Stranger and Chen in the Palace

??The days of studying in the academy passed quickly, two months passed in a flash, and Ling Yichen had a general understanding of several people in Wuyixuan.Ling Muxue is the liveliest, careless, and completely a spoiled princess.While Ling Yize's character is too cowardly, Ling Yihao is undoubtedly outstanding, calm, clear-headed, and thoughtful.If Ling Muxue was well aware of Xue Zimo's little thoughts, then Ling Yihao was much more reserved.Thinking of this, Ling Yichen felt faintly bored, he couldn't tell why, this feeling was too strange to him.

"Your Highness, it's time for you to practice martial arts." Shunde stepped forward and said.

Hearing this, Ling Yichen got up, went straight to the courtyard, and quickly drew out the Fixing Sword and began to swing it wantonly. This sword was bestowed by the emperor a few days ago, and it was forged by Xu Gongqi, a famous swordsmith.Xu Gongqi has forged countless swords in his life, but only three or five have been handed down to the world, because if there is even a slight flaw in the swords he casts, he will mercilessly discard them in the sword furnace.This Fixing Shadow Sword was his favorite work in his later years. It was originally passed down to his disciple Xie Cheng, but it's a pity that although Xu Gongqi's sword casting skills are top-notch, he doesn't have a good eye for choosing disciples.Xie Cheng devoted himself to seeking fame and fortune, so he used the sword bestowed by his mentor to bribe the local governor in exchange for glory and wealth.Later, the house of the governor who took bribes was ransacked due to a corruption case, and the Finging Sword was brought into the national treasury ever since.

Although Ling Yichen had only learned some basic skills, his sword dancing movements were proficient and smooth, like flowing water. In addition, he was born extremely handsome, and his sword dancing was so graceful that all the little eunuchs who were waiting on the side were dumbfounded.

"My son is so handsome." The emperor's joyful voice suddenly sounded from behind, Ling Yichen quickly retracted his sword, turned around and knelt down to salute.

"Father."

The emperor said softly: "Go change your clothes and leave the palace with your father."

Only then did Ling Yichen notice that the emperor was wearing casual clothes today. Although he was suspicious, he quickly changed his clothes and followed the emperor out of the palace.The emperor brought very few people out of the palace this time, only Eunuch Xu and some personal guards, but Ling Yichen knew that there were actually hidden guards around him and the emperor, and they were all first-class masters like Lian Feng and Lian Huang.

After driving for more than half an hour, the carriage finally stopped in front of the gate of Xiangfu. Prime Minister Xue Jingting seemed to know that the emperor would come, and had been waiting at the gate for a long time. Xue Zimo also stood aside.Xue Jingting welcomed the two into the hall in a low-key way before kneeling down to salute.

The emperor smiled and helped Xue Jingting up: "This is outside the palace, so there is no need for Xue Qing to be formal. We are emperors and ministers on the surface, but we are old friends for many years in private!"

Xue Jingting's eyes flickered, and he said with a smile: "The old minister dare not climb high!"

The emperor smiled, glanced casually at Xue Zimo who was standing beside him, and sighed to Xue Jingting: "Xue Qing is really blessed to have a son like this, and I am very envious."

"The dog is just a vain name, how can it compare to the demeanor of the princes." Xue Jingting said quickly.

The emperor stopped making detours, and went straight to the point: "Xue Qing thinks that among the princes, how is Chen'er?"

Xue Jingting looked at Ling Yichen who was beside the emperor, and said lightly, "Your Highness is naturally excellent, talented and intelligent, both civil and military."

The emperor smiled meaningfully when he heard the words: "It's rare for Chen'er to be appreciated by Xue Qing. A little sad, and then changed the subject: "However, if he can be cultivated by Xue Qing, he will definitely be able to do something in the future."

Xue Jingting couldn't help sighing in his heart, this day is still here, but his face remained calm: "Your Majesty will not give up, the veteran should try his best to help His Highness, but I am afraid that I will miss His Highness because of my lack of knowledge."

Regarding the polite refusal in Xue Jingting's words, the emperor pretended not to know, and said in one sentence: "Xue Qing is too self-effacing, so I will take it as your consent..." While speaking, he turned his head to Ling Yichen and said, regardless of Xue Jingting's reaction, "Chen'er, hurry up and come over to see the teacher."

"Your Majesty—" Xue Jingting said helplessly.

In fact, Ling Yichen had already understood the emperor's intentions just now. He went to the court for the past two months and found that the harmony between the court and the middle school was only a superficial phenomenon, and the actual undercurrent was raging.Except for the fourth prince Ling Yize, their two elder brothers have powerful support in the court.Especially the second prince, Ling Yihao, has such a powerful backer as the Ji family, but the main force of the Ji family is the army, and the power in the court is still firmly in the hands of Xue Jingting.Xue Jingting has been the prime minister for more than twenty years. He has a high position and great power, and his connections are extremely wide.

However, Xue Jingting is a very sophisticated person, and has always maintained an ambiguous attitude towards the wooing of the two factions. To put it bluntly, he is wise and safe.Now the emperor personally took him to visit Xue Jingting, and wanted him to accept him as his servant. He made it clear that he wanted to pull Xue Jingting out of this muddy water and become his backer.

You know, in the imperial palace, everything is not going to be all right just relying on the emperor's favor.On the contrary, it would be a very dangerous thing if there is no corresponding strength to support it.The emperor did his best to pave the way for him, and his intentions are not bad.Ling Yichen couldn't help but glanced at the emperor, a look of complexity flashed in his eyes.

Although he was full of thoughts in his heart, his face was indifferent. Ling Yichen quickly knelt down to Xue Jingting and said respectfully: "Chen'er has admired Xue Xiang for a long time, and now it is Chen'er's blessing to have you as his teacher. I also hope that the teacher will support me more.”

Seeing Ling Yichen kneeling down, Xue Jingting quickly stretched out his hand to support him: "Your Highness is really a shameful veteran, get up quickly, get up quickly."

Ling Yichen still knelt down, his eyes were firm and confident, Xue Jingting sighed in his heart, that's all, that's all, anyway, this day cannot be avoided, and he seemed to have made up his mind for a while, and said: "As long as Your Highness doesn't dislike the old minister Old, the old minister will definitely do his best, His Highness will get up first and then talk."

Ling Yichen finally got up according to the words: "Mr. Xie, if there is any order from now on, the teacher will follow the instructions, and Chen'er will never shirk."

Xue Jingting nodded. Although the emperor didn't say anything, he looked at Ling Yichen with a hint of approval, while Xue Zimo, who had been standing quietly by the side, frowned almost invisible.

The matter of apprenticeship was finalized, the emperor smiled at Xue Jingting: "Speaking of which, we haven't played chess together for several years. I don't know who is better at chess. How about killing two games?"

Xue Jingting also smiled: "Your Majesty has such a good mood, how dare the old minister refuse to follow?" Then he turned to Xue Zimo and said, "Mo'er, why don't you accompany Your Highness to visit the Prime Minister's Mansion first."

Xue Zimo nodded, bowed and saluted, and then led Ling Yichen out of the hall.

The two of them strolled side by side by a large lotus pond, the green leaves of secluded green against the fiery red water lilies, the breeze is gentle, and the waves are shimmering.Ling Yichen quietly admired the beautiful scenery of the pool, Xue Zimo's thoughts seemed to be drifting away, neither of them spoke.

After walking for a while, Ling Yichen finally said, "I wonder if I have the honor to visit the study of a great talent?"

Xue Zimo didn't seem to expect Ling Yichen to make this request, and nodded after being slightly stunned: "Of course, Your Highness, please."

In fact, don't say that Xue Zimo didn't think of it, even Ling Yichen himself realized after saying this, why he wanted to visit his study, probably because he wanted to know more.The meeting two years ago was abrupt and short, but it was that meeting that he never forgot to this day.

The study room was smaller than Ling Yichen thought, but it was decorated very elegantly. He joked: "I thought the study room of a great talent must be much larger than that of ordinary people."

"Your Highness laughed, Zimo is just an ordinary person." Xue Zimo said.

Ling Yichen didn't answer, but focused on the half-painted painting on the table.

In the painting, the moonlight is bright and empty, the ancient vines surround the trees, and the strange rocks are scattered. The whole picture is quiet and steep. Even though Ling Yichen has no interest in calligraphy and painting, he is deeply attracted by this half of the painting.

"Did you draw it?"

"I did it in my spare time."

Ling Yichen thought for a while before finding a word to comment: "It's... pretty."

He didn't know that although Xue Zimo was young, his attainments in calligraphy and painting were extremely high.

Many people think that to draw well must have gone through years of hard work and practice, but they don't know that top painters have always relied on their own talent.And talent has nothing to do with age.Xue Zimo is a good example. Even famous painters who have been famous for decades in the painting world are full of praise and praise after seeing his paintings.Xue Zimo has heard all kinds of praise words for his paintings, but no one has used "good-looking" to describe him, and this person is the third prince of His Majesty.Xue Zimo didn't know how to answer for a while, so he could only smile back.

Looking at Xue Zimo's gentle smile from such a close distance, Ling Yichen lost his mind for a while. The handsome and fair side face of the man in front of him came into view without reservation, the long eyelashes were slightly closed, the clear eyes were shining brightly, and the corners of the mouth were gently raised. radians.I haven't seen him for two years, but he looks more and more beautiful, so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off him.

In Ling Yichen's impression, the concubine mother was extremely beautiful, but Xue Zimo was even more beautiful than the concubine mother.It's ridiculous to put a man and a woman together to compare their beauty, but this kind of ridiculous thing is not only not ridiculous, but also not half inconsistent with Xue Zimo.Perhaps the beauty is so extreme that it has nothing to do with gender.

It wasn't until twilight that the emperor and Xue Jingting finished playing the game with unsatisfied enthusiasm, and returned to the palace with Ling Yichen.

Seeing the carriage completely disappear from sight, Xue Jingting sighed heavily.

Xue Zimo frowned: "If my father insists on not agreeing, I believe His Majesty will not make things difficult for him." Although he never participated in the government, he also knew that the emperor sincerely respected and appreciated his father, and in fact he always treated his father with courtesy.

"It might be someone else, but the Third Highness is an exception..." Xue Jingting shook his head.

For a long time, King Yu and the Second Prince have been trying every means to win him over, but he knows that although Ling Yihao has an absolute advantage now, who can say for sure until the end?Falling into that muddy water prematurely will only be harmful and useless, not to mention that based on his understanding of the emperor, it is impossible for him to truly let Concubine Yun go. The moment he appeared in the Golden Luan Hall, he knew that there were some things that he could no longer hide from.

Xue Zimo lowered his eyes, and he also knew that if there were no exceptions, the emperor would not personally bring Ling Yichen to visit the prime minister's mansion privately.Because in this way, no matter whether the father agrees or not, the result will be the same.Those two couldn't possibly be ignorant of the emperor's movements. I'm afraid in their eyes, the Xiangfu is already a grasshopper tied to the third prince.

on the carriage.

The emperor seemed a little tired: "Chen'er, you are very smart. Xue Jingting is a man of wit and scheming, and plays an important role in the court. Even if you are a prince, you should put yourself down in front of him so that he can feel your sincerity. Although I can help you , but you still have to work hard for the rest, you know?"

"My child will keep it in mind." Ling Yichen said.

The word "baby" undoubtedly pleased the emperor greatly. For the first time in a long time, Ling Yichen did not speak to him in that indifferent tone.The emperor felt relieved, and his tone became more gentle: "There is also Xue Zimo, he is a talent, and it is best to use it for himself. Even if he can't, he should get closer. Xue Jingting is such a son, and he cares about him very much. It's like capturing Xue Jingting."

Ling Yichen nodded, and when he suddenly heard Xue Zimo's name, he felt an inexplicable throbbing in his heart.