these things.

He was still very self-aware, and now that Ji Zhao had come to his senses, he probably wouldn't want to talk to him.

At this moment, Bao Qing came in happily, saluted and said, "Your Highness! Dust Star is here!"

"Tell him to come in..." Zong Zhen thought that Ji Zhao had something to do.

But Chen Xing came in with two food boxes, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, our lord asked me to come over and deliver food to you!"

"..." Zong Zhen couldn't help raising his eyebrows, looked at the food box in his hand, and asked, "He ate it too?"

"I ate, I ate some porridge. My husband is taking a hot bath right now!" Chen Xing sold Ji Zhao mercilessly.

Zong Zhen nodded, and said to Chen Keye: "You all go down to rest and eat, and we will talk about this matter later."

"Yes!"

Zong Zhen raised his foot and was about to leave, Bao Qing called him: "Your Highness! If you go to see the son-in-law, you should also change your clothes."

Zongzhen looked down at himself, raised his arms and smelled it, and there was also the smell of wine, medicine, blood and rust, and the smell of dust all the way. He turned and went in to change his clothes.

Ji Zhao was sitting in the barrel, holding water with his hands in boredom. He had no energy, otherwise he would have gotten out of the barrel and put on his clothes. Now he had to wait for Chen Xing to come back.

After waiting for a long while, he finally waited for the sound of footsteps outside the house, and he immediately asked, "Dust Star? Help me up quickly! I'm going to wrinkle!"

"it's me……"

Behind the screen, Zong Zhen's voice sounded, Ji Zhao sank into the water again unknowingly, Zong Zhen said again: "They are all outside the house."

"You ask Dust Star to come in, and I'll wash it."

"Tired to get up?"

"..." Ji Zhao felt a little ashamed and didn't want to admit it.

Unexpectedly, Zong Zhen turned around directly from behind the screen and stood by the wooden barrel. Ji Zhao was so frightened that he almost got his head into the water. Zong Zhen's voice was calm and faint: "I'll help you up ..."

Ji Zhao didn't dare to look up at him, and hid in the water for a while, seeing Zong Zhen's reflection on the water with such a calm face, he suddenly became sober, yes, what is he afraid of, everyone is male in the first place!Last time in Zhuangzi, didn't you soak in the hot spring in front of Zongzhen?

He is not afraid!

Thinking of this, Ji Zhao, who didn't want to lose anyone, immediately straightened up from the water with a serious face, Zong Zhen saw it in his eyes, and felt a little funny in his heart.When rubbing alcohol all over his body, he has seen everything that should be seen and what should not be seen.

At this time, Zong Zhen naturally didn't have any other ideas. Besides, what ideas could he have?

"Get up..." Zong Zhen stretched out his hand to him. Ji Zhao hesitated for a while, but stood up with Zong Zhen's hand, but immediately turned his back. He was still very embarrassed. exposed.

He faltered and said: "You go out first... I'll wipe it off, and I'll ask you to come in..."

Zong Zhen was afraid that he would catch a cold, so he would not tease him, so he agreed to go out.

Ji Zhao quickly wiped off the water on his body, took a coat from the hanger next to him and put it on first, covering his thighs, he let out a breath, then called Zong Zhen to come in, was supported by him, stepped over the barrel, and sat back on the bed , Zong Zhen helped him cover the quilt smoothly.

After covering the quilt, Zong Zhen turned around, wanting to call Chen Xing and the others in.

Ji Zhao said in a low voice but quickly: "Thank you..."

Zong Zhen looked back at him, and Ji Zhao looked down at his hands, as if a little embarrassed.

Zong Zhen laughed softly, and Ji Zhao was a little annoyed again, clenched his fist, and said again: "After this time, we will treat it as even between you and me."

After waiting for Zong Zhen's words for a long time, Ji Zhao almost raised his head, but Zong Zhen's hand appeared in front of his eyes. Zong Zhen stretched out his hand and opened his fist, and said softly, "Don't hold it so tightly."

Ji Zhao raised his head and met his gaze. Zong Zhen sat down beside the bed, opened his fists, turned around and called Chen Xing in, and ordered them to set up a small table on the bed, set up the dishes, and he He took the chopsticks from Chen Xing and handed them to Ji Zhao: "Let's eat some..."

"I'm not hungry……"

"Just eat with me..." Zong Zhen looked up at him, but Ji Zhao didn't say the word "no".

Only when we are so close can we see Zong Zhen's black and blue eyes. In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince's health is really bad. What kind of grievances do people have, Ji Zhao is not so heartless.

He said "hmm" and buried himself in the porridge.

Chen Xing and the others went out, and the two sat opposite each other, eating quietly.Ji Zhao only drank some porridge, but Zong Zhen seemed to be really hungry and kept eating. Ji Zhao secretly looked up at him to eat from time to time. He was so hungry that half of the food on the plate was gone, but he still couldn't eat enough. He didn't take his time, and he ate very nicely, which made people wonder, did he really eat the food on the plate?

Ji Zhao fell into deep thought again, Zong Zhen, what kind of person is he?

Zongzhen had been stared at by him for a long time, and looked at him puzzled, so he lowered his head in embarrassment, and whispered: "You continue to eat..."

Zongzhen ate a bowl of rice, and wanted to call someone to come in to help him serve the rice, Ji Zhao stretched out his hand to him: "I will serve you the rice, can't you even serve the rice, you have to call for someone?"

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince reflected on it. It's not that he doesn't know how to do it, but he's used to it. He was served by others since he was a child.

The large bowl on the table was full of rice, Ji Zhao snatched the bowl from his hand, filled it for him quickly, handed it to him, and said quickly: "Eat slowly!"

There was a smile in Zong Zhen's eyes, he didn't speak, but his eating speed was much slower.

After eating, Zong Zhen asked someone to come in to clean up, but he still sat by the bed and refused to leave.

Ji Zhao guessed that he had something to ask and was ready, Zong Zhen just said to him, "I asked them to bring in the medicine."

Ji Zhao blurted out, "You don't want to ask me about He Qiniang?"

"No rush, you rest first, and we'll talk about these things in a few days."

"In a few days..." Ji Zhao asked him, "When will you return to Jinling?"

"I won't go back, I will accompany you to Liangguo."

Ji Zhao's eyes widened: "What?!"

"Your first mission, father was not at ease. I mentioned something to father, and father agreed. I seldom show up. If I sneak out, no one will notice."

"But, but, it will take several months to go, what about your business? It seems that you have a lot to do..."

"These days, the Wenyu family has been suffering continuously. I am afraid that some people have suspected me, and I just came out to avoid the limelight."

When Ji Zhao heard this, he was shocked, Zong Zhen actually told him the truth like this!

He simply didn't know whether to praise Zongzhen for being real, or to say that he was shameless. His Royal Highness really deserves to be His Royal Highness, and he would not miss any opportunity that could be used!

However, Zongzhen saved him after all, and Ji Zhao was too embarrassed at this time, so he just nodded and said "oh".

Zong Zhen got up, helped him tidy the quilt again, bent down and said to him: "I won't drink medicine with you anymore, after drinking medicine, go to bed early."

"Oh……"

"I'll see your situation tomorrow before deciding whether to go. On this trip, only Mr. Wu knows me. I don't intend to reveal my identity. Just call me your friend."

Ji Zhao muttered: "A good friend again... who wants to be your friend..."

Zongzhen pretended he didn't hear it, straightened his waist, covered the top of his head with his palm, and rubbed it. Ji Zhao was dissatisfied and was about to resist, but Zongzhen withdrew his hand, turned around and left, rather neatly.

Walking to the door, Zong Zhen looked back, Ji Zhao lowered his eyebrows, stretched out his hands and rubbed his head, frowning, wondering what he was still muttering.

Zong Zhen smiled. If he really wanted to avoid the limelight, why would he go all the way to Liangguo? Sometimes, he didn't know who he was trying to convince by saying those words.

After Zong Zhen left, doctor Luo checked his pulse again, and after drinking the medicine, Ji Zhao fell asleep.

In his sleep, he felt as if someone was touching his face with his hand. He stretched out his hand and gestured a few times, but he didn't grab it. Instead, he was grabbed and stuffed his hand into the quilt. He wanted to open his eyes to see, but his eyelids were too tight. Heavy, he fell asleep again.

When I got up in the morning, I asked Chen Xing, and sure enough, Zong Zhen came over at night.

Zong Zhen has a good image with Chen Xing and the others now, they have completely forgotten about Zong Zhen monitoring him and lying to him before, Chen Xing was touched and said: "His Royal Highness came to see you twice at night! It was to poke your forehead again!" The temperature is to help you cover the quilt again, just for fear that you will burn again, and fear that you will have nightmares."

Now that even the people around him have turned against each other, Ji Zhao can only mutter to himself.

Ji Zhao's body is just as the doctor Luo said, there is no serious problem, it is just weak, and it is impossible to recover immediately in a short period of time. If you really want to rest, then don't go to Liangguo, but they have come out, and they have come here. Ji Zhao himself would not be reconciled to returning to Jinling at this time.

Ji Zhao strongly demanded to continue to set off, not wanting to drag others down, and he was not too weak to take the carriage.

Zong Zhen felt that this was also good, with more time, he could walk more slowly on the road, and it would be convenient for Ji Zhao to rest.

After eating breakfast, they continued to set off again. Zong Zhen came with not many people, except for Bao Qing and Cheng Shen, there were only a dozen or so guards. Chen Keye was the chief guard of the Eastern Palace. There must be many more people than the prince.They stayed at the back of the convoy, trying not to be seen by these people. Zong Zhen took Bao Qing and Cheng Shen, all dressed in normal clothes, and stayed with Ji Zhao.

Ji Zhao is a son-in-law, first in, first out, usually no one dares to spy on the people around him, but no one notices that there are a few more people around him.

The carriage that He Qiniang sat in before now happened to be for Zong Zhen, and Ji Zhao didn't want to sit with him.

On the road, the two of them sat in two carriages. Ji Zhao thought it was good to avoid embarrassment. He thanked Zongzhen for saving his life, but he also remembered how Zongzhen used him, lied to him, and monitored him before, and what happened to him. After Qiniang's incident, he couldn't believe anyone at all.

As he said before, even if it's even, let's just treat him like an ordinary stranger from now on.

However, his mental state was even worse than the previous few days. When he was sitting in the carriage and had a lot of free time, he always thought of He Qiniang's head flying out with a "swish". He didn't know why. How Qiniang's body was handled, I wanted to ask, but I didn't dare to ask.Once he fell asleep leaning on Chen Xing, and dreamed of that scene again, blood splashed all over his body, he broke out in a cold sweat, woke up in a daze, Chen Xing kept asking him what was wrong.

He shook his head and gasped for breath. Later Zong Zhen sensed that something was wrong with them, and got into his carriage regardless of Ji Zhao's objection.

Zong Zhen came over, and Chen Xing got out of the carriage. Although Ji Zhao didn't say it clearly, seeing his appearance, Zong Zhen guessed that it was a nightmare, and he regretted the decision that night even more in his heart. Did Ji Zhao learn the lesson? False, but also scared, but the thing has happened, it is useless to say more.

It's just that from this day on, Zong Zhen refused to sit in the carriage at the back, and insisted on sitting with Ji Zhao.

Ji Zhao didn't have the energy to torment these things, his body was weak, and his spirit was not good, so he had to let him go, and he didn't have the energy to talk anyway, but Zong Zhen didn't have to talk to him, and sometimes Yin Yu would climb into the car, if there was no Zong With Zhen here, he might even tell his little nephew about his nightmares, since Zong Zhen is here, forget it.

On the contrary, Yin Yuan can still talk to Zong Zhenting, and can talk about everything.

Resting in the posthouse again this night, Ji Zhao has been unable to sleep at night recently. Tossing and turning, he heard footsteps getting closer and closer in the house. He looked at the familiar shadow on the tent and asked, "Is it?" who……"

"I……"

Ji Zhao guessed that, he supported the bed and wanted to sit up, but Zong Zhen had already opened the curtain, and when he saw him get up, he stretched out his hand to support him.

"Why don't you sleep..." Ji Zhao asked.

But Zong Zhen said: "The night is not bad tonight, why don't you go and have a look?"

Ji Zhao pouted, "I don't really want to go see it with you."

Zong Zhen had already brought his cloak from the hanger next to him, and wanted to hug him out of bed, but Ji Zhao took the cloak from his hand and got out of bed by himself, since he couldn't sleep anyway, so let's go for a walk.

It was very quiet in the posthouse. Others were already sound asleep. Chen Xing, Yin Ming, and Zong Zhen's eunuchs followed them quietly. Zong Zhen led Ji Zhao to the door and got into the carriage directly. Surprised: "Do you still have to take a car? Where are you going?"

Zong Zhen didn't tell him, and Ji Zhao pouted again, too lazy to ask.

After getting into the carriage, the carriage moved forward slowly in the dark. Ji Zhao was originally sitting in the corner, far away from Zongzhen, and the carriage was dark. He thought of He Qiniang's head and body, and felt a little frightened. Zong Zhen leaned closer, Zong Zhen simply sat beside him, and said softly: "Don't be afraid..."

"Who's scared..." Ji Zhao looked at the sky in the dark and rolled his eyes.

"That night, I scared you."

Did he finally start talking about what happened that night? He thought Zong Zhen wouldn't ask, Ji Zhao shook his head: "I don't blame you, although I was in a daze at the time, I knew that He Qiniang was very close to me. It’s posted on me, to be honest, if you don’t chop off her head immediately, she can kill me at any time, I know you are trying to save me, I have never seen such a scene.”

Zong Zhen blamed himself even more in his heart.

Ji Zhao said again: "I should have listened to you that day and not brought He Qiniang out." He looked up at Zong Zhen, "Did you know that she approached me for a purpose?"

Zong Zhen nodded.

"Who is she?"

"She is Liang Guo's spy."

Ji Zhao took another breath, and murmured: "Careful work?" He was puzzled, "But, she said at the time that their family died because of my great-grandfather, she said she hated our family, and she said she would kill me To avenge her brother."

"Tell me what she said that day, remember as much as you say."

Ji Zhao picked out what he still remembered, and said everything, Zong Zhen said, "No wonder..."

"No wonder what?"

"You should also know that your great-grandfather was involved in crony disputes for no reason. Later, the emperor found out that your great-grandfather was dragged down. The real offender was a minister surnamed Lu. However, my grandfather, the late emperor At that time, they were old, and they were executed together. The Lu family directly punished the nine clans. Your family was not punished immediately because your father, who was the prince at the time, and Shilin helped each other. If the case is overturned, the Lu family has actually committed a serious crime."

Ji Zhao understood after thinking about it: "He Qiniang is from the Lu family?"

"It's probably because there are many offshoots of the Lu family, and there are always fish that slip through the net. The two brothers and sisters may be the survivors."

"Brothers and sisters, since she is by my side, who is her brother? Have I met him before?"

Zong Zhen looked at him: "You should have never seen him, the one who killed Wen Guiren."

"!" Ji Zhao asked anxiously, "Both of their brothers and sisters are secret agents of the Liang Kingdom? What are they going to do? Has her brother caught him? What are they going to do next? Then we have to go to the Liang Kingdom? Does Your Majesty know?"

Zong Zhen said calmly: "It is precisely because I don't know yet, and no one has caught me, that I strongly opposed you going to Liangguo before."

"..." Ji Zhao's heart and mind were in a mess, did he misunderstand Zong Zhen before?He hesitated and asked, "On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival..."

Zong Zhen said indifferently: "There is no need to talk about the past."

Ji Zhao began to pull the strings on the purse hanging from his waist, and then Zong Zhen said calmly: "You should remember to hate me, because I did use you before."

"..." Ji Zhao became even more confused. There was silence in the car for a while, and Ji Zhao asked him in a low voice, "Then why do you use me... I'm just a powerless son-in-law. It's the Ji family, except for me, there are no nobles and no official positions, they all have no desire for power, why should it be me..."

How to answer this?

Because you killed me in your previous life?Killed my sister and took my country?Zong Zhen laughed hoarsely, this question is destined to be impossible to answer.

Ji Zhaojiu couldn't wait for the answer, so he stretched his wallet even more, and asked again with some dissatisfaction: "Then what happened to Wen Guiren?"

"Yu Xin escaped from the saltworks. I directly planted the blame on him. He has been sent to prison. The Wen family was reprimanded by his father in public for spreading rumors. Wen Xiang was confinement at home. Quite a few."

"Then why did you tell me all of this..." Ji Zhao believed that only Zong Zhen's most trusted confidant knew these words, and now he knew it too.

"Because I said, I won't use you again."

Ji Zhao finally stopped pulling his purse and looked up at Zongzhen. He thought he should believe Zongzhen's words, but—the crown prince was destined to kill him, should he still believe this person?

What if this belief, like He Qiniang's, would bring about another murder?

Ji Zhao looked into his eyes and said, "The first time I saw He Qiniang, she was very pitiful. Every time I saw her, she was very pitiful, but she was also very strong, and she didn't easily turn to him for help." Me. Such a person, I help her, I trust her, but she lied to me and approached me, but also to kill me. Am I really stupid? "

Zong Zhen sighed and said, "It's because you are too kind and always think too well of people."

"Including you..."

"Yes……"

"Then tell me why you use me and why you send someone to monitor me."

"... "

Ji Zhao looked away in disappointment, he just wanted an answer, and in this strange world, he also just wanted to live in peace and not be killed.

The carriage gradually stopped, Cheng Shen said: "Your Highness, son-in-law, we have arrived!"

Ji Zhao no longer wanted to see the so-called night, but Zong Zhen held his hand and went out. He couldn't shake it off, and he didn't want to get off while standing on the carriage. Zong Zhen quickly hugged him off the carriage, before Ji Zhao had time to scold him. , Zong Zhen said, "I'll show you something."

As he said that, Zong Zhen dragged him forward, and he looked around, only to find that they seemed to be on the hillside, anyway the terrain was quite high.He was wondering where this was, Zong Zhen went to point down: "Look..."

Ji Zhao followed his fingers blankly and looked over. They were already standing on the edge of the small hilltop, looking down, it was pitch black, and they didn't know whether the mountain was water or trees.

What's so good about this?

Ji Zhao was about to choke, when he heard a sound suddenly, and saw several lights suddenly lit up in the dark night below the mountain, Ji Zhao's eyes couldn't bear it for a while, closed them for a while, then opened them immediately, he saw a floating Oh, the extremely dazzling rabbit!

"Rabbit?!" He held Zong Zhen's hand firmly, looking at him in surprise.

Zong Zhen couldn't see his face clearly, but his voice was clearly audible: "It's a rabbit. Today is your birthday."