Baoding City, this courtyard that was disliked by the innkeeper because the reading in the academy was too noisy, has now become the most "noble" place in Baoding City.
Around the courtyard, there are three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry, filled with soldiers from Daning Dusi.
Those "sensible" and capable people locked their doors and moved their families to other places temporarily.
The people who are relatively poor and have no second place to live are left behind. They close their homes as if they are in prison and will never go out for a walk unless they have nothing to do.
I dare not say that not even a fly can fly in around the yard. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is like an iron bucket.
Daning Dusi, who had been silent for more than ten years, faced the "first battle" that could change his destiny. How could he not rack his brains and work extra hard?
Within a few dozen feet around the courtyard, except for soldiers holding sharp weapons to strictly control the situation, and groups of soldiers wearing armor patrolling, no other human figure could be seen.
In the yard, on the stone table under the shade of a tree, there was a plate of peanuts and a plate of braised beef.
On the plate with the beef, there is a pair of vermilion solid wood chopsticks.
"Can you use the chopsticks?" Looking at Xiao Chen, and then at the braised beef that exuded an alluring aroma, Zhu Gaochi's throat surged, and he quietly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Opposite Zhu Gaochi, Xiao Chen sat. On both sides were Duan Tianming and Liu Rufeng.
"Before I use my chopsticks, I have to declare something." Xiao Chen chuckled.
"Say it quickly." Zhu Gaochi said impatiently, his throat moving slightly again.
"His Highness has the handsome, agile and neat figure he has today. We have worked together for nearly a month. To maintain this good image, we need to persist in good habits. Just these two sets.
If you eat the food, you will have to wait until tomorrow before eating. Can Your Highness do it?" Xiao Chen asked seriously as he stared at Zhu Gaochi.
"Yes, yes, yes." Zhu Gaochi nodded like a chicken eating rice, "I understand your painstaking efforts, and I also know the importance of a good image to myself."
Even so, his eyes never left the plate of braised beef.
"We can do our best. If we can't do it, we will have no other options. That's because Your Highness gave up on your own initiative. Your Highness, please use your chopsticks." Xiao Chen said softly.
With Xiao Chen's permission, Zhu Gaochi slowly picked up the pair of vermilion wooden chopsticks, picked up a piece of beef that was not too big, put it into his mouth, and chewed it slowly.
The other three people stood up straight and watched Zhu Gaochi's mouth move quietly without saying a word.
Maybe he was too hungry, maybe he hadn't smelled meat for more than a month, and before he could chew the beef completely, Zhu Gaochi "accidentally" swallowed it.
With the chopsticks in his hand, he "dexterously" picked up another piece of meat and quickly stuffed it into his mouth. But in his heart, he wanted to pick up the whole plate and pour it into his mouth.
But facing the supervision of three pairs of eyes, Zhu Gaochi still "didn't dare" to do this.
Only when all the beef went into his stomach and not even a grain of peanut was left, did Zhu Gaochi feel that the overwhelming hunger in his stomach was slightly relieved.
However, looking at the empty plate, he had no choice but to put down his chopsticks.
I just want to take a nap and time will pass faster. When I wake up, I can eat a plate of beef and a plate of peanuts.
Seeing Zhu Gaochi put down his chopsticks, Xiao Chen smiled slightly: "Your Highness, are you full?"
Using the long nail of his little finger to dig into the gap between his teeth a few times, Zhu Gaochi said with a sad face: "To be honest, it's almost the same as not eating."
"Is it the same as not eating? It looks like you don't need to eat tomorrow."
"No, no," Zhu Gaochi quickly changed his words, "If it's just a little bit worse, I'll be full."
"How much is a little?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
"That's just two plates of beef."
"Two plates of beef, that's your meal for two days, Your Highness." Xiao Chen shook his head, "Today's meal cannot occupy tomorrow's meal, let's stop here?!"
"If you don't even feed me, if you don't stop, what can I do?" Zhu Gaochi leaned back and stared at the empty plate, feeling very dissatisfied.
"I won't talk about the importance of your body sculpting, your highness. Your weak body alone can't bear overeating and eating. Please take a short rest and I will help you regain your physical fitness later."
"Recover your physical strength? Can you eat again?" Zhu Gaochi's eyes shot out two rays of light, he leaned forward, put his elbows and forearms on the table, and looked at Xiao Chen with a hopeful look on his face.
"Your Highness." Xiao Chen's face darkened, and he stood up: "Your body is in shape, but what it lacks is strength. You also know why the emperor wanted to reestablish the crown prince. It was because of King Zhao.
The King of Han and the others have too many similarities with the emperor. People are selfish, especially when facing the supreme power. Whether it is the King of Zhao or the King of Han, not to mention how resourceful they are, they fight on horseback and gallop on the battlefield with heroic demeanor.
, but it allows the emperor to see his own shadow. The emperor is unwilling to let go of the power in his hands, and will never let go. Passing the throne to them, looking at their shadows, he can still imagine that he is still in charge.
Imperial power, this should be the real reason why the emperor wants to reestablish the crown prince."
"I understand this. The illness in my early years prevented me from leading troops in war. Compared with my two younger brothers, this is also my fatal flaw. But now, in my father's mind, the impression that I cannot gallop on the battlefield has been deeply ingrained. I want to
Changing all this will not happen overnight." Zhu Gaochi sat up straight and said with a serious face.
He understood Xiao Chen's painstaking efforts, and he cooperated very much with Xiao Chen's reshaping of himself. But it was so difficult to change the impression in his father's mind, especially when he was already in his twilight years.
"From today on, this courtyard will be the place where His Highness practices equestrian skills. I hope that when His Highness returns to Beijing to see the Emperor, he will not only change his body shape, but also use his own qualities to confirm that the Emperor will not return the favor to the Crown Prince.
Determination." Xiao Chen said with a serious face.
"Okay, I not only want to practice equestrian skills, but I also want to practice martial arts with you." Zhu Gaochi pushed the chair behind him and stood up.
"Commander Duan, you will be teaching the prince's equestrian skills these days. Liu Qianhu, you are responsible for the prince's basic martial arts skills." Xiao Chen ordered.
"What about you, why are you going?" Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but ask.
If you push yourself to someone else, what is this guy going to do?
"The people we captured in the academy next to us are only part of the opponent's force in Baoding City. There are also people from the opponent hidden in the Baoding City Guards. While Daning Dusi has taken control of Baoding City, I want to
Go and eliminate these people completely and ensure the safety of His Highness."
"Didn't you say you don't want to deal with this matter urgently?" Zhu Gaochi said.
"Idle time is idle. Chatting with His Highness all the time will affect your cultivation. If these forces are not eliminated for one day, I will have trouble sleeping and eating. I have an occupational disease and there is nothing I can do about it." Xiao Chen laughed.
Hearing that Xiao Chen was going to clean up the Baoding City guards, Duan Tianming smiled at Liu Rufeng beside him: "Liu Qianhu, how about we divide the work, you teach His Highness the basic martial arts skills in the morning, and I teach His Highness equestrian skills in the afternoon?"
"Why do we have to separate morning and afternoon? Why are we so clearly divided?" Liu Rufeng was startled.
"He is still thinking about the two Dongchang army horses that were taken away by the guards." Xiao Chen laughed.
"If you didn't tell me, I would have almost forgotten it. Forget about morning and afternoon, I will be training His Highness in basic martial arts skills today, so you and Xiao Chen can go and do it. These things that the geese have plucked out, please take care of them.
." Liu Rufeng said angrily.
"Your Highness, you and Liu Qianhu will practice basic skills today, and we will go out and 'go through the formalities.'" With that said, Duan Tianming followed Xiao Chen out of the gate one after another.
Baoding government office, the prefect Li Huaigu sat at the table in the hall with a dark face.
A bowl of steaming fragrant tea was placed on the table, and a government official bowed slightly and stood quietly aside.
"My lord, have you not seen the prince today?" asked the colleague.
"See, see what I see. Huh." Li Huaigu slapped his left hand on the table hard, "Everywhere within a mile is controlled by the soldiers of Daning Dusi. On weekdays, the government offices and Daning Dusi Wells
The water does not interfere with the river, and everyone has nothing to do with each other. I also treated Wang Zheng with great courtesy. Unexpectedly, I went to pay a visit to the prince, but was turned away. "
