In the morning, an amber scroll was sent to him along with a visit from the imperial doctor who pronounced him fit to travel.

Ning Fan was aghast, "Fit to travel . . . are you sure doctor? He was just vomiting all of last night. He had little to no sleep most of the night. He's in a sorry state."

The doctor mulled it over, then said, "The prince could delay a day or two, but more would upset his highness. He always wishes his sons show filial duty when doing things for the good of the empire. Please obey his wishes as I have to send him a report later today. I am checking on all princes."

Ning Fan escorted the esteemed doctor outside before returning to find Ning Ren in his bed. The prince was still hungover from the night before in his plain white bed clothes that were reeking of vomit and sweat.

"Highness, please let me get you some clean clothes."

"No." Ning Ren looked outside while Ning Fan went to go order him some food that would help him sober up. The amber scroll with the imperial edict was rolled open on his bed.

Return to Jungpi. I wish to find out more about the imperial princesses as an ambassador of Caiwong. Be my eyes and ears inside the Jungpi palace.

Ning Fan returned with some hangover soup and hot water. He blew on the spoon for a moment before offering it to his master, "Sir, please. You must get up and attend to duties or his majesty will get suspicious."

Ning Ren threw the scroll at him, "He is already suspicious. We cannot allow my other brothers to take my place. Ning Zhuo needs to be deposed and have penance for his crimes. Ning Qi is stupid.

Ning Yu cannot keep his head from between a woman's legs. I am the only one fit to lead, but no one notices anything I do."

Ning Fan sighed and put the bowl back on the tray.

"We're going back to the Jungpi quarter."

"Highness, you can have the king reverse the order!"

"Ning Fan, what would you like Jungpi or the borderlands?"

"We know the borderlands. They are comfortable place for us to be."

"If I am comfortable, that means I will remain the obscure prince. I have to achieve something to garner father's eye so he will praise me. I need him to see my talent and my worth. I'll never be sent to another forgotten place again. No more assassins we will have to deal with. We'll be where everything is happening."

"Highness, in the capital it will be even more dangerous."

"That's why we have to succeed, Ning Fan. We have to go to Jungpi . . . and destroy everything . . . so we can rebuild it with our own two hands."

Ning Fan dropped to his knees. "If this is your wish, then I will follow you until the end, highness."

Ning Ren lifted Ning Fan's face so he was staring straight into the prince's eyes and kissed him hard.

"You are the only one I can trust. Never leave me"

"I would never sir."

Ning Ren began to disrobe and Ning Fan saw his next task.