On the eve of the Lunar New Year, in the warm chamber of the Crown Prince's palace, Qi Xiao dismissed the crowd and celebrated the festival with Bairen.

Bairen was still savoring the family letter from the Queen of Lingnan, looking a bit dazed. Qi Xiao picked up a piece of white jade tofu for Bairen and chuckled, "Missing your mother so much?"

Bairen felt a little embarrassed, lowered his head and smiled, "Haven't seen her for almost half a year..."

Qi Xiao shook his head with a smile, "Such a child."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao and felt a stirring in his heart. It was said that when Qi Xiao was in swaddling clothes, Empress Xiaoxian had already hanged herself. It seemed... his life was much more bitter than his own.

During the big festival, Bairen didn't want to make Qi Xiao think about these things. He changed the subject with a smile, "These few pots of longevity flowers are blooming so well. I used to have two pots in my room, but I didn't take good care of them, and they withered before winter."

Qi Xiao turned his head to look at those few plants and said with a smile, "If you like them, I'll have them send a few pots over to you tomorrow."

"I dare not trouble you," Bairen said with a wry smile. "I was just casually mentioning it. Your Highness... has been too good to me. Bairen is unworthy of such treatment."

Qi Xiao let out a soft laugh, "You consider this good treatment?"

Qi Xiao picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, then smiled, "I once heard Jiang Deqing say that my imperial father, because my imperial mother loved orchids, ordered the Imperial Household Department to build a Hundred Flowers Terrace in my mother's palace, collecting famous orchid varieties from all over the world for my mother to enjoy.

"The imperial city is cold, so my imperial father had people light incense burners day and night around the terrace, extremely extravagant... Later, it was because my mother couldn't bear to watch it that she earnestly advised my father to demolish the Hundred Flowers Terrace. The patch of orchids in front of Fenghua Palace today is a remnant from back then."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao. What Qi Xiao was talking about now was definitely not the current emperor and empress...

Qi Xiao didn't avoid the topic in front of Bairen. His background was not a secret anyway. Qi Xiao gave a faint smile, "Compared to my imperial father, my little kindnesses to you are nothing."

Bairen poured a cup for Qi Xiao and said in a low voice, "I've heard people mention this. They say Empress Xiaoxian was afraid that future generations would see the Hundred Flowers Terrace and say Emperor Wu was muddle-headed, so she ordered it to be dismantled. Emperor Wu and Empress Xiaoxian had a deep conjugal love, truly rare."

Qi Xiao gave a light smile, "A deep conjugal love... It's just a pity they couldn't grow old together..."

Qi Xiao downed another cup of wine. Bairen noticed that Qi Xiao didn't seem as happy as before. He carefully watched Qi Xiao's expression and comforted, "Emperor Wu passed away at a young age. Empress Xiaoxian couldn't bear for Emperor Wu to be lonely in the underworld, so... so she went to accompany him. In this way... it can be considered spending their lives together."

Qi Xiao gave a mocking laugh, "You also think my mother committed suicide back then?"

Bairen's heart skipped a beat, paused for a moment and said in a hoarse voice, "Could it be, could it be that she was..."

Qi Xiao took the wine pot and filled his cup, chuckling softly, "Do you want to know about the past events? This is an imperial family secret... Even now, few people know about it."

Bairen's face turned pale, looking completely incredulous, "Who would have the guts... to murder the empress? Are the people from the Imperial Clan Court all dead? The imperial clan members just watched with their eyes wide open?!"

"Imperial Clan Court?" Qi Xiao laughed. "The Minister of the Imperial Clan at that time was Qi Jing. As for the imperial clan... there were indeed some who wanted to speak up, but they were outnumbered and it was useless. Moreover, by the time the imperial clan members got the news, my mother had already hanged herself."

Bairen frowned, "Didn't Your Highness just say... Empress Xiaoxian didn't voluntarily commit suicide to follow Emperor Wu in death..."

Qi Xiao drank another cup of wine and gave a mocking laugh, "It's true she hanged herself, but it wasn't voluntary... Bairen, have you never suspected? Even if Emperor Wu and Empress Xiaoxian had the deepest love as husband and wife, Empress Xiaoxian wouldn't have abandoned her legitimate son, who wasn't even a month old, to die for love..."

"On the day of the grand funeral, Qi Jing sent the his wife... that is, the current Empress Feng, to deliver a length of white silk to my mother. She told her... if she abandoned herself to save her son, then when Qi Jing took the throne, he would still make me the crown prince and ensure my lifelong wealth and honor; or if she abandoned her son to save herself, when Qi Jing ascended the throne, he would make my mother empress dowager and let her continue living in Fenghua Palace with unending offerings... If she chose neither, then she should be prepared for mother and son to go meet Emperor Wu together."

"My mother angrily rebuked her and ordered the palace servants to drive her out. On one hand, she strictly ordered the palace servants to guard the palace gates, and on the other hand, she urgently summoned Emperor Wu's most capable generals to enter the capital. Unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately it was too late. Before the generals could enter the capital, they were accused of amassing troops to rebel. All the men in my maternal grandfather's family were with the army outside the city, and distant water couldn't quench a nearby thirst. My mother waited in the palace for three days, only to receive the news that my maternal grandfather's entire family had been brutally killed by Northern Di raiders..."

Qi Xiao's eyes reddened. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "My mother was powerless to turn the situation around. She could only summon Qi Jing to the palace and make him swear in front of Emperor Wu's spirit tablet to treat me well, hehe... My mother also knew Qi Jing's words couldn't be trusted.

"Before leaving, she managed to secretly meet with Princess Dunsu and told my aunt to be wary of Qi Jing. She entrusted me to my aunt and hanged herself in the bedchamber..."

Qi Xiao looked at Bairen, his voice hoarse, "When my poor mother passed away, she had just turned twenty..."

Qi Xiao picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, using the strong alcohol to suppress the great pain in his heart. He said slowly in a low voice, "My mother, my maternal grandfather's family of thirteen... all died at the hands of that villain Qi Jing... Blood debts must be paid in blood. Sooner or later, I will settle this score with him."

Bairen tried to hold back several times, but in the end, he couldn't help his eyes turning red. Qi Xiao spoke lightly, but Bairen could imagine the turbulent situation in the palace that day, with Empress Xiaoxian shouldering everything alone. He just knew... the woman who could give birth to Qi Xiao was definitely not a weak person.

Qi Xiao looked up at Bairen and chuckled, "Why are you crying... thinking of your mother? Don't be sad, Bairen, your fate is better than mine."

Bairen turned his head to wipe away his tears. Who knew that the more he feared losing face, the more he couldn't hide it. His heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed with a blunt knife.

The more Qi Xiao spoke lightly of it, the more distressed he became. His eyes seemed to no longer be his own, as if they wanted to shed all the tears Qi Xiao had held back over the years. Qi Xiao laughed, "It's my fault. On a perfectly good New Year's Eve, I shouldn't have brought this up..."

Bairen shook his head and filled Qi Xiao's wine cup. He said in a hoarse voice with a solemn expression, "If I can successfully take the throne in the future, the nineteen cities of the Donglin clan in Lingnan will fully support Your Highness... to help Your Highness eliminate the treacherous officials as soon as possible and set right the mountains and rivers."

The gloom in Qi Xiao's heart vanished in an instant. He smiled, raised his wine cup to clink with Bairen's, and said cheerfully, "Good. If I take the throne before you in the future, I will definitely seize the position of King of Lingnan for you!"

Bairen downed the wine in one gulp. Thinking of what Qi Xiao had just said, his heart ached again. He slammed his fist on the table and let out a low, angry roar, "She was the Empress! How could he, how dare he..."

Qi Xiao got up and pulled Bairen into his arms, chuckling, "Don't be upset... Alright, alright, good boy, you're about to break my heart with your crying..."

As if Bairen was the one who had suffered a great injustice, Qi Xiao coaxed and comforted him tenderly, saying softly, "Don't be sad... Before my mother passed away, she left me with a message. Do you want to hear it?"

Bairen looked up at Qi Xiao, nodding as he choked back tears. Qi Xiao said hoarsely and slowly, "Before my mother hanged herself, she had Princess Dunsu tell me... She said... Xiao'er, if you come to know about the past events in the future, don't take it too much to heart. Life and death are major matters that have never been in our own hands."

"Your father, the Emperor, died in battle for the Great Xiang, and after his death, his heroic spirit will forever guard the nation's land, protecting you and ensuring peace across the seas for years to come. I, your mother, die for your sake. After my death, my soul will eternally watch over the imperial city, constantly praying for your safety and well-being, blessing you with longevity and fortune."

"Even if there are ten thousand dissatisfactions in the future, just remember... Your father and mother are actually always there. There's no need to grieve."

"So... there's no need to pity me, and I don't need anyone's sympathy either." Qi Xiao's eyes glistened with tears, gentle yet firm. He pointed to the sky and smiled, "My imperial father and mother are both watching over me from above. I am the legitimate son, born of the royal bloodline. No matter how Qi Jing tries to conceal it... this is something he cannot change. The ancestors of the Qi clan are all protecting me. This deep hatred born of a sea of blood will be avenged sooner or later."

Tears streamed down Bairen's face as he nodded incessantly. Qi Xiao held him in his arms affectionately, quietly gazing out the window at the night sky. He wondered which of the twinkling stars was his mother, and if she could see that after nearly twenty years of being alone, Qi Xiao finally had someone who was indignant for him, who suffered for him, who shed tears for him and felt pain for him.

The next day, Bairen was awakened by the sound of firecrackers outside the window. Bairen frowned slightly, "What time is it?"

Qi Xiao sat at the head of the bed and smiled upon hearing this, "It's just the Mao hour. Sleep a bit more..."

Bairen had cried for too long yesterday, and his eyes still felt sore. He rubbed them and murmured softly, "How does Your Highness get up so early every day..."

"You call this early?" Qi Xiao laughed. In fact, if Bairen weren't here, he would sleep even less. Qi Xiao leaned over, picked up an object and handed it to Bairen with a smile, "Take a look."

Bairen took it and his face turned slightly red. It was the jade ornament he had given to Qi Xiao yesterday. Qi Xiao had someone use gold thread to make tassels and turned it into a jade pendant.

Bairen gently stroked the patterns on the jade and said softly, "Your Highness, if you no longer like it in the future, even if you smash it or destroy it, never give it to someone else."

Qi Xiao chuckled, "How could I ever dislike something you gave me?"

Bairen frowned slightly, "Your Highness, I'm serious. In the future, if you don't wear it anymore, either put it away properly or destroy it. Never, ever give it to anyone else."

It was rare for Bairen to be so insistent. Qi Xiao just thought he was being coy and nodded, "Rest assured, I definitely won't give it to anyone else then. You worry too much. I said I would always wear it, don't you believe me?"

Bairen smiled, "That would be best then... It's for protection and is said to be very effective."

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing him, "If it's so effective, why didn't you wear it before?"

Bairen shook his head and smiled without saying anything. Seeing that his eyes were still red, Qi Xiao sighed. He had someone bring in a cold compress and personally applied it to Bairen's eyes, saying softly, "Usually you're so strong, but last night you became like a child... Don't leave today either. If the Prince of Lingnan leaves my manor with red eyes during the New Year, it will become a big deal if word spreads."

Thinking of what happened last night, Bairen still felt very upset and embarrassed. He said softly, trying to cover it up, "No, yesterday... it was probably because I drank wine..."

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "One pot of wine, did you even drink three cups? You really scared me. Before, when that beast Qi Hua clawed your neck raw, I didn't see you shed a tear, but last night you cried like that..."

Bairen blushed, "Don't... don't say any more."

Qi Xiao naturally knew why Bairen cried. He took advantage of the situation and acted virtuously, smiling, "Alright, I won't say any more. But first, promise me you won't leave today."

Not only did Bairen not want to leave, he didn't even want to step out of this room. He had always been very restrained and composed in front of others. Now, with his eyes like this, he didn't want to go anywhere. Bairen nodded, and Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction, "I'll have them go to your manor to get your court attire. Tomorrow we'll enter the palace together."

Bairen didn't have any objections and nodded.