Qi Xiao stood up to greet him, but was stunned to see Bairen. Seeing Qi Xiao staring at him, Bairen looked down at the clothes he was wearing and laughed, "You had Shunzi urge me so urgently that I didn't even have time to change my clothes. I came in a hurry after seeing off the guests. Does it look very strange? Let me change into something first..."

"No need."

Today, Bairen was wearing a bright red robe with a front opening, densely embroidered with a circle of dark colored auspicious cloud totems on the sleeves and collar, looking both luxurious and grand.

He rarely wore bright colored clothes usually, so Qi Xiao couldn't help but stare when he suddenly changed into this outfit.

Bairen felt a bit embarrassed being stared at by Qi Xiao. He smiled, "Do I look very silly? This is still the better one. There's another set I'm supposed to wear for Roujia's wedding that's even more eye-catching - a bright red robe with gold threading. Just thinking about it, I don't think I can bring myself to wear it..."

Qi Xiao chuckled, "No, it looks very good..."

Just then, Jiang Deqing entered from outside and bowed with a smile, "Your Highness, the wonton noodles prepared for the young master are ready. Shall I bring them up now?"

Qi Xiao looked at Bairen, "Are you hungry? Or do you want to rest a bit before having some refreshments?"

Bairen smiled embarrassedly, "Let's eat first... I've been busy all day and haven't eaten much."

Jiang Deqing quickly acknowledged and left. Before long, he brought the wonton noodles and several plates of freshly made meat and vegetable delicacies. Qi Xiao dismissed everyone, and the two enjoyed the meal at their leisure in the warm chamber.

Qi Xiao looked closely at Bairen's face and asked, "Your face is a bit red, did someone make you drink at the banquet?"

Bairen took a sip of soup and shook his head at the question, "No... I only drank a little. Is my face red? I just feel a bit dizzy."

Qi Xiao frowned slightly, "I told Wen Xiang and the others to help you refuse drinks. Are these people useless?"

"Oh, so that's why..." Bairen laughed. "Don't wrong good people. Those few were indeed constantly helping me refuse drinks. At first I was puzzled, as I don't usually have much interaction with them. How come they suddenly became so familiar with me? Turns out it was for the sake of Your Highness' favor."

Qi Xiao laughed, "Your flattery is a bit too stiff. I couldn't go today and didn't get to drink the wedding wine. If you're really grateful to me, use tea in place of wine and toast me a cup."

Qi Xiao was just teasing him. Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Bairen's face turned even redder. Qi Xiao was puzzled at first, but then saw Bairen blushingly pick up the tea cup, take a sip himself first, then take another mouthful without swallowing it.

He leaned in closer and, enduring his shyness, kissed Qi Xiao's lips. Qi Xiao instantly understood and laughed inwardly. In the past, he used to tease Bairen with the pleasure of sharing a cup, nearly making Bairen turn pale with anger.

Now without him mentioning it, this little one took the initiative. Qi Xiao shamelessly accepted this little misunderstanding. In the end, he even took a mile after getting an inch, saying, "Just one toast?"

Bairen's face reddened even more. Seeing this, Qi Xiao quit while he was ahead and said with a smile, "Alright, one cup it is then. When she gets married, I will definitely attend in person to help you refuse drinks, to repay the sentiment of this cup of tea today. How about that?"

Bairen was startled, "Your Highness wants to attend the wedding? I'm afraid... that wouldn't be good, right? Your Highness has already put in a lot of effort for Roujia's marriage, attracting many eyes. Going in person again..."

Qi Xiao said casually, "It's fine, everyone knows I'm half a matchmaker. It's too late to avoid suspicion now. I didn't go today for fear of being too high-profile and making things difficult for you. When the actual day comes, there's no need to avoid it anymore. By the way, how are Wenyu and Kangtai doing?"

The smile on Bairen's face diminished by thirty percent. He shook his head and said, "Wenyu's complexion has worsened a lot. Although he still greeted me in the front as usual, the weariness between his brows and eyes couldn't be hidden. It seems he has been very worried these past few days too. I haven't seen Kangtai since the day before yesterday, but I heard she's also not doing well...

"With her reputation ruined and His Majesty completely ignoring it, she can only suffer in silence. Now they can only hope for the rumors to die down quickly and not spread to Lingnan. That way, when Kangtai returns to Lingnan, she can still proceed with marriage talks as usual."

Qi Xiao's heart stirred. He then smiled and said, "Forget it, let's eat. Don't talk about these things."

The two were hungry and didn't say more. In no time, they swept the table clean like a cloud. Seeing that Bairen still seemed a bit unsatisfied, Qi Xiao coaxed softly, "It's late. Eating too much can easily cause indigestion. How about having a bowl of bird's nest before bed later, okay?"

Bairen obediently nodded. The two chatted a bit more and then entered the inner chamber.

After washing up, the two wore only their inner robes and got on the bed. Qi Xiao leaned against the head of the bed, holding Bairen in his arms, and covered them with a layer of fluffy brocade quilt. He casually asked about what people Bairen visited today, what delicious food there was at the banquet, which opera troupe was invited...

Bairen answered one by one, laughing softly as he recounted some jokes from the feast. Qi Xiao listened with a smile. When it came to the He family's betrothal gifts, Bairen said in a low voice, "I don't care about the quantity of things. Their family is not wealthy, so it must have been very difficult for them to bring out those items. I'm just happy about the sincerity from their household... Thank you, Your Highness. This marriage match is truly well-found."

Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Bairen on the head, curling his lips into a smile, "For my eldest sister-in-law's marriage, how could I dare to be perfunctory? I don't ask for anything else, as long as you're happy."

Bairen was stunned for a moment before realizing what this "eldest sister-in-law" meant. His face instantly turned red as he stubbornly said, "Your Highness has the seniority wrong. It should clearly be eldest sister-in-law*."

*T/N: Bairen's 'sister-in-law' refers to Qi Xiao in the wife's position, while Qi Xiao's 'sister-in-law' refers to Bairen in the wife's position.

Qi Xiao laughed, "You've gotten bold!" With that, he reached under the quilt to tickle Bairen. Bairen's whole body was ticklish. He immediately went limp with laughter in Qi Xiao's arms, pleading repeatedly, "Don't... spare me... haha..."

Qi Xiao was afraid he would laugh so hard he couldn't breathe, so he gently stroked his back to help him catch his breath. He laughed, "Relying on my doting, you're getting bolder and bolder..."

Bairen felt warmth in his heart. He didn't say anything and continued to lie down, nestling in Qi Xiao's embrace. Qi Xiao reached back and opened a hidden compartment in the bed, taking out a small box and handing it to Bairen. He said softly, "Today is an auspicious day for betrothal gifts. I'll also contribute a little something. Open it and take a look."

Bairen frowned, "Betrothal gifts?"

Qi Xiao smiled without speaking. He helped Bairen sit up. Bairen opened the small box and saw that it was lined with a thick layer of snow-white velvet. On the velvet lay two identical gold-inlaid jade pendants.

Bairen felt they looked familiar. He picked them up to take a look... and it turned out to be the life token he had previously given to Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "I had the old craftsman break that jade pendant into two pieces, then use the finest seed jade and gold inlay technique to mend it, creating these two pieces."

Qi Xiao took out one of the pieces, threaded it with a tassel, and said softly: "I'm not sure if the life talisman will still be effective after being broken like this, but I do know..."

Qi Xiao took Bairen's hand and placed the jade pendant in his palm, saying: "No matter when or where, regardless of whether the life talisman works or not, as long as I, Qi Xiao, am here, I will ensure your safety. Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you."

Qi Xiao flipped over the jade pendant in Bairen's hand, revealing the carved pattern of wild geese on the jade. With a gentle gaze, he spoke as if it was a casual remark, yet with utmost sincerity: "Now, with my honor as the crown prince, I take this promise as our engagement. With this wild goose as proof and the life talisman as witness, Bairen, will you agree to my proposal?"

Bairen's eyes instantly turned red. He looked at the jade pendant in his hand, almost at a loss for what to do. Swallowing, he said hoarsely: "Why did you suddenly... I thought you had thrown this away, I..."

Qi Xiao lowered his eyes and smiled, softly reciting: "Departing south in autumn, returning north in spring, coming and going with the seasons, unwavering in resolve. Bairen, will you agree to my proposal?"

"Though separated by life and death, I pledge my heart to you. Holding your hand, growing old together. The son of the Qi family requests a lifelong commitment. Bairen, will you agree to my proposal?"

"With my late imperial father and mother in heaven as witnesses, as long as I, Qi Xiao, live for even a day, I vow to never let you suffer the slightest hardship again. Heaven and earth bear witness. Bairen, will you agree to my proposal?"

Tears streamed down Bairen's face as he choked back sobs and nodded vigorously. Qi Xiao smiled and threaded the other jade pendant with a tassel, holding it in his own hand. He said softly: "If the life talisman truly works, then from now on... our lives will be bound together."

Bairen's tears fell on the back of Qi Xiao's hand. Qi Xiao's heart ached as he gently said: "Don't cry. Do you think my gift is too meager..."

Bairen shook his head desperately, clutching the life talisman and rubbing it continuously. After a long while, he choked out: "At first... I didn't dare to be completely certain that you truly liked me. I was afraid you were just momentarily interested. I didn't dare say I liked you, only daring to give you the life talisman... In this way, I had given you all my affection. I regarded you as my life. If you live, I live. If you die, I die..."

Bairen pressed the jade pendant to his heart, struggling to hold back sobs: "That day, I thought... if in the future you understood the meaning of this life talisman and were also willing to give me the life talisman, then... no matter how much misfortune lies ahead in this life, I would be blessed by the heavens..."

Qi Xiao's heart ached fiercely. He hugged Bairen tightly, kneading him into his embrace, no longer having any other words, only able to continuously console: "Don't cry, don't cry..."

Bairen kept nodding, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing, as if a floodgate had opened. The tears he had endured over the past years all surged out. Qi Xiao's heart ached unbearably. He lowered his head and repeatedly kissed Bairen's brow.

Bairen tightly clutched the jade pendant in his hand, struggling to hold back sobs. In that moment just now, Bairen almost felt he had used up all his luck in this lifetime.

The person he loved used his own life as a betrothal gift to him. With just these words, the gloom of the first fifteen years of Bairen's short life was swept away. He had traversed mountains and rivers, coming from afar to the imperial city, and finally found a haven in his life's journey. From now on, he would no longer drift.