Qi Xiao stayed in Fenghua Palace until the Si hour before he finally got a break. There wasn't much to do earlier, so Qi Xiao left the palace and went straight to the Lingnan Prince's Manor.

Now, people in the imperial city all thought that Qi Xiao and Bairen had become close because of Roujia's marriage to the He family. According to Qi Xiao, the more proper and aboveboard they were, the less likely they would attract gossip.

Qi Xiao didn't have someone inform them in advance. When he arrived at the Lingnan Prince's Manor, the gatekeepers were all startled to see Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao supported someone off the sedan chair and smiled faintly, "I've come to see your young master. No need to announce me, I'll go find him myself."

The servants all broke out in a cold sweat. The scene of Qi Xiao cleaning out the entire Lingnan Prince's Manor from top to bottom last time was still vivid. They all thought this King Yama had come to find fault with them again. They stood respectfully to the side, not daring to say much even though he said not to announce him.

Knowing Bairen was in the accounts room, Qi Xiao didn't need anyone to lead the way. He gathered his fox fur cloak, held his hand warmer, and went to find him.

In the accounts room, Bairen sat at the desk listening to the old steward list out the accounts for the month item by item. The old steward's expression wasn't very good as he smiled bitterly, "There are plenty of nice things in the stores, but... we can't take those things out to sell. The other day, I took the liberty of taking the hundred tael gold ruyi ingots from the stores and exchanging them for a thousand taels of silver, which was just enough to fill the deficit from the past few days.

"It's only the New Year's Festival now, and there are still many places that need silver, but there's nothing left in our stores that can be exchanged for money. Your Highness, this..."

Bairen carefully looked over the account books. When he first came to the imperial city, he spent quite a bit of silver trying to find out about Roujia's situation. What was left had been used up until now. His manor's accounts had expenses but no income.

He had no official duties now, no salary or filial gifts. Even his fief of five hundred households was still in Lingnan. The Lingnan Prince's Manor here didn't even have an estate. In this huge princely manor, there was actually no income at all. When the Lingnan Prince came to the capital, he only received ten thousand taels of silver.

Although there was also what the Queen had privately given him and the silver he had saved over the years, after this half a year, it was almost used up.

The imperial city was different from Lingnan. The gift exchanges during the holidays were really too numerous. Fortunately, Bairen had never handled these matters before but still managed them properly. However, even a clever wife cannot cook without rice. By the end of the year, there was no silver left.

Bairen directly flipped the account book to the last page. The things sent from Lingnan half a month ago were clearly recorded - furs, fabrics, playthings, but no bank notes.

Clearly knowing that the end of the year was the time when money was needed, they only sent these few things without concern. Bairen didn't need to think to know whose idea this was.

Bairen closed the account book and pursed his lips. After a while, he said, "I remember, there's still a set of gold lanterns in the stores. There are no excessive patterns on them, so they can be taken out. I remember that set of gold utensils is also a few dozen taels. Although the purity isn't very good, it can still be exchanged for five hundred taels of silver. Take it to be pawned."

The old steward looked at Bairen's still youthful face and couldn't help but feel distressed. With the year coming to an end, the old man was moved by the scene and couldn't help but tear up, "If the Queen thousands of miles away could see the hardships the young master is enduring here, I'm afraid her heart would shatter..."

Bairen paused and then smiled, "Don't say that..."

Bairen actually didn't feel it was much. He was used to hardships. Compared to the anxiety he felt when he thought Roujia was going to marry Qi Xiao, this bit of hardship was far less.

It was nothing more than living a bit more frugally. At worst, he would thicken his skin and stop rewarding the servants. The reciprocal gifts at the year's end could also be casually fobbed off. In any case, it was the entire Lingnan Prince's Manor that would lose face. If his father the prince didn't show him consideration, he also didn't need to grit his teeth to save face for others.

But hearing the old steward say this, Bairen couldn't help but also feel a bit upset. It was the new year, he wondered how his mother and sister were doing.

When Qi Xiao walked into the accounts room, he happened to hear the old steward's words and raised an eyebrow, "What hardships is the young master enduring again?"

Bairen was startled, then immediately stood up and frowned towards the outside, "Why wasn't it announced when the Crown Prince arrived?"

"Don't blame them, I wanted to surprise you and play around." Qi Xiao walked over and took the account book, flipping through it. Seeing the final balance, he smiled, "Where is your manor's silver?"

Bairen didn't want to lose face in front of Qi Xiao. He took back the account book and said, "No, this isn't the general ledger."

Qi Xiao didn't believe it at all. He turned to look at the old steward, "He's the only master in your manor. With limited food and clothing expenses, how can the expenses be so high? How can there be nothing left at all?"

The old steward glanced at Bairen. After some internal deliberation, he pretended not to see Bairen's hint and lowered his head, "Our young master's personal expenses aren't high, but there are endless other drains. By the end of the year, just the gift exchanges are a huge sum of silver, not to mention the silver to reward the manor's people at the year's end. These are all small amounts. After the new year when the princess arrives, if there's still no income, then..."

Qi Xiao looked at Bairen's expression, then thought of the words he heard just now and understood. This was probably the Lingnan concubine putting Bairen in a difficult position again.

Qi Xiao casually put the account book aside and turned to the people following him, "Go back to the manor and send over five thousand taels of silver."

Before Bairen could speak, Qi Xiao smiled first, "Don't say more. Can you make silver appear yourself?"

Bairen was at a loss for words. The old steward was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. Qi Xiao smiled, "In the future, if you're short of anything, go to my manor and say so. Your young master is thin-skinned, so you need to take more care of him."

The old steward never imagined Qi Xiao would be so easy to talk to in private. He left with a thousand thanks.

Qi Xiao smiled at Bairen, "Alright, the matters here are settled. Won't the young master invite me to sit in the warm hall and have a cup of hot tea?"

Bairen's face was slightly flushed with shame. He bit his lip and didn't say anything. Qi Xiao knew he was feeling awkward and smiled, "It's nothing. Come, I have important matters to discuss with you."

Bairen nodded and followed Qi Xiao to the front. After entering the warm hall, Qi Xiao dismissed the crowd and smiled at Bairen, "On New Year's Eve, the young master rewarded those servants so much that the silver stores are empty. Shouldn't you also reward me with something?"

Bairen was still thinking about what happened earlier. He hesitated and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for resolving my urgent need. I... wait until next year and I'll have them send over my fief in Lingnan..."

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "Your fief? How much is it?"

Bairen knew Qi Xiao wasn't ridiculing him and said softly, "There's a bit."

Qi Xiao laughed mockingly, "For that little bit of silver, I advise you not to even mention it. Just let that Lingnan concubine keep it for buying medicine... Don't change the subject, I'm asking you, have you prepared anything for me?"

Bairen was stunned for a moment. After some thought, he turned and entered the inner room. After a while, he brought out a half-new gold-painted carved small box and handed it to Qi Xiao, saying, "This is... this was given to me by my mother before I came to the capital. Although it's not an antique, it's still something. If Your Highness doesn't mind, please accept it."

Qi Xiao was just teasing Bairen and didn't expect him to take it seriously. But since he had already brought it out, regardless of what it was, Qi Xiao naturally had to accept it.

He opened the box and saw a piece of green jade inside. The jade was of excellent quality, warm to the touch, and densely engraved with many Sanskrit characters that looked like words but not quite, and like pictures but not quite. Qi Xiao didn't recognize them, but thought they were probably some auspicious words for wealth and honor. He smiled, "When I go back, I'll have someone string it and wear it."

Bairen wanted to say something but hesitated. After a while, he nodded, "This is for protection and safety. Your Highness... please wear it."

Qi Xiao smiled and sat down with Bairen, whispering, "You gave me such a great gift, aren't you going to ask what I prepared for you?"

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao knew he wouldn't joke with others, so he didn't tease him anymore. He smiled, took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to him, "See for yourself."

Bairen took the letter and looked at it, his eyes suddenly turning red... On the envelope were written four characters: "To my dear son". This was clearly the handwriting of the Queen of Lingnan!

Bairen's hands were shaking a little. He pursed his lips and carefully opened the envelope, afraid of tearing the letter inside. He slowly took out the letter and read it word by word.

Qi Xiao watched with some heartache and sighed softly, "I heard from people who went to Lingnan that the Queen is doing well in all aspects now. Princess Roujia's engagement has been set, and the King of Lingnan, for the sake of Princess Dunsu, has treated the princess much better, and your mother is also living much better in the palace."

"This letter was brought back by Princess Dunsu's people when they went to Lingnan to deliver New Year's gifts to the Queen and the princess. In the future, if you miss your mother, I can just ask Princess Dunsu to send someone again." Qi Xiao smiled dotingly, "Your father won't know about these letters, and you can write whatever you want without worry."

Bairen read the letter over and over again, trying hard to hold back his tears. He said hoarsely, "Thank... thank you, Your Highness..."

Qi Xiao suddenly remembered what the old steward had said earlier and advised softly, "For things like what happened just now, you can just tell me frankly. You also know that I never lack gold and silver. You only need to say a word and I can directly help you take care of it. Why not do it? Although I always like to tease you, you also understand that I truly care about your matters, right?"

Bairen nodded with red eyes. Qi Xiao smiled, "So, even if it's just to keep your mother from worrying day and night, you should be more obedient. In the future, when you suffer grievances, just think of your mother. For every bit of hardship you endure, she will feel three times the pain for you..."

Bairen was afraid that he would lose his voice if he spoke, so he tightly closed his lips and just nodded. Qi Xiao sighed softly, "Alright... don't be sad anymore. It's the New Year, crying is not auspicious."

Bairen nodded and took a deep breath, "Thank... thank you, Your Highness."

Qi Xiao held Bairen's hand and squeezed it, whispering with a smile, "How will you thank me?"

Bairen was stunned for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking. His face turned slightly red as he endured his embarrassment and grabbed Qi Xiao's clothes. He leaned in and kissed Qi Xiao on the lips, their lips touching for just a moment before parting.

Qi Xiao wrapped his arm around Bairen's waist, not allowing him to run away. He chuckled softly, "Today is New Year's Eve. I'm bored alone in the manor. Why don't you come over and keep me company as a thank-you gift, how about it?"

The two were extremely close. When Qi Xiao spoke like this, his breath would brush against Bairen's face. Bairen's cheeks flushed red. He hesitated for a moment before nodding.