Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

The further she went in, the stronger the crisp scent of pine became. She casually glanced around the room and found that everything was exactly the same as before.

The study is spacious and bright with windows facing north and south. A large rosewood desk sits in the center, with writing brushes, ink, and utensils neatly arranged on it. The bookshelves on both sides of the wall are full of classic books. There is an ebony couch by the south-facing window, with a small table next to it burning with light pine smoke. On the north-facing windowsill are two pots of precious orchids brought by the princess.

"come over."

As Wushuang was looking around, Ling Heng's cold voice suddenly rang out. She quickly composed herself and walked briskly to the desk.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

She remained respectful, just as before. Previously, the princess had asked her to live in her Qinlan Courtyard as Qin Shiyue, but she was already used to staying in the Huan Prince's Mansion as Wushuang. If she became Qin Shiyue, she wouldn't know how to face the prince and everyone in the mansion.

Ling Heng gazed at her intently, his deep eyes seeming to pierce through her thoughts.

Wushuang lowered her eyes and remained silent. This time when she returned, she felt that the young master seemed to have changed. In fact, when the young master went to Jinling, she had a vague feeling that he was different from before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

After a while, Ling Heng slowly withdrew his gaze and took a calligraphy brush from the brush holder.

"The items on that table over there should be sent to the Yang residence first thing tomorrow morning."

Wushuang glanced to the right, where a sandalwood brocade box sat on the table.

"Your subordinate obeys."

She stepped forward and carefully picked up the exquisite brocade box. The intricate patterns carved on the box clearly indicated that it was a container for women's jewelry.

Should it be sent to the Yang residence?

Wushuang frowned slightly, her fingers tightening as she held the brocade box. She suddenly remembered that Miss Yang had come specifically to meet the young master today.

Is this box a gift for Miss Yang?

She glanced quickly at Ling Heng, who was bent over his writing, then quickly looked away, suddenly wanting to know what was inside the box. But she would never open it to peek; that was the rule.

"Aren't you going down?"

"Yes."

Wushuang suppressed her curiosity, picked up the brocade box, and turned to leave the study.

As soon as she turned around, Ling Heng's hand holding the pen suddenly paused. He looked up and stared at her receding figure, his jaw gradually tightening.

The following day, after Wushuang presented the gift, the Yang family steward arranged for her to wait in the outer hall. Soon after, the sound of light footsteps could be heard from outside the hall.

Miss Yang approached slowly, dressed in a simple, well-tailored brocade dress. Her black hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, adorned with pearl earrings on either side, and adorned with no other adornments. Her features were gentle and refined, with a faint smile playing on her lips. Her figure was graceful, and every movement was composed and serene, exuding a gentle and refined charm cultivated by her scholarly background.

Holding a small, exquisite brocade box in her hands, she slowly walked up to Wushuang and personally handed the box to her.

"This is a return gift I prepared for Prince Heng. Please ask you to thank him for me; I really like the gift he gave me."

She spoke softly, her manner gentle and polite, treating everyone equally regardless of status, without any of the arrogance often associated with noble ladies. Wushuang reached out and took the brocade box, inwardly marveling. No wonder the Princess Consort had gone to such lengths to select countless noble ladies from Jicheng for the Prince, yet he only showed her special favor. Her character and appearance were indeed a perfect match for the Prince.

"girl?"

Seeing her standing there lost in thought, Miss Yang turned her head slightly and called out softly again. Wushuang suddenly snapped out of her daze, quickly composed herself, bowed, and raised her hand.

"On behalf of the young master, I thank Miss Yang."

Wushuang respectfully accepted the brocade box and carefully put it away.

Miss Yang nodded slightly, her eyes gentle and smiling, her cheeks faintly flushed, revealing a hint of shyness.

Looking at her gentle and shy appearance, Wushuang couldn't help but be distracted again. Even after returning to the Huanwang Mansion and stepping into the Qingyu Courtyard, the inexplicable emptiness in his heart still lingered.

"Wushuang! Come here quickly!"

Suddenly hearing Ling Xi's voice, Wu Shuang quickly composed herself and looked up. She saw the prince and the princess sitting at the stone table where she and Wu Tong had been lost in thought the day before.

"Greetings, Princess and Prince."

Wushuang strode closer, his expression already back to normal.

"Wushuang, what are you holding in your hand?"

Ling Xi's gaze first fell on the brocade box in her hand, her face full of curiosity.

"Oh, this is a return gift from Miss Yang to the Prince."

Wushuang gently placed the brocade box on the stone table near Ling Heng, then bowed slightly and stood to the side.

"Brother, you... want Wushuang to deliver a gift to Miss Yang?"

Ling Xi quickly glanced at her brother beside her, a hint of inquiry in her eyes. Although she wasn't entirely clear on how Qingyun and Wushuang usually divided their tasks, Wushuang, as the first guard, would never personally handle errands like delivering gifts.

Ling Heng remained silent, only reaching out to pick up the teacup on the stone table. With a calm expression, he lowered his eyes and took a small sip.

"Brother, don't you want to see what gift Miss Yang gave you in return?"

Seeing that he seemed unwilling to answer, Ling Xi changed the subject, her gaze falling curiously on the brocade box on the table.

Ling Heng glanced at the brocade box indifferently, looking indifferent.

"If you want to see it, then see it yourself."

"Then I'll open it and take a look for my brother!"

Ling Xi didn't stand on ceremony. She reached out and pulled the brocade box from the stone table to her side.

Wushuang stood to the side, a sense of curiosity rising within her, her eyes following the movements of her hands.

"It is a mutton fat jade safety buckle."

Ling Xi opened the brocade box, and a lustrous, white jade safety buckle lay quietly on the soft satin.

"It's clear that Miss Yang put a lot of thought into this return gift. It seems she's quite pleased with you, brother. May I ask what gift you prepared for Miss Yang?"

Ling Xi casually took out the peace buckle and held it in her palm. She felt that the jade was delicate and smooth, and warm to the touch.

"I don't know."

"Not sure?"

Ling Xi carefully put the safety buckle back into the brocade box, then looked at her brother with surprise through her fox-like eyes.

Equally surprised was Wushuang, who was standing to the side. When she went to the prince's study yesterday to get something, she saw that the brocade box was very exquisite and thought that the prince had put a lot of thought into preparing it.

Ling Heng calmly glanced at the curious expressions on their faces and slowly put down his teacup.

"It was prepared by my mother."

"Prepared by Mother?"

Ling Xi slightly pursed her lips, looking at her brother with a disapproving expression.

"You didn't even open it to take a look at what Mother prepared?"

She had previously secretly guessed that her brother's rejection of numerous marriage proposals from prestigious families was probably because he held Wushuang in a different heart, but later she saw that he didn't seem to have that intention. This time, he didn't refuse the marriage proposal to the Yang family, and she thought that her brother had finally changed his ways and found a woman who caught his eye. But to her surprise, he didn't care at all and was still as perfunctory as before.