Before the evening banquet, Qi Xiao specifically asked the palace servants to comb Bairen's hair and change him into a large cloak. Bairen's face was still flushed, and he looked at Qi Xiao unhappily. Qi Xiao smiled, "It's the new year, why is the young prince always frowning?"

Bairen had learned to be smart now. When it came to verbal sparring, he was no match for Qi Xiao. If he didn't speak, it would be fine, but the more he argued with Qi Xiao, the more Qi Xiao would have words waiting for him.

Bairen simply played dumb, which usually worked well, but now it couldn't satisfy Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao took the hand warmer handed to Bairen by the palace servant and smiled, "Why aren't you talking? Are you really angry?"

The palace servant withdrew silently. Bairen pursed his lips, "My hand warmer..."

Qi Xiao moved his hand back, not letting him take it, and smiled, "I'm asking you, are you angry?"

Bairen completely lost his temper and laughed, "Not angry... If I got angry over this, I wouldn't need to do anything else every day."

"You make it sound like I bully you every day." Qi Xiao had just taken advantage of him, so he was in a good mood. He handed the hand warmer to Bairen and coaxed softly, "Don't always be silent and not smiling. You know me, I'm the most timid. When you stand on the side with a wooden face like that, my heart gets flustered, always wondering if I've offended you somewhere or made you unhappy..."

Before Qi Xiao finished speaking, Bairen couldn't hold back and laughed, "I don't deserve it... If Your Highness is still timid, then there would be no one bold."

Qi Xiao smiled, put one hand around Bairen's waist to adjust his waistband, and whispered, "Not bold, how would I dare to get into the young prince's bed?"

Before Bairen could get angry, Qi Xiao smiled at the outside and said, "The young prince and I are ready, is the sedan chair prepared?"

Outside, Jiang Deqing hurriedly responded, "It's been prepared long ago."

Qi Xiao nodded, took his own hand warmer, and went out the door first.

The New Year's family banquet in the palace was still the same as always. Qi Xiao was very bored during the banquet, glancing at Bairen from time to time. Bairen was very well-behaved at the table, sitting upright without saying a word, only nodding and responding when the emperor mentioned him, looking like a precocious young man.

Princess Dexin turned her head and smiled at Princess Dunsu, "I heard that the prince consort's family has made a marriage alliance with Lingnan?"

Princess Dunsu nodded with a smile, "Yes, I really like Princess Roujia. I originally thought... Alas, let's not mention that. Thanks to the emperor's favor, Princess Roujia was betrothed to my nephew, which can be considered a good marriage."

Although Princess Dexin was older than Princess Dunsu, her status was far inferior to Dunsu's because she was born of a concubine. Therefore, she had to flatter her every time. Hearing this, she nodded with a smile, "Seeing the young master of Lingnan, I can imagine how beautiful and graceful the princess must be."

Hearing this, Qi Xiao almost laughed out loud, thinking that they hadn't seen how Bairen had begged for mercy with tears in his eyes in his arms just now.

"Your Majesty, the snow is heavy this year, so there's no need to worry about fires. Therefore, I ordered the Internal Affairs Department to prepare more fireworks." Empress Feng looked at the emperor with a smile, "There are many children in the palace this year, and they like these things."

The emperor smiled with satisfaction, "The empress is still considerate." The emperor and empress each drank a cup, laughing and talking, looking like a loving couple who respected each other, and no one could tell that Empress Feng had been taught a lesson by the emperor in Chengqian Palace this morning.

In the main hall outside, only the empress was present, while the other concubines were in the side hall. Separated by a light silk embroidered gold screen, Qi Xiao couldn't see clearly, but he heard from the spy that the two girls had also come today.

Sure enough, after a while, the chief eunuch of the empress's palace led the two delicate flowers in. The chief eunuch stood behind Empress Feng inconspicuously. Empress Feng turned her head to look at the two girls behind her and turned to smile at the emperor, "I was afraid they would be bored in the room, so I let them come out for a walk. They can't do anything else, but they can still serve wine and food."

Empress Feng had been by the emperor's side for twenty years and knew the emperor's preferences well, so these two girls were picked to be especially pleasing to the emperor. The emperor smiled without saying anything, and the satisfaction in his eyes couldn't deceive anyone.

Qi Xiao turned to look at Jiang Deqing, who had been guarding behind him. Jiang Deqing understood and bowed down.

Everyone feasted until the second quarter of the Xu hour*. The palace servants came to report several times that the play in Qinghe Hall was ready. From the emperor onwards, everyone put on their fox fur coats and moved to Qinghe Hall.

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

Bairen followed the others all the way. As soon as he left the main hall, he was stopped by Jiang Deqing, who had been absent for a while. Jiang Deqing walked up to Bairen, bowed and smiled, "Please be at ease, young prince. The crown prince said it's boring to sit alone, and he heard that the young prince also loves to watch plays, so he specially asked this old servant to invite the young prince to watch the play together."

Hearing this, another prince beside Bairen couldn't help but look at Bairen, his eyes full of admiration. Everyone knew that Bairen had recently become Qi Xiao's partner in a roundabout way and was very favored by Qi Xiao recently.

Qi Xiao had already informed Bairen, so Bairen didn't say anything more and just nodded. Jiang Deqing glanced at the flowers behind him and smiled faintly in his heart. Empress Feng was about to become restless.

Jiang Deqing's face remained calm, but on the not-too-far, not-too-close path from Qianqing Palace to Qinghe Hall, he stayed close to Bairen's side, not letting anyone near, and escorted Bairen safely to the theater building of Qinghe Hall.

Qinghe Hall was a special place in the palace for watching plays, with two floors. The emperor, empress, several princesses, and princes and their wives were in the large warm chamber in the middle of the second floor. Qi Xiao was alone in the right hall, while the other princes and princesses were in the left hall. Everyone else was downstairs.

Bairen followed Jiang Deqing into Qi Xiao's right warm chamber. Although this was a theater viewing platform, the furnishings in the warm chamber were not lacking in any way.

The floor was covered with a thick, large red gold-embossed felt carpet. Twelve incense burners were lit in the four corners, each filled with high-quality incense cakes, giving off a warm fragrance that instantly took away the chill from the body. The south-facing side of the warm chamber faced the stage, separated by a carved rosewood railing. Three feet from the railing was a large eight-immortal table, filled with all kinds of meat and vegetarian snacks, cold dishes, and fruits.

Further to the west was a noble consort couch with several soft pillows on it, and two neatly folded floral wool blankets beside it. Two polished brass foot warmers were placed under the couch, probably just refilled with charcoal, still faintly glowing red.

Jiang Deqing stepped forward, taking off Bairen's coat while smiling, "Walking all this way just now, the young master must be cold, right? The charcoal fire in this room is strong, and it will warm up in a moment. If you're thirsty, there's chrysanthemum tea brewing on that small incense burner over there."

Bairen looked around the warm chamber with hidden surprise, and said softly, "Where is the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince had to go to the main hall's grand chamber first to accompany the Emperor and Empress. He will come over once the play starts." Jiang Deqing smiled attentively, "The Crown Prince instructed in advance, it's getting late and the play is dull. If Your Lordship feels tired, you can take a nap on that couch. The curtains here can be lowered, no one will see."

Bairen chuckled, "How can I do that? This warm chamber... is it prepared just for the Crown Prince alone?"

Jiang Deqing smiled knowingly, "Your Lordship thinks it's too luxurious? There's a reason for this. This warm chamber was originally prepared for the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and future little princes. Even without them, it can be used to bring concubines of noble status. Your Lordship, I'm not speaking nonsense, but you are the first one besides the Crown Prince to come to this viewing platform."

Fearing Bairen might be too reserved to hear this, Jiang Deqing laughed again, "Your Highness, don't overthink. The Crown Prince just didn't want you to suffer any grievances down there. Just look below... Everyone is sitting stiffly in their own spots. They have to be careful even when stretching their arms, lest others see. How could it be this relaxing? The play will start soon. Your Lordship, make yourself at home. This old servant will be guarding outside the chamber."

Bairen nodded. After Jiang Deqing left, he poured himself a cup of hot tea and drank. He hadn't eaten much at the evening banquet earlier, and now facing this table full of desserts, he felt a bit hungry. It's just that Qi Xiao hadn't arrived yet, so Bairen didn't want to start first and patiently waited.

"What are you doing?" When Qi Xiao entered, he saw Bairen blankly staring at the desserts on the table. Qi Xiao walked over, picked up a pineapple cake and took a bite, "Don't worry, eat. These were sent from my palace's small kitchen."

Bairen shook his head and smiled, "I'm not afraid they are poisoned..."

Qi Xiao also hadn't eaten much at the evening banquet. By this time, his stomach was already empty. The two sat down to watch the play while eating desserts. The chefs in Qi Xiao's small palace kitchen had even better skills than those in the Imperial Kitchen, and the desserts were especially suited to Bairen's tastes. With a childlike heart, Bairen sampled each kind according to the styles, carefully evaluating them.

Qi Xiao found it amusing. He picked up a plate and placed it in front of Bairen, "This roasted rabbit head is their specialty. It's first marinated in a secret sauce, then slowly roasted with over a dozen spices and medicinal ingredients using fruit wood charcoal. The flavor is superb, try it."

Bairen tried to pick it up with chopsticks, very awkwardly. Qi Xiao chuckled, wiped his hands with a napkin, and directly tore the rabbit head apart with his hands, picking out the meat and brains onto the small plate in front of Bairen. He laughed lightly, "Try it."

Bairen lowered his head and ate. Indeed, the flavor was excellent. Qi Xiao chuckled, "No one is watching here, just use your hands."

The rabbit heads were freshly roasted, with a rich aroma. Bairen was already hungry, so he couldn't care less at this point and also used his hands. Anyway, there were no outsiders. The two feasted with aged fine wine, finally making up for the meal they had earlier.

"Your Highness..."

When Jiang Deqing entered with a bow, he saw Bairen tremblingly about to place a whole brain onto Qi Xiao's plate. Bairen's hands were greasy, his thin lips pursed, looking quite nervous at the brain, afraid of accidentally breaking it.

Hearing the movement, he raised his head, then looked at his own appearance and instantly blushed. He hurriedly grabbed a napkin to wipe his hands. Qi Xiao couldn't help laughing. He turned to Jiang Deqing and asked with a smile, "What is it?"

Jiang Deqing also knew his timing for entering was quite poor. He smiled apologetically, "I didn't know Your Highness and the Young Prince were enjoying the meal so much, it's..."

Jiang Deqing glanced at Bairen and said in a low voice, "There was some trouble outside. Princess Dunsu asked you to go over."

"Trouble..." Qi Xiao ate the whole brain that Bairen had painstakingly picked out, wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, and said unhurriedly, "What trouble? Inside the Inner Palace, could assassins have entered?"

Jiang Deqing shook his head, "No, earlier... the Second Prince got drunk, so Empress Feng asked the Emperor for the favor of letting the Second Prince rest in the side hall. But who would have known..."

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow, "What happened?"

Jiang Deqing gritted his teeth, "Your Highness knows, Princess Dexin is old and couldn't hold on until this hour. Empress Feng and Princess Dunsu sent Princess Dexin to the side hall to rest as well. After settling Princess Dexin, when Empress Feng and Princess Dunsu came out and passed by the chamber where the Second Prince was resting, they heard... unusual movements inside.

"Princess Dunsu pushed the door open and saw... she saw the Second Prince embracing a palace maid from Empress Feng's palace, clothes disheveled."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Second Brother has grown up..."

Jiang Deqing sighed, "If it was just that, it would be fine. But this palace maid... everyone in the palace knows this maid was the one Empress Feng was preparing to present to the Emperor, this..."

Only then did Bairen understand the implications. He couldn't help but look at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao slowly wiped his hands with a napkin and nodded, "I understand, you go first."