Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

She had seen Lu Baixu take her pulse several times in the past, and he was always confident and composed. This was the first time she had seen him hesitate and waver while taking her pulse, which made her feel inexplicably apprehensive.

"Bai Xu, how is it?"

After a long silence in the hall, Qin Qi finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first, his tone tinged with a hint of tentative worry.

Lu Baixu finally slowly withdrew his hand from Ling Xi's wrist, letting it hang quietly at his side. He looked up at Ling Xi, who was sitting there in a daze, his eyes filled with a complex emotion that was hard to detect.

"The Crown Princess... is pregnant."

"Pregnant?!"

Qin Qi suddenly spoke, full of astonishment. After a moment of stunned silence, a deep joy suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"What a joyous occasion! Congratulations, Princess Consort! Congratulations, Princess Consort!"

Qin Qi's joyful voice sounded grating to Ling Xi.

A happy occasion? How could it be a happy occasion?

Upon hearing the word "pregnant," her mind went completely blank. Her back remained stiff and tense, and her hands, resting on the table, trembled slightly uncontrollably.

She was pregnant with Xiao Ce's child. No! How could she be carrying his child? She couldn't!

"Princess?"

Seeing her lost in thought and dazed, Wushuang felt a little worried and gently called out to her.

"N-nothing, I was just a little surprised."

She slightly tugged at the corners of her lips, using all her strength to barely suppress the stinging and despair in her eyes, maintaining a calm expression.

"If Yizhi knew about this, he would be overjoyed!"

Overjoyed? He's already ruthlessly murdered her brother, so how much sincerity can he possibly have for her?

She forced a faint smile, unwilling to dampen Qin Qi's enthusiasm, but the smile didn't reach her eyes; it quickly faded, and she slowly lowered her gaze.

"Please, everyone, do not inform Xiao Ce of this matter for the time being."

After a moment of silence, she spoke again.

Why is that?

Qin Qi looked puzzled, raising an eyebrow slightly. Lu Baixu, standing to the side, fixed his gaze on her intently, his expression growing increasingly complex, his brows furrowing tightly as if trying to see through the secret hidden deep within her eyes.

"I want to find an opportunity to tell him in person."

Her expression returned to calm and undisturbed. Her slender fingers steadily picked up the celadon teacup on the table, gently pressed it against the rim, lowered her eyes and took a small sip of tea, her voice calm and undisturbed.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qi immediately smiled in relief.

"So that's how it is! That's how it should be. Such a joyous occasion should naturally be told to Yizhi by the Crown Princess herself. Rest assured, Bai Xu and I will keep our mouths shut and will not utter a single word to Yizhi!"

He was open-minded and enthusiastic, and his heart was full of sincerity. He was completely unaware of the changes in the emotions of the people at the table.

Sitting beside Ling Xi, Wu Shuang's heart skipped a beat. Having followed the princess for over a year, she knew her expression best. Just now, she clearly showed no joy whatsoever at the prospect of being newly pregnant. Wu Shuang frowned slightly, feeling a vague unease in her heart, but she didn't dare to ask directly.

Lu Baixu gazed intently at the seated woman, his eyes deep and thoughtful. His medical skills were superb, and his observation of people was equally keen. Following her movements, his gaze fell upon the teacup in her hand.

"Now that the Crown Princess is pregnant, and the pregnancy is taking shape, it is advisable for her to drink less tea in the future to ensure the baby's well-being."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xi slowly turned to look at Lu Baixu. He was still sitting upright, his expression calm and composed. The hesitation and seriousness he had shown when taking the pulse had completely disappeared, leaving only a calm and serene demeanor.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she subconsciously raised her hand, gently placing it on her flat stomach. The warm touch of her palm against the fabric made her feel as if fate was playing a cruel trick on her.

She quickly pulled her hand away, a sudden, dull pain clenching in her heart. Before yesterday, she would have been overjoyed at the arrival of this child. But just one day later, everything was different.

She can't keep this child now.

She calmly placed the teacup back on the table, her expression indifferent, and nodded slightly.

"Thank you for the reminder, Vice Minister Lu. I've got it in mind."

……

We ultimately didn't get to visit the dessert shop.

Wushuang insisted on escorting Ling Xi back to Prince Rui's residence. Ling Xi tried to refuse several times but to no avail, so he had no choice but to agree. However, as soon as the carriage slowly started moving, Wushuang couldn't help but speak up:

"Has the princess encountered some trouble?"

Ling Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she quietly bit her lower lip. She looked at Wu Shuang's clear and stubborn eyes, which were still the same as before.

After lowering her eyes and pondering for a moment, she finally swallowed back the words she had hesitated to say for so long.

Wushuang had only just returned to the Qin family and hadn't even had a few days to settle down. She couldn't ask the Qin family for help. The marriage alliance between Liang and Chu involved the political situation of both countries. If something went wrong and it implicated the Qin family, it would be Wushuang's fault.

"What trouble could I possibly have? I'm probably just a little tired from being pregnant."

She slowly parted her lips, revealing a faint, peaceful smile. Her eyes were empty and unreadable, showing no trace of joy or sorrow.

"The princess is pregnant, why does she show no joy whatsoever?"

Her words ultimately failed to quell Wushuang's deep doubts; her brows furrowed, and her tone carried a hint of stubbornness.

Ling Xi sighed softly, her mind racing to find a plausible excuse.

"I just feel that the child I give birth to might not even be truly loved by him."

She slowly raised her hand and gently placed it on her lower abdomen, her voice low and cool, as if she were chatting casually.

"After all, the Prince Rui's mansion already has a legitimate heir."

A hint of confusion flashed across her eyes. Though it was a perfunctory excuse, she felt deep down that it was the truth. Xiao Ce's feelings for her weren't even genuine, so how could he truly love the child in her womb?

Wushuang lowered her eyes, a hint of worry still lingering in them. She vividly remembered everything the princess had experienced in the Prince Rui's mansion. Consort Mu's son had already been granted the title of grandson of the emperor, and what about the child in the princess's womb...?

"Princess..."

"Don't worry, Wushuang, I, your princess, will never allow others to manipulate me at will."

Ling Xi raised her eyes, a faint yet firm smile appearing on her lips.

"Now that the princess is pregnant, is she still planning to return to Ji City?"

"certainly."

Wushuang frowned again, and after a brief silence, she spoke once more:

"When does the princess plan to depart?"

"A date hasn't been set yet, but it won't be long."

Ling Xi looked at the carriage curtain fluttering in the wind, her tone indifferent.

"Let me escort the princess back."

Wushuang spoke with certainty, her gaze earnest.

"Wushuang, you really are..."

"Princess, please consider this... as the last task the Crown Prince entrusted to me."

A hint of surprise flashed across Ling Xi's eyes, but she quickly relaxed and nodded slightly.

"Alright... but please don't tell anyone about this. I will send someone to inform you once I have finalized the itinerary."

"Princess, rest assured."

Looking at Wushuang, who was becoming increasingly composed, Ling Xi felt a little relieved. She realized that she still habitually made decisions for Wushuang. Perhaps Wushuang had her own opinions, and with her accompanying her, the journey home would be much safer.