When the palace servants from Yuxiu Palace arrived at Haiyan Palace, Qi Xiao was playing chess with Bairen.

Qi Xiao didn't let them leave, but it wasn't good to have Bairen sit idly every day, so after the morning court session, Qi Xiao returned to his own palace.

Princess Dunsu's trusted palace maid bowed respectfully and said with a smile, "Greetings to Your Highnesses. The Princess acquired some items this morning and thought the Crown Prince might like them, so she had this servant bring some over. They are now placed in the front hall. Would Your Highness like to take a look?"

Qi Xiao placed a chess piece, paused for a moment, and smiled, "What did the Princess ask you to say? Just say it directly. The Prince is not an outsider."

The palace maid was stunned for a moment, then nodded and recounted everything that had happened in Yuxiu Palace, and added, "The Princess said that the person has been properly sent away, but she doesn't know what plans Your Highness has next."

"Tell the Princess that I appreciate her efforts, and leave the rest to me," Qi Xiao said. Since he was not married, the duties that should have been handled by the Crown Princess all fell to Princess Dunsu.

Qi Xiao placed another chess piece and said, "In the next few days, there may be other concubines who will go to bother the Princess. Tell her that she doesn't need to pay attention to them."

There was still a need to deal with Empress Feng, but there was no need to waste energy on the other consorts in the harem.

The trusted palace maid nodded in agreement and left with a bow.

Bairen quietly looked at the chess pieces for a long time without making a move. Qi Xiao smiled at Bairen and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Your Highness..." Bairen's slender fingers clenched slightly. "Your Highness promised me about Roujia's marriage..."

"I will take care of it," Qi Xiao interrupted with a smile. "What are you afraid of? You just heard that the Princess has already declined the matter. Besides, even if Empress Feng really wants to form a marriage alliance with Lingnan, she wouldn't choose your sister. Everyone knows that you have a grudge against Qi Hua. Bringing your sister over to be a relative would be like burying a spy by her side. Is she crazy? Even if there is a marriage alliance, Empress Feng would choose Kangtai. What are you worrying about?"

Bairen smiled bitterly, "Your Highness doesn't understand... She is my own sister. Even if there is a slight possibility, I would still worry."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Yes... It's a pity that I don't have any siblings, so I don't understand."

Bairen quickly said, "I misspoke..."

Qi Xiao knew that Bairen must be aware of his background and wasn't really angry. He smiled and said, "It's alright, it's human nature. Don't worry, I said I would take care of Roujia's marriage. I wasn't deceiving you. Just rest assured."

Bairen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He hesitated for a moment before placing a chess piece. Qi Xiao tapped the chess pieces in the box and said after a pause, "What do you think of Empress Feng's move?"

Bairen shook his head, "Too hasty. The Second Prince just received a lesson from the Emperor and should be keeping a low profile. Even if she really wants to arrange an important marriage for him, she should wait until this storm passes. Moreover, Empress Feng didn't ask the Emperor to bestow a marriage, but went to the Princess instead. It seems that the Emperor probably doesn't know about this, and Empress Feng also understands that the Emperor would not agree if he knew, so she wanted the Princess to make the connection, but hit a snag."

Qi Xiao nodded with a smile, "Indeed, she's not that foolish. Let me ask you again, even you can see that this matter is too hasty. Is Empress Feng stupid? She doesn't know? Then why did she still do it?"

Bairen was stunned for a moment. Qi Xiao coldly laughed and slowly said, "Because Empress Feng knows that if she doesn't make a move, the Emperor may abandon Qi Hua as a chess piece."

Qi Xiao placed another chess piece, and the outcome was decided. Bairen put the chess piece in his hand back into the box, deep in thought. Qi Xiao suddenly smiled, "Alright, don't waste your brain on this. You wanted to return to your manor, right? I'll send someone to escort you back tomorrow."

Bairen didn't understand why Qi Xiao suddenly brought this up, but it was always good to be able to return to the manor. Bairen nodded, "Alright, but I don't dare to trouble Your Highness... I'll have someone send a message to the manor and have them come pick me up."

Qi Xiao shook his head with a smile, "No, that won't do. I won't feel at ease."

Before Bairen could decline, Qi Xiao sat down beside him and softly laughed, "You must be very happy that you don't have to be with me all the time, right?"

Bairen was at a loss for words. How could he answer that? If he told the truth, of course he would be happy, but if he really said that... Bairen glanced at Qi Xiao and shook his head inwardly.

He really couldn't figure out Qi Xiao's temperament. If he said the wrong thing, it might provoke Qi Xiao's anger. Although he felt a bit unwilling, Bairen understood that he was still somewhat afraid of Qi Xiao.

Seeing that Bairen didn't say anything, Qi Xiao smiled, "There's nothing wrong with saying it... Bairen, let me make it clear first. You promised me that whenever I send someone to pick you up, you have to obediently come. Don't make me angry, okay?"

Bairen endured the humiliation and nodded. Qi Xiao embraced him and kissed him, whispering, "Don't feel wronged. In a few more days, you'll get used to it. My temper is not good, but as long as you listen to me in everything, I definitely won't bully you. Be obedient. I will keep you and your sister in my heart."

Bairen closed his eyes and didn't say anything. Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Alright, let's not talk about this. What do you want to eat for lunch? I'll have them prepare it in advance..."

The next day at the hour of Si, Jiang Deqing sent Bairen to the carriage. The carriage passed through several checkpoints and finally left the inner city. Bairen slightly lifted the carriage curtain to look outside and let out a long sigh of relief. The past few days in the palace felt like years.

The more it was like this, the more Bairen felt that his sacrifice was worthwhile. If he couldn't endure it himself, Roujia would have an even harder time living in the palace.

Roujia's matter was considered settled, but it was unknown whether Empress Feng's plan to form a marriage alliance with Lingnan would succeed. After all, she was the mother of the country.

If Empress Feng had her maternal family propose the marriage alliance to the Emperor, the Emperor probably couldn't refuse outright. He still needed to keep an ear out for news. Marrying Kangtai was fine, but he hoped they wouldn't set their sights on his sister...

Bairen leaned against the soft pillow, his mind wandering. He felt a bit sleepy. The carriage was Qi Xiao's, with a incense burner and thick blankets, very comfortable. The carriage swayed and swayed, and Bairen dozed off.

He didn't know how many streets the carriage driver had passed. When he was half-asleep, he felt the carriage stop. He heard someone laugh, "Silly thing, you don't even know when you're being sold, falling asleep in the carriage."

Bairen drowsily opened his eyes and saw Qi Xiao in casual clothes, sitting on the shaft of the carriage, lifting the curtain and smiling at him. Bairen slightly frowned, didn't he leave the palace?

"Bring my cloak. The prince has fallen asleep, and it's easy to catch a cold coming out like this," Qi Xiao instructed his attendant, turning his head. Before long, the attendant brought the cloak. Qi Xiao took it and bent down, wrapping Bairen in the cloak and directly lifting him up. Only then did Bairen wake from his nap, frowning, "Your Highness! This is..."

Qi Xiao smiled, "It's alright, I'm getting you a different carriage."

Qi Xiao carried him to another carriage nearby. Bairen looked around and saw that the surroundings were very secluded. Qi Xiao instructed the people in the other carriage a few words, then turned and also got into Bairen's carriage. The drivers of the two carriages shouted, turned the horses' heads, and left, one heading south and the other north.

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao in a daze, frowning, "Your Highness... didn't you promise to let me return to the manor?"

Qi Xiao smiled, "After the matter is finished, I will naturally let you go back. First, come with me to the crown prince's manor. You'll understand in a moment."

Bairen had just been in a daze for a while in the other carriage, and now his eyes still carried a hint of sleepy mist. Qi Xiao sat closer and held him in his arms, laughing softly, "If you're still sleepy, lean on me and rest for a bit."

Bairen felt flustered in his heart after Qi Xiao's actions, and said coldly, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline Your Highness's kind intentions. Sharing a room with Your Highness like this, even if I'm tired, I won't be able to sleep."

Half an hour later, Qi Xiao looked at Bairen sleeping sweetly in his arms and sighed in his heart. He instructed in a low voice, "Circle around the manor once."

The carriage driver acknowledged. The incense burner in the carriage was burning vigorously, and Bairen's face was slightly flushed. Sleeping like this, he looked a few years younger than usual. For a moment, Qi Xiao almost felt a little distressed. After all... he was still a child.

Qi Xiao lowered his head and gently kissed Bairen's face. He couldn't blame him. If anyone was to blame, it was Bairen's own bad luck. Why did he have to meet him?

In his dream, Bairen felt someone touch him and shrank to the side. Seeing Bairen rubbing and hiding in his arms, Qi Xiao couldn't help but smile slightly. If only he was this obedient usually.

After nearly another half an hour, Bairen slowly woke up. Qi Xiao laughed softly, "This crown prince's arms have already gone numb. I wonder if the young lord slept well?"

Bairen woke up from his nap, greatly embarrassed. He coughed and said in a low voice, "It's... it's only October. The incense burner shouldn't be lit now. It's too warm, easy to... easy to fall asleep."

"The young lord has taught well." Qi Xiao was still smiling. "This crown prince has been too extravagant."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao pleadingly. There were subordinates all around. At least let him save some face. Qi Xiao was overjoyed in his heart and smiled, "Alright, let's go inside to talk."

The two had just entered the ceremonial gate and hadn't even turned past the hanging flower gate when a subordinate hurried over from outside. He bowed and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, that carriage... crashed at the entrance of the alley of the Academy."

Qi Xiao sneered, "Were there any casualties?"

"Shunzi is an old hand and knew early on. When he saw the carriage coming, he jumped to the side, so he's unharmed. It's just that Your Highness's carriage... was smashed beyond recognition, and the horse also died."

The man paused, then said, "The other side came prepared. The carriage was fully loaded with ink stones. Even when the horse stopped, it couldn't brake and nearly crashed into the wall. The carriage driver suffered some minor injuries, nothing serious. He reeked of alcohol and couldn't speak clearly. This subordinate has already had someone send him to the Court of Judicial Review."

Qi Xiao nodded and turned to look at Bairen, whose face had turned pale. He smiled, "Now you know why I said I wasn't at ease letting you go back alone, right?"