That day, after the two returned home.

Qin Xi prepared a table full of dishes.

All were Lang Bo’s favorites.

He picked up a piece of mapo tofu and said, “The prince used to love eating this the most too.”

This was already the countless time Qin Xi had heard him mention that prince.

He mentioned him when eating!

He mentioned him when drinking water!

He mentioned him when sleeping!

Even when walking, he had to mention him!

In short, since he came here, the words “the prince” were practically on his lips every day.

Never leaving his mouth.

After hearing his words, Qin Xi smiled without speaking.

Lang Bo continued, “For a while, the prince ate it every day, but never got tired of it. At first I didn’t like it, but later following the prince, I grew to love it more and more.”

Qin Xi scooped a spoonful for him with the soup ladle. “Then eat more.”

“Mm.”

But this rough fellow Lang Bo completely failed to notice that Qin Xi’s expression had gradually become somber.

That night, Lang Bo was alone in the courtyard, lying on that rocking chair.

His toes pushing and pushing.

He looked at the swaying tree branches overhead.

Moonlight scattered on the leaves, mottled tree shadows falling down, landing on his face and body.

Completely unaware that at this very moment, Qin Xi was watching him through the window from inside the room.

Her eyes carrying inexplicable emotions.

She poured a cup of water and left the room, placing it beside Lang Bo’s hand, accompanying him in watching the swaying branches overhead and the hazy moonlight.

That night—

Neither of them spoke.

The next day.

Qin Xi pulled him to sit down.

The atmosphere was very heavy.

“What’s wrong, Xi’er?”

“I have something to tell you.” Qin Xi was very serious.

Lang Bo was confused. “What?”

He saw Qin Xi take out a fragrant sachet, place it on the table in front of them, then reach out and push it toward him.

“What’s this?”

“This is something I sewed through the night for you to wear on your person.”

Sewed through the night?

Why such a rush?

Lang Bo picked it up and looked at it. The sachet was very beautiful.

There were no embroidered mandarin ducks on it, only a few bamboo stalks.

But those bamboo stalks were lifelike!

As if they were right before his eyes.

He praised, “It’s really well made.”

“In the future when I’m not by your side, you must remember to wear it. Don’t let it leave your side.”

“Hmm? What?” Lang Bo was shocked.

A pair of confused eyes looked straight at Qin Xi. Qin Xi’s face was full of reluctance as she held back the tears in her eyes, saying, “Brother Lang, do you know? The time I’ve been able to spend with you has been my happiest time. I’ve never been so happy before! And I really want to be with you forever, never to be separated. But there are still many things in your heart that you haven’t been able to let go of. How could I be so selfish as to keep you by my side? Watching you dejected all day, my heart hurts even more than yours!”

“Xi’er, I…”

“Go find the prince! Go help him complete what he needs to complete. After everything has settled down, come back to find me. I’ll always be here waiting for you, waiting for you to return.”

Lang Bo was very shocked and asked her in disbelief, “Are you serious?”

She nodded heavily. “I’m very serious! Actually, during the time we’ve been together, you probably haven’t even noticed yourself that almost every sentence you say involves the prince. Any matter, you can think of him. Even seeing fish swimming in the water, you’d think of him.”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“Don’t apologize to me.” Qin Xi said, “You haven’t wronged me. That you could cast everything aside to come here to find me is already very satisfying for me. Just remember, after you finish handling everything, you must, must come back to find me.”

Though Lang Bo was reluctant, he admitted that Qin Xi was completely right!

He nodded seriously. “Alright, I promise you. After I go to Huyi to find the prince and help the prince and Miss Ji handle all their affairs, I’ll immediately come back to find you.”

Qin Xi’s eyes reddened!

Then she threw herself into his embrace.

Crying softly.

“Brother Lang, you must promise me.”

“I promise you!”

Lang Bo held her tightly.

That same day, Qin Xi packed his travel bag for him.

She gave him many instructions.

Finally, Lang Bo set out on his journey.

…

On the other side, Gaoding.

A carriage hurriedly arrived at the city gate.

The guards at the gate stopped the carriage.

“Who’s in the carriage? Come down for routine inspection.”

The person on horseback said, “From the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate.”

“Marquis of Pingyang’s estate?” The guard thought for a moment and said, “But recently no carriage from the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate has left the city! Do you have a token?”

They didn’t!

The Marquis of Pingyang’s token wasn’t given out casually.

One token equaled the authority of a marquis!

How could these minor followers have one?

Seeing his continued delay in producing it, the guard wondered if there was something suspicious in that carriage.

So he approached the carriage with the long sword in his hand.

Suddenly—

The carriage curtain was yanked open by someone.

A figure leaned halfway out.

Li Cheng glared fiercely at those guards watching the city gate and said, “Don’t you even recognize this young master?”

Ugh!

When the guards saw it was this fellow!

They were frightened on the spot.

They quickly put on welcoming smiles.

Saying, “Oh my, so it’s Young Master Cheng!”

Li Cheng rebuked, “If you recognize me, then get out of the way!”

“Yes, yes, yes.” The guards quickly stepped back and ordered passage.

Li Cheng sat back inside the carriage.

Only then did the carriage enter the city.

A person who had just been transferred to Gaoding to serve as a minor gate official asked the person beside him, “Who exactly is this person?”

The guard from earlier said, “The young master of the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate!”

“Ah?”

“You’d better get a good look at him. Whatever you do, don’t offend him.”

“Why?”

The newly hired guard had just asked when the other guards laughed.

“Just remember one thing: better to offend a petty person than to offend the young master of the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate. That person is Gaoding’s famous little tyrant!”

That phrase “little tyrant” was said very loudly.

With Li Cheng’s return, Gaoding would probably be turned upside down again!

And those young ladies and misses who knew he’d returned would probably trample the threshold of the Marquis of Pingyang’s estate flat.

Inside the carriage.

Li Wenshu looked seriously at the slightly smug Li Cheng.

She scolded him, “Don’t be so ostentatious.”

“Ostentatious?” Li Cheng opened the folding fan in his hand and said, “Where did elder sister see me being ostentatious? I just showed my face to let those people allow us into the city.”

“In any case, just don’t make too big a commotion!”

“I know, I know!” Li Cheng was clearly somewhat impatient, and asked puzzledly, “By the way, elder sister, I haven’t been away from Gaoding for that long! Why are they so strict about entering and leaving the city now? Has something big happened in the capital?”

Previously, entering and leaving Gaoding’s city gate, those guards wouldn’t check so strictly at all.

What exactly had happened?

Why was it suddenly like this?

Li Wenshu also thought about it, also puzzled in her heart.

“I’m not very clear either!” But one thing was certain: something big must have happened in Gaoding!