Although Qi Xiao kept saying he wanted Bairen to stay, after finishing dinner, he still had Jiang Deqing go prepare the carriage.

"I saw you quite enjoyed that drunken crab dish at lunch, so I had the chef bring out a fresh crock for you to take back and eat." Qi Xiao straightened Bairen's sleeves and smiled, "But this dish is very cold in nature, so eat it sparingly."

Bairen was puzzled. Tomorrow Qi Xiao didn't need to attend court. Usually when Qi Xiao was free, he would never let him leave. So Bairen didn't mention it, but who knew Qi Xiao would unexpectedly allow him to go back.

Bairen nodded in agreement. Qi Xiao turned his head and called out, "Jiang Deqing..."

Outside the warm chamber, Jiang Deqing quickly responded. Qi Xiao asked, "Is the carriage ready? Where is Shunzi?"

"Reporting back to Your Highness, Shunzi has fed the horses and hitched them to the carriage," Jiang Deqing thought for a moment before adding, "Afraid the roads are still slippery, Shunzi wrapped two chains around the carriage shafts, it should be fine now."

Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction, "He always handles matters properly." Then he turned to Bairen with a smile, "Go on, when you are free another day I will send someone to fetch you again."

Bairen nodded, turned past the screen and followed Jiang Deqing all the way out.

Leaving the crown prince's residence, it was already the hour of You. The setting sun in the west dyed the entire street red.

Bairen lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. Before long, one of the accompanying guards behind urged his horse forward a few steps to come alongside Bairen's carriage. He bowed his head and said, "Your Lordship, the crown prince said, the weather is cold now, just leave a sliver of the skylight open in the carriage, don't open the window."

Bairen smiled wryly. Qi Xiao actually set rules for even this, putting these hardened military men in a difficult position, meticulously watching over such minor matters. Not wanting to make things hard for them, Bairen lowered the carriage window. Suddenly, his heart stirred and he froze for a moment.

Bairen pursed his lips, lifted the carriage curtain, and ordered in a deep voice, "Change route, return to the crown prince's residence."

Shunzi called out "Whoa--" to stop the horse and turned his head in confusion, "Did the young master forget to bring something? Just have them go back to get it, we're already halfway, it's not worth going back."

Bairen shook his head and said after a moment's hesitation, "I forgot to tell the crown prince about an urgent matter that can't be delayed. Please take me back."

Shunzi hesitated briefly in his heart. He was personally appointed by Qi Xiao to escort Bairen. Qi Xiao had instructed before that no matter if picking up or sending off, he must follow the route Qi Xiao had predetermined, not deviating by half a step.

Shunzi had also sworn a military oath in front of Qi Xiao that he absolutely would not make the slightest mistake. But this wasn't going elsewhere, it was returning to the crown prince's residence...

Shunzi gathered his clothes and shouted for the horse to turn around and head back.

Bairen lowered the carriage curtain, his back damp with cold sweat. He had only just realized why Qi Xiao suddenly let him return to his manor.

Shen Xin already knew about his relationship with Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao couldn't keep him around and would probably have Huo Rong take action tonight. If someone went missing from the crown prince's manor, especially someone bestowed by the emperor, there would definitely be a big commotion tomorrow.

If he was present, it would inevitably draw suspicion. He had already offended quite a few people recently. Qi Xiao must be afraid of him stirring up more trouble and wanted to send him away. Bairen pursed his lips. Qi Xiao hadn't explicitly told him these things.

Outside, snow slowly started falling again. Afraid of the carriage slipping, everyone moved slowly. By the time they reached the crown prince's manor it was almost the hour of Xu* and the sky had completely darkened. The lanterns lining the street by the crown prince's manor were all lit, a stretch of bright red, quite a beautiful sight.

*T/N: The hour of Xu is 7-9pm.

As Bairen's group turned onto the street, Qi Xiao had already received word. So when Bairen dismounted, he saw Qi Xiao standing outside the ceremonial gate frowning as he looked at him. Bairen felt inexplicably guilty.

He approached and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I... a new chef recently arrived at my manor who makes an excellent steamed perch. I wonder if Your Highness would be interested in... coming to my humble abode for a drink or two?"

Qi Xiao had a complex expression, "You..."

"Your Highness." Bairen's voice trembled involuntarily, "The carriage and horses are ready. Your Highness... please come with me."

Qi Xiao's heart started pounding. He knew he couldn't hide it from Bairen. Even if he didn't mention it, Bairen would probably figure it out after returning. Accepting his goodwill in this implicit way, Qi Xiao thought Bairen would remember it. But Qi Xiao never imagined that Bairen would actually turn back.

Qi Xiao stared intently at Bairen, "Do you really want me to go?"

Bairen felt he must be crazy, but couldn't help secretly resenting Qi Xiao for asking over and over like this. Many people in the crown prince's manor knew about his relationship with Qi Xiao. They didn't know the inside story. In their eyes, him doing this was no different than inviting favor. But even so, Bairen still nodded, "Yes."

Qi Xiao suddenly smiled helplessly, "Forget it, I'll go."

Bairen let out a long sigh of relief and bowed, waiting for Qi Xiao to get in the carriage. Glancing around, he indeed didn't see Huo Rong.

Bairen inwardly rejoiced, luckily he had thought of this. With Qi Xiao returning to his manor with him, later he could just say it was late and they had been drinking, and keep Qi Xiao there for the night. Then no matter what happened in the crown prince's manor, Huo Rong would have to explain it to the emperor himself, it would have nothing to do with Qi Xiao.

Bairen secretly nodded to himself. But as soon as the carriage turned out of the street, Qi Xiao suddenly embraced him from behind and laughed softly by his ear, "Bairen... were you worried about me?"

"No!" Bairen reflexively retorted like a little cat whose sore spot had been stepped on, "I was afraid that if... if Huo Rong didn't handle it cleanly, it would stir up trouble again."

Qi Xiao laughed lightly, "Even if there's trouble, it's my business, what does it have to do with you?"

Bairen was at a loss for words. He then turned around and said indignantly, "Then Your Highness should get off!"

"Look... I was just asking, if you don't want to say then forget it, what are you getting upset about." Qi Xiao spoke gently, but with a forceful tug, directly turned Bairen to face him. Staring straight into his eyes, he said word by word, "If you don't want to say it, I'll say it."

"Your sister's matter is pretty much settled now. I'm not of much use to you anymore. Even if I died right now, Roujia's marriage would proceed as usual. There would no longer be anyone like me to humiliate and constrain you. It would only benefit you and not harm you. Bairen... you should hope for my death."

Qi Xiao pressed step by step, staring fixedly into Bairen's eyes, "Unless... for some reason, you can't bear for me to die."

Qi Xiao relentlessly pursued the question, "That day at my manor, you asked me why I didn't let Qi Hua's carriage driver directly crash into you and kill you. Bairen, today I must also ask you, why not let Huo Rong implicate me?"

Bairen's hands trembled involuntarily as he instinctively tried to back away, but Qi Xiao wrapped an arm around his waist, not allowing him to move. He chuckled softly, "Bairen, say it."

Qi Xiao almost wanted to thank the Emperor for sending these two people to him. Just for Bairen coming back for him today, even if those few people before were troublesome, it was worth it.

Qi Xiao knew Bairen's temperament. If he didn't force him, he would never be able to get an answer out of him after today. To make him submit in body and soul, he had to make Bairen say it himself.

Qi Xiao's heart turned ruthless as he laughed coldly, "Fine, you want me to get off, I'll get off then."

Qi Xiao made a move to lift the carriage curtain, but Bairen instinctively grabbed his hand. Qi Xiao smiled, but unexpectedly, Bairen's eyes suddenly turned red.

Qi Xiao's ruthlessness dissipated in an instant. He hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Bairen shook his head. He didn't expect himself to be so useless either. Embarrassed, he turned his head to the side, not letting Qi Xiao see. Qi Xiao chuckled, "Don't make me worry. What exactly is wrong?"

Bairen himself wasn't sure. He felt very flustered in his heart. Why did he think for Qi Xiao's sake? Why did he come back to pick up Qi Xiao without a second thought?

He vaguely understood in his heart, and it was precisely because he understood that he became even more afraid.

Bairen felt that he was poisoned. Qi Xiao had planted a seed in his heart that he could neither throw away nor destroy. Once the spring rain fell, the seed would instantly sprout and grow, following its innate nature that no one could stop.

Bairen felt flustered and aggrieved in his heart. He felt extremely embarrassed. Shaking his head, he didn't say a word. Qi Xiao's heart ached unbearably. He no longer talked about going back. Leaning closer, he embraced the person in his arms and sighed, "Forget it, I won't ask anymore, alright?"

Bairen lowered his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve, nodding. Qi Xiao smiled bitterly, "In the future, if you feel upset, just tell me directly. I'd rather you vent your anger at me than bottle everything up like this. Forget it, I really can't do anything about you now. I can't hit you, I can't scold you, and if I ask a few more questions, you'll throw a tantrum..."

Bairen choked, hoarsely saying, "Who threw a tantrum..."

"Yes, yes, you didn't throw a tantrum..." Qi Xiao chuckled lightly and gently kissed his forehead, "Then what's this? Acting coquettish with me?"

Bairen felt so stifled in his heart that he could die. Obviously, he was the one helping Qi Xiao, but in the end, he was the one who ended up being in the wrong.

It was the same with the incident in Academy's Alley last time. Even though he was the one who almost got hit and killed, when he asked Qi Xiao a question, Qi Xiao turned it around and questioned him until he was speechless. Qi Xiao just had this ability. No matter what the matter was, he was always in the right.

Although he didn't get the answer he wanted to hear, Qi Xiao was still quite satisfied in his heart. At the very least, he knew that Bairen had him in his heart, and... Bairen had always been reserved. The way he looked just now, probably even the Queen of Lingnan had never seen it before. He could also be considered worthy.

Qi Xiao's heart softened immensely. He doted on the person in his arms, constantly coaxing him. Bairen was most unable to withstand Qi Xiao being so affectionate and coaxing. Before long, he no longer felt upset in his heart. The carriage swayed and swayed, and in the end, he actually fell asleep in Qi Xiao's embrace.

Qi Xiao pulled over his own cloak and wrapped it around Bairen. In his heart, he smiled faintly. Sooner or later, he would make Bairen say those words willingly.