Chapter 55 What is our relationship? "You are my best friend..."
"Why aren't you saying anything?" The fox tilted its head and whispered in Tinglan's ear, "Didn't you hear me? What I just said was, could you continue..."
Tinglan reached out and covered the fox's mouth, her face flushed. At this moment, the Ninth Prince was only wrapped in a single garment, and the traces left from last night had not yet faded.
Even when I turned around to look back, the bed was a mess and had not been tidied up.
He closed his eyes, sighed, and said, "If Your Highness is willing, it is certainly possible... but not now."
If it were now... he probably wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Okay!" The fox happily pushed Tinglan back into the bedroom. "Go back to bed and lie down. I'll go get you some porridge."
The fox placed two soft cushions behind Tinglan's waist and carefully settled him down.
He really witnessed it last night; people are so fragile. With just a little pressure, their skin turns red, and a pinch leaves five handprints that take a long time to fade.
He picked up the bowl of porridge and asked softly, with a hint of guilt, "Does it still hurt?"
A beautiful blush returned to Tinglan's face, and she quickly shook her head, "It doesn't hurt."
The fox finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Hurry up and drink your porridge. The temperature is just right. I've been cooking it for a long time."
"Your Highness has gone to so much trouble." Tinglan took the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in his mouth. The rice grains were sweet and soft, and the little prince's cooking skills were surprisingly good.
"Is it delicious?" the fox asked expectantly, cupping its face in its hands.
"Delicious! Your Highness is truly amazing."
After being praised, the fox's tail immediately swelled up, and it hummed happily for a long time before leaning closer to ask, "Do you want more? I have another pot."
The bowls used in the palace are very small; a fox could swallow one in one bite. He always ate from a basin in his palace.
"Then have another bowl..." Tinglan had no choice but to smile and push the empty bowl over. He really couldn't eat any more. He wasn't a little prince with a bottomless stomach.
Today, the Ninth Prince took leave and was sleeping soundly in Changqiu Palace. Before he fell asleep, the young prince gently massaged his waist, which felt very comfortable and relieved his fatigue and soreness.
Bored, the fox went to the small kitchen and gulped down all the remaining porridge in the pot. It was all grain, and it couldn't be wasted.
After drinking a bellyful of porridge, the fox hopped out the door. His good friend didn't like to eat much, so the fox planned to go out of the palace to buy him some delicious snacks...
After all, the fox bullied its good friend badly yesterday and should apologize properly.
You could also visit that bookstore while you're there and see if they have any other good stuff.
He is now the Prince of An and can freely enter and leave the palace.
No sooner had the fox's carriage left than news of his departure from the palace reached the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Since the Ninth Prince is no longer in the Directorate of Ceremonial, the news eventually reached Chen Yu after circulating around. On the surface, Eunuch Chen said, "If His Highness is willing to leave the palace, then he may leave. It's not a big deal."
He immediately turned to report to Tinglan, but after searching high and low, he couldn't find her.
That's strange. The Grand Master is on vacation today and isn't at his residence. Where else could he be?
Chen Yu slapped his forehead and immediately turned and went to Changqiu Palace.
*
This was the first time the fox had ever ventured out of the palace alone, even though two imperial guards had insisted on following him when he left the palace gates.
The fox couldn't refuse, so he ignored them and wandered around aimlessly. He first went to the pastry shop, bought a lot of pastries, refused the two followers' requests, and hugged them to his arms.
This was the second time the fox had pretended to casually pass by the bookstore, but the two imperial guards followed him closely, making the fox too embarrassed to go in and buy a storybook.
After all, Tinglan had said yesterday that the book should be hidden well so that no one could see it.
He certainly couldn't let others see him buying books.
What should we do? We need to find a way to get rid of them.
The fox swayed leisurely and stopped in front of a dessert shop with a long queue. It waved to the imperial guards behind it and said, "I want some dessert. Can you stand in this queue for me?"
The Imperial Guards exchanged glances, and one of them dutifully stood at the end of the line. "What flavor would you like to drink, young master?"
"I want osmanthus red bean paste." The fox stood with his hands behind his back, grinning.
With only one person left, things will be easier.
The fox started heading towards places with lots of people, and when it felt it was about time, it would dart over the alley wall and run away.
Hehe, I've finally shaken off that tagalong, now I can confidently go to the bookstore to buy books.
When the Imperial Guards realized they had lost their target, they panicked and ran around like headless flies.
Turning around, I saw another person, still looking around blankly with a bowl of sweet soup in hand.
They had no choice but to have one person stay behind to search while the other rode back to the palace to report to the Grand Master.
“His Highness Prince An deliberately shook off his guards outside the palace, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.”
Tinglan looked at the text message in his hand and sighed deeply. The paper was already crumpled from his grip. He raised his hand to rub his temples and instructed Chen Yu, "Send more people to search. Send more people from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot."
"Master, the young prince was probably just being mischievous. It shouldn't have to go to such lengths, right?" Chen Yu stood to the side, somewhat uneasy. "Besides, given the young prince's skills and abilities, there aren't many people who can do anything to him."
According to Chen Yu, this was not a big deal. Eighteen years old is an age when people are naturally playful. It's normal for him not to want others to follow him after running out of the palace.
Tinglan lit the letter on the candle flame, watching it curl up and burn to ashes in the incense burner. "Never mind, let's hold off for now. Bring me a sedan chair; I need to leave the palace."
He really couldn't figure out what the little prince wanted to do, whether he was just being mischievous and wanted to go out and play... or whether he wanted to leave the palace and leave his side.
If you really wanted to leave, why did you do those things yesterday?
Tinglan lowered his head and continued to rub his temples; his back still ached a little.
That heartless little brat.
*
The fox bought the books, carefully hid them in his bosom, and left the bookstore carrying the snacks he had bought for his good friend.
He stood on the bustling street, listening to the noise of the crowd, and suddenly felt a little lost, unsure of where to go.
He didn't recognize any of the many people, and the fox suddenly felt that the world was so empty.
He stood blankly at the street corner, head down, deciding to go find the Imperial Guard he had just shaken off.
I don't know if my friend is awake yet, but there will be some snacks when I get back.
The fox wandered aimlessly down the street. He bought a string of bright red candied hawthorns from a stall and began to gnaw on them.
The weather was cold, and the hawthorns were all frozen. They were a bit chilly, but they tasted especially good, like shaved ice. The fox was happily munching on them.
But he was still puzzled as to where the carriage he had come from was parked, and where the two Imperial Guards were.
He had no idea that the people who had just brushed past him were spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The further you go, the fewer people there are.
Only one sedan chair was stopped in the middle of the road.
A pale, slender hand lifted the sedan curtain, revealing a pair of familiar eyes.
"Tinglan!" The fox ran over happily, holding a candied hawthorn. "You're awake? What brings you here? Your back still hurts..."
Before he could finish speaking, the fox was pulled into the sedan chair by the Ninth Prince.
Inside the luxurious sedan chair, the Ninth Prince was wearing a black outer robe with a high collar that concealed his neck. He had a string of prayer beads on his hand, his long hair was casually tied up, and his face had an unnatural paleness and redness, with his eyes slightly red.
He leaned down and whispered in the fox's ear, his tone languid and devoid of emotion, but his eyes drooped, revealing a hint of sadness within them.
"Your Highness seduced me and then secretly ran away. Is this a case of starting something and then abandoning it?"
His words were spoken with a tender, wry tone, yet also with gritted teeth, much like his own eccentric personality.
The fox stared blankly down, clutching a package. He didn't understand what "starting something and then abandoning it" meant, but he could sense that his good friend was unhappy.
He quickly explained, "I went out to buy some snacks. You don't like to eat, so I just wanted you to eat more rice."
As he spoke, he quickly stuffed the remaining candied hawthorns into his mouth, then opened the package with both hands to reveal the box of pastries inside. His voice was aggrieved as he said, "These should all be your favorites. You liked the ones I bought last time the most."
The fox from the mountain had never seen much of the world; he thought roast chicken was the most delicious thing, and snacks were rare commodities.
He figured Tinglan wasn't feeling well and wouldn't want to eat the porridge he cooked or the roast chicken, but might prefer some snacks.
After all, it was because of him that Tinglan was feeling unwell, and the fox wanted to make his good friend feel better.
When the fox is feeling unwell, he likes to eat, so he needs to find something for his good friend to eat.
Tinglan looked away, coughed lightly, and straightened his sleeves. "Your Highness has gone to great lengths, but in the future, you don't need to make the trip yourself. Just instruct Chen Yu."
The fox lowered its head, fidgeting with the hem of its clothes, and whispered, "I know, I won't do it again."
The fox reached into his pocket and touched himself again, looking mysterious. He covered his mouth with his hand and lowered his voice, "I went to the bookstore again and bought a few new picture books. Do you want to take a look?"
Tinglan nearly choked, supporting her head as she asked in a low voice, "Your Highness shunned the Embroidered Uniform Guard just to buy books?"
"Didn't we say we couldn't let anyone see us?" the fox asked, tilting its head, its tone perfectly matter-of-fact.
Tinglan's lips finally curled up slightly, and he raised his eyes, "So now, what am I to Your Highness?"
Without hesitation, the fox happily raised its head and exclaimed, "You are my good friend!"
Noticing the person's expression was off, the fox flinched and shrank back slightly, then weakly added, "He's my best friend."
The one without a doubt...
The Ninth Prince had one side of his long hair hanging down, obscuring his expression. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his fingers were stroking the prayer beads. His voice was hoarse.
"Nothing else?"
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