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

"I'm very curious about what happened in Guanqi Pavilion? It even alarmed the Gyeonggi Protectorate."

There were crowds of people outside the Qinxin Tea House, but it was so quiet inside that you could almost hear a pin drop. The elegant room seemed to be the quietest place in Yuanjing City.

"It's nothing, actually. I just made a bet with those students, and they lost. There was already a grudge between them, and they started quarreling over a disagreement. In fact, they didn't fight. I don't know how the Capital Protectorate came so quickly." Tang Ling smiled and spoke of the rumors as an eyewitness as if it had nothing to do with her.

Qi Xiao sipped his tea, adjusted to a more comfortable sitting position, and nodded slightly, saying, "I heard that you bet that none of them could beat you, and even played against three people at the same time, quite arrogantly. In the end, you neither won nor lost, but drew all three games? Controlling all three games simultaneously, and with every single error, is even more terrifying than simply beating them. Not to mention that there were young ladies from various families watching the game. Wouldn't that be infuriating?"

"You already know everything, and you're still asking?"

"I played a game with you once. Did you let me win at that time?"

Tang Ling smiled but didn't respond, neither denying nor confirming. In the previous game with Qi Xiao, both players were testing each other. Qi Xiao advanced aggressively, leaving Tang Ling no room for maneuver. Tang Ling, on the other hand, used circuitous tactics and defensive tactics, engaging the opponent completely, never allowing Qi Xiao to gain an advantage. In terms of skill, Tang Ling was clearly superior; beating Qi Xiao wouldn't be difficult, she simply didn't want to.

Qi Xiao sighed, then laughed again: "Never mind, losing to you is not shameful. But you didn't give them any face at all, and you offended everyone. Although these students are insignificant, they all come from aristocratic families. You will have to live in Yuanjing in the future, so why can't you be more restrained?"

From Qi Xiao's words, it seemed that he cared about Tang Ling, but looking at his smiling eyes and the slightly raised corners of his mouth, it was clear that he was laughing at Tang Ling.

"Qi Xiao, I'm afraid you're the only one in the entire Yuanjing City who dares to be my friend. Why would you bother with those insignificant people?"

Qi Xiao burst into laughter. Tang Ling had caused a stir in the entire Yuanjing City in just a few days. It had nothing to do with Qi Xiao at all, but now she came to "praise" Qi Xiao.

"Since we're friends, how's the matter I asked Ziyi to help me find out?"

Tang Ling glanced at the two memorials on the table, one was about Cao Weishan and the other was about Bai Liu.

Qi Xiao reached out to take it but was stopped by Tang Ling: "Since we are friends, we should be honest with each other. Why do you want news about these two people?"

"Zi Yi didn't ask before, why do you want to know now?"

Tang Ling smiled. "If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you. Consider this news as a favor to you."

Tang Ling pushed the two letters in front of Qi Xiao, but Qi Xiao crossed his arms over his chest and refused to take them.

"I saved your life, so why are you just giving me this little piece of information? Isn't that too unfair?"

"Favors are favors, favors are favors, we shouldn't confuse them. Friends are friends, and news is news..." Tang Ling looked up at Qi Xiao and smiled faintly, "It's always better to distinguish them clearly, what do you think?"

There was a verbal tug of war between the two, much like the game of chess where you advance and I retreat, except that in this game, Tang Ling didn't seem to want to give in.

"Oh? Then Ziyi, can you give me a price?"

Tang Ling shook her head and pushed the letter forward a few more inches: "Just consider it as something you owe me."

"Okay." Qi Xiao agreed readily and put the two letters into his arms. "Then I won't disturb Zi Yi from enjoying his tea. I'll take my leave first."

Qi Xiao stood up and opened the window, preparing to return the same way, when he suddenly heard Tang Ling's laughter behind him and couldn't help but look back.

Tang Ling covered her mouth and laughed: "Nothing, I was just thinking about how a dignified prince can be a thief."

Qi Xiao was stunned for a moment, then he smiled: "You are right, it is indeed inappropriate to climb over the wall and go through the window in broad daylight." Qi Xiao straightened his robe, opened the door and walked out, which surprised Tang Ling.

Huang Zexian, who was outside the door, was also stunned when he saw Qi Xiao coming out.

"Sir Huang, goodbye." Qi Xiao greeted Huang Zexian casually and walked downstairs in a dignified manner.

When Qinglan saw Qi Xiao, she almost dropped the snacks in her hand: "You you you you you..."

Qi Xiao walked past Qinglan, but he didn't really want to go out from the front of Qinxin Tea House. There were many people gathered outside, so it was not easy for him to leave. Instead, he passed through the lobby and backyard and went out the back door of Qinxin Tea House.

There were also soldiers from the Jingji Protectorate on duty outside the back door. When they saw the back door opened and someone walking out, they were puzzled because the man was not dressed like a waiter in the teahouse. However, the order they received was that no outsiders were allowed to enter the teahouse, but it did not say that no one was allowed to leave. So they just watched Qi Xiao leave in a swagger without stopping him.

***

Qi Xiao left the Qinxin Tea House and did not take Zong Sheng and Bai Xiqiao back to the Tong Guild Hall. Instead, he continued to stroll around, as if he had really just passed by the tea house and nothing else had happened.

While waiting for Qi Xiao, Bai Xiqiao bought some snacks and ate them while asking, "We've been wandering around for half a day. Where are we going?"

"Go to Taihe Temple."

"A Taoist temple?" Bai Xiqiao asked in surprise, "There is a Taoist temple in Yuanjing City?" The three of them did not drive a car when they went out, and they should not be able to leave the city by walking, so Bai Xiqiao asked this question.

Zong Sheng nodded and replied, "The late emperor was a devout Taoist. During the Qingyuan period, he ordered the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to build the Linxian Terrace in the imperial city to worship the Celestial Lord. The current Imperial Astronomical Bureau's director originated from the Yuanxing Temple on Feifeng Mountain, and this Taihe Temple is the Yuanxing Temple's branch in Yuanjing City. It has been prosperous for decades."

"So, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is living in the Taihe Temple?"

"That's not true."

"Then what are we going to do? Worship the Heavenly Lord? Is today a special day?"

Zong Sheng shook his head and looked at Qi Xiao. These questions about Baixi Bridge should be asked to Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao reached out and took a piece of fruit from the paper bag in Bai Xiqiao's hand and ate it: "You'll know when you get there."

"So mysterious... Is there any need to keep us in suspense?"