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

Chapter 201: Young and frivolous, showing off one's talent

On the twelfth month of Tang Ling's birthday, they were still in Fenglin Mountain. At that time, they had already moved camp out of the valley with the hot springs and were truly sleeping in the open air in the snow and ice.

On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was good. Qi Xiao and Tang Ling's team took advantage of the weather and walked an extra twenty miles. When they arrived at the campsite, Qinglan almost fell to his knees. Not only were his legs numb, but his back was also almost broken.

Tang Ling gritted her teeth and held on all the way. When she relaxed, she almost fainted on the ground. Ye Huai quickly grabbed her and helped her sit in the corner.

"Qinglan!"

Qinglan heard Ye Huai calling out and turned to look over. Seeing Tang Ling's pale face, she knew that he was ill but still holding on. She hurriedly crawled over using her hands and feet to take Tang Ling's pulse.

"How is the young master?"

"What's wrong? You've been overworked! The cold has spread to your lungs!" Qing Lan took out the prepared pills from her bag and fed them to Tang Ling, muttering to him, "Sir! Tell me if you feel unwell! How many times have I asked you along the way? If you keep it from me, you won't get sick? This is really annoying!"

"Shh... Qinglan, I have a headache."

"You still feel uncomfortable? Do you feel uncomfortable now?"

Ye Huai pulled Qing Lan and shook his head slightly at him: "I'll go make a fire and boil the snow."

"hurry up."

As soon as Ye Huai left, Qi Xiao came over with some dry firewood. Seeing Tang Ling's drowsy appearance, Qi Xiao became anxious and asked Qing Lan, "What's wrong with your young master? Where does he feel unwell?"

"It's okay, I'm just tired." Tang Ling pinched Qinglan quietly, signaling him not to talk too much.

Qing Lan glanced at Tang Ling, took a deep breath, and turned to Qi Xiao: "My master is sick and needs to rest."

"Are you sick?" Qi Xiao quickly lit a fire and asked Qing Lan, "Is it serious? Do you have medicine? Take a day off tomorrow."

"I have a cold, a slight fever and a headache, but it's not too serious. I just took the medicine. But my medicine is not a magic pill, and you have always been in poor health. I can't leave you alone. You need to take good care of me tonight."

Qi Xiao walked over to Tang Ling, took off his armor, sat down next to him, and held him in his arms in front of Qing Lan: "I'll take care of him."

Qinglan snorted softly: "It's you who ordered the march."

Qi Xiao lowered his eyes and looked at Tang Ling: "Sorry."

"Ignore Qinglan, he's ignorant."

"Master! I..." Qing Lan pouted. It was his fault after all. Okay, he was being naive again. He was getting in the way. "I'm going to find Ye Huai! Melt the snow and boil some water!"

Qinglan walked away angrily, and Tang Ling and Qi Xiao couldn't help laughing.

"It's clearly not Qinglan's fault. Since you're sick, why are you still hiding it from me?"

"It's nothing serious."

Qi Xiao shook his head: "Today is the sixth day of the lunar year, your birthday. You haven't experienced a birthday so full of disasters and hardships, have you?"

Tang Ling laughed. "Not only have I never experienced a birthday like this, I've never even experienced a day like this. I'm the son of Marquis Xun'an of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I was raised in pampered surroundings. How could I have ever experienced such hardships?"

"Okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong."

Tang Ling leaned against Qi Xiao's neck, feeling his warmth. It was more comfortable than the warmth of the fire beside her. She slowly closed her eyes and whispered, "It's good that you know you were wrong."

"But I feel sorry for you. Qinglan feels sorry for you too."

"I know. Don't worry, I know my own body well and I'm not forcing anything."

Qi Xiao sighed: "Nonsense."

Tang Ling smiled and stopped arguing. He was so tired and had no strength left. He didn't even have the energy to speak or sigh. He just leaned comfortably on Qi Xiao's chest and let him sleep for a while.

When Ye Huai and Qing Lan came back, Tang Ling had already fallen asleep.

Qi Xiao made a gesture to silence them and drove them both away. He and Tang Ling hugged each other and did not allow anyone to disturb them.

Tang Ling had a fever that night and was in severe pain. She couldn't help but curl up like a wounded animal. Qi Xiao held her tightly in his arms, feeling her burning body and shivering, and hurriedly called Qing Lan over.

"how is he?"

Qing Lan frowned and couldn't help but glared at Qi Xiao. "The pills don't work. I'll make a new prescription and have the young master take it later. Don't sleep tonight. If his fever doesn't go away after an hour, we'll have to think of another way."

"okay, I get it."

"You, are not allowed to sleep!" Qinglan did not forget to emphasize it again before leaving.

Qi Xiao knew that Qinglan was still holding a grudge against Lan Quan for the time when he made the seriously injured Tang Ling sleep on the floor. He slept so soundly at night that he didn't even notice Tang Ling was delirious with fever.

"I won't sleep. I won't let anything happen to him."

"Something's already happened!"

Qi Xiao was not angry. It was his fault that he did not take good care of Tang Ling. He knew that she would insist on walking, but he still ordered them to walk another twenty miles. If she had rested earlier, she would not have been so sick.

About an incense stick later, Qinglan came back with a bowl of boiling hot medicine. However, after walking a few steps, the medicine had already cooled down.

"Hurry and feed it to the master while it's hot."

Tang Ling was woken up by Qi Xiao from her daze: "Hmm?"

"Drink the medicine."

Tang Ling smelled the strong and pungent smell of medicine and unconsciously turned her head away, frowning deeply.

"Be good, you won't feel uncomfortable after you drink the medicine." Qi Xiao coaxed him softly, holding Tang Ling's chin with one hand, half coaxing and half forcing Tang Ling to drink the whole bowl of medicine.

"Well...cough cough cough..."

Qinglan watched from the side and couldn't help but muttered softly: "Young Master is afraid of bitterness, but there is no sugar around me."

Qi Xiao sighed softly. They had been crossing mountains and rivers all the way, and it was lucky to have food and medicine. Forget about sugar and honey. It was just that he didn't know that Tang Ling was afraid of hardship. If he had known earlier, he should have kept a bag of candied fruits on her body, which didn't take up much space.

Tang Ling pushed the empty medicine bowl away and snuggled into Qi Xiao's arms again: "Don't listen to Qinglan's nonsense. I've wished I was raised in a medicine jar since I was a child. I can't be afraid of anything except suffering."

Qing Lan was disgusted by the way Tang Ling and Qi Xiao were flirting with each other. She took the empty medicine bowl and turned away, saying, "Take the second dose in an hour."

Qi Xiao felt Tang Ling tremble slightly in his arms.

Qi Xiao couldn't help but laugh silently, but Tang Ling still noticed: "What are you laughing at? Are you happy to see me in pain?"

"On Yongcheng's long street, I stopped Su Qin's troops and saw you trapped in the prison van. At that time, you just looked up and glanced at me and ignored me. You were so aloof and cold. You endured all kinds of insults and harsh treatment from Su Qin, but you remained fearless and unyielding, calm and composed... I never thought that you would be willing to lie in my arms and act coquettishly, which would be the greatest happiness in the world."

"Weren't you the one who made Su Qin insult and mistreat me so harshly? Now you're trying to be nice?"

"As for being a hero saving a beautiful woman, I had to create the opportunity myself." Qi Xiao raised his hand to wipe the sweat from Tang Ling's forehead. "You were also ill at that time, and I used drugs to trigger your illness, causing you to faint for a long time. Fortunately, it's not too late for regrets."

Tang Ling couldn't help but laugh out loud. "If you keep saying that, I'm starting to suspect you're deliberately making me walk an extra twenty miles just to make me sick so you can have your way."

"I dare not, and I can't bear to." Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's hands. His palms seemed to be hotter than Tang Ling's.

"Yeah." Tang Ling smiled and clasped Qi Xiao's fingers. The two of them overlapped and held each other's hands, as if it was a silent oath to hold hands with each other and never leave each other.

"Let's sleep a little longer."

"I don't want to sleep anymore. Please talk to me." Today is Tang Ling's birthday, and he doesn't want to spend it marching or sleeping.

"Okay. I'll stay with you. What are you going to say?"

"Happy birthday to me."

"Happy birthday."

Tang Ling raised her face and looked at Qi Xiao, her smile becoming less sickly.

"Is a blessing enough? Ziyi, you are too easily satisfied."

Tang Ling was slightly stunned, then smiled and asked, "In this deep mountain forest, amidst the icy snow, what other gift can you prepare for me?"

"Although it's not the best, it's just a token of my appreciation. I'll make it up to you someday."

Qi Xiao pulled out a long, thin wooden box from his sleeve. It was plain and simple, with no carvings or patterns. He opened the box and found a silver hairpin inside. It was very simple and inconspicuous.

"Is this considered paying me back? Why do I feel like I'm at a disadvantage? If you did it yourself, I'll forgive you."

The hairpin that Qi Xiao took away from Tang Ling was made of white jade. At the very least, it could be exchanged for a hundred taels of silver. But when it came to Qi Xiao, it was a silver hairpin that could be worth at least three or five taels.

Qi Xiao pondered for a moment, then said guiltily, "It really wasn't me."

"Then you..." Tang Ling looked up at Qi Xiao. Seeing his timid look, she suddenly narrowed her eyes and asked, "Tell me the truth, are you teasing me?"

"This is truly a birthday gift for you, and it's certainly not made by me. However, this silver hairpin may not look worth much, but it has one good thing about it. Other hairpins are priceless."

As Qi Xiao spoke, he took the hairpin out of the wooden box and held it in his hand. With a twist of his thumb, the hairpin suddenly grew two inches longer, like a sharp blade.

Qi Xiao held the hairpin up to Tang Ling's eyes and said, "This hairpin is made of black iron, so it's incredibly hard. The two-inch edge is incredibly sharp, and it has a blood groove. If it pierces a vital part, it can kill. Have Qinglan put some anesthetic in it. Even a small wound can paralyze someone. Forget about poison, but be sure not to hurt yourself."

Qi Xiao twisted the hairpin again and retracted the tip of the needle. The tip was round and blunt, and there was no sign of a mechanism hidden inside.

Tang Ling was a little surprised. Qi Xiao gave him this thing now to prepare for any emergency after joining Qi.

"With Ye Huai and Xing Luowei, I will be fine."

"I know, but I'm still worried." Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling, his brows furrowed. "I wish I could build a strong wall around you..."

Forget Ye Huai and the Xingluo Guards. Even if a hundred thousand elite soldiers were guarding Tang Ling, Qi Xiao wouldn't feel at ease. On the battlefield, swords are merciless. Who can guarantee that no one will be hurt? Even Qi Xiao himself couldn't guarantee he'd return unscathed. He couldn't avoid worrying about Tang Ling's absence.

Tang Ling gently squeezed Qi Xiao's arm: "Won't you put it on for me?"

"Okay, I'll put it on you." Qi Xiao replaced Tang Ling's hairpin with a silver one, saying, "I'll keep yours for now."

Tang Ling laughed: "What does it mean by Lao Shun my hairpin?"

"My birthday is February 19th. Consider this hairpin a gift for me."

If everything goes well, Qi Xiao will have already penetrated deep into Qi State by February, and Tang Ling will be guarding Bashan.

Tang Ling was silent for a moment. Before he could say anything, Qi Xiao whispered in his ear, "Hairpins have been a token of love since ancient times. Besides me, do you want to give it to someone else?"

Perhaps due to the cold and fever, Tang Ling's face was flushed and hot.

"...I've already given you one..." Tang Ling moved and shrank into her coat, as if hiding from something.

Qi Xiao wrapped his arms around Tang Ling's waist, holding her tighter in his arms. He leaned closer to her ear and laughed playfully, "Stop it, you're rubbing me so hard I can't bear it any longer."

"...I'm tired and need to sleep for a while. Don't disturb me." Tang Ling turned her head and ignored Qi Xiao. That man was good at taking advantage of others and she must not be given any chance.

Qi Xiao smiled and gently rubbed Tang Ling's forehead with the back of his finger: "Okay, you go to sleep."

Tang Ling closed her eyes to rest, but Qi Xiao had some bad intentions. He followed Tang Ling's fingers to unbutton his cuffs and kept touching his sleeves.

The cold wind blew into Tang Ling's sleeves as Qi Xiao moved, causing him to tremble slightly.

Qi Xiao's fingertips stroked Tang Ling's wrist and forearm. The wound on his arm had healed. Although the wound was deep and long, after Qinglan's careful care for several months, only a faint scar remained. It was almost invisible, and Qi Xiao could not feel it, but he knew clearly where the wound was, so his fingers stopped there and stroked it gently.

"Itchy." Tang Ling couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore, so she gently pressed down Qi Xiao's restless hand with her backhand.

"I have something else for you. Wait a moment."

Qi Xiao reached out for the bag beside his armor. Inside the bag was a set of leather arm guards, which looked a bit like the arm guards Qi Xiao used for training eagles, but they were not exactly the same. Tang Ling had never seen arm guards with such a complicated style.

Qi Xiao rolled up Tang Ling's sleeves and tied the arm guard on him, and put five sleeve arrows into the quiver of the arm guard. The sleeve arrows were about two inches long and thinner than the silver hairpin given by Qi Xiao. It was said that the sleeve arrows were comparable to silver needles.

"These sleeve arrows and silver hairpins were both made by Master Panyun. While not as indestructible as Chenyuan's, they're still strong enough to withstand the blows of ordinary swords. If danger truly arises, these five sleeve arrows are enough to withstand sword blows. They can be fired separately, with a range of approximately five meters. Anyone struck within ten meters will be killed. There's also a secret box on the side of the inner arm containing fifty Torrential Pear Blossom Needles, a last resort."

Tang Ling couldn't help but turn her head to look at Qi Xiao, speechless for a moment. After a long while, she asked, "When did you... prepare it? Did you ask Bai Xiqiao to go back to Yongcheng to get it?"

From Yuanjing City to Fenglin Mountain, Qi Xiao and Tang Ling were together all the time, traveling day and night. Only Baixi Bridge went ahead after getting off the boat at Lanquan.

Qi Xiao nodded and chuckled, "I paid a large sum of money to buy these two items simply for Master Pan Yun's reputation. I had no idea what use they would have in my hands. I never expected that they would be the most giftable of all the various magical weapons I have collected."

"Thank you, I like it very much."

Tang Ling raised her hand and carefully stroked the arm guard. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and she asked, "Master Panyun's work should have a name, right?"

Like that set of shackles, they were engraved with the words "Dust and Fate", which gave this cruel and cold object a layer of poetry and painting, and seemed to be full of Zen meaning.

Qi Xiao nodded, gently pulled out the hairpin and handed it to Tang Ling: "It's called Qinian."

"A young age? A young age with a glorious reputation, a young age with a distinguished reputation?"

A silver hairpin hints at youthful arrogance and audacity, or perhaps it's the youth's unwavering ambition and determination. Tang Ling couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt the name Qi Nian perfectly captured its meaning.

"Exactly." Qi Xiao chuckled, put the silver hairpin back on Tang Ling, and said, "Becoming famous at a young age suits you, doesn't it?"

Tang Ling raised her arm and looked at the arm guard carefully. Seeing no inscription, she asked Qi Xiao, "What about this one?"

"It's engraved on the inside. It says Nanxun."

"Is it the Nanxun from Guqin Nanxun?"

"Yes."

Tang Ling couldn't help but laugh. "Master Panyun is truly interesting. The ancient qin, Nanxun, has been lost for hundreds of years and is said to have been destroyed long ago. I never thought Master Panyun would make this arm guard in Nanxun's name."

"I'll give you a chance to try shooting a short arrow with this arm guard, and you'll understand. The sharp arrow piercing the air is as long as the sound of Nanxun plucking a string."

"A deadly weapon can possess the beauty of music. Isn't Master Panyun a remarkable person?"

"Name it Nanxun. Perhaps Master Panyun doesn't want the short arrow to fly through the air." Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed Tang Ling's forehead. "I don't want you to need it either."

"...Then you should come back early."

"Okay. Wait until I get back."