The royal dinner was placed in the garden on the east side of the palace. Although it was a banquet for all the civil and military officials, in fact, most of the officials just sat around the outside of the imperial city and could not see the emperor.

There were only a few important members who could actually enter the garden of the palace to have dinner with the emperor, the royal relatives, and the envoys from the vassal states this time.

In fact, Zhan Zhao had never had royal meals a few times. The first time he had just met Lord Bao, and broke the big case of replacing the prince with the raccoon. At that time, the emperor and the empress dowager invited everyone in Kaifeng Palace alone, and many banquets were held, even the yamen runners, maids, and servants.

Zhan Zhao and Bao Zheng entered the palace at that time, but it didn't happen long ago. I met Zhao Zhen for the first time and had a good impression of him.

The reason why Zhan Zhao saw Zhao Pu for the first time was that he could not imagine that he was a royal relative because although Zhao Zhen and Zhao Pu were uncles and nephews, they were not very different in age, but their appearance, personality and feelings were completely different.

To put it bluntly, Zhao Pu has many times more emperor-like aura than Zhao Zhen. It is no wonder that people in the army often sigh and sigh, thinking that Zhao Pu should succeed to the throne.

Zhao Zhen gives people a very mediocre feeling, a very gentle personality, without domineeringness, but noble, after all, he is the emperor.

In addition, Zhao Zhen doesn't seem to be very wise, or he is not sharp. Anyway, the Zhao family has always been a poor person, and Zhao Zhen is even more powerful. He is a prince, and he has no brothers and sisters. Zhao Pu has no intention of competing for the throne with him. Therefore, more people think that he is not standing out from the many princes because of his excellence, but good luck from heaven, and always feels that he is incompetent.

After talking to Zhao Zhen, he felt that he was not suitable for being an emperor. This person was not aggressive at all. The temper of the human king and emperor was not at all. He often laughed at all. He was gentle and had a low voice. He didn't know what he was doing on weekdays. He didn't go out of the palace. When the civil and military officials in the court first looked at him, he felt powerless.

Fortunately, Zhao Zhen had several important officials to support him.

One is Bao Zheng.

Not to mention the civil and military affairs of the court, even the people of the world, as long as Lord Bao said that Zhao Zhen was a good emperor, most people would support him as the emperor.

One is Taishi Pang.

His son-in-law, Tai Shi, of course, was a loyal royalist. Who dared to have a second heart? Tai Shi was the first to destroy him.

One is the Eighth Prince.

The Eighth Prince was highly powerful and raised Zhao Zhen and Zhao Pu. He was wise and intelligent. The most rare thing is that he was pure and kind-hearted, and was loved by the people of Kaifeng. In addition, it is said that he is also good-looking. Although he is middle-aged, he looks quite young, elegant and handsome. He is also the person Zhao Zhen relies on and trusts the most.

There are several important officials who will not elaborate on it. Of course, the most important one is Zhao Pu, who has been playing with Zhao Zhen since childhood and is only two years older than him.

Zhao Pu is different from the previous old ministers. His relationship with Zhao Zhen is confusing. There are always rumors that they are inseparable from the outside world. How Zhao Zhen suppresses Zhao Pu and how Zhao Pu disobeys Zhao Zhen.

Only a few old ministers knew in their hearts that these two people did not look like uncles and nephews, but more like brothers, and had a very strong relationship.

Zhan Zhao roughly told Bai Yutang about the people he knew about.

Bai Yutang asked curiously, "Zhao Zhen is so weak?"

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "Tell you something, you can judge it yourself."

Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows and signaled Zhan Zhao to say.

"I also asked Lord Bao before if Zhao Zhen is really suitable to be an emperor." Zhan Zhao smiled, "Lord Bao told me three stories. The first story is about Nangong Ji."

Listen quietly in Baiyutang.

"Nanggong started to follow Zhao Zhen at a very young age. Both of them were not old at that time. Once an assassin almost succeeded in assassination. Nangong blocked a sword for Zhao Zhen and was slightly injured, and finally was safe. However, Empress Liu still had to hold all the guards responsible, causing the assassin to attack and finally escaped. They couldn't escape." Zhan Zhao asked with a smile, "If you are the emperor, what would you do?"

Bai Yutang thought for a while, "Are you pleading? A good opportunity to win people's hearts."

"I also think Empress Liu gave Zhao Zhen such an opportunity to win people's hearts." Zhan Zhao tsk twice, "But Zhao Zhen didn't do that."

Bai Yutang was curious, "Did you kill them all?"

"No," Zhan Zhao said, "Mr. Bao said that Zhao Zhen said that they were indeed dereliction of duty and should be punished, and he would not help begging for mercy, otherwise the guards in the harem would take care of the emperor's kindness and take it lightly. But he also said that he liked these guards very much, especially if he was reluctant to beat Nangong Ji, so it would be better to let Empress Liu punish them for something else."

Bai Yutang was funny, "It's quite frank."

"The queen was also stupid at that time, so she asked Zhao Zhen how to punish him." Zhan Zhao spread his hands, "Zhao Zhen said, "and they were punished to catch the escaped assassins. If they didn't catch them, they would not be allowed to come back."

After hearing this, Bai Yutang nodded, "People who practice martial arts are not afraid of pain, but are afraid of being humiliated. Zhao Zhen asked them to catch the assassin, not punishment, but reward them with an opportunity to regain their dignity."

Zhan Zhao nodded, "Nangong Ji took his people there, and captured the assassin three days later, and also captured the person who was the commander behind the assassin. The emperor rewarded them, not to reward gold and silver, but to reward them with the title of "The First Guard of the Dynasty". These people are the Shadow Guards around Zhao Zhen now, headed by Nangong Ji, with great skills and loyalty."

Bai Yutang nodded.

"The second story is about Zhao Pu." Zhan Zhao continued, "That year, Zhao Zhen was eight years old and Zhao Pu was ten years old. Zhao Pu had been to the house since he was a child. Zhao Zhen was in poor health when he was a child. However, Zhao Pu would take Zhao Zhen with him wherever he went, and Zhao Zhen would follow him closely. One Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhao Pu brought two and a half-year-old servants from the royal palace and said he wanted to catch river crabs."

Bai Yutang's mouth moved, "He was bored enough when he was a child. Isn't it enough to just eat crabs on the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"It was cold in late autumn, and Zhao Pu did not allow Zhao Zhen to go down the river. He asked him to wait at home. He could not tell the prince and the princess, otherwise he would not be allowed to go." Zhan Zhao continued, "But it was suddenly raining heavily in the evening. After Zhao Zhen looked at the sky in the yard, he didn't hold an umbrella, took two bundles of ropes and sneaked out of the palace."

Bai Yutang wonders—why?

"Zhao Zhen found Zhao Pu and two servants trapped in a tree by the river. It turned out that they had encountered a mountain torrent." Zhan Zhao was funny, "The water suddenly came down from the mountain. Zhao Pu held the trunk in one hand and the two servants in the other. He was just in a loss when he saw Zhao Zhen reaching the shore. Seeing that he was trapped by the rope and tied it to the tree, Zhao Pu was frightened and told him not to go into the water, and not to drown in a while, and hurry up and call people. Zhao Zhen said that if he went home and called people, Zhao Pu would not think of leaving the palace for at least a year, so he went into the water."

Bai Yutang touched his chin, and it was funny, "With Zhao Pu's personality, from now on, I won't be willing to compete with Zhao Zhen for the throne, and I will go through fire and water."

"No, it is said that Zhao Zhen had used all his strength when he swam to the tree. Zhao Pu pulled the rope alone and took him and the two servants to the other side." Zhan Zhao smiled, "When he was going, everyone was slaughtering. Zhao Zhen said that he forgot to bring an umbrella when he ran out. Zhao Pu went to him, so the prince and the princess did not pursue it. After that, Zhao Zhen was ill for three days and almost died of fever."

Bai Yutang frowned, "Is his nature so pure?"

"I felt so at first." Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "But guess what Zhao Zhen woke up and said to Zhao Pu?"

Bai Yutang shook his head.

"He felt guilty when he saw Zhao Pu, and said, "What's the sad thing? As long as I'm not dead, I will make a profit this time!"

Bai Yutang understood and nodded, "It is not easy to ask Zhao Pu to surrender. When Zhao Zhen was eight years old, he took his life to gamble, and finally won the bet, which brought Zhao Pu's loyalty for life."

Zhan Zhao nodded.

"Where is the third item?" Bai Yutang became curious about Zhao Zhen.

"The three concubines in the harem have their own characteristics, but they have never quarreled." Zhan Zhao smiled and patted Bai Yutang on the shoulder, "Three women and one husband! They never quarreled, the harem is harmonious and stable as if it did not exist!"

Bai Yutang nodded and expressed his approval, "very convincing."

Zhan Zhao asked Bai Yutang with his hands behind his back, "So what do you think of this emperor?"

Bai Yutang thought for a while, "It's more suitable to be an emperor than Zhao Pu."

Zhan Zhao nodded, "Mr. Bao said so too."

The two chatted softly, and when they entered the garden, they saw the busy palace maids and eunuchs coming and going.

The little palace maids were all looking forward to Zhan Zhao coming soon. Today is really pleasing to the eye. In addition to the Ninth Prince, a beautiful scholar and a porcelain doll came. In addition, Zhan Zhao...

However, the palace maids were far from expecting that the surprise was behind. Zhan Zhao not only brought him, but also brought a handsome guy in white clothes. Seeing that the palace maids almost fell from the carp pond from the Jiuqu Bridge.

Gongsun was wondering and asked Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang who walked up to him, "So slow? Have you two come early?"

Zhan Zhao was embarrassed, and it was hard to say that he was lost again.

But Bai Yutang spoke, "I met Ouyang and the others at the door and chatted for a few words."

Gongsun nodded.

Zhan Zhaohe Bai Yutang sat down and looked around. Before he saw Zhao Pu, he asked Gongsun, "Where are Zhao Pu people?"

"Jiujiu has been here just now and he has left." Xiao Sizi held a pomegranate, which was very red. I don't know who gave him food.

Gongsun whispered to Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, "The banquet seems to be in the yard inside. Let's sit here and rest first. Zhao Pu said he should prepare."

Zhan Zhaohe Bai Yutang was a little curious - to treat him to dinner, and ask Zhao Pu to prepare himself?

A maid brought tea, and Yueyaer squatted beside Xiao Sizi to help him break pomegranates. Chen Xing'er sat next to Mr. Bao with a teacup and looked around curiously. Mr. Bao was very kind and helped her peel an orange, and told her about the structure of the garden.

Many ministers came over one after another. When they arrived, they greeted Lord Bao, and they didn't pay much attention to etiquette.

Master Pang also came, with a big belly, followed by a young man who looked ten years old and looked okay, but he gave people a feeling of a bit slippery and a little playful.

Everyone looked at each other tacitly - Little Crab, Anle Hou Pang Yu.

Grand Master Pang introduced everyone to Pang Yu. Pang Yu saluted politely, and then followed his father to sit and wait.

Bai Yutang looked at Zhan Zhao, and Gongsun was also curious - it didn't seem that annoying.

Zhan Zhao looked at the sky and said nodded to Lord Bao. That's what he meant - Lord Bao is here, of course he was honest, and he didn't dare to be honest.

"Young Master." Yueyaer leaned behind Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao and said to the two, "I just saw a woman at the door."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, and Gongsun teased her with a funny look, "Oh, I see a woman so powerful!"

Crescent Yaer flattened her mouth and signaled that she was serious!

Bai Yutang asked, "Who did you see?"

"It seems to be Xing'er." Yue Ya'er said uncertainly.

Zhan Zhao was slightly stunned.

"I saw it too!" Chen Xing'er ran over with the orange and nodded with Yueyaer, "It's right at the gate of the palace, but we dressed so weirdly that we didn't dare to recognize it. She should have entered the palace."

Bai Yutang sounded fresh, "Enter the palace?"

"Why did Xing'er enter the palace?" Zhan Zhao also expressed his incomprehension.

"She is not alone, she is with a group of women..." Before Yueya could finish her words, she suddenly took a breath and covered her mouth and looked ahead.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were slightly stunned and looked back.

I saw someone walking up to them.

The two sat down and looked up, and saw a man in his thirties who looked over thirties. He had long figures and even bones, his face was as tall as a crown, his eyebrows were clear and his eyes were bright, his bearded, delicately trimmed, and elegant. He was wearing purple plainclothes, his hair was tied with a golden official hairpin on his head, and his black hair was as elegant as his waist. He was gentle and elegant.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao roughly know what happened to Yueyaer - this Yueyaer is different from ordinary girls' families. Logically speaking, she is at her age of sixteen or seventeen, so she should love those young men in her early twenties. The girls in Kaifeng Mansion have many choices, including Zhan Zhao, Bai Yutang, Gongsun, Zhao Pu, four completely different types of handsome men, there is always one suitable for it... But Yueyaer doesn't like any of them, she only likes uncles.

Yueyaer had a crush on Tianzun before, so of course she talked to Chen Xing'er and was having fun. She felt a pity all day long. Why didn't Tianzun grow a beard? Not enough uncle!

But now the noble "uncle" in front of him completely hit Yueya'er's heart. Even Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao thought she would like it.
To be continued...