Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Tang Ling was bewildered. Confusion, worry, and irritation piled up like waves, rolling over him. Although he had anticipated the difficulties of this journey, he had not expected the assassination to happen so soon, leaving him practically blind, deaf, and lame, unable to hear, see, or move.

It was even more impossible for him to do anything now that he was being led by Qi Xiao, but sitting and waiting for death was not Tang Ling's style.

The light was as small as a bean, and seemed swaying and weak in the dim night, but it always illuminated the space in front of Tang Ling's eyes, making him gradually calm down.

Tang Ling entered Chen as a hostage. Not bringing the Xingluo Guards with her was a sign of weakness to the State of Chen, and she had to do so in order to stabilize the political situation in the Great Zhou.

At this moment, Tang Ling's only "available person" was Qi Xiao. Since Qi Xiao had repeatedly saved him and constantly caused trouble for him, there had to be a reason. It was pointless to speculate on the reason, but Tang Ling was almost certain that Qi Xiao needed time, that he was waiting for something, and that was something Tang Ling could exploit.

The night was deep and the dew was heavy. Before she knew it, layers of white mist were rising outside, making the quiet night feel bitingly cold. It was still late summer, but it felt like late autumn. Tang Ling had been sitting in the room, feeling cold but unable to sleep. She wrapped herself in her outer cloak and leaned on the couch, waiting for dawn.

Qinglan was so anxious that she didn't sleep all night, and she was peeking outside Tang Ling's house before dawn.

"Qinglan, come in."

Qing Lan pushed the door open and saw Tang Ling sitting on the couch with her clothes on. She couldn't help but nag, "Master, you're still sick and it's cold at night. How can you bear it?"

"Take my pulse."

"Hmm, let me take a look." Qing Lan thought his master had finally started to care about his illness. After a night of worry, he finally had something to cheer about. He checked Tang Ling's pulse and said, "Young Master, you're recovering well. Continue to take two more doses of medicine and rest for three to five days, and you'll be well again."

Tang Ling nodded and said, "Go tell the King of Chu that I'm well again and hope to leave for Yuanjing as soon as possible."

"What?! But sir, your health needs rest, and you shouldn't travel long distances." As a doctor, Tang Ling's biggest headache is disobedient patients like her. Seeking medical help isn't the same thing; instead, it's the doctor begging the patient. Qing Lan was truly worried about Tang Ling's health. He'd already endured so much, and who knew how much more was in store.

"Qinglan, be obedient and go quickly."

"Sir...but, what about Ye Huai?"

"If we can leave soon, maybe we can save Ye Huai's life."

Qing Lan couldn't get around this question, "What does this have to do with saving Ye Huai?"

"Just go."

Qinglan's brows were furrowed so much that he looked like an old man. He was filled with doubts, but he dared not disobey Tang Ling's orders: "Oh... I'll go right away."

***

Tang Ling waited for nearly an incense stick before Qi Xiao slowly arrived. Upon entering, she saw Tang Ling setting up the chess pieces. A closer look revealed the unfinished game from yesterday. Qi Xiao's style was sharp but not reckless, like a sharp knife piercing his enemy's heart. Tang Ling, on the other hand, was much more composed and calculated. Truly a well-matched opponent, the outcome was difficult to determine. Tang Ling pondered for a long time as he re-set up the game. He had made every move correctly in yesterday's game. He was deliberately testing Qi Xiao, giving him the opportunity to strangle him in several areas. Qi Xiao was more cunning than he had anticipated, and the tension grew after the middle game. However, Tang Ling managed to hold her own, ultimately resulting in a draw. Even if there was a win or loss, it was by a mere point and a half.

"Zi Yi has a great memory. He can actually recreate yesterday's game exactly as it was played from memory." Qi Xiao sat down opposite Tang Ling, naturally reached out and took a chess piece and held it in his hand, as if he had come here specifically to play chess with Tang Ling.

Tang Ling smiled and said, "Your Highness has a good memory. He only took one glance and knew that this game was the same as yesterday's."

Qi Xiao laughed out loud: "Then we'll be friends."

"I invited Your Highness to come so early because I wanted to discuss with you that Tang should set off as soon as possible."

"Set off?"

"Thank you so much for your careful care these days, Your Highness, and for Doctor Zhou's miraculous healing. I am now much better and can leave for Yuanjing today."

"Doctor Zhou said that you need to rest for ten days to half a month. Are you fully recovered now? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling with interest, wanting to see what tricks he was going to play so early in the morning.

"I've been staying at the palace for several days now, and I've been a nuisance to you. Last night, some rogues broke in, causing you a lot of trouble. Now I've recovered from my illness, and I've been delayed. It's time to set off, so that General Su won't have to explain himself."

"Is that so..." Qi Xiao tilted his head and paused before saying, "That's true. It's really not time to delay any longer. But just before I came here, I got news that General Su has captured the assassin from last night and is currently interrogating him. I think General Su will be able to find out who's behind this soon. Once those arrogant and vicious people are wiped out, you won't be in danger when you go to the capital."

Tang Ling frowned: "Has the person been caught?"

"Yeah." Qi Xiao smiled, "But Ziyi doesn't look too surprised."

It was more shocking than joyful.

Tang Ling gritted his teeth. He had no way of verifying Qi Xiao's words. What if this was just another test? Su Qin had always suspected the assassin at Tiger's Mouth Gorge was a spy from the Great Zhou Dynasty, sent to rescue Tang Ling. This speculation was simply ridiculous. Since they had sent him here, were they secretly "rescuing" him to exterminate the Tang family? Qi Xiao was full of evil intentions. How could he be so foolish as to assume the same thing?

But if it was really Ye Huai who broke in last night and was captured, they could make a big fuss about it no matter what explanation Tang Ling gave.

If there was no assassin, he would have only to tell the truth that Ye Huai was his guard and bring him over. But now, any slight disturbance could affect the peace talks between the two countries.

The best option right now was to do nothing, say nothing, and not respond to any of Qi Xiao's attempts to probe him. He would wait until he set off north and left Fuzhou before making any plans. But that might mean sacrificing Ye Huai.

Seeing Qi Xiao with a smug smile on his face, Tang Ling was so angry that her chest hurt. Her eyes became colder and sharper, as if she would suddenly stab Qi Xiao with a few bloody holes at any time.

"You were kidding." Qi Xiao chuckled, his eyebrows curved. "The person is not in Su Qin's hands."

"...What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"You don't want to save him?"

"..." Tang Ling didn't respond. He didn't believe Qi Xiao's words. Qi Xiao kept setting traps for him, hoping he'd fall into them, like a seasoned hunter, patient and ruthless. He had wanted to leave Yongcheng as soon as possible to disrupt Qi Xiao's plans. Whatever Qi Xiao was waiting for, Tang Ling wasn't going to let him wait. If she pressed Qi Xiao, she might be able to find out his purpose. Now it seemed that Qi Xiao really didn't want him to leave, and he knew Ye Huai was his man.

Tang Ling also laughed and replied, "Your Highness, I hope those assassins are killed soon, otherwise I will be the one to die."