Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Ling Heng gazed intently at his younger sister beside him, a soft sigh escaping his lips.

"Alright, you're all grown up now. It's your decision to make your own choices."

Having received her brother's affirmation, Ling Xi's gloom vanished completely, and a bright smile instantly appeared on her face. She leaned over affectionately, took his arm, and swayed it from side to side.

"I knew my brother was the best to me!"

With that shove from her, Ling Heng's brows furrowed abruptly, and he let out a short, muffled groan.

Ling Xi's heart tightened immediately, and she quickly let go of his hand.

"What's wrong? Did I use too much force?"

Just then, Qingyun slowly walked into the house carrying a medicine tray.

"Your Highness, it's time to change the dressing."

"Change the dressing? Change what kind of dressing?"

Ling Xi turned to look at him with a look of astonishment in her eyes.

"Brother, are you injured?"

Qingyun placed the medicine tray steadily on the table and replied in a low voice:

"On the day of our return journey, we were ambushed and assassinated shortly after leaving Night City."

"Assassination? Do you know who the assassin is?"

"The enemy came aggressively, targeting the prince. We captured one of them alive, but he immediately committed suicide by swallowing poison, leaving no trace."

Ling Xi's heart sank suddenly. Since her brother came to Liang, how many accidents have happened to him?

"I'll do it, Qingyun, you can go down first."

"Yes."

Qingyun bowed in response and quietly left the room.

Ling Xi looked gloomy as she gently pulled open her brother's sleeve, her movements soft and careful, as if afraid of hurting his wound.

"It's just a minor cut and bruise, nothing serious, Xi'er, don't worry."

Seeing her full of worry, Ling Heng comforted her.

She looked up at him, her tone tinged with a mixture of reproach and lingering fear:

"Brother, you should return to Ji City as soon as possible. You've only been in Liang for a short time, and this is already quite a lot."

"Just now you were insisting I stay a few more days, and now you're urging me to leave?"

Ling Heng smiled faintly, intending to comfort her.

Ling Xi couldn't laugh. She dared not think about what would happen if something happened to her brother. She lowered her eyes and carefully unwrapped the cotton cloth, not wanting to reply.

"Why is Wushuang nowhere to be seen today? And who was the female guard who came with you?"

"You mean Hua Ying? That was arranged for me by Xiao Ce's friend, oh, the son of the Minister of War of Liang, after he left Jinling. Wu Shuang... has other things to do lately."

Ling Xi continued working, hesitating whether or not to tell him that Wu Shuang had found his parents and brothers.

"Why wasn't it arranged by him, but by his friend?"

Ling Heng stopped looking at his wounds, his deep eyes fixed on her face.

"It was that young master Qin who borrowed Wushuang, so he has to arrange a guard for me."

Ling Heng's Adam's apple bobbed slowly, his eyes suddenly darkened, and the scene of what he had encountered on Xiyong Street flashed into his mind, causing his aura to subtly turn cold.

"Wushuang is mine. What right do others have to borrow her at will?"

Seeing her brother's domineering and forceful demeanor, Ling Xi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Although her brother was once Wushuang's master, Wushuang has now found her parents. The Minister of War of Liang is her biological father, and Qin Qi is her brother. It can't be that her brother is not qualified, but he is.

She gently and evenly applied the ointment to the wound, her movements slow and deliberate. Her mind was in turmoil. Wushuang had repeatedly told her not to reveal her background, but was her brother really an outsider to Wushuang?

While her thoughts were tug at together, a sudden thought struck her: Could it be that her brother was so concerned because he cared about Wushuang?

"Brother... this time you're leaving, could it be that you're planning to take Wushuang back to Jicheng?"

After a moment's consideration, she looked up at her brother, whose expression was somber, and spoke with a hint of cautious probing.

If her brother wanted to take her away, it meant he cared about Wushuang, so she might as well tell him everything about Wushuang's background; but if he didn't intend to take Wushuang away, then it meant he didn't care. If he didn't care, then what was the point of him knowing Wushuang's background?

Now that he has returned to the State of Chu, he probably won't set foot in Jinling again for several years. As the years go by, even the former master-servant relationship between his brother and Wushuang will eventually fade away.

"elder brother?"

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, his brows furrowed, Ling Xi turned her head slightly and called out softly again.

Ling Heng suddenly snapped back to reality, all the thoughts that had been lingering in his eyes dissipating, and he subconsciously shook his head.

"Why should I take her away? Since I already assigned her to you, she will stay in Jinling and guard your side."

His tone was as indifferent as if covered by frost, revealing no emotion whatsoever. The next moment, he slowly stood up, saying nothing more, his aloof aura growing even stronger.

……

It was past midnight, and in the master bedroom of Linfeng Courtyard, the candlelight flickered quietly, making the surroundings seem even more desolate.

Ling Heng leaned alone against the soft couch, his posture languid yet exuding a faint melancholy, a scroll of ancient books clutched in his hand. The room was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of the candlelight and the occasional rustling of the pages turning.

"Your Highness, Wushuang has arrived."

Suddenly, Qingyun's low voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and a cool night breeze wafted in, causing the candlelight to flicker slightly.

Wushuang stepped lightly into the bedroom. She looked up and saw that she had lived in this bedroom for many days and nights, and even the faint fragrance in the room was still vivid in her memory.

"Your Highness."

Ling Heng seemed not to hear, a detached stillness surrounding him. He maintained his posture of leaning back and reading, slowly turning a yellowed page with unhurried movements, but he did not respond for a long time.

The room fell silent again, the flickering candlelight making his handsome, aloof profile appear even more profound.

Wushuang patiently stood quietly to the side, neither too close nor too far. She had been used to the prince's behavior for many years, but she still couldn't guess why he had called her over in the middle of the night.

After an unknown amount of time, Ling Heng finally closed the book in his hands, and at this moment, Wu Shuang spoke again at the opportune moment:

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

He slowly placed the book in his hand on the table beside him, his movements gentle yet carrying a lingering heaviness.

He raised his eyes and looked at the woman standing in front of him with her head bowed, his eyes deep and serious.

"Tomorrow, I will be leaving Jinling."

Wushuang suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing in her clear eyes as she stared blankly at the person on the bed. Months had passed since they last met, and she hadn't expected that the young master would be returning to Jicheng so soon, only two days after returning to Jinling.

An indescribable emotion suddenly surged up without warning, pressing heavily on her heart. It was neither like the sorrow of parting nor the worry, but rather mixed with a touch of lonely melancholy. She didn't know what it was.

The candlelight flickered in her eyes, making her gaze slightly dazed. She wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.