The carefree sixth prince, my father respectfully invites me to ascend the throne.

Cuihong placed the food box on the table, took out the food and arranged it on the table: "This is the lunch that the old lady asked me to bring to you. I will feed Bitao."

Yang Ling nodded and sat down at the table to wait.

After a while, Bitao slowly woke up, opened her eyes and looked at Yang Ling. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she hugged him with great joy and said excitedly, "Young Master, you're finally back! Waaah... I thought I would never see you again."

"How could that be? I'm back now, aren't I?" Yang Ling reassured her, speaking softly.

"Young Master, where have you been for the past three years? Why didn't you tell me? You don't know that after you left the capital, I couldn't eat or drink, and I was constantly disturbed by nightmares. I couldn't sleep at night."

Bitao cried so hard her eyes were red and swollen, glistening with tears.

Yang Ling felt extremely sorry for her. She held her delicate and pretty face in her hands and said earnestly, "Bitao, don't cry. I'm back. I will never leave you again."

"Mmm." Bitao nodded vigorously, her tears turning into a smile.

"Here, eat something while it's hot." Yang Ling picked up a piece of chicken and held it to Bi Tao's lips. "You've lost a lot of weight."

"I'm not hungry, young master, please eat," Bitao shook her head and declined.

"Be good, open your mouth," Yang Ling insisted.

Seeing this, Bitao had no choice but to open her mouth, take the chicken in her mouth, chew and swallow.

"Young Master, where have you been all these years?" Bitao asked curiously while drinking her porridge.

"I went to a very far place."

"Young Master, where have you been? Why did it take you three years to come back?" Bitao asked, blinking her bright, sparkling eyes.

Yang Ling was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I went to the Western Regions. It's a place that produces delicious food and is much more fun than the capital, so I often go there to travel."

"I see." Bitao suddenly realized, "No wonder young master's skin is much better than it was in the capital."

"Really?" Yang Ling raised the corners of her mouth.

Bitao nodded vigorously, then suddenly frowned: "Oh, young master, your fingers are so cold."

Yang Ling was taken aback, instinctively withdrew her hand, and awkwardly explained, "Really?"

He forgot that he was now disabled, suffering from a cold poison attack, his whole body was ice-cold, and he was no match for a normal person.

"Bitao, is there anything else that's bothering you?"

"I'm fine, it's just that my stomach hurts." Bitao clutched her stomach, frowning and groaning.

"Stomach ache? Where does it hurt? Should we see a doctor?" Yang Ling asked anxiously.

Bitao tugged at Yang Ling's sleeve, looking at him expectantly: "Young Master, could you please call a doctor for me?"

Yang Ling nodded: "Okay, wait a moment, I'll go and fetch a doctor right away."

Bitao smiled brightly and joyfully, gazing tenderly at Yang Ling's tall and upright back.

After leaving the house, Yang Ling quickly returned inside.

Bitao had fallen into a deep sleep. Her pale face looked particularly haggard from the pain, but it couldn't hide her pure and pretty appearance.

Yang Ling leaned down and placed a light kiss on Bi Tao's forehead before quietly leaving the room to find a doctor to treat her.

Yang Ling went to fetch a doctor, and the Yang family members naturally dared not neglect him, especially Wang and Liu.

Madam Liu rushed into Bitao's room and saw Bitao curled up in a ball, covered in sweat, her cheeks flushed red. She was extremely anxious and couldn't help but scold Yang Ling: "Ling-ge'er, your sister is sick, why didn't you send a maid to fetch a doctor sooner?"

Yang Ling lowered her eyes: "Father said that my sister just woke up and needs to rest quietly, and asked us to try not to disturb her."

Wang glared at her husband, then ordered the old woman, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go fetch a doctor!"

Grandpa Yang squinted, staring at his grandson with a serious expression.

This kid actually dared to lie to him? He's clearly deliberately not sending the maid to fetch a doctor!

Yang Ling ignored Old Master Yang's gaze and stood calmly in place, as if she hadn't seen him at all.

Seeing this, Madam Liu quickly curtsied to Old Master Yang and said, "Father, since Ling'er doesn't want to trouble the people in the manor, let's send someone to the market to find a famous doctor to diagnose Bitao."

Wang nodded in agreement and said to Old Master Yang, "Mother, I'll go to the market to find a doctor."

After a moment of silence, Old Master Yang said, "Alright, when you go to see the doctor, please also buy some tonics from the pharmacy and bring them over. I'm afraid you two ladies will tire yourselves out if you go shopping."

"Yes, I understand," Wang replied respectfully.

Old Master Yang waved his hand, signaling the two of them to leave.

Liu and Wang exchanged a glance and left the courtyard with their personal maids.

The two nannies followed them outside. After walking for a while, Madam Liu stopped and turned to look at them.

"Granny, you all stay here to serve the young master, guard him every step of the way, and absolutely do not allow anyone to get close to him, especially Bitao."

"Yes," the two matrons replied respectfully.

After thinking for a moment, Madam Liu instructed, "Take a thorough look inside the house to see if anyone has tampered with it."

"Don't worry, Madam, we understand," the two matrons replied in unison.

Liu nodded in satisfaction and left with light and elegant steps, leaving only two nannies to guard in front of Yang Ling's room.

Yang Ling changed out of her clothes, put on her usual blue long gown, put on her hat veil, and walked out of the room.

"Young Master, you're awake." Two maids stepped forward, bowing and greeting him.

Yang Ling glanced at them, gave a faint "hmm," and walked out of the house.

The two old women exchanged a glance, then lowered their eyes and followed behind Yang Ling.

"Is Bitao awake?" Yang Ling asked casually.

"Reporting to the young master, Miss Bitao has woken up and is washing up."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Bitao is simple-minded, she is not stupid. If she sensed something was wrong, she would not be as obedient as she is now, and might even be shy.

Yang Ling thought to himself, "Bi Tao is such a silly girl. He was just pretending to faint, but she mistakenly thought he was really sick."

"You should go back and rest first," Yang Ling said calmly.

"Yes." The two maids replied, bowed, and withdrew.

Yang Ling sat down in the front hall, drank a cup of hot tea, and then got up to go to Bi Tao's room.

As soon as Yang Ling stepped across the threshold, a familiar fragrance wafted over, instantly stunning him.

The familiar scent wasn't from incense; rather, it smelled like some kind of medicinal herb.

"Young Master, you've arrived." When Bitao saw Yang Ling walk in, she quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed, her face beaming with smiles.

Yang Ling nodded and slowly sat down at the table.

"How long have I been in a coma?"

“It’s been two and a half months,” Bitao replied.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat. Why had he slept for so long? Could it be a side effect of the soul fusion?

"Bitao, how are you feeling? Is there anything wrong?" Yang Ling asked with concern, her worry undisguised.