The princess regretted it.

Chapter 383 Speaking of Cao Cao Cao Cao’s arrival

The more the emperor listened, the more shocked he became. He hadn't expected his son, who had always been so cautious and careful, and had always had a low sense of presence in his presence, to be so skilled at reading people's minds from such a young age. Apparently, one cannot judge a person by his appearance; his true potential is hidden.

However, although Jin'an's words made him more wary of his third son, he had no doubt that Jin'an was saying this on purpose. After all, Jin'an had relied on the third son for so many years, and the third son had benefited greatly from this reliance. He had seen all of this and was well aware of it.

Jin An had originally planned to mention the snowstorm after discussing Prince Chun, but since her father mentioned her third brother, she took the opportunity to share some of his hidden agenda through past events. She believed her father would definitely take notice.

So she recalled to herself for a while, and when she thought the time was right, she slapped her forehead and said in annoyance, "Oh, look at my memory. I accidentally let the topic go off the topic." With an expression of sudden enlightenment on her face, she pursed her lips and looked at her father with a smile.

"It's okay. Father loves to hear you talk about these family matters. I never thought that your third brother, who usually keeps a low profile, actually has such abilities. If you hadn't mentioned it today, I would still be kept in the dark." The emperor had a smile on his face, but deep in his eyes, there was a subtle thought. His voice was steady and gentle, as if he was just expressing his feelings.

At this moment, a series of small footsteps were heard outside the palace. Eunuch Fuquan walked in quickly, hunched over, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, the two princes request an audience."

Jin An's eyebrows rose slightly when he heard this, thinking to himself, "Wow, the ancients weren't kidding! Speak of the devil, and here he is!" He had barely finished talking about his third brother when the real boss arrived. Luckily, it was snowing heavily today, making the roads difficult to navigate, delaying his trip. Otherwise, he might have been standing right in front of him before he'd even finished his words.

The emperor had a rough idea of ​​his two sons' intentions. He suspected that, like Jin'an, they were here to discuss the matter with the Yu envoy. However, the emperor, having served in the imperial court for so long, had long since mastered the art of concealing his emotions. His expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded slightly and calmly ordered, "Call them in."

Eunuch Fuquan replied, "Yes!" and bowed respectfully before leaving. A moment later, the heavy curtain at the entrance to the palace was gently lifted, and the Second Prince, Changsun Yunji, and the Third Prince, Changsun Wuwang, slowly walked in.

Changsun Yunji, who was walking in front, had an upright posture. He was wearing a black brocade robe, which made him look calm and reserved. His face was a little haggard, but there was a new maturity in his eyes. Changsun Wuwang, who was following behind him, was wearing a moon-white robe. He looked a little thin and had a faint smile on his face. If you ignored the calculation in his eyes, he looked quite handsome.

When the two reached the hall, they looked up and saw Jin'an sitting beside the emperor, beaming with joy. Changsun Yunji didn't dwell on it much. He believed his younger sister had always been favored by their father, so it was normal for her to be around him. He didn't see anything wrong with that. Changsun Wuwang, however, was a little surprised. He secretly wondered why Jin'an was in the Health Hall in such weather, but time was pressing and he didn't have time to dwell on it.

The two brothers stepped forward together and greeted the emperor in unison, "Your Highness, your sons pay their respects to you, father!"

Jin An had already stood up at this time, and her eyes swept over her two brothers, with that sweet smile still on her face. She bowed slightly, saluted her two brothers, and said crisply: "Second brother, third brother, how are you."

Upon seeing this, the two brothers quickly turned to face Jin An, returned the greeting, and said in unison: "Greetings, Imperial Sister!"

The Emperor raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to stand. His gaze swept across the faces of his three children one by one, his expression calm yet subtly scrutinizing. He asked, "It's snowing so hard outside. Why did you two rush here in such a hurry?"

Upon hearing his father's question, Changsun Yunji subconsciously glanced sideways at the Third Prince. He hadn't intended to come, but his younger brother had just suddenly visited his residence and solemnly informed him that the Yu Kingdom envoy had arrived in the capital. He also earnestly stated that a prince would be present at the court to receive them, and urged him to come along to offer his father advice and discuss countermeasures. That's when he was drawn over.

At this moment, being asked this by his father, he suddenly felt that he shouldn't have followed along so blindly. If his father intended for the prince to succeed him, he would have naturally issued an order. Why would they rush in like this? If they came so rashly, who knows if his father would think they were overstepping their bounds. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little troubled, not knowing how to start.

Changsun Wuwang had been waiting calmly for his second brother to respond. After all, he had already indoctrinated him thoroughly before coming here. As long as he opened his mouth, he would just respond when the opportunity arose.

But when he looked up, he found the Second Prince looking at him, his face hesitant, and he didn't immediately respond to his father's question. His heart skipped a beat, and he cursed inwardly, "What a hopeless case! Ever since Concubine Zhang's downfall, he's become even more useless. And now, at this crucial moment, he's failing!" According to the rules, there should be order of seniority, and since the Second Prince hadn't said anything, he hadn't hesitated to interrupt, which was against etiquette.

But seeing the Second Prince's demeanor, expecting him to respond was a lost cause. If he continued to stand there, his father might become suspicious, thinking the two brothers were harboring some hidden agenda. He didn't dare to bring up the matter of the Yu envoy directly. For a moment, the air in the palace seemed frozen, the silence almost oppressive.

At that moment, the charcoal fire in the hall's charcoal basin crackled, a subtle popping sound that was particularly abrupt in the dead silence. Changsun Wuwang's mind shifted, and he gritted his teeth, taking a step forward. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Father, your son and your second brother were chatting today. We noticed the snow is heavier than usual. Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest, which is always a good thing. However, your second brother and I are a little worried. The heavy snow is making it difficult for the common people to travel, and I'm afraid it will also affect their livelihoods."

Once the conversation started, Changsun Wuwang felt his thoughts flowing like a spring, very smoothly, and his words were incessant. "Besides, the snow came late this year, and I don't know if the people have food and charcoal stored at home. Seeing that the snow shows no signs of stopping, no one can estimate how long it will last. It is also unclear whether the prices of food and charcoal are still normal. So your son and I decided to come to your father to discuss whether we need to make some preparations?" As he spoke, he quietly raised his eyes and looked at his father's expression.