The prince is more stable

Chapter 282 The Strange Old Man

Wei Jie had to admit that Duke Zhao's ideas were indeed fresh and unconventional, and beyond comprehension.

Normal people cannot think from such a tricky angle.

No wonder he's favored by the government, no wonder he can easily accomplish great feats, just look at his brain...

Following Zhao Xiaoqian's analysis, things inexplicably and strangely developed towards a family feud.

"People risked the execution of their entire clan just to get the birth status of the Chu Palace and the right to inherit the palace?" Wei Jie asked in shock.

Zhao Xiaoqian narrowed his eyes. "That's true. Humans are social animals. Identity is very important. For example, if you call me Japanese, I will kill your entire family. It's because my identity has been greatly insulted. Your insults are too filthy. It's worse than calling me an animal."

Wei Jie became more and more stunned. He didn't understand how the Japanese had provoked him and why the Duke of the County was so emotional.

Japan in this era was relatively honest. The relationship between the Song Dynasty and Japan was mainly based on trade. Japan was more obsessed with Song Dynasty's ceramics, paintings, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, etc. than the Song Dynasty. Even Japan's currency was Song Dynasty money.

The emperor, his ministers and the people of the Song Dynasty actually had no aversion to Japan, so Wei Jie didn't understand why the Duke of the County was so malicious towards Japan.

Zhao Xiaoqian was too lazy to explain, and felt dirty just mentioning these two words.

"We will break camp early tomorrow morning and return to Bianliang as soon as possible. I have to ask my father if he really gave me an illegitimate brother." Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Wei Jie was stunned. "Lord, are you serious? Do you really think the person behind this is related to the Prince of Chu's past... uh, romantic affairs?"

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him indifferently.

People nowadays live too seriously and cannot tell the difference between telling the truth and making a joke.

If the Chu Palace really had such an extraordinary illegitimate child, their ancestors would be filled with shame. Given Zhao Hao's genes, a paternity test would be necessary.

…………

The next morning, the team broke camp and set off, returning to Bianjing City in the evening.

After entering the city, Zhao Xiaoqian first returned the tiger talisman and military power to the Privy Council, and then hurried into the palace to meet Zhao Xu.

After describing the game of ambush and counter-ambush in detail from beginning to end, Zhao Xu and Zhao Xiaoqian looked at each other.

The gains were naturally not small. Not only did they destroy the enemy's manpower and inflict heavy damage to him, but more importantly, no matter how carefully the people hiding behind the scenes concealed their tracks, as long as they took action, something would inevitably be leaked.

After three consecutive assassinations, the other party has unknowingly revealed many clues.

It just goes like the saying goes, “If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it yourself.”

There is no such thing as a perfect crime in the world, let alone a conspiracy with ulterior motives.

As long as you move, you will inevitably reveal your flaws, it's just a matter of time.

"Your Majesty, this man has the potential to be a hero and should not be underestimated. We will probably have to investigate him and his forces for a long time. He is cautious and strategic, not an ordinary villain. Your Majesty and the court should pay attention to him." Zhao Xiaoqian suggested solemnly.

Zhao Xu nodded solemnly: "Now I understand, this person must be hiding in the court. I don't know what his purpose is, but he absolutely deserves death!"

"The Imperial City Bureau will continue its investigation. I will also instruct the Political Affairs Hall and the Privy Council, and the lower-level government offices to keep a close eye on the situation. If you encounter anyone or anything suspicious, report it immediately and do not conceal anything."

Zhao Xiaoqian bowed and obeyed the order.

Putting this matter aside for the time being, Zhao Xu let out a sigh and smiled, "Let's not talk about this. I am the upright Emperor of the Song Dynasty. If I spend all day worrying about these despicable rats, wouldn't it be a laughing stock?"

"Zi'an has been traveling a lot, why don't you stay for a family dinner at the palace and then go back home to rest for a few days."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up. Hey, the boss took the initiative to give his employees a holiday. What a conscience of the feudal emperor in the industry...

On second thought, even if the boss didn't give me a day off, I hadn't really worked for a few days. So, what was the reason for those two eyes lighting up just now?

It doesn’t matter anymore, let’s just have a meal first. Well, it’s a “palace family banquet”, and the chef was hired from my house.

After getting to know Zhao Xu, Zhao Xiaoqian felt that he was actually a very ordinary person in life. He was ambitious and had the innocence and purity that were unique to young people. Of course, he was also a bit hot-blooded and immature sometimes, just like the college students he knew in his previous life.

It was called a family dinner, and it really was a family dinner. It was not as grand as an imperial dinner, just two simple meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and the staple food was white flour steamed buns.

The king and his minister sat opposite each other, holding a steamed bun in one hand and chopsticks in the other, taking a bite of steamed bun and picking up a dish with chopsticks. There were no toasts or speeches with clinking glasses, and no fancy and complicated etiquette.

The two men just ate and ate, very simply. If outsiders saw them, who would dare to believe that these two were the most powerful people in the world?
Zhao Xiaoqian was a bit picky about food, but there was no other way. In this ancient time when there was a lack of entertainment, if one wanted to have some different excitement in life, the only way was to eat and dress.

The dishes at the family banquet were too light and not to Zhao Xiaoqian's taste.

The chef was poached from the Prince of Chu's Palace and became the imperial chef after entering the palace. However, Zhao Xu had been weak and sickly since childhood and had many dietary taboos. The chef who was poached from the Prince of Chu's Palace had improved the taste of many dishes for Zhao Xu's health.

To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian didn’t feel full at this family dinner.

Zhao Xiaoqian had lived a life of luxury for too long and had forgotten how miserable he was in his previous life. In this life, he would never let himself suffer. If he didn't like something, he would eat less and then have a better meal when he got home.

After the banquet, Zhao Xiaoqian tactfully said goodbye and left the palace.

When he returned to the palace, no one came out to greet him, nor did he notice the special forces had returned. His father had been sold into a brothel to entertain clients...

On second thought, this was just a short trip and he would be back in a few days, so it seemed... there was no need to welcome him in such a grand manner.

Even if he sold his father to a brothel, it might be too late.

After entering the house, he went to see Zhao Hao first, but found that Zhao Hao was not in the palace. He didn't know whose house he had gone to to steal the widow.

Zhao Xiaoqian had a short gathering with his wives and concubines including Di Ying, and then ordered his servants to move the stove, pots, pans and seasonings from the kitchen to the yard.

The food in the palace just now was not to his taste and he was not full, so he had to have another meal and cook it himself.

It was past dinner time, and there were not many ingredients left in the palace kitchen, only a piece of mutton.

Mutton is also fine. Zhao Xiaoqian is not picky about food, he only cares about taste.

First, massage the mutton, then beat it with a stick to break up the fascia of the whole piece of mutton, then marinate it with ginger, salt and pepper, and finally soak it in a bowl of rice wine to remove the smell of mutton...

"Ah! Stop it! It's a waste of food. Why put rice wine in it?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was working hard when he suddenly heard an angry shout in his ears.

Turning around, he saw an old man in his sixties standing outside the yard, with an anxious and resentful look on his face, as if he was disgusted by Zhao Xiaoqian's behavior of marinating mutton with rice wine.

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned and said subconsciously: "... Adding rice wine is, of course, to remove the smell of mutton."

The old man angrily said, "The beauty of mutton lies in its mutton smell. You actually removed the mutton smell. This is a heinous crime!"

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian was only thinking about whether the mutton should be de-smelled, and for a moment he forgot that this was the Prince of Chu's Palace, the courtyard where he lived.

There is a stranger in the palace whom he doesn't know. Doesn't it feel a bit awkward?
But Zhao Xiaoqian didn't think so much at the moment. His mind was full of mutton.

"You're talking nonsense! Mutton has a strong smell, even dogs won't eat it!" Zhao Xiaoqian shouted angrily.

When it comes to food, Zhao Xiaoqian is an absolute authority, and that is unquestionable.

(End of this chapter)