good season

Zhao Shiqing hadn't seen Xiao Zhen for several days.

These past few days, Xiao Zhen has been coming at midnight and leaving at dawn, perfectly avoiding Zhao Shiqing.

Going up the mountain at night is dangerous and arduous. Zhao Shiqing knew that Xiao Zhen didn't need to go back up the mountain at all. The reason he came back every night was to let her know that he was safe.

Therefore, although they could not meet, Zhao Shiqing felt a sweet warmth in her heart whenever she thought of it.

As for Zhao Xingzhou, he was so busy and tired that he didn't even know Xiao Zhen had come back, and he was almost forgetting that he had a grandson.

However, Zhao Xingzhou met Xiao Zhen tonight.

Xiao Zhen returned earlier than usual, arriving as soon as it got dark. He even had dinner with Zhao Xingzhou, along with Zhao Shiqing.

Dinner consisted of several sesame seed cakes and two braised pig ears, brought by Xiao Zhen from outside.

Zhao Shiqing exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, where did you buy these sesame seed cakes? Do they still sell sesame seed cakes now? And these pig ears, I haven't had them in ages."

There's only dried meat on the mountain. You can cook it in porridge to give it a meaty flavor and some nutrition, but it can't compare to the taste of well-braised pig's ears.

Zhao Xingzhou was the same. He had once been a vegetarian, but later he started eating meat again. Perhaps it was because of the unpleasant memories of his vegetarian period, coupled with the fact that he had gone hungry when he went to Wu. As a result, in the last two years he has preferred meat. If it weren't for the imperial physician telling him to control himself, he would have loved to eat meat and fish at every meal. He has completely disregarded the idea that one can only be vegetarian when cultivating immortality.

But since he got to the mountain, the only meat he could eat besides eggs was the occasional bits of dried meat he saw in his porridge.

He buried himself in his food, taking a bite of pig's ear and a bite of sesame seed cake, enjoying it immensely!
Xiao Zhen glanced at him; this was probably the first time in the Emperor Emeritus's life that he had ever eaten pig's ears.

Xiao Zhen really underestimated the Emperor Emeritus. There were indeed no pig ears in the palace, but the old man had eaten them when he went out for a stroll. He had eaten all kinds of things, including pig head meat, pig ears, and pig snouts, and he loved them!

Xiao Zhen answered Zhao Shiqing's question: "The sesame seed cakes were made in the kitchen of Huang Family Manor. The cook originally ran a food shop, and his specialty was sesame seed cakes and braised dishes. Even though he came to the manor to take refuge, he didn't stay idle; he worked in the kitchen with his son and daughter."

Prefect Qian wanted to curry favor with the Fourth Prince, so he had him make some sesame cakes and some braised dishes. But no one expected that the Fourth Prince would not appreciate these simple foods and would give them directly to the eunuchs.

"Eat without worry. These weren't snatched from the eunuchs; I took them out before giving them to Prefect Qian to deliver to the Fourth Prince."

Zhao Xingzhou, who was enjoying his meal, finally put down his chopsticks after hearing these words: "Now the common people can't even afford meat, and that wicked man still dares to complain. His good days are over."

Xiao Zhen smiled and said, "That's why we need your help, sir."

“Spiritual practice? I am a Taoist, I don’t follow that kind of thing.”

萧真
"If he sells the disaster relief grain transferred from Huiji Granary for 500,000 taels of silver, would you do anything about it, sir?"

Upon hearing the words "Huijicang," Zhao Xingzhou's consciousness gradually returned.

I remember now, there was such a thing.

Xiao Zhen once said that he would dig a pit and let that wicked man jump into it.

Alas, I've been too busy these past few days and forgot about it.

"It's done?" Zhao Xingzhou looked at Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen nodded: "It's settled, but he is, after all, a prince."

"A prince? Does he even deserve that title?" These past few days, Zhao Xingzhou had been spending time with Aunt Sun and had learned a lot of vulgar swear words (all of which Aunt Sun used to curse him). If Zhao Shiqing hadn't been around, he would definitely have used them on the spot and given her a good swearing session.

Sigh, my granddaughter is still a young girl, so I'd better hold back and not swear.

"What, are you scared?" He glared at Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen smiled bitterly: "My grandson has no official position or post; he's just a dead man now."

Zhao Xingzhou snorted coldly: "Go and take him down tomorrow. Don't worry, I'll back you up. I want to see who dares to stop you."

Zhao Shiqing immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "If you go down the mountain, who will take care of the child?"

Zhao Xingzhou was taken aback. Yes, who would take care of the child?
"How about we ask Xiuxiu for help?"

Actually, there were a few elderly people on the mountain who were somewhat free, but Zhao Xingzhou didn't want them to take over the shifts. What if those few acted like scoundrels and refused to give up their spots?
Let's leave it to Xiuxiu. Xiuxiu is meticulous and gentle, and most importantly, that girl is shy and will definitely not take his job.

Zhao Shiqing had no objection: "Sure, you can go and talk to Xiuxiu yourself. She's usually quite busy."

"Very well, I'll go and talk to her right away."

Zhao Xingzhou left without hesitation, but after a few steps he came back and took a sesame seed cake: "Take this to Xiuxiu."

Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Zhen was completely bewildered: "Does he want to come back and continue taking care of the child?"

Zhao Shiqing shrugged. She didn't know either. Had this person become addicted to taking care of the child?
Xiao Zhen sneered: "He has never been a responsible person. When he was young, Empress Dowager Qi made plans for him. Before she passed away, she left him several loyal ministers so that he could have the leisure to cultivate Taoism. After the Crown Prince died, the situation in the court became unstable. Instead of eliminating the treacherous officials and rectifying the court, he chose to abdicate and went to Changshou Palace to live a life of leisure."

The only time he's ever truly taken anything seriously in his life is probably these past few days taking care of the children on the mountain.

Zhao Shiqing couldn't help but chuckle. Yes, Xiao Zhen was right. This was probably the only time in the Emperor Emeritus's life that he had to rely on himself.

“He takes good care of the children. Although he makes mistakes frequently, he is very gentle with them and tells them stories from books, which Grandma Sun doesn’t do. So the children like him very much.”

Xiao Zhen smiled and shook his head: "He used to like children very much, but only his grandchildren. He had no interest in even glancing at us grandchildren."

Zhao Shiqing stood on tiptoe and reached out to touch Xiao Zhen's head: "You child who lacks love, your sister loves you."

Xiao Zhenyi grabbed her hand: "What sister? We're cousins ​​now. I'm the older cousin, and you're the younger cousin."

Zhao Shiqing glanced at him sideways: "Cousin? Like the kind in storybooks?"

The two were very close. He gently pulled her small hand, forcing her slender waist close to him. The girl's fragrance wafted over him, making Xiao Zhen feel a tingling sensation in his ears and a burning desire in his heart.

"You're the only cousin I have eyes for, just like in those storybooks, right?"

Zhao Shiqing blushed slightly, but still stubbornly insisted: "In storybooks, the cousins ​​all fall in love with a scholar, or even an actor, while the cousins, though heartbroken, still protect their cousins ​​as always."

Xiao Zhen asked hurriedly, "And you, do you have a favorite scholar?"

Zhao Shiqing sighed: "When I was young, I didn't like studying, so the teacher complained to my master. My master chased me all over the mountains with a ruler. At that time, I thought that one day, when I had the ability, I would blow up the school, scare the teacher away, and send all those who were good at studying to raise chickens and ducks."

Xiao Zhen smiled and asked, "How old were you then?"

“Before I was ten years old,” Zhao Shiqing said.

Xiao Zhen regretted it. When Zhao Shiqing was ten years old, he already owned Fanghe Mountain. If he had known that there was such a cute little girl in Baihe Mountain next door, he would definitely have come to Fanghe Mountain.

Unfortunately, he has owned Fanghe Mountain for ten years, but has never been there.

"Have you ever liked an actor?" Xiao Zhen asked again.

Zhao Shiqing thought for a moment: "I liked one person."

Xiao Zhen's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and he asked, "Is he a young male lead? You don't like scholars, so is this a martial arts actor?" Zhao Shiqing shook her head: "His name is Mo Hou'er. He sings monkey opera and is very famous in Liang. Every year during the New Year, my father would have him come to the mansion to perform. I'm the only one in the family who likes to watch him sing. He imitates monkeys very well, and he looks like a monkey too. He's very handsome."

Xiao Zhen really couldn't imagine how good-looking someone who looked like a monkey could be.

"Does he still sing now?" Xiao Zhen decided to write down the name and invite him to the capital later, or simply buy his opera troupe and have him perform for Zhao Shiqing every day.

Zhao Shiqing was a little sad: "Mo Hou'er died two years ago. He was doing somersaults on the stage when he collapsed and never got up again. I only found out he was dead when he wasn't at the manor's banquet that year. I even went to his family to send some silver."

Xiao Zhen didn't expect that his words would upset Zhao Shiqing. He quickly said, "Cousin, do you believe me? I can do somersaults too. If you want to see it later, I'll do it for you, okay?"

Zhao Shiqing was about to nod; she hadn't seen Xiao Zhen do a somersault yet, when she heard a familiar voice behind her: "What are you two doing?"

The two turned around at the same time and saw Zhao Xingzhou's gaze fall on their clasped hands.

"What kind of behavior is this? You're siblings!"

Xiao Zhen released Zhao Shiqing's hand and said irritably, "Cousins, or rather, the kind without blood ties."

Zhao Xingzhou paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, I remember now. One is Jiayi's biological son, and the other is Ruyi's goddaughter. They are indeed not siblings."

He pointed at Zhao Shiqing: "Your surname is Zhao, your name is on the imperial clan register, you are a royal woman."

He then pointed at Xiao Zhen: "Your surname is Xiao. The Xiao family has been married to a princess once, which is already a blessing earned through many lifetimes. You want a second time? Dream on!"

He disliked the Xiao family, not at all.

Marrying Jiayi to the son of the Xiao family was already his limit. Now that the Xiao family wants to marry the daughter of the Zhao family, he will not agree!

Zhao Shiqing rolled her eyes: "My biological father, biological mother, and maternal grandfather all agree, and my adoptive father also agrees. Your opinion doesn't count, oh well!"

"Your biological father, biological mother, and adoptive father have all passed away. How do you know they agreed? Did they appear in your dreams?"

Even so, Zhao Xingzhou didn't believe they would actually appear in Zhao Shiqing's dream. Only someone like me, with immortal roots, could receive a dream from the ancestral master.

Zhao Shiqing stated confidently, "I personally asked them for their opinions in front of their memorial tablets. They did not object, which means they agreed. They agreed!"

Zhao Xingzhou: If they were to openly express their opposition, you would probably be scared to death.

Xiao Zhen: So she had already asked them. She values ​​me.

When it comes to arguing, even ten Zhao Xingzhous couldn't out-argue Zhao Shiqing.

He was so angry he was panting. No, no, when I see Ruyi, I have to talk to her. And the Liang Prince's Mansion, I also have to greet the Liang Prince. How can the daughter raised by the Zhao family be given away to the Xiao family for nothing?
If the two of them get married, it would mean that the royal family and the Xiao family are forming a marriage alliance for the second time, which would be a great honor for the Xiao family!

No!

Zhao Shiqing didn't care whether he was happy or not. She pulled Xiao Zhen to another place to whisper, leaving Zhao Xingzhou alone to enjoy the mountain breeze.

The next morning, Zhao Xingzhou and Xiao Zhen, the grandfather and grandson who couldn't stand each other, still went down the mountain together.

Meanwhile, the fourth prince was still asleep. Ever since he was disgusted by the floating corpses that day, he had not had a good appetite.

Fortunately, the hawthorn cake sent by Prefect Qian whetted his appetite; otherwise, he might have starved to death.

He has been going to bed early these past two or three days, and he falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

Since the incident at Shiji Mountain, he has never slept so well. Every night when he lies in bed, he thinks about the accident, his father’s neglect of him, those who fawned over the powerful and trampled on the weak, and the You family who dragged him down.

But recently, he has been sleeping very well, only having more dreams.

He had made up his mind that he would rebel, it was only a matter of time. He also understood that even if he did not rebel now, he would still rebel once the third prince ascended the throne.

Since we're going to rebel sooner or later, it's better to rebel early than to be forced into rebellion at the last minute.

If they rebel before their father appoints the third prince as crown prince, then the third prince will have no chance of getting the throne.

Be an emperor?
This was something he never dared to hope for before. Yes, although he can now walk like a normal person, he knows, the imperial physician knows, his father knows, everyone knows that his two legs are actually different lengths, and he is lame!

For a man with four missing limbs to sit in that chair, there was no other way but to rebel.

The fourth prince doesn't go out; he stays in his room. Before, he would daydream, but now he focuses on only one thing.

That would be rebellion.

He even came up with the era name for his reign after ascending the throne.

And then there's the You family.

Originally, he only felt disgust towards the You family, disgusted by their greed, selfishness, and ignorance of their own stupidity.

But now, he feels not only disgust towards the You family, but also hatred.

The You family, who clung to him like maggots and sucked his blood, actually betrayed him. Who gave them the audacity?

If he wants to rebel, he must first eliminate the You family.

The fourth prince grew increasingly angry, so he summoned Chen Feng before going to bed.

Chen Feng was his bodyguard.

Each prince had a shadow guard, ranging from four to eight.

There were only four princes, and Chen Feng and his younger brother Chen Lei were two of them.

Chen Lei had committed a crime, but the Fourth Prince saved him. From then on, the two brothers entrusted their lives to him.

"Chen Feng, you and Chen Lei go back to the capital together and kill all three You brothers. This must be done cleanly and efficiently, so that no one suspects the Prince's residence."

He's currently in Tongzhou, and since someone in the You family has died, no one will suspect him.

Chen Feng accepted the order and left Tongzhou with Chen Lei overnight, heading towards the capital.

The fourth prince, relieved of a worry, fell peacefully asleep.

The next day, he woke up naturally. In his dream, Chen Feng and Chen Lei killed the three masters of the You family, leaving the You family leaderless and in chaos.

The fourth prince breathed a sigh of relief. Killing people made him happy, especially ingrates like the You family.

Liu Wang should be back by now.

Just then, a palace attendant rushed in: "Your Highness, Commander Li has returned!" (End of Chapter)