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

Chapter 20: Morning Farewell
The snow-white window paper reflects the dark blue of the deep ocean; it is dawn, when one is about to wake up.

The appearance of Feng Twelve was like a sharp sword, breaking through the hazy fog and piercing clearly into Fang Tong's eyes.

He had been recuperating from his injuries these days, and usually wore light clothing. But now he changed into a tight dark purple robe with narrow sleeves, a silver belt around his waist, and a jade crown on his head. His already tall and straight figure looked even more dignified and majestic.

Fang Tong couldn't help but look at him twice more.

The officials who came to welcome the emperor today were of the fifth rank and above, mostly middle-aged and elderly people. She could easily imagine how conspicuous Feng Twelve would be among the huge crowd of uncles and aunts.

She rested her chin on her pillow, feeling a little regretful that she couldn't go with them. She had been in the capital for so long and had never left the house once.

Everyone got up very early today. Although the emperor would not arrive in Beijing until the afternoon, the officials who were to welcome him had to wait outside the city at noon.

Feng Twelve had a simple breakfast and a ray of dawn slowly appeared on the horizon. Not long after, the ray of dawn was submerged by the clouds again.

Wei Baichuan and his men waited in the corridor, looked at the weather outside, and told Xiaonian: "Send someone to get rain gear, it might rain today."

He saw Feng Twelve coming out of the house and stepped forward to greet him: "Your Highness, the carriages and horses are ready, shall we set off now?"

Fang Tong squatted by the door, looking at everyone with secret envy. She also wanted to go outside and walk on the street openly as a human being. She didn't know when this wish would come true.

Feng Twelve walked down the stairs and paused for a moment. The gazes behind him seemed to be glued to his back, making it difficult to ignore them.

"Your Highness, did you forget something? I'll go get it right away." Wei Baichuan asked.

Feng Twelve shook his head: "No."

He turned around and walked back to the steps and came in front of Fang Tong.

He squatted down and wanted to reach out to touch her head, but he put his fingers down after moving them.

"Keep an eye on the gate at home. I'll bring you some food."

After he finished speaking to Fang Tong, he stood up and left.

Fang Tong looked at his back, confused. Was he coming back just to say this?
She raised her beard, thinking back to when she was working, every Monday, she would hug Fang Xiaohua and rub her for a long time, mumbling to herself and refusing to go out. Maybe Feng Twelve was the same as her?
From ancient times to the present, no worker likes to face the boss, and Feng Twelve’s boss is the emperor.

Thinking of this, Fang Tong thought that he had seen through Feng Twelve's thoughts.

It’s just that I don’t want to go to work, she understands.

Feng Twelve walked up the corridor, and Wei Baichuan followed him. He said with a smile, "Since Your Highness is reluctant to part with the little fairy, why not take it with you in the car? After all, no one will check and no one will see it."

"We have some important business today." Feng Twelve said.

Wei Baichuan listened to the words and joked, "Then when we have nothing to do some other day, why don't we take the little fairy out for a walk?"

Feng Twelve looked at him and said, "No."

"Why?" Wei Baichuan was puzzled. "I see those young ladies in Beijing like to hold cats, dogs, and rabbits when they go out."

Xiao Nian brought some rain gear over and just happened to hear this. He smiled and said, "Boss, our prince is not a young lady."

"Go away," Wei Baichuan waved the man away, "Of course I know that Your Highness is not a young lady, but our cat is not an ordinary cat, it is a little fairy."

Will other people's cats save people? Can they eat at the same table with His Highness? Can they make His Highness reluctant to leave even when he leaves the house?

Wei Baichuan crossed his arms and said, "Others are allowed to hold birds and dogs, but who is bothered by His Highness holding a cat?"

"Of course it doesn't bother anyone." Xiaonian curled his lips at him and winked.

Wei Baichuan then realized that Feng Twelve had been staring at them. He grunted twice and grabbed Xiaonian's neck: "Come on, let's go and see if the carriage is ready."

"Xiaonian, stay." Feng Twelve said.

Wei Baichuan quickly let go and called out to the others: "Let's go, put the rain gear in the car quickly."

Xiaonian watched helplessly as his boss and his brothers abandoned him and ran away without any loyalty.

He turned to Feng Twelve with a bitter look on his face: "Your Highness, what do you want me to do?"

Feng Twelve walked slowly and his tone was calm: "Which dried fish do you like to eat?"

Xiao Nian opened his mouth and blurted out, "Your Highness, are you asking which restaurant the little fairy likes to eat the most?"

In the entire prince's mansion, Xiaonian is the one who loves to eat and is the best at eating. There is no delicacy in the streets and alleys that he cannot find. As for the snacks he buys on weekdays, they are countless. The first dried fish Fang Tong ate came from him.

His mind was working quickly. When Feng Twelve asked him about dried fish, he naturally didn't mean to care about his taste.

"There are more than a dozen shops in Chaoshengfang that specialize in fried food. Three of them have good dried fish, but the little fairy's favorite is not there. He likes the fried food from a fisherman under the Chui Liu Bridge." Xiaonian recalled, "I have fed the little fairy several times, and he likes his food the most."

Feng Twelve looked at him in confusion. Are there so many differences in fried fish? No wonder the kitten didn't like the bag that Wei Baichuan brought last time.

"Which store can I buy it from today?" Feng Twelve asked.

Just before he went out, he saw the kitten squatting by the door with a look of regret in its eyes. It probably saw them going out and wanted to go out and play too.

But on the one hand, he had important things to do today, and on the other hand, the kitten had a special identity, so it was inconvenient to take her out, so he suddenly decided to promise her that he would bring her some food back.

Xiao Nian heard his question and shook his head like a rattle: "I'm afraid it won't work today. The fisherman makes a living by selling fish. He usually only catches the big ones and doesn't keep the small ones. Unless someone places an order with him, he will keep the small fish and fry them for money. It's too late for us to order now. We have to go two days in advance."

Feng Twelve didn't say anything after hearing this, but nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

The group boarded the carriage outside the mansion gate and drove out of the city.

Outside the city, flags were waving and flowers were in bloom. On both sides of the avenue were brocade curtains that stretched for several miles. Behind the curtains, there was a row of long tents, and court officials were waiting under the tents in order of their rank.

Because it was still early and the emperor had not yet arrived, officials gathered in twos and threes to discuss state affairs or official business. Some people slapped their hands and sighed as they talked.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is confused."

This sigh immediately attracted the attention of everyone around.

The speaker was dressed in military uniform. He was Guo Yin, a close confidant of Sui Yongdao who was sent to the capital to present gifts.

Guo Yin is thin but has a loud voice.

He and the people beside him shook their heads and sighed, "I don't believe the prince would hire someone to kill someone, but the White Bird Pavilion is just a civilian assassin organization, how dare they make random accusations? In my opinion, even if this matter has nothing to do with the prince, it is inevitable that some of his subordinates are smart enough to cause trouble for the prince."

"Brother Guo, please be careful with your words." The person he was talking to was also an official in Prince Ping's palace. He pulled his sleeve and said, "I know you are worried about Prince Ping, but there is no conclusion on this matter yet, so let's not speculate."

Guo Yin rolled his eyes and said, "If you are upright, you have nothing to fear. So what if I ask? Why did General Sui send me to the capital this time? He heard that Prince Ping was assassinated and was terrified. His old injuries recurred. When I left, he couldn't get out of bed, so he could only ask me to greet His Majesty and visit Prince Ping on his behalf."

"Since you are so seriously ill, why don't you retire and live out your days in peace?"

A voice came from behind the crowd, like an ice spike hitting water or a long sword breaking jade.

(End of this chapter)