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

It was almost noon when Qi Xiao returned to Tong Guild Hall. He was eager to go home and see Tang Ling, but when he was almost there, he asked the driver to turn around and go back to the side door of Yangxizhai.

When the servants of Yangxizhai knew that Qi Xiao had returned, they immediately became busy and helped Qi Xiao take a bath, wash up, and have lunch.

"Master, a guest has arrived."

Qi Xiao stepped into the inner courtyard of Yangxizhai and asked, "Who at this time?"

"Master Tang."

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh, waved his hand to signal the guards to leave the inner courtyard, and his pace involuntarily quickened.

In the side hall, Tang Ling, book in one hand and teacup in the other, quietly waited for someone, her expression no different from when she was in Huaxi Villa. Sunlight streamed in through the wide-open windows, casting a faint halo over Tang Ling, blurring his outline. The quieter he was, the less real he seemed.

When he first met Tang Ling, the moment Qi Xiao raised his eyes, he saw a cold and noble young man with clear eyes, as if he looked down on him, which made Qi Xiao want to bully him.

Now... Qi Xiao came back with a lot of anger in his heart, but the anger disappeared the moment he saw Tang Ling. He relaxed his brows and felt happy.

Qi Xiao's footsteps were too light for Tang Ling to hear. It was not until the man came up to him and blocked out most of the sunlight that he looked up and smiled gently at Qi Xiao.

"I'm back." Tang Ling put down the teacup and the book, stood up and walked towards Qi Xiao.

"Wait for a long time?"

"You didn't come back all night, so I had to come look for you." Tang Ling smiled and took two steps towards Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao took a half step back: "I spent a night in the Dali Temple Prison, and I smell of blood."

Tang Ling smiled broadly, moving closer to Qi Xiao, almost snuggling into his embrace. She raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek, saying softly, "I've been with my father for ten years, so I'm not that spoiled."

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling's gentle smile and almost forgot that the person in front of him had fought with Lu Fangjin for several months on the banks of Taihua River and had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How could she be afraid of the bloody smell on Qi Xiao?

Qi Xiao couldn't help but lower his head slightly and kiss Tang Ling, and she put her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

"Why don't you wait for me in your yard? What if I go straight over there?"

Tang Ling leaned against Qi Xiao's neck and smiled, "Do you remember the last time you didn't come home overnight? It was just a few days ago. How could you come to see me if you didn't clean up?"

Qi Xiao gently bit the side of Tang Ling's neck. "Since you know me so well, why don't you just wait for me at Huaxi Villa? Why did you come here? Are you so anxious to see me?"

Tang Ling dodged Qi Xiao's sharp words, held his face in her hands, looked into his eyes intently, opened her mouth, and spoke in a voice as gentle as a faint breeze: "Yes, I want to see you."

Qi Xiao hugged the person in his arms tighter: "Don't worry about me."

Initially, Tang Ling wasn't too worried. Qi Xiao was no less thoughtful than he was, and solving the case wouldn't be a problem for him. While this case was a sudden disaster, in Qi Xiao's hands, he might be able to clear up the mystery and reveal the truth.

But Qi Xiao's investigation was swift. Yesterday, the Five Capitals arrested a prisoner in the East Market, and this morning, the Capital Protectorate raided several gambling houses and businesses, locking up prisoners and bringing them to the Capital Protectorate. With over a hundred innocent people strung together, the scene was practically a parade. There was no need for the Xingluo Guards to investigate; everyone in Yuanjing knew about it.

Such swift and decisive actions might cause trouble. It was impossible for Tang Ling not to worry.

Luo Yu, a judge in the Dali Temple, was murdered in his own residence. This kind of case couldn't be the work of a bandit; it was bound to be connected to other matters, and the more they investigated, the more connections became. If Qi Xiao hadn't been involved, Tang Ling would have been delighted to watch such a spectacle, even more lively than the Mid-Autumn Festival temple fair.

His Majesty sent Qi Xiao to assist Pei Hao in handling the case. On the surface, it was intended to train Qi Xiao, but it also showed His Majesty's attitude that this case must be thoroughly investigated and no leniency will be shown.

The person behind the scenes was determined to obstruct the case and find a scapegoat to close it. Cao Weishan was caught in the middle. He had maintained a neutral stance for many years, staying away from both the Qin and Gongsun clans. Faced with such an unexpected disaster, he had no one to help him. If he couldn't find the truth, his career would be ruined. He could only cling to Pei Hao's leg. As the Minister of Justice, Pei Hao was known throughout the court for his loyalty and integrity, and he had offended countless people.

His Majesty's other secret intention was to support Cao Weishan and Pei Hao, and to ask Qi Xiao to do a favor. As long as he could handle this case, he would have saved Cao Weishan and Pei Hao, and the ministers in the court who did not like to form factions would naturally look up to him. In Yuanjing City and in the court, the Ninth Prince Qi Xiao would no longer be an unknown person.

This was meant to push Qi Xiao to the forefront. Ever since the hunt at Baiyan Mountain, Qi Xiao had been open about his actions. The Fifth and Seventh Princes would joke around with him when they met, but they kept their distance. During the hunt, he won with no one to help him, yet he still won in glory.

Luo Yu's case was investigated with great efficiency, without any hesitation. He went in and out of the Jingji Protectorate and the Dali Temple, setting off fireworks at Luo's residence in the dead of night, day and night. Ninth Prince Qi Xiao's reputation had long been known throughout the market. It was clear to everyone that Qi Xiao was not afraid of muddying the waters.

The more capable he was, the more he stood out and suppressed the other three, not even giving them a chance to test or win them over. His arrogance left no room for himself at all.

Seeing Tang Ling's melancholy expression, Qi Xiao comforted her, "This case has to be cut short. If it's delayed for too long, who knows who will intervene. I'll just do it without hesitation, and let them treat me as someone who doesn't care. I'm a rookie, so I'm not afraid of tigers. When they want to teach me a lesson, I'll just take it."

Tang Ling looked at Qi Xiao, trying to relax her brows and suppress her uneasiness, but the more Qi Xiao understood everything, the more distressed and worried he became.

Qi Xiao must have his own agenda for doing this. Was it for Bai Liu? But what exactly is Qi Xiao's relationship with Bai Liu?

Tang Ling couldn't guess, so she murmured, "Qi Xiao, what exactly do you want?"

Qi Xiao smiled, his eyes full of cunning and evil charm, and whispered in Tang Ling's ear: "I want..."

Tang Ling's ears seemed to have been burned by Qi Xiao's words, and they turned red and burning in an instant.

Qi Xiao pulled the man up and brought him straight back to his room. Only then did Tang Ling realize that there was no one in the inner courtyard. Even Bai Xiqiao and Zong Sheng were nowhere to be found.

He closed the door and held Tang Ling in his arms: "Wait for me in the room from now on." Tang Ling was not a guest and should not be waiting in the side hall.

Tang Ling leaned against the closed door, blocked by Qi Xiao with nowhere to escape. Her heart beat as fast as a war drum before a battle, so fast and so fast that he couldn't breathe.

Qi Xiao lowered his eyes to look at Tang Ling, his throat tightening a little, and after a moment he spoke: "Tang Ling..."