Chapter 9, Adventure Plan

"Fairy Sister!" Xiao Fangzi exclaimed, instinctively reaching out both hands towards the white figure, only to grasp at nothing.

The young lady asked what to do, and the servant replied that he was merely a lowly life, but he would certainly do his utmost to fulfill any request. Xiao Fangzi's expression had completely changed; he was well aware that the Seventh Prince was not favored, yet his mother was one of the most powerful figures in the harem. He could not afford to offend her. His own life was of little consequence, but if it brought trouble to his younger brother at home, then his guilt would be far too great.

The Imperial Kitchen supervises the preparation of meals for the various concubines and the Emperor in the inner palace, a task that is inherently arduous and thankless, and has become even busier in recent days. Since the arrival of Master Ming Fang in the palace, who is accustomed to simple and plain food and dislikes the elaborate dishes typically served, the head of the Imperial Kitchen, Eunuch Feng, had no choice but to send someone to a small restaurant outside the palace to invite a chef to prepare home-style dishes. Poor Chef Lao Zhang had never encountered such a grand occasion in his life; upon seeing the large group of officials, he nearly soiled himself in fear. After much persuasion, he managed to enter the palace as a royal chef, but he was unaccustomed to the high-quality oils, salts, sauces, and vinegars used in the palace, and the dishes he prepared lacked the flavor of simple fare. However, Master Ming Fang did not complain further, allowing Lao Zhang to avoid a few more beatings.

"Hongru, do you know? It is only now that I realize I cannot live without you." Feng Wuhen's piercing gaze shone directly on Hongru's face. "Everything you just said is what I have been eager to know. A frail prince cannot protect you, but a prince with real power can; he can give you everything you desire." His voice was filled with fervor, even Chen Lingcheng felt a stir of emotion. A frail prince cannot protect you, but a prince with real power can; he can give you everything you desire." His voice was filled with fervor, even Chen Lingcheng felt a stir of emotion.

Your Highness! Hongru could not help but exclaim in shock, "If the Emperor finds out, then..."

This is the Fenghua Palace, the residence of the Seventh Prince. You have intruded here without permission and disturbed His Highness. What punishment do you deserve? The young girl, naturally, was Hongru. She and Chen Lingcheng had long planned this in advance. Chen Lingcheng had added a small amount of drug to the lamp oil in Xiaofang's room. Since this was the lowest-ranking area in the palace, Chen Lingcheng, disguised as an old eunuch, encountered no trouble at all. Xiaofang, having inhaled the drug-laced oil, naturally became drowsy. Then, Hongru executed her risky plan to lead him near the Fenghua Palace, a place rarely visited by guards, making it a secluded spot within the imperial palace. Thus, they successfully completed their task without incident. Any mistake at any step could have far-reaching consequences. As this was their first time doing such a thing, both Chen Lingcheng and Hongru inevitably broke into a cold sweat.

Listening to Hong Ru analyze the advantages and disadvantages of several princes, as well as the forces behind them, Feng Wuhen felt a sense of astonishment towards the red-clad young woman before him for the first time. He stood up excitedly, disregarding the presence of Chen Lingcheng beside him, and abruptly embraced the still eloquently speaking Hong Ru. This sudden scene left both Chen Lingcheng and Hong Ru as stunned as if they were frozen in place.

Xiao Fangzi quickly realized that he had been deceived. Although his status was lowly, during his years in the Imperial Kitchen, he had served numerous concubines of the palace, and he had developed a certain level of discernment. "Since I have already intruded, how you choose to deal with me is up to you, Miss!" He steeled his heart; a noble from the palace would not take an interest in such a small figure as himself. Even he, no matter how foolish, understood that this was no trivial matter. A careless mistake could lead to the destruction of his entire family. How could he dare to easily agree?

The meals for Master Mingfang have always been delivered by a eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen known as Xiao Fangzi. Originally a servant, he was assigned this task only because the eunuch Liu Ying, who was responsible for delivering the meals, had broken his leg, and others were momentarily unavailable. Thus, the chief eunuch appointed this novice to take over. For the past few days, as he passed through the heavily guarded Qinzhen Hall, he would see the guards with their sharp swords and fierce gazes, causing him to have nightmares almost every night, constantly worrying that he might lose his head if he made a mistake. Therefore, he served Master Mingfang with more respect than he would show his own father. That night, with the others in the room away on their duties, he found himself tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, when suddenly he heard a commotion outside the window.

Before losing consciousness, he still heard a dissatisfied mumble by his ear, "So easily frightened!" However, he could not fathom who in this imperial palace would joke with someone as insignificant as him, a mere eunuch

Xiao Fangzi suddenly realized that he was in the imperial palace, and the thought that he might have intruded into the chamber of some noble lady or the library lady made him break out in a cold sweat. He quickly rolled out of bed and knelt down, saying: "It is the servant's ignorance, may I ask where this young lady is?" Although he was flustered, he could still tell that the beautiful young girl before him was not a master; which noble lady in the palace would lower herself to speak with a lowly eunuch like him? It would be considered polite if she did not immediately have him thrown out.

It is quite simple; you need not go for the meal delivery tomorrow

Upon hearing Feng Wuhen's plan, Doctor Chen and Hong Ru both gaped in astonishment. It was too outrageous. If it were proposed by another prince, they might not have so many doubts. However, just a month ago, Feng Wuhen was still lying on a sickbed; how could such a drastic change occur?

Xiao Fangzi suddenly sprang up from his bed, instinctively thinking he had made some mistake and that the Emperor had sent someone to arrest him, leaving him in a state of extreme panic. The door opened silently, but instead of the expected armed guards, a white figure entered, gently waving at him. Xiao Fangzi managed to calm his nerves and then clearly saw that it was an exceptionally beautiful face, adorned with a gentle smile.

People always change. The wind before me no longer carries the naivety of a thirteen-year-old boy. How about it, can you help me accomplish these tasks?

Hong Ru and Chen Lingcheng exchanged a glance, and finally nodded. From this moment on, the three individuals, each with their own distinct identities, would become true allies, with no possibility of retreat.

Feeling as if he had been unconscious for a long time, Xiao Fangzi opened his eyes and discovered that he was already in a beautiful large room. A lovely young girl was looking at him with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor fully serious. "Fairy sister?" he asked tentatively.

The white shadow suddenly vanished, and only then did Xiao Fangzi awaken somewhat, glancing around and pondering how he had foolishly ended up here. Right, that fairy sister was so beautiful, and she floated so quickly; could she be a ghost? Just as this thought crossed his mind, a strange cry echoed in his ears. Already on edge, he could hardly withstand the fright and hurriedly dashed forward. There seemed to be faint lights ahead. As soon as he entered the hall, he suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of his head and immediately collapsed straight down.

"I have never had any thoughts about the throne," Feng Wuhen said calmly, "but if I keep retreating, the consequence will be that I will forever be trampled underfoot by others, and no one will remember me, the Seventh Prince. Therefore, I will not let this opportunity slip away, and I need your help."

"Your words are so sweet!" The young girl looked at the little eunuch with a meaningful gaze, "Do you know where this place is? How dare you speak so recklessly, what audacity!" The latter part of her statement was deliberately emphasized.

You are still young, and I do not wish for you to go to your death. Hong Ru displayed a look of deep compassion and said, "You only need to do one thing."

Chen Lingcheng never imagined he would hear such treasonous words. At this moment, even if he wanted to retreat, it was already too late. "Your Highness, the power and influence of each prince have already been established. What do you intend to do?" He finally took the plunge. After more than three years of treatment, and now that the Seventh Prince was almost fully recovered, he had inadvertently offended Concubine Yu. It would be better to see what this usually timid prince could accomplish.

The white shadow seemed to float forward effortlessly, while the little square followed with one foot high and the other low. Although there were quite a few night-watch guards in the deep palace at night, the white shadow appeared to know every path clearly, discreetly leading the little square to a relatively desolate area

"Please help me meet Master Ming Fang," Feng Wuhen said firmly. "I want to see this person with my own eyes"

"Will I be sentenced to death?" Feng Wuhen replied nonchalantly with a smile, "If I truly encounter misfortune, then it is simply my bad luck. However, with your assistance, I believe the chances of success are still quite high."

Red with anger in her heart, "According to palace regulations, intruding into a prince's chamber is not originally a serious crime, but the Seventh Prince is physically weak, and this fright naturally adds to his illness. Just based on this point, your life alone may not be enough to atone for it"

Xiao Fangzi tentatively asked, "May I inquire what the servant intends to do?"

Hong wished to linger a little longer in the embrace of her beloved, the intoxicating feeling leaving her entranced. However, in her daze, she still recalled her own identity. Carefully freeing herself from Feng Wuhen's grasp, she tidied her disheveled hair and then softly said: "Your Highness, I am merely a palace maid. If others were to see us, they would say I am seducing my master."