Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 145: Concubine Lin has passed away. Your Highness, please express your condolences.

In the wing room of the Dali Temple, Qi Xiao and Pei Hao sat by the window drinking hot tea and watching the raindrops falling under the eaves. Qi Xiao was very comfortable in having a half day of leisure in his busy life, but Pei Hao was full of sorrow.

"Didn't Your Highness insist on a thorough investigation of Lord Luo's case? Why are you going back on your word now?"

"I promised to apprehend the real culprit for Lord Luo. Now, aren't Qian Chong and Wang Tangyi already imprisoned in the Dali Temple? How can I possibly return?"

"Just because Longtaixing Bank dared to think of assassinating an imperial official, it's clear that the Qin family is behind this. How can this be considered a thorough investigation?"

Qi Xiao sipped his tea slowly, acting more like a composed old man than Pei Hao. "I know Lord Pei is furious, but now is not the time to act rashly. The Qin family must have a serious reason for taking such a risky move to kill Lord Luo. If we can't find that reason, Qian Chong, Wang Tangyi, and Long Taixing alone won't be able to bring down the Qin family."

Pei Hao sighed deeply. He understood what Qi Xiao said, but he was unwilling to accept it. Luo Yu was dead and there was no evidence. How could the Qin family be so stupid as to leave other evidence waiting for them to investigate?

"Your Highness has the Tiance Camp under his control, and he has a say in His Majesty's presence. At the very least, he shouldn't let Long Taixing's clue slip and hastily close the case."

"Master Pei, why do you think my father gave the Tiance Camp to me?"

Pei Hao shook his head: "Your Majesty's deep meaning, I dare not speculate."

Pei Hao had always been puzzled, but this was not something he could ask or intervene in. If he were to guess, he would think that His Majesty was giving Qi Xiao the opportunity to use the Tiance Camp to investigate people and matters that the Dali Temple and the Jingji Protectorate dared not investigate or touch, such as the Qin family.

Qi Xiao smiled faintly. He had his own suspicions, similar to Pei Hao's, but he didn't want to use Chi Yue just yet. His Majesty had asked him to investigate the case. If he acted too aggressively, it would seem like he was deliberately targeting the Qin family, seeking attention in front of His Majesty, and harboring ambitions to seize the throne. Qi Xiao had to strike a balance and find the right moment.

He could have stopped when he found out about Changming Commercial Firm, but he couldn't bear the fact that Qin was colluding with the Metropolitan Affairs Office to murder Tang Ling. He took advantage of Luo Yu's case to secretly settle the score.

"Master Pei, the most important thing right now is to trace the whereabouts of the military pay from the Ministry of Revenue's accounts. This is the cause of all this, isn't it?"

Pei Hao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, that's exactly what it was!

Luo Yu was dead, and the Ministry of Revenue corruption case was blamed on the eldest prince. The only beneficiaries would be the Qin or Gongsun clan. However, the case was exposed by the Liaoshan Commandery's shortage of military pay. Even the ruthless Gongsun clan couldn't ignore Concubine Zhao and embezzled all the Liaoshan Commandery's military pay, nearly killing the Sixth Prince.

Thinking about it this way, perhaps the military pay case was Qin's attempt to secretly harm the Sixth Prince?!

Qi Xiao looked out the window and said quietly, "The rain seems to be stopping."

The rain has subsided.

Pei Hao wanted to close Luo Yu's case first, so he went to the Jingji Protectorate in person.

Qi Xiao was not in a hurry to investigate the military pay case immediately. After all, the emperor had not given him a clear order. He also wanted to see the reactions of the Qin and Gongsun families in the court before making any plans.

Qi Xiao and Pei Hao left the Dali Temple together. One carriage headed south to the Jingji Protectorate, and the other carriage headed north to the Xixing Palace. Qi Xiao was going to pay his respects to Concubine Lin.

After arriving at the West Palace, the palace maid said that Concubine Lin was asleep. Qi Xiao didn't want to disturb her, but he didn't want to go back just yet, so he waited in the side hall drinking tea.

There was a drizzle, and the wind blew up a misty cloud. Sandalwood was burning in the house, and the smell mixed with the rain and breeze made Qi Xiao suddenly feel relaxed, a rare feeling.

It had been a long time since he had sat alone in such peace and quiet, not thinking about anything, not worrying about anything, letting time fall like the rain, peaceful and natural.

If Tang Ling was around, Qi Xiao would want to play chess or read with him, or just sit and drink a cup of tea.

If there were such a day, would it be the peace and joy that my mother hoped for?

Qi Xiao sighed unconsciously. Although it was difficult, it was not impossible.

Qi Xiao waited for nearly an hour, the sky still gloomy. He estimated it was the end of the afternoon, but Concubine Lin still hadn't woken up. Qi Xiao asked Doctor Fang, who said Concubine Lin had been weak and needed to be nursed back to health, and that it was probably not appropriate to disturb her today, given the damp and cold weather.

Doctor Fang was now living in the West Palace, taking care of Qi Xiao at all times. Qi Xiao felt a little relieved and was about to go back when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.

"Oh no! Doctor Fang! Your Majesty! Lady Lin..."

The rain had begun to fall again, and the West Palace was in chaos.

Qi Xiao stood at the door of Concubine Lin's room, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. He felt as if someone was strangling his neck, making him powerless and suffocating.

"Your Highness..." Liu Shuang walked out of the inner room with red eyes. As soon as she saw Qi Xiao, she couldn't help crying and knelt in front of Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao's heart was horrified, and he rushed into the house: "Doctor Fang?!"

Doctor Fang and the other maids in the room all knelt on the ground and trembled: "Noble Lady Lin has passed away. Your Highness, please accept our condolences."

Qi Xiao was stunned, as if he didn't hear what Doctor Fang said. He looked at the figure vaguely visible under the gauze curtain from half a meter away. It seemed that the figure was just sleeping, just like usual.

Qi Xiao's knees softened and he fell to the ground...

***

It's still raining.

Tang Ling stood by the window, feeling uneasy for some reason. He'd been feeling a bit hazy all day, troubled by the emperor's unpredictable temper, but something else seemed to be weighing on his mind. Was Qi Xiao back? Would he come tonight?

Why did he suddenly feel uneasy?

"Ye Huai."

"Son."

"Go to Yangxizhai and have a look."

"See...?" Of course, he wanted to see if Qi Xiao had come back, but Ye Huai didn't want to go. Although pretending to be stupid wouldn't fool him, at least Tang Ling would understand his resistance.

Tang Ling frowned and sighed softly: "I'll go by myself."

"Sir, it's still raining outside."

The rain had been falling for most of the day. Tang Ling could see it, but he couldn't care less.

"Let's go."

Ye Huai couldn't stop Tang Ling, so he had to accompany her to Yangxizhai with an umbrella. Qinglan was worried, so naturally she wanted to go with them.

As the three of them arrived at the gate of Yangxizhai, they met someone from Xixing Palace who came to report that Concubine Lin had passed away, the mourning hall would be set up in Xixing Palace, and Qi Xiao would not be back tonight.

Shocked, Tang Ling hurriedly asked Qing Lan, "How could this be? Qing Lan, you said Concubine Lin's condition wasn't that serious?"

Qing Lan was also puzzled and said, "Young Master, Concubine Lin has been ill for a long time and her body is already failing. Medication can only delay her recovery, but it really shouldn't be this fast. When I took Concubine Lin's pulse this morning, it was still stable. She hadn't reached the point of... running out of energy..."

"Prepare the carriage and go to the West Palace." Tang Ling was anxious. Qi Xiao must be heartbroken and grief-stricken at this moment. He should at least accompany him.

"Young Master Tang," Chi Yue, who was about to go to the West Palace with Zong Sheng, stopped Tang Ling at the door. "It's probably inappropriate for Young Master Tang to suddenly appear at the West Palace at this time."

Tang Ling was stunned. He knew it, but he couldn't pretend that he knew nothing and leave Qi Xiao alone.

Chi Yue glanced at Zong Sheng, then suddenly sighed and said, "If Young Master Tang trusts me, I can take you into the West Palace, but only you, not your entourage or guards."

Zong Sheng immediately understood Chi Yue's plan and could not hide his surprise. Chi Yue was not the kind of person who would help others for free. Moreover, this was not Qi Xiao's order. Even Tang Ling herself did not ask for help. It was Chi Yue himself who proposed to help.

Tang Ling said without hesitation: "Okay. Thank you." With the Tian Ce Camp's ability to disguise themselves in a thousand different ways, it should be no problem to blend Tang Ling in with Qi Xiao's guards and bring her into the West Palace.

Chi Yue didn't expect Tang Ling to agree so immediately, as if there was no need to consider it at all. Such trust was naturally not given to him, Chi Yue, or there was no trust at all. It was just for Qi Xiao that Tang Ling was willing to take the risk, without even considering the degree of danger, even if it meant losing her life. Is that okay?

"Master!" Qing Lan was the first to disagree, "At least let Ye Huai follow!"

"It doesn't matter. You and Ye Huai go back to Huaxi Villa, and don't let others know that I'm not here."

Qing Lan refused: "The Marquis has ordered that Ye Huai must never leave the young master's side!"

Tang Ling didn't have time to argue, so she could only take a step back: "Ye Huai, drive and wait for me at the gate of Xixing Palace."