Around noon, he sensed something amiss outside and left the west side hall of the Mingwu Hall, arriving at the courtyard next to the training grounds.
This courtyard was a small training ground.
His personal attendant, Zou Fang, and the other attendants of the princes and imperial grandsons were waiting here, most of them diligently practicing their skills.
Zou Fang stopped his boxing stance, floated effortlessly to Chu Zhiyuan, clasped his fist in salute, and said softly, "Young Master, a letter."
He took out a letter from his sleeve.
It had a azure cover with a floating white cloud in the upper left corner, set against a blue sky, creating an elegant style.
Chu Zhiyuan raised a brow and pursed his lips slightly.
Zou Fang opened the letter and presented it to him: "Steward Feng delivered this outside the palace gate."
Chu Zhiyuan examined the invitation.
"At one quarter past酉时, third floor of the Liuyun Tower, Jiang Qiuge of the Zhenwu Division awaits the presence of the Heir Apparent."
This Jiang Qiuge moves quickly.
"That's all for today's practice, let's head back early."
He gestured for Zou Fang to take the invitation and turned back to the training ground.
Under the midday sun, only Chu Zhichuan was wielding his sword in the empty training ground of the Mingwu Hall, his swordsmanship dense and his sword light light and soft like a waterfall.
Chu Zhiyuan called out, "Tenth brother, let's go."
"Fourth brother, go ahead," Chu Zhichuan responded, his swordplay uninterrupted.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
This Chu Zhichuan is truly competitive; his diligence is aimed at defeating himself in the next competition.
When he arrived at the Nangong Gate, Feng Xi and Guo Chi were already waiting with eight innate masters.
Chu Zhiyuan walked and asked, "How did it go over there?"
"The masters of the Zhenwu Division have taken over, dispatching four grandmasters."
Chu Zhiyuan returned to the royal palace under the escort of the crowd.
There were no followers along the way.
Not only had the Zhenwu Division withdrawn, but the other group of followers had also disappeared, leaving everything completely quiet, which relieved him.
The sound of the zither floated across the misty lake.
Inside the Yaoyue Pavilion, two beautiful maids in white like snow were playing the zither.
Their bright eyes were like water, and their sparkling eyes occasionally glanced at Chu Zhiyuan on the Arhat bed opposite them, their smiles like flowers, radiant and charming.
The artistic conception of the zither music was lofty and quiet, with the beauty of purifying the heart and calming the mind.
The fragrance of the two women floated in the small pavilion, adding a bit of romance.
Zou Fang stood at the entrance of the small pavilion as always, holding a white jade whisk and motionless, as easily ignored as wood.
Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the Arhat bed, examining a long sword like a pool of autumn water, his left hand pinching the sword art, sliding back and forth along the sword's body.
The cold light reflected by the sword body shone on his sharp sword eyebrows.
He concentrated on penetrating the interior of the long sword.
If it were an ordinary sword, he could see everything inside the sword clearly to every particle with such concentration.
But there was an invisible force inside this sword that blocked his perception.
In the end, he shook his head helplessly.
In the Houtian realm, internal energy cannot be released externally, but can only flow in one's own body; otherwise, if one urges internal energy into the sword, and the ultra-sense follows in, one can see clearly.
Without entering the Xiantian realm, internal energy cannot be released externally, and one is not considered a true martial artist.
He flashed and disappeared from the Arhat bed, appeared in front of the railing of the small pavilion, stabbed the long sword towards the night sky more than a dozen times, then returned it to its scabbard, and stood up in the Dragon Subduing Stance.
The two women saw him like this, and the sound of the zither became broad and leisurely, avoiding sudden ups and downs that would disturb him.
When he gradually entered a better state, he suddenly opened his eyes and turned to look.
Chu Minghou's thin and slender figure appeared on the lakeside cloister.
His gray robe fluttered, his clear beard under his chin fluttered, his steps were slow, and he had the air of a celestial being.
Chu Zhiyuan stopped the Dragon Subduing Stance and greeted him out of the pavilion: "Father."
"Yuan'er," Chu Minghou smiled and stepped into the pavilion.
The sound of the zither stopped abruptly.
The two white-clothed maids stood up and bowed.
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.
They lightly retreated from the pavilion, gracefully drifting away.
"Father, didn't Grandmaster Li Moqing come today?"
"Mr. Moqing will come over in the afternoon, Yuan'er, Father has something to discuss with you."
"Just give me your instructions, Father."
"An important day is coming up in ten days."
Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.
He quickly went through the birthdays of the family of four in his mind, but none of them matched. What important day could it be?
He turned to look at Zou Fang.
Zou Fang shook his head slightly.
Chu Minghou said, "Your second uncle's birthday is coming up."
Chu Zhiyuan's expression changed slightly.
Chu Minghou sighed and looked up at the misty lake, sighing, "Our royal palace has been unsealed, but your second uncle is still confined inside."
"Father, be careful what you say," Chu Zhiyuan quickly said.
He glanced around.
The reason he liked being on this lake was because he didn't have to worry about ambushes or eavesdroppers.
Chu Minghou shook his head melancholically: "Can't even mention it now?"
"Father..." Chu Zhiyuan said helplessly: "We have just been unbanned, and we need to be cautious in our words and actions, so as not to make the imperial grandfather think that we have no remorse."
"..."
Chu Minghou fell silent, the melancholy on his face even stronger. After a long while, he sighed: "The affection between father and son has come to this, alas..."
"Father, why was second uncle imprisoned in the first place?"
The confinement of the Second Prince Chu Mingren was extremely abrupt, and the imperial decree came suddenly without stating the reason.
Rumors abounded in the market, and the most accepted version was that the Second Prince had violated a taboo in the palace, having an affair with a certain concubine, and was discovered by the Emperor.
Chu Minghou frowned.
"Father, don't you know either?"
"I don't know."
"..." Chu Zhiyuan was speechless.
Without knowing the reason, he would rashly plead for mercy?
The Second Uncle was wise and martial, quite like his father, and the most promising to inherit the throne. He and the Emperor were also a harmonious father and son. The sudden decree of confinement was definitely not due to an ordinary mistake.
What rashly pleading for mercy without knowing anything? Isn't that just asking for trouble?
"When I was twelve years old, I participated in a hunt, and suddenly a demon leopard rushed out. If it wasn't for your second uncle desperately blocking it in front of me, there wouldn't be your two siblings. Your second uncle was seriously injured and almost lost his life."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.
Over the years, no one in the royal palace had mentioned the Second Prince, and everyone avoided the name.
"So many years have passed, and your imperial grandfather's anger should have subsided. Since he can lift the ban on our royal palace, he may soon lift the confinement of your second uncle."
"Father, it's not the same," Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.
After all, the Qing Royal Palace was sealed because of recklessness and being implicated. After all, there was no other crime.
Even so, it was sealed for thirty years, which shows how angry the Emperor was.
I'm afraid he won't calm down and will keep him confined.
"When our royal palace was sealed, we couldn't visit your second uncle. Now that we've been unbanned, we should go see him."
"Father, think twice!" Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly.
"Your mother has also advised me, and I'm not one to ignore advice. I won't go in person, lest I really anger the imperial father. You go visit your second uncle on my behalf."
Chu Zhiyuan frowned, pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head: "Father, in the current situation of our royal palace, it's better to be cautious and not take any more risks, otherwise..."
Before knowing what happened to the Prince of Jing that led to his confinement, it is not appropriate to act. After all, he has been sealed for thirty years because of this, and it is benevolent and righteous, and no one will say anything.
Looking at the matter of visiting the Prince of Jing from the Emperor's perspective, looking at it positively is affection, and looking at it negatively is provocation.
"Normally, if we don't go, we don't go, but in a few days it will be your second uncle's sixtieth birthday, a sixtieth birthday. It's really..." Chu Minghou shook his head and sighed: "I really can't bear it."
Chu Zhiyuan said: "If we visit Second Uncle, we will be sealed again or even confined. Does Father still want to try?"
His father was good in everything, but he was too kind and too sentimental.
This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.
"Another seal on the palace is unlikely," Chu Minghou shook his head: "You are a junior, and it is only right to visit an elder. There is no crime, and besides, you are different now."
He smiled.
The reason why he dared to mention this was because he had the confidence.
The imperial father values martial arts the most, and he will definitely favor his direct grandson with amazing martial arts talent and be much more tolerant.
Even if he is dissatisfied, he will not impose heavy punishments on his direct grandson like he did in the beginning.
"I know that Father feels guilty and uneasy if he doesn't visit Second Uncle, and can't eat or sleep well, but Father must think clearly, is it to risk sealing the palace or even confinement to fulfill the affection between brothers, or to bear the guilt and fulfill the responsibilities of a father and husband."
Chu Minghou stared helplessly at Chu Zhiyuan, seeing Chu Zhiyuan's solemn expression, he finally sighed helplessly, shook his head and left.
