Chapter 246 The Prince Invites

Chapter 246 The Prince Invites

Chapter 246 The Prince Invites
Yang Zhao shook his head, "I'm a pampered younger sister, and you're a pampered older sister. You crazy girl is going to go crazy now!"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Brother, do you have something important to talk to me about?"

Yang Zhao nodded and said, "Tomorrow is Xiaobao'er's half-year birthday. I want to have a family dinner. I hope you can come too!"

"Does the princess agree?" Xiao Xia asked calmly.

"That's what she meant. She feels bad about the share you gave to Feiyan Restaurant."

Xiao Xia groaned in silence, and Yang Zhao added, "Third uncle and Zhu Rong will also be here!"

Xiao Xia smiled and nodded, "When?"

Yang Zhao felt relieved and said quickly, "In the afternoon! You can come a little later."

"Okay! I'll come over as soon as I finish my work at the military camp!"

Yang Feiyan chose a room and left with her brother.

Xiao Xia sat in the study for a while. He remembered something and walked quickly to the gate and placed a pot of flowers on the wall.

Not long after, Ah Chu came to report, "Two people came outside, an uncle and an auntie, they said they were the young master's men."

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "They are indeed my men. One is called Sun Lei and the other is called Li Luming. Please ask them to wait for me in the guest hall!"

Soon, Xiao Xialai also arrived at the guest hall. Sun Lei and Li Luming stood up and saluted, "Greetings, my lord!"

Xiao Xia waved his hand, "Just call me Young Master from now on. Calling me Lord will make people sensitive if they hear it!"

"We remember."

Xiao Xia said slowly: "I have two things to tell you. First, I want to arrange for the thirty of you to go to the barracks to train in archery and horseback archery for one or two months. Of course, you are different from the soldiers. You don't need to report for duty. You can live in the barracks or not."

"We will resolutely obey your arrangements!"

"Second, keep an eye on this person, Yun Shide, the eldest son of the Yun family. Keep track of his whereabouts. If he violates the law, especially if he violates the curfew, report to me immediately!"

"Follow the order!"

Crown Prince Yang Yong locked himself in his room for three whole days and finally came out.

He had lost a lot of weight. When he came out of the room, he saw several of his sons kneeling on the ground to apologize. The second son, Yang Yu, was especially remorseful. He was the one who orchestrated the Xiao Xia incident, but he didn't expect to fail so miserably and almost ruin his father.

Yang Yong waved his hands, "All of you get up, this is not your fault, let me talk to Mr. Zhang, all of you go!"

Everyone stood up, bowed, and left.

Zhang Yunqiu stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, why don't you have a good rest tonight and talk about it tomorrow!"

Yang Yong sighed and said, "If I don't talk to someone about some things, I can't sleep!"

Zhang Yunqiu nodded and followed Yang Yong into the study. Yang Yong sat down tiredly and said, "I regret not forgetting the master's instructions and provoking that Xiao Xia again. As a result, I almost fell to my death. It breaks my heart!"

Zhang Yunqiu said after a while: "I am also responsible for this matter. I shouldn't have advised His Highness not to care about Xiao Xia. I underestimated the enemy."

Yang Yong perked up and asked, "Sir, do you also think Xiao Xia is a strong opponent?"

"Your Highness, I do not think Xiao Xia is a strong rival. I have carefully considered and analyzed the past two days, and I finally saw the clue. Xiao Xia is not the left and right arm of King Jin. He is just King Jin's retreat. King Jin's left and right arms are still Yang Zhao and Yang Ling. Yang Ling suddenly disappeared during this period. I guess he went to train his private army."

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Yunqiu laughed and said, "Your Highness, they are not of the same mind!"

Yang Yong was silent for a moment and then said, "You mean to say that the King of Jin doesn't trust this son?"

"It's not a question of trust. It's that Yang Guang can't control his son. Your Highness, look at what Xiao Xia has done over the past year, even everything he did in Jiangdu. It was not arranged by Yang Guang. It was all Xiao Xia's own hard work. Even the house he lives in now was bought with his own money. It has nothing to do with Yang Guang. I feel that there is a deep gap between them. It is difficult for outsiders to detect. Only they understand it in their hearts."

Yang Yong did not say anything. He knew exactly where the problem was. Xiao Xia was a fake like himself. Yang Guang's real son was dead. Of course there was a gap between them, just like between him and his father. His father hated him, but because he was the eldest son, he had to make him the crown prince.

An idea suddenly popped up in Yang Yong's mind. Since Xiao Xia was not Yang Guang's real son, could he win him over? However, this idea only flashed through his mind and quickly disappeared.

Yang Yong held his head in his hands for a long time and said, "I have been thinking about it for three days. I always feel that something is wrong with this disastrous defeat, but I can't figure out where the problem lies."

Zhang Yunqiu said: "It should be that the location of the store is too sensitive. It is easy to see our intentions. Moreover, the Yun family's way of doing things is criticized. If they just paid to buy the store, nothing would happen, and Xiao Xia would not find out. In fact, it was the Yun family who messed up!"

"It's not just the Yun family. I feel there are other problems. To be honest, sir, I'm a little suspicious of Yuwen Shu!"

"why?"

"I suspect he told Yuwen Chengdu, who then conducted a detailed investigation and reported it to the emperor."

"Your Highness, this shouldn't be the case."

Yang Yong sighed and said, "Let's not worry about this matter for now. I want to talk to Xiao Xia in person!"

Zhang Yunqiu was startled, "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Yang Yong waved his hand. "Actually, I should have talked to him a long time ago. Don't worry! He also wants to talk to me. Please help me contact him, sir."

Zhang Yunqiu pondered for a moment and nodded. He also agreed that the prince and Xiao Xia should have some contact. This could eliminate their mutual hostility, ease the tension, and perhaps even arouse Yang Guang's suspicion. A little trick could trigger a conflict between them as father and son.

"I will contact him tomorrow morning and try to have a meeting with him at noon!"

The next morning, Xiao Xia brought Liu Wenjing to the military camp. He introduced his aide Liu Wenjing to everyone, and Liu Wenjing took office immediately. He had his own tent. Xiao Xia also handed him the official seal of the Fourth Battalion, which was basically a routine.

The staff are not subordinates, they are supposed to work on behalf of the commander. The documents and forms in the normal process need to be stamped with the official seal, and the staff can just stamp it directly. However, important documents still need Xiao Xia's signature, and only then will they report to Xiao Xia.

Moreover, there is another advantage of having the official seal in Liu Wenjing's hands. The seven military officers below must obey Liu Wenjing's arrangements, otherwise they will not be able to complete their tasks if Liu Wenjing does not stamp it.

This was also why Xiao Xia gave Liu Wenjing some power in order to support him and directly gave him part of his review authority.

After a brief meeting with all the generals, Xiao Xia went on patrol on horseback. He had five prefectures under his command. Among them, Zhao Shanzhi, the Lieutenant General of the Second Prefecture, had followed the previous general to Yunnan to quell the rebellion. Xiao Xia then temporarily served as the Lieutenant General of the Second Prefecture.

The Right Wuhou Guard was responsible for the public security of Wannian County, and shared the same border with the Left Wuhou Guard with Zhuque Street as the boundary, so two patrolling cavalry could often be seen on Zhuque Street. Three months later, they would be exchanged, with the Right Wuhou Guard going to patrol Chang'an County and the old city.

Xiao Xia followed a team of two hundred cavalrymen riding slowly on Zhuque Street. Behind Xiao Xia, a warhorse was carrying a long spear with a scabbard on the head to prevent the spear from accidentally hurting people. A cavalryman was responsible for leading the horse.

Xiao Xia also felt that it was a bit exaggerated. In fact, if you don't go to the battlefield, the lance is useless. You can just leave it at home next time.

At this time, a cavalryman stepped forward and saluted Xiao Xia, saying, "General, someone is looking for you, saying it's your friend!"

Xiao Xia turned around and saw a carriage parked not far behind him. The curtain was drawn and inside sat a middle-aged scholar whom Xiao Xia did not recognize.

He was somewhat surprised, so he urged his horse forward and asked, "Who are you?"

The middle-aged scholar stroked his beard and smiled, "I am the chief aide to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. My name is Zhang Yunqiu. I wonder if the general is free at noon?"

Xiao Xia said calmly: "Whether I have time at noon depends on what you have to do!"

Seeing that there was no one around, Zhang Yunqiu whispered, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would like to invite you for a drink!"

Xiao Xia sneered, "Does the prince want to hold a Hongmen Banquet?"

Zhang Yunqiu quickly shook his head, "Of course not, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that he admired the poems written by the general and wanted to discuss it with you in private. He has no ill intentions at all!"

"Noon?"

Zhang Yunqiu nodded, "At noon, at the Red Pine Room of Wencui Restaurant, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be waiting for you in the room. General, you can bring your sword, no problem!"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I will definitely be there!"

(End of this chapter)