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

"Qi Xiao..."

Tang Ling's voice was sticky and greasy, easily pulling at Qi Xiao's heart. Qi Xiao raised his hand to caress Tang Ling's face, and he gently turned to her side. She couldn't help but stick to his palm, rubbing against it quietly, breathing heavily and softly.

"Beg me." Qi Xiao gently pinched Tang Ling's face, watching him with a rouge color even at the corners of his eyes and ears.

"..."

"Beg me. Tang Ling, beg me."

Tang Ling bit her lip, frowning tightly as she looked at Qi Xiao anxiously and eagerly. He suddenly stood up, hugged Qi Xiao's neck, buried his head in his neck, and whispered softly...

Qi Xiao burst out laughing, clamped Tang Ling's chin with one hand, and asked through gritted teeth, "You're still thinking of leaving me like this?! What will happen after you leave? Who are you going to find to serve you?"

Tang Ling felt Qi Xiao's other hand pinching his waist, and his whole body shuddered, his voice trembling: "...I didn't...mm!"

Qi Xiao couldn't stand Tang Ling's excuses, and he couldn't stand his own groundless speculations.

The sudden pain and dizzying numbness made Tang Ling's body become a bonfire, burning from her dantian, with sparks crackling and jumping around.

"pain?"

Tang Ling was a little out of breath and couldn't answer Qi Xiao.

"I won't let you feel any pain... I can't bear it." Qi Xiao said, his movements were slow and gentle. He was no longer as ruthless as last time, but it was more like torturing Tang Ling, as if giving two drops of morning dew on a flower leaf to someone who hadn't had a drop of water for several days, clearly trying to drive the person to death.

"Qi Xiao!"

"Ha!" Qi Xiao gritted his teeth. Tang Ling would really take his life!

Qi Xiao picked up Tang Ling, hugged her tightly in his arms, and said viciously: "Since you want it, then do it yourself."

Tang Ling frowned deeply and looked at Qi Xiao with tears in her eyes, but Qi Xiao's face was cold, which made him bite his lip again, as if he was aggrieved and sad, and suddenly lowered his head to rest it on Qi Xiao's neck.

The two of them pressed tightly together, their heartbeats and body temperatures mixed together. They were like two clay figures, wishing they could rub each other into their bodies.

Tang Ling whispered in Qi Xiao's ear, her voice tearful, as if begging. He felt like he was thrown into a raging sea, and he couldn't help but cling tightly to Qi Xiao's neck, treating him as a life-saving piece of driftwood. However, Qi Xiao wasn't the life-saving piece of driftwood, but the deadly waves.

The night was long, but even when Tang Ling felt she was dying, she didn't want it to end, wanting it to go on longer and longer. Qi Xiao seemed to hear this, and so he made the night even longer, like a dream with no end. As long as he didn't want to wake up, as long as Tang Ling didn't want to wake up, they would have only each other, and they could indulge in it forever.

***

When Tang Ling woke up, he was in a shaking carriage. Qi Xiao was beside him, letting him rest his head on his legs.

"Awake?" Qi Xiao's voice was light and gentle, and it seemed that his anger had subsided.

Tang Ling moved and wanted to stretch, but she suddenly felt a pain and immediately tensed up.

"Move slower. Does it hurt? Let me rub it for you." Qi Xiao placed his palm on Tang Ling's waist and rubbed it slowly, not daring to use too much force.

Tang Ling blushed, lowering her head to hide herself. How indulgent could he be, to be taken into the carriage so unconsciously?!

"Let's sleep a little longer. It will probably take us another hour to reach the next village."

"Where are we going? Ji Wei?"

"Ah."

Tang Ling sat up suddenly, and her whole body was in pain again, but he didn't care.

"Don't go! You only have Chi Yue and Zong Sheng with you, what are you going to do?! It's too dangerous!"

"Don't you still have it?"

"Without me, there will be one less burden!"

Tang Ling was a little anxious. He was a person who was never impatient.

"worry about me?"

"..." Tang Ling turned her eyes away and gritted her teeth.

Qi Xiao held up Tang Ling's face and said with a smile, "Wouldn't it be alright if we just wait for the Xingluo Guards to come over?"

The garrison officials kidnapped Tang Ling to give her to Fu Shouguang, who would then negotiate with Xun'an Marquis Tang He and force him to withdraw his troops. The Xingluo Guards would first seek out Fu Shouguang, and they would definitely come to Ji Yu. Finding the Xingluo Guards wouldn't be difficult.

Tang Ling frowned, slowly sat up straight, and asked Qi Xiao: "Are you willing to let me go back?"

Since Qi Xiao wanted to find the Xingluo Guards and use them, he would definitely let his father know his whereabouts. Once he knew his whereabouts, his father would definitely take him back.

Unless Qi Xiao wanted to kill all the Xingluo Guards and forcibly take him away, with the combined strength of Qi Xiao, Chi Yue, and Zong Sheng, it wasn't completely impossible. But Tang Ling didn't want to speculate about him like that.

"..." Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling for a long time without saying anything. His indifferent gaze made Tang Ling feel sad and sorrowful, as if filled with resentment of having been longing for something but not being able to get it. Then Qi Xiao smiled bitterly, "Can I keep you?"

There was complete silence in the carriage; even Tang Ling's slow breathing seemed to be non-existent.

"Tang Ling, I've been thinking about you for a long time these days, day and night, but I can't think of a way to keep you." Qi Xiao sighed softly, "You insist on leaving, and I can't stop you. Since I can't keep you, then at least let me send you back."

Qi Xiao wanted to keep Tang Ling, no matter what method he used. He wanted to lock him up with Chen Hui, and he wanted to lock him up and hide him... But the Tang Ling he loved and wanted would never be willing to suffer such humiliation and become someone's forbidden delicacy. He didn't want his beautiful body.

Qi Xiao stroked Tang Ling's face and looked at her carefully. He wanted that resourceful and decisive heart. He wanted the tenderness and love hidden in her calmness and arrogance that was only shown to him. He wanted Tang Ling, the son of Xun'an Marquis.

Tang Ling couldn't help but shed tears again. His heartache was even worse than when he decided to leave. He thought the pain would be numb, but he didn't know that it could be deeper, heavier and more painful.

"Tang Ling, I can't stop you from leaving, but you can't stop me from looking for you either."

"!!"

"Give me some time." Qi Xiao said slowly, "Promise me that you will wait for me, no matter what. You are not allowed to agree to any marriage, and you are not allowed to get entangled with other people, whether men or women."

Tang Ling seemed not to understand and stared blankly at Qi Xiao. After a long while, she said anxiously, "Don't do anything stupid!"

Qi Xiao smiled and said, "Just promise me that you'll wait for me. Don't break your promise again."

"Qi Xiao..."

"Promise me!" Qi Xiao suddenly grabbed Tang Ling's neck, but he couldn't be cruel. Tears welled in his eyes. "Promise me. Tang Ling, I beg you."

"……I promise."

I promise. How much can Qi Xiao believe Tang Ling's "I promise", and how much can he believe it himself?

He would wait. This time he would wait. He belonged to Qi Xiao, and no one else could.

Qi Xiao kissed Tang Ling, as affectionately as many of his previous kisses, and more painful than all the previous kisses.

***

Qi Xiao and his group of four were disguised by Chi Yue and arrived at Ji Wei four days later.

Fu Shouguang's army was stationed outside Jiwei City. While the city itself appeared calm on the surface, the streets were deserted, pedestrians hurried, and those carrying bags and leaving the city far outnumbered those entering. A hidden sense of dread and despair permeated the air. The Liu River was narrow, its currents slow, and the Zhou army could cross at any moment. The flames of war could reach Jiwei City at any moment. Who wouldn't be worried?

Qi Xiao's carriage was carefully inspected when entering the city. Fortunately, Chi Yue was well prepared and did not reveal any flaws. The journey was smooth. The next thing was to find the Xingluo Guards.

Zong Sheng rented a small courtyard to stay in, while Chi Yue went to the city to gather information. Qi Xiao and Tang Ling, two "rich and idle people", found a small noodle shop and sat down to eat a bowl of noodles.

The noodles in the light, clear broth weren't particularly tasty, but Tang Ling kept a smile on her face. Qi Xiao hadn't seen Tang Ling smile so easily in a long, long time.

Qi Xiao knew that he was thinking of Lao Liu's noodle shop, and he too was thinking of the first time he sat face to face with Tang Ling, two bowls of vegetable noodle soup with a plate of braised meat, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, when chicken noodle soup was even more delicious than the palace banquet.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, Qi Xiao told Tang Ling that she wanted to go back to Shaoyang with him to see the bustle of the city. At that time, Tang Ling's heart was filled with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she was deeply immersed in Qi Xiao's tenderness, and on the other hand, she was filled with endless uneasiness and anxiety. She knew that they could not...

Knowing that the day of separation will come.

Tang Ling gently raised her eyes to look at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao had said to him that day, "I promised you my whole life, remember? I'll plant a garden full of Epiphyllums for you, and wait for them to bloom every year, remember? All you have to do is say yes to me. I don't know what will happen in the future, but I will never let go of your hand, no matter what happens."

Tang Ling remembered every scene and every sentence clearly. Qi Xiao did not break his promise, and he never regretted it. He was still willing, but he could not keep his promise and the life he promised.

Chi Yue changed the faces of Qi Xiao and Tang Ling, making them look very ordinary. As middle-aged men in their thirties, it was not appropriate for them to show affectionate eyes. Tang Ling quickly lowered her head, ate noodles silently, and swallowed the bitterness in her heart alone.

Qi Xiao didn't say anything and didn't even look at Tang Ling. He just ate slowly, bite by bite.

The small noodle shop was filled with the bustle of the marketplace, with nearly everyone whispering about the war, each sharing their own struggles and frustrations. Some wanted to hide, but didn't know where to go. Qi was now engaged in a war on two fronts, with the Yaoshan army already reaching the capital, Shuoliang. How could there be peace? Some were even more worried about the current hardships. The imperial court was collecting grain and increasing taxes, leaving their shops completely dry and with no choice but to close and sell.

The impoverished people passing by couldn't even afford a bowl of clear noodle soup. Even as Qi Xiao and Tang Ling sat eating, several people came in to beg, even for a bowl of noodle soup. Some lamented that their sons had been drafted and might never return. Others brought their children, saying they couldn't afford to support them and hoped to be bought by wealthy individuals. However, during these war-torn days, human traffickers had closed their businesses. There were all kinds of people, each with their own hardships.

Qi Xiao ate the bowl of noodles without any appetite. He couldn't compare the pain of separation from loved ones or the pain of not getting what he wanted. Who is not living in dire straits? Who can save whom from the sea of ​​suffering?

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling sat in silence, much quieter than the other customers in the restaurant. However, no one paid any attention to them. They finished their meal in a hurry and left in a hurry.

Not long after they walked out of the noodle shop, they ran into the conscription officers. Qi Xiao wanted to pull Tang Ling to hide, but it was too late.

The officer looked them up and down. They were in their thirties and in good health. Without a word, he said, "Take them away!"

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling were caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events. Before they could even offer a word of explanation, several other officers emerged from the noodle shop, apprehending two others. They explained that their brothers were already serving in the military and pleaded for release, offering silver as they spoke. But the officers ignored them, accepting the silver and arresting them as usual, without delay.

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling looked at each other, gave up resistance, and were pushed away by the officers.

Qi Xiao did not take these few government officials seriously, but it was a risk for him to bring Tang Ling into Ji Yu. Once a fight started, they would inevitably be hunted down by the whole city. They had no Xuanji Camp and Xingluo Guards with them. With only Chi Yue and Zong Sheng, they were not afraid of the government officials, but they had to take the Zhanshi Office and Fu Shouguang's army into consideration. Being in a tiger's den, Qi Xiao did not dare to risk Tang Ling's life.

The two were taken directly out of the city and to Fu Shouguang's new barracks. Before entering, a soldier registered their names, but that was just a registration; no further checks or questions were asked. After they were assigned to the barracks, they saw a mix of young and old in the tents. The youngest was probably only eleven or twelve years old, while the oldest had gray hair. They understood immediately that Fu Shouguang was at the end of his rope, and every able-bodied man would be drafted into the army. The new barracks included not only those from Jiwei City, but also many from surrounding towns.

Everyone in the tent was silent, each filled with sorrow. The younger ones huddled in a corner, sobbing softly.

"What should we do now? Zong Sheng and Chi Yue must be worried crazy." Tang Ling asked Qi Xiao in a soft voice.

Qi Xiao shook his head slightly: "Let's wait for them to come. They will definitely know about the recruitment in the city. Maybe they will be brought in soon."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao. He had expected this, but they had come to reunite with the Xingluo Guard. They had all been captured and taken to Fu Shouguang's new barracks. How could they contact the Xingluo Guard? Walking into a trap like this was sheer folly.

Qi Xiao smiled softly and quietly shook Tang Ling's hand: "If you really have to charge into battle, I will protect you."

"..." Tang Ling sighed softly, "I'm not worried about that. Fu Shouguang won't send new soldiers to fight my father until the last moment. That would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths."

Tang Ling deduced that Fu Shouguang's massive recruitment wasn't intended to directly confront his father, Xun Anhou, but rather to mobilize troops to support Shuoliang. However, he couldn't simply withdraw the army from Jiwei, as otherwise, without the deterrent, the Great Zhou army would surely cross the river and attack. Therefore, Fu Shouguang had to use new recruits to create the illusion of a large army defending Jiwei, while secretly transferring elite troops back to Shuoliang.

Tang Ling had already made up her mind that it would be extremely difficult for the Yaoshan army to attack Shuoliang, and Fu Shouguang must not be allowed to go back.