Starlight dotted the dark night sky, and the cool sky was filled with the chirping of summer insects.

Torches lit up a mess of places, and the wagons and horses stopped on a dirt road, lined with rice on both sides, and when the wind blew, it made a "rustling ......" sound.

The eunuch Wang Gui was taking out beans from the carriage to feed the horses, Zhu Gaoxu and Gao Sui looked at the prince lying inside, and the little lady next to him, Du Qianrui, was wiping the prince's face with a towel.

Looking at the fat eldest brother, Zhu Gaoxu felt numb in his heart, the brotherly feelings in his memory were like a lengthy documentary, and he was like an audience, he really couldn't empathize.

If all history is destined, then the fat man in front of him is the heir of his father Zhu Di; And he, Zhu Gaoxu, will receive a temporary notice from the fat man's son: You have rebelled! Then he was detained into a copper vat and burned alive.

"The decoction in the jar, the slave maid first warms it up for the son?" Du Qianrui picked up a crockpot sealed with oilcloth.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded in agreement, and when Du Qianrui turned around, he said, "The third brother is here to take care of the eldest brother, and I went over to help build the stove and watch the medicine." ”

Gao Sui said: "Okay." ”

The so-called stove is very simple, just get two stones and put it down, as long as there is a gap under the clay pot to put dry branches and hay. Du Qianrui silently took the torch to start the fire, and the firelight was soon reflected on her face.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't say a word, stared at the firelight and pondered for a long time, looking hesitant. At last he glanced back at the carriage, and immediately reached into his bosom and took out a paper bag, which he unfolded, and inside was a crimson powder; Then he poured the powder into the crockpot and threw the paper into the fire.

A few movements were very fast, but not panicked, and his hands were steady.

Du Qianrui watched what he was doing, pursed her lips, lowered her head and filled the branches into the fire. The atmosphere was suddenly a little weird, as if nothing had happened just now.

Zhu Gaoxu said quietly: "Miss Du, do you know, why did I save you?" ”

Du Qianrui said: "The slave is not very ...... Are you sure. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said softly: "Because you need me." He paused, looked up at the sky and took a breath, and added, "I can help too." ”

Du Qianrui suddenly raised her head, her eyes were shining, I don't know if it was a moving streamer or a reflected firelight.

When Zhu Gaoxu said this, he did not say it deliberately for a certain purpose. At least it's not a lie, although Du Qianrui's understanding may be a little biased......

In his previous life, he didn't feel that he was of any use or value, his girlfriend's father was short of money for surgery due to heart disease, he wanted to help, but he really couldn't do it, the only way he thought of was to take a small loan and then go to the gambling table to fight! The result, of course, was whitewashing, and it was at this time that he got involved in gambling, and it was extremely difficult to stop going ashore from then on.

When his girlfriend found out, her eyes were memorable, as if she was very confused and surprised, because she had never counted on him...... When her father had to have surgery, the girl still had one more way, which was to find a more capable man.

So now, Zhu Gaoxu is also showing his worth. Others can't understand it, and he feels good.

The dust and sweat on the earth ramming post road mixed together, making Du Qianrui's face look a little dirty, but her voice became more and more gentle, "Why is the prince so good to me?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu had a weird smile on his face: "Didn't I say it, if you sit idly by, how will you listen to you play in the future?" ”

Du Qianrui squatted there with her legs together, her body looked soft, the night was deep, but there was no tiredness in her eyes, and there was a little shyness in her very bright eyes.

Zhu Gaoxu then sighed lightly: "When I was a child, I couldn't learn the rhythm, but I was very interested. I think Miss Du is really talented, she has a good voice, and it's a pity to waste it. ”

Du Qianrui listened quietly, without much reaction, maybe she felt that the children of the royal family had more important things to learn, so naturally they would not learn any rhythm...... But when Zhu Gaoxu said childhood, he was referring to his previous life, at that time, it was indeed because there were no conditions, and being able to receive examination-oriented education had been entrusted with the blessing of social progress, how could he have the opportunity to learn any art? However, he has always been very envious of those things that seem to be high-minded.

Du Qianrui said softly: "It's just a small skill of carving insects, which is pleasing to people." ”

Zhu Gaoxu immediately shook his head: "Music and painting are very valuable, and we are not barbarians." ”

Du Qianrui's face flushed, "Thank you for raising the prince...... Yikes! The decoction is OK. ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and glanced at the carriage again, and said in a low voice: "That thing just now is cinnabar, I heard that it is good for the illness of the prince, but the cinnabar itself has a certain toxicity, and the imperial doctor does not dare to use it." ”

"Hmm." Du Qianrui responded cautiously.

Zhu Gaoxu said again: "You shouldn't know, can you?" ”

Du Qianrui immediately nodded and said, "The slave didn't see anything." ”

After a while, Zhu Gaoxu watched Du Qianrui feed Shizi and drink medicine. Everyone also ate some dry food with cold water and continued to travel overnight. Because the carriage was moving slowly, they did not dare to rest tonight.

By the next morning, the prince was miraculously cured, and he was crying out that he was hungry!

Everyone was pleasantly surprised, but Du Qianrui occasionally peeked at Zhu Gaoxu, and her eyes were very complicated.

……

The crimson morning sun hangs on the top of the rest hill of the Nanjing temple. As soon as Xu Huizu arrived at the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army, he received a report that the men and horses sent out to pursue him last night found nothing. Xu Huizu knew that he had missed the opportunity, and couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, Qu Neng walked into the lobby, greeted Xu Huizu, and asked, "Why is the prince sighing?" ”

Xu Huizu called Qu Neng into the study and told the result of the incident.

Qu Neng was busy persuading each other and said: "The matter has come to this point, the public doesn't have to worry about it anymore, forget it." ”

Xu Huizu's face was very ugly, and he blurted out: "This is undoubtedly a tiger returning to the mountain!" He raised his finger and pointed at Qu Neng, put it down again, gritted his teeth and stopped, and finally paced forward and said in a deep voice, "I think that the poisoning of the prince was caused by Gao Xu!" ”

"Huh?!" Qu Neng's expression also became nervous.

Xu Huizu whispered: "It's hard for me to say it because I don't have the slightest evidence, so I miss the opportunity." But with my understanding of Gao Xu, I decided in my heart that it was none other than him! ”

Qu Neng frowned and said: "It is said that because the king of Gaoyang County committed a human life, he and the prince and the other three have been confined in the mansion for almost a month, and they are strictly guarded by brocade guards, isolated from inside and outside, how did the poison get in?" What's more, it is a strange poison that the imperial doctor can't diagnose. ”

Xu Huizu said: "I don't know how he did it now." However, who but he would poison the son, what is the reason? It's harder for others to get poison in and get in. ”

Qu Neng groaned: "Why is the King of Gaoyang County? ”

Xu Huizu glared at him and said, "Of course it's to escape!" Isn't he already running now? If it weren't for the poisoning of the son, he would have run away now? ”

The two looked at each other and fell silent.

After a while, Xu Huizu said in a low voice: "Not long ago, the King of Xiang set himself on fire with his family, how tragic! This fact is an accident, and it must not be what the saint wants, which makes the saint very distressed, and he will not want to see the prince of Yan die in Jingshi, and he is in seclusion.

Gao Xu has always been cunning, and he saw the mind of the saint, so he took a risk...... I just had this speculation before, but now that I look at the results, I almost have it. This son is really cunning, until now, few people have even suspected him! ”

Qu Neng said quietly: "Even if it is indeed as Xu Gong expected, how many people can think that the prince will be poisoned by his own brother?" ”

Xu Huizu's vertical lines between his eyebrows were deeper, and he had an expression of concern for the country and the people, "Now that Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and others have made suggestions, and the Holy Lord has cut several feudal domains in a row, I'm afraid King Yan won't sit still." At this time, Gao Xu and the others were allowed to go back, which not only saved King Yan from the worry of throwing rat bogeys, but also made him like a tiger! Gao Xu is the concubine of King Yan, and unlike ordinary good generals, King Yan is more trusting and can be entrusted with important tasks. It's not what it is to let the tiger return to the mountain! ”

Qu Neng sighed and raised his head: "The prince is fat, and he is seriously ill, they can't walk fast, so they won't take the post road that leads directly to Beiping; However, the Beijing division is connected to the world, and once you arrive in Jiangbei, there are countless roads, and there are forks in the road. How can the public know which path he has taken? ”

He paused, glanced at Xu Huizu, and said, "I have a plan, are you willing to listen to it?" ”

Xu Huizu hurriedly said: "General Qu said that it doesn't matter. ”

Qu Neng said: "The best place to set up an ambush is not in Jingshi, but near Beiping City!" ”

Xu Huizu became more and more interested, and immediately urged: "I want to hear about it." ”

Qu Neng said: "First, this place is close to Beiping City, and they have no danger all the way, thinking that everything is fine, and it is the easiest time to take it lightly;

Second, after entering the political envoy of Beiping from the south, there are not many roads to Beiping City, and the scope of interception is smaller, and the chance of interception is greater;

Third, the king of Gaoyang County took the prince, who was fat and in poor health, and might find a place to rest;

Fourth, they have taken a detour all the way to hide in Tibet, and the horses have been exhausted after long journeys, and they may also try to change horses. ”

Xu Huizu nodded frequently, and Qu Neng said again: "Dong'an, Yongqing, Gu'an, and Zhuozhou have quietly laid a net, so that they don't need to make a big deal of it, and they won't be clueless. ”

Qu Neng has never been an official in Hebei, Xu Huizu heard him casually tell the places near Beiping, like a few treasures, and he valued him a little more in his heart.

Xu Huizu immediately said: "I will enter the palace to advise the saint." Gao Xu is fierce, ordinary people can't control him, if I convince the saint, can Qu Du send Gongzi to go north? ”

Qu Neng hugged his fists and said: "To work for the country, our father and son are willing to do their best!" ”

Xu Huizu replied: "There must be General Qu, the country is very fortunate, and the saint is very fortunate." ”

Qu Neng said: "Duke Xu does not show favoritism, kills relatives with righteousness, is loyal, and feels deeply in the future." At this time, the public entered the palace to admonish the saint, and he had to think about it thoroughly. ”

Xu Huizu nodded vigorously: "General Qu is right to remind you, if you want to succeed, you have to think about it from all sides, just by being loyal and upright, I'm afraid it will be bad." ”