Chapter 169: The Movement in Yingtian Prefecture
Zhu Di’s original internal supporters included Li Jinglong, the traitor, and Xu Zengshou, the brother-in-law who naturally stood on Zhu Di’s side. Prince Gu… didn’t seem to be on his side.

After all, from the very beginning of Zhu Di’s rebellion, Prince Gu had been running and jumping all the way, fleeing from the north to Yingtian Prefecture. Now it seems a bit redundant for him to turn to Prince Yan.

But it is undeniable that Prince Gu was really scared.

After he arrived in Yingtian Prefecture, he saw the King of Dai, the King of Xiang, and the imprisoned kings.

Perhaps when the old man was still alive, they disliked each other, and their character was not so perfect. Some people, like the King of Dai, even deserved to be put to death.

But seeing that they were trapped in this small square courtyard and had to spend the rest of their lives in this way, and even their descendants would have to live like this, King Gu felt a chill down his spine.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel grief for the loss of his loved one.

It would be fine if the King of Dai did this.

He’s not a good person at all anyway.

The previous show of power and arrogance was only due to the influence of his parents.

But how innocent is the King of Xiang?

Prince Gu had been feeling anxious these days, and after receiving letters from Prince Yan for several days in a row, he finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

Admittedly, he was an opportunist, but what influenced his decision to a greater extent was… Zhu Yunwen’s plan to reduce the power of the princes.

The Jingnan Campaign is no joke.

But at the same time, reducing the power of the feudal lords… is not a joke.

A few days passed by.

Xu Huizu could clearly feel that as time went by, Xu Zengshou’s little movements became more and more frequent.

is the day.

When Xu Huizu returned from outside the mansion with a tired look on his face, he saw Xu Zengshou coming out of the study in the front yard. He was moving stealthily and there was a sense of curiosity in his movements.

The corner of Xu Huizu’s mouth twitched.

Stupid brother.

This guilty look clearly tells others that he is doing something bad in secret.

But Xu Huizu had to play opposite him.

Thinking of this, Xu Huizu tensed his face, straightened his expression, and walked forward.

The sound of footsteps came.

As Xu Huizu had been suffering from a cold and a slight cough recently, Xu Zengshou stopped in his tracks and was caught in a dilemma.

How to do?
Should I run away now… or stay where I am and pretend nothing happened?

Xu Zengshou was about to take a step forward, but he found that the noise he made was too loud, so he subconsciously retracted his foot and stood straight in place like a dried salted fish.

After seeing this, Xu Huizu coughed a little more violently. Then, after calming down, he looked at Xu Zengshou:

“Why are you here when you’re not staying in the house?”

Could Xu Zengshou say that he came to inquire about important matters of the previous dynasty, and to peek at memorials exchanged between the emperor and his ministers, and even the official reports and letters from the north?

He felt a little guilty, but he disguised it well.

“I’m too full, let’s go for a stroll in the front yard.”

cut.

Who are you trying to fool?
Xu Huizu sneered in his heart, but on the surface he sighed and looked worried:

“Okay, let’s go back to the house after eating. I want to live a peaceful life like this for a few days, but I’m afraid that I won’t be able to live like this by then.”

During this period of time, Xu Zengshou had been exchanging letters with Prince Yan in private, and Xu Zengshou did this in an extremely secretive manner.

Of course, that’s what he thought.

In fact, in the entire Weiguo Mansion, all these little actions of Xu Zengshou were seen by Xu Huizu.

Xu Huizu just saw through it but didn’t say it out loud. In addition, there were so many intertwined thoughts in his heart that he didn’t say it out loud even after such a long time.

Even… sometimes when Xu Zengshou was in a hurry and exposed his tracks, Xu Huizu would help cover them up.

But after Xu Huizu said this, Xu Zengshou was unwilling to leave.

He opened his eyes wide and asked tentatively:

“What’s going on? Are you preparing for a war? No way! Could the King of Yan really fight his way to Yingtian Prefecture? To be honest, he should still be hanging around in Jinan or Dezhou, right?”

Xu Huizu narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, his expression became half-smile. He just looked at Xu Zengshou like that, making Xu Zengshou, who was already feeling guilty, feel his heart pounding.

But when Xu Zengshou looked again, Xu Huizu had returned to normal, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.

Xu Zengshou felt a little guilty and silently added:
“Isn’t it right?”

You just came out of the front yard study.

Is there anything right in what he said… Doesn’t this silly brother know?
Xu Huizu was too lazy to pay attention to the guy.

snort!
Full of loopholes.

He waved his hand, as if to shoo away a fly, and spoke directly:

“Alright, alright, there’s news from Jinan, the situation isn’t good. His Majesty hasn’t been very cheerful these past two days, so you better be careful.”

Ha ha.

Zhu Yunwen was not very happy, which meant that the situation on Prince Yan’s side was good. In this way, Xu Zengshou felt happy.

What’s more…the news about Zhu Yunwen and his elder brother might not be as fast as that of Xu Zengshou.

According to the news obtained by Xu Zengshou, Prince of Yan has already conquered Xuzhou and is estimated to be close to Yingtian Prefecture.

It’s time for Xu Zengshou to appear…

Xu Zengshou was lost in his own thoughts and just missed the thoughtful look from Xu Huizu.

Seeing that Xu Zengshou was still in deep thought, Xu Huizu smiled and said nothing else. He changed his pace and walked towards the backyard.

Just walked under the eaves.

A little kid came running over from not far away.

That was Xu Huizu’s son, Xu Qin.

Looking at Xu Qin, Xu Huizu couldn’t help but think of Zhu Gaoyu.

To be honest, Zhu Gaoyu is about the same age as Xu Qin.

Just judging from the news coming back from the front line, his peer Zhu Gaoyu has already made great achievements on the battlefield. His archery skills are enough to assist his father and brother in battle. He has even made remarkable achievements in logistics and firearms modification.

However, in contrast, Xu Qin…

Xu Qin was still playing around foolishly at this moment, like a heartless idiot.

If Zhu Gaoyu had not existed, perhaps Xu Huizu would not have thought there was anything wrong with this.

After all… they are just children.

But what people fear most is comparison.

As a result, Xu Huizu couldn’t help but sigh when he looked at his silly son.

Want to urge this kid…

Xu Huizu, however, was clear-headed and understood that a “cunning” child like Zhu Gaoyu was not something that could be found easily.

In the past, people said that Zhu Gaoyu was a child prodigy, but Xu Huizu did not agree with it and thought it would be a disservice to Zhongyong.

But now, even Xu Huizu had to admit it.

This guy Zhu Gaoyu is really something.

In comparison, Xu Qin is not a stupid kid, he is just a normal kid.

At this moment, Xu Qin saw Xu Huizu, and his eyes immediately widened. He looked at his father eagerly, with a sparkling tear swirling in his eye sockets, which seemed to be about to fall out, and his voice was pitiful:

“father……”

Xu Qin was Xu Huizu’s only son, but Xu Huizu did not want to spoil his son. In front of his son, he was not strict, but he was not a doting father who blindly spoiled his child either.

“what’s up?”

When Xu Qin heard this, his glass heart almost broke, and he felt even more wronged:

“Dad, is Prince Dinghai going to die?!”

“Cough cough cough…”

When Xu Huizu heard this, he almost choked on his saliva.

What is this child thinking about all day long?

Xu Qin saw it, but thought that his father reacted like this because he was right.

Finally he couldn’t stand it any longer.

With a “wow” sound, Xu Qin opened his mouth and burst into tears.

“Dad, can you please not kill the young prince? He is such a nice guy. He would play with me, eat, drink and have fun with me, and even take me to the Imperial College to bully others…”

Wait a minute!

Something seems wrong…

Is bullying something worth boasting about? !
The key is what these two kids have done in the past.

At least Xu Huizu didn’t know about the Imperial College!
Xu Huizu narrowed his eyes and deliberately tormented the kid, with a fierce face, trying to scare the child:
“The matter of the Prince of Dinghai concerns the Prince of Yan, so I have no right to interfere. You’d better give up on this idea!”

After saying this, Xu Huizu thought for a moment, looked at Xu Qin’s red eyes, and felt a little puzzled. He added:
“What kind of magic potion did he feed you? It has taken you so long and you are still thinking about him. He even made your father commit such a capital crime! Do you know what Zhu Gaoyu and the Prince of Yan are doing now?”

Xu Qin knows nothing.

Just today when he went to the Imperial College, he heard those Japanese people gloatingly discussing that if Zhu Gaoyu was captured by the imperial court, his entire family would be killed without a burial place.

Xu Qin had never faced such a thing before.

As soon as he heard the news, he ran home in a hurry and didn’t even want to listen to the gossip in the Imperial College.

After hearing what Xu Huizu said, Xu Qin became as stubborn as a donkey:
“I don’t care! When I was deceived by those Japanese people in the Imperial College, you could only spank me with a bamboo stick, but only my cousin Gao Yu spoke up for me.”

“He not only speaks for me, but also helps me find solutions, helps me solve problems, and helps me vent my anger. Dad, why can’t you give me a brother? My requirements are not high, as long as he is half as good as my cousin!”

After Xu Huizu heard this, his expression relaxed for a moment.

Come to think of it, when he was young, wasn’t it the same for Xu Huizu, as the eldest brother, to treat his younger brothers?
It’s just that as we grew up, the interests involved with each other became more and more numerous, so we gradually became somewhat distant.

Now, after hearing from Xu Qin about Zhu Gaoyu, Xu Huizu felt a little dazed for a rare time.

He was silent for a long time before he spoke:
“Children should not ask about adults’ affairs. It’s late, go back to bed.”

Get some sleep, maybe the problem will be solved.

(End of this chapter)