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

Tang Ling had been angry for a long time, and now, the impatience that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time could not be stopped from surfacing in the quiet night.

Tang Ling read at the desk until midnight, but still had no news. He did not ask Ye Huai again, as if he had no anxiety or worry in his heart.

"Sir, it's late, why don't you take a rest? The mountains are damp and cold, and you might catch a cold if you sit for too long."

"Rest."

Qinglan lit some calming incense for Tang Ling, but Tang Ling still slept uneasily. He suddenly woke up in the second half of the night. The sound of the wind in his ears became louder and louder, making him unable to sleep at all. So he got up, lit a lamp, walked slowly to the window, and listened to the wind quietly for a while.

Qinglan was sleeping soundly and had no consciousness at all. However, Ye Huai was alert. Seeing that there was nothing wrong with Tang Ling, he did not make a sound to disturb her.

A strong wind blew through the window, carrying a chilly air that seemed to carry rain and dew, which fell on Tang Ling, chilling her. After standing for a moment, Tang Ling felt cold. She threw on a coat and sat on the couch. She casually pulled over a low table and set the chessboard on it. With the black and white pieces at hand, she placed them alternately on the board, resuming the game she had played with Qi Xiao that afternoon.

Tang Ling was somewhat uneasy and moved very slowly. The light from an oil lamp was dim, but the chessboard was before her eyes and was also in her mind, so she would not make a mistake in any move.

"Ye Huai." Tang Ling suddenly spoke.

"Young Master." Ye Huai appeared and stood in the corner.

"When it's daybreak, tell the King of Chu that I want to see him."

"..."

"what happened?"

"The King of Chu hasn't returned yet."

Tang Ling was startled, and the chess piece in her hand fell down, smashing the entire chess game.

"What did you say? Didn't come back? Didn't come back all night?"

"Yes, I didn't come back all night."

Tang Ling stood up suddenly: "Where are our people?"

"One of them came back and said that the King of Chu would not be back tonight."

"He...he sent someone to send a message back?"

Ye Huai nodded: "He said he was afraid that the young master would worry, so he sent someone back to tell you."

Tang Ling breathed a sigh of relief: "Then why don't you come and report it to me?"

"The young master didn't ask."

Tang Ling glared at Ye Huai, without blaming him, and waved her hand to make Ye Huai disappear immediately.

Although Ye Huai is calm and composed, very different from Qinglan, he probably has no good intentions towards Qi Xiao.

Tang Ling sighed softly. He himself understood what Ye Huai and Qing Lan meant. But...

Tang Ling held her forehead and lowered her head, silently arranging the chessboard.

Night herons only come out at night or in the early morning. Qi Xiao stayed in the woods for a whole day and night without coming back. It seemed that he had solved the puzzle, found the prize, and prepared an ambush and trap, waiting for the prey to take the bait.

But without the third piece of wood carving, how did he solve the puzzle? Or, how did he get the third piece of wood carving? Who gave it to him?

Tang Ling couldn't understand why Qi Xiao had no influence in Yuanjing City. Who else could help him with the Baiyan Mountain hunt besides Lu Fangjin? But how could Lu Fangjin help him if he wasn't participating in the hunt?

The hunting deadline was three days. If he couldn't catch anything, would Qi Xiao have to stay in the woods for two more days? The constant wind and rain, the cold and dampness of the mountain forest, even the strongest Qi Xiao might not be able to withstand it. This wasn't a war, so why would he risk his life?

Tang Ling thought about it over and over again, but she became more and more annoyed and could no longer sleep. She just sat there as the sky gradually turned white. It was not until the sunlight came in that Tang Ling suddenly realized that it was daybreak.

He really didn't come home all night.

Tang Ling's brow furrowed in thought. The prince had been in the forest for a day and a night, and His Majesty hadn't sent anyone to look for him? He'd just let him be? What if something happened?

***

Inside the golden tent, Zhang Suian helped His Majesty get up and wash.

"His Majesty……"

"Ok?"

Zhang Suian opened his mouth but hesitated and said nothing.

"Zhang Suian, you still dare to act in front of me?"

"I am terrified." Zhang Suian was about to kneel down and kowtow in a panic.

"Okay, tell me what's going on."

"Your Majesty, last night His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu sent a message saying that he would not return to the camp at night."

"Huh? Not going back to camp?"

"Yes. Your Highness the King of Chu has not yet returned to the camp."

His Majesty was startled, muttering a moment later, "He hasn't come back yet..." This son was indeed different. The prize this time was the night heron, a strategy His Majesty had chosen deliberately. Night herons are difficult to hunt, hiding during the day and emerging at night. This was why he had given the three wooden carvings the strategy of joining forces. Even if victory meant waiting in the forest, they could take turns.

"Only himself?"

"Your Majesty, the King of Chu is accompanied by three Zhou guards."

His Majesty smiled lightly. Who else would be willing to help him except the Zhou hostage? Qi Xiao was able to get the Zhou to help him, which seemed to indicate that he was very grateful for saving his life.

Seeing that His Majesty had been silent for a long time, Zhang Suian couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, do you need to send someone to find His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu? Or, can you lend a hand?"

"No need. Since he's determined to win, let's see if he has the ability."

"Yes."

The morning light is warm, making it brighter after the gloom.

"Report. His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu is here to see you."

"Huh? We were just talking about him, and he's back already?"

Tang Ling was delighted and a smile appeared on her lips involuntarily.

As soon as Qi Xiao returned to the camp, he went to His Majesty's Golden Tent, but he asked Zong Sheng to report to Tang Ling first.

Tang Ling walked quickly to the front of the tent, but suddenly stopped. She turned to ask Zong Sheng, "What else did you say?" Tang Ling was shocked to realize that she was anxious to see him, so she immediately calmed down and decided not to go.

Zongsheng replied: "No more."

"...I see." Tang Ling felt inexplicably angry. He had come back, given him the news, and that was all he had left? Tang Ling was silent for a moment, wanting to ask again: Did he gain anything in this day and night?

But there is no need to ask this. If he had not hunted anything lucrative, Qi Xiao would not have come back with his personality. Since he came back, he must have hunted something. After returning to the camp, he went straight to the Golden Tent to ask for the reward.

Seeing that Tang Ling hadn't spoken for a moment, Zong Sheng said, "I dare not disturb you, sir. I will take my leave first."

Tang Ling nodded and let Zongsheng go back.

Now that I'm back, I should come see him, right? Tang Ling walked slowly around the tent twice, her eyes lowered, wondering what she was thinking.

After waiting for nearly two hours, it was almost noon, but Qi Xiao still hadn't arrived. Tang Ling was getting angrier and angrier. Was he forcing her to see him? How could it be so easy?

"Qinglan, go ask if the King of Chu has returned?"

"Sir, didn't Zong Sheng come to report the news?"

Tang Ling glanced at Qinglan. He was trying to evade her on purpose.

"I'm asking you to go and see if the King of Chu has returned to his tent."

"...Yes, sir."