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

Qi Xiao received the instructions and stopped wandering around. He followed the direction pointed by the soldier. When he was on the hillside, the flags had not been put up yet. It turned out that he could use this to find the way. It was thoughtful. Otherwise, he would definitely not be the only one who got lost.

Heading north from the military camp, he saw the golden lion flag of the fifth brother and the white tiger flag of the seventh brother. There was a murderous aura of secret competition before the hunt even started. Perhaps this hunt could be interesting, at least more interesting than the two groups just bickering.

After walking all this way, Qi Xiao couldn't help but wonder: why hadn't he seen the Blue Wolf Banner yet? He had to go north? Wouldn't that mean he was almost at His Majesty's Golden Tent? Based on seniority, who would dare to bypass the Fifth and Seventh Princes and push him to His Majesty's side?

Qi Xiao finally saw the Blue Wolf Banner, which was indeed very close to the Golden Tent. If it got any closer, it would have entered the sentry circle of the Imperial Guards.

Qi Xiao paused, staring at the Blue Wolf Banner, unsure what to think. His Majesty was really using him as a sitting duck. He already had to deal with the Empress and Consort Zhao in the palace, and would he have to contend with the Fifth and Seventh Princes during the Autumn Hunt?

"Your Highness?" Tang Ling walked towards Qi Xiao. "What are you looking at?"

"Master Tang."

Tang Ling followed Qi Xiao's gaze and saw the Blue Wolf Banner. He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's quite appropriate."

"Ok?"

"This blue wolf is quite suitable for you."

"Does this count as a compliment, Mr. Tang?"

"nature."

Tang Ling's smile was so warm that it seemed to be even warmer than the autumn sun. Qi Xiao was at a loss for words to respond.

Tang Ling approached and said with a smile, "I'm sincere, Your Highness, don't you believe me?"

"...Whatever. A wolf is a wolf."

Tang Ling couldn't help but chuckle, but after a moment she suddenly stopped laughing and whispered an apology.

"Huh? Why are you saying sorry all of a sudden?" Qi Xiao didn't understand where Tang Ling's sudden guilt came from.

"I heard that when Your Highness was born, the nine stars of the Arc and Arrow were in the sky, and there were some rumors. I didn't mean any other things just now. Your Highness won't be upset, right?"

Tang Ling knew that Qi Xiao would not be angry, but just wanted to tease him and talk. Just now, when he looked up at the Green Wolf Banner, his eyes seemed a little complicated. Although Tang Ling could not see through it, she could feel that there was unhappiness in them.

Qi Xiao laughed: "So I am such a petty person? If you hadn't mentioned the matter of the Sirius disaster star, I would have almost forgotten it. At that time, I could do nothing but cry. It's a pity that the Si Tianjian thought highly of me."

The whole country of Dachen believes in Tianzun, but Qi Xiao, the father, dare not say whether his belief is true or false. Based on Qi Xiao's many years of observation, His Majesty openly admires and respects the Sitianjian and Yuanxingguan, so the Director of the Sitianjian almost has a lofty status above everyone else. However, the words of the Sitianjian are not absolute. His Majesty only listens to what he wants to hear, and those who don't want to hear can have different opinions to satisfy His Majesty.

For example, on the night of Qi Xiao's birth, Sirius soared in the sky. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau presented the Emperor with a glimpse of Sirius shining alone, signifying a time of war and chaos. The Emperor, far from disliking his son, seized the opportunity to recount how Qi had advanced into Fenglin Mountain and harassed the border and civilians of Dachen, stirring public outrage. He then ordered Bai Liu to lead an army against Qi.

But this wasn't a father's protection of his son, for the same event, happening to the same person at different times, would have had different outcomes. Qi Xiao had escaped the unprovoked disaster of his birth, but suffered a loss at the age of ten. That year, Chen and Qi were at war again. Qi unexpectedly employed heavy weapons, trebuchets, and unleashed a frenzy of gunpowder. A massive fire erupted on Fenglin Mountain in the dead of winter, blazing for hundreds of miles and lasting three months. Not only was the Dingyuan army crushed, but even Yuanzhou Prefecture was nearly reduced to ashes. Many people contracted coughs and asthma and died, and the land was unproductive, resulting in heavy losses.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau brought up the old matter of Sirius again, so His Majesty issued an imperial edict ordering Qi Xiao to go to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to fast and pray at the Immortal Terrace. Half a month later, with a spring rain, most of the fire on Fenglin Mountain was extinguished. Qi Xiao then received another imperial edict, the meaning of which was also simple: his merits and demerits would be offset, and he would be named King of Chu and leave Yuanjing.

Qi Xiao was only ten years old. He had never seen what an imperial edict looked like before. He didn't expect to see it once and then see it twice. Thinking about it now, it seems ridiculous.

Seeing Qi Xiao standing there speechless again, Tang Ling said, "Your Highness, have you had lunch yet? How about we eat together?"

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling: "Master Tang wants to treat me to dinner again?"

"This meal doesn't count as my hosting. There will definitely be opportunities in the future. Just consider it as a debt to Your Highness, okay?"

Qi Xiao smiled and said, "Okay."

Tang Ling led Qi Xiao towards her own tent. They arrived within a few steps, and Qi Xiao realized that his tent was not only close to His Majesty's Golden Tent, but even closer to the Zhou envoys'. He could see them just by looking up. It turned out that Tang Ling hadn't just stumbled upon him while strolling around, but had come over after seeing him.

There was also a banner in front of Tang Ling's tent, which was the firebird, the symbol of the Zhou Kingdom.

Qi Xiao couldn't help but frowned and looked at Tang Ling: "Are you going to join the hunt too?"

Tang Ling smiled and replied, "I'm here, aren't I?"

Qi Xiao's face was devoid of a smile. Tang Ling was frail, so riding was out of the question, but hunting was out of the question. While hunting was ostensibly a royal pastime, a relaxed and harmonious affair, the Fifth and Seventh Brothers were secretly competing, and the military was eager to gain recognition in front of His Majesty, so neither would show mercy. Besides Ye Huai, Tang Ling's circle probably had few truly skilled warriors, and even if they did, he wouldn't reveal them all to Da Chen. Therefore, the hunting trip was bound to fail, and losing would be a self-humiliating loss.

"Why did you agree?"

Tang Ling smiled and reached out to pull Qi Xiao's arm to lead him into the tent: "I'm hungry, let's eat first."

Tang Ling's tent looked the same as Qi Xiao's, but the space inside was much larger than Qi Xiao had imagined, and it didn't seem cramped at all.

When Qi Xiao entered the tent, Qinglan was serving the dishes. She was happy at first to see Tang Ling come back, but when she saw Qi Xiao following her, her face instantly turned a little ugly.

"Young Master... His Royal Highness the King of Chu." Qinglan had been scolded by Tang Ling several times and didn't dare to act presumptuously in front of Qi Xiao anymore, especially now that they were in Yuanjing City. It didn't matter if he caused trouble, but if he caused trouble for his own young master and the Great Zhou delegation, Qinglan would be condemned to death.

Tang Ling instructed Qing Lan, "Make tea."

"……Oh."

"Bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."

"...Yes, sir."

Qi Xiao wanted to laugh when he saw Qinglan's unhappy expression. Even when his master was sitting in the prison van, he was calm and composed, dignified and elegant. How come Qinglan couldn't even learn a little bit of that? However, Qinglan's heart to protect his master was sincere, so Qi Xiao didn't intend to criticize him.

Qinglan brought two cups of tea and respectfully offered one to Qi Xiao first: "Your Highness the Prince of Chu, please enjoy."

Qi Xiao glanced at Qing Lan and said with a smile, "Qing Lan, I haven't thanked you for the sugar pills before. Is there any reward you would like?"

Qing Lan was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Tang Ling. The disbelief in his eyes seemed to ask, "Did Qi Xiao take the wrong medicine? Has he suddenly become a good person? Which doctor is so capable? He should meet him!"

Tang Ling smiled and said, "Your Highness is too polite. You have saved me many times before. A bag of sugar pills is nothing. It's just my duty as a doctor. Qinglan doesn't dare to ask for any reward."

Qi Xiao laughed: "It's the duty of a doctor. It's me who is being rude and presumptuous."

In a few words, Qi Xiao's reward became a joke. Qinglan didn't know whether to cry or not. It seemed that he had lost out on so many benefits for no reason, and he felt quite aggrieved. Tang Ling gave Qinglan a look and told him to prepare the dishes.