Contract Prince

Chapter 17 Visiting "Xiu"

"Actually, I'm just offering advice. If it wasn't for Princess Huizhi and Lanxin, how could I convince His Majesty?"

Gu Yunjing smiled humbly, glanced at the setting sun in the west, rubbed his hands together and breathed a sigh of relief, and said slowly, "It's getting late, since the matter has been resolved, let's go back home as soon as possible."

"I want to go see the prince's brother." Xiao Muxue was not in a hurry to go back, thinking of Xiao Zhan who was locked in the prison of the clan's mansion

, her heart was inexplicably sore, and she said in a low voice: "After the imperial father's decree is announced to the world, I can no longer call him that."

Although Xiao Muxue traveled only a few tens of days, because of the memories left by the original owner, the warm image of the original owner and the empress mother and child together often appeared in her mind.Even though she didn't experience these scenes personally, for her who lacked family affection in her previous life, all the warm scenes shocked her heart.

The melancholy around the eyebrows of the stunning woman, as well as the regret and regret on the quiet face, made her look a little less indifferent and alienated, and a little more tender.It was the first time Gu Yunjing saw such an expression on Xiao Muxue's face.

Xiao Muxue noticed the young man's gaze, and asked in a daze, "What are you looking at?"

"No, I didn't see anything." Gu Yunjing shifted his gaze, and quickly looked away.

In order to ease the awkward atmosphere, she hurriedly added: "Let's go to the clan mansion as soon as possible."

After the two went to Zhengyang Palace to say goodbye to the queen, they got into the carriage heading to the clan's mansion.

The prisons in the Zongren Mansion are divided into three types according to different grades, namely: Tian Zi, Di Zi, and Herringbone.Among them, the environment in the Tianzihao cell is the worst, and it is generally the kind of prisoner who has committed a felony.

The two of Xiao Muxue got out of the car, and after telling the emperor's edict to the officials of the clan's mansion, they were able to enter the cell of Tianzihao.

The dark, damp, and lonely prison cell is like a bottomless abyss, and also like a dark area, swallowing all life.There is no light to be seen here, and the hourglass of time cannot be heard, only the death-like silence and disgusting smell of decay.

A majestic young man, wearing the clothes of a prisoner, sat cross-legged on a haystack, facing the wall, with his eyes tightly closed.Even in such a place, there was no fear on his handsome face, only calm and calm.

When Xiao Zhan heard the approaching footsteps, he was slightly stunned. The Tianzihao cell was guarded like a fortress of iron and steel, and all the princes and generals who had committed serious crimes were imprisoned.No one can enter without an oracle.

Just when Xiao Guan was in doubt, there was a soft call from behind: "Brother Prince."

This familiar voice is not Xiao Muxue, who is it?Surprised and delighted, Xiao Zhan hurriedly turned around, walked to the iron door of the cell, looked at Xiao Muxue and Gu Yunjing, and asked, "Sister Xue'er, how did you get in?"

Xiao Muxue held the candle, and the jumping light made her fair face flush, she replied softly: "Father allows me to visit you."

Since the founding of the Xiao Kingdom, no relatives have ever been able to visit the prisoners locked in Tianzihao cells.Xiao Zhan knew that Xiao Muxue must have spent a lot of time persuading Xiao Guan in order to visit her.

Xiao Zhan said: "Sister Xue'er, it's hard for you."

Xiao Muxue shook her head lightly, and said: "Thanks to the son-in-law this time, otherwise Xue'er would not be able to enter this prison."

Just as Xiao Zhan was about to express his thanks, unexpectedly Gu Yunjing saluted first and said respectfully: "Your Highness, Gu Yunjing."

After the young man heard this, a desolate and sad expression suddenly appeared on his handsome face. Looking at the dark and deep prison roof, a series of helpless smiles appeared on his lips: "I'm already a prisoner, so what kind of Highness is I?"

Xiao Guan is familiar with the law and knows the fate of the criminals in the Tianzihao prison. If it is severe, it will be executed, and if it is light, it will be exiled for three thousand miles.Unexpectedly, he, a majestic crown prince, would be framed by others and end up like this.

Xiao Zhan raised his head and sighed a few times, clutching the iron sill of the cell tightly with both hands, his joints were slightly white, at this moment he was like a lonely hero.

Gu Yunjing lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes: "Your Highness, there is no need to be like this. Although the emperor abolished your crown prince, he still bestowed you a prince."

"You mean that my father gave me a prince?" Xiao Zhan shook his head with an expression of disbelief, "How is it possible? After the case of the witchcraft happened, my father refused to listen to my explanation, and in a fit of rage he threw me Into the Heavenly Prison of the Clan Mansion. He is so determined, he can't wait to kill me right away!"

"I can't figure it out, I really can't figure it out, why didn't my father even give me a chance to explain? I was wronged, Xiao Zhan would not murder the king's father even if he died, and be an unfaithful and unfilial traitor!"

Gu Yunjing said: "Many things have been figured out, but I feel panicked." She knew that the sky prison is not suitable for talking, and then said: "If your highness really wants to know, you can choose a good time and a good place. Say it."

"What I said is indeed the truth. Your Majesty has already dealt with the witchcraft case. If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you might as well ask the princess."

Xiao Zhan said anxiously, eager to get confirmation from Xiao Muxue: "Sister Xue'er, is what the son-in-law said true?"

Xiao Muxue nodded: "That's right. Father has made a decree to make you King An."

"King An, what a King An." Xiao Zhan murmured to himself.Unexpectedly, there was no joy on his face, and after a moment of depression, he laughed sadly: "Father still doesn't trust me after all! After all, he still regards me as the murderer behind the scenes!"

This ending may be the best in the eyes of others, but in Xiao Zhan's eyes, there is nothing to be happy about.What he wanted was not the title of King An, but an innocence and justice.

Gu Yunjing asked: "Which is better, being named a king or demoted to a commoner and expelled from the imperial capital?"

The young man said righteously: "Xiao Zhan's actions are upright and worthy of the world. I don't care about the throne. I only hope that my father can thoroughly investigate this case and give me justice."

"Your Highness wants justice?" Gu Yunjing stared and said, as if feeling sad for Xiao Zhan's persistence, "Well, when I get out of this prison, I will tell you how to seek justice and who to turn to. "

Xiao Guan is a wise man, he heard something in Gu Yunjing's words, and asked: "What does the son-in-law mean?"

"Brother Prince, we know that you have been wronged. The witchcraft case is complicated. Let's talk about it with you after we get out of the prison."

Xiao Zhan shook his head: "What's the use of you knowing, Father doesn't believe me. No, I will explain clearly to Father after I go out."

At this time, the outer door of the prison in the Zongren Mansion was opened, and Chen Huaisheng walked slowly with the imperial decree, and the yamen servant opened the shackles of Tianzihao's cell.

Everyone knelt down to accept the decree. After Chen Huaisheng read Xiao Guan's decree through, he rolled up the decree and handed it to Xiao Zhan.After Chen Gonggong announced his will, he hurried back to the palace.

"No, I was wronged." Xiao Zhan, who was kneeling on the ground, shook his head suddenly, "The imperial father issued such an imperial decree, which proves that I am the murderer of the witchcraft case. I did not use sorcery to murder the emperor. Go to meet the emperor and explain clearly."

Seeing his excited expression, Gu Yunjing waved his hand to comfort him and said, "Your Highness, don't be impulsive. Before you are ready to face the saint, can you condescend to follow me to the waiting mansion for a while? After listening to my words, if you still plan to meet The emperor discusses this matter, then go."

The young man sighed in his heart: It seems that it is really the right time to visit Xiao Zhan this time, otherwise when he goes to meet the emperor, Xiao Guan will probably be furious again, and all his efforts will be in vain.

What Xiao Zhan was thinking about now was how to explain clearly to Xiao Guan, and he didn't take Gu Yunjing's words to heart.

Seeing that Xiao Zhan was unmoved, Xiao Muxue persuaded softly: "Brother Three Emperors, the son-in-law is right."

Xiao Muxue's words carried far more weight than Gu Yunjing's words. Looking at his sister's sincere eyes, Xiao Zhan finally nodded: "Okay." "

At the same time, Concubine Li Gui in the Yangxin Palace was furious when she heard about this incident. Her long and narrow eyes were full of coldness, and she looked like a poisonous scorpion waiting for an opportunity to bite at any time.

Concubine Li flicked her robe sleeves, and all the cups and porcelain on the table fell to the ground, and the sound of explosions made people's ears hurt.Her hatred was much heavier than the broken sound.

There was a young man standing in front of Qin's, his eyebrows were [-]% similar to hers.This young man is Zhao Wang Xiao Cong.

King Zhao folded his hands, his figure kept lingering in front of Concubine Li Gui, and asked: "Mother Concubine, why did Emperor Father make such an order? Shouldn't Xiao Zhan be expelled from the capital and exiled three thousand miles away?"

Speaking of Xiao Zhan, Xiao Cong's expression suddenly became stern.Although he is three years older than the third prince Xiao Zhan, but since childhood, every time he saw each other, he had to bow his hands and salute.No matter how unwilling Xiao Cong was, Xiao Zhan was the crown prince after all, and he had no choice but to submit to etiquette.

Xiao Cong thought that since he was a child, he could not lose to Xiao Zhan in terms of literary and martial arts. If Xiao Zhan hadn't been born by the empress, then the crown prince must have been his own.

After growing up, Xiao Cong became more and more concerned about competing for the position. He secretly made up his mind to compare Xiao Zhan, even if the other party was the prince, as long as he had not inherited the throne, he would have a chance to come back.

Concubine Li Gui knew her son's thoughts very well, and she was very supportive of Xiao Cong's decision.After entering the palace for decades, Concubine Li's greatest wish is to one day enter the Zhengyang Palace, be the mother of the world, and become the most glorious woman in the world.

Although the Qin family is favored by the emperor, as long as the empress mother and son are not moved away for a day, they will not be reconciled for a day.She and the queen have been fighting for decades, but there is no winner.Right now, he had just encountered the opportunity to bring down the queen mother and son, but he did not expect this opportunity to pass away in the blink of an eye.

Concubine Li gritted her teeth with hatred, her pink face twisted into a ball with hatred, she said with a lot of hatred: "It seems that this time I can't completely let the empress step down, but one day I will let her bow down in front of me!"

She raised her eyes to look at her anxious son, and comforted her: "Cong'er, don't worry, although Xiao Zhan has not been demoted as a commoner, the emperor made him such a king in name only, it is expected that he will not be able to turn the sky over!"

Xiao Cong didn't agree with Concubine Li's words. He sighed and said, "Concubine Mother, don't you know the tricks of the queen mother and son? As long as Xiao Zhan stays in the imperial capital, he will have a chance to make a comeback."

In King Zhao's heart, he was still very afraid of Xiao Zhan.As the saying goes: A skinny camel is bigger than a horse.What's more, Xiao Zhan hasn't lost weight yet, he's still alive and has been crowned king.How can Xiao Cong not worry about this?

Concubine Li also knew that what her son said was right. Although Xiao Zhan had been deposed as the crown prince, he had been the crown prince for decades after all. He had an excellent reputation and his influence should not be underestimated.Although under the pressure of the emperor in recent years, Xiao Zhan's power has become weaker and weaker, but there are still several ministers who secretly support him, and the right minister Li Chaochen is a typical one of them.

Concubine Li suddenly calmed down, and said: "Cong'er, this is the end of the matter, and it's useless to be anxious. It is well known that Xiao Zhan is the murderer of the witchcraft case. He is so immoral, who would dare to defend him from the courtiers?" ?”

"Your uncle is not a vegetarian either. As long as you have his help, it is possible for you to become the crown prince. Don't worry, Xiao Zhan won't be able to turn the tables in a short period of time." Concubine Li looked at her son's tangled expression , softly comforted.

"Concubine Mu, even though that's the case, Ke Erchen is still worried. I'll have to discuss it with my uncle later, and I can feel at ease knowing his opinion."

Concubine Li nodded: "Alright, let your uncle come up with an idea. Cong'er, you can't patronize Xiao Zhan right now, you have to be careful of Xiao Yang. He has a lot on his mind. You are not the only one who cares about the crown prince. Yang probably dreamed of it."

A cold smile appeared on Xiao Cong's lips, and he said, "Don't worry, my concubine, my son will naturally know what to do. Xiao Yang is not my opponent yet, hum, a fifth prince still wants to fight me. Don't look at yourself Look. The child will never forget the mother's entrustment."

Concubine Li said: "You must not underestimate Xiao Yang, he is a smart person, I suspect that this case of witchcraft was arranged by him."

Xiao Cong raised his eyebrows coldly, and said in a cold voice: "Boy thinks so too, but he really did his best to help me get rid of the stumbling block Xiao Zhan."

Concubine Li's mother and son all thought that the instigator of this witchcraft case was the fifth prince Xiao Yang, and they never guessed that the real mastermind behind the scenes would be the current emperor, Xiao Guan.