Besides lying down, I also know a little about power struggles

Chapter 103 Not dead
Feng Wuqiong smiled coldly: "Father, do you still want to wait for the Imperial Guards to rescue you? Forget it. All those on duty tonight are my men, including them."

As he finished speaking, the eunuchs in the hall tore off their outer robes, revealing the armor underneath.

The emperor glanced around and said, "They are not from the palace."

"Of course not," Feng Wuqiong said with a smile, "These are the private soldiers that my uncle carefully trained for me."

"Do you know what you are doing?" the emperor asked. "Raising private soldiers without permission is punishable by death according to the law."

"Once I become the crown prince, this law will no longer apply." Feng Wuqiong said.

The emperor looked at him solemnly: "When did you start planning this?"

"Not too early, not too late," Feng Wuqiong said, "I didn't intend to use it so soon, but who told you to give the leadership of the Cavalry Guard to someone else and send the Crown Prince on a southern tour? I was planning to wait until he got to the south before taking action, but that Feng Twelve was so annoying. He discovered the spies sent by my uncle and sent an official document to Luozhou to investigate. Since he has forced us to this point, we have no choice but to take action in advance."

The emperor said coldly: "You and Sui Yongdao are really uncle and nephew."

Feng Wuqiong raised his head and laughed: "Father always says that I am as reckless as my uncle, but my uncle says that I am more like father."

The emperor said expressionlessly: "Although I was brave and courageous when I was young, I will never be as stupid as you."

"Stupid?" Feng Wuqiong stopped laughing. "If I were stupid, I wouldn't have planned until now. If I were stupid, I wouldn't have kept my mother in the dark. Do you know how many years I have waited for this day? Who can be as patient as I am?"

The emperor snorted lightly: "You can say these words in front of me, and you still say you are not stupid?"

Feng Wuqiong's expression changed: "I dare to do it and take responsibility for it, so why can't I say it?"

"What will happen after you become the crown prince?" the emperor asked, "Should I, the emperor, also abdicate?"

Feng Wuqiong smiled: "Father is in his prime, and there are so many loyal ministers in the court. How dare I let you abdicate easily, but——"

"But you won't keep any of your brothers, right?" The emperor's voice was even colder than his.

Feng Wuqiong’s smile suddenly disappeared.

There was a moment of silence in the hall. There seemed to be the sound of wind outside the window, accompanied by a humming sound coming from nowhere, like the sound of a cat calling softly.

Feng Wuqiong looked into the emperor's cold eyes and nodded slowly: "Father really loves me. He actually thinks the same as his son."

The emperor uttered a sigh.

"Chao En," he said to the old eunuch beside him, "My child is so troublesome, what do you think I should do?"

Chao En bowed slightly: "This is your Majesty's family matter."

"Yes, if it is according to national law, I must execute this thief with my own hands, but if it is according to family law, I can spare his life."

The emperor's tone was flat, and the pressure from being in a superior position for many years was released like a sharp blade. When Feng Wuqiong met his eyes, his heart suddenly turned cold.

"Someone, chop Chao En off for me." Feng Wuqiong sat up straight, "Father, Chao En is old, I will replace him with someone who is close to you."

The emperor smiled and said, "Sixth brother, please sit down."

Before he finished speaking and Feng Wuqiong understood what he meant, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck, as if an ice-cold knife was placed on his neck.

Feng Wuqiong glanced at him and his pupils shrank instantly.

The person holding the knife is Feng Twelve.

Feng Wuqiong was about to turn around when he heard Feng Twelve shout coldly, "Don't move."

Feng Wuqiong stiffened his body: "You are not dead?"

Feng Twelve said nothing.

At this moment, there were several loud bangs, and the doors and windows of the hall all fell down, revealing the empty wooden frames.

Dust and smoke rose on the floor. Before the private soldiers in the hall could react, they saw a group of imperial guards rushing in. Torches were suddenly erected outside the courtyard, which had been silent just a moment ago. The imperial guards, wearing armor and holding sharp weapons, surrounded the entire hall.

A tall and handsome man in brocade clothes stood in front of the team.

When Feng Wuqiong saw his appearance clearly, he felt as if he had seen a ghost: "Feng Yunxi? You're still alive!"

Prince Feng Yunxi stepped into the palace and bowed to the emperor: "Father, I am sorry for the shock."

The emperor looked at him with a hint of admiration in his eyes: "You are quite patient."

"I, your son, dare not act rashly without the order of my father," said Feng Yunxi.

The emperor smiled and said, "How did Twelve give you the signal? I was in the palace and had no idea." "My guards have been hiding on the roof," Feng Twelve replied, "and when they see me move, they will pass the message to the prince."

The emperor looked at him and said, "I see. It seems that you have many talented people under your command."

Feng Twelve lowered his eyes: "Thank you for the compliment, father."

"Father, what should we do with these people?" Feng Yunxi came to the emperor.

As early as when the palace gate was broken, the imperial guards had captured the private soldiers in the palace one by one. As the incident happened suddenly, the private soldiers brought by Feng Wuqiong did not even have time to resist before they were disarmed. At this time, they knelt on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.

"Where are the others?" asked the emperor.

"All those who sneaked into the Imperial Guards from outside have been captured," Feng Yunxi said, "Except for the officials from the Dali Temple who were ordered to come, no one knows what happened in the palace."

"Very good," the emperor looked at him, "you are indeed a good prince."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind." Feng Yunxi glanced at Feng Wuqiong, "Then Prince Ping..."

"This is a chess game between you and Lao Liu," the emperor smiled, "You have the final say on how to deal with it."

He patted Feng Yunxi on the shoulder and strode out.

Feng Yunxi was silent for a moment and looked at Feng Wuqiong.

Feng Wuqiong glared angrily: "Feng Yunxi, Feng Twelve, you lied to me."

"Yes," Feng Yunxi admitted, "We planned this from the first day Twelve left the capital."

Feng Wuqiong's teeth were chattering, and it looked like he wanted to bite a piece of flesh off Feng Yunxi, but with Feng Twelve's knife across his neck, he could only stand still.

"You knew I was going to deal with you?" he asked.

"Not sure," Feng Yunxi said, "but since the incident in the enclosure has already happened, neither side will give up easily, so Twelve and I plan to give it a try."

Feng Wuqiong's face was extremely ugly. He turned his eyes to the right and glared at Feng Twelve who was diagonally behind him: "You asked the Linshui County Court to send an official document to Luozhou just to provoke us to take action in advance?"

He turned his eyes back to look at Feng Yunxi in front of him, and said, "Feng Yunxi, you are quite courageous. You dare to use yourself as bait."

"No," Feng Yunxi shook her head, "I'm timid, so I didn't take that path at all."

"Didn't leave?" Feng Wuqiong asked, "The missing prince..."

"They are my assassins." Feng Yunxi said, "They are the ones who went south along the route that Twelve took."

Feng Wuqiong was speechless for a long while, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Ha, ha, it turns out that I fell into your trap, Feng Yunxi, I thought you were really as upright and honest as people say, I didn't expect you would resort to such tricks."

"All's fair in war," Feng Yunxi said, "If you hadn't taken action, I would have already reached the south by another route."

"That's why Father said I'm stupid," Feng Wuqiong sneered, "In terms of scheming and patience, I'm not as good as you."

Feng Yunxi looked at him, a complex expression flashed in his eyes. He was about to say something, but saw Feng Twelve put away the knife and chopped down with a palm.

Feng Wuqiong fell to the ground without even a groan.

Feng Yunxi: “…”

He squatted down and sniffed Feng Wuqiong's breath, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Twelve, why did you knock him out?"

"Have you figured out how to deal with him?" Feng Twelve asked.

Feng Yunxi shook her head: "I haven't figured out how your majesty wants me to deal with him."

"Then think about it slowly." Feng Twelve said, "He won't wake up tonight. You have plenty of time."

After he finished speaking, he jumped off the bed and walked out of the hall.

Feng Yunxi looked at his back: "Where are you going?"

"It's getting late, it's time to leave the palace."

Feng Twelve came to a deserted place outside the yard and looked upwards.

A gray shadow ran across the glazed tiles of the hall and jumped down from the roof.

A fluffy kitten fell into his arms.

(End of this chapter)