Bairen was afraid of letting people see him, and didn't even leave the door of the main courtyard every day. Fortunately, he didn't feel bored either, as he could see Qi Xiao every day. Not to mention only being able to stay in this courtyard, even if he was only allowed to stay in one room and go nowhere else, Bairen would be willing.

This was even more in line with Qi Xiao's intentions. After that hidden injury healed and there was no need to avoid certain foods, Qi Xiao had the kitchen staff make various delicacies every day like a flowing banquet.

Not to mention the main meals, just the desserts placed in the room had a fixed number set by Qi Xiao - changed every half hour, with more savory and meaty ones before lunch, and more steamed egg and milk desserts after lunch, with twelve varieties each time, not allowed to be repeated within two days. Each time they were taken away, it had to be recorded which types Bairen ate and how many of each he ate.

The chefs whose desserts Bairen ate more of would receive additional rewards. The daily meals followed this example as well. Seeing this, the kitchen staff made increasingly exquisite dishes, desserts and soups, and within a few days, their skills nearly rivaled the imperial kitchen.

Bairen had lived like an ascetic monk in Lingnan for the past six months. Now that his longing was resolved, seeing such exquisite and tempting food, he indeed ate much more. An old maid who had served Qi Xiao for many years, fearing that his sudden appetite would lead to indigestion, specially made candied hawthorn to help Bairen digest, which was quite effective. Qi Xiao immediately rewarded her a purse of gold pieces.

Being pampered with fine food and drink like this, in just ten days, Bairen seemed like a different person. There was some color in his face, his chin became rounder, and he gained some flesh on his body, no longer looking so frightening. When the two lay down at night, Qi Xiao held the person in his arms and sighed softly, "Indeed...I am the best medicine to treat you."

Bairen laughed out loud. Qi Xiao smiled and pinched his chin, saying softly, "Have you been bored these past few days?"

Bairen shook his head, "I have to write documents for Lingnan during the day, and play chess and talk with you in the evenings, so it's alright. You've also been cooped up in this room as soon as you return to the residence these days, do you find it dull?"

Qi Xiao smiled, "Not at all, it has a special charm."

Bairen raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.

Qi Xiao smiled smugly, "The charm of keeping a beauty hidden away, you wouldn't understand."

Bairen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He turned to lie down, but Qi Xiao hurriedly stopped him, laughing, "Don't sleep yet, sleeping now may cause indigestion and harm your health instead. Let's talk for a bit."

"What should we talk about?" Bairen thought for a moment and said, "Oh right, I just received a letter from Lingnan this morning and wanted to tell you, but you went to court and I muddleheadedly forgot when you returned...Kangtai said she wants to marry."

Qi Xiao laughed in surprise, "She wants to marry already? Haha...alright, which one did she pick?"

Qi Xiao still vaguely remembered what Princess Dunsu told him about the situation of those few families. It was quite a feat for Kangtai to be able to pick a satisfactory one.

After a while, Bairen said, "The son of the cousin of the princess consort...the second son of Lord Li, the Vice Minister of Works."

Qi Xiao remembered now, it was the young master whose family had a formidable first wife. Qi Xiao laughed, "Among the few men picked for her, only this family doesn't want a principal wife, but is eager for her to be a concubine, haha...after all, it runs in the family."

Bairen lowered his eyes, "She's actually not stupid. The other person is a madman who torments the women in his household, so naturally he won't do. The illegitimate grandson of the princess consort's younger sister...is short-lived. It's uncertain if she could even conceive a child after marrying him, and even if she could, it's uncertain if it would be a boy. Plus, he's illegitimate, so how much of the family fortune could he inherit in the future? Guarding his widowhood is not worthwhile."

"But if she marries this second son of Lord Li, there will be more room to maneuver...He has no children, and Madam Li intends to take a noble concubine for her son to put on a show against her daughter-in-law. After entering the household, she will naturally favor her more. If Kangtai can really give birth to a boy, she will have someone to rely on in the future, and that will suffice."

Bairen smiled sarcastically, "After Queen Mother received the letter, she specially summoned Kangtai and advised her that it would be better to find a well-off farmer family to marry into and live peacefully, rather than be someone's concubine and be tormented. Unfortunately...Kangtai immediately retorted, asking Queen Mother why she didn't betroth Roujia to a farmer family back then."

"Queen Mother is not good at arguing with others, but Nanny Yan is formidable. She immediately came forward and slapped Kangtai twice across the face, asking her if Roujia's full-blooded brothers had also committed treason, and if Roujia's maternal uncles had also committed grave crimes, attempting to overturn the dynasty. Kangtai was immediately silenced."

Qi Xiao said indifferently, "Your Queen Mother pleaded for her quite a bit before, right?"

Bairen sighed, "My imperial mother's weakness lies in this. Her heart is too soft. At that time, I was truly determined to kill Kangtai as well. I had no evidence of her involvement in the treason, but her previous disrespect towards my Queen Mother and bullying of her sisters were all indisputable facts. Plus...if I had died that day and Wenyu succeeded the throne, I don't believe they would have spared the lives of my imperial mother and Roujia.

"The victor becomes king and the defeated a bandit, there's nothing to say. But Queen Mother always stopped it. I understand, imperial mother was afraid I would gain a reputation for massacring my siblings. Later, I wanted Kangtai to guard the door in widowhood for that Xia family boy, to preserve her life. I could see that imperial mother still wanted to persuade me, but she also hesitated, feeling that she shouldn't interfere too much in my affairs, so she held back."

Qi Xiao felt relieved. Although his Queen Mother was a bit too soft-hearted, at least her mind was clear and she knew who was most important. She wouldn't presume to interfere in Bairen's affairs just because she was his mother.

Plus, his Queen Mother's personality wasn't entirely without merit...Qi Xiao's mind wandered, thinking that if the layer of paper between him and Bairen was torn in the future, it probably wouldn't be hard to convince his Queen Mother. Qi Xiao was quite content. If she was really one to scheme and plot, it would be troublesome for him.

Bairen was unaware of Qi Xiao's thoughts and continued slowly, "But Kangtai herself refused to die and was determined to marry. So I won't interfere anymore. The imperial clan can't blame me. I didn't stop her, but someone has to be willing to marry her. If it wasn't for Princess Dunsu pulling strings for her in this direction, just in Lingnan alone...she could wait a lifetime and no one would come to propose. Nanny Yan said, if she wants to marry well, she needs to take a clear look at her own worth now."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao and smiled gratefully, "This past year, Nanny Yan has been a great help. When Queen Mother has something she can't get over or figure out, I try to persuade her. She smiles and says it's fine, but I know she will still repeatedly ponder on my behalf in her heart. But Nanny Yan is different. The words she says can truly reach Queen Mother's heart."

Qi Xiao smiled inwardly, thinking that it was natural. If Old Nanny Yan didn't become Queen Mother's confidant, how could she speak on his behalf in the future? Qi Xiao smiled faintly and said, "What's the point of discussing this between us? If Kangtai is willing, then let it be. Who cares about her? In any case, she won't be able to stir up any trouble."

Bairen nodded, and then asked, "Also... what exactly has been going on with the Emperor's health in the past six months? Some people outside are spreading rumors... saying that it's tuberculosis."

Qi Xiao smiled without saying a word. Bairen sat up with wide eyes and said, "Is it really tuberculosis?"

Qi Xiao shook his head and pulled the quilt over to tuck Bairen in, whispering, "It's not tuberculosis, it's poisoning."

Bairen was shocked, and then realized what it meant. He exclaimed, "Is it..."

Qi Xiao smiled and nodded. Bairen instinctively looked around and lowered his voice, urging, "Are you crazy... what if someone finds out, what if..."

"That's right, I'm just crazy." Qi Xiao lowered his head and affectionately kissed Bairen's forehead, whispering, "Don't worry, there won't be any 'what ifs'."

Qi Xiao held Bairen tightly in his arms again and slowly explained the poisoning matter in detail. Bairen was afraid that there might be some oversight on Qi Xiao's part, so he thought about it carefully for a long time but couldn't find any flaws.

However, he still couldn't put his mind at ease.

Qi Xiao sighed softly, "Bairen... since I returned from Southern Xinjiang last year, I vowed that I would never lie to you again in this life. That's why I told you about this deadly matter. But... I used to lie to you all the time, and it wasn't always to harm you. Many times, I just didn't want you to worry needlessly. Now that I'm not hiding anything from you, you also have to promise me one thing to put my mind at ease."

Bairen nodded blankly. How could he not listen to what Qi Xiao said?

Qi Xiao paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "In eight or nine months at most, or five or six months at least, there will definitely be a major upheaval in the capital. You have to promise me that when the time comes, you will return to Lingnan and pretend you know nothing, and wait for me..."

Bairen interrupted without hesitation, "Impossible. I'm not going anywhere."

"Listen to me first!" Qi Xiao frowned slightly and softened his voice, "Your foundation is in Lingnan. On the imperial city side, to be honest, you being here doesn't help me much, and instead makes me worry. It's better for you to leave far away, so I can put my mind at ease and go all out, which is more beneficial for the greater cause."

Bairen looked at Qi Xiao fixedly and said in a low voice, "There's already a flaw in what you said. You said that you can keep it a secret, so how could anyone know that I came? Besides... who knows that you have true feelings for me except for our own people? Using me to threaten you is a joke in itself."

Qi Xiao was at a loss for words, and then laughed, saying softly, "You've really grown up, using what I taught you before to refute me."

Bairen subconsciously wanted to argue, but still held back. He said again, "Or do you think that if you die, I will live on alone?"

Qi Xiao subconsciously looked at the life talisman at his waist. Bairen lowered his eyes and said softly, "If that day really comes, I will immediately pass the throne to Roujia's legitimate son, and then go with you... I've had enough of living alone."

Qi Xiao's heart ached fiercely. He immediately said, "Forget it, forget it. It's something so far in the future. Why are you worrying about life and death for no reason..."

Bairen also felt sour in his heart and said softly, "How am I worrying for no reason? It's clearly Your Highness who wants me to go back."

Qi Xiao laughed and coaxed gently, "Alright, alright, I misspoke. May the King of Lingnan forgive me."

Bairen's expression improved slightly. Qi Xiao was afraid that he would be upset, so he held him and coaxed him affectionately for a long time.

But in the end, Qi Xiao didn't promise to let Bairen stay. Qi Xiao himself also understood that it wasn't a foolproof plan. No matter what, he wouldn't let Bairen take risks with him. In the future... he would find a way to send him away. Besides, Bairen didn't know when he would take action, and he couldn't always not return to Lingnan. He would definitely find a way to avoid it.

Qi Xiao didn't say anything, and Bairen also avoided mentioning it. He knew that Qi Xiao never allowed him to get involved in such matters. Bairen simply didn't say much more. Now he was no longer the helpless hostage he was back then. When the upheaval came, he would naturally find a way to help Qi Xiao.

But now... Bairen sighed inwardly. There was no point in saying more, so there was no need to argue with Qi Xiao.

While Bairen was lost in thought, Qi Xiao had been gently stroking his back to comfort him, but at some point, it slowly changed in nature, with his hands moving lower and lower. When Bairen came back to his senses, his face turned red, and he slowly shifted into the bed.

Qi Xiao grabbed his waist and chuckled in a deep voice, "It doesn't hurt here anymore, right?"

Bairen hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he honestly shook his head with a blushing face. The smile on Qi Xiao's face grew deeper, and he rolled over to press on top of him...