Bairen almost felt a bit of regret. He had guessed it, understood it in his heart, and would be more vigilant in the future. Why did he have to tear through this layer of paper window?

Bairen turned his head and said in a low voice, "How the Crown Prince considered it... I don't know..."

Qi Xiao let out a cold laugh, "You really don't know? Or you don't dare to say it?"

Bairen turned to look at Qi Xiao and said quietly, "Crown Prince, if I weren't in the midst of it, looking at this situation, I would probably suspect... that the one who plotted to let the other party walk to his death, was me."

Bairen put on a good face, but his heart couldn't help but pound. He didn't know what was wrong with him, he just instinctively wanted to conceal it. He stood up indifferently and said, "Crown Prince, take it as if I never asked..."

Bairen picked up a few books on the table and was about to walk out. When he passed by Qi Xiao, Qi Xiao grabbed him. Qi Xiao tightly grasped Bairen's hand and pulled him in front of him.

He lowered his head and stared at Bairen's eyes, his voice cold, "You answer me, and I will tell you everything. Bairen... you say, intercepting you halfway, causing the great plan to fail, what was I doing it for?"

Bairen tried his best to make his expression more natural, "Perhaps Bairen still has other uses, perhaps... the Crown Prince had a kind heart and couldn't bear to see the flames of war reignite in the Southern frontier... Forgive this subordinate for being stupid, the Crown Prince's intentions are not something I can guess."

Qi Xiao lowered his head slightly and suddenly said in a low voice, "Bairen... you're trembling."

Bairen took a deep breath. He was afraid that Qi Xiao would see his abnormality, so he was in a hurry to leave. Before Bairen could explain, Qi Xiao said first, "You also know... these words can't stand up, right?"

"I'm not a good person. Whether there will be war or how many people will die has nothing to do with me. I don't care at all... Bairen, you don't dare to say it, fine, I'll say it..." Qi Xiao let go of Bairen's hand and gently rubbed his reddened wrist.

His eyes were full of resentment, but his actions were extremely gentle. "On the day of the banquet when Qi Hua fought with you, I looked at those old ministers and thought of the Emperor's anxious appearance. I had a plan in my mind to seize this opportunity and make sure Qi Hua could never get up again..."

"The carriage driver's opportunity on Qi Hua's side was planted last year, just waiting to be used to get rid of someone I found an eyesore and then frame Qi Hua. I never thought before that I would use him to deal with you..."

"But these things were all too suitable, with the right time, place, and people. Nothing was missing. As long as I took this step, I could remove Empress Feng's party without a trace and absolutely stay out of it. This was simply an opportunity that the heavens couldn't bear to see me suffer for half a lifetime and specially sent to me!"

Qi Xiao looked at Bairen and said through gritted teeth, "At that time... I indeed had the intention to kill, but when I returned to the bedchamber and saw you sleeping so well on my bed, I suddenly couldn't bear it."

"I thought again, then I'll take a step back and let Shunzi send you back. He's my good brother who grew up with me and learned from the same master. His martial arts are better than mine. With him escorting you, your life would be guaranteed. This way... you would suffer some minor injuries. Although it wouldn't be as big of a deal as if your life was taken, coupled with the previous incident in the side hall of Qianqing Palace, it would still be enough for Qi Hua to drink a black pot."

"I thought it was very good, but..." Qi Xiao gave a bitter laugh, "After setting the plan, I found that I couldn't sleep at all."

That night, Qi Xiao looked at Bairen's sleeping face for several hours. In the end, Qi Xiao admitted defeat. He simply couldn't put Bairen's life in someone else's hands. Let alone Shunzi, even if he invited a martial arts master who had taught in the training grounds for many years, Qi Xiao wouldn't feel at ease.

Qi Xiao laughed at himself, "You know what happened next. Bairen, during the day..."

Qi Xiao paused, trying his best to suppress the resentment in his chest, and said in a hoarse voice, "During the day... when I said I would never put you in danger again, I... I wasn't lying to you at the time. I had indeed told you quite a few lies before, but at least this sentence... I was sincere."

Qi Xiao sighed in frustration, "Forget it... what's the point of saying these things? I'm afraid that no matter what I say in the future, you won't believe me anymore."

Towards Bairen, Qi Xiao was originally determined to win him over. But today, Qi Xiao was not so sure anymore. It wasn't that he didn't have the means, but that he suddenly felt soft-hearted. Qi Xiao even thought about simply letting him go.

Anyway, it was just a whim in the beginning. Anyway, the two of them hadn't really done anything so far. Anyway... there weren't any real feelings.

"Crown Prince... actually, you don't need to tell me so much..." Bairen, who hadn't spoken for a while, suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Bairen is not an ignorant child. When I was in Lingnan... being used by others, being framed by others, it was already a common occurrence for me. Even I myself have harmed others, so I understand many things..."

"Asking the Crown Prince this today... is because I suddenly realized it and couldn't help but ask." Bairen tried his best to keep his voice steady. "I'm not making a fuss. It's still the same words... the Crown Prince had already made all the preparations before and even personally came to pick me up. That's enough..."

Bairen's light words heavily slammed into Qi Xiao's heart.

Qi Xiao closed his eyes, took a step forward, and hugged him, sighing deeply.

With Bairen's words, even if Qi Xiao had twelve points of conscience, he couldn't let go anymore. Moreover, the Crown Prince himself didn't have much of a conscience to begin with.

Qi Xiao even thought a bit unscrupulously that this wasn't actually his fault. He had the intention to let go, but it was Bairen who didn't want to leave, it was Bairen who didn't let him let go.

"Bairen, I lied to you too much before, and... hehe, I don't dare to be certain whether I will still lie to you in the future, so I won't give you any promises." Qi Xiao let go of Bairen and looked straight into his eyes, slowly saying, "You just watch from now on..."

Thinking of what Qi Xiao had said before, Bairen's heart suddenly surged with a sour feeling. He and Qi Xiao couldn't trust each other from the beginning. Qi Xiao had lied to him, and he himself had also used Qi Xiao. No matter what they said to each other, they probably couldn't make the other party completely feel at ease. But just now, when Qi Xiao said he would never put him in danger again, Bairen believed it.

As for other vows, Bairen laughed bitterly in his heart. Those nice-sounding words, Cen Chaoge had said plenty to him. What was the result? He had gone through several storms these past few days, and the funny thing was, the one who had been by his side was actually Qi Xiao.

Regardless of Qi Xiao's scolding after Bairen's dispute with Qi Hua, or this time when Qi Xiao intercepted him halfway, Bairen could feel Qi Xiao's protection, something he had never experienced before. But after tasting it just a few times, Bairen was already somewhat reluctant to let it go.

Although it sounded a bit ridiculous and pitiful, in the more than ten years that Bairen could remember, the only few moments of peace were indeed all given to him by Qi Xiao.

Bairen's eyes were slightly red, and naturally, he wouldn't say these words to Qi Xiao. But little did he know, just by looking at his expression, Qi Xiao had already guessed the gist of it. Qi Xiao's heart ached fiercely, Bairen was actually so attached to even this little bit of warmth he gave.

Qi Xiao suddenly understood a little why Bairen was always so distant from everyone in his daily life. Like himself, Bairen had been used to relying on himself for everything since childhood, guarding against everyone around him.

Qi Xiao was born ruthless, always striking first to protect himself, preferring to wrongly kill a thousand rather than let one go, so he gradually became the domineering and vicious person he was today. While Bairen was pure and kind by nature, he wouldn't offend others if they didn't offend him. In order to avoid those with malicious intentions, he simply kept his distance from everyone, slowly becoming the cold and aloof person of legend.

Qi Xiao recalled that day when he reprimanded Bairen for indulging in a moment of pleasure by arguing with Qi Hua, and that if there was such a thing again, he should put self-preservation first and wait for him to solve it. At that time, Bairen also showed such an expression.

Bairen was as ignorant as a swaddled infant when it came to the protection of others.

Bairen was most afraid of dealing with such situations, which made him even more uneasy than being forced or harmed by others. He glanced at Qi Xiao a little frantically and tried to compose himself, "Since... since it's clear, then let's leave it at that. It's getting late, I..."

Qi Xiao couldn't bear it anymore and lowered his head to kiss Bairen on the lips.

Bairen's lips were moist and soft, still with a hint of childlike softness. Qi Xiao's heart grew even more tender, and he whispered, "Open your mouth..."

Bairen's eyes widened instantly. This was something he had never experienced before with Cen Chaoge.

Poor Bairen's mind went blank. Qi Xiao thought he was unwilling and lost some of his patience. His left hand wrapped around Bairen's waist, not allowing him to move, while his right hand gripped Bairen's chin.

With a little force, Bairen winced in pain and subconsciously opened his mouth. Qi Xiao chuckled and lowered his head to give Bairen a long lesson.

At first, Bairen was still very resistant, but later he gradually became docile. Qi Xiao's hands became more and more gentle, gently stroking Bairen's back, as if comforting a small animal.

Qi Xiao's attentiveness was not in vain. In just a moment, Bairen's originally stiff body relaxed a lot. Bairen subconsciously grasped Qi Xiao's clothes, and miraculously, just this small action swept away all the gloom in Qi Xiao's chest.

Bairen's mind was in a daze, his face burning hot. He didn't know how long it took before Qi Xiao let him go. Qi Xiao gently kissed his lips again and whispered with a smile, "Do you like me pampering you like this?"

Bairen's face turned bright red and he subconsciously wanted to push Qi Xiao away. How could Qi Xiao let him escape? He smiled and said, "You didn't dodge just now, so it seems you like it."

Bairen was speechless. Just as he was about to refute solemnly, Qi Xiao shushed him with a smile and said, "Alright, I'm just teasing you. Bairen... let's put today's matter behind us. In short, it's my fault. I apologize to you. From now on, let's not mention it again, okay?"

The two had just been intimate, and now Qi Xiao was apologizing to him so gently.

Naturally, Bairen couldn't refuse. He could only nod in response. Qi Xiao let out a long sigh of relief and held him in his arms again for a long time.