On his way down the mountain, he encountered the Seventh Prince again.
The Seventh Prince looked around, lowered his voice, and said, "It seems that the Eldest Brother has also practiced the Forget-Worry Divine Finger."
Chu Zhiyuan turned his head and glanced around: "Could it be a smokescreen released by the Eldest Brother?"
"The person in charge of recording at the Diwu Academy is Third Uncle, I heard it from Third Uncle's mouth."
"Third Uncle…" Chu Zhiyuan pondered.
"Third Uncle never cares about anything, only cultivation." Chu Lieyu smiled and said, "He wouldn't help Eldest Brother create a smokescreen."
"Fifteenth Uncle told me about Tianren Peak, it is indeed a good opportunity."
"If you can get the Void Secret Treasure, then it will be different!… Father will change his mind and not let Ninth Brother go to the Phoenix Dynasty to be a consort."
"Haha, Seventh Brother, you really know how to dream. No matter what, I am destined to be this consort!"
"Your aptitude is so good, plus the Void Secret Treasure, then you will be the number one among our princes, how can you be a consort!"
"But Father's word is his bond, since he has agreed, he will never go back on his word."
"Then isn't it simple? Just say that Ninth Brother suddenly suffered a qi deviation and is on the verge of death."
"I almost died this time. The Phoenix Dynasty has sent people over to see the truth. This trick can't fool them."
"…Then change the trick, we can always think of a way."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll take Seventh Brother's auspicious words."
But he understood in his heart that it was almost impossible for the Emperor to change his mind.
The better his aptitude, the more the Phoenix Dynasty would not allow a replacement.
After all, the higher his value, the heavier his weight as a hostage, and the more it could contain the Jade Scene Dynasty.
The Emperor obviously didn't like the original owner and couldn't wait to throw him aside and out of sight.
Once a fixed impression and feeling are formed, it is difficult to change.
Even if he obtained the Void Secret Treasure or had extremely high aptitude, it would be useless.
—
As soon as he returned to the small courtyard, Youlan led Xiaozhu and the three girls to greet him and said softly, "Your Highness, the Eldest Prince has sent an invitation."
Chu Zhiyuan frowned: "Eldest Brother?"
"Inviting Your Highness to a banquet at the Junwang Mansion."
"Who has been invited?"
"It is said that all the princes have been invited."
"…Heh, what a grand display, what is he trying to do?" Chu Zhiyuan sneered.
Only the Emperor or the Crown Prince could invite all the princes.
The Eldest Prince is not yet the Crown Prince, is he acting like the Crown Prince?
Doesn't he know that this is taboo, or has he received definite news that he will be made Crown Prince?
Youlan said softly: "The Eldest Prince has always been highly respected, I estimate all the princes will go."
Chu Zhiyuan was silent.
Youlan quietly looked at him, while Xiaozhu and the three girls were busy helping him take off his crane cloak.
He doesn't wear sable fur now. Qingfeng Cliff is very warm and comfortable, like a different world from Jingsi Cliff, so he doesn't need to wear so much.
Youlan looked at Chu Zhiyuan's silent appearance and vaguely felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
Ever since His Highness was resurrected, this kind of deep aura has often emerged.
Chu Zhiyuan finally shook his head: "I won't go."
Youlan was stunned: "Your Highness won't go?"
Chu Zhiyuan snorted and said, "Since I'm going to offend him anyway, there's no need to feign civility."
The Eldest Prince disregarded his reputation so much and brazenly competed for the spot to enter the Jade Scene Cave Heaven.
He obviously regarded this spot as something in his pocket, and he would definitely be offended if I snatched it away.
After losing so much face, no matter how broad-minded he is, he won't be able to bear it.
Since that's the case, there's no need to attend his banquet, lest it be a bad banquet and he secretly plot against me.
For the sake of the Void Secret Treasure, he doesn't even want his face, he may not be able to use other means.
"Yes." Youlan nodded lightly.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at Youlan: "Aunt doesn't want to persuade me?"
Youlan smiled and said, "Your Highness is no longer the same as before, it's better for Your Highness to make your own decisions on this kind of thing."
When he was ignorant, she didn't want him to fall into a worse situation, so she could only offer more advice.
Now that he is different, thoughtful and acts steadily.
Then she doesn't need to be verbose.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Anyway, I'm going to the Phoenix Dynasty in the future, there's no need to worry too much."
"Your Highness is right."
—
In order to avoid being persuaded, Chu Zhiyuan went out to stroll around after dinner.
Wandering around in the Imperial City.
The nightlife in the Imperial City is extremely rich. The restaurants not only have singing and dancing, but also martial arts competitions.
Thirty-two martial arts schools in the city have established a competition to make friends through martial arts.
The thirty-two martial arts schools jointly established Tianya Academy, which holds a competition every ten days.
A total of one hundred and eight martial arts schools participate.
First is a round-robin.
The winner gets one point, the loser gets no points, and finally the top thirty-six are formed.
The top thirty-six compete in pairs, and the winner enters the top eighteen.
Then the top eighteen compete in pairs again, round after round, until the martial arts champion is determined.
Tianya Academy is packed every ten days. Chu Zhiyuan also squeezed in and watched the excitement.
By the time all twelve matches were over, it was already late at night.
He returned to his prince's mansion and found the Seventh Prince waiting.
He welcomed the Seventh Prince back to his small courtyard, sat in the small pavilion, and talked while drinking.
"Ninth Brother, why didn't you come?"
"I will definitely offend Eldest Brother, so why bother to go over?… What is Eldest Brother trying to do?"
"He's apologizing to everyone." Chu Lieyu shook his head and sighed with emotion: "As expected of Eldest Brother, he's impeccable."
He promised to hand over the obtained natural treasures to the Zongzheng Mansion and share them with all the princes.
He also personally apologized to the princes.
With a two-pronged approach, people can't say anything, but have to praise his magnanimity.
He was obviously being greedy, but in the end everyone had to praise him.
Ordinary princes don't have this ability.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "Indeed, as expected of Eldest Brother, good methods."
Chu Lieyu shook his head and said, "Everyone was dissatisfied that you didn't come."
"If I go, I'll only spoil everyone's fun." Chu Zhiyuan said: "It's good that I didn't go, so you can freely criticize me."
Chu Lieyu smiled wryly.
There's nothing wrong with that.
When everyone gets together, the topic at the beginning is often to criticize Ninth Brother.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Didn't Eldest Brother say anything?"
"Eldest Brother said that you have always been like this and there's no need to be surprised."
"What a magnanimous Eldest Brother." Chu Zhiyuan laughed, shook his head and said: "I just don't know if he can still be like this after I snatch the spot."
Chu Lieyu sighed: "Ninth Brother, if Eldest Brother is like this, it would be a joke if you really snatched the spot, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the face to stay in the Imperial City anymore."
Chu Zhiyuan snorted and smiled disdainfully: "Seventh Brother, you underestimate Eldest Brother too much. No matter how embarrassing it is, he can still hold it up… First he offended Fourth Brother, then Eldest Brother. If I don't go to be this consort, who will?"
"Alas…" Chu Lieyu said helplessly.
"Seventh Brother, don't let them see you coming over, lest you be isolated with me."
Chu Lieyu said: "There are Fifth Brother and Eighth Brother too."
He and Fifth Prince and Eighth Prince are together, not fighting alone, so he is not afraid of being isolated.
Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to approach Chu Zhiyuan.
"Fourth Brother reminded Eldest Brother that Ninth Brother is not what he used to be and should not be underestimated."
"Did Eldest Brother listen?"
"Eldest Brother is very careful in his actions, he must have listened, I estimate he will try to test you, you have to be careful."
"Okay, I understand." Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.
He knew that this was Seventh Prince's real purpose, to remind himself to be careful of Eldest Prince's test.
