It's another cold winter.
Xiao Ziheng's health is relatively poor, so he takes a hot spring bath every year to recuperate his body, and this year is no exception.
After he dismissed the palace people, he took off his clothes and buried himself completely in the hot spring. The water temperature in the hot spring was just right. Xiao Ziheng closed his eyes and rested for a while, when he suddenly heard a loud noise coming from outside.
Xiao Ziheng opened his eyes suddenly.
The palace attendant's voice reached his ears. "Your Highness, you can't go in..."
"I have something to discuss with Third Brother."
This voice...
Xiao Ziheng's eyebrows are raised slightly, it's Xiao Zisu.
"Let him in."
Xiao Ziheng's voice still sounded a bit weak.
Since the palace man was not far away from him, he heard these words clearly, so he took half a step back and made way for him. "Your Highness, please come in."
Xiao Zisu said "Hmm" and walked in.
Layers of water mist rose from the hot spring, blurring Xiao Ziheng's cold face. Xiao Zisu's Adam's apple moved slightly, and his expression showed a bit of guilt. "Sorry, actually I..."
"Want to come and soak in the hot springs together?"
As if he had guessed what Xiao Zisu was going to say, Xiao Ziheng interrupted him with a smile, "The hot springs here have the effect of conditioning the body, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and unblocking the muscles and bones. Aren't you busy competing with those generals recently? You must have suffered a lot of injuries, right? Do you want to take a bath in the hot springs with me?"
Yes.
After going through the two events of "subduing the prime minister" and "taking advantage of the immortal's words", Xiao Zisu turned his attention to military generals. Military generals have different personalities from civilian officials. Civilian officials focus on attacking the heart and rely on tactics and tactics, while military generals pay more attention to force and often use force to distinguish superiors.
Xiao Zisu went to the military camp frequently during this period, but he used it under other names, not for "competition".
He didn't expect Xiao Ziheng to even know this. He was stunned for a few seconds before he smiled and said, "I really can't hide anything from you."
"It's not hard to guess."
Xiao Ziheng closed his eyes slightly, feeling the hot spring.
The Prime Minister is the head of the civil service. After settling his matter, Xiao Zisu turned his attention to the military general. However, the Prime Minister did this matter very secretly. The eldest prince and the second prince involved did not know that he was behind the matter. But looking at Xiao Ziheng's calm and composed appearance, it seemed that he had expected it?
Xiao Zisu has been praised for being smart by others since he was a child, but he feels that the only one who can be called "smart" is Xiao Ziheng.
"When did you find out?"
Hearing this, Xiao Zisu was too lazy to beat around the bush with Xiao Ziheng. He smiled and took off his outer clothes, leaving only a thin white undershirt.
The white undershirt was thin and close-fitting, perfectly outlining his body lines. Xiao Ziheng's eyes stayed on Xiao Zisu's faintly emerging abdominal muscle lines for a few seconds, and then he looked away. "Not long ago."
He said it was "not long ago", but according to Xiao Zisu's understanding of Xiao Ziheng, he should have known about it for a long time. He just said this to save face for each other.
Xiao Zisu soaked his body in the hot spring. The water temperature in the hot spring was a bit hot, but it was very comfortable to soak in. The handsome boy raised his eyebrows casually, and his whole person exuded a lazy and leisurely temperament.
There was a layer of hazy water vapor between the two of them. Xiao Ziheng could feel the young man's burning gaze, but he did not speak. Instead, he closed his eyes and rested, quietly waiting for the opportunity.
"Aren't you curious why I came to you?"
"Why don't you call me brother?"
Xiao Ziheng opened his eyes and smiled.
Xiao Ziheng When he smiles, his cold facial features become a bit softer, making him look indescribably good-looking.
Unfortunately, the fog in the hot spring was hazy, and Xiao Zisu could not clearly see Xiao Ziheng's expression, so he could only guess that he was in a good mood based on Xiao Ziheng's smiling tone.
Xiao Zisu came with the intention of winning over Xiao Ziheng, so he naturally obeyed his words in every possible way. When he heard Xiao Ziheng's words, he immediately shouted "Third Brother".
Xiao Zisu's "Third Brother" shout was very stiff. Xiao Ziheng shook his head and whispered, "... that's not right."
This shouldn't be the tone.
Xiao Zisu When he just returned to the palace, the words "Third Brother" he shouted were kind and touching, but the "Third Brother" he said now seemed like someone forced him to say it, and it was very stiff.
Is it because his good brother doesn't want to pretend?
Or... his good brother has realized that he knows what he has done during this period, so he is very defensive against him in his words?
"... What's wrong?"
Xiao Zisu feels that Xiao Ziheng is a little confused. It was obviously him who asked him to call him "Third Brother", but now he obeys his will and calls "Third Brother". Why does he still say "wrong"?
"Tone."
Xiao Ziheng bent his eyes. "The tone is too stiff."
There is still a sense of distance when he smiles, but he looks a bit closer than usual.
"... Third brother?"
Xiao Zisu recalled the scene when the two first met, and shouted tentatively, this time with a slightly raised tone, but still without the coquettish feeling.
Xiao Ziheng shook his head again. "It's still wrong."
Xiao Zisu:"..."
He silently recited several times in his mind that this was the person he wanted to win over. He couldn't be angry, couldn't be angry, couldn't be angry... After hypnotizing himself, a smile appeared on the corners of Xiao Zisu's lips, and his voice became sweeter. "Third brother?"
"There is progress."
Xiao Ziheng nodded. "But it's still a little deliberate."
Xiao Zisu:"..."
Roll.
He forcibly suppressed his anger, imagining Xiao Ziheng as the person he liked, and his tone of voice became gentle. "Third brother."
The ending sound rises, inexplicably a bit coquettish.
Xiao Ziheng then nodded with satisfaction. "That's right."
Xiao Zisu:"..."
Xiao Zisu feels that his third brother is different from the rumors. The legendary Xiao Ziheng is as gentle as jade and treats everyone with a humble and polite manner. How come he becomes like this when he is in front of him?
Xiao Zisu Throw away the messy thoughts in his mind, he coughed twice, and then brought the topic back to the right track. "Third brother, what do you think of the crown prince?"
The prince is the heir to the throne or the throne.
The most important thing in a country is the monarch, followed by the prince. If a prince's character, talent, and ambition cannot match his position, it will be a serious blow to the country.
When Xiao Ziheng saw Xiao Zisu bring the topic to "Crown Prince", he knew that he had finally gotten to the point. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said casually, "It has nothing to do with me."