After talking with Roujia for half a day, Bairen returned to his study. He had intended to calm his mind and write a few words, but before he could even grind the ink, Wenyu came looking for him.

Bairen never had much to say to this younger brother of his. Back in Lingnan, the two had openly and secretly fought for many years, harming each other plenty. Concubine Xia had long ago torn off her facade with the main branch.

Now that there were no outsiders here, Bairen couldn't be bothered to keep up appearances either. He merely glanced at Wenyu and said indifferently, "Does second brother have something to discuss?"

Wenyu still smiled cheerfully, shaking his head. "Nothing much, just that I didn't get to exchange more than a few words with big brother yesterday and missed you dearly. Has big brother been well this past half year?"

Bairen nodded slightly and said no more. Wenyu was at a loss for words for a moment. He gave a dry laugh and made small talk. "Big brother's room is nicely arranged. Oh, is this Hui ink?"

Wenyu would say something and Bairen would respond, going around in circles before Wenyu finally got to the point, asking in a roundabout way, "Big brother...are you very close with the Crown Prince now?"

Bairen sneered inwardly. He didn't say yes or no, only replying, "Since our families are engaged, naturally it's different from others."

Wenyu nodded and smiled. "Yes, I hear...I've heard big brother often goes to the Crown Prince's manor?"

There was no other meaning in Wenyu's words, but Bairen couldn't help his face turning red. Often going to the Crown Prince's manor? Of course, it was a rule Qi Xiao personally set - whenever he sent someone to pick Bairen up, Bairen had to go. Out of ten days, eight were spent at the Crown Prince's manor.

If not for some matters recently...Bairen's heart that had just calmed started rippling again. He covered it up, saying, "I don't go often...it's just that for many matters regarding the wedding, the Crown Prince has the final say, so naturally I have to go ask often."

Wenyu nodded, smiling. "Then...how are the wedding preparations coming along?"

Bairen was distracted. "There are still some things not sorted out yet..."

"If big brother has any need, just let me know." Wenyu flattered Bairen a bit more before probing, "If there's another day...that big brother is going to the Crown Prince's manor, bring me along. As big brother just said, since we're family now, we shouldn't be so distant in the future, it's not good to be too formal."

Hearing this, Bairen nearly choked. He forced a cough and said, "That depends on the Crown Prince's wishes. The Crown Prince has quite a bad temper, I advise you...not to provoke him."

This was probably the most sincere thing Bairen had ever said to Wenyu in this life, but unfortunately Wenyu didn't appreciate it at all.

He smiled, "I wouldn't dare. I just see that today...the Crown Prince seems to have some misunderstanding about Kangtai, and I want to explain a thing or two for her. If it's not convenient then never mind. I still hope big brother, for the sake of our sibling bond, can put in a few good words for her the next time you see the Crown Prince. Big brother knows, Kangtai was spoiled rotten by father, she's always speaking without thinking. Don't take it to heart."

In just a few words, he brushed off Kangtai publicly snubbing Roujia yesterday as "speaking without thinking". Bairen had seen plenty of such tricks. He just gave a faint smile. "If it was unintentional, then there's even less need to say more. Adding feet to a snake, embellishing too much will make people misunderstand instead."

Wenyu quickly nodded. "Yes, big brother is right..."

Seeing he couldn't get any benefits, Wenyu sat a bit longer, said a few more words and left. Wenyu's servant boy had been waiting outside the study. Seeing him come out, he hurriedly asked, "Second master, when are we going to the Crown Prince's residence?"

"Going my ass!" Wenyu swallowed a belly full of anger and kicked the servant boy to the ground. He turned to look at Bairen's study with a cold laugh before leaving.

Bairen's mind was already unsettled, and after Wenyu stirred things up, he was even more restless. His thoughts kept drifting to Qi Xiao unbidden. By evening he hadn't accomplished anything. At dinner, Kangtai claimed to be unwell and ate in her own room.

Wenyu went to see her. Bairen knew she wasn't sick, but still sent for the imperial physician. No matter how they were in private, Bairen would not neglect the formalities in public. Unfortunately, after checking her pulse for a long time, the imperial physician couldn't say what was wrong.

He just spouted some medical jargon, prescribed some tonics and left. Bairen didn't pay it much mind and had dinner with just Roujia. After the meal, with nothing to do, he flipped through a few storybooks before haphazardly going to sleep.

Early spring weather turned from cold to warm. The next morning when Bairen woke, he actually had some nasal congestion and felt heavy. After breakfast, before he could summon the imperial physician, Qi Xiao's carriage had already arrived at the ceremonial gates of the Lingnan Prince's Manor.

Shunzi paid his respects to Bairen, bowing. "Wishing the young prince well. This morning when our servant went to the imperial hospital to request the Crown Prince's medical records, he happened to run into your manor's steward there as well. Upon hearing the young prince was ill, our servant hurried back to report to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was quite concerned, afraid the young prince and the princess, eating together, might have passed a bit of illness to her.

"With the princess' wedding imminent, absolutely nothing can go wrong. Therefore, he ordered this servant to come pick up the young prince to stay over there for a few days. Firstly, the Crown Prince's manor already has imperial physicians, making it convenient to attend to the young prince without delaying treatment. Secondly, it can also set the princess' mind at ease to prepare for the wedding. What does the young prince think?"

Bairen found it amusing. He coughed and shook his head. "No need. It's just an occasional cold. As long as I stay in my room and don't see anyone, it'll be fine. I don't need to go over. If I accidentally pass it to the Crown Prince, that would be a huge offense."

Shunzi seemed to have anticipated this, unhurriedly continuing, "The Crown Prince said, if the young prince is too lazy to move, then after the morning court later, the Crown Prince will personally come to pick up the young prince."

Bairen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He knew he couldn't refuse Qi Xiao, so could only nod. He ordered someone to inform Roujia, packed a few things, and left with Shunzi. The princess' manor seemed to have already coordinated with Qi Xiao. As soon as Bairen left, Princess Dunsu, claiming to really adore Roujia, also took her away. The vast Lingnan Prince's Manor was now truly left with only Wenyu and Kangtai.

"It's really just a minor discomfort, there's no need to make such a fuss." In the warm chamber of the main manor in the Crown Prince's estate, Bairen leaned on the bed, turning his head to cover his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

"The imperial physician already took my pulse and said it's fine, I'll recover after a couple doses of medicine. You...you don't need to stay here."

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow. "This is my bedroom, I can't be here?"

Bairen laughed in spite of himself. "That's not it...I'm sick, and don't know if it's contagious. If by any chance..."

Qi Xiao sat on the bed and snatched away Bairen's handkerchief. He gave a cold laugh. "Contagious? You really think you caught the plague? I asked the imperial physician, he said you have a wind-cold attacking your body. Looking at the symptoms, I'm afraid you were greedy for cool air last night. Are the maids in your room dead? Seeing you not covered properly, they don't know to tuck you in?"

Bairen sighed, as expected, people shouldn't be overly praised. Just yesterday, Roujia said that he looked much better, and now this happened today. Seeing Qi Xiao's unhappy expression, Bairen inexplicably felt guilty and gave a dry laugh, "I... I never have maids keep watch in my room at night. Did I kick off the covers last night...? I don't remember either."

Seeing how cautious Bairen looked, Qi Xiao couldn't help but feel distressed. He also didn't want to say anything more to him. Shaking his head and sighing lightly, he said, "You've gotten used to sleeping with me. At night, you unconsciously want to lean towards me, so you rubbed against the covers..."

Bairen was greatly embarrassed and hurriedly said, "Where?! I... I slept very well last night..."

The more embarrassed Bairen was, the more Qi Xiao wanted to tease him. He laughed and said, "Slept very well? Then how did you catch a chill? Could it be..." Qi Xiao's voice got lower and lower, and he chuckled softly, "Yesterday, you missed me too much and even dreamed of me? Tsk... Your Highness, you have lovesickness."

Qi Xiao was just coaxing him playfully, but he didn't expect that one sentence to hit the nail on the head of Bairen's thoughts. Bairen's face turned completely red. Last night... wasn't he thinking about Qi Xiao the whole time?

Seeing Bairen's unusual expression, Qi Xiao laughed and said, "Could it be that I guessed correctly?"

Bairen was so embarrassed and angry that he wanted to die. He pulled the brocade quilt over his head and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sick, and Your Highness still bullies me like this?"

Qi Xiao knew when to stop and laughed, "I'm just teasing you. Alright, alright, hurry and come out. Be careful not to hold your breath." Just as he was speaking, Jiang Deqing knocked on the door outside and said softly, "Your Highness... His Highness's medicine is ready. Shall I bring it in now?"

Qi Xiao agreed and let Jiang Deqing come in. He took the medicine, blew on it, and said softly, "Pass down the order. His Highness has caught a slight cold and needs to avoid certain foods. Prepare something easy to digest for lunch, nothing too greasy that will block one's appetite."

Jiang Deqing hurriedly agreed. Seeing that Qi Xiao had no other orders, he bowed and withdrew.

"Don't let it get cold. Drinking it hot is better." Qi Xiao still sat on the edge of the bed. He moved the medicine bowl in his hand back to avoid Bairen's hand and said softly, "The medicine bowl is hot. I'll feed you..."

Bairen had no choice but to obediently finish the medicine with Qi Xiao's help. He licked his lips and frowned, "It's really bitter."

Qi Xiao chuckled, "It's not hard to give you a snack to suppress this bitterness, but I'm afraid it will affect the medicinal properties. Forget it, I'll reward you with something else..." Qi Xiao smiled. Before Bairen could speak, he lowered his head and kissed Bairen's lips. Bairen was shocked and hurriedly retreated.

How could Qi Xiao let him escape? He pressed the person down on the bed and kissed him thoroughly before letting him go. He laughed softly, "Is it still bitter?"

Bairen frowned tightly and said angrily, "I said I was afraid of passing it on. How could you..."

Since the day the two had made things clear, Bairen had never spoken to him with such an angry look. Qi Xiao couldn't stand people talking back to him in his life, but he was very pleased this time. He deliberately pursed his lips against Bairen's again and chuckled softly, "What's wrong? So afraid I'll get sick?"

Bairen was so angry that his face turned red. He said indignantly, "Is this also fun?! What if it spreads! I..."

"Don't be angry." Qi Xiao took advantage of the situation to act cute. He rubbed Bairen's chest and laughed softly, "Didn't anyone teach you? After taking medicine, you need to lie down quietly for a while. Otherwise, if you startle the medicinal properties, it won't be good... Alright, do you think I'm as easy to get sick as you? Besides, you just caught a chill by yourself. It's not contagious."

Qi Xiao took a handkerchief to wipe Bairen's face and chuckled, "The imperial physician said you need to sweat it out to get better. I just don't know if this sweat from anger counts..."

Bairen was so angry at Qi Xiao, he refused to say a word. Qi Xiao just found it amusing. He simply got on the bed as well and pulled the person into his arms. He pulled the quilt over Bairen tightly and said in a low voice, "If you don't want to pay attention to me, then don't. But having one more person will make it a bit warmer. Wait until you start sweating, and you'll feel better. Is it more comfortable?"

Although Bairen was still angry, he couldn't help but snuggle into Qi Xiao's arms and said hoarsely, "No."

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You want me to kiss you again?"

Before he finished speaking, Qi Xiao saw Bairen's exposed ear turn red. Qi Xiao chuckled, "I won't tease you anymore. If you're sleepy, take a nap. When you wake up, you won't feel uncomfortable anymore."

Bairen nodded. Before long, the medicine took effect, and he indeed fell into a deep sleep.