C60

Ming Chengyan looked at Su Zongwen again. The man's sharp and clear face was very different from when he was a baby from his memories. But looking at it carefully, this man's face looked extremely similar.

Ming Chengyan could not help but remember the past.

That year, Su Zongwen was still a child in his infancy.

Once Noble Consort Su lost his power, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to protect his child, so he could only secretly send him out of the palace. Just at this time, Su Zhizhong's family was framed, deposed by the current emperor, and were unable to return to the capital.

This was an excellent opportunity for the Noble Consort Su.

After Noble Consort Su secretly thought about it, she asked Su Zhizhong's family to take away the little prince, while she publicly declared herself as a stillborn child.

With Ming Chengyan's help, Su Zhizhong and the two children distanced themselves from him, as it was much safer than staying in the capital. If the situation did not improve in the future, and his Su Family was not able to wash away the grievances, then it would be good for the prince to stay by their side as a normal citizen.

Memories came back.

"Elder Chen said that your martial arts are amazing. I wonder what kind of martial arts teacher you have?"

Ming Chengyan recalled that Su Zhizhong was a civil servant, so he would naturally not teach Su Zongwen martial arts.

"Previously, the local officials had come to the village to recruit soldiers, so I was sent to the military camp for a few years. This training was done in the military camp." Su Zongwen explained.

"The military camp is indeed a good place to gain experience." Ming Chengyan nodded slightly.

He remembered that the Prince Su had also stayed in the army camp for a period of time, and it did not take long for him to subdue the morale of the troops.

Everyone thought that Prince Xian was a neutral party, but he had already stood in line for the Prince Su.

On the surface, Ming Chengyan did not participate in the palace battles, but in reality, if he really had to stand out between the and the crown prince, he would only stand on the side of the Prince Su.

Now, even though he did not help anyone, he had secretly sent people to protect the Prince Su. In his heart, the Prince Su was the most suitable candidate to be the king.

"This King heard that you have gotten married. How old are you?" Ming Chengyan continued to ask.

"It's exactly twenty-three this year."

"Not bad, not bad. I can see that your character is pretty good, and you've also been to the army before. I'm sure that you'll be able to accomplish something in the future." When Ming Chengyan heard Su Zongwen say that he was twenty-three this year, he was even more certain of his own thoughts and was much more amiable towards him.

"Thank you for your blessings, Prince Cheng."

Su Zongwen was not in the mood to get involved with the disputes in the imperial court, but he knew in his heart that his parents were citizens of the capital, and that the greatest wish of their lives was to return to the capital once more.

Ming Chengyan stared at Su Zongwen. Speaking of which, the name Su Zongwen was actually his. Thinking of all these, Ming Chengyan couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Back then, when he named Su Zongwen, he was only a babbling baby. In the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed just like that …

"How have your parents been all these years?" Ming Chengyan continued to ask while sighing at the speed at which time had passed.

"I'll have to trouble Your Highness to keep this in mind. My parents have been healthy all these years, and they have been living quite well."

Su Zongwen replied cautiously and thought to himself: Why did the Prince suddenly ask about my parents? Could it be that he knew his parents?

Ming Chengyan sensed Su Zongwen's nervousness, and explained: "Don't worry, your father and I will be officials at the same time, we can be considered old acquaintances."

"I really didn't expect that you were actually Su Zhizhong's son."

The last sentence seemed to have a deeper meaning.

During the years of turmoil in the imperial court, it was not just the Prince Su and the crown prince who were fighting fervently in the imperial court. The imperial harem was also in a state of chaos.

Looking at the Su Zongwen who looked so much like Noble Consort Su, Ming Chengyan sighed inwardly: All these years, if it wasn't for his eldest sister protecting Noble Consort Su, she probably would have died under the empress's schemes.

Ming Chengyan and Su Zhizhong had known each other since a young age, and now, the two of them were like children living in a hall. The things that happened in the past seemed to still be yesterday, and it seemed like it was time for him to meet this old friend of his.

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen your parents in a long time. It's rare to get such an opportunity now, so I'd like to take a look at the two of you. I'm just not sure if you'd be too bold?"

"It would be a blessing for the Duke to be able to come to my house in person, so how could I dare to say such presumptuous words? Furthermore, the Prince is my father's old friend, so the father will definitely be wild with joy." Su Zongwen said in a heavy voice.

Ming Chengyan nodded, and the more he looked at Su Zongwen, the more satisfied he became.

It looks like he had taught Su Zhizhong a good lesson these past few years. Even though he had grown up in the countryside, his manners and speech were not the least bit disrespectful.

Seeing that it was almost time for lunch, Ming Chengyan asked Su Zongwen to stay.

"It's getting late, I think you should stay in the main courtyard for lunch today."

Su Zongwen should not have rejected, he only thought of the scene where Shen Zhu was in the courtyard preparing lunch waiting for him, and felt a sense of gentleness in his heart, wanting to reject her.

"Prince, you're too kind, but I still have a wife and daughter waiting for me to return. I'm afraid …" Just as Su Zongwen was speaking, he was interrupted by the Madame Ye. "So what?

Madame Ye laughed as he spoke, he turned to look at Ming Chengyan, "What did the Prince say?"

"The princess is right."

Ming Chengyan nodded his head slightly. Seeing that although Su Zongwen was outside, he was still worried about his wife, so her good impression of him increased by another level.

With her husband's approval, Madame Ye turned and looked at Xia Zhi, who was standing behind her. Xia Qi knew what to do without her permission.

Seeing that the Madame Ye had already said this, Su Zongwen did not decline. Although he did not understand much about Ming Chengyan, but Su Zhizhong had been in the capital for so many years, it was still possible for him to say that the two of them were old friends.

Ming Chengyan saw that Su Zongwen was happy that he had agreed, and asked him some more questions, and then the couple brought him and walked to the main hall.

Shen Zhu had originally planned to have lunch with Aunt Liu and her. She didn't expect that the Royal Concubine would suddenly summon them, so she explained the reason to the mother and daughter with an apologetic expression.

Ah Qiu waved his hand, "Go quickly!"

She was genuinely happy that Shen Zhu had obtained Master's recognition.

Aunt Liu looked at Shen Zhu's back and smiled.

From the moment she saw Shen Zhu, she knew that this girl was definitely not an ordinary person.

When the Zhuer in the front courtyard heard about this, he immediately started to gloat, and thought to himself: The prince had told Su Zongwen that he had not returned this morning, and now that the princess is summoning Shen Zhu, could it be that they have made a mistake? This was bad luck!

Shen Zhu did not think too much about it. He brought the three children and followed Xia Zhi to the main hall of the main courtyard.

On the way back, Xia Zhi didn't tell her what the reason for the Princess's summons was. It wasn't until Shen Zhu arrived at the main hall and saw the dishes on the long table that he seemed to understand.

Although he could not see through Mu and Meier's figures in the main hall, Ming Jinmo, Lin Clan, Madame Jiang and Ming Yuchen were all present.