It was already dusk when Li Chenan arrived at the palace.

The lanterns on the palace wall have been lit, but the south gate of the palace has not yet been closed.

Eunuch Chang put his hands in his sleeves and walked back and forth in front of the palace gate.

Autumn was already cold, and as he got older, he realized that his old bones were really no longer able to bear it.

It's autumn now. If winter comes and it snows...this winter will be a bit difficult!

At this time in previous years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already begun to purchase charcoal for winter use.

But this year... the note from the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already been handed to him, but the emperor has not approved it yet.

Even if it is approved, I am afraid that there will not be so much money available from the account of the Ministry of Revenue.

Not to mention internal funds.

All the money from the internal funds was spent in Changle Palace, and I'm afraid the emperor himself doesn't have much money left.

It’s really an old lady celebrating the New Year, every year is worse than the last!

But what can be done?

I can only hope that God can be more merciful and allow this winter to have less rain and snow and more warm sunshine.

Just when Eunuch Chang was thinking this, he suddenly stood still, his old eyes suddenly lit up, and he saw Li Chenan walking over from a carriage.

Inexplicably, Eunuch Chang likes this child very much.

Because there seemed to be a ray of sunshine on his body.

It's warm and comforting.

"Father-in-law, you've been waiting for a long time!"

Li Chenan bowed, completely different from when he faced Prime Minister Ji in the Imperial Study Room two days ago.

Eunuch Chang also bowed quickly: "Master Xiao Li, please don't try to ruin the Za family!"

"My father-in-law, what you said is wrong!"

"You have been here for many years. Elders are respected, and young people should be treated with great gifts. It has nothing to do with status or family background!"

Look, this kid is so cute!

Eunuch Chang's old face was filled with a brilliant flower.

But he still said humbly: "But there is a difference between superiority and inferiority. If someone sees you and chews your tongue...it will be of no benefit!"

Only then did Li Chenan realize that he really hadn't done anything right.

If you are sincere, you might even harm Eunuch Chang.

So he stopped being polite and followed Eunuch Chang into another carriage, heading deep into the palace.

"Master Xiao Li, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Second Prince and the Third Prince all arrived at the end of Shen Shi. The Emperor seems to be in a good mood today, but the Za family still wants to say something that shouldn't be said... The Emperor will go to Changle Palace tomorrow.

, if you stay here for a while, don’t make him angry.”

Li Chenan grinned: "Thank you, father-in-law, for reminding me. Don't worry, I will tell you everything tonight."

"Then the Za family will be relieved!"

Li Chenan suddenly asked:

"Eunuch Chang, have you been to Changle Palace?"

"I only went to the palace gate, where the emperor set a rule that no one is allowed to enter Changle Palace except those holding the golden dragon pendant given by the emperor."

"Oh...who in the court has a golden dragon pendant?"

Chang Zuoqing said to Li Chenan meaningfully, "Even Concubine Ji and Concubine Li don't have it, and certainly none of the ministers in the court have it... Don't be curious about that place. If the emperor wants you to go there one day, he will naturally send someone to send it to you."

Come to the Golden Dragon Pei."

Li Chenan did not ask any more questions, but became more and more curious about Changle Palace.

…

…

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

This is the largest palace in the harem and it is the emperor's bedroom.

Tonight, Emperor Ning is hosting a banquet here. As an emperor, of course he does not need to entertain anyone, so when Li Chenan comes, this is basically a family banquet before leaving...

It's just that my identity is a bit embarrassing.

Eunuch Chang said that those attending the banquet were His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince... not the princesses, nor the concubines.

Five men eat.

Of course it doesn't mean eating.

So what does the emperor mean by this move?

Let yourself get to know these three princes?

Also let yourself and the second prince settle their differences?

Once he does this, if the news spreads tomorrow, no one will dare to question his identity as the eldest son of the emperor.

Could it be that he is really Queen Lu’s son?

I can’t help but Li Chenan doesn’t think so——

The crooked-necked banyan tree in the Imperial City Division was planted by Empress Lu herself. Changsun Jinghong had been guarding that place for twenty years. Now this means that the Imperial City Division will be handed over to him sooner or later.

If he were not Queen Lu's son, how could he easily pick the ripe peach that Changsun Jinghong had worked hard for twenty years?

But is he really Queen Lu’s son?

When Xiong Da takes his parents to Kyoto, he will have to ask them carefully about this matter.

The carriage stopped outside the palace. Eunuch Chang took a lantern and walked Li Chenan on the dim bluestone path.

The ride was very quiet.

But Li Chenan always felt that there were many eyes on him from everywhere.

He looked around, but saw nothing.

This is the inner palace after all, and there are many experts guarding it.

He didn't know that on the roof of the Treasure Pavilion not far from here, there was an old man wearing gray linen clothes with his hands behind his back and his eyes looking at the slowly moving lantern.

He followed the lantern and disappeared into the Yangxin Hall before shaking his head and grinning.

A moment later, he flew up from the top of the Zhenbao Pavilion like a night owl and disappeared into the night.

He landed in a dark palace.

This palace is called Fengyi Palace.

Twenty years ago, this place was brightly lit.

Twenty years later, there will be no ghosts here.

It was the former Queen Lu's palace.

There is a plane tree in the southeast corner of the yard and a large-leaved banyan tree in the northwest corner.

The sycamore tree has withered, and the big-leaved banyan tree is also withering.

Twenty years ago, the four large-leaved banyan trees planted in Kyoto were all seeds of this tree.

He stood in the yard looking at this big-leafed banyan tree, having a cup of tea, and suddenly whispered: "You said it has the strongest vitality, but if no one takes care of it, it will still be entangled by those vines."

die."

"I don't understand the emperor's intention, but I promised you to protect the emperor's eldest son... I will definitely do it! The emperor's eldest son has no worries, you can rest in peace!"

…

…

The Yangxin Hall is brightly lit.

Originally this was supposed to be a joyful family banquet, but when Li Chenan stepped into the threshold of the palace, he suddenly realized that the atmosphere here was a bit solemn.

The emperor was wearing a white silk dress and was sitting at the top of the tea table. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was on the left, and the second prince was opposite the emperor. So the one sitting on the emperor's right should be the third prince.

The emperor was leaning on the back of his chair, holding a stack of paper in his hand.

The other three princes seemed not to know what to say or do.

Then you can only drink tea.

Until Li Chenan's footsteps broke the silence here.

The three princes all turned to Li Chenan, with different expressions on their faces.

The emperor did not raise his head, but said one word: "Sit!"

Li Chenan came around and came to the side of the second prince, grinning: "Give me!"
Chapter completed!