Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Mr. Yu, are we having a guest?"

Ling Xi turned her head upon hearing the sound, and her heart skipped a beat. Then she saw Lu Ming, who was next to Xiao Ce, enter through the gate. She quickly opened her fan and covered half of her face.

Pei Lan and Wu Shuang also recognized the person who came, and followed Ling Xi back a few steps, both lowering their heads to hide their identities.

Ling Xi wasn't too worried. Since they were all dressed as men and the lighting in the pharmacy was dim, Lu Ming shouldn't be able to recognize them.

And as expected, he didn't look to the side and went straight to the shopkeeper.

"Did the young master send you to fetch the medicine? Or does he need some other medicine?"

It seems this shopkeeper knows Xiao Ce? Ling Xi curiously examined the masked man, only able to tell that he was a handsome man.

"The Crown Prince ordered me to fetch the excellent medicine that Master Yu found last time; the more the better."

Manager Yu raised his eyes, gently shook his head, and seemed to have a helpless expression.

"Does your prince really think that the medicine here is so easy to find?"

"Yes! Whatever Mr. Yu says goes."

Ling Xi saw the shopkeeper take out a small sandalwood box from a hidden compartment. Inside were several old ginseng roots wrapped in brocade, and next to them were three small white porcelain bottles.

"This is wild ginseng from the Tianshan Mountains. If you hold one slice in your mouth during labor, it can bring you back to life even if you're about to faint. This bottle contains hemostatic powder, which you should use immediately if you experience severe postpartum hemorrhage. This bottle contains Suhe pills, which you should grind into powder and administer to the patient if they faint. And this last bottle contains only one pill, the Purple Jade Pill, which has the power to bring the dead back to life."

After Manager Yu finished introducing everything, he pushed the box in front of Lu Ming.

"Take it; he asked me to prepare it two months ago."

"Thank you, Mr. Yu."

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Ling Xi thought to herself as she listened. This Xiao Ce, who usually looks like a terrifying man ready to kill at any moment, is actually so good to Mu Wanning!

Wait a minute! They've already started preparing the medicine for Mu Wanning's delivery? It seems she's about to give birth. Then she'll be free soon.

Ling Xi suddenly felt happy. Of all the people in the Prince Rui's mansion, she was probably the one who most eagerly awaited the birth of Mu Wanning's child.

"The medicines for the young masters are ready!"

At this moment, the young apprentice named Tong Sheng came out from the inner room carrying the medicine.

Upon hearing the sound, Lu Ming subconsciously looked over. Ling Xi and the others, looking guilty, covered their faces, making it hard not to suspect anything.

Lu Ming squinted and carefully examined the shop for a few moments, then frowned slightly. He remained silent until a moment later, when he left the pharmacy.

Ling Xi patted her chest with her fan, relieved that she had almost been exposed.

In the study of Chuixing Academy, on Xiao Ce's desk, the medicine that Lu Ming had just retrieved from the black market pharmacy was neatly arranged.

After Lu Ming finished introducing everything, Xiao Ce unscrewed the purple porcelain bottle, held it to his nose, and smelled it. Inside was the Purple Jade Pill.

"He said this medicine can bring the dead back to life?"

"Yes."

Xiao Ce's eyes sharpened, and he immediately capped the medicine bottle.

"Go down."

"yes!"

Lu Ming took a few steps back, then suddenly stopped, a hint of hesitation appearing in his eyes.

"Is there anything else?"

Xiao Ce gently put down the book he had picked up again.

"Your Highness, I think I saw the Crown Princess at the black market pharmacy just now."

Lu Ming recognized him at a glance. He was Xiao Ce's bodyguard, how could he not have such a discerning eye?

Moreover, Ling Xi's fox-like eyes, which are unforgettable at first glance, are probably the only pair you can find in Jinling City, no, in the entire Great Liang Kingdom.

"What is she doing there?"

"The Crown Princess and her two maids were dressed in men's clothing; it seems they were buying some kind of medicine."

Buying medicine? Xiao Ce's gaze was cold and slightly stagnant, with only a layer of indifferent doubt.

It seems she has completely ignored her mother's confinement order.

"I've heard that for over a month, the Crown Princess has been taking medicine every day and still finds it difficult to get used to the food of our Great Liang. Perhaps, the Crown Princess is trying to find some kind of miraculous medicine that can cure her discomfort with the change of environment."

"Yeah?"

Xiao Ce's dark eyes flickered, unfathomable. After the palace banquet, Xiao Ce had not seen her again, but he could still clearly remember her startled, alluring eyes in the carriage that day, those captivating fox eyes, which remained vividly clear in his mind even after more than a month apart.

"Do you need any subordinates...?"

"No need. Keep an eye on Yuehua Courtyard's movements these next few days."

"Yes."

The fact that her first attempt to sneak out was so successful gave Ling Xi immense confidence, and that very night she was already plotting her next escape. Little did she know, Yuehua Courtyard was already under Xiao Ce's surveillance.

Five days later, Princess Rui went to the temple to pray for Mu Wanning's childbirth, which was also the perfect day for Ling Xi to escape from prison.

Standing on the bustling Fengyang Street, Ling Xi finally felt a sense of familiarity, as if she were on the prosperous Chang'an Street in Jicheng.

She was a regular customer at every shop on Chang'an Avenue, but unfortunately, they eventually lost her, a regular customer with amazing spending power.

"Your Highness, I've heard that the little maidservant by the Crown Princess's side has been asking around lately when Consort Mu will give birth."

In a private room on the second floor of Yueming Tower, Xiao Ce casually held his teacup, his calm expression showing no ripples.

"Brother Ce, you actually sent people to spy on your sister-in-law, the Crown Princess?"

Princess Yongle, who was eating osmanthus cake, stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her eyes revealing a naive innocence.

Xiao Ce looked up at her constantly moving mouth. His face still didn't show much of a smile, but when his gaze fell on her, he lost the aloofness and wariness he showed to others, and gained a layer of composure and gentleness that others couldn't see.

"Just eat your food and don't worry about anything else."

"oh."

Princess Yongle was the only daughter of Prince Yu, named Xiao Xiao. From a young age, she loved to follow Xiao Mo and Xiao Ce around. Of course, the main reason was that she didn't want to go to the palace to play. There were too many rules in the palace, and her grandmother always made her learn this and that. It was not as carefree as Prince Rui's mansion.

"Have someone keep a close eye on her these days, and make sure she doesn't get near Yunqi Courtyard."

"yes!"

"Why doesn't Brother Ce allow the Crown Princess to approach Sister Mu's courtyard? Is it because he's afraid she might harm Sister Mu?"

Xiao Xiao stared innocently at Xiao Ce, her mouth still chattering.

"What do you know at such a young age?"

Xiao Ce moved his index finger on the teacup, then casually brought the teacup to his lips.

"Of course I understand. I've heard that in the past, the ladies of the palace often did things like this to compete for the emperor's favor. Could it be... that my sister-in-law, the Crown Prince's Consort, also wants to compete for the emperor's favor?"

"Yongle...don't talk nonsense."

Xiao Ce gently put down his teacup, his eyes filled with silence. He didn't understand Ling Xi, but she had already clashed with Wan Ning twice. Given her current status and position, she could never possibly have any good intentions towards Wan Ning.

"Brother Ce, please don't always treat me like a child. I'm fourteen already."

"They're just kids."

Xiao Ce pushed the plate of snacks in front of him over, and a faint smile finally appeared in his eyes.

"Your Highness! Isn't that...isn't that the Crown Princess?"