Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"It was the Crown Prince's order. He only got up after the Princess Consort came over. He said that no one is allowed to wake you."

Ling Xi paused slightly, a wave of panic washing over her. Giving such an order would be tantamount to telling everyone what they had done last night. After a moment of annoyance, she smiled gently.

"Princess, you are injured. Should I go and get some ointment for external wounds from Granny Qi?"

Ling Xi subconsciously lowered her eyes, glanced at the red marks on her body, and quickly pulled her clothes together to cover them up. She had no idea how to explain it to Pei Lan.

"No need."

"But...Princess, you're so badly injured, how can you not use medicine?"

Are you injured?

As soon as Pei Lan finished speaking, Xiao Ce's deep voice suddenly came from the doorway. Ling Xi turned her head sharply and saw that he had already stepped into the inner room. He was dressed in plain, simple clothes, which was neat and elegant. His temperament was completely different from last night. His gaze was fixed on her face, with a hint of cautious concern.

Ling Xi panicked and instinctively looked away, quickly changing the subject:

"Mother, Mother Consort is here?"

"They've already gone back. Where are you hurt?"

His tone was calm, yet he persisted in asking the same question, and this repeated question made Ling Xi blush completely, losing all composure.

"Perrin, you can go down now."

"Yes."

Pei Lan glanced at her own princess, then at the culprit who had caused her princess to be injured like this, and left the room with a pout.

Xiao Ce looked down at her, then bent down slightly, knelt on one knee in front of her, and gently held her slightly cool hand in his warm and slender palm.

"Where exactly is the injury?"

Ling Xi looked into his clear and earnest eyes, then slightly pulled open her clothes, revealing the red marks on her neck that she had just hidden.

"No...that's all. Perrin thought I was injured."

Xiao Ce's gaze slowly fell on her fair and smooth skin. Looking at the varying shades of rosy marks, densely scattered on her neck, collarbone, and chest, he realized just how crazy he had been in the heat of passion last night, completely losing his sense of proportion and neglecting her body.

He slowly reached out, his warm fingertips gently covering the side of her neck, a tender gesture completely different from his forceful and passionate actions the night before.

"I'm sorry, I lost control last night. Does it hurt?"

Ling Xi lowered her long eyelashes, her cheeks still flushed. She felt shy and embarrassed by his direct and gentle question, and gently shook her head.

"It doesn't hurt..."

"What's next?"

Her mind was still in turmoil when, in the next instant, he leaned closer, his deep voice carrying a warm breath, and whispered in her ear.

Ling Xi froze, her cheeks flushing bright red. She pressed her lips together, her eyes darting around in a panic, too embarrassed to look at him again. She was so ashamed that she didn't know how to answer his blunt question.

Seeing her flustered appearance, he stopped pressing her for an answer, reached into his sleeve, took out a small, exquisite white jade medicine bottle, and gently handed it to her.

"I'll apply the medicine for you."

His gaze was tender and affectionate, his tone gentle and doting. He then raised his hand to loosen her sash.

Ling Xi quickly raised her hand, her palm pressing down on the back of his hand, her fingertips trembling slightly with panic, refusing to let go.

"Listen to me, it won't hurt if you apply the medicine."

Ling Xi still refused to let go, biting her lip tightly, terrified.

Xiao Ce sighed softly, then suddenly reached out and scooped her up in his arms, walking steadily toward the bed.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness startled her, and she thought he was about to do something reckless again, so she struggled desperately with her hands and feet.

"Put me down."

Xiao Ce did not restrain her forcefully, but gently placed her on the bed. As soon as she sat on the bed, she subconsciously tightened her clothes, shrank back slightly, and looked at him nervously.

"What...what are you planning to do now?"

He smiled slightly, gently pulled away her hand that was covering her clothes, his fingertips twitching as if he wanted to remove her clothes.

"Xiao Ce, please, I'm still in pain, I can't take it anymore..."

"Don't move, I'll apply the medicine for you."

Hearing him say that, Ling Xi's tense body relaxed, she took a long breath, and then her face flushed again.

Xiao Ce's lips curled up slightly, and his eyes softened with a gentle smile.

"Why are you so panicked? What do you think I'm going to do?"

A wave of embarrassment and annoyance washed over Ling Xi. She was both angry and embarrassed. She raised her hand and gently pushed him in the chest, her brows furrowed with anger.

"You can go out first. I'll apply the medicine myself. Don't bother me."

"It's no trouble at all."

"Xiao Ce!!"

"Alright, I'll head out now."

Looking at her embarrassed and annoyed expression, a hint of doting affection appeared in his eyes. He gently took her hand, lowered his head and lightly pecked her fingers, then stood up.

"I'll be waiting for you outside the door."

His gaze fell gently on her face as he softly offered his advice. Looking at the doting tenderness in his eyes, she paused slightly, then nodded.

Even after he had turned and left the room, she remained frozen in place. This man, usually so aloof and taciturn, had never before shown such tenderness; the contrast left her momentarily at a loss.

When she finished tidying up and opened the door, she saw him sitting upright on the couch in the outer room, holding a scroll in his hand.

Hearing the noise, he immediately closed the book and casually put it aside, then strode towards her. As she watched his approaching figure, before she could even speak, she was suddenly lifted into the air and steadily picked up by him.

She instinctively raised her hand to wrap around his neck, no longer as awkward as before.

"Why are you hugging me?"

"I'll take you to have breakfast."

A smile played on his lips as he steadily carried her, turned sharply, and walked toward the door, his voice warm and pleasant.

A quarter of an hour later, everyone in the Chuixing Courtyard knew that their young master had personally carried his wife to the dining hall. The servants whispered among themselves, their eyes revealing their understanding.

Inside the dining hall, Ling Xi gently stirred the bird's nest porridge in her bowl with a silver spoon. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she still felt uncomfortable all over. On her way from the bedroom, she had encountered many servants, and in the end, she was so embarrassed that she completely hid her face in his arms.

"What's wrong? Doesn't it suit your taste?"

Noticing that she was distracted, he looked up at her and asked in a gentle tone.

She quickly shook her head, carefully choosing her words:

"No. Don't you... need to go to the palace to report to the Emperor today?"

"I already reported this to the palace yesterday."

"But yesterday, we didn't see the army returning to Nanjing. Did you return early on your own?"

"Yes. We traveled at full speed, day and night, and arrived two days ahead of schedule."

"Two days earlier? You're injured, why are you in such a hurry?"

In her haste, she put down the silver spoon.

"I was afraid you'd have to wait too long."

He responded casually, then picked up a piece of meat and placed it on her plate.

Eat more.