tallest building

Chapter 280 A Heavy Entrustment

From the twelfth lunar month to the Lantern Festival, there were many and complicated matters in the palace, which need not be recorded in detail.

After the Lantern Festival, King Chu's youngest son, Ying Shan, will enter the palace.

Prior to this, the Chu King's Mansion invited Gong Chang'an to visit their residence in Ying Bai's name.

Gong Chang'an had only not seen him for a month, but he found him emaciated and dejected, no longer the same as before, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Your Highness, it's been so long since we last met. I've been thinking of you constantly." Gong Chang'an stepped forward, just like the way the two of them used to be when they were in the palace.

Ying Bai sighed almost inaudibly, smiled and said, "The things you asked someone to bring me from the palace a few days ago are very nice. I'm bored right now, so I can use them to pass the time."

The item that Gong Chang'an sent over was an ancient chess manual. Although some parts were incomplete, the chess games were all exquisite, and he would often spend many days engrossed in a single game.

It's definitely a great way to pass the time.

"I'm glad the young master likes it; it's just a small token of my appreciation," Gong Chang'an said.

"I haven't returned your gift yet, so I've invited you to my home today." Ying Bai's blinded eye was covered with a black veil, and he was only now gradually getting used to seeing with one eye.

As the two were talking, Princess Chu led Ying Shan in.

Ying Shan was only six years old after the New Year. He looked more like his mother and was a very delicate-looking boy.

But you could also tell she was very pampered, with a hint of impatience on her face.

"I don't want to come this way, my brother's eyes are scary." Despite being pulled by her mother, Ying Shan still stood at the door and refused to go inside.

Ying Bai's face immediately turned ugly, and that childish voice was like an invisible arrow piercing his wound again.

The Queen Consort of Chu became enraged and immediately scolded, "I think you're asking for a beating! If you say such things again, I'll disown you as my son!"

"Wah..." Ying Shan retorted with loud sobs, "I know you only want my brother and not me. In a few days you'll send me to the palace! I'll never see you again!"

His tears pained the Queen Consort of Chu; how could she possibly want to be separated from her young son?

When Yingbai entered the palace, he was already ten years old. Moreover, they could visit the palace at least three to five times a month.

Now the child is still young, and they will soon be leaving the capital for Longxi. Who knows when they will see each other again?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but shed tears, hugging her youngest son and choking back sobs, "My dear child, of course your father and I are reluctant to part with you, but now is not the time to be willful. Didn't I tell you, if you go to the palace and behave well and listen to the Empress, and with Wang Mama and the others accompanying you, you won't miss home too much."

At this moment, Ying Bai stepped forward, squatted down, and said to his younger brother, "Shan'er, don't cry. Let me tell you, you must study hard and learn etiquette in the palace. You need to learn more characters so that you can write letters to your parents and your brother later."

We will also write to you and have people send you fun and delicious things from Longxi to the capital.

Do you see him? —”

Ying Bai pointed to Gong Chang'an and said, "He knows a lot of things. He's also in the palace. If you're with him often, you won't feel bored."

Princess Chu quickly wiped away her tears and smiled at Gong Chang'an, saying, "Good child, the reason I invited you here today is that I really want to ask you for a favor."

"Your Highness, you're too kind. Please feel free to give your orders," Gong Chang'an replied with a smile.

"It's really a pity. Shan'er is too young and doesn't understand things. He'll be all alone in the palace, and we can't help but worry about him."

"I know you're a good child, and you've always been close to Bai'er. So please spend more time playing with him while you're in the palace, so he won't miss us too much." The Princess of Chu spoke earnestly, even with a hint of humility.

Under these circumstances, status and wealth were irrelevant; she was simply a mother who wanted her son to have more people around him who treated him kindly. Besides, Gong Chang'an was Master Zhuge's beloved disciple, and if he was willing to take care of Ying Shan, Master Zhuge would naturally look after her more.

Princess Chu was not stupid. She knew that the Empress had no choice but to send her youngest son into the palace, but what about the future?

Even if I can't come up with a perfect solution, I will do everything in my power to protect my child.

That's it.

Ying Shan blinked at Gong Chang'an and asked him, "Are you the child prodigy my brother was talking about? He said you're really good at Cuju (ancient Chinese football), and you can also use hidden arrows and do handstands. Can you teach me all of that?"

"If you want to learn, Second Young Master, I can teach you," Gong Chang'an replied with a smile. "There are many fun things in the palace. Once you enter the palace, I will take you to play them all."

Ying Shan was still a child after all. Although he was reluctant to leave his parents, he immediately became curious as soon as he heard that there was something fun to do: "Really? You're not lying to me?"

“Why would I lie to you? I have the utmost contempt for people who break their promises,” Gong Chang’an said. “Let me perform a magic trick.”

As he spoke, he took out two glass balls from his pocket, held them in his hands, blew on his right hand and said "Go," but his hands did not touch. When he opened his right hand again, it was empty.

"Hey, where did that ball go?" Ying Shan asked, grabbing Gong Chang'an's hand.

“Here they are!” Gong Chang’an said, opening his left hand, and sure enough, there were two balls in his hand.

Then he clenched his fist again, shook it, and said, "Change!"

When he opened his hand again, it had turned into two copper coins.

"This is great, this is great, can you teach me?" Ying Shan was overjoyed.

“There are many more interesting magic tricks than this. I’ll teach you this one first today.” After saying that, Gong Chang’an took Ying Shan’s hand and walked to the side to begin teaching him magic tricks.

Princess Chu glanced at Ying Bai, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

If Gong Chang'an could be Ying Shan's playmate in the palace, he would definitely miss home less.

After having lunch at the Chu Prince's residence, Gong Chang'an took his leave.

Ying Shan was still reluctant to leave and wanted him to stay a little longer.

But Gong Chang'an had other matters to attend to, and said to the Princess of Chu, "Before I left the palace, my mother told me to go and visit the Princess. The mountain road is long, and if I go too late, I'm afraid I won't be able to get back to the palace in time, which would be bad."

Princess Chu naturally understood and said, "Good child, now that you live in the palace, you must follow the rules everywhere. I understand. Just go ahead. Take these things and don't refuse them. They are a token of my appreciation."

She gave Gong Chang'an a brocade box containing a fine tiger-dragon yellow jade pendant.

Gong Chang'an bowed to her in thanks and, as expected, did not refuse.

He rode out of the palace on horseback and headed straight for Bowang Mountain.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they saw a beautiful young woman and a plump old woman standing together.

Gong Chang'an dismounted and ran towards the two men.

"Aunt Zhang! Sister Sang Er, I've missed you so much!"

"Oh my, my little darling! I'm so glad to see you." Zhang Ma hugged Gong Chang'an tightly. "Let me see how much you've grown."