After a night of rain and sweet dreams, Qi Xiao woke up at dawn the next day. He lifted the bed curtain and glanced at the water clock outside, then sat up quietly.

"Your Highness..." Bairen opened his eyes groggily, "Are you going to court today?"

Qi Xiao sat back on the bed, leaned down and affectionately kissed Bairen's forehead, whispering, "Sleep a bit more, I'll come back at noon to have lunch with you."

Bairen rubbed his eyes, also looked outside, and sat up saying, "I won't sleep anymore, it's not early. Let them come in to attend to your washing up, having some food and changing clothes is proper."

Qi Xiao's heart ached. If it were before, this little bit of movement wouldn't have woken Bairen at all. Even if he was occasionally woken up, Qi Xiao only needed to coax him a little and Bairen could sleep again. But now...

In just half a year, how could a person's living habits change so much?

Bairen didn't know what Qi Xiao was thinking. He tied up his own hair, knelt up and pulled the clothes on the small table beside the bed to help Qi Xiao get dressed. Qi Xiao pressed him back onto the bed, saying softly, "It's cool in the early morning, don't get up yet."

Bairen smiled, "I'm awake anyway, what's the point of lying down?"

"Rest." Qi Xiao buttoned up his own clothes and smiled gently, "Sleep a bit more, you won't have time for a nap this afternoon."

Bairen blinked, "Is there something happening?"

"After lunch, Aunt wants to visit the He Manor. She has to tell Roujia about Kangtai's matter after all. Aunt asked me before if I was going, and I thought you must miss your sister, so I agreed."

Qi Xiao ruffled Bairen's hair, "You can come with me, and there's no need to go to great lengths to disguise yourself, just have someone make some small changes, I'll bring more people, no one will pay attention to you. Go see your sister, and take a look at the child too, alright?"

Bairen paused, then shook his head with a smile, "Forget it, knowing that she and my nephew are well is enough, there's no need to go to such trouble. Roujia didn't recognize me last time because she was still in confinement. Now that she's in good spirits, she might be able to see through it. Plus there's also Princess Dunsu, she has sharp eyes, I'm afraid it won't be easy to fool her."

Qi Xiao sighed softly, "You don't need to be so careful for my sake, do you think I'm afraid of them?"

"Of course you're not afraid." Bairen smiled, got up to tidy Qi Xiao's hair, and said softly, "But there's no need... It's best to keep a low profile at this juncture. My being here is already causing trouble for you, how can I stir up more problems? Besides, it's not like we'll never see each other again, why take the risk?"

Bairen's eyes were smiling, "When the great matter is accomplished, there will naturally be a time to meet. Your Highness definitely won't let me wait in vain."

Qi Xiao's heart warmed. He lowered his head and kissed Bairen's lips, rubbing his waist and said, "Later have them attend to your bath, put more blood-invigorating and fatigue-relieving herbs in the pool."

Bairen nodded and lay back down.

In the bedchamber of Chengqian Palace, the Emperor's cheeks were flushed red as he leaned against the large pillow, panting heavily. Fu Hailu carefully helped the Emperor regulate his breathing, advising in a low voice, "What kind of temperament the Second Prince has, even if others don't know, Your Majesty is clear, right? How could he really disobey Your Majesty? He just suffers from not being good with words. Your Majesty, look at the Crown Prince, he doesn't make the slightest mistake in his speech, but so what? Could it be that he has more filial piety than the Second Prince?"

The Emperor was still overcome with anger, slapping the bed and raging, "I've only been lying down for a few days and he's already getting impatient, these past days he's been hinting at wanting official duties, saying it nicely, that he wants to share my burdens. Does he think I'm really muddled by illness?! He thinks I can't hold on anymore and is eager to seize power!"

Fu Hailu inwardly cried bitterly. Just now when Qi Hua came to pay respects, he mentioned this year's salt permit matter and said there was a post lacking someone. Qi Hua then said he was willing to go train and gain experience.

It was nothing originally, but who knew the Emperor would get angry immediately, not only smashing the medicine in his hand on Qi Hua's head and face, but also sternly reprimanding Qi Hua in front of everyone. Qi Hua lost all face inside and out, and left in the end with his head hanging in shame.

The Emperor's temperament had greatly changed since falling ill. Fu Hailu didn't dare persuade too much, only picking pleasant things to say. He laughed, "Your Majesty is joking again, what do you mean can't hold on? These two days Your Majesty's illness has improved a lot. The weather is also gradually warming up, even better for recuperating. In a few days you can fully recover."

Mentioning this made the Emperor more irritated. He frowned, "For an illness that's neither light nor serious to drag on without getting better, might as well have Physician Liu add more medicine so that it can heal faster."

"Oh no, that won't do." Fu Hailu hurriedly stopped him, "What kind of way is that to treat an illness? Your Majesty... This servant dares to say, at the start Physician Liu already said that for this illness, 30% depends on medicine and 70% on nursing. You always get angry which is truly detrimental to the condition, that's why it can't be cured. Your Majesty needs to endure more, if not for anything else, then for the sake of the dragon body, you must get angry less often."

The Emperor waved his hand in annoyance, "You want me to get angry less? Then they also have to stop deliberately provoking my anger... Where is the Crown Prince? Why didn't he come today?"

"There are too many matters in the imperial court, the Crown Prince can't get away." Fu Hailu shook his head inwardly. Qi Xiao isn't stupid, knowing the Emperor's temper is bad yet still going to clash with him. Fortunately he doesn't often come to pay respects usually, so no one criticizes him.

The few princes below only suffer, they're used to acting as filial sons, coming to pay respects morning and night daily. Now they have to come several times a day. Incidents like earlier are simply commonplace. Even the Third Prince with the sweetest mouth is often reprimanded by the Emperor!

Fu Hailu carefully cooled the re-boiled medicine and fed it to the Emperor spoonful by spoonful, saying softly, "Your Majesty, this servant isn't talking too much, it's fine to give the Second Prince some duties, always better than letting that person monopolize power in the front."

The Emperor paused, and after a while said, "Do you really think I'm muddled by illness?"

Fu Hailu hurriedly put down the medicine bowl and knelt to beg forgiveness, "This servant doesn't dare."

"Get up... Do you really think I can punish you for your crimes? I'm not confused... Now I have the will but lack the strength, so I have no choice but to hand over court affairs to Qi Xiao. It's not a big deal, at most he'll just buy some people's hearts and insert a few of his own people in important positions, that's all. As long as I recover, I can immediately take back the power.

"However he changed things before, I'll change them right back. But if I let Qi Hua also interfere..." The Emperor laughed mockingly, "Do you think Qi Hua is a match for Qi Xiao? The other side can easily trip him up with a small move, and it would be even more troublesome if they really got into an irreconcilable conflict. That's why I've never allowed him to interfere much, to avoid falling into Qi Xiao's trap. But this thing, this thing... cough..."

As the Emperor spoke, he started coughing again. Fu Hailu quickly brought over some soothing tea to feed to the Emperor. The Emperor took a sip and coughed for a good while before stopping. He had been coughing for half a day, his face was purple from being stifled, his chest wheezing like a bellows, quite frightening. Fu Hailu gently patted him and sighed, "A father's heart under heaven is pitiful... Your Majesty doing this for the Second Prince is truly rare."

The Emperor coughed a couple more times and sneered, "Rare? Ha... Haha... I'm afraid only you think so. Now just because I doted on Consort Xue and her son a bit more, he treats the third prince with disdain, respectful to my face but who knows how much resentment he harbors in his heart."

"Not at all, not at all, Your Majesty is overthinking it." Fu Hailu kept persuading him, smiling, "Your Majesty, aren't you the same? Although you're angry at the Second Prince in your heart, you've still been secretly planning for him. It's a father-son instinct. The Second Prince is the same. Perhaps he's jealous that you dote on the Third Prince, but in his heart... his filial piety towards Your Majesty is the same as before."

The Emperor smiled bitterly, "I hope so..."

The Emperor suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, I heard that Qi Xiao also fell ill half a month ago. Every day after court he returns to his residence and handles all documents there. Is that true? What illness does he have?"

Fu Hailu frowned and said in a low voice, "This servant has also heard about it. It can't be determined from the Imperial Physician Institute... Those who usually take the Crown Prince's pulse are all his trusted aides. Who knows if the pulse records are real or fake? Even if you ask, you won't get answers.

"As for the Crown Prince's residence... the weather is too cold, the Crown Prince doesn't go outside much anymore and stays in the inner courtyard all day. Huo Rong can't find out what's going on inside. Your Majesty knows that those who follow the Crown Prince have mouths like saw-toothed gourds, you can't pry them open.

"I only heard... his previous illness seemed to be from exhaustion, fatigue of body and mind, overexertion that damaged his health. I heard the Crown Prince's residence is now going to great lengths to nourish the Crown Prince, with the kitchen constantly making all kinds of nourishing foods."

The Emperor sneered, "Hmph... I can't attend to court affairs, so he must be overjoyed and worrying too much."

Fu Hailu smiled, "Probably."

"Tell Huo Rong to keep a close eye on him." The Emperor had spoken for half a day and was already exhausted. He lay down and said in a low voice, "I'm ill, don't let him stir up trouble at this juncture."

Fu Hailu stepped forward to tuck in the Emperor's quilt and nodded, "Yes."

The Emperor was a bit sleepy and muttered, "And Qi Hua... have someone watch over him too, don't let him... fall into someone else's trap..."

"What?" Fu Hailu leaned in closer, "What did Your Majesty just say?"

The Emperor closed his eyes, already asleep.

In the afternoon, the sky outside turned overcast. Before long, it began snowing again. Bairen didn't go to the He Manor. Qi Xiao was also too lazy to go. Using the bad weather as an excuse, he had someone inform Princess Dunsu and left it at that.

Outside, the snow was flying, but inside the warm pavilion of the Crown Prince's residence, the atmosphere was full of spring. Qi Xiao and Bairen were nestled on the arhat bed, the bed piled with many soft pillows. Qi Xiao leaned against the head of the bed, holding Bairen in his arms. Bairen held a small silver-engraved hot-water bottle, and they were also covered with a thick, warm camel wool embroidered blanket, extremely comfortable.

Bairen had eaten a lot at lunch and was a bit sleepy. He leaned against Qi Xiao's chest, talking intermittently. Qi Xiao held him with one arm while reading documents with the other, his attention divided but not neglecting either.

Bairen was half-asleep. Qi Xiao simply put aside the documents, pulled him to his side and laughed, "If you're sleepy, just sleep. How come you're still fighting it like a child, do you want me to coax you?"

Bairen smiled with his eyes closed and said softly, "Then coax me."

Qi Xiao smiled, took the small hot-water bottle from Bairen's arms, felt his belly that had been warmed up, and said in a low voice, "Don't hold this while sleeping, in case it presses uncomfortably later."

Bairen nodded with his eyes half-closed, snuggling into Qi Xiao's embrace. Qi Xiao felt extremely content. Fortunately, this habit hadn't changed... when not in front of others, he still liked to act spoiled with him.

"By the way..." Bairen suddenly opened his eyes, his energy returning, and looked fixedly at Qi Xiao, "That girl, the one who looks like me, has she been married off?"

Qi Xiao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Not yet, what's the rush?"

Bairen's sleepiness completely vanished. He wanted to go back to Lingnan next month. If that girl was still here, how could he be at ease?

Seeing Bairen's look as if facing a great enemy, Qi Xiao understood in his heart, but couldn't help teasing him. He shook his head and smiled, "After all, she's considered my senior maid, and was even bestowed to me by the Emperor. How can she be married off so easily? Besides, she followed me for a while. Although nothing happened, I still have to fulfill some master-servant affection and prepare some dowry for her."

The King of Lingnan became very wary and said, "No matter, I'll prepare it for her."

Qi Xiao shook his head again, "We still need to choose a good date..."

Bairen's little brows furrowed. Qi Xiao laughed loudly, kissed Bairen's forehead and said, "Alright, alright... I'm just teasing you. I'll listen to you and betroth her immediately, how about that?"

Bairen was indignant. Qi Xiao laughed, flipped Bairen over, and coaxed in a low voice, "Okay, this husband was just teasing you. Let me taste... if your mouth is all sour with vinegar?"

Qi Xiao held Bairen and kissed him dotingly. Just as his hands were getting naughty, Jiang Deqing knocked on the door panel outside and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Your Highness..."

Qi Xiao didn't want to pay attention. His hands slid lower and lower, caressing Bairen's buttocks gently. Bairen's face was all red as he urgently begged for mercy, "Don't... they can hear outside."

Qi Xiao tightly grasped his arms and said with a smile, "Don't make a sound, they definitely can't hear..." As he spoke, who knows where Qi Xiao's hand touched, a sweet moan escaped Bairen's throat. Qi Xiao said in a deep voice, "Deliberately provoking me?"

"Your Highness... Your Highness!"

Jiang Deqing's voice grew louder and louder. Bairen desperately held onto his undergarments, pleading in a low voice, "Your Highness, please don't mess around... What if something happens?"

Left with no choice, Qi Xiao released his grip and straightened his clothes. "Come in," he said.

Jiang Deqing also realized that he had likely interrupted his master's intimate moment. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he bowed deeply to apologize before speaking, "Your Highness, in the palace... something has happened to the Second Prince..."