The little fox does not want to hide the cub

Jiang Shen stared at the young man lying by the window of the carriage, and his eyes did not move away for a long time.

The young man was dressed in red, his back was outlined thinly by the tunic.

This dress was found by Jiang Shen's subordinates before he set off, and he chose this color from several clothes, which best matched his skin tone.It's a pity that this size is still a bit too big for the boy, and he rolled up the sleeves twice, revealing his white and slender wrist bones.

The scene just now is still lingering in Jiang Shen's mind.

There were only him and the young man in the carriage. The young man had been lying on the window side without moving. He had no reason to see a bright red phantom passing by, as if... swaying happily.

But if I am not mistaken, the boy...

Jiang Shen subconsciously stretched out his hand towards the young man, as if he wanted to confirm whether there was really a tail growing behind him.Before he touched it, the boy suddenly turned around.

"What's wrong?" Li Ruan asked him suspiciously.

Jiang Shen suddenly came back to his senses: "No, nothing, what did you want to say just now?"

Li Ruan pointed outside: "We are going into the city."

The people gathered at the gate of the city, and the closer the convoy got, the more enthusiastic the atmosphere in the crowd became.Especially when Jiang Shen looked outside the curtain of the car that Li Ruan had opened, everyone crowded forward, wanting to see the real face of the present prince.

The scene was so chaotic that even the city gate guards couldn't hold on.

Jiang Shen hurriedly dragged Li Ruan back into the car.

"They...are so enthusiastic." Li Ruan felt lingering fear, "It's scarier than a fox in courtship."

Jiang Shen didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What kind of metaphor are you talking about, comparing people to foxes in courtship period?"

"It's very similar, haven't you seen it?" Li Ruan said, "I've seen the worst time, seven or eight male foxes who have reached the courtship period chased a female fox, and chased half a mountain. That's what it looks like."

"Nonsense." Jiang Shen tapped him lightly on the head, "Then I'm still a bitch?"

Li Ruan muttered in a low voice: "If only you were really a female fox, I'll take you back to the den."

Jiang Shen didn't hear clearly: "What?"

Li Ruan: "No, nothing."

The carriage quickly drove into the city gate.

There were more people gathered inside the city gate than outside the city gate, and even the city guards were deployed to line up on both sides of the long street to ensure the unimpeded flow of convoys.Li Ruan was worried that raising the curtain would cause another commotion, so he hid secretly in a corner and looked out from the gap in the carriage.

While looking at it, he sighed: "There are so many houses...but they are so small, and they don't know how to fight when they live in them. It's amazing."

The more Jiang Shen heard it, the more he felt strange, and asked him: "Have you never been to the capital?"

"No." Li Ruan said, "I have always lived in the mountains before."

in the mountains.

The boy said this before, but when Jiang Shen asked which mountain he was, he couldn't answer.Jiang Shen originally thought that he might be a villager in the mountains near the capital, but after a few days of contact, the young man showed strange curiosity about many things that ordinary people are accustomed to, as if he had never lived with others.

If it was before, he might not be too suspicious, but...

Jiang Shen thought of the bright red he saw just now.

Living in the mountains, his martial arts are surprisingly strong, and he comes and goes without a trace, but he is ignorant of world affairs, and he doesn't understand the habits and rules of ordinary people's lives.

Adding up these characteristics, he doesn't look like an ordinary person, but looks like a book of strange tales that Jiang Shen has read in the past.

He never... met a little monster, right?

Jiang Shen stared at the young man's back, his expression became serious.

"What is that?" Li Ruan didn't know that the secret of his identity was in jeopardy, and he was still looking out curiously.

He pulled Jiang Shen over, who turned his head to see that he was just a sugar vendor.

Li Ruan was full of curiosity, he asked questions all the way in the convoy, and Jiang Shen answered them all one by one.The convoy passed through the bustling market and headed towards the palace, and the roads were finally cleared up.

But Li Ruan was still lying by the window, pulling the car curtain and peeking out secretly, as if he was so new to everything.

Jiang Shen also felt curious: "Even if you have been living in the mountains before, your residence should not be far from the capital. Since you are interested in this place, why don't you go to the city to have a look?"

Li Ruan curled up his fingers by the window, and looked away: "There are some reasons..."

Before meeting Jiang Shen, his life was a pool of stagnant water.

After hundreds of years of practice, he never thinks about what is going on in the mortal world, let alone wanting to see it.

Cultivation, overcoming tribulations, and recuperating from injuries have all been done in this way for hundreds of years.

When experiencing these things personally, Li Ruan would not find such days boring.He has a goal in his heart, and every day he works hard for that goal, even if there is less color, can be very fulfilling.

Just ...

I don't know if he can go back to that kind of pure and quiet life after going through all this.

Li Ruan was suddenly worried.

Jiang Shen saw that the young man's mood seemed to be a bit depressed, he just thought he hadn't seen enough, so he coaxed him: "If I have nothing to do in a few days, I will take you out of the palace to play, okay?"

Li Ruan's attention was immediately diverted by him, but he was not at ease: "Aren't you afraid that they will see you and chase you like a fox again?"

Jiang Shen: "..."

Jiang Shen pressed between his eyebrows: "Stop comparing me to a female fox."

He is deeply loved by the people, but in the eyes of this little guy, he is no different from a mother fox, which is outrageous.

Jiang Shen explained: "The reason they are so excited today is because we are riding in the prince's carriage. But what does the person sitting in the carriage look like? They don't know each other. Do you understand?"

Li Ruan: "So as long as you don't say you are the prince, they won't recognize you, right?"

Jiang Shen: "Yes."

Li Ruan frowned slightly: "But this...they don't like you at all, it's just your name."

Jiang Shen's eyes moved slightly.

He looked away, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, what they like is just a symbol of the prince's status."

Not only these people, from childhood to adulthood, those who got close to him, flattered him, and followed him, who didn't come for his name?

In other words, if he takes off this identity, how many people will stay by his side?

Li Ruan said: "But I like you."

He stared at Jiang Shen, and said seriously: "I don't like you because you are the prince, but because you are Jiang Shen."

The young man's sincere eyes seemed to turn into substance, gently tapping on Jiang Shen's heart.

Jiang Shen's eyes softened.

He reached out and stroked the boy's hair, and replied softly, "Okay."

At dusk, the convoy stopped in front of the palace gate.

From here on, the carriage outside could no longer enter, and it was necessary to transfer to the prince's imperial chariot.The prince's chariot was waiting outside the gate of the palace early in the morning, Jiang Shen took Li Ruan out of the carriage, and someone beside the imperial chariot greeted him.

"See His Highness the Crown Prince." The person who came was an old eunuch who was over half a century old. He bowed respectfully to Jiang Shen and asked, "Is the journey going smoothly, Your Highness?"

This is the chief servant of the current emperor, named Chang An, who has been with the emperor for many years, almost watching Jiang Shen grow up.

"Don't be joking, Eunuch Chang." Jiang Shen said, "Someone wanted to do something to His Highness and almost set fire to the ancestral hall, making His Highness a sinner through the ages. Didn't Eunuch Chang hear about it?"

Eunuch Chang lowered his head and said with a smile: "The old servant only heard that the heaven blessed us that night and extinguished the fire for His Highness. It is God who blesses His Highness, and it is also God who blesses my Jiang family."

Chang Gonggong has been with you for many years, and he knows how to judge the situation best.After Jiang Shen listened, he just smiled lightly: "Eunuch Chang is still so eloquent, remember to go to the East Palace to receive the reward later."

Eunuch Chang bowed to Jiang Shen: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Jiang Shen asked again: "Why is Eunuch Chang so free to come here today, but the emperor has a will?"

Eunuch Chang: "Your Majesty has prepared a reception banquet for His Highness the Crown Prince, and asked His Highness to go to the Qianqing Palace after returning to the palace."

Jiang Shen frowned: "Now?"

"Yes." Eunuch Chang said fairly, "Your Majesty has also prepared a chariot for His Highness, and please invite His Highness to come with this old slave."

Jiang Shen didn't leave in a hurry, and turned his head to look at the young man beside him.

Li Ruan followed him quietly from the moment he got off the carriage, obediently without saying a word.At this moment Jiang Shen turned his head to look at him, and he said: "Go quickly, I will wait for you at your place of residence."

Jiang Shen thought for a while, and said to Chang An, "Eunuch Chang, wait a moment."

Afterwards, he took Li Ruan's hand, led him to the prince's chariot, helped him onto the chariot, and said: "I'll be back soon, you go to the bedroom and wait for me."

Li Ruan nodded obediently: "Okay."

Kneeling next to the imperial chariot were two maids from the Prince's East Palace, they were all shocked when they heard Jiang Shen's words.

"Your Highness, this..."

A court lady couldn't help but speak.

But before she finished speaking, she raised her head to meet Jiang Shen's gaze, and swallowed the rest of her words.

Li Ruan didn't understand the rules of the palace, and didn't know what was wrong with Jiang Shen's actions, but the palace people would not understand.Only the prince can sit on the royal chariot of the prince. If he really wants to ride with anyone, then only... the princess can.

this person...

The two court ladies looked at each other, seeing the same confusion and shock in each other's eyes.

The crown prince has not accepted his concubine yet, and he has not been close to women or men in the past few years. Someone sent someone to his couch before, but His Highness drove him away without even touching him.

Purity of heart and few desires... It even makes people suspect that there is something wrong.

Why did you go out to worship the ancestors, and when you came back, you not only brought people with you, but also directly supported them on the imperial chariot.

The two maids were so curious that they only hated why they didn't dare to look up and wondered what kind of person His Highness had brought back.

Jiang Shen ignored them, and called Yu Xiu again: "It's fine for me to go to Emperor Father's place alone, and you also go back to the East Palace with them."

As he spoke, he glanced at the young man sitting in the imperial chariot and said, "Take care of your son."

Yu Xiu was the only one who knew that His Royal Highness had been hanging out with that young man for several days, his heart was numb, and he replied calmly: "Yes."

The prince's chariot left slowly, Jiang Shen said to Chang An: "Eunuch Chang, let's go."

The old eunuch's eyes were still on the prince's imperial chariot that was going away, and when he heard the words, he looked away, and when he looked at Jiang Shen again, his eyes were a little more excited: "It seems that your Highness has gained a lot from this trip."

The people in the palace are all human beings, how could they fail to see Jiang Shen's intentions.

It is not uncommon for princes and nobles to bring back a beauty from outside the palace.Before those younger brothers of Jiang Shen came out of the palace, they often brought people from outside.However, how the people brought back will be treated in the palace depends on the master's attitude.

Most of the people who came from the people didn't know the rules, and when they first entered the palace, there were unavoidable nuns and maidservants who wanted to teach them the rituals.

It is said to be a teaching ceremony, but in fact it is to come to test and show off.

Some are not taken seriously, and may even be bullied.

Jiang Shen didn't want to see the boy being bullied.

Originally, he could take the young man back to the East Palace and directly set the rules for his servants.It's a pity that the Holy Majesty summoned him temporarily, and he couldn't go back for the time being, so he could only use this trick.

Letting the young man return to the palace on his imperial chariot, and letting the personal guards lead the escort, is to clearly tell everyone the position of the young man in his heart, so that no one will neglect him.

——Although even if he is neglected, there is only this one time for dinner.

Even the most favored concubine in the palace today did not have this kind of treatment when she first entered the palace.

I've never seen such a pet.

Eunuch Chang thought in his heart.

But Jiang Shen didn't explain too much, and asked Eunuch Chang to lead him into the chariot prepared for him by the Holy Spirit, and go to Qianqing Palace.

Today's Holy Majesty seldom goes to the imperial study since he fell ill, and handles government affairs and daily life in Qianqing Palace.

When Jiang Shen stepped into the hall, the first thing he smelled was a strong smell of herbs.

The Holy Majesty is drinking medicine.

The reign name of the dynasty was Chongxuan, and the current emperor is Emperor Chongxuan.

Emperor Chongxuan looks good, even though his face is a little older now, and his spirit is a little haggard, he can still see the handsomeness of his youth.

He was the emperor when Jiang Shen was six years old, and it has been less than 20 years since he became emperor, so he is not too old.

Even that bit of oldness is the result of being ill in bed all these years.

Seeing Jiang Shen coming in, he beckoned to Jiang Shen: "Come here."

Jiang Shen stepped forward.

It is said that the royal family is weak, and Emperor Chongxuan was busy with government affairs when he was young, so he didn't pay much attention to his heirs.

Therefore, Jiang Shen actually has no special feelings for his father.

It wasn't until the empress passed away due to illness a few years ago that Emperor Chongxuan was in great grief and called Jiang Shen to his side from time to time to chat with him for comfort, and the relationship between father and son became better.

In the past two years, because of being ill in bed, he has become more dependent on relatives.

"I heard that Li Hongzhong set fire to the ancestral temple to harm you." Emperor Chongxuan was short of breath and gasped a little when he spoke, "Aren't you scared?"

"No." Jiang Shen replied, "Let Father worry."

"That's good, that's good." Emperor Chongxuan sighed leisurely, still in that gentle tone, "He has already been escorted back, what do you want to do with him? I will punish his nine clans?"

Jiang Shen didn't rush to answer.

He took the medicine bowl from the little eunuch, half kneeling in front of the bed, fed the medicine to Emperor Chongxuan, and took Sipa to wipe the corners of his lips for him, before saying: "I hope that the emperor can settle this matter." Leave it to the son to handle."

Emperor Chongxuan asked: "Do you think that Li Hongzhong can dig out another person from behind?"

Jiang Shen: "You can give it a try."

Emperor Chongxuan seemed to have guessed that he would say this early in the morning, and calmly said: "Then go and try. You can do whatever you want, and I won't interfere."

Jiang Shen: "Thank you, Father."

Emperor Chongxuan waved his hand, and wanted to say something more, but suddenly he couldn't catch his breath, and coughed violently.

Jiang Shen hurried forward to help him calm down.

He couldn't stop coughing for a long time, and when the cough stopped, his lips were even stained with blood.

Jiang Shen frowned: "After changing the new medicine, why is the father's condition still serious, why don't you let the minister go to the folks—"

Emperor Chongxuan raised his hand and stopped his words.

He took the veil and wiped the corners of his mouth, and smiled lightly: "It's not about the medicine, this person is dying, even if you find the magic medicine, you won't be able to save him."

Jiang Shendao: "My father was still in good health two years ago, but I haven't found a cure yet, so there is no reason why it can't be cured."

"Your little uncle said the same thing." Emperor Chongxuan smiled, "He even passed on a statement a few days ago, saying that he would build a ship and go to sea to seek medical treatment for me. He is so old that he will make trouble."

The two talked for a while, and Emperor Chongxuan became more energetic, so he asked Jiang Shen to help him up and ordered someone to pass on the meal.

Seriously ill people never have much appetite. Emperor Chongxuan didn't eat a few mouthfuls, and said: "Chunwei will be in half a month. I have no energy to manage now. I plan to hand over the full power to you. What do you think?"

Jiang Shen paused.

At that time, the imperial examination system was implemented, and the spring examination was held every three years, which was the only way to select officials in the court.

Currently, the Holy Majesty is not in good health, and there have been discussions in the court for a long time, and the Holy Majesty will probably hand over the responsibility of this year's spring to others.

But who this person is, the Holy One has not made a clear statement before.

Because it's not as simple as taking charge of an exam.

The Chunwei exam is the only opportunity for the court to appoint talents. Regarding the faction competition in the court, which faction can preside over the Chunwei will greatly enhance the power of the faction.

Especially recently, due to Jiang Shen's series of actions after returning to Beijing, many ministers in the court have been implicated, and many of them are high-ranking people.

Once these people are purged, it will inevitably lead to emptiness in employing people in the court.

This year's spring is even more important.

Part of the reason for Jiang Shen's deliberate performance during this time, and to take a large group of people to the ancestral temple to pray for blessings, is partly for this reason.

And other factions have frequently attacked Jiang Shen recently, and most of them are also inseparable from this incident.

Now that Jinkou opened the mouth, Jiang Shen has won this game.

But his face remained calm, and he just responded calmly: "It's my honor to be able to relieve father and emperor's worries."

Emperor Chongxuan laughed, and said again: "That's all for political affairs, let's talk about family affairs next."

"...I heard that you brought back a very beautiful young master from outside the palace. When will you bring me to see you? If you really like it, you have to give him a title."

When masculinity prevails in the dynasty, men can also get married.In the current harem, there are several male concubines.It's just that because men can't bear children, most of them can only be conferred as concubines or concubines.

Jiang Shen closed his eyes and didn't answer, but he was a little surprised in his heart.

He knew that Emperor Chongxuan couldn't hide the matter of taking people back to the palace, but he didn't expect that the news would have already reached the emperor's ears during the time he went from outside the palace gate to Qianqing Palace.

The emperor, who had been bedridden for a long time, still knew everything around him like the back of his hand.

Jiang Shendao: "It's just an ordinary folk boy, I brought him back to the palace when I saw him lonely. He didn't know the rules when he first entered the palace, I'm waiting for my minister to teach me so as not to disturb the holy car."

Emperor Chongxuan replied "Yes".

I don't know if it was because of his long illness, Emperor Chongxuan was extremely strict and unsmiling when he was young.In the past two years, my temper has improved a lot, and my attitude towards people around me has also become much kinder.

He pulled Jiang Shen and chatted a few more homely things, then he felt tired and let Jiang Shen retreat.

There was no one left in the Qianqing Palace, so Eunuch Chang stepped forward and helped Emperor Chongxuan back to his couch.

Eunuch Chang said: "Your Majesty seems very happy today?"

"Naturally happy." Emperor Chongxuan said a lot today, his face could not hide his fatigue, but he was in a good mood, "The grand occasion of the prince's entry into the city today, the last time I saw it, I broke through several cities on the border and won the battle return."

"His Royal Highness has won the hearts of the people, and this old servant is also happy for His Majesty."

Emperor Chongxuan thought of something, and sighed again: "But I still have three sons..."

Today, there are five sons and three daughters under His Majesty's knees. Except for the second prince who died young and the third prince who was under house arrest, there are two other princes who are still in the capital.

"The third one dares to intercept and kill the prince under my nose, so there is no guarantee that the other two will not follow suit." Emperor Chongxuan said, "Even if we get Chunwei, the road after the prince may not be so easy."

Eunuch Chang asked: "If Your Majesty is worried, why don't you follow the example of your ancestors and enshrine the fourth and fifth princes as princes and send them to fiefs?"

Emperor Chongxuan glanced at him.

Eunuch Chang knelt down beside his bed with a plop: "This old slave shouldn't discuss political affairs recklessly, this old slave is guilty."

"Get up, I have no intention of punishing you." Emperor Chongxuan smiled faintly, "You are right, sending people away can be done once and for all."

"But... why did I help him?"

Eunuch Chang was taken aback.

He raised his eyes to look at the dragon couch, the current sage was lying on the bed, his expression was calm, and there was even a smile on his lips.Over the years, many people thought that the Holy Majesty had been ill for a long time and his temper had improved, but Eunuch Chang knew that something in the Holy Majesty's bones hadn't changed.

He is still the emperor who killed his father and brother, and took countless blood to secure his throne.

Emperor Chongxuan closed his eyes, his expression was a little tired, his tone was very light, and there was a bit of cold interest in his tone: "The throne is meant to be snatched."

"He has to let me see what he's capable of."

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Jiang Shen returned to the Prince's East Palace on the imperial chariot.

It was dusk when Jiang Shen and his entourage arrived in the capital, and now he stayed at the Holy Majesty's place for a while, and the moon was already high when he returned to the East Palace.

People kept saluting to him along the way, but Jiang Shen ignored him and walked straight to the bedroom.

Li Ruan came back today on his imperial chariot, most of the servants in the palace didn't know how to accommodate him, so they could only let him live in the prince's bedroom.

The candle lights in the sleeping hall were on, the hall door was closed tightly, and Yu Xiu was guarding outside the hall.

Jiang Shen asked him: "How is it, have you eaten, my lord, do you have a rest?"

Yu Xiu said: "The dining room has prepared dinner for the young master, but the young master refused to use it, saying that he would have dinner with His Highness when he comes back."

Jiang Shen frowned: "Didn't you tell him that I'm going to have dinner with my father?"

"I said it." Yu Xiu said, "but the young master said... said..."

It was rare for him to be so hesitant, Jiang Shen asked: "What did he say?"

Yu Xiu glanced around, lowered his voice and said: "Young Master said that accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. His Highness must not eat well if he goes to eat with the Holy Majesty. He will have to wait for His Highness to come back to eat together."

Jiang Shen: "..."

It's true that a companion is like a tiger, and he really didn't have a good meal tonight.

But can this be said casually?

Yu Xiu said again: "Don't worry, Your Highness, when the young master said this, only his subordinates were present, and no one else heard him."

Jiang Shen nodded: "That's good."

He pushed open the door of the palace, and at the same time told Yu Xiu: "Remove all the people near the bedroom. If there is no place to serve in the future, don't leave anyone nearby at other times. And..."

There is a table for dinner in the middle of the hall, it is indeed useless at all, but the boy is not at the table.

Jiang Shen looked into the hall subconsciously, and when he touched a certain place, his gaze suddenly froze, and he turned to Yu Xiu and said, "You go out first."

Yu Xiu followed him a step or so, and he couldn't see the scene in the hall from his angle.

All I could see was that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince suddenly turned around, half closed the door of the palace, and completely covered the inside.

Jiang Shen said: "Go out, guard the door, and don't let anyone in."

Then, with a bang, the door of the temple was closed.

Shut Yu Xiu out of the door.

Yu Xiu: "..."

In the sleeping hall, the lights flickered.

Jiang Shen stood behind the door for a while, took a light breath, and then walked into the hall.

The boy didn't touch the dinner prepared for him, nor was he at the table, but lay down on the couch in the inner room. He curled himself up into a small ball, as if he had been asleep for a while.

Jiang Shen walked in front of him, his eyes shifted from his face to behind him.

A fluffy tail protruded from behind the boy, it was thick and long, it wrapped around him and rolled him up.His loose hair hangs down on the couch, with a pair of pointed ears protruding from it.

Fluffy.