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

"I think Lady Lin will be happy to see you. As for the rest, how can you know if you don't try?"

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling, his suspicion rising. Was Tang Ling trying to encourage him to compete for the throne? The Emperor's permission to enter the palace tonight was a great favor, forcing him to be a target, so that the eldest, fifth, and seventh brothers wouldn't be so focused on fighting each other that they'd forget they had so many brothers. Ultimately, who would ascend to the throne depended entirely on the Emperor's liking. Tang Ling was trying to stir up trouble in Yuanjing, and this would be a good opportunity.

Tang Ling smiled slightly: "The Qi Xiao I know is not an indecisive person."

Qi Xiao suddenly chuckled. Tang Ling's straightforwardness made him seem a little less upright.

"You're really not very good at comforting people."

Tang Ling disagreed: "Aren't you laughing?"

Qi Xiao shrugged his shoulders, leaned against the side of the carriage, and couldn't help laughing. What Tang Ling said was absolutely right. It was not like he hadn't imagined how difficult Concubine Lin's life would be in recent years. He came back just to take his mother away. Since he had already made the decision, why should he be melancholy and self-pitying now?

Tang Ling breathed a sigh of relief, imitating Qi Xiao's behavior and leaning against the side wall. She slowly said, "I originally thought that your return to Yuanjing to visit Concubine Lin was just an excuse. I was being petty."

Qi Xiao tilted his head and looked at Tang Ling: "Why are you telling me this?"

"Shouldn't friends be open and honest with each other?" Tang Ling smiled and shook her head slightly. "Actually, I don't know. There's no real reason. Maybe I'm a little envious of you for having the chance to serve your parents."

Tang Ling's smile seemed bitter and lonely, which made Qi Xiao want to ask with concern: "Would you like to talk to me?"

Tang Ling shook her head. "There's nothing to say. I've never met her. I only know that she passed away shortly after giving birth to me. My father never told me about her, and the only thing I know about her is her portrait."

Qi Xiao thought of the jade hairpin and suddenly felt guilty: "I will return it to you when we return to the same guild hall."

Tang Ling smiled and said, "It's just a hairpin, not her heirloom, so there's nothing to worry about. It's rare that you like it, so I gave it to you as a token of my appreciation. Besides, didn't I exchange it for a better one from you? It's a win-win situation."

"Are you blaming me?" Qi Xiao also laughed, and the previous gloom disappeared for the most part, and what suddenly came over him was sleepiness and hunger.

"Gurgle." Qi Xiao's stomach suddenly growled, causing the two of them to laugh again.

Tang Ling said, "I'm very hungry. I wonder where I can get something to eat at this hour?"

"The curfew in Yuanjing City only applies to the various districts, from midnight to 3:00 a.m. There's still some time now. I can go around the East Market and get back to the guild hall in time."

Tang Ling nodded, and Qi Xiao immediately stuck his head out to tell Zong Sheng to take a detour.

Bai Xiqiao glared at Qi Xiao and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"I'm hungry. I need to eat."

Bai Xiqiao glanced sideways into the carriage: "What's going on?"

Qi Xiao understood what Bai Xiqiao was asking, but he just didn't want to answer. He smiled and retreated back into the car.

Bai Xiqiao was filled with resentment and glared at Zong Sheng: "Why don't you try to persuade him?"

Zong Sheng glanced at Bai Xiqiao and said, "I'm hungry. What do you want to persuade?" Persuading Qi Xiao not to feel hungry? If the persuasion was about Tang Ling, then Bai Xiqiao couldn't persuade him, so what was the point of his persuasion? And Qi Xiao had looked so bad just now, but now he was smiling and saying he was hungry. Shouldn't he be relieved?

Bai Xiqiao rolled his eyes: "He is possessed, you are stupid."

It was already late. Although the East Market was bustling, not all shops were open so late. At this time, except for the wine shops and music halls, all other shops that served meals were closed.

Zong Sheng drove around and finally found an inconspicuous noodle shop. The owner was tidying up the tables and chairs at the door and preparing to close.

Qi Xiao pulled Tang Ling off the carriage and trotted into the store. "Boss, are you still doing business?"

The noodle shop owner was an elderly man whose eyesight wasn't very good at night. He squinted and studied Qi Xiao and Tang Ling for a moment. Seeing that they were dressed in fine clothes, they must be the sons of wealthy families. In Yuanjing City, the most difficult people to offend were the wealthy and idle. The old man could only smile and said, "Please wait a moment, my two young masters. I'll go to the kitchen to see if there are any ingredients left."

"Thank you for your help. I'm not picky. A bowl of noodle soup is fine with me." Qi Xiao had just finished speaking when he remembered to ask Tang Ling, "What about you?"

"Same."

Tang Lingsheng was pretty, and Qi Xiao wasn't bad either. The old man's eyesight wasn't good, but he wasn't blind. Seeing how easygoing and amiable they were, he felt even more embarrassed to send them away. He nodded in agreement and turned to the kitchen. "Old lady, can you make two more bowls of noodle soup?"

"It's so late, are there any customers?"

"Ah, here come two gentlemen."

"Look, here are two bundles of vegetables, and a dish of braised meat. I wanted to save some for you to eat tomorrow morning."

"It's okay, it's okay. Come on, I'll make some water for you and cook the noodles quickly."

The noodle shop was not big and it was quiet at night. Tang Ling and Qi Xiao outside could hear clearly what the two old men in the kitchen said, and they laughed at the same time.

"Looks like we're in for a treat. The braised meat the boss lady reserved for the boss must be delicious."

Tang Ling also laughed: "I just feel a little embarrassed."

"It's okay, eat. Come back more often in the future to repay the boss and the boss lady for their special care."

"it is good."

Bai Xiqiao stood outside the door, shaking his head. Zong Sheng waited quietly, but was glared at by Bai Xiqiao again: "We only had some dry food tonight. He is so heartless. Why didn't he think of making a bowl of hot noodle soup for my brother too?"

Zong Sheng turned his head silently, not knowing how to deal with Bai Xiqiao.

Two bowls of noodle soup were quickly delivered to Qi Xiao and Tang Ling's table. They were piping hot, with a refreshing but not bland aroma, and looked delicious.

Qi Xiao thanked the boss with a smile, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating. He was really hungry.

Tang Ling wasn't eating much slower. Despite all the toasts at the banquet, he hadn't eaten anything at all. Instead, he had a stomachache from drinking. He couldn't avoid the situation, couldn't show it, and so he just smiled and drank glass after glass. This bowl of noodle soup felt like a life-saving medicine, instantly making him feel much better.

Although the noodles were delicious, Tang Ling only finished half a bowl before putting down her chopsticks.

Qi Xiao swallowed a mouthful of noodles and asked, "Huh? Why don't you eat anymore?"

Tang Ling smiled and shook her head.

"Not to your liking?"

"I drank too much today, and my spleen and stomach are a little uncomfortable."

"Are you feeling uncomfortable now?" They all reeked of alcohol, and Qi Xiao hadn't noticed that Tang Ling was actually enduring the discomfort. If he hadn't been so hungry that he growled and hadn't come out to find something to eat, would Tang Ling have endured it until they got back?

Tang Ling shook her head: "It's okay."

Qi Xiao put down his chopsticks: "I'm done eating, let's go back." Before Tang Ling could say anything, Qi Xiao stood up and handed a small ingot of silver to the boss.

"Sir, this is too much. The shop can't find it."

"No need to look for it. This is what you deserve for disturbing me so late at night."

Qi Xiao left as soon as he said he would, and he took Tang Ling with him in a hurry. They came and left in a hurry.