Chapter 36: Very Thick-skinned

Perhaps it was because she was given a surname in front of the King of Yan and the Princess, and because she was given a surname by a great favor, that Xu Miaojin's attitude today became more approachable. The younger generation presented her with greetings, and she returned the greetings one by one.

When Xu Miaojin looked at Zhu Gaoxu, her eyes wandered and stayed on his face for a long time. The pair of unadorned almond eyes, with upturned corners, were charming in their own way. When she looked at him like this, Zhu Gaoxu's heart was suddenly in a mess.

Could it be that he was too frustrated in his previous life and had never seen a truly beautiful woman? Just a glance made Zhu Gaoxu's blood boil and he had wild thoughts. He felt as if he was illuminated by some light and favored by something. His chest was throbbing, as if he had suddenly become 20 years younger and returned to his youthful age... But thinking back, Zhu Gaoxu was really only in his teens.

Zhu Gaoxu had six brothers and sisters in total, and he was a little confused. He couldn't understand why Xu Miaojin paid attention to him alone. He felt very pleased but also a little confused.

Zhu Gaoxu soon calmed down. After all, his mental age was not a teenager... When Xu Miaojin just came in, Prince Yan glanced at him sideways and his expression seemed surprised. This little action was like a basin of cold water poured on Zhu Gaoxu's head, forcing him to give up the illusion.

At this moment, a eunuch hurried to the door and stretched his neck to look inside. The King of Yan noticed it immediately and raised his hand to wave. The eunuch walked in with a bent waist, walked straight to the side of the King of Yan, bowed his head, and whispered something in the King of Yan's ear.

The King of Yan's expression froze, and he turned around and said, "The capital has sent a general to attack me. I'm going to the front hall."

Princess Xu said, "You can go now. I'm here with you. You don't have to worry about home."

The Prince of Yan said kindly, "Princess, don't worry too much. We have raised the banner of peace in Peking. The court will not sit idly by. What is coming will eventually come. I have been prepared for it."

He put his hands on the armrests of the armchair and stood up. He looked at Zhu Gaoxu and others and said, "Gao Chi, Gao Xu, finish talking to your mother and come to the front hall."

Zhu Gaoxu and the Crown Prince clasped their fists together and said, "Your son obeys your command."

After the Prince of Yan finished speaking, he strode out, and the eunuch who brought the news followed behind him in quick steps.

Princess Xu said, "You two brothers, you should do your best to help your father. You don't need to stay any longer."

Zhu Gaoxu said, "I will follow your instructions."

Just after he finished speaking, the prince did not say this sentence, but stepped forward to continue to ask about Princess Xu's daily life and physical condition, very carefully. Zhu Gaoxu stood there and suddenly felt that he seemed to be tricked by the prince.

At this moment, Xu Miaojin looked over and whispered, "Prince Gaoyang, how is the turtle in the pond that you mentioned last time?"

She spoke softly, but Princess Xu still heard it and asked with interest, "What are you talking about?"

Zhu Gaoxu understood in his heart that the last time Yao Guangxiao talked about winning over Zhang Xin, another person made fun of his clothes behind his back, and Xu Miaojin was also there... At that time, she even had a hint of mockery in her eyes, but unexpectedly, she brought up the matter herself today.

Zhu Gaoxu's impression of Xu Miaojin suddenly changed a little. She was not completely oblivious to what was happening outside. She was quite interested in the right and wrong of these things.

But he always felt that something was wrong, but after thinking about it, he couldn't put his finger on it.

When Princess Xu asked about it, Zhu Gaoxu didn't dare to say anything. When the matter was suddenly brought up, he didn't know how to explain it in a hurry.

After a while, Xu Miaojin's voice said, "The last time King Gaoyang came to visit, I was ordered to escort him out of the cave. On the way, King Gaoyang said he bought a turtle and wanted to release it. I am a person who practices asceticism, and when I saw King Gaoyang again today, I couldn't help but ask him."

Princess Xu nodded and said, "Oh, I see. Gao Xu has loved wielding swords and guns since he was a child. When he was young, he followed his father into battle. He has a strong murderous aura. It would be good for him to accumulate some virtues and dispel his anger. Gao Xu, you can also burn some incense for the Bodhisattva when you have time."

Zhu Gaoxu was relieved to hear that he had been fooled. He knew that his mother was a Buddhist, so he quickly said, "Mother, you are right. I also think that Buddha is more effective."

Princess Xu was indeed very pleased after hearing this.

As for why my mother believed in Buddhism and there was a Taoist priest around her, it is unknown... But it is not surprising. Most Chinese people are believers in everything. It is common to worship the Jade Emperor after worshipping the Buddha. The most bizarre thing is that there are often Taoist gods in Buddhist temples.

Zhu Gaoxu said to Xu Miaojin, "Of course the turtle was released. It has a very thick skin and is still alive and well. Nothing has happened to it."

After hearing this, Xu Miaojin's eyes turned into a crescent shape, but the rest of her face remained tense, and she didn't burst into laughter. This is also a skill.

The two looked at each other for a moment. Xu Miaojin's eyes no longer had the contempt that an adult had for a child, but some admiration. Zhu Gaoxu felt like a furnace was on fire.

Before this, Zhu Gaoxu and Xu Miaojin had only met twice, and the time they met was very short, and they talked even less. Unexpectedly, after only two meetings, there was a private little secret between the two!

The heart that had just been poured with a bucket of cold water by a small action of King Yan was now unknowingly rekindled.

At this time, Princess Xu said, "I'm here, and you brothers don't want to leave, so I'll go back to my room first. Brothers, don't hold grudges overnight, and work together for father, understand?"

Zhu Gaoxu just felt relieved, but his heart skipped a beat again: Did Princess Xu know about the poisoning?

The prince and Zhu Gaoxu bowed together, "Yes, mother."

Princess Xu slowly stood up, and her three sisters went up to support her. The three brothers, the Crown Prince, Zhu Gaoxu, and Gao Sui, did not move. The Prince's Mansion had a set of rules: a grown-up son should stay away from his mother, and his mother could not get too close to him.

A group of people surrounded Princess Xu and came out of the hall.

Zhu Gaoxu recalled what his father had just said and sighed, "We attacked everywhere a while ago, but there was no major battle and there were very few casualties. This time the court has sent a general and a large army, I'm afraid it won't be so easy. I don't know how many people will die in this battle... Actually, they are all our own people."

At this time, Xu Miaojin slightly side-glanced and looked at him with a complicated expression.

Princess Xu sighed and said, "Mother cannot manage world affairs. All I can do is to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and pray for the people of the world. Buddha is merciful. I hope your father can fulfill his wish soon and kill less people."

Zhu Gaoxu said, "Father is not to blame for this. Qi and Huang could have followed the Han Dynasty's method of extending favors, or they could have slowed down the reduction of the feudal lords and shown more mercy for the sake of our ancestors. Otherwise, father would not have sent troops to suppress the rebellion. Father was forced to do so and was very reluctant. He has grown old recently."

"Gao Xu, you are right." Princess Xu praised.

After a while, Zhu Gaoxu and several of his brothers and sisters sent Princess Xu back to her bedroom, and he went to the front hall with the Crown Prince.