Chu Guoshou County.

When Xiong Huai learned that Qu Yuan had perfectly completed the task of envoying to the State of Qi, he not only deepened the friendly relations between Qi and Chu, but also brought the son of the prince of Qi to Chu.

You must know that although the two countries of Qi and Chu have already made an alliance, the move of Qi Wangdi to send the proton first is undoubtedly to give in to the Chu State and recognize the dominance of the Chu State.

For Qu Yuan's envoy to Qi to achieve such results, Xiong Huai was overjoyed.

So, as soon as Qu Yuan returned to Shouchun City, Xiong Huai immediately changed his normal behavior and took the initiative to come out of the harem. not only personally met with the proton son of Qi State, but also gave Gongzi Ji a very high courtesy, treating him like a concubine of Chu State.

After sending off Gongzi Ji, Qu Yuan reported to Xiong Huai what he had done in Qi State, and asked: "King, now King Qi has taken the initiative to send the second son who is only ten years old as a hostage, which can be described as full of sincerity, I don't know which prince the king plans to send to Qi Country as a hostage." ”

When Xiong Huai heard this, he was slightly stunned, and then, after remembering the letter that Taifu Huanyuan had given him before, he responded: "The widow already has a candidate, but the widow still has concerns in his heart, so he still needs to think about it." ”

Qu Yuan arched his hand and said: "Great King, now that the Qi State has shown sincerity, then our actions must not be slowed, lest other countries say that our Chu State is not sincere." ”

Xiong Huai nodded: "Xianqing rest assured, the widow knows." ”

After Qu Yuan left, Xiong Huai immediately ordered: "Come here, let the prince come to see the widow." ”

"Yui."

While waiting for the arrival of the crown prince, Xiong Huai held the letter sent by Taifu Huanyuan a few months ago, and his heart was very complicated.

In fact, on the same day that Gongzi Ping'an returned from Taifu Huanyuan, Xiong Huai received this letter.

Huan Yuan's statement in the letter is that Gongziping's knowledge is still lacking, so he hopes that when he has the opportunity, he can send Gongziping to Qi Guotaixue to study.

Although Huan Yuan said that he was sending Gongzi Ping to study, Xiong Huai felt between the lines of the letter that Huan Yuan was worried about Gongzi Ping and the future of the Chu State.

When Xiong Huai saw the letter a few months ago, Xiong Huai thought for a moment that Huan Yuan had seen something. After all, he severely fined the crown prince for two months because of the relocation of the capital, which did cause a sensation and suspicion in the country.

Of course, it is more likely that Huan Yuan has insight into the world and knows that he and the crown prince have very different personalities, and conflicts may break out.

Or, Song Guo's father and son, who hated each other, gave Huan Yuan a great feeling.

It didn't matter if Huan Yuan guessed something or was a little uneasy in his heart, none of this mattered.

After all, Huanyuan is also more than ninety years old, and he has already retired to his hometown.

Xiong Huai's real concern is whether to let Gongziping go to Qi State.

Therefore, after getting the news that King Qi sent Gongzi Ji as a hostage, Xiong Huai thought seriously for a long time, and decided to send Gongzi Ping to Qi State.

Although Xiong Huai's feelings for Prince Heng are more complicated, Prince Heng has always been filial piety over the years. After decades of affection, even if Prince Heng has repeatedly disappointed him, and even he has decided to treat Prince Heng as an outcast, but to say that he is completely ruthless in his heart, this must be false.

He was utterly disappointed in the crown prince, not completely ruthless.

Therefore, if Gongziping has been staying in Shouchun and staying by Prince Heng's side, once there is a change in the future, then Gongzi Ping will have to bury Prince Heng nine times out of ten.

Yes, Xiong Huai thought about it for a long time, and finally decided to send Gongziping away, and also gave the prince a way back.

Thinking about it, Xiong Huai let out a long sigh!

Soon, the prince arrived.

After the ceremony.

Xiong Huai muttered: "Prince, just now the second son of the prince of Qi came to Chu as a hostage, I think the prince also knows." ”

The prince nodded: "Erchen knows." ”

Xiong Huai said with some embarrassment: "Before, when my father sent Zuo to envoy Qi State, I originally planned to send a son as a hostage. However, now the king of Qi sent the second son, which made the widow feel a little embarrassed, and if he sent the concubine, it would be a little unequal, which would make the king of Qi look ugly.

And send your sister-in-law, then you can only send your third brother Gongzi to Qi State.

However, Gongzi Yu lost his mother when he was young and was not yet fifteen, so he couldn't bear to send Gongzi Yan to Qi State. ”

When the prince heard this, he immediately looked at Xiong Huai suspiciously, and was very surprised in his heart.

"Father can't bear to send Gongzi away, do you plan to send me, the prince, to the Qi Kingdom?"

At this time, Xiong Huai smiled and said: "Fortunately, a few months ago, Taifu wrote a letter asking the widow to send Gongziping to study in the Jixia Palace of Qi State, because the widow planned to simply let Gongziping go to Qi State as a hostage, and while serving the country, he studied in the Qi State School Palace. ”

As he spoke, Xiong Huai looked at the prince and said, "What does the prince think?" ”

When the prince heard this, he changed color.

My father wants to send my son Ping to Qi as a hostage, how can he say this.

He can't bear to send his son to the country of Qi, can I bear to send my son to the country of Qi?

You must know that a few months ago, his father made it very clear to him that the next target of the Chu State was the Qi State.

Once the State of Chu sends troops to attack Qi, in case the State of Qi is angry, all the jade will be burned, and then Gongziping will be finished.

You know, he is only the son of Gongziping, and he is still the eldest son.

Thinking about it, Prince Heng immediately patted the table and stood up, then looked at Xiong Huai angrily and said, "Father, it is impossible to send Gongzi Ping as a hostage." ”

Xiong Huai saw that the prince was like an angry lion, looked at him with his teeth and claws, and immediately said angrily: "What, the prince means that it is okay to send the widow's son as a hostage, but not to send your son?" ”

When the prince heard this, he immediately burst into tears of grief: "Father, the son is just this one son, father, how can you bear to send him to the country of Qi, so that my father and son will be separated forever." ”

"What does it mean that father and son are separated forever? It's just that I went to study in Qi for a few years, and how was I told by the prince that I would never go back. Saying that, Xiong Huai comforted again: "Also, prince, you are still young, only in your forties, as long as you work hard, you will have other sons."

You see, fathers are in their sixties, and they can't give birth to children. ”

When the prince heard this, he couldn't help but feel sad from his heart.

After he left the palace at the age of fifteen, although his father and queen mother did not reward him with beautiful women, he and Jingyang and others often asked for pleasure in snatching women around Yingdu, which was too indulgent. And before and after marriage, he was a little taboo about meat and vegetarianism, which led him to work hard for 20 years, and he only had one sister-in-law and one concubine.

And in the past ten years, although he has worked hard, he has achieved nothing.

He vaguely understood that maybe he would have a son in his life, and if he wanted to have another one, that is, he would be lucky enough to meet Taiyishen.

Therefore, if he can still give birth to a child, he will have a son, and that's it, his father will send him to the country of Qi to die.

Thinking about it, the prince's eyes turned red, and he stared at Xiong Huai tightly: "Father, the son is a son, I will never let him be a hostage in any country, unless I die, this is absolutely impossible." ”

Xiong Huai looked at the prince's hideous face, and suddenly became furious: "Bastard thing, how can a widow have a son like you, there is no distinction between right and wrong, good and bad, everyone does not listen to advice, stubbornly holds their own opinions, and is entangled in their own petty profits all day long, have you ever taken Chu State to heart." ”

The crown prince said with an unusually resolute attitude: "Father, just scold, the son will not refute." However, as long as I am alive, it is impossible for Gongziping to be a hostage. ”

"Get out~~ Get out of the widow!"