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

On the way from Qingxiang Hall to Chengming Hall, the emperor stood in the corner corridor, looking at the lonely moon hanging in the cold night sky.

Zhang Suian, the chief steward who was accompanying the emperor, said softly, "Your Majesty, the night wind is chilly. Why don't you go inside?"

The emperor waved his hand: "No problem."

Zhang Suian didn't dare to say anything more and stood by silently.

"Zhang Suian, what do you think of Lao Jiu?"

Zhang Suian thought for a moment before saying, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu is handsome and extraordinary, resembling Your Majesty."

The emperor glanced at Zhang Suian and said, "You were in Qingxiang Hall early this morning. Who did you see Lao Jiu talking to? What did you do?"

Zhang Suian pondered for a long time and said, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince greeted all the adults today, but it seems that they didn't say much."

"What about Lao Wu and the other three?"

"It seems, nothing."

"Really?... He seemed quite quiet, too. He doesn't often attend events like this."

Zhang Suian was at a loss for words. He was an old palace official, having been by the emperor's side for decades. How could he not know his likes and dislikes? Qi Xiao was an unremarkable prince among the many others. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd heard the emperor mention the Ninth Prince. But so what? Qi Xiao wasn't the only prince who fell out of favor.

The emperor didn't expect Zhang Suian to say anything, he didn't dare.

Not long after, Qi Xiao was brought in and respectfully bowed to the emperor: "Long live father."

"Get up."

Qi Xiao lowered his head and stood up, waiting for the emperor to speak.

"Come closer, let father take a good look."

Qi Xiao raised his eyes slightly and then quickly lowered them, moving closer obediently.

The emperor smiled softly: "You have grown up. Did you go to see Concubine Lin today?"

"Yes, I have met mother." Qi Xiao's voice was very soft, and no emotion could be heard. He just gritted his teeth secretly.

"Your mother has not been in good health. Now that you are back in Beijing, please come and spend more time with her."

Qi Xiao was startled and looked up suddenly. Was he allowed to enter the palace at any time? Not only Qi Xiao was shocked, but even Zhang Suian was frightened. After all, it was the harem, and Qi Xiao had been crowned king. Even if the prince moved into the Eastern Palace, he could not enter and leave the harem at will.

"Your Majesty..." Zhang Suian said softly.

The emperor stopped Zhang Suian and said to Qi Xiao, "The Autumn Encirclement will begin in a few days. You will also come with me."

"...Your son obeys your command and thanks His Majesty, Father."

"It's getting late, let's go back."

Qi Xiao walked out of Qingxiang Hall again, his brow furrowed. Was he dreaming? How could he suddenly receive an imperial decree so easily? He hadn't even asked for it. He couldn't understand it.

Zhang Suian didn't understand the emperor's intention, but he didn't dare to ask.

Qi Xiao walked out of the palace gate in a trance. There was only one carriage waiting outside. Zong Sheng was driving the carriage. Bai Xiqiao had been waiting for him for so long that he hurried over to him as soon as he saw Qi Xiao coming out.

"What's wrong with you?" Bai Xiqiao noticed that Qi Xiao looked different as soon as he saw him.

Qi Xiao shook his head: "Let's go back first."

Qi Xiao got on the carriage and when he lifted the curtain he found that there was someone sitting inside.

"you?"

Tang Ling smiled and said, "Ninth Prince."

"What's up?"

Tang Ling shook her head: "It's on the way, I want His Highness the Ninth Prince to give me a ride."

"The Ministry of Rites has specially prepared a carriage for the envoys from the State of Zhou." How did Zong Sheng and Bai Xiqiao get him on the carriage?

Tang Ling didn't answer, but raised her voice to Zong Sheng who was driving, "Let's go."

Zong Sheng and Bai Xiqiao exchanged a look and drove towards the Tong Guildhall.

"Is something wrong?"

"I saw you looked unhappy at the table, and I was a little worried."

"Worried about me?" This reason sounded a little ridiculous, but Tang Ling looked so sincere that it seemed true.

Worried? It was uneasy. Tang Ling didn't know how to explain it.

When he first met Qi Xiao, the young man seemed arrogant, domineering, and playful. Later, he discovered that he possessed a deep sense of pride and unruliness, completely different from his appearance. Qi Xiao lived a very fake life, but he wasn't one to be sham. He seemed to disdain hypocrisy. Sometimes, Tang Ling could even read his undisguised likes and dislikes on his face, which made her sigh for no apparent reason.

Just now at the banquet, Tang Ling noticed that Qi Xiao's expression was filled with suppressed anger, restrained disgust, and deep fatigue, which made Tang Ling unable to help but ask him, what happened?

Walking out of Qingxiang Palace, Tang Ling thought for a long time, but still could not find a reason. When she saw the carriage of Zong Sheng, Bai Xiqiao and Qi Xiao, she couldn't help but send Huang Zexian back, walked over herself, lied to them that Qi Xiao asked him to wait, and got on the carriage by herself.

"It's not too much to ask between friends, right? Can't you tell me?"

Qi Xiao was stunned by Tang Ling's "friend." The word didn't seem quite right, but he couldn't think of a better one. If he was irrelevant, Qi Xiao wouldn't have repeatedly saved him and helped him. If he was just using her, then what did he gain? Was it just a hairpin? A folding fan?

If Tang Ling had changed her identity, even if she was just a peddler, they would have been friends long ago. But now, she was so confused and ridiculous.

Seeing Qi Xiao hanging his head in silence, Tang Ling couldn't guess what he was thinking. She even thought that something had happened to Qi Xiao before the banquet, so she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Qi Xiao shook his head slightly: "Nothing, thank you for your concern."

Qi Xiao was reluctant to speak, and Tang Ling couldn't force him. She sighed softly and said softly, "I'm glad you're okay."

Zong Sheng drove the car steadily. Bai Xiqiao stretched his ears to listen to what Tang Ling and Qi Xiao were saying, but he could only hear the rumbling of wheels. The two people inside seemed to be silent, which made him nervous.

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Xiao suddenly asked, "You waited for me on purpose, wasn't it to ask what His Majesty said when he kept me here?"

Tang Ling was a bit stunned. He knew Qi Xiao was out of favor, but he hadn't expected him and the Chen Emperor to be so distant. Shouldn't his private audience with the Chen Emperor give him a chance to grow closer? As long as he could please the Emperor, it would only be a matter of time before he could get what he wanted. With Qi Xiao's ambition, it shouldn't be difficult, but why didn't he look pleased at all? Was the Chen Emperor trying to make things difficult for him?

"I've never seen you so glum. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."

Qi Xiao sighed deeply, smiled bitterly and said, "I should be happy. He allowed me to visit my mother in the palace at any time."

At any time? Tang Ling frowned almost imperceptibly, then quickly returned to normal, quietly waiting for Qi Xiao to continue.

"It's been over six years since I left Yuanjing. I've even thought I'd never be able to return, but I never dared to think about what I'd do if I never saw my mother again... When I left the palace that day, I don't even remember how I managed to hold back my tears, but today I can't seem to hold them back any longer."

"Lady Lin is under the care of the imperial physician, so she should be fine. Besides, aren't you back now? You've even received His Majesty's grace to enter the palace to attend to her. Lady Lin will surely be happy to see you, and she'll recover faster."

Qi Xiao secretly clenched his fists. Tang Ling's comfort could not soothe Qi Xiao, nor could it dispel the hatred and anger in his heart: "You don't understand..." That imperial city is the pinnacle of life for some people, and the death row for even more people.

"Yeah, I've never seen my mother, how can I understand." Tang Ling smiled lightly. His words just now did sound like perfunctory words.

"That's not what I meant." Qi Xiao blurted out, not wanting Tang Ling to misunderstand him. After he finished speaking, he wondered what he was so anxious about. He took a deep breath and continued, "My mother's family is not high-class. I haven't been in the capital for many years. She has no one to rely on and her life is not good. Even if I come back, I may not be able to make her life better..."

Qi Xiao wants to investigate Bai Liu's case, which might cause trouble for Concubine Lin.