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Edited on January 7, 2020.

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Xiao Ren has been working for the general for such a long time, but it still amazes him to see the general in a good mood for three weeks in a row.

(E/R: Xiao Ren - head housekeeper)

These days, the general will go missing at night, but when morning arrives, they will see the general walking out of his own room, so he wasn't as worried now as when the general first disappeared.

Respectfully handing off the invitation card to Xiao Zhi Zhi, Xiao Ren lowered his head. His eyes carefully observing his master's expression.

After seeing Xiao Zhi Zhi read the invitation card, his face didn't show any expression. The person who sent the invitation card was from the Seventh Prince of the imperial court.

Even though the Emperor already chose his crown prince, the crown prince was too "soft".

That's why even if he is capable and wise in the palace court, if he doesn't have anyone to back him up, it's useless.

That's why there are several princes willing to fight to take over the crown prince's position, and this seventh prince is among the princes who has that ambition.

It's a pity that the seventh prince of the imperial court is a friend of Xiao Zhi Zhi.

"Xiao Ren, prepare the carriage." Xiao Zhi Zhi folded the invitation card.

"Yes." Xiao Ren obeyed the order, and quickly went to prepare the carriage.

On the second day, Xiao Zhi Zhi was about to have dinner, but the seventh prince's sudden visit surprised him.

He came to check whether Xiao Zhi Zhi would be active in the fight for the throne or not, since his every action is well-known to the palace court.

Even though they are considered best friends, pulling Xiao Zhi Zhi to his side isn't easy.

"Brother Xiao" the seventh prince greeted.

"Seventh prince." Xiao Zhi Zhi politely replied.

After the seventh prince greeted Xiao Zhi Zhi, he sat down and laughed,

"I heard that recently, Brother Xiao likes to drink tea, so I would like to invite you to a tea house that I know of."

The seventh prince paused as he tried to pique Xiao Zhi Zhi's interest,

"This tea house is one of the well-known tea houses in the center of Luo Yang City, but in my understanding of Brother Xiao, I presume that you have never visited this tea house before."

That two of them had known each other for more than two years, so the seventh prince already knows Xiao Zhi Zhi's temperament.

The tea house was a kind of place where scholars would usually gather, so even though Xiao Zhi Zhi wants to come, he doesn't want to be in a crowd.

"I've never really went there before." Xiao Zhi Zhi replied calmly.

The tea house master brings out the best tea set, and brewed the tea in front of the seventh prince and Xiao Zhi Zhi.

Xiao Zhi Zhi has seen this type of way to brew tea many times from Chu Zhu Yu, and it's clearly the exact same movement, but he doesn't think this person would know about Chu Zhu Yu.

His eyebrows slightly furrowed as he stared at the expert who is brewing tea.

Once the seventh prince saw Xiao Zhi Zhi's expression, he hurriedly asked,

"Is there anything wrong?"

Xiao Zhi Zhi pondered but did not reply, the seventh prince smelled the scent of tea and suddenly came to understand,

"I forgot that Brother Xiao likes to drink Jun Shan Yin Zhen tea."

After he spoke, the seventh prince glanced at the Tea Master who was still brewing the tea.

"Quickly change the tea to Jun Shan Yin Zhen."

"Yes, yes, this lowly one will quickly change the tea."

After bowing repeatedly, his whole body oozed with sweat. If he accidentally makes these people angry, these people could kill him just by waving their hands.

The Tea Master prepared to remove the tea, but Xiao Zhi Zhi said,

"You don't need to discard it, drinking it won't harm me."

Since the other party already said so, the seventh prince also allowed it. The lowly servant immediately poured the tea in front of Xiao Zhi Zhi.

His slender finger picked up the tea cup. Xiao Zhi Zhi lowered his head to see the yellowish apricot color of the tea, the fresh scent of the tea filled his nose.

"What type of tea is this?" He asked.

"Replying to the general, this is Bai Hao Yin Zhen tea, it's another form of Jian Zhen tea. Because of its white color, it's called Bao Hao tea. It could refresh the stomach, and gives a cooling effect after taking alcohol."

Xiao Zhi Zhi placed the lid closer to his mouth and gently sipped the tea.

It's a good type of tea.

This Bai Hao Yin Zhen tea was the first tea that Chu Zhu Yu had ever brewed for him.

He drinks the tea while she's mumbling, telling herself how difficult to get and how expensive this tea is.

Once he sees that round-faced servant looking afraid, the corners of his lips rose, and he smiled.

The seventh prince looked at the hidden smile of Xiao Zhi Zhi, and naturally, he also smiled, giving a big reward to the Tea Master. Suddenly, the seventh prince changed the topic.

"Brother Xiao, do you know the reason why I'm asking you out?"

"Hm." Xiao Zhi Zhi moved his tea cup.

The whole tea house has been booked by the seventh prince, and is only left with a few people who are the seventh prince's confidants.

In here, he can speak about anything without worrying about information leaking out.

The seventh prince smiled, he dipped his fingers with excess tea, and he wrote a word on top of the table.

'POWER'

Xiao Zhi Zhi glanced at the word, asking the seventh prince, "Do you want it?"

"Of course I want it. Which prince doesn't want the crown prince position?"

Since he was a child, he had a strong desire for power, he wanted to be stronger than others.

If we look at the current situation, the abolishment of the crown prince is absolute, and is going to come sooner or later.

If the crown price position isn't abolished, and the king passes away, the crown prince will sit on the thrown and might get the seventh prince killed out of fear of being replaced.

Xiao Zhi Zhi didn't say anything, he was only lazily sitting on his chair, just letting the time pass. After a moment, the seventh prince opened his mouth.

"Based on Brother Xiao's character, if you don't have any interest in it, you wouldn't interfere. But you should also remember the old saying, the people will not bear the sin but the status will."

Xiao Zhi Zhi raised his eyebrow.

The seventh prince raised his finger again and stained it with tea, writing another word on the table.

'ARMY'

Those who have 1/3 of the military force is able to fight for the throne, and with that much military force, they will have a very small possibility of losing.

Xiao Zhi Zhi still has the same expression. After a stick of incense burned out, he suddenly stood up.

"It's getting late, I should go back to my residence."

The seventh prince understood. He didn't stop him, he only glanced at the half-full cup of tea on the table,

"Brother Xiao, did the tea taste bad?"

Before watching him drink the tea, Xiao Zhi Zhi smiled, but he wasn't sure why he only took a sip of the tea.

"No one can brew tea better than that person." He smiled brightly. The seventh prince got confused.

After Xiao Zhi Zhi's shadow disappeared in front him, the seventh prince turned his head and spoke to his guard,

"Did General Xiao Zhi Zhi smile twice today?"

"Yes. Two times." seventh prince's guard replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir."

Did anything good happen to Xiao Zhi Zhi that the seventh prince is unaware of?