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

"Do you have any idea?"

"Hmm." Qi Xiao said mysteriously, "Give someone a taste of their own medicine."

"What?" This seemed to be the first time that Tang Ling failed to understand what Qi Xiao meant.

Qi Xiao smiled for a while before saying, "Send a letter to His Majesty to match Princess Xihe and Lu Fangjin."

“…Wh…what!”

Shortly after Tang Ling arrived in Yuanjing, His Majesty posed a difficult challenge, insisting that she marry the fifteenth princess, Qi Ming, as a condition for peace talks between Chen and Zhou. This scheme was incredibly vicious, aiming to separate Qi Xiao and Tang Ling, imprison her for life in Dachen, and alienate the Tang family from the Emperor of Zhou, effectively scheming everyone involved.

Qi Xiao thought, why not copy it exactly as it is and return it all.

Tang Ling pressed against Qi Xiao's chest, pinched his cheeks with her hands, and stared at him: "What are you talking about? Is there anyone who would betray his brothers like you?"

After tampering with Baixiqiao, he's now going to tamper with Lu Fangjin? Is this how he treats his brother, someone he's shared life and death with?!

Qi Xiao's cheeks were pinched by Tang Ling, and he spoke vaguely: "I'm saying that Zhou should do this. His Majesty will never agree. If he wants to attack Zhou, Lu Fangjun is the best choice, but if Lu Fangjun marries Xihe, the war will not start."

Tang Ling frowned: "I know."

Qi Xiao slowly peeled Tang Ling's hand away, holding it in his own, and continued, "Besides, Lu Fangjin comes from a side branch of the clan. The family's power tilted towards him only after he achieved success and fame. If he were to marry Princess Xihe, Your Majesty would at least grant him a marquisate. Once he also has the support of the Zhou Kingdom, he would not only be a threat to the Lord, but the Lu family's power would immediately replace the Gongsun family."

Tang Ling nodded slightly. "Your Majesty will definitely not agree to such conditions. If the Zhou Kingdom presses hard, he will have to choose a new crown prince, accept the fact that you drowned, and carry out the marriage according to the previous terms."

"Yeah, that's what I think." Qi Xiao took Tang Ling's hand and gently bit his finger. "I'm tired of being led around by the nose by him. He forced me to be a scoundrel who disrupts the government, forced you to be a hostage and a pawn, and forced Lu Fangjin and Bai Xiqiao to be his butchers."

Tang Ling lay on Qi Xiao's chest, hugged him, and wanted to say something, but she couldn't comfort him. Even if he sat on the throne of the crown prince, or even ascended the throne to become the emperor, he would still have many things that were not satisfactory, and would still be swept up by the political situation. Tang Ling was even afraid that one day he would become a person like His Majesty, who would become ruthless and cold-hearted because of his supreme power, and would regard himself as omnipotent and treat people as objects, becoming a real lonely man.

Tang Ling looked up at Qi Xiao and couldn't help but sigh. How could there be someone like Qi Xiao in the world? He knew what he wanted from the beginning to the end, never wavering, and never giving up. Tang Ling couldn't help but frown. He had wavered and thought about giving up... Fortunately, Qi Xiao didn't.

Qi Xiao noticed that Tang Ling's expression was a little strange. He raised his chin and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Tang Ling shook her head. "I'm thinking... His Majesty won't let you have your wish. Even if the Emperor agrees to let Great Zhou send a letter to the Kingdom, asking Lu Fangjin to replace the Crown Prince in marrying Princess Xihe, His Majesty will never agree. And since Great Zhou was the first to suggest someone else, he could just pull out all the unmarried noble princes in Yuanjing and let Princess Xihe choose. He could slowly drag it out until Great Zhou agrees, or can't help but make trouble for the State of Chen. As long as Princess Xihe is in Chen and can't get married, Great Zhou can't rest easy."

"Then what do you mean?"

"The Great Zhou must welcome Princess Xihe back. After the State of Chen finds its crown prince or appoints another one, we can then send Princess Xihe as a bride."

"Your Majesty will not release anyone."

"If Your Majesty refuses to release her, then the Great Zhou will have no choice but to lead its troops into Chen and bring Princess Xihe home."

"Isn't this an excuse for His Majesty to send troops?"

"It's only natural for the Great Zhou to welcome Princess Xihe back. The State of Chen must have a reason for not releasing her. If Your Majesty wants to keep Princess Xihe, you must complete the marriage as agreed, which means appointing a new crown prince."

Qi Xiao chuckled, "Now there's only Old Seven left in Yuanjing City. You're forcing His Majesty to appoint Old Seven as the Crown Prince. But do you know that Old Seven already has someone in his heart? For this person, he even spread rumors that he has a hidden illness to avoid marriage. His Majesty is very displeased and has disliked him for a long time."

"That's perfect. The Seventh Prince has a hidden illness, so Princess Xihe can't marry him. Your Majesty has many sons, so you can choose another one."

"Those sons haven't been in Yuanjing for a long time, so how can we choose?" Qi Xiao said this, and suddenly understood, "You want His Majesty to have a hard time choosing? Either he has to release Princess Xihe, or he has to come to negotiate again and ask Princess Xihe to marry a nobleman from Yuanjing. As long as he opens his mouth, you will mention Lu Fangjin as a candidate. Push him again?!"

"You're right. Compared to the Great Zhou, the Chen Kingdom's current situation is even less suitable for war. As long as we seize the initiative, the odds of victory are on our side."

Qi Xiao laughed, picked up Tang Ling, held her in his arms and kissed her fiercely: "I knew you would have a way."

Tang Ling pushed him away. Qi Xiao had made his whole body sore. He had just been grabbed by him and pulled his waist again. "It hurts!"

"I'll rub it for you."

Qi Xiao's palms were burning hot, and the force he pressed on Tang Ling's waist was neither too light nor too heavy. It didn't seem like he was massaging her waist, but more like he was deliberately teasing her.

Tang Ling blushed and slapped Qi Xiao's hand away: "Stay away from me."

"...Did it really hurt? Are you angry?" Qi Xiao came closer, carefully hugged Tang Ling, and snuggled in his arms, acting coquettishly. "Then let me rub it gently?"

"Stop messing with me. We haven't finished talking about serious matters yet."

"Haven't you thought it all out?"

"Yes, but I'm not the emperor. I can't make decisions for you. You must know that using the power of the Great Zhou to intimidate the State of Chen is a very risky undertaking. It might even threaten the safety of Princess Xihe. For the Great Zhou, isn't the best way to resolve this issue to send you back immediately and have you marry Princess Xihe right away?"

Qi Xiao hugged Tang Ling tightly and nuzzled her shoulder. "I'm not going. The Crown Prince of Chen is already dead. Besides, no one knows I'm here. Even if Your Majesty could guess, he wouldn't be able to explain the situation to the Emperor of Zhou, let alone ask for my release."

"My father knows."

"...your father didn't beat me or kick me out today, will he..."

"No, my father's tolerance of you today is just a temporary indulgence. He just feels sorry for me and gave me a chance to say goodbye to you... Choosing between family and country... My father... doesn't have this problem in front of him."

"Don't say that. I won't leave you! Even if your father kills me, I won't leave."

Tang Ling sighed, "You too, stop saying things like that. I won't let you go, and I won't let my father kill you. I just have to think of a way to convince my father before dawn."

Tang Yan was absolutely right. Tang Ling wanted to keep Qi Xiao, but he hadn't figured out what to do in the future. Qi Xiao didn't have to be the Crown Prince of Chen, just Qi Xiao. But what kind of identity did he want Qi Xiao to stay with? Could he not be the heir apparent of Xun'an Hou? And what kind of identity did he want to keep him by his side?

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling for a long moment, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "Will it help if you beg the Marquis? Or act like a spoiled child?"

Tang Ling pushed Qi Xiao and said, "Stop messing around."

"You must have never acted like a spoiled child or lost your temper in front of your father." Qi Xiao leaned his head and sighed, "Tang Ling, you know, when I first met you, I always felt that you weren't real. You seemed... like a painting, like someone in a story passed down by word of mouth."

Tang Ling was stunned for a moment, then listened to Qi Xiao continue, "You were assassinated in Lanquan, and you didn't say a word despite such serious injuries. You slept on the floor when I offered you that night, and you thanked me and apologized. You even analyzed the assassin's origins, talked to me about Su Qin, and tried to trick me. I find it strange. What's wrong with you? Can a young master from an aristocratic family be like this? If you're faking it, you're really good at it."

Tang Ling didn't know what to say. At the time, he had no choice but to go along with the situation. As for his temperament, it seemed he had been like this since childhood. However, spending so many years in the Shenzhao Camp had worn away the pretentiousness and arrogance of the typical young masters from aristocratic families, making him more tolerant than others.

"Tang Ling, when you gave me the candy pills on Qinjiang River, did you like me a little?" Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's face, his warm breath spraying on her cheeks. He pecked her lips gently and asked, "Why did you carry the candy pills with you that day? Did you really want to watch the sunrise?"

That was the first time Qi Xiao seemed to vaguely sense that Tang Ling wasn't "fake," or pretending. He could see a glimpse of her sincerity. There was no calculation, no calculation. In fact, there was no reason. He couldn't repay the life-saving grace immediately, so he gave Qi Xiao a little token of his appreciation. It seemed as if it was that simple.

Tang Ling didn't know why Qi Xiao suddenly asked about something that happened so long ago. If he hadn't asked, Tang Ling might have forgotten that he stood at the stern for a long time at that time.

"Originally, I did want to watch the sunrise, but I happened to see you drinking at the stern... I went back to get some candy and came out again, and you were still sitting there."

"Why don't you just come over and talk to me? Why are you hiding? Why are you waiting?"

Yes, the worldly bond was so heavy that he stood in the cabin door for a long time, still holding the lantern. At that time, he looked at the pitch black outside, at the faint light of the fire, and he couldn't see the people in the darkness clearly, but he was like his legs were nailed to the ground, and he couldn't move his eyes away.

Tang Ling suddenly chuckled: "At that time, I had never seen a prince like you. I probably just wanted to take a closer look at you, to get a better look."

Tang Ling didn't know, and even Qi Xiao himself didn't understand at that time. It was clearly just a little tenderness that came out of nowhere, but it easily made Qi Xiao unable to help but care, and he could never let it go.

"Tang Ling, look at me now, see me clearly," Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's chin, held her gaze, and said seriously, "If you can't find a way to convince the Marquis, I'll go. It's my greed, I want his son's life, so I should go."

“…Qi Xiao…”

The next morning, Xun'an Hou Tang He took leave and did not go to court. He waited for Tang Ling and Qi Xiao in the dining room. Seeing them coming together, he did not comment and did not seem angry.

Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed on either side of Tang He, exactly as they had been the night before. On the table was a large bowl of porridge, steamed cakes, and a few side dishes—a simple feast.

Qi Xiao was no longer as reserved as he had been the night before. Instead, he diligently served Tang He and Tang Ling porridge. Tang He looked at Qi Xiao without saying a word, and waited until he sat down before picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite. Qi Xiao saw Tang He pick up his chopsticks, so he stood up and added some side dishes to Tang Ling's bowl, then picked up a piece of steamed cake, and continued until the bowl was full.

Tang Ling glared at Qi Xiao and whispered, "Too much."

Qi Xiao lowered his voice and whispered, "You didn't eat much last night, you must be starving."

Tang Yan looked at the two of them and took a deep breath. Was this a show for him? Or was it that if he wasn't there, they would be closer?

Tang Ling glanced at Tang He cautiously, lowered her head to eat silently, and simply ignored Qi Xiao.

The meal was still tasteless until Tang Yan put down his chopsticks, rinsed his mouth and washed his hands. He looked at Tang Ling and was about to speak, but Qi Xiao spoke first.

Qi Xiao stood up and asked respectfully, "I wonder if the Marquis is free today. Could you please chat with me?"

Tang Yan looked at Qi Xiao, stood up and said, "I'm free right now. Please come to the Crown Prince's study."

"Your Majesty, you can just call me Qi Xiao. I'm not the crown prince anymore."

Tang He didn't seem surprised to hear this. His expression remained unchanged and he made a gesture of invitation to Qi Xiao.

"Master Marquis, please come first."

Tang Yan no longer hesitated and headed towards the study. Just like yesterday, Qi Xiao and Tang Ling followed behind him.

Tang Ling whispered to Qi Xiao, "No matter what my father says later, you must keep your composure and don't upset him."

Qi Xiao chuckled: "Don't worry, how dare I make my father-in-law angry?"

Tang Ling glared at him, "Especially don't try to be clever in front of my dad. Put away your smooth talk!"

"understood."

"..." Tang Ling stared at Qi Xiao and didn't say anything for a long time. He knew that Qi Xiao was not a person who didn't know the seriousness of the matter. Most of his misbehavior was directed at him. At other times, he was very measured. But Tang Ling was uneasy. The person Qi Xiao had to face was his father, and his father's temper... might make him beat someone up.

The study was not far away and could be reached in just a short walk. Tang He "invited" Qi Xiao in. Before closing the door, he glanced at Tang Ling who was standing at the door. The meaning was unclear, but it was definitely not a relaxed and happy glance.

Tang Ling couldn't help but sigh. He seemed to have never been so nervous before. His ease and composure disappeared the moment he saw Qi Xiao. It was not yesterday, but four years ago.

If it was Tang Ling four years ago, he would not be nervous at all, let alone uneasy. The disappearance of the Crown Prince of Chen and the civil unrest in Chen would all be things he would be happy to see.

Leaving Qi Xiao out of this matter, the struggle for succession among the Chen princes, regardless of whether the crown prince was dead or missing, made the marriage between Chen and Zhou inevitable. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager, unaware of the true circumstances, undoubtedly hoped that His Majesty of Chen would appoint a new crown prince as soon as possible and fulfill the agreement between the two countries. However, Qi Xiao had now escaped the marriage for Tang Ling, angering His Majesty, and the marriage had reached a stalemate.

Qi Xiao was right. Now that things had come to this, even if he was sent back to the State of Chen, it would not be possible for His Majesty to calm down, let alone complete the marriage and continue to let him be the crown prince and successor to the throne.

In the study, Tang He didn't let Qi Xiao sit down, nor did he order anyone to prepare tea. He didn't treat him as a guest at all. Just like how he scolded Tang Ling yesterday, when he faced Qi Xiao, his first question was, "You weren't in the east wing last night. Was I not welcoming you well enough?"