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

On the other side, Qi Xiao returned to the room and Tang Ling sat on the bed in a daze.

"You..." Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao and was interrupted just as she opened her mouth.

Qi Xiao leaned over, held Tang Ling's cheek and kissed her lips, very gently, just like the first time he kissed Tang Ling, with some caution, yet full of eagerness and passion.

Boom... Boom... It was just a kiss, but Tang Ling's heartbeat had already begun to get out of control.

Qi Xiao slowly let go of Tang Ling, looked deeply into his eyes, and asked him in a low voice: "You like me, you love me, but are you pretending to look at me like this?"

Tang Ling's heart tightened. He couldn't answer. Of course not. But he couldn't answer. If liking him, loving him, treating him with equal eagerness and caution were all true, then what was false? His hard-heartedness and cruelty?

"Qi Xiao..."

"You want to go home, don't you? You have to go back, don't you? No matter what I do or say, you have to go back?"

"..."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao, and after a long while, she managed to utter a single word with great difficulty, "Yes..."

"Okay, I'll go with you."

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'll go with you. Take me to Zhou. I don't care if I'm a hostage or a prisoner, as long as you're by my side... as long as I'm by your side..."

"Qi Xiao!" Tang Ling interrupted him and grabbed Qi Xiao's arm tightly, "Don't say stupid things!"

"I don't care about your identity! I'll let Chi Yue help me fake my own death, and then I'll go with you."

Qi Xiao was absolutely certain that Tang Ling was his, and now, he hoped that he would be Tang Ling's, and Tang Ling must also be steadfast and not abandon him no matter what.

Qi Xiao's desire to spend his life together cannot be achieved by his own stubbornness alone. He needs Tang Ling to hold his hand tightly as well.

Tang Ling stared at Qi Xiao in a daze, and suddenly felt dizzy and his head was heavy. His heartbeat began to accelerate again, hitting his ears like a drum.

Qi Xiao raised his hand and stroked Tang Ling's cheek, gently wiping away the tears that suddenly welled up in his eyes, then leaned over and kissed him.

"Don't cry, I don't want you to cry..."

When had Tang Ling ever cried? He had always been calm and steady, and also incredibly intelligent. His mother had died young, his father absent for years, leaving him with no opportunity to shed tears, much less the belief that crying could solve any problems. It seemed the last time he'd cried was when he'd first followed his father into battle. He'd personally collected the remains of his brothers from the vanguard camp, buried them together, and carved a memorial tablet and offered a toast in their honor. He was only twelve then.

But recently, Tang Ling's tears suddenly flowed like a flood, and she felt uncontrollable pain when she thought of Qi Xiao. He had already cried in Bashan, burying all his love in that small courtyard.

But the night before, when he saw Qi Xiao again, trapped in his arms like crazy, he couldn't hold back his tears. Now, when Qi Xiao treated him tenderly and gazed at him lovingly, he couldn't control himself. He couldn't let go, and he wasn't as cruel as he thought. He couldn't do it.

Qi Xiao gently kissed his injured shoulder: "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." Chi Yue bought some medicinal wine for bruises and sprains. Qi Xiao had massaged Tang Ling twice. As long as he didn't use too much force, it wouldn't hurt anymore.

Tang Ling's shoulders were filled with the smell of medicinal wine, which made Qi Xiao feel bitter.

"...Qi Xiao," Tang Ling hugged him, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "You can't, and neither can I."

Qi Xiao's heart suddenly felt like it had been dug out from his chest by Tang Ling and thrown into an icy lake. Before it could even feel the pain, it had already turned cold.

Qi Xiao suddenly tightened his arms around Tang Ling's waist and bit his shoulder, "Why?"

"From Yuanzhou Prefecture, through Fenglin Mountain, breaking through Jialin Pass, Xingtian Pass, and Bashan, establishing the Yaoshan Army, seizing Quzhou Prefecture and Lu'an Prefecture, and marching to Shuoliang, Qi Xiao, you are no longer the idle prince you once were."

Tang Ling gently lifted Qi Xiao's cheek and looked at him quietly. "Qi Xiao, you are the Ninth Prince of Dachen, the King of Chu, and a killing god that the people of Qi tremble with fear. Even if your unparalleled achievement of destroying Qi is just a false reputation, are you willing to be tied up and treated like a dog? ... How could I bear to treat you like this?! You have the ambition of a Kunpeng in your heart, and now is the time to ride the wind and rise. I want to watch you strike three thousand miles across the water and soar ninety thousand miles into the sky."

"If you want to see it, why do you want to leave? Why can't you stay with me? Although I long to be independent in front of others, I don't want to be alone in the world for the rest of my life."

Qi Xiao reached for Tang Ling's hand, caressing his cheek, and gently grasped it. He wanted to achieve great things, to prove himself; he wasn't willing to live a life of mediocrity and pretentiousness. But more than that, he wanted Tang Ling, a proper home, to be with the people he loved. He wanted his master and his mother to be with him, but they were gone, and Tang Ling was abandoning him!

Tang Ling's hands trembled slightly, and he did not answer.

"The situation in Yuanjing City is treacherous. Even if I have made extraordinary achievements, what good will it do? How could you bear to let me face all those conspiracies and backstabbings alone?!"

Tang Ling couldn't help but almost laughed out loud: "Is the Ninth Prince afraid of those conspiracies and backstabbings?" As he laughed, he wanted to cry again. One day, he would also use conspiracies to plot against Qi Xiao. This time it was to escape, but what about next time?

"Tang Ling, tell me, what are you afraid of? What can I do to keep you?" Qi Xiao tilted his head and kissed Tang Ling's palm, his breath burning.

"Qi Xiao, you understand everything..." How could Qi Xiao not understand what Tang Ling was thinking? He was so smart, he didn't need Tang Ling to explain anything, but he was stubborn. And Tang Ling also understood his stubbornness.

"I said, those are not important to me."

"Where's Baixiqiao? Isn't it important? Where's Lu Fangjin? Isn't it important either?" Tang Ling knew his hands were shaking violently, but he couldn't control them. He tightly clasped Qi Xiao's hand, and his cold words pierced through his last delusion. "I am a citizen of the Great Zhou, the son of Tang He, the Marquis of Xun'an! I came to Chen alone as a hostage for the benefit of the Great Zhou. I am wholeheartedly devoted to the Great Zhou! I will inherit my father's legacy, and one day, I will wear armor in front of the battlefield... When that time comes, will you still stand by my side? Will you become an enemy of your former brothers and close friends?"

Qi Xiao clenched his teeth, and Tang Ling's hand, which was tightly grasped, also grasped him tightly.

"Qi Xiao, think about the Dingyuan soldiers who stayed by your side in the cold and snowy days of winter. Aren't they important?"

Qi Xiao looked at the tears welling in Tang Ling's eyes and slowly spoke, "Those people were by your side through the bitter winter snow. They stayed with you on Bashan Mountain for four months. Didn't Baixiqiao treat you as a friend, sharing weal and woe? If I let you go today, will you be my enemy on the battlefield tomorrow?"

Tang Ling shook his head gently. He couldn't do it. No matter how hard-hearted he was, he couldn't do it. But he was hoping for a lucky break. His father, Tang He, knew about his relationship with Qi Xiao, and to prevent him from getting carried away by his emotions, there was no way he would let Tang Ling face Qi Xiao directly on the battlefield.

Qi Xiao suddenly smiled, holding Tang Ling's hand and kissing it gently again and again. "Tang Ling, how could you bear to leave me? If you were truly devoted to the Great Zhou, you should have killed Bai Xiqiao when you left Bashan, and you should have sold my place to the Zhanshi Office. If the Qi State was to be destroyed, the people I brought with me and Chen Heng's Dingyuan Army would all have to die here. In this way, the Great Chen would lose a prince, two generals, and over 200,000 soldiers. It would be impossible for them to easily launch an attack on the Zhou State for at least ten years, right?"

"..."

"Tang Ling, you can't bear to leave me." Qi Xiao put his arm around the back of Tang Ling's neck, pressed her towards him, and kissed her on the lips, holding every bit of tenderness between his lips and tongue.

Yes, he was reluctant, but what could he do? He was powerless to change it.

Tang Ling leaned against Qi Xiao's shoulder and slowly pushed him away. There was only a few inches of space, but he seemed to have used up all his strength.

"Qi Xiao, I can't stay, nor can I take you away..."

Qi Xiao, however, acted as if he hadn't heard her. He grabbed Tang Ling's wrist and asked, "From the Eight-Nation Rebellion to the present day, the flames of war have raged on, and the smoke of gunpowder has buried our souls. How much can you handle alone? Tang Ling, you're so smart, is there no way?"

"For a hundred years, the Three Kingdoms kept each other in check, and the world could hardly have a peaceful and war-free day. After the fall of Qi... Chen and Zhou could not coexist."

Qi Xiao sneered, "Is it that they cannot coexist, or is it that Your Majesty's ambition to unify the world is too great?"

Tang Ling lowered her eyes. The answer was self-evident. Da Chen possessed black iron ore, valiant generals, and the right timing and location. It was poised for great prosperity. After pacifying Qi, attacking Da Zhou was a natural progression. How could Your Majesty pass up such a golden opportunity?

But even within the Zhou court, there was no unanimous opinion. His father, Xun'an Marquis Tang He, though a champion of war, advocated only for never retreating during a battle, not for wanton attacks. The peace advocates seemed to be subservient, yet their petty actions never ceased. They weren't simply seeking peace; they feared the Tang family's immense power and never missed an opportunity to suppress them.

Tang Ling's prolonged silence made Qi Xiao's heart feel like it was about to collapse. He slowly let go of Tang Ling's hand and said, "You should rest for a while. I'll go prepare dinner."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao's departing figure and fell into endless silence.

***

Qi Xiao and his men stayed for two more days, until Chi Yue finally brought news from the Xuanji Camp. Chen Heng, leading the Dingyuan Army, had reunited with Baixiqiao and Lu Xiulin, and recaptured Bashan. Xu Zheng's army was routed and retreated to Zhengye Pass. Meanwhile, the Yaoshan Army had besieged Shuoliang, having begun its assault three days earlier. However, Shuoliang was defended by the Imperial Guards and the Mu Family's wing troops, and the Yaoshan Army had gained little advantage.

"...But Xingluowei and Qinglan haven't been able to contact each other for a while."

Qi Xiao nodded: "It doesn't matter. Leave a mark along the way, and the Xingluo Guards will find us sooner or later."

Chi Yue understood the hidden meaning in Qi Xiao's words and asked hurriedly, "Your Highness, where are we going?"

Qi Xiao looked at Chi Yue: "Why are you so nervous?"

Chi Yue smiled and said, "Your Highness, are you going back to Shuoliang? I'm so happy."

Qi Xiao didn't expose Chi Yue's clumsy cover-up. He shook his head and said, "When did I say I was going back to Shuoliang? Get ready. We'll set off tomorrow to Jiwei."

"Ji Yu?!" Wasn't Fu Shouguang stationed in Ji Yu? Why were they going there? Could it be that Qi Xiao was going to personally hand Tang Ling over to Fu Shouguang?!

Qi Xiao ignored Chi Yue's shock and left after giving his instructions.

Chi Yue reached out and grabbed Zong Sheng, saying bitterly, "I knew His Highness was going to cause trouble again!"

"I know my limits."

"What sense does he have!" Chi Yue couldn't help but curse. If Qi Xiao had any sense, he wouldn't have fallen in love with Tang Ling, and there was no way he was so obsessed with her now! There were only three of them, and Qi Xiao actually said he wanted to go to Ji Yu!

"Chi Yue! Be careful with your words!"

Chi Yue rolled his eyes and said nothing more.

Zong Sheng looked at him and suddenly said, "You look a bit like Bai Xiqiao."

Chi Yue was stunned. Bai Xiqiao had initially strongly opposed Qi Xiao and Tang Ling being together, cursing them all day long, but Qi Xiao didn't listen to a word they said.

"...Ah...I'm just worried..." It's too dangerous for Qi Xiao to act so stubbornly.

"I know."

Chi Yue glared at Zong Sheng, snorted, and pinched his arm fiercely: "We're leaving tomorrow, go buy me something."

Chi Yue wrote a long list to Zong Sheng. He had seen the things on the list before. They were the things Chi Yue used to disguise himself.

The three of them took Tang Ling to Ji Yu, so it was better to be more careful. Disguise was the safest method.

When Tang Ling learned that Qi Xiao decided to go to Ji Yu, she immediately understood Qi Xiao's intention. He really wanted to find Fu Shouguang.

The night was very long, and Qi Xiao stretched it out even longer, trapping Tang Ling in it as if it would never end.

Qi Xiao no longer treated Tang Ling savagely. Instead, he was unusually gentle, so gentle that Tang Ling felt terrified, so terrified that she trembled.

Qi Xiao's movements were too slow. His kisses and caresses were extremely delicate. He patiently tore him apart bit by bit, like a long torture that would break even a solid wall of steel.

"Qi Xiao——"

"Ok?"

The rustling sound made him feel so ashamed that his entire body burned with shame. His whole body was shaking and even his heart was trembling. But the more Tang Ling couldn't bear it, the more Qi Xiao pushed forward and acted recklessly, as if he was forcing Tang Ling to beg for mercy.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Qi Xiao's palms supported Tang Ling's waist, and his fingers pinched him involuntarily. The feeling of tight control made him satisfied.

Tang Ling got a moment of peace and tried weakly to break free from Qi Xiao's hands.

Tang Ling's struggle seemed to stimulate Qi Xiao, and she was captured suddenly and presented vulnerable in front of him.

Qi Xiao chuckled softly and placed a kiss on her, unwilling to let go of every bit, every inch. The abyss of desire in his heart could no longer be filled. He wanted to be with her day and night, for the rest of his life. He wanted to carve himself into Tang Ling's body, memories, and heart, to live and die with her.

Tears welled up in Tang Ling's eyes. He felt like he was being held over a bonfire, his entire body terribly hot. The sticky sweat was evidence of his slow melting.

"Qi Xiao!"

"Can't stand it?"