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

"I'm fine, nothing's wrong, it's just... I feel tightness in my chest and shortness of breath, and it's hard to breathe," Bitao said pitifully, looking at Yang Ling with teary eyes, as if hoping he would comfort her.

Yang Ling reached out and grasped Bi Tao's delicate, boneless hand, gently comforting her, "It's alright, you'll get better after some more treatment."

Bitao nodded, rested her head on Yang Ling's shoulder, and murmured, "Thank you for your concern, young master."

"I'm your brother, it's only right that I take care of you." Yang Ling stroked her hair and sighed softly.

"Young Master, I'm hungry," Bitao pouted, acting coquettishly.

Yang Ling chuckled and ruffled Bi Tao's hair: "Okay, I'll go cook for you, alright?"

"Young Master is the best," Bitao said happily.

Yang Ling got up and left the room to prepare dinner in the kitchen, while Bi Tao dressed up with the help of her maid.

After Bitao finished tidying up, Yang Ling also finished preparing the meal.

Yang Ling carried the tray into Bi Tao's room and saw that Bi Tao had finished washing up and was sitting at the table waiting.

When Bitao saw Yang Ling enter, she immediately smiled sweetly and said, "Brother, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Your injuries have almost healed, so it's fine for you to lie down." Yang Ling put down the food box and handed her the chopsticks.

Bitao took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into her mouth. While chewing, she mumbled, "Brother, the food you make is much better than what we have in the manor."

"This is just a rural village, there's nothing good to eat here. Once you marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, you'll have delicacies every day, and you won't care anymore," Yang Ling said casually, but a hint of melancholy crept into her heart.

Bitao tilted her head and pondered Yang Ling's words seriously. Suddenly, she realized and said, "I understand. Young Master dislikes me because I'm clumsy, stupid, and useless, which is why he doesn't want to marry me, right?"

Yang Ling was both amused and exasperated: "Nonsense, you're not stupid or useless, you're very smart."

Bitao muttered, "I know, my brother dislikes me."

"Bitao, you're overthinking it. How could I possibly dislike you?" Yang Ling said, both amused and exasperated. "The reason I've been hesitant to marry you is because my family rules forbid it."

"Oh, I see." Bitao nodded thoughtfully. "But brother, we've been engaged for two years, why can't we consummate our marriage yet? I'm still waiting for our wedding night."

"Uh..." Yang Ling was speechless, not knowing how to explain. He couldn't very well tell Bi Tao that he had never touched her, could he? If word got out, he would never be able to get married in his life.

"Bitao, you're still young, I can't bear to force you," Yang Ling said vaguely, taking the bowl and ladling a bowl of soup for Bitao.

“Brother…” Bitao blinked her misty eyes and looked at Yang Ling with a wronged expression, “Do you dislike me?”

"No, that's not true. I just couldn't bear to see you suffer," Yang Ling coaxed patiently.

"Hmph!" Bitao snorted coldly and turned her head away in a huff.

Yang Ling: "..."

"Young Master, please eat it while it's hot, it won't taste good when it's cold." Chunlan interjected at the right moment to divert Yang Ling's attention.

Yang Ling snapped out of her daze, glanced at Bi Tao, and noticed that her face was still pale. So she said, "You should rest early today. Once your injuries have healed, I will take you back to the capital."

“Brother, I want to go back to the capital with you.” Bitao eagerly clung to Yang Ling’s arm.

Yang Ling frowned and refused without thinking, "No, the capital is too dangerous. What would a girl like you do going to such a far place alone?"

“But your parents are dead. It’s so boring for you to live all alone. Why don’t you come back with me?” Bitao continued to persuade her.

Yang Ling remained silent.

"Young Master, please agree to take Bitao back with you." Bitao shook Yang Ling's arm and pleaded coquettishly.

"Go back first, and I'll bring you back in a few days," Yang Ling said firmly, leaving no room for argument. He couldn't possibly abandon his father and mother.

Bitao pouted, her eyes slightly red, looking at Yang Ling with a wronged expression, on the verge of tears.

Yang Ling softened and said gently, "Be good, listen to your brother first, and come find me again in a while, okay?"

"Brother, I want to stay and help you," Bitao sobbed, looking pitiful.

"Stop fooling around, hurry back. Your brother will send someone to pick you up once he's finished with his business," Yang Ling scolded sternly, brooking no disobedience from Bi Tao.

Bitao bit her lip and glared stubbornly at Yang Ling.

Yang Ling sighed, stood up, bent down to pick up Bi Tao, and gently patted her back: "Alright, don't be angry with your brother anymore, be good."

"Brother, I don't want to leave you." Bitao hugged Yang Ling's neck tightly, clinging to him.

"Don't be afraid, your brother won't abandon you," Yang Ling said softly.

Bitao nestled in Yang Ling's arms, gradually calming down and ceasing her tantrum.

"Young Master, the Second Madam and the Master have arrived." A respectful voice sounded from outside the door.

Yang Ling frowned: "Father? Mother? Why are they here?"

"Let's go downstairs to greet Father and Mother," Bitao suggested.

"Hmm." Yang Ling nodded, instructed the maid to bring the food box to the table, then carried Bitao to the wheelchair and pushed her downstairs.

I ran into Yang Yuntao and Liu Shi as soon as I went down the stairs.

"Father, Mother, what brings you here?" Yang Ling asked in confusion.

Yang Yuntao glanced around at Yang Ling and saw that he looked energetic and was dressed neatly, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ling'er, it was my oversight yesterday that I didn't inform you in time. I apologize to you and ask for your forgiveness." Yang Yuntao bowed and apologized sincerely.

"Father, what are you saying? I'm not a child anymore. Do I need you to apologize?" Yang Ling quickly took Yang Yuntao's arm and told him not to stand on ceremony.

"Father was wrong." Yang Yuntao stood up as Yang Ling did, his face full of shame. "Father failed in his responsibility as a father and failed to protect you two siblings."

"Father, this has nothing to do with you, don't overthink it," Yang Ling comforted him.

Although Yang Yuntao did have his faults, he did not intend to abandon the siblings; he was simply forced to do so.

Yang Ling knew that Yang Yuntao was not a bad person. At least he had not abused the original owner's three siblings. On the contrary, he loved his brothers and sisters very much, and even doted on Yang Jinting more than he did. Otherwise, he would not have allowed Yang Jinting to sneak out of the mansion.

In his previous life, after Yang Jinting was captured and brought back to the capital, he was severely punished by Yang Yuntao. Yang Yuntao strictly forbade him from stepping out of the Yang residence. Every time, Yang Jinting would hide in a dark room in frustration until Yang Ling avenged him, at which point he was able to come out openly.

"Ling'er, don't you blame your father?" Yang Yuntao looked at Yang Ling in surprise.

Yang Ling smiled slightly and said calmly, "Why should I blame Father? Father did nothing wrong, I don't resent you."