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

It was very cold at night, and it was even colder in the mountains after a heavy rain. The occasional wind would bring the chill to the bones.

They couldn't start a fire, and using a tinderbox, they could only see the five fingers in front of them, let alone any warmth. Qi Xiao didn't feel anything, but Tang Ling started to shiver slightly after a moment. Qi Xiao was right next to him, so he could feel the slightest warmth, but Tang Ling didn't dare to move closer. He felt a mixture of regret and pain, but he didn't know what to do.

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao secretly, being careful not to disturb the night. The black night curtain isolated all the chaos. There were only the two of them in the world. Even time seemed to stop for them. He suddenly felt that it didn't matter if the Epiphyllum didn't bloom, as long as the night was not over and as long as he was there.

Qi Xiao suddenly realized something, looked in the direction they came from, and said to Tang Ling, "It should be Ye Huai and Zong Sheng who are catching up."

Tang Ling only felt the silence in the forest and heard nothing.

"Zong Sheng knows this place, but he may not bring Ye Huai here. It's almost impossible to find someone in the forest at night. I'll go and lure Ye Huai here. He'll probably be going crazy after suddenly losing his master." Qi Xiao was about to stand up when he suddenly remembered something and added, "Since you accepted the bet, you have to wait with me."

Qi Xiao stood up after he finished speaking. Just as he was about to turn around, Tang Ling suddenly pulled him back: "It's okay, you don't have to go."

Qi Xiao was stunned. Does this mean that he doesn't want to be disturbed?

Tang Ling didn't let go, so Qi Xiao sat back down. He couldn't ask what he wanted to ask. Suddenly, he noticed something was wrong and grabbed her hand. "Why is it so cold? Are you cold?"

Of course it was cold. Qi Xiao had kidnapped Tang Ling from the camp without even a coat. Autumn nights were already cold, let alone in the mountains after a heavy rain.

Qi Xiao put the tinder into Tang Ling's hand and hugged her in his arms: "I'll take you back."

When Tang Ling heard him say he wanted to go back, she became anxious and reached out to hug him tightly, pressing her hand against his neck as she said, "We agreed to wait."

Qi Xiao was stunned. Tang Ling's body was cold, and she hugged him tightly, like a piece of ice pressed against his fire, about to melt and become as gentle as water.

"What do you want to wait for? For the flowers to bloom? Or for dawn?"

Tang Ling didn't dare to answer.

The bright light from the tinder illuminated Tang Ling's slightly pale cheek, which eventually turned a little red. Tang Ling's appearance with her eyes drooped was just like the Epiphyllum under the moon, but the Epiphyllum was not even half as beautiful as Tang Ling.

A string in Qi Xiao's heart suddenly snapped, and he could no longer control himself. He reached out and lifted Tang Ling's chin and kissed him, gently, yet irresistibly and domineeringly.

Tang Ling was so frightened that the fire starter in her hand fell into the weeds at her feet and went out immediately.

Finally, everything in front of him was pitch black, and the moonlight was hazy in the distance. He could not see anything, but could only hear his own heartbeat like a drum, beating so rapidly that it shook the sky.

Tang Ling put her hands on Qi Xiao's chest, as if to push him away, but she couldn't help but tightly grasped his collar.

Qi Xiao's kiss suddenly became greedy, and Tang Ling was unable to resist. He could only resign and admit defeat in this round, falling limply in Qi Xiao's arms, allowing him to take whatever he wanted.

Tang Ling gradually became breathless, and it seemed as if his soul was about to be sucked away by Qi Xiao. At that moment, he seemed to hear Qi Xiao's heartbeat, and every beat was in tune with his own. He seemed to suddenly realize that he was the monster in the mountains, who was specifically seducing people and that was why Qi Xiao was so crazy.

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Xiao finally let Tang Ling go. He looked at Tang Ling's misty eyes, as if she was drunk, staring at him infatuatedly. His thumb gently rubbed Tang Ling's lips. He couldn't help but smile, and lowered his head to give her a light kiss.

"Let's go back."

When Tang Ling heard Qi Xiao say this, her brows immediately frowned, and she couldn't hide the panic in her heart at all.

Qi Xiao smiled and said, "No need to wait." He had already waited.

Tang Ling was stunned. Was she not waiting for the flowers to bloom? Or was she not waiting for dawn?

"I'll plant a garden full of Epiphyllums in the future, and watch them bloom with you every year. There's no need to rush tonight."

From now on... every year... accompany him to watch the flowers bloom?

Before Tang Ling could react, Qi Xiao secretly kissed his forehead: "If you are sick, wouldn't I be a sinner?"

With that, Qi Xiao carried Tang Ling on his back and returned the same way.

Tang Ling leaned on Qi Xiao's back, hooked her arms around him, and asked quietly, "How are you going to explain yourself when you go back to such a reckless act?"

Qi Xiao laughed again: "If you can't explain it, then don't explain it."

"Your Majesty will certainly ask..."

"Just fool me for a bit." Qi Xiao sighed, "My whole mind is on you, how can I care about others?"

"……you……"

"Fortunately, it wasn't in vain." Qi Xiao laughed, and Tang Ling began to tremble as well. His happiness made Tang Ling happy too, and she couldn't help but smile.

Tang Ling had never expected that things between them would develop like this. Everything seemed unexpected, yet seemed natural. In fact, she just couldn't resist Qi Xiao, nor could she resist her own heart.

The journey was not long, and they soon returned to the place where they abandoned their horses. Zong Sheng and Ye Huai were both there. Judging from the tense atmosphere between the two, they had either just fought or were about to fight.

"Son!"

"Master!"

Qi Xiao put Tang Ling down and helped him onto the horse: "Let Ye Huai take you back to the camp, I will follow behind."

If the two of them went back together, it would be hard to explain. Although Qi Xiao said he wanted to fool her, Tang Ling really couldn't think of any good way and couldn't help but worry.

"rest assured."

Without waiting for Qi Xiao to say another word, Ye Huai had already mounted the horse and led the horse away.

Tang Ling turned her head and watched Qi Xiao and Zong Sheng mount their horses and fall behind him, and she felt a little relieved.

"Young Master..." Ye Huai didn't know what to say. He felt that it shouldn't be impossible, but when had Tang Ling ever made a wrong decision?

"Ye Huai, I also want to be willful for once."

"...Yes, sir."

When they were about to leave the forest, Tang Ling saw many torches spreading out in the distance. It must be that His Majesty had ordered people to look for them. When he turned around, Zong Sheng and Qi Xiao were no longer behind them.

It was late at night when they returned to the camp. Since His Majesty hadn't sent anyone to inquire, Tang Ling naturally kept quiet. It was over half an hour later when the Imperial Guards finally retrieved Qi Xiao from the woods. It was said that Qi Xiao had fallen asleep on his horse's back and had been carried back. Tang Ling couldn't help but laugh. So that was his way of getting away with it. Whenever anyone asked, he'd just claim he was drunk and couldn't remember. Even if Tang Ling told everyone what happened in the woods that night, Qi Xiao would just say he didn't remember. What could anyone do to him?

What a shameless person.