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

The official road from Qihuai to Yuanjing was very wide and smooth. The Huwei Army marched past in a swagger, attracting many onlookers along the way. Merchants coming and going would automatically stop their cars by the roadside and make way for the Huwei Army to pass. They walked like a parade, and their speed was much slower than before. They checked into the inn when the sun was about to set.

Qihuai's posthouse was very large, with three kitchens alone. People took turns on duty day and night and were ready to cook at any time. When the group arrived, everything was already prepared.

Qi Xiao had been dizzy on the boat for half a month and finally got a good sleep. He almost wished he could skip the bathing and washing up. The innkeeper had thought carefully and made proper arrangements. As soon as Qi Xiao entered the door, a bathtub and hot water were presented. Qi Xiao smiled and had no reason to refuse.

As soon as the door closed, the steam in the room slowly dissipated. It was as if fragrant beans were added to the water, bringing with it a hint of sweetness. Qi Xiao reached out and untied his belt, removing the ring pendant and a brocade bag from his waist. He set the ring pendant and belt aside, but held the brocade bag in his palm.

Qinglan's sugar pills are indeed effective for seasickness. Although they can't really make Qi Xiao feel completely free of discomfort, after taking one, he no longer feels dizzy and vomits everything he eats. After he can eat a small amount of food, his complexion gradually improves. It really saved half his life.

What did Tang Ling want from him? Just a token of gratitude?

There were only two sugar pills left, and the brocade bag was empty and had no weight left. Qi Xiao curled up in the bathtub with one arm stretched out, holding the brocade bag in his hand. He looked at it for a long time, put it down and picked it up again, over and over again.

In reality, he had no reason to hesitate. Tang Ling's fate was of no concern to him. He had already achieved his goal and returned to Yuanjing. Tang Ling was of little use to him, and might even become a hidden danger. It was wise to keep her at a distance. But somehow, Qi Xiao couldn't quite put his mind to it. He couldn't explain the feeling. It felt like a pity, but why? What was it?

Qi Xiao was getting annoyed by the thought, so he threw the brocade bag into his pile of clothes, turned around as if he had forgotten about it, washed up, and fell onto the bed. When he opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning.

Qi Xiao had a good sleep and woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. He changed into a finely tailored brocade suit, looking even more noble and imposing.

The door opened, and the person standing outside was not Zong Sheng, nor Bai Xiqiao, but Tang Ling.

"Mr. Tang, you're up so early." Qi Xiao stretched and greeted Tang Ling casually.

Tang Ling's room was arranged next to Qi Xiao. He had been either recuperating from illness or injury these days, staying in the room and lying on the couch all day long, and he was already tired of it. After finally removing the shackles and regaining his freedom, he got up before dawn and stood in the corridor in a daze, but it was not really to wait for Qi Xiao.

Tang Ling heard the sound of Qi Xiao's door opening. She turned around with a faint smile on her face, but when Qi Xiao called him "Young Master Tang", Tang Ling's smile froze.

Qi Xiao had called him "Young Marquis" and "Zi Yi", and now he called him "Young Master Tang", the clear distinction was self-evident.

"Your Highness." Tang Ling maintained a faint smile and bowed.

The key to "Dust Fate" had always been in Su Qin's hands. The Yin-Yang Fish Talismans weren't fake, but they were both in Su Qin's possession; Lu Fang hadn't just taken half. Qi Xiao had just lied to Tang Ling. They had all arrived in Qihuai and were about to enter Wudu Prefecture. The Ministry of Rites would be there to greet them, so they couldn't keep Tang Ling locked up. Tang Ling suddenly untied the Dust Fate, still leaving Qi Xiao momentarily unresponsive.

Shedding the burden of "worldly attachment," Tang Ling, clad in a thin, soft silk garment, appears even lighter. Not light and effortless, but rather airy, like mist, with a sense of illusion and unreality, like a mirage, seemingly present yet unreachable. "Worldly attachment," as if living up to its Zen-like name, shackles Tang Ling, a celestial being seemingly ready to ascend to heaven at any moment, dragging him into the mortal world, trapping him. But once this earthly attachment is released, he can ride the wind.

Qi Xiao tilted his head slightly, chuckled, and waved his hand: "Mr. Tang, you're welcome."

"Your Highness looks well. I guess you slept very well last night."

Qi Xiao chuckled twice. It was really awkward for the two of them to face each other. There was nothing much to talk about. Now turning around and going back to the room seemed too deliberate, as if he was afraid of Tang Ling.

Tang Ling leaned on the railing, gazing northward, and whispered, "I once read an ancient book called Records of Mountains and Rivers, which records the scenery of the eight kingdoms a hundred years ago. One passage mentioned a birch forest on Mount Chen, whose leaves resemble yellow clouds in autumn and snow in winter. I wonder if we can see it on our way today?"

A hundred years ago, during the Eight Kingdoms Rebellion, the founding emperor of the State of Chen won a life-and-death battle on Mount Chen, thus establishing the state and naming it Chen. Mount Chen was located on the road from Qihuai to Yuanjing, but the official road ran at the foot of the mountain, eliminating the need for trekking.

Qi Xiao lowered his eyebrows and smiled: "I have never seen such a scene, nor have I read the Records of Mountains and Rivers. Please forgive me, Mr. Tang for making fun of you."

Qi Xiao's birthday was in the spring of May. Just after his tenth birthday, he was crowned king and sent out of Yuanjing. Though still a child, he understood everything. He knew he might never return. How could he have cared to take in the scenery along the way? Even if he had, the birch forests at the time still had sparse, scattered new buds on their branches. How could there be any beauty?

Before he was ten years old, he was born and raised in the imperial palace. He had never even stepped outside the palace walls, let alone had the opportunity to come to Chenshan to enjoy the scenery.

Thinking about it this way, he spent the first half of his short life as a prisoner and the second half as a wanderer. It's both pitiful and ridiculous.

"Maybe we can see it this time." Tang Ling said with a smile, "I heard from the Secretary that we can see it."

Qi Xiao glanced at Tang Ling, then followed his gaze and saw that the birch forest seemed to be in the distance, hidden by the eaves of the pavilion.

"Perhaps," Qi Xiao muttered, turning to prepare himself for his return. He'd been in a good mood, but it was hard to believe that Tang Ling's few words could have caused all the pent-up resentment in him to bubble up like a rising tide. It was as if Tang Ling was deliberately trying to make him unhappy. Hadn't Qi Xiao been the one to choke Tang Ling back in Yongcheng? Now it was revenge.

"Your Highness." Tang Ling called out to Qi Xiao, then raised her hands and bowed respectfully.

"doing what?"

Tang Ling paused before slowly straightening up and smiling faintly, "I need no thanks for your kindness. I will definitely repay you someday."

Qi Xiao raised his eyebrows: "Okay, remember to return your life."

After saying that, Qi Xiao left without looking back, but heard a light voice behind him: "Okay."