The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 179

After lunch, Zhao Yao went back to his tent to rest.

Tong Xi brought the chopped raw mutton.Zhao Yao took it, picked up a small piece with chopsticks and fed it to Xiaobai.

"Your Highness, Xiaobai seems to grow on your body." He never saw Xiaobai leave His Highness's body. "Now Xiaobai is still young and can still wrap around your arm, but when it grows up, what should we do?" Tong Xi imagined Xiaobai growing into a big snake and wrapping around Zhao Yao, and was frightened.

"When Xiaobai grows up, it won't be so shy." Zhao Yao stretched out his fingers and gently touched Xiaobai's small head.

Xiaobai was very comfortable being touched, and he took the initiative to rub Zhao Yao's finger with his little head.

"Your Highness, Xiaobai seems to have grown up a bit."

Zhao Yao looked at Xiaobai carefully, then stretched out his palm and gestured.

"It has indeed grown a bit, almost a foot long."

Tong Xi stared at Xiao Bai, and suddenly found that there seemed to be characters on Xiao Bai's head, and exclaimed: "Your Highness, do you see the word [King] on Xiao Bai's head?"

Hearing what Tong Xi said, Zhao Yao lowered his head to look carefully at Xiao Bai's head, and found that there was indeed a vague word [王].If you don't look carefully, you really can't see it.

"Xiaobai, why is there a king character on your head?"

Xiaobai tilted his head, and asked in a doubtful tone: [Wang Zi?What is the word? 】

Zhao Yao suddenly thought of a possibility, and said excitedly, "Xiaobai, you must be the Snake King, right?"

[Snake King? 】Xiaobai said, 【I am not the snake king, but I should be the leader of our clan. 】

"The leader of the White Snake Clan?" Zhao Yao said enthusiastically, "Isn't that the Snake King?"

Xiaobai didn't understand very well, after all, not long after it was born, its parents were gone.The reason why it can grow up safely is thanks to the help of Bailu.

"Xiaobai, I didn't expect you to be the Snake King." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "I found a treasure."

"Your Highness, Xiaobai is really the Snake King." Tong Xi was also very excited, "This... If it is really the Snake King, can Xiaobai command all the snakes?"

Zhao Yao asked: "Xiaobai, can you command all the snakes?"

Xiaobai: [I don’t know, I haven’t tried it. 】

"When you grow up, try it." Zhao Yao imagined the scene of Xiaobai ordering all the snakes, and his mood was very excited.

Xiaobai said obediently: [Okay. 】

"Come on, continue eating meat." Zhao Yao picked up another piece of mutton for Xiaobai.

Although Xiaobai is very small, he has a big appetite, and he finished a big bowl of mutton.

After feeding Xiaobai, Zhao Yao was ready to lie down and rest.At this time, Ling Yunfei came in.

Seeing Ling Yun coming, Xiaobai was so frightened that he crawled into Zhao Yao's sleeve and wrapped himself around Zhao Yao's arm.

Ling Yun ate snakes a lot before.They are the natural enemies of snakes. When Xiaobai sees them, he will naturally be afraid.

When Emperor Wu of Zhou came to spring hunting, he would definitely bring Ling Yun with him.

When hunting in the morning, Ling Yun caught several hares and foxes.

It gave half of the hares and foxes it caught to Zhao Yao, and kept the remaining half for himself to eat.

Ling Yun had just finished his big meal, and there were bloodstains on its beak, chest, and paws.

"Laifu, you stink to death, stay away from me." Zhao Yao smelled the stench of Ling Yun's body and looked disgusted.

Ling Yun said unhappily: [Where do I stink? 】

Zhao Yao pointed to Ling Yun's mouth, "You still have blood on your body, did you just eat the hare?"

【yes. 】

"It's so dirty." Zhao Yao said to Tong Xi, "Go get a basin of warm water."

"The slave is going here."

After a while, Tong Xi brought a basin of warm water.

Zhao Yao pointed to the basin, and said to Ling Yun: "You fly in, and I'll wash you, or I won't hug you."

Ling Yun said reluctantly: 【It's really troublesome. 】It said so, but it still flew into the basin obediently.

Zhao Yao squatted on the ground, took a towel and carefully washed the blood on Ling Yun's beak, chest and paws.

"By the way, Laifu, you will fly to the forest to the north later, and help me see if there is anyone or something there?"

[The woods in the north? 】

"I went hunting in the woods in the north in the morning. Except for birds, there was no other animal. Do you think it's strange?"

[That's quite strange, I'll help you to have a look later. 】

After washing Ling Yun, Zhao Yao took a cloth to dry its feathers.

Zhao Yao yawned and said, "I'm sleepy, I need to take a nap first. Tell me when I wake up."

【good. 】After Ling Yun finished speaking, he waved his wings and flew out.

When Ling Yunfei went to the forest to the north, he saw some people.These people were sent by the Fourth Prince to check in the northern forest.

The forest in the north is very big, Ling Yun carefully inspected it from beginning to end.

Before Ling Yunfei returned to Zhao Yao's camp, the people sent by the fourth prince had already gone back.

"Your Highness, we didn't dare to go too deep, but there are indeed no other animals in the place we checked."

"Your Highness, there are many thorns and bushes in the depths of the northern forest. If someone is really hiding there, it will be difficult to be found."

"Your Highness, the atmosphere in the forest to the north is indeed strange."

Wei Mian was startled and said, "Could it be that there are assassins hiding in the forest to the north?"

The fourth prince frowned and said nothing.

"What are you doing hiding in the northern forest?" said a man wearing a guard uniform. "The northern forest is remote, no one goes hunting there, who is hiding there to assassinate?"

"If they plan to come to the camp at night to assassinate, it is tantamount to throwing themselves into a trap."

"These assassins wouldn't be so stupid as to come to the camp to assassinate at night, would they?"

The camp was surrounded by Imperial Guards, the same as Tietong.Let alone a person, even a fly cannot enter the camp.Also, the camp is patrolled by Praetorian Guards and Imperial Guardsmen.

Even if the assassin broke in, he would be taken down by the guards and guards in the camp.It is even possible to be shot into a sieve.

Since the prince was assassinated in Hulong Temple last time, Shen Hu and Chu Ying have strengthened their defenses.

"The forests are interconnected and not separated." The fourth prince said sharply, "From the forests in the north, you can go to the forests in the east and south."

Hearing what the fourth prince said, Wei Mian and the others all showed stunned expressions, and then their expressions became serious.

"Your Highness, do you mean that the assassins first hid in the forest in the north, and then passed through the forest in the north to the forest in the east or south?"

"Yeah." The forests in the east and south, because there are many prey, there are many people hunting in these two places.Especially in the forest to the east, Father and the others often go hunting.The Imperial Guards will carefully inspect the forest on the east side from inside to outside, and will guard it, and will never let a suspicious person appear there.

Assassins can't hide in the woods to the east or south at all.As for the forests in the north, because of its remote location and the fact that no one went hunting, the inspection of the forests in the north was not so strict.

Wei Mian asked with some horror: "Your Highness, what should we do next?"

"I'm going to see my father." Regardless of whether there are assassins hiding in the forest to the north, he must tell his father about it.

"Your Highness, we haven't found an assassin in the forest to the north. What do you say to the Emperor?"

"Tell the truth." The fourth prince said solemnly, "Regardless of whether there are assassins or not, you have to remind father to be careful." Be careful.

"Your Highness said yes."

In Emperor Zhou Wu's camp, he had already played chess with He Xiang.

He Xiang was a little tired, so he went back to his tent first.

Shen Hu and the others did not go back, because the three of them wanted to protect Emperor Wu of Zhou.

"By the way, boss, our brat played with your youngest son, do you know?" Chu Ying said.

"Yes, they played well with His Highness the Tenth Highness."

"This morning, they were still hunting together."

"I already knew about this, let them play."

Hearing Zhou Wudi's answer, Shen Hu and the others were a little surprised: "Boss, you don't object?!"

Chu Ying was not surprised: "The Tenth Prince is not someone else."

When Shen Hu and Zhang Gong heard Chu Ying's words, they instantly understood.

While talking, I heard the voice of saluting the fourth prince from outside the account.

Shen Hu and the others immediately stood up.

Sun Doudou came in, saluted Emperor Wu of Zhou first, and then said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is asking to see you."

"Let him in."

After a while, the fourth prince walked in.

Shen Hu and the others hurriedly saluted the fourth prince: "I have seen the fourth prince."

The fourth prince nodded politely to the three of them, and immediately saluted Emperor Wu of Zhou: "I have seen my father."

Emperor Wu of Zhou said softly, "Get up."

Seeing that the fourth prince had something to tell Emperor Wu of Zhou, Chu Ying and the others retreated out in a sensible manner.

"Father, my son has something to report."

"You said."

The fourth prince told Emperor Wu of Zhou about the anomaly in the northern forest, and also reported his guess to Emperor Wu of Zhou.

After hearing this, Emperor Wu of Zhou nodded his head and said, "I know, I will send someone to investigate."

After the fourth prince finished speaking, he didn't bother Emperor Wu of Zhou.

Just when he was about to leave, he suddenly said again: "Father, the difference in the forest in the north was discovered by the tenth brother."

"Xiao Shi found out?" Emperor Wu of Zhou was a little surprised.

"In the morning, the tenth brother and General Shen and their youngest son went hunting in the northern forest together, and found that there were no other animals in the northern forest except birds. They thought it was strange, so they told Erchen about it."

"I didn't expect this kid to be quite sharp."

The fourth prince didn't say anything more, "Royal father, I won't bother you anymore, I will step back first."

Emperor Wu of Zhou nodded his head lightly, and said softly, "Go back and have a good rest."

"Yes, Father."

After the fourth prince left, Emperor Wu of Zhou called Shen Hu and the others in, and then explained some things to them.

After Shen Hu and the others heard this, their expressions instantly became very serious.

Originally planned to go hunting with the fourth prince in the afternoon, but Zhao Yao didn't wake up until the early hours of the afternoon after taking a nap.At this time, it was evening.

While he was sleeping, the Fourth Prince and Chu Huan both came to look for him.Seeing that he was still sleeping, she didn't ask Tong Xi to wake him up.

When Zhao Yao woke up, he saw Ling Yun sleeping beside his pillow.

Seeing that Zhao Yao was gone, Ling Yun gently pecked his small face with his beak.

Zhao Yao rubbed Ling Yun's little head.Seeing the darkness in the tent, he subconsciously asked, "What time is it?"

Ling Yun said: [It's getting dark soon. 】

"Ah? It's getting dark?" Zhao Yao was taken aback. He sat up abruptly and looked outside the tent. Sure enough, it was dark outside, "I slept all afternoon?"

Ling Yun said: [Well, you slept all afternoon. 】

Tong Xi, who was guarding outside, heard movement in the tent, hurried in to check, saw Zhao Yao woke up, and happily said: "Your Highness, you finally woke up. If you don't wake up again, this servant will call the imperial physician."

Zhao Yao stretched his waist and said, "I didn't expect me to sleep for so long." He had a dream last night, in which he was chased by assassins all the time, and he ran all night, exhausting him to death.I got up early this morning, and I was hunting all morning, so I was a little tired.

"Your Highness, do you have any discomfort?" Tong Xi asked nervously.

"I don't have any discomfort." Zhao Yao said, "I feel refreshed now."

"That's good." Tong Xi breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, "You didn't know that you didn't wake up this afternoon, and the fourth prince was very worried. He came to see you every other hour before he left."

"Ah? Didn't fourth brother go hunting?"

"The fourth prince was worried about you, so he didn't go hunting." Tong Xi said again, "Master Chu and the others also came to see you in the afternoon. The empress also came to see you a few times, and the emperor also sent Eunuch Sun to see you."

Zhao Yao was startled by Tong Xi's words, "I just took a nap, why did I startle so many people?"

"You haven't woken up, everyone is very worried." Tong Xi asked again, "Your Highness, are you thirsty or hungry?"

"A bit."

Tong Xi first poured a cup of hot tea for Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, please drink some tea first."

Zhao Yao finished his tea and asked, "Did anything happen in the afternoon?"

"Nothing big happened this afternoon..." Tong Xi suddenly thought of something, and hurriedly said, "The slaves found that the patrols in the camp have become stricter."

Zhao Yao said: "It must be the fourth brother who told Father about the northern forest." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Ling Yun and asked hastily, "Laifu, did you find anything in the northern forest this afternoon?"

Ling Yun said: [There are people. 】

"how many people?"

Ling Yun: [A lot. 】

"Sure enough, there are people!" Zhao Yao thought to himself, these people must not be assassins sent by mynah.

"Your Highness, do you mean that there are assassins in the forest to the north?" Tong Xi had a look of horror and anxiety on his face, "There are assassins... this..."

"Fourth brother told my father that my father should send someone to the forest in the north."

"I haven't heard that there are assassins."

Zhao Yao thought for a while and said, "Father might not want to startle the snake."

Ling Yun said again: 【Not an assassin. 】

"What, not an assassin?" Zhao Yao asked in surprise, "Didn't you say there are people in the northern forest?"

[There are people, but not assassins. 】Ling Yun said again, 【I didn't find the assassin. 】

"You really didn't find the assassin?"

【No. 】Ling Yun said, 【However, there are wolves. 】

"A wolf?"

[Well, there are quite a few. 】

"Why is there no assassin?" Zhao Yao felt that this was unreasonable.

[There are no assassins in the entire paddock. 】After Ling Yun inspected the forest in the north, he checked the forests in the east, south and west by the way, and found no assassin. [There is a bear deep in the forest to the west. 】

Ling Yun's eyesight is very good, it didn't see the assassin, which means there really is no assassin.

"Isn't the assassin hiding in the paddock?" Zhao Yao asked again, "Why are there no other animals in the northern forest?"

[Eat by wolves. 】

"Were there wolves in the paddock before?"

[There are wolves, but not as many as now. 】Ling Yun said, 【This is a complete pack of wolves. 】

"Is that dangerous?"

[There are many people, it's okay. 】Ling Yun said again, 【There are so many people, the wolves dare not approach. 】

Hearing what Ling Yun said, Zhao Yao felt relieved.

"That's not right, where is the assassin hiding?" Mynah specifically told him, there could be no assassins.

"Your Highness, there are no assassins?" Tong Xi was confused by Zhao Yao's words.

"Rifle said it found no assassins."

Strange, how could there be no assassins?
If the assassin wasn't hiding in the paddock woods, where was he?It's impossible to suddenly appear to assassinate, right?

The paddock is guarded by layers of imperial guards, and assassins can only fly in if they fly.However, when flying in, it is very likely to be shot into a sieve by the archers.

"Your Highness, is there really no assassin?"

"possible."

"It's good if there are no assassins." Tong Xi said, "Your Highness, this servant is going to get you something to eat."

"You go and tell the fourth brother and concubine mother that I'm awake."

"The slave is going here."

After a while, the fourth prince came over.Seeing that Zhao Yao's complexion and spirit were good, he felt relieved.

"Brother Ten, you go to my tent at night and sleep with me."

Zhao Yao looked surprised: "Huh?"

"Don't you want to?"

Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "Fourth Brother, I'll sleep with you, won't I disturb you?" After all, he doesn't sleep very honestly.

"No." The fourth prince smiled, "You pack up and follow me to my tent later."

"Okay." Did the fourth brother know something, otherwise the fourth brother would not ask him to sleep in his tent.

After Zhao Yao packed up, he obediently followed the fourth prince to his camp.

The two stayed in the tent for a while, and then went to the grass outside the camp to have dinner.

The bonfire had already been set up, and the fire was very hot.

Around the grass, many torches were lit.The torches lit up the meadow like daytime.

Many people came to the grass and sat down.They were chatting about this afternoon's hunting competition.

In the afternoon, Emperor Wu of Zhou didn't go out to hunt either, but stayed in his tent to deal with political affairs.

The prince and Dai Wang went hunting together.The prince invited by the acting king, the prince did not refuse.

Dai Wang also invited many generals to hunt with their sons.

Shen Hu, the others and their son naturally did not participate.

The ministers who supported the acting king and the prince and their sons all participated, and then it became a competition.

Almost all the people on Daiwang's side are military generals, good at riding and shooting.Most of the people on the prince's side were civil servants, and there were no generals who were good at riding and shooting, so they lost to the people on behalf of the king.

The competition in the afternoon was very intense and exciting, but it was a pity that Zhao Yao didn't see it after sleeping all afternoon.

Tonight's dinner is all the prey that the king and the prince hunted in the afternoon.

On the grass on the other side, Empress Xie had dinner with her concubines.

Jiang Chuan returned to Empress Xie's side, and whispered in Empress Xie's ear: "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."

Queen Xie nodded slightly.

(End of this chapter)