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

Chapter 157: Affair

At this time, within the distant palace walls, the emperor heard about the Yaotai Banquet, put down the memorial, and looked at the eunuch who came to report.

"Really?" he asked calmly, "Old Third has been doing more and more things these years."

His expression was unpredictable, and the eunuch looked uneasily at the old eunuch Chao En beside him.

Chao En placed his whisk on his arm, turned around and brought a cup of hot tea: "Your Majesty, you have been reading memorials for so long, it's time to take a break."

The emperor smiled, raised his hand to pat his shoulder, closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, sighing, "I am old, and my eyes are no longer useful. In a few days, I am afraid that I will not be able to read the words on the memorials clearly."

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about?" Chao En stepped forward and gently touched his forehead. "In the spring, you hunted a few deer in the paddock with your own hands."

The emperor closed his eyes and said in a low voice: "Ten years ago, I could bend my bow and shoot eagles, and wield my spear to hunt tigers. But now I can only hunt a few tame deer. It's really not worth boasting about."

"Your Majesty is always Your Majesty," Chao En said softly, "Your achievements are not as simple as hunting a few tigers or shooting a few eagles. Da Zhao can be what it is today, all thanks to Your Majesty's hard work and good governance."

The emperor laughed loudly: "Chao En, I remember that you are not a person who likes to flatter others. Why, seeing that I am old, you also start to say nice things to make me happy?"

"I dare not." Chao En bowed slightly, "I have followed Your Majesty since I was young. I have seen everything Your Majesty has done for Da Zhao. Others do not know how hard Your Majesty has worked, but I do."

The emperor opened his eyes and looked at him carefully for a while. "If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed it. Chaoen, you are older than me. Look at you, your hair is all white. You have been serving me all these years. It must have been hard for you."

"It is my great honor to serve Your Majesty," Chao En said, "Not to mention the hardship, even if I die for Your Majesty, I am willing to do so."

"Okay, when you really die for me, it won't be too late to say this." The emperor turned his eyes to the eunuch who reported the news in the palace, "When is the Yaotai Banquet scheduled?"

The eunuch said, "The second day of next month."

"The second day of the Chinese New Year?" The emperor smiled. "It's an ordinary day. Has the third brother's invitation been sent to the prince?"

"Yes," the eunuch replied, "Everyone who is a relative of the emperor will have one."

"This third brother," the emperor snorted and laughed, "I can't quite figure him out."

"If Your Majesty is worried, why not ask Prince Jing to cancel the banquet?" Chao En asked.

The emperor waved his hands and said, "I don't think he would dare to stir up any trouble under my nose. Isn't the prince becoming more and more independent-minded? If I interfere too much, I will be disliked."

Chao En: "Your Majesty has been very attentive to the Crown Prince, and His Royal Highness will surely understand."

The emperor chuckled and said, "It doesn't matter whether he understands it or not. When he suffers, he will know how to treat his brothers in the future."

On the second day of the New Year, Fang Tong boarded the carriage of Prince Rui's Palace and went to Yaotai with Feng Twelve.

Yaotai, as the name suggests, is as beautiful as a fairy residence and is located on the shore of Yaochi Lake in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.

This place is surrounded by mountains and rivers, covers an area of ​​thousands of acres, and is full of flowers and beautiful scenery.

A high platform made of white jade stands in the blue waves like a white cloud rising from the ground. A wide road extends from the front of the platform and leads directly to the lakeside.

The lakeside is decorated with carved jade railings, green tiles and golden eaves, and is immersed in the light of the water under the sunlight, making it look like a fairyland with a magnificent atmosphere.

Fang Tong stood by the lake, took a deep breath of fresh air, and said with a smile: "It turns out that there is such a beautiful place in Beijing. Fortunately, I am here."

"If you like, I'll come with you in autumn," Feng Twelve said, "There is a maple forest on the east mountain. After the white dew, the whole mountain will be covered with red leaves."

Fang Tong imagined that scene, "What about winter?" she asked. Feng Twelve: "It's cold in the mountains in winter, but I have a villa at the foot of Dicui Mountain, and there are hot springs in the villa."

Fang Tong raised his eyebrows in surprise: "I didn't realize you were enjoying it."

She thought Feng Twelve would just stay in his house all day, but she didn't expect that he actually had a hot spring villa.

"This is the imperial manor that His Majesty gave me before I went to Luozhou." Feng Twelve said.

Fang Tong's smile paused. She had not forgotten what the emperor sent Feng Twelve to Luozhou for. She even suspected that the emperor was willing to give such a good place as a reward because Feng Twelve had a life-threatening experience going to Luozhou, and if he died, the manor could be taken back.

"You have to go to the farm and have fun this winter," Fang Tong said, "You have to enjoy the things you have exchanged your life for. If the emperor doesn't call you, you might as well just stay there for the winter."

Anyway, Feng Twelve doesn't have any proper job, so living in the villa is no different from living in the palace.

Feng Twelve looked at her and said, "Okay, I'll have someone prepare it."

As the two were talking, carriages arrived one after another.

When the guests who got off the car saw Feng Twelve, whether they knew him or not, they all came forward to greet him. When they saw Fang Tong beside Feng Twelve, they couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Fang Tong could see that they were very curious about his origins, but Feng Twelve was not the type to answer every question, so when someone hit a wall, the others felt embarrassed to try again.

Facing everyone's gazes, Fang Tong did not feel any discomfort.

She had prepared herself mentally before going out. It was just a matter of being stared at a few times, and it wouldn't make her lose any weight. It would be nice if she could lose some weight. She took a deep breath calmly and tightened her abdomen. She had been in a good mood recently and had a good appetite. In addition to the main meals, she also ate a lot of snacks every day. If she hadn't practiced basic skills in the horse stance every day, she would have gained a circle of fat on her waist.

Fang Tong glanced at her reflection in the water inconspicuously. It was okay. She looked beautiful in this outfit today.

Her eyes moved to Feng Twelve's reflection, and she couldn't help but smile when she saw the leather belt around his waist.

That was the gift she bought for him at Tianyixuan last time, and she saw him wearing it these days.

She smiled and then stopped smiling. She wore the jewelry he gave her and he wore the leather belt she gave him. Is this what is called a private transaction nowadays?
Seeing her staring into the water without saying anything, Feng Twelve took a half step forward and asked, "What's in the water?"

There is adultery.

Fang Tong answered silently in his heart.

She turned around, smiled, and said to Feng Twelve: "The banquet is about to begin, let's go in quickly."

They walked along the white jade path in the center of the lake and came to the Yaotai. Only then did they discover that there were hundreds of calligraphy and paintings hanging everywhere. The snow-white paper, black ink, mixed with green and bright red colors, were like cranes spreading their wings in the wind, dancing in the air.

All the guests present stopped, looked up and exclaimed in amazement.

Fang Tong looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but think of the literary gathering in Linshui County.

Did Prince Jing invite them here just to appreciate calligraphy and paintings?
Fang Tong was just thinking about it when he heard a chime sound and the laughter of King Jing Feng Yuyang came from the stage.

"Everyone, these are the calligraphy works of famous artists that I have collected from all over the world over the years. Please feel free to take a look at them. If you like any of them, feel free to take them away."

Fang Tong raised his eyebrows and looked at Feng Twelve.

Do you really appreciate calligraphy and painting? And give it away for free?