At the south gate of Longxiao City, a group of knights arrived at their destination.
When the thin man stepped into this famous city standing in the north again and looked at the hustle and bustle at the city gate, he only felt endless emotion in his heart.
Even after experiencing that disaster, Longxiao City still looked majestic, majestic, rough and shocking, and even the quarrels of passers-by were full of sonorous sounds.
Those days…
But he still forcibly suppressed the thoughts surging in his heart and withdrew his gaze from the towering Nekaru statue.
He still has things to do.
The thin man lowered his head, lifted the reins and urged the horse.
The thin man said calmly to the dozen knights behind him: "Get ready, we have a long slope to climb."
The knights seemed to be used to his indifferent tone. They didn't say much and just followed silently.
This is a low-key procession. There are no flags, decorations, or badges to indicate identity. There are only luggage and sundries on the horses, and the hurried expressions on everyone's faces.
Several people inside were obviously visiting Longxiao City for the first time, and they looked around in surprise.
"Is this Longxiao City?" A young attendant asked doubtfully: "Wasn't it almost destroyed by a disaster? How come it is so complete?"
"It was rumors, not disasters that destroyed Longxiao City," the thin man replied easily: "Clean your mind, Mark."
A few minutes later, a Northland noble with a military aura came up with a few cavalry to greet them. After a brief meeting, he took them directly away from the queue to enter the city and entered the city.
They walked through the open space in front of the city gate and began to go uphill.
"It's the chief garrison who came to greet us in person. I'm really flattered." The thin man greeted him calmly: "Viscount Lesden."
"Unfortunately, Her Excellency the Grand Duchess is in the Hall of Heroes. Today is her hearing day, and the Regent Lisban is also there." This Northland nobleman named Leisden looked very capable and courageous, and the patrol team was there.
With a few gestures from him, things started to work in an orderly manner.
I saw him slightly nodding to the thin man on the horse:
"His Excellency, Lord Putilai Niman, came all the way from the Kingdom of Stars."
Lord Putilai of the Stars nodded in response.
Viscount Lesden, an old and trusted subordinate of Count Lisban, remained as the garrison officer of Longxiao City after the Grand Duchess succeeded to the throne. He looked at the group of dusty Star People and nodded lightly: "But I think you must want to
Let’s meet the prince first.”
Xingchen's entourage looked at each other a few times, with expectations and curiosity in their eyes.
That prince.
The legendary second prince.
"That's right." On the busy streets of Northland, Putilai's thin face showed a smile: "Please take us directly to the Blood Courtyard."
Leiden raised his eyebrows slightly.
Blood Courtyard...
"Of course, there is a special guest living in the Blood Courtyard, the most remote and dilapidated corner of the Palace of Heroes." Lesden sighed softly: "Please come with me."
The Viscount frowned and waved his hand, and a messenger immediately set off. Ten seconds later, a patrol in front of them immediately changed direction and headed towards the Palace of Heroes to clear the way.
"You are a sensible person. I admire the former receptionist who is not like you." Putilai nodded approvingly and took out his pipe.
Viscount Lesden laughed and rode side by side with Putilai.
"Former receptionist?"
Lesden curled his lips: "I listened. After he secretly blocked the envoy from contacting the prince, he was found to have close contacts with a count from the Black Sand Territory."
"That's why I stepped up this year myself," Leiston, who looked unhappy, coughed, "after he was hung up and replaced."
Putilai took a puff of his cigarette, watched the smoke rings change on his horse, and said with emotion: "Thank you for understanding our anxiety."
"I am happy to oblige," Lesden nodded slightly thoughtfully: "After all, this is Longxiao City, not Black Sand City."
Putilai narrowed his eyes and said: "King Chaman will still send a special envoy to 'condol'?"
When it came time to elect the king, Viscount Lesden showed disgust and disdain on his face: "Three times a year, I'm never late."
"If possible, he probably wants to bribe the messenger crows flying over Longxiao City to monitor our every move." Leiden glanced at the Palace of Heroes on the side of the mountains: "Especially those two
whereabouts."
Putilai blew out a smoke ring: "But I heard that your king has been in big trouble recently?"
"Isn't it?" Lesden snorted, seeming very happy: "Since his coronation, Charmaine Lombard's troubles have never stopped."
Hearing that name, Xingchen's attendants tightened their expressions and quickly pricked up their ears to pay attention to the new king who had not ruled for a long time in Exeter.
"Half a month ago, the four grand dukes from the north and the west, led by them, launched a boycott against the king's persecution of the nobles in the territory. In the name of the oath of co-governance, they called for tax resistance to support those black sands who had been deprived of their titles.
Lead the old nobles and call on others to join them in opposing the king's atrocities, and the momentum is huge."
Viscount Lesden raised the corners of his mouth.
certainly.
Why not save a sum of money with confidence and see the king's embarrassment?
"I suspect that Longxiao City will soon receive an invitation to sign their joint letter of condemnation," Leiston breathed out softly: "You know, the reputation of 'parricide' is already bad enough.
.”
"'Chamaine the Parricide,'" Putilai whistled, "It's really mean to call your own king that way."
"I heard it was 'Long-haired' Ronnie from Qiyuan City who was the first to call him that." The defense officer smiled happily: "It can be called the worst king's nickname in the history of Exeter. You know, the one who even married
Jacob I, whose aunt was the queen, was only called a 'corrupter'."
Putilai chuckled and was noncommittal.
Bad reputation...
But that doesn't mean the method is bad.
"I heard that the country of Xingchen is not stable either?"
"I heard that the southwest plague, which was finally subdued, is showing signs of recurrence," Viscount Lesden transitioned the topic naturally, "and King Kessel has sent three waves of standing troops to the Blade Territory?"
Putilai narrowed his eyes slightly: "The old wounds are too deep, and it is not easy to heal."
"Just like you."
Lesden and Putilai looked at each other, and Dragon and Star nodded thoughtfully.
The group walked through the lively Longyi Square, through the messy Bow District, past the Ax District and Spear District where the upper class stayed, and went straight to the upper part of Longxiao City.
Finally, the first city gate that separated the Ax Zone and the Palace of Heroes appeared in front of this group of people.
Putilai looked at the towering city gate and sighed again.
Viscount Lesden had a serious face and negotiated with the patrols guarding the city gate for several minutes before the Stars were let into the city gate.
Immediately, many soldiers from the patrol came forward with unkind expressions and searched them from body to luggage, which made many Stars feel unhappy.
"Be patient, this is a necessary procedure. There are gifts for the Grand Duchess in that box, so please be careful."
Putilai habitually raised his hands while waiting for a body search. While comforting the unhappy Xingchen people, asking them to endure the murderous intent and rudeness of the Northlanders for a while, he then said to Leiston who was waiting on the side: "It seems that your
Security protection has been improved a lot.”
Leiston's face tightened.
"Three more passwords have been added, and many outposts have been built in front. Even if it is an emergency warrant issued by the Grand Duchess herself, there are corresponding insurance measures. We have even begun to try to recruit special abilities that are rare in the Northland army.
"The evidence comes from the advice of that prince," Lesden's tone became very stiff, as if he was suppressing something: "The city gate is always a solid wall that separates danger."
"The story of being deceived into opening the city gate by a well-known high-ranking officer and a soldier as a traitor will never be repeated again."
Putilai sighed in response.
Finally, after a complicated search, Xingchen's group passed the city gate and arrived at the open space in front of the Palace of Heroes.
Putilai looked at the eight familiar and unfamiliar large stoves in front of the palace gate with mixed emotions. He couldn't help but sigh when he remembered the scene of that figure walking into the palace gate alone.
Groups of palace guards looked at them unfavorably during patrols.
They dismounted their horses and allowed the guards to take their mounts away.
"The Court of Blood is over here, please follow me." Viscount Leiden led them away from the magnificent palace gate of the Palace of Heroes and into a remote corridor.
The road under their feet became narrower and narrower, and even overgrown with weeds, but the number of guards on the road gradually increased.
"How is he doing?" Putilai looked at the guards passing by with mixed emotions.
The attention of the stars was attracted by this question.
Leiden frowned.
How are you doing?
this problem……
"Everyone has a different evaluation of him," Lord Vindicator carefully chose his words: "But if I..."
"That prince is very quiet."
The men and horses of the stars nodded to each other: this was in line with their judgment of the prince's youth and maturity.
Only Putilai was surprised: "What?"
That guy...
Putilai thought of the image of an adult who talked eloquently but sometimes left people speechless.
Quiet?
He felt incredible.
"Most of the time, he sat quietly reading by himself, sometimes talking to himself or even reciting aloud, but he forgot to eat and sleep, and the position was different every time, from the corner of the courtyard to the cliff in the sky, thinking about his
The guards..."
"He leaves the palace every month to play chess in the spear area. He likes to stay in the box and play chess with himself. He will sit there for several hours until his entourage reminds him: the Grand Duke's bodyguards need to eat..."
"He doesn't care much about the disputes in Longxiao City. He refuses all palace banquets and hunting. Even though the nobles' eyes are fixed on him, he is very familiar with the servants in the palace. I heard that he likes to smile, even
Anyone who sees a letter crow will say hello."
"There are so many teachers who have taught him and Her Majesty the Grand Duchess, half of them couldn't last two months because they 'cannot agree with the prince's style'. Earl Lisban has a headache..."
"Ah," Putilai shook his head in disbelief, "I am here precisely to solve this problem."
Viscount Leiden looked strange:
"But he has a very good relationship with the Grand Duchess. The two of them often stay in the library from morning to afternoon, which makes him many enemies among the nobles of Longxiao City." At this point, Leiston lowered his voice and said:
"The Earl of Risban was very dissatisfied with him for this."
Not only that.
It also caused a lot of dissatisfaction and protests for the Grand Duchess.
Leston said silently.
Putilai knew it well and nodded gently.
After passing through countless doorways and heavy guards, the group finally arrived in front of a dilapidated and old three-story building with almost no foyer. There were still many palace guards standing there, scanning them with vigilant and fierce eyes.
"It's just like being in prison...you know, there are guards watching everywhere..." a Star Attaché whispered to his companions.
A guy who was obviously the leader walked out of the palace guards. He was tall, with sharp eyes and a long knife at his waist.
Viscount Lesden greeted the captain of the guard.
"Lord Justin," the Viscount nodded politely, stretched out his hand to the stars behind him, and introduced: "This is..."
The former deputy commander of the White Blade Guards, Lord Justin, who once defended the palace under the offensive of the Black Sand Territory, nodded calmly and looked around the guest:
"Putilai Nimman, I recognize him."
Putilai smiled: "Nice to meet you, I think..."
But Lord Justin obviously didn't like to talk too much. He remained expressionless and interrupted Putilai straight to the point: "I know your purpose."
"He is in the backyard, come with me."
Putilai smiled slightly and thanked him for his understanding.
"I will wait for you here," Leisden stood there with his hands behind his back, pursed his lips and nodded: "It will be a while before the Grand Duchess takes charge."
With anticipation, Xingchen's entourage looked at each other and followed Putilai through the first floor of the building to the back courtyard.
Even under the sunlight, the backyard shrouded in tree crowns still looked eerie and dilapidated, as if no one had lived in it for a long time: the floor tiles were uneven, covered with tree roots protruding from the rocks, and the pale tree trunks and cracks
The courtyard walls are almost integrated into one. The walls are desolate and shadows are everywhere, creating an ominous atmosphere in the air, making people feel melancholy at first sight.
A dozen soldiers who looked like Starmen stood in the dilapidated courtyard, guarding the entrance and exit.
A young star in his twenties saw them from a distance, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurried over to greet them.
"Oh, this is really a surprise." The young man was tall and tall, with an ordinary face, but a pair of sharp eyes: "Your Highness... I thought you would arrive in a week."
When the young man came to Putilai, Xingchen's attendants couldn't help but notice that there was an unsheathed long sword on his waist, with a single blade.
"Nice to meet you," Putilai blew out a smoke ring without hesitation and raised his eyebrows: "Attendant Wyatt Castle."
Upon hearing this surname, Xingchen's visitors all cast strange glances at Huaiya.
It turns out that it belongs to "Cunning Fox"...
But the prince's attendant didn't seem to like this kind of gaze. He turned sideways to let out the scene behind him.
At first sight, the guests were attracted by the strange man leaning against the wall with his arms folded: he had short light hair and covered the area from his throat to his nose with a silver mask, only revealing his tattooed face.
The upper half of his face looked at the people coming with a cold and alert look, as if they were intruders.
It makes people quite uncomfortable.
He is probably not very friendly. Many people think so.
"boom!"
A muffled sound came.
The visitor from the stars immediately turned his attention to the two people who were practicing swordsmanship in the field where the sound came from.
What caught the eye was the seven or eight-year-old boy.
He was seen holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. He was covered in sweat, but his face was gritted with determination.
He withstood the attacks of the guard in front of him again and again.
"Raise your arms, pay attention to the ups and downs of my shoulders, anticipate the next attack, and defend in time..." The guard who was sparring with him was not tall to begin with, so he deliberately lowered his posture to take care of the boy's body.
Due to his movements and height, the wooden sword knocked on his joints from time to time, forcing the boy to retreat.
"boom!"
There was another muffled sound, and the boy fell to the ground in embarrassment.
He bit his lower lip, wiped the sweat from his head, rubbed his painful knees, and looked at the guard dissatisfied: "Does it have to be like this?"
"Stand up!" The guard shook his head and said in a serious and uncompromising tone, "Raise your sword!"
Huaiya frowned and looked at the seven or eight-year-old boy, as if he couldn't bear it, but in the end he stopped talking.
Putilai beside him narrowed his eyes and stared at the training on the field.
Everyone in Xingchen stretched their necks and looked at the boy on the ground who was gritting his teeth and enduring, but with a tough expression.
That is……
The only prince of the stars?
The one who was in the enemy's country as a hostage and used his life to maintain peace between the two countries...
But……
The visitors looked at the boy who was knocked down by a sword and felt sad.
The prince looked at his hands and legs, sighed heavily, and got up listlessly: "But this is too much to boast..."
"If you still want to inherit your father's position and take over his important responsibilities, isn't this necessary?" The guard's words came sternly from behind the helmet, which sounded scary, and the people watching around shook their heads: "Sharp
A sharp blade may be able to tear flesh and blood, but if it is held in a pair of unstable hands, you will not be able to cut even the most fragile reed!"
The prince, who was still a weak boy, could only take a deep breath to hold back his emotions. He refocused his attention and raised his sword and shield.
Many onlookers showed unbearable expressions, and many glanced at the newly arrived Putilai with strange expressions.
The sparring starts again.
"You know the essentials of this swordsmanship." Although the guard who looked like an instructor was stern, he still dutifully taught the boy and guided his movements: "The steps must be steady, but not too tight. Control your center of gravity. This is
It is especially important when transitioning between offense and defense..."
However.
"boom!"
The third time, the strong but weak boy fell hard to the ground, and the wooden sword fell to the ground.
There is no way to fight back.
Behind Putilai, the followers of Xingchen looked at each other with disappointment and looked away from the boy.
Obviously, His Royal Highness is not very talented in martial arts, and even knows nothing about it...
Their expectations became somewhat complicated.
If this is the future of Star Kingdom...
"That's enough," Huaiya, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't bear it anymore. The prince's attendant folded his arms and said dissatisfiedly to the boy's instructor: "He is only eight years old!"
Rolf, who was leaning against the wall, whistled softly and made a gesture that no one else could understand.
The prince on the ground took a deep breath, clenched his hands, and punched the ground hard, but he still looked at his instructor unyieldingly.
"Eight years old?"
The guard snorted coldly and looked down at the boy.
"When I was his age, the enemies I faced were far less merciful. I will give you a second, no, a twelfth chance to stand up!"
The prince who stood up turned pale.
"You don't need me to know how special your identity is."
The guard's words were merciless, which made the boy with a special status feel a little embarrassed and ashamed.
But the boy was still unconvinced: "But I am smarter than them all..."
"It's not a question of being smart or not!"
The guard's voice became more severe:
"Every one of your opponents is much older, more powerful, and more experienced than you! Without a strong will and a strong body, how will you step onto the highest position in the future and how will you control a situation?
entire……"
At this moment.
"Your Highness!"
A very high shout resounded throughout the entire place, even attracting the attention of the palace guards in the distance.
There was silence in the field.
Putilai took a step forward, patted Huaiya on the shoulder, and motioned for him to step back.
The guests from the stars all looked at the leader of their trip, expecting him to bring some changes to the seemingly weak prince.
After all, that is the future of Star Kingdom...
Only then did the seven or eight-year-old boy notice Putilai's arrival, and he scratched his head in embarrassment.
When the onlookers saw this scene, their expressions were strange.
The thin Lord looked at the field with sharp eyes.
After a second, he sighed softly.
"Your Highness, stop making trouble," Putilai put away his serious expression, with meaningful eyes, and said helplessly: "Be mature."
"It's time for you to grow up."
The boy blinked and looked around anxiously, as if he was a little scared.
A few seconds later.
The guard in front of the "Prince" moved slightly and dropped the wooden sword in his hand.
He stood up straight and turned his head.
The guard pulled his shoulder, and with the crackling sound of the joints, he took off the arm protectors and gloves: "Ah, you are really the same old person, with a bad sense of humor."
A muffled voice came from behind the helmet, as unpleasant as a drake's voice.
The people around him, whether it was Rolf or Wyatt, looked at the "guard" helplessly.
Putilai rubbed his forehead and felt that his head was as big as a bucket.
Xingchen's new entourage looked at each other in surprise, unable to react for a moment.
I saw the stern "guard" take off his helmet, revealing a handsome face of thirteen or fourteen years old.
The young man under the helmet shook his sweaty face, stepped forward, threw the helmet aside to Rolf, and smiled heartily at Putilai, who was half a head taller than him.
Under everyone's gaze, the boy-looking Thales Brightstar, the real second prince of the Kingdom of Stars, punched Putilai on the shoulder like an ordinary Northland man.
"Long time no see, Putilai."
Putilai, who was knocked back and took a step back, shook his head helplessly: "Thank you for being so 'quiet' to them."
He is truly a "quiet prince".
Thales laughed loudly, patted Putilai on the shoulder, and showed a fresh and relaxed smile to the people behind him, which made people feel close to him.
"Dear friends from home," the prince happily beat his chest and said loudly amidst the muffled sound in his chest: "Welcome to the Northland!"
Under the stunned expressions of his entourage, Putilai grinded his teeth and pursed his lips with a headache: "What happened to that boy?"
Thales then patted his head and turned around.
"Joseph, I met an old friend," the prince said, changing from his strict teacher attitude, he knelt down and said gently to the boy: "That's it for today. You can go back. Your father is probably waiting impatiently."
"Don't be nervous, my teacher told me: to learn this swordsmanship, you must first learn to take a beating."
The boy exhaled as if he was being forgiven, rolled his eyes and took off his protective gear: "I thought it was over for today."
Thales laughed.
The young prince turned his head and raised his eyebrows at Putilai, whose face was about to turn black to charcoal gray: "This is Joseph, the son of the chef. His dream is to take over his father's position, become the chef of the Palace of Heroes, and be in charge of the entire back kitchen.
...His status allowed him to apply for a chef apprenticeship at the age of eight, but as you know, the competition among the chefs in the Palace of Heroes is fierce, and what he is least good at is cutting meat, so he needs special training in using a knife..."
"Okay, okay..." Putilai sighed helplessly and flicked the embers out of his pipe: "I'm glad to see that you have become more cheerful in six years."
"Your Highness Thales."
Not the dead kid with a serious face in the past.
Thales's expression stopped for a second.
He stood up and stopped smiling.
As the prince's expression changed, the atmosphere among the guards and attendants also cooled down.
"No," he said calmly, "It's not six years."
Putilai responded with a confused look.
"I remember it very clearly," the prince raised his head and said with emotion: "Today is June 4, 679."
Thales looked at the sun in the sky and sighed with complicated eyes:
"It's six years and one hundred and sixty-seven days."
"I'm almost fourteen years old."
woo woo woo woo……
Thales... Wuwu... You have finally grown up...
I thought...I thought...woo hoo...
Everyone, hurry up! Give rewards, vote, and leave messages (Wu Jian burst into tears). Otherwise, what if he wakes up from bed in the next chapter and finds that he is still seven years old?