Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Princess Consort, the eldest son of the Qin family is requesting an audience in the outer hall."

Qiu Yue softly announced from outside the palace gate. The two people inside the room were slightly startled upon hearing this.

"Brother Qin Qi? What does he want with my sister-in-law?"

Ling Xi shook her head gently. Before Xiao Ce left, he did say that if she encountered any trouble, she could seek his and Lu Baixu's help. However, she had not encountered any trouble in the past two months.

"It must be good news! Let's hurry, let's go, don't keep Brother Qin Qi waiting."

Xiao Xiao grabbed her wrist and excitedly pulled her outside, still clutching the fortune slip in her hand, her eyes full of joy.

"How can you be so sure it's a good thing?"

"Sister-in-law, you don't know this, but whenever Brother Qin Qi comes to see Brother Ce, it's always for good food and drink or fun activities."

Xiao Xiao spoke with absolute certainty, full of anticipation.

Ling Xi couldn't help but recall Qin Qi's cheerful and seemingly naturally smiling appearance, which was indeed exceptionally endearing, completely different from Xiao Ce and Lu Baixu.

She glanced sideways and saw Wushuang, who was following closely behind her with a cold expression. She silently confirmed in her heart that Wushuang was completely different from her.

The two hurried to the outer hall and saw Qin Qi sitting upright in a chair, leisurely sipping tea from a teacup, his demeanor composed and at ease, clearly a regular at the Prince Rui's residence.

"Brother Qin Qi!"

Hearing the noise, he looked up, put down his teacup, stood up, and a warm smile immediately spread across his face.

"So, Sister Xiao Xiao is here too. Princess Consort."

Ling Xi nodded slightly. Although she hadn't had much contact with Qin Qi, perhaps because he was always smiling, she inexplicably felt much more at ease with him than with Lu Baixu.

"What is Xiao Xiao holding in her hand?"

Qin Qi, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted the note in her hand.

"Oh, it's a marriage fortune slip."

As Xiao Xiao spoke, she picked up the note and casually flipped through it.

"A marriage fortune slip? Let me see it."

Xiao Xiao handed it over casually. Qin Qi's eyes flickered immediately when he saw it. He looked at Ling Xi in surprise, not expecting that even though she had been married to Xiao Ce for a year, she was still thinking about her ex.

"This is...the Crown Princess's?"

"How did Brother Qin Qi find out?"

Xiao Xiao became curious, and Ling Xi was also very curious. How could they both know about such a small marriage fortune slip?

"However, this was requested by Sister-in-law Xi for her brother, so it doesn't really count as hers."

"So he's the Crown Princess's brother?!"

"Otherwise what? Could it be that it belongs to Sister-in-law Xi herself?"

Qin Qi breathed a huge sigh of relief; otherwise, he would have almost been unable to suppress his indignation on Xiao Ce's behalf.

"One day last year, Yi Zhi, Bai Xu, and I saw the Crown Princess drop this fortune slip at the main gate of Prince Rui's residence. At that time, we all thought..."

"You think I'm still seeking a marriage partner for myself after all this marriage alliance with the State of Chu?"

Ling Xi twitched her lips slightly, feeling both amused and exasperated. She never expected that she would be misunderstood by this group of people for so long.

"Sister-in-law Xi isn't that kind of person. It's amazing you could even think of that!"

Xiao Xiao spoke up in a serious tone to defend him, but the next moment she seemed to be deep in thought, her eyes flickering slightly.

"However... Brother Ce specially copied down the fortune slip. Could it be that he mistakenly thought that Sister-in-law was thinking about someone else? No wonder I saw that the handwriting was sharp and each stroke seemed to reveal displeasure."

"Now that you mention it, it's true!"

Qin Qi examined the divination slip again and nodded repeatedly.

Ling An's heart began to stir with ripples. Was his displeasure at the time, when he mistakenly thought the marriage fortune slip belonged to her, due to a man's innate possessiveness? Or had he already fallen in love with her back then?

Her heart trembled slightly, and she felt as if she might have been bewitched by Xiao Ce, and had even begun to speculate about his past thoughts.

"By the way, what brings Brother Qin to see Sister-in-law Xi today?"

While Ling Xi was still pondering to herself, Xiao Xiao quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, I almost forgot. In a few days, Princess Chang will be hosting a polo match. This year, there are new rules requiring mixed-gender teams to participate. I've come to ask the Crown Princess if she would be interested in attending as well?"

Qin Qi, still smiling, leisurely explained the reason.

Ling Xi looked troubled. She had never liked such roughhousing and strenuous activities. Her mediocre riding and archery skills would only make her a hindrance.

Before Yizhi left Jinling, he specifically asked Bai Xu and me to take care of the Crown Princess. I thought that the Crown Princess was bored and restless being confined to the mansion all day long, so why don't we go and join in the fun and relax?

"I think...it's probably because Brother Qin Qi's team doesn't have enough people, right?"

Before she could refuse, Xiao Xiao, who was standing to the side, rolled her eyes and teased her with a sly look on her face.

"You're the smartest little girl!"

Qin Qi chuckled helplessly, raised his hand to stroke the top of her head, his expression affectionate and doting, just like Xiao Ce treated her as his own sister.

"Young Master Qin, I am truly sorry, but I am simply unable to compete in this polo match and have no way of participating."

Ling Xi never hesitated to refuse someone. After pausing for a moment to think, she spoke again:

"However, if you are truly short of people, I will lend you Wushuang to form a team. Wushuang is exceptionally skilled and has superb horsemanship. With her assistance, you will surely be able to win the first place."

She glanced at Wushuang, who stood beside her with a nimble figure, and calmly made a suggestion.

Qin Qi turned his head and suddenly remembered that there was a stunningly beautiful female guard beside her. He had seen her skillful fighting ability before, and a sense of interest immediately arose in his heart.

"Excellent, she'll do. Sister Wushuang, would you be willing to help?"

His smile was gentle, his gaze fixed directly on Wushuang's face. Wushuang frowned slightly, perhaps not quite satisfied with the title "Sister Wushuang," her expression remained aloof and indifferent, still as cold as ice.

"I will listen to the princess."

"Wushuang, when the time comes, we must show those Liang people just how amazing the polo skills of women from Chu are."

"Yes."

Back in Jicheng, when her brother and his friends teamed up, she had personally witnessed Wushuang's polo skills. It was then that she realized Wushuang was the most skilled player by her brother's side.

"By the way, Brother Qin, who is the other girl in your team? Is it Sister Mu?"

Xiao Xiao turned to look at Qin Qi, her eyes filled with curiosity. Qin Qi paused slightly upon hearing this, his expression subtly darkening.

"That's my cousin, Qin Zhiyi. Your older sister, Mu... isn't feeling well and can't play polo this year."

Qin Qi knew about Mu Wanning's situation, but Xiao Ce had instructed him not to tell anyone.

Xiao Xiao was taken aback upon hearing this, and a hint of guilt appeared on her face.

"Sister Mu is sick again?"

She's been spending more time with Sister-in-law Xi lately, so she hasn't visited her in a long time.

"Yes, I did not come alone today. Bai Xu is currently in Yunqi Courtyard treating her."

"Brother Bai Xu is here too?"

Qin Qi nodded, his expression becoming more serious, no longer as carefree as before.

"How about... we go to Yunqi Academy to see Sister Mu?"