The prince is more stable

Chapter 348 Enemies meet
In the private rooms facing each other, the two spoke in calm tones, even with a hint of teasing and joking.

However, the content of the words was full of murderous intent.

They both want the other to die.

Zhao Xiaoqian was not satisfied with his masterpiece, and Zhao Ji knew very well why he was dissatisfied.

What he was most dissatisfied with was probably that Zhao Ji was still able to breathe at this time.

Breathing is also a sin.

When the two enemies tore off their disguises, they no longer wanted to hide their murderous intent.

The strange thing is that both of them were still smiling at this moment, and their smiles were very bright, like the reunion of old friends who had not seen each other for a long time.

Looking up and down at Zhao Ji's injuries, Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes were filled with inquiry.

Zhao Ji's injuries looked very serious. His chest and back were wrapped with cloth strips, and blood stains were faintly visible on the cloth strips. His thigh was also wrapped with cloth strips, but the area covered was not large, which seemed to be an arrow wound.

It has to be said that apart from not being able to kill Zhao Ji, Zhao Xiaoqian was quite happy about Zhao Ji's serious injuries.

As for the question of whether Zhao Ji had not died, it didn't matter. From today on, Zhao Xiaoqian would regard him as the chosen son of God, blessed with the halo of the protagonist, the kind who could not be killed even if he was cut into pieces.

Treat him as your lifelong enemy. As long as you take your enemy seriously enough, you will believe that the day will come when you will kill him.

"I have to praise you, you are really lucky." Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "Are you disappointed? It doesn't matter, there is still a long way to go."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily: "That's right, there's still a long way to go, there will always be opportunities in the future."

Zhao Ji's smile gradually froze.

They both said this with a smile, and once this was said, it meant that they were in a situation where they would fight to the death.

After a long while, Zhao Ji suddenly asked, "Don't you want to ask why I tried to assassinate you so many times?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "What's there to ask? My existence and my attention have blocked your path, so you want to get rid of me."

Zhao Ji showed an innocent expression: "I am just a powerless relative. No matter how famous you are, how can you block my way?"

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. "You are a clan member now, but that doesn't guarantee your future. Zhao Ji, you must have been paving the way for this for a long time, right? Your ambition is too great. You are unwilling to be just a clan member for the rest of your life."

Zhao Ji's heart sank, but he forced a smile on his face and said, "We are already relatives, what can I do?"

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said leisurely, "Perhaps you want to emulate the good deeds of Taizu and Taizong? We in the Song Dynasty have a fine tradition of succession from elder brother to younger brother."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Ji's face became paler and bloodless, his eyes became terrified, and he looked at Zhao Xiaoqian in disbelief.

Zhao Xiaoqian grinned and said, "Did I get it right? Zhao Ji, do you want to be the emperor?"

Zhao Ji's voice trembled uncontrollably. "You...how can you talk nonsense! Concubine Liu is pregnant, and the emperor already has a successor. There's no way I'll ever be the emperor of the Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Xiaoqian chuckled sarcastically. "Does it matter to you that the emperor has an heir? Is that shameful power under your command a charity organization that helps others? I'm sure you've planted a lot of spies in the palace, right? Is it difficult for you to let the emperor's son die early without anyone knowing?"

Zhao Ji finally couldn't help but tremble violently all over. He looked at Zhao Xiaoqian with eyes full of fear as if he had seen a ghost.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "The only thing I'm curious about is that you're only sixteen. What kind of environment allowed you to develop such cunning and cunning skills? To be honest, I really admire you."

"If you continue to follow this plan, one day in the future, you might actually become the emperor..."

Staring at the pale Zhao Ji, Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly: "But, Zhao Ji, you shouldn't have provoked me."

"I have no ambition for the throne. All I want to do is change this period of history and change the fate of myself and my family. Everything I do is beneficial to the Song Dynasty. Even if you become the emperor of the Song Dynasty in the future, you will be able to share in the dividends."

"But why do you insist on killing me? Because I'm also a relative? Because I'm too talented and too favored by the emperor, and I threaten your position? Zhao Ji, you have ambitions, but your vision is too narrow, and you are doomed to fail."

"A truly wise and capable emperor would most like ministers like me, who are capable and competent but lack ambition. In comparison, the emperor's vision is much broader than yours. He knows my character very well, so he trusts me and is confident in giving me power."

"He knows that I can help him realize his ideals, and that my existence will only benefit the country. Zhao Ji, you are far from that. Did the wise counselor behind you only teach you the ability to achieve your goals by any means necessary, but didn't teach you the art of employing people as an emperor?" Zhao Xiaoqian's words made Zhao Ji tremble all over, not knowing whether he was out of fear or anger.

They are all true, but the truth is the most heartbreaking.

Zhao Ji suddenly realized that the people who understood him best in this world were not his relatives and friends, but his sworn enemies.

What made Zhao Ji even more uncomfortable was that he found that what Zhao Xiaoqian said actually made sense, and at this moment he felt a faint sense of regret in his heart.

It seems that we shouldn't have taken action against Zhao Xiaoqian in the first place. Although he is very capable, he really doesn't have any ambition.

If Zhao Ji really became emperor in the future, as long as he could win him over and make him loyal, Zhao Xiaoqian would be a sharp sword in the emperor's hand, instead of becoming the most difficult enemy like today.

No matter how cunning he was or how vicious his methods were, Zhao Ji was only sixteen years old after all and was not mature enough.

If he were 26 years old this year, he would definitely not make such a foolish choice.

Zhao Ji was silent for a long time, and finally smiled: "But what should I do now? I have already offended you. You will never be of any use to me in the future. After what we have experienced, I dare not turn enemies into friends..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Yes, between you and me, one of us is destined to leave."

"But I still want to say, Zhao Ji, with me in the Song Dynasty, the outcome will be different."

"Zhao Ji, as long as I'm here, you'll never become emperor in this lifetime. I'll leave this out for now, waiting for you to slap me in the face in the future."

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "I'll try."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded: "Then give it a try."

Zhao Ji then suddenly asked, "I have a question that I'm curious about. How did you find out that I was the one behind your assassination? I believe I have erased all traces and left you no clues at all."

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked, pointed to his head, and said, "It was just a flash of inspiration. You are not the only smart person in the world. You will get used to it slowly in the future."

Zhao Xiaoqian stood up, brushed off the hem of his clothes, and said, "Okay, the visit has been successfully completed. When the emperor hears the report tomorrow, he will definitely be pleased with the deep brotherly love between you and me."

Zhao Ji smiled and said, "I heard that you will be taking up your post in Zhending Prefecture soon?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded: "That's right, so you have no rivals in Bianjing City again. Are you lonely?"

"Brother Zi'an, I wish you great success in Zhending Prefecture and may your influence over the Liao Kingdom be felt."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. "I also wish you a speedy recovery. Be extra careful when you go out in the future. As I said, we have a long way to go."

Zhao Ji's heart sank. This sentence sounded very threatening. It was obvious that the assassination attempts against him were not over yet. There might be more in the future. Now he was the one who had to guard against thieves all day long.

Before leaving the room, Zhao Xiaoqian paused, as if remembering something, and took out the cheap calligraphy and painting and handed it to him.

"Gifts are always appreciated. I'm giving you a piece of calligraphy. After I leave Bianjing, you can hang it high in your bedroom. Seeing it will remind me of you. No thanks."

Zhao Ji stared at Zhao Xiaoqian's back as he left, and the sinister look in his eyes grew stronger.

Raising his hand with great difficulty, Zhao Ji slowly unfolded the calligraphy. On it were written four large characters "Heaven rewards hard work". The handwriting was so ugly that Zhao Ji, a refined scholar who was very good at calligraphy and painting, could not help but cover his mouth with a disgusted look on his face as if he was about to vomit.

Zhao Ji was stunned for a long time, and could not figure out the deep meaning of the four words Zhao Xiaoqian gave him.

After a long while, Zhao Ji muttered, "Could it be that he is mocking me, saying that several assassination attempts on him have been futile and asking me to keep trying and assassinate him more diligently?"

"Asshole, how dare you humiliate me!"

Zhao Ji was so angry that he subconsciously wanted to tear up the ugly calligraphy.

However, his movements suddenly froze, and as if he remembered something, he burst into laughter.

"We may be enemies, but we are still friends. How wonderful life is!"

"Come here, hang this calligraphy in my bedroom!"

(End of this chapter)