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

"According to the robbers' confessions, they accepted money from the Luo family's servants and sneaked into the mansion at night to steal something. However, they did not specify what they were trying to steal or whether they succeeded. I believe this is the key to solving the case. We must interrogate them thoroughly and get to the bottom of it."

Qi Xiao only said that the case was committed by bandits and did not mention the military pay case at all, as if he really did not think about the military pay case. This surprised the emperor. Was it because he could not find out, did not want to investigate, or did he not dare to investigate?

"In that case, then you should investigate carefully." The emperor waved his hand and released Qi Xiao. He wanted to see what Qi Xiao could find out.

"Your Highness obeys your command." Qi Xiao did not retreat, but knelt down and said, "Your Highness has another matter and would like to ask for your grace."

"explain."

"I won the hunt at Baiyan Mountain. I hope that the emperor will reward me and take my mother out of the palace to serve her. Although I have received the emperor's grace to enter and leave the palace, my status is still inconvenient. I currently have important tasks to attend to and cannot often enter the palace to serve her. I hope that the emperor will grant me permission for my filial piety."

The emperor looked at Qi Xiao for a moment, with a look of surprise on his face, but Qi Xiao was kneeling down and could not be seen at all. He only felt that he was being stared at closely, with an invisible pressure of power that made him breathe cautiously.

"Approved." After a long while, the emperor finally spoke, "Zhang Suian, make arrangements to send Concubine Lin to the West Palace to recuperate. Ninth Prince Qi Xiao is allowed to attend to her."

The West Palace was built in the southwest corner of the Imperial City. It was constructed over two hundred years ago during the Liang Kingdom's expansion of the Imperial Palace. Its unique design features canals carved through the courtyards and pavilions, making it a summer retreat. Therefore, it's often unoccupied. Sending Concubine Lin to the West Palace to recuperate would be ideal. Firstly, it's quiet, and secondly, it offers direct access to both the palace and the outside, making it much more convenient for Qi Xiao to come and go.

"My son, I thank my father."

"The old slave accepts the order."

Zhang Suian escorted Qi Xiao out of Chengming Palace and said to him, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely serve Consort Lin well."

"Thank you, Eunuch Zhang." Qi Xiao knew the rules and quietly handed a silver note to Zhang Suian.

"Your Highness the Ninth Prince has troubled this old servant."

Qi Xiao didn't say much and stuffed the banknote into Zhang Suian's hand again, and Zhang Suian stopped refusing.

"This old servant will escort His Highness out of the palace."

"It's still early. I want to go visit my mother."

"Your Highness's filial piety has moved Heaven, and this old servant is here to see you off."

Qi Xiao had just left Chengming Palace and was heading towards Qiyun Palace when he ran into Tang Ling. The two of them exchanged a simple greeting before going their separate ways.

Seeing that Tang Ling was heading towards Chengming Palace, Qi Xiao couldn't help but ask Zhang Suian, "Eunuch Zhang, do you know why His Majesty summoned Young Master Tang?"

Zhang Suian said, "Young Master Tang is an expert in chess and is greatly favored by His Majesty. Today, His Majesty is in a good mood and has invited Young Master Tang to the palace."

"I see……"

***

Qi Xiao went to visit Consort Lin and told her about the imperial decree he had just received. Consort Lin was delighted. She said the last time she saw Qi Xiao was almost ten days ago. Now that he had moved to the West Palace, it would be much more convenient. Seeing him every day wouldn't be difficult. Most importantly, Qi Xiao wouldn't have to constantly be in and out of the palace, which would make the Empress and Consort Zhao feel less cautious.

Qi Xiao did not tell Concubine Lin what he had been busy with recently. He just chatted with her for half an hour. Seeing that Concubine Lin looked tired, he did not dare to stay any longer and left the palace.

At the palace gate, Bai Xiqiao was waiting for Qi Xiao beside the carriage. Seeing Qi Xiao's expression as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, Qi Xiao frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Bai Xiqiao shook his head, glanced at the carriage, and said, "Let's go back."

Qi Xiao got on the carriage in confusion, and when he lifted the curtain, he saw Tang Ling sitting inside.

"you?!"

Tang Ling smiled and said, "Your Majesty is not in the mood to play chess, so let me go first."

Qi Xiao sat down next to Tang Ling and whispered in his ear, "Waiting for me?"

Tang Ling turned sideways, held Qi Xiao's face, and pecked his forehead gently: "Yes, I was waiting for you and wanted to see you." I want to see you all the time.

Qi Xiao pulled Tang Ling into his arms, leaning forward to kiss her lips. His forehead wasn't enough. But Qi Xiao wasn't greedy, so he just tasted her briefly. He smiled and watched Tang Ling blush, and he was satisfied.

His Majesty was in a bad mood after meeting Qi Xiao, and Tang Ling could no longer suppress her hidden worries. Seeing Bai Xiqiao waiting as she left the palace, she couldn't help but get into Qi Xiao's carriage. The case before the Supreme Court was too big, and Qi Xiao had just returned to Yuanjing, unfamiliar with the place. But handling court affairs was never easy. Qi Xiao had no experience. If he didn't do his job well, he would offend His Majesty. If he did well, he would only offend even more people.

After all, it was a matter of the Chen Dynasty. Qi Xiao couldn't tell anyone and Tang Ling couldn't ask. He was worried that Qi Xiao was in trouble, and even more afraid that he was in danger.

After the last palace banquet, Tang Ling had hidden in Qi Xiao's carriage. Back then, Qi Xiao was wary of him, and Tang Ling told him she was worried about him, but Qi Xiao believed her. Now, Tang Ling could express her concerns, letting Qi Xiao know and demanding a response.

However, Tang Ling's worries seemed unnecessary, and Qi Xiao was in a quite happy mood.

"Why are you so happy?"

"His Majesty has allowed my mother to move to the West Palace to recuperate. This will make it much easier for me to attend to her from now on."

"That's good. If there's a chance, it would be best to get Concubine Lin's pulse record from the Imperial Hospital and have Qinglan take a look at it, so that we can be thorough."

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling and said, "Thank you very much."

"I owed you a lot before, and I have to pay it back."

"Just to pay off a debt?"

Tang Ling lowered her eyes and smiled: "Not entirely."

"Then what else?" Qi Xiao looked into his eyes, and those flickering embarrassment had nowhere to hide.

"And... I want you to owe me." Tang Ling wanted to be entangled with him and never be able to tell them apart.

Qi Xiao smiled and said, "Okay. I'll owe you."

"I can't help with anything else."

Qi Xiao smiled silently: "Don't worry about me."

Tang Ling pursed her lips and hummed a soft "hmm" in response. To say she wasn't worried would be a lie. Unlike Qi Xiao, Tang Ling was the only son of Marquis Xun'an, a noble family, and had been at the center of power in the Great Zhou since childhood. He had seen too much of that mess, and had dealt with much on behalf of his father, Marquis Xun'an. He knew too well that it was a bottomless black hole that would swallow everyone, a never-ending vortex that would strangle all kindness. If Qi Xiao had returned solely for Concubine Lin, he didn't want him to be trapped.

But Qi Xiao was the Ninth Prince of Chen State, and he also held the title of King. Tang Ling had no qualifications, no position, and even less the ability to stop Qi Xiao. She could only watch helplessly...

Perhaps one day in the future, he too would find it impossible to stand idly by. From the Eight Kingdoms Rebellion to the current divisions of the Three Kingdoms of Chen, Qi, and Zhou, over two hundred years, new and old hatreds had piled up day by day, leaving no memory of where they came from or where they were headed. Every dynasty and nation had its share of ambitious individuals seeking to unify the world, as well as valiant generals and fierce divisions guarding the frontiers. Tang Ling had never felt fear before the battles of the two armies, but if it were Qi Xiao standing across from him, he wouldn't dare think about it, just as he wouldn't dare approach, much less gaze into, the endless abyss.

"How come I'm not annoyed yet, but you're worried first?" Qi Xiao got very close to Tang Ling, almost touching her, but leaving a tiny space between them. His palms suddenly covered Tang Ling's eyes, and he kissed him on the lips.

The warmth in Qi Xiao's palm obscured all the sorrow, as if it instantly soothed all of Tang Ling's uneasy thoughts, and nothing else mattered.

"Let's take you back first."

"You..." Tang Ling paused and didn't ask any further. He shouldn't know whether Qi Xiao was going to the Dali Temple or the Jingji Protectorate.

Tang Ling's sense of propriety made Qi Xiao grateful but also suffocated, and in the end he could only sigh.

"There's something I wanted to verify before telling you, but you can enter and leave the Dali Temple freely now, so perhaps it would be better for you to investigate it yourself."

"Ok?"

"About Lu Xiulin." Tang Ling told Qi Xiao everything she knew. Regardless of whether Lu Xiulin was related to Bai Liu's case, Qi Xiao would probably want to find out the truth.

Tang Ling sighed quietly. She was terrified of Qi Xiao getting involved in the court struggle, and even more terrified that one day they would end up on opposite sides and go to war. But on the other hand, Tang Ling couldn't help but want to help Qi Xiao do what he wanted. It was truly too contradictory.

Qi Xiao couldn't help but kiss Tang Ling gently again: "Thank you. I will investigate Lu Xiulin's matter myself. The inspections in Yuanjing City have been strict recently. If you have any inconveniences, please don't worry about it."

Tang Ling nodded. They were all tacitly aware of the Xingluo Guard's affairs.

Qi Xiao sent Tang Ling back to the Tong Guild Hall and went back to the Dali Temple. It took him almost two hours to go to the palace. He didn't know what Chi Yue's methods were and whether he had any new clues.