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

Tang Ling was so breathless from Qi Xiao's kiss that she had to use some strength to push Qi Xiao away.

Qi Xiao licked his lips, still feeling unsatisfied.

"Let's make things clear first." Tang Ling wiped her mouth and turned her head away from Qi Xiao. He blushed.

"Then I ran away. His Majesty will not forgive Concubine Zhao for assassinating the Crown Prince, so I can avenge my mother."

"How can you be sure that Concubine Zhao will take the risk to assassinate her?"

"First, she's been wanting me dead for more than a day or two. Second, I told the Seventh Prince about the Sixth Prince's private army, forcing him to protect himself. If anything happens to the Sixth Prince, the Gongsun clan will be devastated, and Concubine Zhao will definitely be upset. Third, once the Chen-Zhou marriage is completed, my position as the crown prince will be unshakable. Unless there's rebellion, His Majesty will never depose the crown prince for the sake of Great Chen's reputation, and the Gongsun clan will have no chance."

Tang Ling looked at him and said softly, "If you go back now, your position as the crown prince will be even more unshakable."

Qi Xiao lifted Tang Ling's chin and looked at him: "Why are you still trying to get rid of me?"

"If we remove Concubine Zhao and Gongsun, everything will be within our grasp."

"Everything? Does that include you?"

Tang Ling wanted to avoid Qi Xiao's gaze, but he pinched her chin and forced her to look at him.

"When His Majesty gave me the Peace Card, he said I could exchange it for a reward. I exchanged it for my freedom."

"Nothing card?"

"The token of the Tiance Camp."

Tang Ling was stunned for a moment, then heard Qi Xiao say, "I placed the Wu Shi tablet on the altar of Linxiantai. Ning Wanxiao will help me give it to His Majesty."

"National Master Ning Wanxiao?"

"Yeah. I'll tell you later. He's quite interesting."

Tang Ling hesitated and said, "You will surely anger His Majesty by doing this. If the marriage between Chen and Zhou fails, I'm afraid..." Given His Majesty's character, it's impossible for him to just give up.

"Are you afraid that His Majesty will use military force against the Zhou Kingdom?"

Tang Ling nodded.

"He has no known master."

Tang Ling frowned and looked at Qi Xiao. The Chen-Zhou coalition's attack on Qi had no legitimate reason.

"If Your Majesty really sends troops, will you hand me over?"

Qi Xiao doesn't care about anything else, he just wants to know that Tang Ling will not abandon him again.

Tang Ling was looked at by Qi Xiao with earnest eyes. Even if his heart was made of ice, it would melt now.

"No, I don't want to give you to anyone else."

Qi Xiao rubbed Tang Ling's neck and laughed out loud.

"..." Tang Ling touched Qi Xiao's face, "But my dad can."

Qi Xiao was still smiling: "The Marquis let me in instead of immediately tying me up and taking me back to Dachen, all for you. What should I do to make the Marquis accept me as his daughter-in-law?"

When Tang Ling heard the word "daughter-in-law" coming out of Qi Xiao's mouth, she was really at a loss whether to laugh or cry. She knew he was not joking, but she couldn't be serious.

Tang Ling glared at Qi Xiao. If his father heard this, he might beat Qi Xiao to death on the spot.

Qi Xiao immediately stopped laughing and said seriously, "Your Majesty can't reveal the fact that I ran away from my marriage. He has no reason to use military force against the Zhou Kingdom, but he won't let me go either. So he has only one solution."

"Tian Ce Camp."

"Yeah. I'm afraid he might hurt you."

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling knew very well what the Tian Ce Camp was like. Back then, Chi Yue was only ten years old but he was able to assassinate the Grand Commander of the Capital Affairs Office, and Wu Zhou was able to lurk in the imperial city of Qi for six years. They had no way of being sure whether there were people from the Tian Ce Camp in Xun Anhou's Mansion. Such a terrifying force was simply impossible to guard against.

Qi Xiao hugged Tang Ling tightly. He would stay with Tang Ling every step of the way. If the Tian Ce Camp really wanted to attack Tang Ling, they would have to kill him first.

"Killing me would at most satisfy His Majesty. If he wants you back, he'll probably negotiate with my father. The marriage between Chen and Zhou is the most important thing."

Qi Xiao sneered: "I have already run away from my marriage. His Majesty will never trust me again. He hopes to have an excuse to attack the Zhou Kingdom and fulfill his ambition of unifying the world."

"That's why my father has to send you back."

"No, only because I'm here will he not dare to send troops." Qi Xiao raised one corner of his mouth and smiled cunningly. "No one is more familiar with Dachen's military deployment, military force deployment, and Ministry of Revenue finances than me, the crown prince. If he dares to use troops against Zhou, I will make sure he never returns."

Tang Ling was shocked: "You... Lu Fangjin is on the north bank of Taihua River, and Bai Xiqiao is now in Shuoliang. Do you want to be enemies with them?" Compared with the princes in Yuanjing City, Lu Fangjin and Bai Xiqiao are Qi Xiao's brothers.

"Are you afraid that I can't win?"

"I……"

"You're worried about putting me in a difficult position." Qi Xiao said with a smile, "Don't worry, there won't be a fight."

"What if His Majesty threatens you with Lu Fangjin and Baixiqiao? Can you just ignore it?"

Qi Xiao kissed Tang Ling and said, "No. The Sixth General has established a private army in Liaoshan Commandery, and His Majesty is counting on Bai Xiqiao and Lu Fang to defend his territory. Even if he is furious, he won't destroy his two great generals."

"...Have you figured it all out?"

"I made you wait for three years. I didn't waste my time by deliberately delaying coming to see you."

Tang Ling felt sad and leaned forward to kiss Qi Xiao again.

"Knock knock." Qinglan knocked on the door. "Sir, dinner is ready."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao, thought for a moment, and said, "I'll ask Qinglan to bring you a meal. You wait for me in the warm room. I'll go see my father first."

Qi Xiao was about to agree when he heard Qing Lan say from outside, "My Lord, please... please invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to join us for dinner."

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Lai with a smile: "The ugly daughter-in-law will have to meet her parents-in-law sooner or later."

Qi Xiao helped Tang Ling clean up, change clothes, wash, and comb her hair. Qi Xiao wanted to do these things carefully and slowly, as if this could make up for the three years of missing time, or maybe he just wanted more time alone.

Tang Ling stared at the figure reflected in the bronze mirror, her breaths turning into sighs. For three years, her longing had been brooding outside the warm room window. Where was Qi Xiao? His feelings had been burning intensely from the beginning, yet he had suppressed them for three years, just to see him, just to love him.

Tang Ling never doubted that Qi Xiao loved him, but Qi Xiao told him again and again that he actually didn't know how much he loved him.

Qi Xiao tied up Tang Ling's hair and put Qi Nian into the hair crown. Then he looked at Tang Ling in the mirror and said with a smile, "Don't keep the Marquis waiting too long."

Tang Ling turned around and took Qi Xiao's hand: "Aren't you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid, as long as you don't push me away."

"Hmm..." Tang Ling stood up. Qi Xiao was already half a head taller than him. This time, he wanted to be the one Qi Xiao could rely on. "I won't let go."

Tang Ling took Qi Xiao's hand and led him out of the warm room and towards the main courtyard. Along the way, no matter whether the servants, guards or maids looked at them in shock, he ignored them. Just like at that time in Fenglin Mountain, in Qijing, and even on the streets of the East Market of Yuanjing City, he was willing to hold Qi Xiao's hand, or be held by him, and would naturally stand beside him and walk shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Dad." Even if he was standing in front of his father, Xun'an Hou Tang He, he would not let go.

Qi Xiao lowered his eyes and glanced at their clasped hands. Tang Ling was exerting herself, so he gently returned her hand and immediately looked up at Tang He: "My Lord."

Tang He watched the two men walk into the yard and step into the hall, holding hands all the way. This was the first time he met Qi Xiao, but he knew his son, and this meant that he was determined to go against him.

"Yeah." Tang Yan took a deep breath and nodded slightly, "Sit down and eat."

There were three sets of bowls and chopsticks, one in front of Tang Yan, and the other two on his left and right. Tang Yan asked them to sit down, and the two of them had no choice but to sit down.

Tang He was too lazy to be polite with Qi Xiao. He was in no mood to speak at the moment. They dared to "join forces" to anger him. He wanted to see how they were going to have this meal.

The maids brought the food and immediately left. In the huge hall, you could hear a pin drop.

Tang Yan looked at Tang Ling, then at Qi Xiao. Both were staring at him. They didn't dare move until the head of the family started eating. Tang Yan had never disobeyed his father. Even when he was a child, he hated Tang Yan because of their mother's affairs, but he still followed Tang Yan into the Shenzhao Camp and never once lost his temper or criticized him. His only disobedience to Tang Yan was now, with Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao was even more afraid. He never considered himself the crown prince of Chen, second only to the emperor. He was Qi Xiao, coming here to meet his father-in-law. Coming empty-handed was already rude, and he dared not show any disrespect in front of Tang Yan.

Tang He looked at the two children left and right, until they were both nervous, then he slowly picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly, taking small bites.

Tang Ling looked at her father with a tingling feeling. Tang He had joined the army at sixteen and commanded troops at twenty-one. He'd eaten fodder when he had it, and chewed tree bark and drank horse urine when he didn't. His biggest annoyance was the palace banquets that took two hours, requiring him to sip wine in small gulps and perhaps not even eat a single bite of food until it got cold. Seeing Tang He like this, Tang Ling wondered if her father would be more satisfied if he could just slice off some of his flesh and eat it.

Tang Ling couldn't stand it anymore. She put several pieces of meat and vegetables into Tang He's bowl with her chopsticks and poured him a bowl of soup: "Dad, eat more."

Tang He glanced at Tang Ling. His hands were shaking when he brought the soup just now. Was he afraid that he would be angry or that he was hungry?

Qi Xiao was also getting a little impatient. There was no wine on the table, so he picked up the teacup and said, "I'll offer a glass of tea to the Marquis instead of wine."

"No need, just eat yours."

Tang He blocked Qi Xiao's words, and Qi Xiao could only look at Tang Ling and ask him for help.

Tang Ling shook her head slightly, lowered her head and ate silently, occasionally picking up a few pieces of food for Tang He with her chopsticks.

Qi Xiao kept wiping the sweat from his forehead throughout the meal. He didn't understand what Tang He was trying to do. He couldn't eat a single bite of the food. He gently stirred the bowl with his chopsticks, unable to remember to put it in his mouth. Tang Ling didn't dare to speak, her eyes fixed on Tang He. He also didn't remember to eat.

Tang Ling was still sick, and he had a bad stomach, so he couldn't be hungry all the time. Qi Xiao couldn't help but pick up two lighter dishes, put some on for Tang Ling, and said softly, "You have to eat something."

Tang Ling and Qi Xiao exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, taking a few bites anyway.

With only three people at the table, even the smallest movement and the quietest sound were clearly noticeable to the "others." Tang He drank from his bowl, masking a soft sigh.

After finishing the awkward meal, Tang He called someone over and ordered, "Prepare a room for the guests in the east wing."

"Yes."

Then Tang Yan turned around and looked at Tang Ling: "Follow me into the study."

Tang He ignored Qi Xiao completely, neither asking him to go with him nor telling him not to. Qi Xiao hesitated for a moment, then fell behind Tang He, still walking hand in hand with Tang Ling.

When they arrived at the study door, Tang He glared at Qi Xiao, let Tang Ling go in first, and then slammed the door in Qi Xiao's face, locking him outside.

Qi Xiao sighed slightly. He was lucky that he didn't get beaten.

After entering the study, Tang Yan didn't beat around the bush and asked Tang Ling directly, "What are you going to do?"

"Dad, the Crown Prince of Chen is dead. Whether it was an assassination or an accident, it has nothing to do with us."

"Oh, you're dreaming. So you're going to keep him by your side? As a servant? As a guard? Or something else? Do you think he looks like that kind of person?"

Tang Ling gritted his teeth and didn't answer. He knew Qi Xiao wasn't like that. He never had been. Kunpeng spread its wings and soared through the winds for 90,000 miles. He couldn't bear to trap him. But he couldn't be cruel enough to push him away again.

"Let me ask you again, if he can't be the Crown Prince of Chen, can you not be Tang Ling, can you not be the heir of Xun'an Hou? Or how about you follow his example, fake your own death, and go free with him?"

"...Dad..." Tang Ling was completely stunned. He had never thought of it that way before.

Back in Qi State, he could choose to stay with Qi Xiao, quietly, and let Qi Xiao hide him. They had many opportunities, but he never thought about it.

Tang Ling would rather give up Qi Xiao to return to the Great Zhou, to his father, enduring the pain of having his heart cut open. It wasn't because he couldn't bear to give up wealth and glory, the power of the Tang family, or the title of Marquis Xun'an, but because he was Tang Ling, the heir of Marquis Xun'an. The name that preceded him was not only a title, but also a responsibility, and ultimately, his meaning.

The Great Zhou Dynasty has been established for a hundred years. The Tang family is in this position. It is the hand that controls the chess game by the superiors, and it is also the chess piece in this hand. The Tang family bears not only the will of the imperial power, but also the responsibility of those who depend on the Tang family.

What Tang Ling witnessed in the Shaoyang Imperial City was "the situation," a scene of calculation, scheming, tug-of-war, mediation, and bargaining. What he experienced in the Shenzhao Camp was "the journey of fate," a scene of tumbling, sharpening, struggling, fighting, life and death. He wasn't standing in the middle, holding both ends and letting go at will; he was twisted between the two strands, becoming that part; he was the rope.

Tang Ling, the son of Marquis Xun'an, is a man of extraordinary strategy and talent in governing the country. The Tang family is the pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Tang Ling may be just a tile or a brick. Without him, the Great Zhou Dynasty will not leak, tilt or collapse. But he does not allow himself to break or shatter. If he breaks or shatters, what use will he be?

"Don't look at me like that. It's useless. It's your own choice, your own decision. Haven't you thought it through?"

Tang He sighed, and after a long while, he spoke again, "I was really startled by his sudden appearance and knocking on the door. There are still such lunatics in this world. It's unbelievable that that old bastard from the State of Chen could raise such a son. I won't tell you how you've been since you came back. What you want to do next is up to you. If the marriage between Chen and Zhou doesn't go through, your father will have to go to war. It's good that you don't go. At least there will be someone at home to collect my body."

"father!"

"Get out of here now! I'm so pissed off when I see you."

"father……"

"Fuck off!"