The number one rebel of the Great Wu

The next morning.

Before it was fully light, Chen Changgeng had already changed his clothes.

At this moment, A-Yuan had not yet changed. Seeing Chen Changgeng get up, A-Zi slightly opened her eyes.

She then gently hugged the blanket to her chest, revealing her bare shoulders, and looked at Chen Changgeng with a puzzled expression.

"Why are you up so early today?"

"I have something to discuss; I need to go to the palace."

Chen Changgeng buttoned his shirt with one hand while leaning slightly forward.

Azi surprisingly raised her head and met his gaze with her red lips.

Normally, she would only gently rub her forehead.

With a gentle kiss, they parted. Azi turned to look at Chen Changgeng's back, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Putting everything else aside, this man is at least a man of honor and loyalty.

No wonder my sister likes it so much.

Perhaps I'm just more obtuse than my sister when it comes to matters of the heart.

Perhaps, my previous insistence was indeed a mistake.

……

The entrance to the Prince's Residence.

Chen Changgeng took out the painting.

Entering through the side gate, a horse was already prepared for Chen Changgeng.

Leaving so early, naturally no one followed.

Fortunately, Jiang Baiwei had taught her how to ride a horse beforehand, otherwise she would have been quite apprehensive.

Snapped!

A crisp crack of a whip rang out.

With a series of crisp clicking sounds, Chen Changgeng transformed into a swift arrow, hurtling towards the palace.

Today is the day Xiao Jingtian will be touring the palace.

We will depart at noon and arrive at Beiqing Temple in the afternoon to pray for blessings.

Meanwhile, at the palace gates, preparations were underway for the emperor's procession.

The accompanying hundred-man guard also began to assemble.

The sudden sound of horses' hooves naturally drew everyone's attention.

Chen Changgeng dismounted and handed the Crown Prince's token to the gatekeeper, who waved it over and let Chen Changgeng in.

At this moment, Chen Changgeng prayed that the emperor was either still in bed or in the imperial study.

In this way, he only needed to present the calligraphy and paintings without having to meet Xiao Jingtian in person.

When they arrived and asked, they learned that the emperor had actually gone to the Imperial Garden.

"Damn it, why are we going to the Imperial Garden so early!"

"People need less sleep as they get older, right?"

Chen Changgeng muttered a complaint, feeling extremely unhappy as he hurried towards the Imperial Garden.

At this moment, the sky is just beginning to brighten, and there is a light dew. A faint mist still hangs over the Imperial Garden.

Upon entering the Imperial Garden, one immediately saw Xiao Jingtian alone, leisurely practicing his boxing in the center of the garden.

The boxing style looked very similar to Tai Chi, but it was still lacking something.

Fortunately, Xiao Jingtian was surrounded by guards and a dozen or so palace servants, so Chen Changgeng did not need to go in person.

"Eunuch Sun, this is a painting of green mountains after rain that the Crown Prince created overnight."

"The Crown Prince instructed me to present this to His Majesty before he leaves the capital today."

Seeing the red-robed eunuch beside Xiao Jingtian walking quickly towards him, Chen Changgeng hurriedly gave his instructions.

Eunuch Sun is a favorite of Xiao Jingtian and the person in the court who knows the emperor best.

"A picture of green mountains after the rain?"

Grandpa Sun switched the whisk to his other hand, took it with both hands, and his eyes shone brightly.

Logically speaking, since the crown prince has been deposed, even Chen Changgeng should not address him as the crown prince at this moment.

Eunuch Sun merely glanced at Chen Changgeng without pointing anything out.

"Okay, you wait here."

Eunuch Sun took the scroll, gave an order, and immediately headed towards Xiao Jingtian.

Chen Changgeng raised an eyebrow and quickly shrank back, hiding behind a tree, quietly observing the movements in the distance.

As soon as Eunuch Sun approached and called out softly, Xiao Jingtian stopped what he was doing.

He then took the painting from his hands, opened it, glanced at it, and his movements froze.

Seeing Xiao Jingtian stand there stunned for more than ten seconds, Chen Changgeng knew that things were in the bag.

"Go, bring that little eunuch here. I have something to ask him."

Xiao Jingtian carefully put away the painting and calmly gave his instructions.

At that moment, Chen Changgeng, who was hiding in the distance, felt a sense of foreboding when he saw Eunuch Sun turn around and run towards him.

Damn it, you just watched it and then played around, why do you need me to do anything else!

Although Chen Changgeng knew this was inevitable, he still couldn't help but chirp a few words in his heart.

Without this step, why would the Crown Prince have asked me to deliver the painting?

"The Emperor wants to see you. When you see the Emperor, you must not say anything reckless."

Grandpa Sun rushed over and kindly reminded him.

"I understand."

Chen Changgeng could only lower his head and follow Eunuch Sun with small, quick steps.

Xiao Jingtian turned around and was already sitting in the pavilion.

As soon as Chen Changgeng arrived, he immediately knelt down to pay his respects.

"This humble servant, Chen Changgeng, greets Your Majesty."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

These two simple sentences sent a shiver down Sun Gonggong's spine, and he immediately looked at Chen Changgeng with a strange expression.

Xiao Jingtian was taken aback for a moment, then smiled slightly.

If it were an ordinary eunuch, he would naturally not refer to himself by his own name at this moment.

Chen Changgeng's statement was clearly not in accordance with proper etiquette.

"I haven't even asked yet, how come you've already told me everything?"

Xiao Jingtian took a sip of tea and asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven, and all matters under Heaven are within your sight."

"If I were to conceal anything now, I fear I would be guilty of deceiving the emperor."

Chen Changgeng knew that he had been taken out of the capital's prison by Shen Qingci.

It's impossible for Xiao Jingtian to be completely unaware of something this big.

Furthermore, he had accompanied Xiao Lie to his birthday banquet, and it was strange that Crown Prince Xiao Lie did not bring Lin Dequan.

Xiao Jingtian was even more likely to not know his own limitations.

"Haha, great!"

"So you dare not admit to the crime of deceiving the emperor? It seems you already know what I want to ask you?"

Chen Changgeng lowered his head.

"Not only did I know, but His Highness the Crown Prince also knew, which is why he sent me."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingtian was stunned for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh.

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

Before he could even ask his question, and before Chen Changgeng could answer it, the answer had already been delivered to him.

I can hardly even muster the thought of doubt.

Interesting, very interesting!

"It seems I made a good choice in selecting this daughter-in-law from the Shen family; I didn't misjudge her."

"Raise your head and let me see you."

Chen Changgeng raised his head, his face calm and his mind free of any distractions.

Xiao Jingtian glanced at Chen Changgeng, then sighed softly.

"What a pity, with your talent and your looks."

"If it weren't for that accident, I would have entered officialdom smoothly in the future and could have been a role model for the officials of our Great Wu Dynasty."

"But now that you have been castrated and become a palace maid, it will be difficult for you to enter the court and become an official."

"Do you regret it?"

Chen Changgeng smiled slightly.

"To assist the crown prince is to assist the entire nation."

"Even a petty person with shallow talents can make use of them, so why should there be any regrets?"

"Moreover, the Crown Prince's sudden awakening is a blessing for our Great Wu Dynasty. With His Majesty's great achievements, we will surely usher in another golden age."

"To be born in a prosperous era, and to be governed in a prosperous era, is already a blessing for a petty person."

"The fame one has before and after death is only judged by posterity; such fleeting fame is not worth mentioning."

"Excellent, excellent!"

Xiao Jingtian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his admiration evident in his words.