Blood and hatred

Chapter 17: Childhood Playmates

Back then, Empress Liang only gave birth to the eldest princess, second princess and fourth princess.Above Xiaolong was the third and fifth princes who were born to the general's daughter.As the sixth prince, Xiaolong had no predestined relationship with the crown prince, and he never thought of competing with others for the throne.

In the early winter of that year, Huangfu Xiaolong had just turned sixteen, and two months later he would perform the coronation ceremony, confer the title of King Lingxuan, and receive the fiefdom of Xiguan.

On this day, Xiaolong meets his younger cousin Chen Ning to go hunting.

Although the young Xiaolong riding on the black and bloody BMW has just reached the crown, he is born with an intimidating royal aura, which makes people subconsciously submit.The guards behind stood with their heads bowed, secretly regretting that Xiaolong was born as the sixth prince and could not be loved by the elderly emperor.

Xiaolong waited quietly.The time for the rendezvous has passed, but the emperor's cousin still hasn't appeared, Xiaolong can't help feeling puzzled and impatient.At this moment, the sound of several horseshoes came from a distance.Xiaolong turned his head and saw the gorgeously dressed Huang cousin rushing over with a smile, followed by a young boy whom he had never seen before.

I saw that young man with straight eyebrows, eyes like cold stars, and a pair of watery and thin lips tightly closed.Although obviously a little younger than himself, but the whole person exudes a feeling of reliability and trust.

"Who is it?" Xiaolong has never been easy to get close to people, even for this young man in front of him, Xiaolong is still somewhat alienated.

Cousin Chen Ning laughed, "Cousin Huang! This man is the son of General Fengxuan, Cui Xuan! We follow the same martial arts master. Now, Xuan is my good brother! His martial arts are really good. ah!"

But hearing the emperor's cousin's praise so hard, Xiaolong was half-believing, and looked at Cui Xuan up and down.I saw that person's delicate face with a three-point femininity.If it weren't for the long and narrow phoenix eyes and the somewhat masculine wild silhouette, Xiaolong would not have believed how good Cui Xuan's martial arts would be.

Xiaolong didn't say much, just said "follow me" and galloped away.The cousin Huang who was behind gave Cui Xuan a faint smile, and the two rode their horses to follow.

The three were happy to hunt, and Chen Ning also tried his best to match them up. Soon, the three became very close friends.

But who would have thought that the sworn friends at that time would one day become the emperor, the fourteenth prince, and the general of Beiluo?

On the day of Xiaolong's coronation ceremony, when the whole palace was busy with management, there was a sudden news that His Royal Highness was poisoned and fell into a coma.

Since the crown prince was murdered, the attackers were almost certainly aiming at the position of the crown prince.At that time, the old emperor was on guard and ordered to thoroughly investigate who the assassin of the prince belonged to, and postponed the coronation ceremony of the sixth prince Xiaolong.Afterwards, the emperor also suddenly announced that the fifth prince who had already lived in the fiefdom would be changed to be the crown prince.

All the palace and court were in chaos over this matter.Many ministers felt that the emperor's sudden decree was to point the finger of assassination at the fifth prince and put him in a difficult situation.Therefore, the officials couldn't help guessing whether the person who endangered the second prince would be the fifth prince, and it might be the emperor's trick to make him the prince.But within a month, the Fifth Prince was assassinated on the way back to Beijing and died immediately.Just when all civil and military officials thought that this was still within the emperor's calculations, it was the emperor on the dragon chair who showed horror, and everyone knew that all this was not within the emperor's expectations.The fact is that the old emperor has long lost his mind, and all the officials can't help worrying about the future of the country.

The fifth prince was killed, and the prince fell into a coma. Right now, only the sixth prince, who had just reached the crown, and the eighth prince, who was only three years old, remained.

Before Xiaolong could take the crown ceremony, he was suddenly tasked with helping find the mastermind of the assassination.

That night, Xiaolong was looking through the archives in the imperial study, and suddenly realized that two people had entered in private without being summoned, and he was immediately on guard.The people who came in were cousins ​​Chen Ning and Cui Xuan who hadn't seen for a long time, they all felt relieved, with rare smiles on their faces.

"Chen Ning, why are you here?"

Seeing Xiaolong's sudden smile, the two were slightly stunned, at a loss for what to do.I saw the six princes who had played together in the past standing behind the long table, and the look of reading the files suddenly made people mistakenly think that they were standing in front of the emperor.

"What's wrong?" Xiaolong was puzzled when he saw that the two were silent.

"Ah! Haha! It's nothing..." Chen Ning laughed a few times and walked to Xiaolong's side, "It's just that I haven't seen cousin Huang for a long time, we all miss you!"

"En." Although it was a simple answer, the smile on Xiaolong's face and those caressing eyes made Chen Ning and Cui Xuan feel at ease.

Just as Xiaolong was about to continue looking at the documents, suddenly a food box was placed on the table.Xiaolong looked up, and saw Cui Xuan put down the box, and said in a calm and respectful tone, "I heard that Your Highness has been busy investigating the matter of the crown prince and the fifth prince, and has never eaten properly. Cui Xuan specially brought these famous food in the capital. Small dishes and pastries, I hope His Highness will not hurt himself."

Xiaolong listened, and suddenly felt warm and indescribably moved in his heart.He stared blankly at the person in front of him: he has a beautiful face, but his martial arts are good.Recalling Cui Xuan's hunting posture, the cold eyes looking at the prey, and the calm posture of raising the bow and arrow.Xiaolong nodded secretly, feeling a subtle admiration for this person in his heart.

"Well, thanks." After Xiaolong thanked, he opened the box and said to the two, "Let's all eat together."

After hearing this, Chen Ning couldn't wait to pick something delicious from the box.Just as the cake was put to his mouth, Cui Xuan suddenly grabbed Chen Ning's wrist, "Don't eat it!"

The two looked at Cui Xuan not knowing why.Cui Xuan slowly explained, "These pastries have been poisoned..."

"What?!" Chen Ning yelled in horror, and the pastry in his hand immediately fell to the ground.

But Xiaolong didn't say a word, the caressing breath just now has completely disappeared.Now Leng Li stared straight at Cui Xuan, forcing him to tell the truth, "Cui Xuan heard someone tell my father that these pastries were poisoned. That person knew that Cui Xuan was better than His Highness, so he asked me to come here Give the cake to His Highness to eat..."

"Who is that man?"

"Cui Xuan doesn't know...I just heard my father call that man Dr. Liang..."

Xiaolong paused, then asked again, "Is your father forming a party with that person?"

Cui Xuan naturally understood the meaning.If it is said that my father formed a party with someone who intends to murder the emperor's grandchildren, then my own life will be in danger, "Cui Xuan doesn't know... but I heard that my father seems to have something to do with it. It is only in the hands of the other party that someone instigates it. After Dad received the box, he didn’t ask me to send it over immediately. He seemed to be thinking about something and hesitated.”

"Then why did you bring it?"

"Cui Xuan was afraid that if Dad was really under the control of others, and if he didn't obey, there might be difficulties, so he resolutely made the decision for Dad. But..."

"Let's go." Cui Xuan hadn't finished speaking, only heard Xiaolong say a word in a deep and cold voice.

"Your Highness?!"

"Go!" Xiaolong roared, shaking the entire Imperial Study Room.

Seeing the figures of the two going away, Xiaolong suddenly felt a pain in his heart.Just now, Cui Xuan probably told the truth because he was afraid that Chen Ning would eat those cakes.

If I didn't invite them to eat, would Cui Xuan stop me?  …

Thinking of this, Xiaolong only felt sore eyes, and felt unwilling for the first time in his life.It's as if you can't get what you want.That kind of unfamiliar pain makes people feel uncomfortable.

Finally, the incident was found out.The mastermind of the poisoning and assassination was Queen Liang.Empress Liang was unwilling to give birth to a prince, so she decided to make the eldest princess the empress, so she decided to poison all the princes.General Fengxuan was found out for embezzling food and pay, and was controlled by Queen Liang as a handle.The sixth prince regretted the great general's service in protecting the country in the past, and removed him from the post of the great general, and he was never allowed to set foot in the imperial court again.

In the spring of the following year, the sixth prince was canonized as the crown prince.In the second year since the crown prince was established, the first emperor passed away, and Xiaolong ascended the throne at the age of 19, making him the youngest emperor in history.

Soon after Xiaolong came to power, he controlled the people's hearts and officials, and handled state affairs decisively and properly.In the second year of his reign, Hong Shinian, the son-in-law of the former Taifu, was appointed as Taifu.Later, after discussing with the new Taifu, it was decided to send Cui Xuan, the son of the former General Fengxuan, to the north to recover the lost land.

Four years later, Cui Xuan returned triumphantly and was awarded the title of Great General of Beiluo.

On that day, when Cui Xuan returned to Beijing to face Sheng, Xiaolong saw his childhood playmate who used to hunt together kneeling at his feet, feeling complicated in his heart.

But what made him feel the most uncomfortable was that Cui Xuan hadn't seen him for four years, and Cui Xuan secretly visited the fourteenth prince Chen Ning's mansion first.

Xiaolong was unwilling.

The general at the bottom of the steps bowed his head and knelt with great respect, but what I want is not your awe.Why can you be so close to Chen Ning?Are you so alienated from me?Haven't we played together before?

Xiaolong felt uncomfortable.Those in power are high above, can't they have irreversible friends who can talk to each other about their concerns?

ENDIF