The two cuddled on the bed until late morning, until Bairen couldn't stand the hunger anymore and finally got up. Qi Xiao was in high spirits. After having the maids attend to him to wash up, he went to the outer study first, leaving Bairen in the bedchamber to slowly get ready.

After finishing lunch, Qi Xiao urged Bairen to go change clothes. Bairen was startled: "Sending me back to the manor?"

Qi Xiao smiled: "What are you thinking, you can't go back for now."

Bairen blinked: "What's the matter? Is there something going on?"

Qi Xiao just smiled without speaking. After waiting for Bairen to change clothes, he led everyone out the door. Bairen originally thought Qi Xiao had a sudden whim, but unexpectedly, after exiting the ceremonial gate, he saw over a dozen carriages parked in front and behind the gate of the Crown Prince's manor.

Shunzi jumped down from Qi Xiao's carriage and bowed: "Crown Prince, everything is ready."

Bairen was dumbfounded: "This is...where are we going?"

Qi Xiao ordered people to load the carriages. He turned his head and whispered in Bairen's ear: "Although we can't compare to newlyweds, we should still imitate them and go out to play for a bit."

Before Bairen could speak, Qi Xiao pulled him into the carriage, lifted the curtain and instructed: "Drive steadily, it's fine as long as we arrive before dark."

Bairen really couldn't react in time. He pulled Qi Xiao's hand and kept saying: "This...is this okay? Does the palace know? Should I...should I go send a message to Roujia first..."

Qi Xiao chuckled lightly: "Don't worry, I've already arranged it."

Such a casual sentence naturally couldn't put Bairen at ease. The carriage shook a bit. Bairen lifted the curtain to take a look, and they had already exited the city gate. He frowned slightly: "Crown Prince...did the Emperor really give his decree? You are the Crown Prince, leaving the city without an edict is a grave crime if someone finds out..."

Qi Xiao laughed: "I originally wanted to give you a surprise, but you insisted on getting to the bottom of it like this, how boring. Forget it..."

Although the surprise was ruined, seeing Bairen anxious for his sake still made Qi Xiao feel very gratified. He smiled and said: "Do you still remember I told you a few days ago that this year, the Ministry of Rites' matter of encouraging farming has also been handed over to the Eastern Palace?"

Bairen nodded in confusion. Qi Xiao took an embroidered gold round pillow and put it behind him, smiling faintly: "The part on encouraging farming is just going through the motions. But the Ministry of Works also needs to supervise and check on the farming situation among the people this spring...so I took over this matter and decided to go out of the city to take a look these few days."

Qi Xiao smiled at Bairen: "Of course, since we're really going out, it's not for the purpose of watching people farm. It just so happens that I have an estate in the southern outskirts, and the villa there has been renovated and is livable. Let's go play there for a few days."

Bairen's eyes suddenly widened: "Really? We don't need to go back for several days?"

Qi Xiao nodded: "I told the Emperor that the young lord also wants to see how we farm here, so I brought you along."

Bairen was overjoyed and immediately rolled into Qi Xiao's arms: "Stay for many days, many days, many days..."

Qi Xiao laughed: "Don't make a fuss! Sit properly, sit well...I'm talking to you."

Bairen's mind was filled with thoughts of him and Qi Xiao staying outside together for many days. He couldn't listen to anything else. He nestled into Qi Xiao's arms and rubbed around.

Qi Xiao was afraid he would bump into something, so he had to hold him and chuckled: "The weather is warm, and the carriage curtains have been changed to thin ones. If you shout like this, the servants outside can all hear it."

Hearing this, Bairen blushed a little and quickly sat up properly. But he still couldn't control his excitement.

He tugged on Qi Xiao's sleeve and said softly: "What's at the estate? I once went to play for a day at an estate under my mother consort's name. They had chicks, ducklings, everything cute. I remember there was also a large pond with some soft-shelled turtles. The estate steward taught me to use worms to catch the turtles. In less than an hour, I caught more than a dozen..."

The Queen of Lingnan was wary of the concubines and had restrained Bairen tightly since he was young. Even so, he was still harmed many times.

Fortunately, Bairen had a strong fate and grew up to this age. Things like going out to play were even rarer. Bairen could only talk about the things he played with at that estate over and over again.

Qi Xiao felt a little distressed. He rubbed Bairen's head and smiled: "There's no pond here, but there's a field of rapeseed flowers that can be admired. I don't know if there are chicks and ducklings, but I remember this estate produces furs and leathers, so there should be some small animals. If you like, I'll take you to see them."

Bairen's eyes were full of anticipation. Qi Xiao curled his lips into a smile: "These are all secondary. The reason I thought of bringing you here is because...this estate has a hot spring."

Upon hearing this, Bairen somehow suddenly thought of all sorts of things from last night and his face instantly flushed red. Qi Xiao clicked his tongue: "Soaking in the spring water can dredge meridians and nourish the stomach and intestines, which is good for your body. What are you thinking about?"

Bairen gave an embarrassed smile, but Qi Xiao still persisted: "Tell me, Young Prince...what did you think of?"

Bairen was forced with no way out and buried his head in Qi Xiao's arms, continuing to be excited: "Many days, many days, many days..."

Qi Xiao laughed softly. Bairen had been depressed for many days because of those two things, Wenyu and Kangtai. Qi Xiao knew that taking him out to relax was just what he wanted.

The two chatted and laughed the whole way, and even dozed off in the carriage for a while in between. They finally arrived at the estate at dusk when the sky had already darkened. Qi Xiao didn't take Bairen to wander around much and directly led him to the inner courtyard.

There weren't many courtyards in the villa here, but it was exquisitely built. The courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and plants, with a view every five steps and a scene every ten steps. Just under the moonlight, one could see its elegance.

Bairen didn't expect a courtyard in an estate could be built like this and secretly marveled. The night was deep and the dew heavy. Qi Xiao didn't let Bairen stay long, just looked around a bit before taking him to the inner chamber.

Several estate stewards came in and paid respects from behind the screen, saying a long string of flattering words, and wanted to bring in the estate's revenue for Qi Xiao to review. Qi Xiao waved his hand: "No need...first, remove the screen."

The maids heard and quickly pushed the screen open. Qi Xiao glanced at Bairen and said: "It's good that you all came. First, let me introduce you. This is the young prince of Lingnan. I have already given this estate to the young prince, so from now on, he is your master..."

Before the stewards could say anything, Bairen was startled first and quickly smiled: "The Crown Prince is joking...how can that be."

Bairen desperately signaled to Qi Xiao with his eyes. Qi Xiao acted as if he didn't see and just said lightly: "In front of these people, does the young prince want to refuse my gesture?"

Bairen immediately didn't dare to say another word.

Qi Xiao took the account books handed over by the steward and flipped through them briefly, continuing: "The estate has been given to the young prince. In the future, you will only need to send the revenue to the Lingnan King Manor. But..."

Qi Xiao paused for a moment, then said slowly, "The young prince is still young and may not be able to supervise the accounts. In the future, all the income and expenses of the manor, big or small, as well as the changes in population, should still be reported to my manor. Understand?"

The several managers understood now. It turned out that the Crown Prince was only relinquishing the income from this place, but everything else still needed to be managed. They all knew Qi Xiao's temperament well and hurriedly kowtowed in agreement. Qi Xiao nodded, "You may go."

The maids went to the outer room to prepare dinner. Bairen lowered his voice and asked urgently, "Your Highness, what are you doing? Such a large manor..."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Then tell me, if you don't want this manor, what other income would your manor have?"

Bairen was at a loss for words.

Qi Xiao glanced outside and pulled Bairen further into the inner room. He sighed softly, "Do you think you can hide the accounts of your manor from me? I heard that before this marriage is even held, you already owe nearly ten thousand taels of silver to the Internal Affairs Department. After Roujia's wedding is over, how do you plan to clear the accounts there?"

Bairen bit his lower lip and said softly, "I have already discussed with the housekeeper... After the wedding, we will clear the gifts received this time. Sell what can be sold, pawn what can be pawned. It should... it should be enough to fill the gap."

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "Sell? Pawn? If people find out, you won't be able to shake off the reputation of being a broke household."

Bairen didn't seem to care much, "So what? Anyway, it's the Lingnan Prince's Manor that's losing face. If the south doesn't send over silver, do you expect me to conjure it out of thin air? I'm already preserving face for both sides. If you push me further, I can only sell the manor. If the Emperor asks, I'll tell the truth. Without money to spend, you can't expect me to starve while living in a huge manor, right?"

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh, "I really do have the heart to let you anger your royal father like this, but I can't bear to. Forget it, just keep what I give you. I have plenty of manors like this, I'm not short of this little bit. I'll still manage it for you this season. When summer comes, I'll hand it all over to you. It'll be a good chance for you to learn to manage things as well."

Bairen wanted to decline, but Qi Xiao frowned, "Do you have to be so clear-cut with me even over this little thing?"

Bairen smiled helplessly, "Alright... Thank you, Your Highness..."

"Who needs your empty words of thanks." Qi Xiao pulled Bairen's hand to lead him out to eat, lazily saying, "Later... show me your sincerity."

After they finished eating, it was already the Hai hour*. So Bairen didn't get to experience the benefits of the hot spring. He just washed up briefly and lay down. When Qi Xiao changed into his inner clothes and lifted the bed curtains, he saw Bairen lying there obediently and couldn't help but smile, "You're quite obedient..."

*T/N: Hai hour is 9-11pm.

Qi Xiao flipped over and pressed down on Bairen, chuckling softly, "What are you thinking about? Prince... Do you still remember what I told you this morning?"

Qi Xiao's hands were not behaving, as he spoke, he reached into Bairen's sleepwear and groped and kneaded. Bairen hurriedly pressed down on Qi Xiao's hand and said softly, "Wait... Let me ask you something first..."

Qi Xiao thought Bairen was deliberately stalling for time and said with a smile, "Alright, ask."

Bairen paused for a moment, then said slowly, "I thought about it carefully just now... Are you planning to make some moves in the capital? Otherwise... why would you suddenly bring me out here? And it's not a spur of the moment thing, both sides were prepared. Am I... overthinking it?"

Qi Xiao looked steadily into Bairen's eyes and chuckled softly, "In the end, I can't hide it from you..."