Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"How have you been doing in Nanjing for over a year? Are you getting used to it?"

Is it a habit? Wushuang hadn't thought about that question.

For a while after leaving Jicheng, she was indeed not used to it, but that was all she felt. She thought it was because she had followed the prince for so many years, and suddenly coming to Jinling with the princess made her feel a little uncomfortable. As for other things, she didn't feel anything. After all, she had often gone to the border battlefield with the prince before, and she had experienced all kinds of harsh environments.

"If you don't want to stay in Jinling, tomorrow... you can come back to Jicheng with me."

A cool, deep voice filled the silent room, causing Wushuang to pause slightly, a sense of bewilderment washing over her. She had never imagined that the prince had summoned her tonight to ask if she would be willing to return to Jicheng with him.

For her, Jinling was once a foreign land where she had no roots or home, but now her parents and brothers, who had been separated for many years, were all in Jinling. Jinling had become her home, so there was no reason for her to leave.

If she had been all alone before, and the prince had asked her this, she would have agreed without hesitation to go back to Jicheng with him.

"Don't you want to go back?"

Ling Heng took in the hesitation in her eyes, and his warm aura vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and somber expression.

Wushuang lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded gently.

Although she knew in her heart that she had not done anything wrong by choosing to stay, a bitter and guilty feeling welled up in her heart. This choice made her feel a little betrayed for no reason. Thinking about it carefully, although the prince was cold-hearted, he had treated her well over the years.

Ling Heng slowly sat up straight, his jaw clenched, and his usually deep and gentle eyes now held a distinct melancholy and anger, staring intently at her.

"Why don't you want to go back?"

His voice was extremely low, as if concealing a barely suppressed urge to endure.

Is it because in this bustling city of Jinling, there is already someone she cares about and cherishes?

Dark emotions surged in his eyes, and his clear anger could no longer be concealed.

Wu Shuang's fingers clenched slightly. The prince seemed angry. She felt inexplicably uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, she finally decided to tell him that she had found her parents.

"Your Highness, I..."

"You can leave now."

Those three cold and distant words abruptly cut off her unspoken words, leaving no room for further inquiry or negotiation.

The candlelight flickered gently in her eyes, shimmering softly. She gazed blankly at the prince before her. Jinling and Jicheng were separated by a thousand miles, a vast distance of mountains and rivers. This departure of the prince meant that they would likely never meet again in this lifetime. As for her background, it was utterly irrelevant to the prince. What difference did it make whether she spoke of it or not?

Wushuang withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, forcibly calmed her chaotic emotions, and bowed respectfully.

"Take care, Your Highness. I'll take my leave now."

Only when the room fell into complete silence and became empty again did Ling Heng slowly get up, suddenly raise his hand, and sweep the book on the table to the ground.

……

The next morning, outside the North Gate of Jinling City, Ling Xi looked at her brother who was about to board the carriage, her eyes reddening.

Wushuang stood silently behind her, her gaze fixed on Ling Heng, yet his eyes never once strayed in her direction. Before, wherever they went, he would always subconsciously glance at her, as if to confirm she had followed. But today, it was completely different. Could it be that because she refused to return to Jicheng last night, the Crown Prince felt she was no longer loyal to him?

The carriage moved slowly, the curtains fluttering slightly in the wind, but Ling Heng did not lift them again.

"The young master doesn't seem to be in a good mood today; he's had a dark expression on his face the whole time."

Pei Lan, standing behind Ling Xi, sighed softly, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"My brother must be very reluctant to part with me. Once he leaves, he probably won't come back to Jinling for at least ten or eight years."

Ling Xi raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her gaze still fixed on the north.

Ten or eight years? Wushuang stared at the receding procession of carriages and horses, her brow furrowing slightly.

On the city tower, banners fluttered gently as Xiao Ce and Qin Qi stood side by side.

Qin Qi came today to take Wushuang back to the Qin residence to prepare for his mother's birthday banquet. Incidentally, he was also curious to see for himself what kind of person this Prince Huan of Chu was, that he had raised his younger sister to be so capable.

"Yizhi, I heard that your brother-in-law's trip to Jinling was originally intended to bring the Crown Princess back to Chu?"

"Do you really think that if he takes Ling Xi away, he won't take your sister away too?"

Xiao Ce watched the procession of carriages and horses gradually disappear into the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips, his tone indifferent.

Qin Qi immediately informed Xiao Ce about Wushuang's background, since he would frequently visit the Prince Rui's residence before his sister returned to the Qin family.

"He's just an outsider, what right does he have to take Yue'er away?"

Qin Qi spoke casually, showing no regard for Ling Heng.

Xiao Ce's expression darkened; he had come along today only because he still had some worries in his heart.

"If you have ever truly dealt with him, you will know that he is meticulous in his thinking and his strategic skills are far beyond those of ordinary people."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked down from the city gate.

Ling Xi turned around with red eyes and immediately saw Xiao Ce standing not far away. He stood against the wind, the breeze fluttering his clothes, his posture upright.

She approached step by step, tears welling in her eyes. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes with his fingertips.

"Don't be sad. If you ever miss home, I'll go back to Jicheng with you."

His words were calm and without any passionate promises, yet they soothed her heart. She gazed at the man before her, to whom she had entrusted her life, and a deep sense of peace welled up within her.

One month later, at the Qin residence.

Qin Qi quickly turned through the corridor and saw two figures, one in white and one in red, locked in a fierce battle in the back garden. He had just returned home when the steward told him that Yang Luoying had arrived, so he rushed over.

Yang Luoying, her red robes fluttering, unleashed swift palm strikes, sometimes horizontal slashes, sometimes side sweeps, her moves agile and varied. Wushuang, dressed in white, moved with light grace, dodging step by step, clearly employing a defensive strategy.

The two moved swiftly and agilely, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, causing the mimosa trees in the courtyard to scatter their blossoms in a flurry.

Qin Qi quickened his pace and approached, only to see Yang Luoying's attacks gradually slowing down. Wushuang seized the opportunity to get close, flipped her wrists, and grabbed Yang Luoying's arms, firmly restraining her.

"Sister-in-law, do you submit or not?"

Qin Qi sighed helplessly; this was the third time this month. Ever since his mother announced Yue'er's true identity at her birthday banquet, Yang Luoying had been coming more often than before, but each time it wasn't to see him.

"Oh, I'm convinced. I'm truly convinced this time."

Before he could speak, Yang Luoying cried out that she had lost, and Wushuang took the opportunity to release his grip.

"I might not necessarily marry your brother, so don't call him that, or he'll get upset."

"Oh, then why does my sister-in-law come to the Qin residence so often?"

"Of course I came to find you! Sister Shiyue, how about... I become your disciple in the future?"

"What kind of behavior is this?!"