That night, Bairen fell asleep clutching the life token Qi Xiao had given him.

Qi Xiao slept little. At midnight, he still hadn't fallen asleep. He gazed fixedly at the person in his arms, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Qi Xiao was a deep thinker, but he rarely wasted energy pondering matters of romance. Yet tonight, his mind was entirely occupied by Bairen, without any distracting thoughts or scheming, just pure thoughts of this person.

How had he first come to like him? Qi Xiao gently caressed Bairen's back as he thought for a long time but couldn't recall. He only remembered initially following Princess Dunsu's wishes, intending to take Roujia as a concubine, and thus showing favor to Bairen.

But this little thing ignored him, keeping him at a distance of a thousand miles. Yet he turned around and acted intimate with Cen Chaoge. Even now, every time Qi Xiao thought of that scene in the bamboo grove that day, he still became angry. He couldn't help lowering his head and giving Bairen's lips a punishing bite.

Bairen was sleeping soundly. Being bullied, he only furrowed his brows and instinctively burrowed into Qi Xiao's embrace as if seeking protection. Qi Xiao's mood instantly brightened and he no longer dwelled on this little thing's past mistakes of poor judgment.

Thinking carefully, Qi Xiao was certain his heart hadn't been moved at that time. Back then, it was only because he was mischievous and deliberately wanted to break up the young couple. So he had Xi Xiang spread rumors, and sure enough it lured Cen Chaoge to have a change of heart.

Pondering it now, actually if Cen Chaoge had been a bit more steadfast in his stance at that time, gritting his teeth and refusing to leave no matter what, insisting on guarding Bairen, then perhaps all the later events wouldn't have occurred.

But Cen Chaoge had let Bairen down.

Qi Xiao was used to being a villain. He didn't bother with high-sounding words to cover for himself. So what if he had split them up? If Cen Chaoge had the ability, he should've snatched Bairen back.

Qi Xiao took a deep breath to calm himself. He usually didn't get angry easily, but every time he thought of Cen Chaoge, he couldn't restrain himself.

Qi Xiao quieted his heart and continued considering if his heart had been moved back then. After some thought, the answer was still no. At that time, he had only thought that at least he could possess the person first. As for the heart, that illusory thing, whether he could obtain it or not didn't really matter.

Thinking of it now, Qi Xiao sighed lightly...he had captured the heart, but the person wasn't in his hands yet.

Thinking of this, Qi Xiao couldn't help biting Bairen's lips fiercely again. Bairen let out a pleading whimper. Qi Xiao soothingly kissed his lips, then continued his previous train of thought. He had truly taken a dangerous gamble back then. One misstep and he might have made Bairen hate him for life, never opening his heart to him again.

Looking back now, Qi Xiao realized he hadn't treated Bairen well initially, but Bairen had still come to like him, even giving him the life token. Qi Xiao felt a bit distressed. Probably...even that little bit of kindness from him was already very rare and precious to Bairen.

At first, Qi Xiao had resented that Bairen had a better fate than him. But in fact, they were in the same boat. He himself had no father, no mother, no attachments. Bairen had a mother and sister more than him, but that meant two more burdens, two more fetters. If not for these many concerns, with Bairen's intelligence, how could he have let himself be suppressed by the illegitimate bloodline?

Qi Xiao lightly stroked Bairen's back and smiled faintly. It was time to think about the future.

Before, he had single-mindedly sought revenge. But what about after killing the emperor? After seizing back the throne that should have been his? Qi Xiao hadn't considered it. The old Qi Xiao had only strived tirelessly for the moment of vengeance, but now, he was fighting for the days that would come after his revenge.

As long as he ascended the throne, he could smoothly let Bairen become the King of Lingnan, allowing him to serve his mother the Queen with peace of mind. Qi Xiao could then rightfully bring Bairen to his side without needing to hide anymore. However he wanted to dote on him, he would do so.

People said a hero's grave was in the tender bosom. Qi Xiao looked at this treasure in his arms and chuckled. How had he ended up the opposite of others?

The more he cherished him, the more he wanted to fight and seize for him. Even if one day he reigned supreme over all, Qi Xiao felt he probably still wouldn't be satisfied.

Qi Xiao's heart was burning hot. He couldn't resist lowering his head to kiss Bairen. Bairen drowsily opened his eyes and mumbled, "Crown Prince...why aren't you asleep yet?"

Bairen had cried for half the day before bed. His eyes were still red now. Seeing this, Qi Xiao's heart ached.

He coaxed softly, "It's nothing, I'll sleep now..."

Bairen rubbed his eyes. Using the dim lamplight, he glanced at the water clock outside and slightly knitted his brows in complaint, "It's already so late...you sleep too little."

This wasn't the first time Bairen had said this to Qi Xiao. Perhaps because Bairen was still growing, he slept almost twice as much as Qi Xiao. Although Qi Xiao only slept this little each day, he was usually in good spirits and rarely got sleepy. But Bairen still felt distressed.

Bairen half sat up and covered Qi Xiao's eyes with his hand. After Qi Xiao closed his eyes, he gently massaged his temples and said softly, "Even if you're not sleepy, you should rest your eyes. If you don't take care of yourself when young, your body will suffer. When you get old, illnesses will come find you..."

Qi Xiao laughed lightly. Bairen smiled in embarrassment, "I'm not trying to act mature. These were words the Crown Prince said to me before."

Qi Xiao shook his head, "I'm not laughing at you...forget it, don't mind me. You sleep. Seeing you sleep well is the same as me resting."

Bairen chuckled, "What kind of nonsense is that? Don't joke around...with me massaging like this, you'll fall asleep soon."

Bairen's fingers were slender and delicate, the pads of his fingers soft and strong. Massaging Qi Xiao's acupoints like this was very comfortable. Qi Xiao slightly turned his face and smelled the faint fragrance of incense on Bairen's sleeves. He couldn't help his heart fluttering with desire...

Bairen had just cried earlier in the night and couldn't be tormented again. Qi Xiao closed his eyes and said hoarsely, "Alright, I'm sleepy. Lie down properly. I'll fall asleep soon."

Bairen shushed him, unaware of the danger, "Don't talk. I'll lie down once you fall asleep. You're much more relaxed now, right...?"

Qi Xiao couldn't endure it anymore. He grabbed Bairen's hand and stared fixedly at him, asking in a deep voice, "Do you really want me to fall asleep quickly?"

Bairen was startled, "Of course, truly..."

Qi Xiao's voice was hoarse as he said softly, "I know a method. It just depends if you're willing or not."

Perhaps it was because their hearts were in sync, or perhaps Qi Xiao's gaze was too explicit, but Bairen instantly understood a little. A hint of timidity appeared in his eyes.

In the end, Qi Xiao couldn't bear to, and also took into consideration his young age. He smiled faintly, "Just teasing you. Let's sleep."

Qi Xiao held Bairen as he lay down and pulled the brocade quilt over them. In the darkness, the two were silent for a long while. Suddenly, Bairen moved. Like a little mouse, he wriggled into Qi Xiao's embrace with a rustle and whispered, "Come..."

Qi Xiao was stunned for a moment. Bairen blushed deeply, but still said softly and firmly, "I miss you too."

Qi Xiao closed his eyes and rolled on top of Bairen.

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, the two still hadn't gotten up. Unprecedentedly, Qi Xiao slept for nearly eight hours.

At noon, Jiang Deqing outside couldn't help but worry. He tiptoed in to take a look. Qi Xiao lifted the bed curtain, revealing a small gap, and said in a low voice, "What's the matter?"

Qi Xiao's deep voice was filled with thick satisfaction. Jiang Deqing, who had been immersed in the palace for decades, could certainly hear it.

He hurriedly lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness... should I summon the imperial physician? Or... this old servant will go get some ointment? They are all top-quality treasures prepared long ago, and will surely work well."

Qi Xiao laughed softly and waved his hand to let the bed curtain down. Jiang Deqing was greatly puzzled. No need? He had served Qi Xiao since he was a child and knew his body best. Thinking of Bairen's small frame, even if it didn't require summoning the imperial physician, surely some medicine would be needed?

Jiang Deqing was worried about Bairen, but didn't dare to ask more. He bowed and withdrew.

Inside the bed curtain, Qi Xiao propped himself up and gently stroked the ambiguous red marks on Bairen's neck and chest, smiling faintly. Last night, he didn't go all the way.

It wasn't that Bairen was disobedient. Last night, Bairen was very well-behaved. Whatever Qi Xiao asked him to do, he did, no matter how embarrassing. But his body was still immature after all. Just inserting two fingers already made him tremble in pain.

He could endure it and kept saying it was fine, but how could Qi Xiao bear to be so cruel?

Speaking of which, Bairen was actually not young. At his age, others were already fathers. If he were in the southern brothels, he would be considered old. What other boys could endure at twelve or thirteen, Bairen could certainly withstand.

But Qi Xiao's heart still softened. If it's not your own child, you don't know to cherish them. Qi Xiao now understood this.

Although they didn't go all the way, Qi Xiao was still very satisfied. The two had been intimate many times before, but none were as heartfelt as last night. Everything else could be faked, but the devotion of Bairen almost handing over his life during their intimacy could not be pretended.

Through Bairen's thin chest, Qi Xiao could almost feel his love that threatened to drown him... If he didn't really like him so much, how could he, with his noble status as the crown prince, lower himself to this extent?

Qi Xiao was never in a hurry about this matter before. One reason was that he couldn't bear it, and the other was to prove... that Bairen wasn't trying to please him for Roujia's sake.

Roujia's marriage was already settled. Bairen was still willing to be intimate with him, so it wasn't for the previous deal. He was sincere.

Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Bairen's forehead dotingly, sighing in his heart. Such a good child, how could he not cherish him?

As if sensing something, Bairen slowly opened his eyes. He was dazed for a moment, then the events of last night came back to him. Bairen's face flushed red and he immediately dove under the quilt, refusing to come out.

Qi Xiao laughed, "What are you hiding for? Come out..."

Bairen didn't listen. The more Qi Xiao spoke, the more he burrowed into the quilt. Qi Xiao chuckled and patted him not too lightly, "Come out! You'll suffocate in a bit!"

Bairen didn't dare to keep holding the quilt. Qi Xiao pulled him out and let him lie on his chest. He laughed softly, "Now you know to be shy? Where was your skill in teasing me last night?"

Bairen lowered his head, too embarrassed to say a word. Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed his ear, whispering, "Did it feel that good last night?"

Bairen's thin ears instantly turned red. Qi Xiao smiled, "If you don't say anything, I'll take it as you liked it."

Qi Xiao's hand slid down and gently rubbed, asking in a low voice, "Does it still hurt here?"

Bairen shook his head with a red face. After a while, he said softly, "It feels a bit strange..."

Qi Xiao smiled and whispered a few words in Bairen's ear. Upon hearing them, Bairen buried his face in Qi Xiao's chest in embarrassment, refusing to raise his head no matter what else Qi Xiao said.

Qi Xiao said helplessly, "What's there to be shy about with your own man? Be good... If we do this often, you'll be able to take it in the future."

Bairen still didn't say a word. Qi Xiao took his silence as agreement and spent half a day hugging, kissing and coaxing Bairen affectionately.