delicious little cook

Chapter 434 Strange Friends

While chatting and laughing, a few people got off the table and changed to a cool place with a view of the lake to have a cold drink, and there were a few exquisite bamboo beds beside them for a lunch break.

After taking a nap and staying until the hottest hour of the day passed, the four guests said goodbye and went home in a very happy mood.

Gu Yun sent the guests out, and when he returned to the Zhongming Courtyard, he called Bai Kou's study to talk. After a while, Bai Kou came in with a bowl of shaved ice, poured honey bean juice, and spread colorful fruits.

"My lord, are the guests satisfied with the lunch?"

Gu Yun took the shaved ice from Bai Kou's hand, scooped a large spoonful of it into his mouth, and nodded vaguely.

"Is there any dissatisfaction with your craftsmanship? They even asked me to open a men's teahouse in the future."

"You didn't promise blindly, did you?"

"How is it possible! You underestimate me! I only said that one would be opened when the conditions are ripe, but I didn't say that one would be opened in a few months."

"That's good."

Gu Yun was eating shaved ice, and gave Bai Kou a supercilious look.

"So, what are the identities of those three sons?"

"Su Fanbo, from Xingning Hou's family; Jiang Hongshi, from Xinping Hou's family; Xie Zeying, from Moyang Gong's family."

"What's in common?"

"They are all the younger generation passed down from the founding princes."

"What about other than that?"

"Other than that? What do you mean?"

"The three of them are able to get so close to Shi Tianmin, there must be something to rely on him, what benefits did Mr. Shi promise, otherwise the descendants of the founding prince should be natural supporters of the direct line, how can there be no support for the direct prince? , Standing on the side of the concubine prince? I have never heard of the prince's behavior of not cultivating virtue, not governing virtuously, and seeking death. Although it is ordinary, he should still be talented in guarding the country."

Gu Yun blinked and thought for a while, seeing that he seemed to be scratching his head to recall past gossip, and suddenly changed into an expression of enlightenment.

"What did the prince think of?"

"These three are the eldest sons of concubines, and Shi Tianmin must have given them the benefit of becoming a noble."

"The concubine wants to inherit the title? None of these three families have a concubine?" Bai Kou raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"The 28 marquises of the Eight Dukes who founded the country have been handed down to the present. Several families have disappeared. Some of them committed crimes and were expelled from the nobles, and some of them were cut off naturally if their children were not prosperous. Our first Duke Ye, I have to call him Gaozu. Do the math, and I'm already the fifth generation, so it's normal for me to lose a little bit in such a long time, right?"

"No sons? This is a good reason. Without a son, there is room for manipulation. When the grace is in the body, the son will also inherit the noble. When the grace is no longer, just say that there is no son, and the saint saves it." Heart, the treasury saves money."

"That's right, the three of them should all be facing this situation. Their parents have no holy favors, their families have no legitimate sons, and their hereditary titles are at stake. If someone promises them to support the First Prince at this time, they will keep their glory and wealth after the event is over. Maybe these three families have been secretly and fully invested in the First Prince's camp."

"Very smart. Since ancient times, there has been no direct successor. As long as the crown prince is killed, the new crown prince will naturally become the eldest prince. The saint is old, and if he doesn't act again, the crown prince will be enthroned."

"I just don't know how they will act. They can't gather troops and horses to directly force the palace, right? The eldest prince doesn't have the strength, and the defense of the capital is in the prince's hands."

"If you can't replace it clearly, you can only do small tricks, try your best to win the princes and ministers at all levels to stand on your side, and make the prince look like a loner, creating a situation where the prince cannot be supported by courtiers."

"It's not easy. The crown prince is the son of a concubine. If the courtiers don't support him, who do they support? The public opinion is also towards the prince. As long as there is a son of concubine, how can it be the turn of a concubine to be on the throne?"

"What important errands are there for the crown prince and the eldest prince?"

"I haven't heard that the crown prince is already assisting the country in governing the country, and he is also on guard against the eldest prince. He will not assign the elder prince's people to do urgent errands."

"By the way, these three families have no holy favors. How could Shi Tianmin get so close to their sons? This is obviously a crowd of people in the camp. When the eldest prince is in need, he can't help seriously."

"I'm also surprised, but I don't know the reason yet. My relationship with them has not progressed to the point where I can say such things."

"If the three of them lost their titles, would they still be rich?"

"of course."

"Have you found out the source of wealth of the three of them? Apart from the property in the capital, are there any other places? If the First Prince wants to succeed, he wants to win people's hearts with virtuous corporals, and he needs a lot of money in all aspects. At this critical time, Shi Tianmin and Wu It's kind of weird that Sheng Chong has no real power and the son of the noble family has a good relationship."

"That's right, if the eldest prince wants to replace him, the people in the inner circle around him should be useful, and he won't let a few people who can't help him look good. Shi Tianmin is his nephew, and he doesn't know how to fuck. *My friend, the three of them must be doing something in a secret place."

"Of course, there is also a possibility that this is a deliberate false appearance. The eldest princess and the eldest prince are brothers and sisters. As relatives of the emperor, the son-in-law deliberately does not match this strength in order to keep a low profile and confuse others. Strong sons and brothers are friends to hide friends who are really useful, there are so many outstanding children in the government school, what strengths do the three of them have that can be so close to Shi Tianmin? Is it really just like-mindedness?"

"The more you talk, the more complicated it becomes."

"The three of them may have joined the First Prince's camp, but they are only Shi Tianmin's peripheral partners, and the real core has not been shown to you. You have to continue to work hard."

"Hey, that's funny. I thought the three of them were from his inner circle, so I readily agreed to invite them to my house for dinner."

"That's why it's weird. The patriarch's favor is in full swing, and there are countless people who follow suit. Finally, we got in touch with you. The relationship has made progress. It's the first time to invite them to your house, but what Shi Tianmin brings is just like feelings. What is he thinking? Is he mentally ill? Is he trying to win you over? If Duke Ye, who is in grace, turns to the First Prince's camp, it will be a big blow to the Prince, don't they know? "

"It's really weird." Gu Yun wrinkled his nose, "I really can't figure out their intentions."

"There are two possibilities. One, the four of them are indeed the inner circle. They are not conspicuous on the surface, and they work for the eldest prince secretly. Didn't you say that they are generous in eating, drinking, playing, and spending money, but the family does not have a reputation for being rich. Since the money is not obvious. If you make money on the surface, it’s from behind the scenes. Just as you are always crying poor, and they want to pull you into the trap, the best way is naturally to keep giving you sweets, little by little, when you get used to it. Naturally, after they have been deeply involved in the mud, they will no longer be able to jump out of their circle of interests, and become brothers who share misfortunes and blessings."

Bai Kou raised her eyes lightly, and gave Shizi a gentle look.

(End of this chapter)