When Qi King arrived at the palace, it was almost dawn but not quite. The stars in the sky still twinkled, but the world around him was bathed in light.
Snowflakes were falling outside again, and he walked in with his entire body covered in snow and wind.
Su Jun could smell the unpleasant smell of blood, which was like the ending of his dream.
But it was different.
Because they were so far apart, so far that among all the people in the hall, Su Jun and Qi Wang would not even make eye contact with each other.
Qi Wang was arrogant, and everyone knew it.
He stood several steps away from the Prince, without paying homage, and directly mocked: "After I received the Prince's letter of rescue, I dare not delay on my way. However, every time I haven't walked half a mile, I can receive a new letter of rescue written by the Prince. Otherwise, I would have arrived one day earlier."
"The letters are so many that they could be used as a shield against arrows."
The prince was mocked in person, his face turning red, and his heart especially unhappy.
He suppressed his urge to scold and ignored Qi Wang's mockery, but instead addressed the princess first: "You've kept me company all night, and you haven't slept well for the past few days. Go rest first."
Su Jun remained silent, fixing his gaze on the prince for three seconds.
Now that he knows the prince does not like her, and seeing his actions, they carry a different meaning.
As the crown prince, he has such a narrow-minded chest.
The prince said softly, "Don't worry, now it's safe. You don't have to stay here with me. I'll see you later."
Su Jun quietly performed a bow and turned away from the palace hall.
The prince felt something was off. The princess, being considerate and sensible, would usually show concern for her health first, refuse his suggestion, and say she would stay with him. Even if she really had to leave, she would mention preparing some nourishing soup for him. But not this silent.
Perhaps she was too exhausted.
No one in the palace hall felt anything was wrong.
Although it is an official occasion, Qi Wang has rendered assistance and deserves recognition for saving the emperor. Even though he is overbearing and impertinent, the prince cannot openly ignore Qi Wang.
As a crown prince, one should demonstrate magnanimity and generosity, especially with the emperor watching from above.
And let alone showing concern for the princess for not getting a good night's sleep at such an occasion, this is too unclear about priorities. Who hasn't stayed up all night?
But!
And compared to the elders of the prince, this is still not close to it!
In the past, when the Great Ancestor was facing a complete defeat, he actually did something as extreme as throwing his child off the horse and running away with his wife.
What did Emperor Shi Zong do when he arbitrarily made his young son the next emperor, despite the unstable situation of the country?
Isn't it because he is worried that his queen will have to look at the face of a concubine's son?
Therefore, as the prince of the Chu family, caring about the princess's health is completely unremarkable.
What was the purpose of the prince calling the princess to the palace last night?
Of course, it was because he was worried that Qi Wang would not be able to defeat the Huns. In case of any emergency, the prince could escape with the princess.
After all, the guards around the crown prince's palace are the most strict.
Indeed, last night it was like that. There were chopping sounds everywhere in the pavilion, but this main hall was protected tightly, with Qi Wang personally leading his men to guard outside and killing off the Hu people who counterattacked.
Qi Wang pressed the sword at his waist and secretly glanced at Su Jun's receding back.
In just one second, he immediately turned his gaze away.
He is not Little Twelve, he is only two years old this year, and he can unabashedly bother the princess. He is the older uncle.
As long as she is happy, that is enough.
Qi Wang's mind was elsewhere, and he no longer felt like mocking the prince.
The prince's spirits were greatly lifted, and there was a hint of pride on his face.
In the past, it was the emperor, and now it's Su Jun. Qi Wang will always be his inferior.
Of course, this is just a small lesson for him now.
When he ascends the throne, he will make Qi Wang understand what a ruler is!!
The prince said, "Brother Qi, why don't you come with me back to the capital?"
Qi Wang scoffed coldly, "Does the prince fear that the Hu people will return?"
The prince's face froze, "With the protection of Emperor Taizu, our dynasty is prosperous, and the Hu people cannot enter..."
Qi Wang impatiently interrupted the prince's lofty words and directly said: "I'm going back to the capital. Let's take this opportunity to go together."
After speaking, he walked out briskly.
The prince inside the palace hall was enraged, but his attendants could only persuade him. There was no way to reason with Qi Wang, who had won every battle in recent years and had been highly favored by the emperor.
Even if we set that aside, he is just a tool for the prince to protect the empire, and in the end, the empire will still fall into the hands of the prince.
And when the future prince ascends the throne, Qi Wang will know his place.
Qi Wang was nineteen this year. Two years ago, he won his first battle by killing more than 10,000 Hu people and capturing the Hu's Left Yin King, achieving a decisive victory.
Someone like him does indeed have the right to be boastful, but he lacks good judgment.
The prince is the crown prince after all.
One can tolerate a son's arrogance, but a brother may not be able to tolerate his sibling's domineering behavior.
Bi Mugen has a lot in common with them. In the past, he saw Qi Wang as intelligent and also overbearing. Considering Qi Wang's military achievements, this was surely preparing for a struggle for the throne.
Who would have thought that Qi Wang is really a fool.
He is living day by day and not considering tomorrow, acting arrogantly without aiming for the throne. Does he want to meet his maker sooner?
If it weren't for Qi Wang's outstanding military achievements and his youth, Bi Mugen would have run away long ago.
There may still be a chance for redemption.
It was originally a question, but now Bi Mugen has received a definitive answer.
He sipped his wine and said, "Master had a significant emotional change when he read the letter that day. It was the first time I saw him like that."
Yu Ku replied, "Oh, this is the seventeenth time you've said that to me."
Bi Mugen slapped his thigh and said, "I'm happy! God damn it, he was obviously attracted to the sister-in-law! Why didn't you say that sooner? Why did I bother thinking up so many reasons to advise you?"
Yu Ku frowned, not liking to hear such vulgar language, "Be quiet. Don't let others hear."
"I know my limits. I'm just talking in front of you. It's really, the master is just young. There are people in the royal court who have married their sons-in-law."
Yu Ku deeply inhaled, almost throwing a cup at the person in front of him, "What sort of disrespect!?"
The current dynasty is not the previous one. It pays a lot of attention to etiquette, and scholars and artists take pride in this event!
Bi Mugen wiped his mouth and said, "I come from the countryside, I don't know about etiquette, but I know if the master doesn't improve, neither of us will have a good ending."
Yu Ku replied, "Think about the many examples in the royal family. Unless the prince changes his mind or the princess-in-law falls in love with the master, it's impossible for you to make the master compete for the throne!"
It would be impossible for anyone else, but for the Royal Family... As a descendant of the Chu family, the master might choose to quietly protect himself and wouldn't force a marriage just to satisfy his own desires.
The prince is recognized as the most devoted in this generation of the Royal Family. The princess is loved by the prince, and she has a smooth life. What would be the benefits of the master putting in effort for the Su family daughter?
She would still become the princess consort, then the empress...
Oh, no, she was the master's step-sister. She might not become the main consort. Even if she did become the main consort, her name would still be recorded in history with a stain.
Yu Ku shook his head: "The harder the master works, the worse the princess will have it."
Bi Mugen: ... damned!
*
The chopping sounds from outside the pavilion resounded throughout the night. Su Jun walked along the frost-covered corridor, occasionally seeing wounded soldiers.
She couldn't understand why Qi Wang would come, and even earlier than the day in her dream.
Did the letter not arrive?
Or did he forget what it meant?
