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

Tang Ling left, but Qi Xiao's brows did not relax. He ordered Zong Sheng to prepare pen, ink and paper, and sat in the position where Tang Ling had just played chess, and copied down the three games one by one.

Bai Xiqiao watched from the side and asked coldly, "Why are you copying this?"

"Sell for money."

Bai Xiqiao was furious when Qi Xiao fooled him again. He raised his hand and knocked Qi Xiao on the forehead: "You are still having fun fooling me, Senior Brother?!"

"Ah!" Qi Xiao rubbed his head in pain, then looked up at Bai Xiqiao. "No more nonsense, you'll know when we get back to Yuanjing."

Bai Xiqiao pulled a chair and sat next to Qi Xiao. "I don't care what chess manual you want to sell, but Xiao'er, you can't go on like this. Listen to what I have to say, brother, okay?"

Bai Xiqiao watched Qi Xiao change Tang Ling's medicine just now. Even if he was blind, he could see that Qi Xiao really cared about Tang Ling, but he was the only one who was anxious because Qi Xiao didn't listen to him at all.

Qi Xiao turned his head to look at Baixi Bridge and answered seriously, "No."

Just these two words made Bai Xiqiao so angry that he jumped up and raised his hand to hit Qi Xiao on the head again, but was blocked by Qi Xiao.

"Brother, I know what's going on."

Bai Xiqiao couldn't stand it any longer and started fighting with Qi Xiao: "You have something to hide!"

Seeing that things were not going well, Zong Sheng quickly pulled Bai Xiqiao away: "Bai Xiqiao! Stop!"

Qi Xiao straightened his robes and said to Bai Xiqiao, "Brother, if I had a different personality and had been submissive and obedient since childhood, why would I call you Brother and why would I come back to Yuanjing? Not only can you not stop me, I can't control it myself. But I know my limits and won't act rashly."

"You, you, you..." Bai Xiqiao stared at Qi Xiao, gritted his teeth and poked him for a moment, then swung his hand fiercely, "I'm so pissed!"

"Master, Mr. Tang left something behind."

Qi Xiao took a look and saw that what Tang Ling had left behind was the apology gift that Lu Fangjin had given her. He chuckled and said, "That's perfect. I'll give it to him later."

Bai Xiqiao was still furious, and when he heard Qi Xiao was going to deliver something to Tang Ling, he almost smashed the teacup in his hand on Qi Xiao's forehead: "How dare you go!"

"It's okay. It's raining heavily and dark outside. I'll be back soon." Qi Xiao said as he opened Lu Fangjin's apology gift. A piece of black sable fur was neatly placed in the box. The color was as pure as ink and the luster was bright. It was indeed a good thing. Its value was secondary, but it represented Lu Fangjin's intentions very well and was a gift that Lu Fangjin would choose.

Qi Xiao put the copied chess records in a gift box, which saved him the trouble of finding a box to put them in.

Qi Xiao was about to go out when Zong Sheng naturally prepared an umbrella for him. Before he could hand it to Qi Xiao, Bai Xiqiao snatched it away and said, "Master, you're going out. I'll just follow you."

Qi Xiao held the gift box in one hand and looked at Bai Xiqiao: "Let's go."

Bai Xiqiao actually went out with Qi Xiao holding an umbrella.

"Thank you, senior brother." Qi Xiao and Bai Xiqiao were under the same umbrella. They were close to each other, so even if the wind and rain were loud, Bai Xiqiao could still hear Qi Xiao's soft voice clearly.

"no need thank me?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for tolerating my willfulness."

"No, I didn't agree. I came here just to stop you from staying with him any longer."

Qi Xiao nodded and smiled, "I know." Bai Xiqiao was willing to let him out instead of breaking his legs and not allowing him to see Tang Ling. This meant there was room for maneuver.

It was raining heavily outside and no one was moving around except the guards patrolling the camp. Tang Ling's tent was not far away and the sky was gloomy and dark. Only Ye Huai noticed when Qi Xiao and the other arrived in front of Tang Ling's tent.

"Sir, a guest has arrived."

Tang Ling was reading under the lamp and couldn't help but frown: "Guests? Why is it so lively today?"

Ye Huai said, "It's the King of Chu." A martial artist, especially a top-tier master like Ye Huai, possesses exceptionally sharp senses, and the sound of footsteps alone is enough to identify the incoming person. Ye Huai had clashed with Bai Xiqiao and Zong Sheng before, and would never mistake them. And coming with Bai Xiqiao, his footsteps were nearly inaudible, a testament to his exceptional skill. It couldn't be anyone else but King of Chu Qi Xiao.

Tang Ling put down the book in her hand and stood up to greet him. Tang Ling had not been away from Qi Xiao's tent for long, and she had never expected Qi Xiao to come. When she opened the curtain and saw that it was indeed Qi Xiao, Tang Ling couldn't help but smile.

"Ninth Prince, why are you here?"

"You left something behind."

"Why bother to come and deliver it in person?"

"It's raining heavily outside, why don't you invite me in to sit for a while?"

Tang Ling invited Qi Xiao into the tent and personally poured him a cup of tea.

Qi Xiao put down the gift box and tapped lightly with his finger: "Aren't you curious about what Lu Fangjin gave you?"

Tang Ling truly wasn't curious. No matter what Lu Fangjin offered, it wouldn't be as direct an apology as his own death. Lu Fangjin wasn't just humiliating him, but also the Great Zhou. Tang Ling had assumed Lu Fangjin was a formidable general, a man of unparalleled stature. But he couldn't defeat her on the battlefield, so he exploited the Great Zhou's desire for peace to humiliate her. Such despicable behavior was unworthy of Tang Ling's consideration as an opponent.

"Open it and take a look."

Tang Ling glanced at the gift box but still didn't touch it, so Qi Xiao had to open it for him.

"What is this? Did Lu Fangjin give me a stack of paper?" Tang Ling unfolded the rice paper and saw that it was a chess manual. Her confusion turned into joy. "So it wasn't Lu Fangjin, it was you."

Qi Xiao shook his head: "This chess manual is not given away for free."

"Oh? You're not giving it away? Are you selling it?"

"I know Ziyi is the most insightful. No bargaining price, one hundred gold."

The three chess pieces were worth a hundred taels of gold as soon as they were asked for. Bai Xiqiao was so frightened that he almost bit off his tongue. Qi Xiao had just said that he wanted to sell the chess pieces for money, and Bai Xiqiao even hit him on the head, thinking that he was joking again. But now he turned around and really sold them as he said. When Tang Ling heard Qi Xiao's huge request, she was not angry but laughed happily.

"Okay, Bai Jin, I'll give it to you when we get back to the same guild hall."

"Okay. Then I'll take my leave." Qi Xiao had promised Baixi Bridge that he wouldn't stay long. After delivering the items, it was time to leave. But before leaving, Qi Xiao paused and added, "Lu Fangjin, don't take it too seriously. Those shackles are just a show. With his personality, he'd never think of such a method."

Tang Ling was slightly stunned and asked, "So, it was your idea?"

Qi Xiao pressed his lips together and said ambiguously, "I'm just speaking a fair word on behalf of Lu Fangjin. He was a poor soldier and didn't have much to offer. The sable fur was hunted by Lu Fangjin himself, and he put a lot of effort into it. He brought it to you as an apology out of his deepest desire. I hope you will be magnanimous and let him go."

Tang Ling's smile faded completely. She stood up and faced Qi Xiao, then asked solemnly, "Now that we've spoken fairly, let me be honest. Were those shackles your idea?"

Qi Xiao took a deep breath. Since he had mentioned this to Tang Ling himself, he had no intention of hiding it. He nodded slightly and said, "It was my idea."

"Su Qin has been wearing those shackles all the time. Even if the assassination at Tiger's Mouth Gorge hadn't happened, he would have found an opportunity to put them on me. Why would he humiliate me like this?"

Qinglan stared at Qi Xiao with a sidelong glance. He knew that Qi Xiao was not a good person. He told the young master several times, but Tang Ling didn't believe him. Now, he confessed himself.

Qi Xiao was about to speak when he was suddenly stopped by Bai Xiqiao, who whispered in his ear, "Why are you bringing this up?"

Qi Xiao patted Bai Xiqiao gently and said, "Lu Fangjin has sent his apology. I can't let him take the blame alone."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao, waiting for him to continue. He had long suspected that Qi Xiao and Lu Fangjin had a personal relationship, but he hadn't expected Qi Xiao to admit it so easily. Tang Ling winked at Qing Lan and Ye Huai, telling them to retreat for a while.