Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

The two turned around at the sound and saw Qin Qi standing not far away with a solemn expression.

"elder brother."

Wushuang remained calm, but Yang Luoying turned her face away, deliberately ignoring her.

"Sister Shiyue, please think about it carefully. I am sincere."

"No!"

Before Wushuang could speak, Qin Qi's expression turned cold, and he preemptively refused.

"What gives you the right to make decisions for Shi Yue? She didn't say no."

Yang Luoying immediately retorted, her brows furrowed with anger.

"I'll listen to my brother. Now that you're back, you two can continue your conversation. I'll head back now."

After saying that, Wushuang turned and left. Yang Luoying panicked and quickly chased after her.

"Sister Shiyue, don't go! I didn't come here to see your brother..."

She had only run a few steps when, as she passed Qin Qi, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Yang Luoying turned around in surprise, her brows furrowed.

"Why are you pulling me? By the time Yue-mei is far away, she'll be gone!"

She frequently looked in the direction Wushuang had left, her eyes filled with a longing for martial arts.

"I'll teach you."

"what?"

Yang Luoying stared in astonishment with her round eyes, feeling so confused that she no longer recognized the person in front of her.

"But didn't you criticize me before, saying that I was unworthy of martial prowess?"

Yang Luoying softened for a moment, pouting.

"Times have changed."

……

After that day, Yang Luoying stopped bothering Wushuang. But Wushuang encountered an even more troublesome matter. Madam Qin was worried about her marriage and arranged for her to be introduced to potential suitors from prominent families.

Within just ten days, she attended three blind dates. All the men she was arranged to meet were the eldest sons of important officials in the court. Each one was a talented young man, and his character and appearance had been personally assessed by Qin's father. None of them were bad.

However, none of the three attempts ended in a satisfactory conclusion.

The reason for the failure was not because Wushuang was picky; after all, she was always aloof and indifferent to everyone.

The first one was the martial arts champion who was famous in Nanjing two years ago. After the two sparred, the dignified martial arts champion was no match for her at all, and she said on the spot that the two were not suitable for each other.

The second was a newly appointed Hanlin scholar who had achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations last year. He was a learned and refined gentleman. After getting to know him, he learned that Wushuang disliked music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and only loved martial arts. So he went home that very day and politely declined the matchmaker's offer.

As for the eldest son of the Minister of Rites who had just left, he didn't mind her hobby at all, and his words were always polite and courteous. However, throughout the entire meeting, she simply sat upright at the table, saying very little, and her quietness was almost aloof.

Qin Qi, who was observing the whole thing from a distance, felt that this matchmaking attempt would likely fail, just like the previous two.

Qin Qi sighed softly and stepped into the flower hall. Wu Shuang, who had her back to him, immediately recognized his footsteps.

Why did you sigh, brother?

Qin Qi turned around and sat down.

"I'm wondering what kind of man is worthy of our Yue'er."

Wushuang had never thought about, nor knew, what kind of man she liked. In the past, she spent her days fighting and killing with Ling Heng, and most of the men she came into contact with were beaten half to death by her.

"Alright, alright, it's just that Mother is too impatient. Yue'er, you've only just returned to the manor, and I don't want you to get married so early."

"Nonsense! It's one thing if you don't want to get married, but you're even trying to get your sister involved!"

Madam Qin entered the flower hall with a look of disgust, glanced at Qin Qi beside her, and sat down opposite Wushuang.

"Moon, what do you think of the Zhou family's young master today?"

Wushuang's eyelashes drooped slightly as she thought carefully.

"Yes, very good."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qi, standing to the side, chuckled helplessly and immediately spoke up to expose his mistake:

"Mother, Yue'er said the same thing when the two martial arts champions and the third-ranked scholar were chosen."

Madam Qin immediately glared at him, her eyes full of annoyance.

Madam Qin gazed at her daughter, who was dashing in appearance and aloof in nature, and sighed deeply, saying earnestly:

"Moon, your mother has just found you and is reluctant to marry you off so soon. But you are already eighteen this year, and your mother has to find you a reliable husband as soon as possible."

Wushuang listened quietly, without arguing, her expression gentle.

"Mother, I know."

"Madam, young master, young lady, the Prince Rui's mansion has just sent an invitation."

As soon as Wushuang finished speaking, the butler entered the room carrying an invitation.

"Prince Rui's Mansion?"

Qin Qi took it and immediately opened it.

Wushuang also stared at the invitation. She hadn't seen the princess for quite some time and was looking forward to visiting her.

"What is the purpose of this invitation?"

"The Prince Rui's Mansion is holding a first birthday celebration for his grandson and has invited us to the banquet."

Qin Qi looked at Wushuang with slight worry. He knew that his sister was on the side of the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess must be unhappy that the Prince Rui's mansion was holding such a grand first birthday celebration for the grandson born to the concubine.

"Look at him, Xiao Ce's child is already a year old, and you're the same age as him. You even personally approved the marriage to the Yang family, so why are you still hesitating to set a date?"

Madam Qin looked anxious, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment and reproach.

"Mother, don't worry, I guarantee that the daughter-in-law you've chosen won't run away."

Stop joking around!

……

Wushuang watched quietly as her mother chatted and her brother laughed, a faint warmth rising in her heart. But when her gaze fell on the invitation on the table, a deep worry instantly arose within her.

The princess chose to stay in Jinling because of Prince Xiao. But the Prince Rui's mansion values ​​its grandson so highly; what will become of the princess's children in the future? After all, the title of grandson was bestowed by Emperor Liang.

At this moment, inside the Prince Rui's mansion, Ling Xi leaned lazily against a large blue stone by the lake in the garden. The late summer sun was gradually setting in the west, and a camphor tree by the lake stretched out like a giant umbrella, casting a cool shade over this corner.

Ling Xi couldn't stand the summer heat in Jinling City. Even though Xiao Ce had ordered the ice in Chuixing Courtyard to be doubled, she still lost her appetite due to the heat.

Today, she took three baths, but still felt irritable and suffocated. Finally, unable to bear the stuffiness in the house any longer, she found this shady spot by the lake to cool off.

The huge blue stone beneath her was half-submerged in the lake, its surface slightly cool from the water. Still feeling it wasn't enough, she took off her shoes and socks and dipped her feet into the cool water. A gentle breeze occasionally wafted from the lake, and she closed her eyes, her body relaxing for once. Quietly enjoying a moment of refreshing coolness in this shady spot.

"Perrin, why did you stop fanning yourself?"

She spoke lazily with her eyes half-closed, completely unaware that Perrin was no longer behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

A clear, deep male voice suddenly sounded close to her ear, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted from it. The next moment, a strong, broad chest gently pressed against her back. Ling Xi opened her eyes and turned around, meeting a pair of deep eyes.

Xiao Ce was still wearing his formal court robes, clearly having just returned. He sat down with her on the bluestone, stretched out his long arm, and firmly held her slender waist, encircling her in front of him.