Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"I have something to do, I'll be going now."

Ling Heng looked like he didn't want to talk to anyone, and got up to leave, leaning on the edge of the table.

"Hey brother, wait a minute! What I just told you, is it okay or not? I'm going to Yin'an Temple on the outskirts of the city in a couple of days, could you lend me Wushuang for a couple of days?"

Ling Xi hurriedly stood up. She had to help Wushuang leave Jicheng as soon as possible, otherwise it would cause a delay.

Ling Heng turned around, his gaze sweeping over Wushuang beside him before he spoke softly:

"I'm sending Arno to you, she'll accompany you, and Wushuang... has other things to do."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left, clearly not wanting to explain any further.

Wu Shuang frowned slightly, filled with doubt. What task did the young master have for her that she didn't know about? She hadn't heard him mention it in the past few days.

"Hey bro! Don't go! What is it that Wushuang has to do? Can't Arno do it instead? I'm used to going out with Wushuang!"

No matter how much she called out, Ling Heng continued walking without stopping, showing no intention of turning around or answering.

Only after Ling Heng's figure disappeared around the corner did Ling Xi slump back down, frowning as she looked at Wu Shuang beside her, her eyes full of helplessness.

"Wushuang, you saw it too. He just gave me the same casual reply yesterday. But... what important business does my brother have that requires him to keep you here?"

Wushuang slowly withdrew her gaze, her brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head, equally filled with doubts. The young master had not given her any instructions beforehand, and she had no idea what task she was to perform.

"I don't know either."

"In my opinion, you should just tell my brother the truth. If he knows you've found your family, he'll definitely be happy for you."

Ling Xi tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, and after a moment's consideration, she offered her advice.

"I understand, thank you, Princess."

After Ling Xi left Qingyu Courtyard, the courtyard fell silent again. Wu Shuang stood outside Ling Heng's study for a long time before finally stepping inside with no other choice.

Ling Heng, who was sitting at the desk, kept his head down and flipped through the files without ever looking up. He could tell who she was just by the sound of her footsteps, but he calmly continued to stroke the paper with his hands, waiting for her to speak first.

After waiting for a long time, seeing that she remained silent, he finally raised his eyes and stared at her intently.

"You... want to go to Yin'an Temple with Xi'er?"

"Yes."

Wu Shuang blurted out, almost as if possessed, that she had come to confess to the prince, but in the end, she only wanted to take the opportunity to back down quickly.

Ling Heng put down the file in his hand, and his previously calm expression was instantly covered with a layer of coldness. His dark eyes stared intently at Wushuang, who was standing in the room.

"Do you want to go to Yin'an Temple with Xi'er, or are you hoping to use this opportunity to escape and return to Jinling alone?"

Ling Heng's voice was cold and deep, his eyes filled with barely suppressed anger.

Wu Shuang was slightly taken aback, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she stared at Ling Heng in astonishment.

"Your Highness...you knew all along?"

"If I knew nothing about it, you planned to leave the Huan Prince's residence without a word, quietly return to Jinling, and become the eldest daughter of the Qin family?"

"I...I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to hide it."

Wushuang felt guilty and lowered her head, not daring to look at him again.

Ling Heng chuckled, his expression growing even colder.

"When I left Jinling, I asked you if you would like to come back to Jicheng with me. You refused outright. So that's why."

Ling Heng's words grew increasingly somber, a hint of undisguised loneliness lurking in his eyes.

Wushuang calmed herself down, took a deep breath, and slowly raised her eyes. Since the young master already knew everything, she might as well just tell him directly.

"My parents and elder brother are all in Jinling, so naturally, I must return to Jinling."

"And what about the Huan Prince's Mansion?! The Huan Prince's Mansion nurtured you for many years, is it... is it not worth your lingering affection at all?"

Ling Heng's expression gradually darkened, and his eyes reddened slightly. He suddenly stood up, strode out, and the hem of his skirt swept across the table, causing the pages of the books on the table to sway gently.

"I……"

Wu Shuang froze on the spot, her usually composed mind instantly thrown into disarray. In all her years at the Huan Prince's residence, she had never seen the heir so angry, and for a moment she felt completely helpless, unable to utter a single word.

"And what about me?"

Ling Heng took two steps to her, suddenly grabbed her wrist, and his eyes turned crimson.

Wushuang felt a dull pain in her wrist, and she froze, forgetting to resist. She just stared blankly at the prince who seemed to have suddenly become a different person, her throat trembling slightly.

"Your Highness, you..."

"Am I... not even worth your lingering affection?"

Ling Heng stared at her absent-minded eyes, his tone suddenly lowered, and his gaze towards her held a hint of unease and disappointment.

Wu Shuang's mind went blank. Staring at Ling Heng's uncomfortably furrowed brows, she didn't know if she had misheard, misunderstood, or misread the deep affection in his eyes. The wrist that he had gripped so tightly just moments before no longer hurt. Her lips moved several times, but she couldn't utter a single word, only staring at the person before her, at a loss for what to do.

"say!"

Wushuang was startled by his sudden growl. She blinked slightly, terrified by the terrible thought that had just crossed her mind. She had clearly heard the prince say in Jinling that he had no one he cared about. How could it be what she had just thought? Perhaps he just thought she was an ungrateful wretch. He had treated her well all these years, yet she was leaving without saying goodbye.

"I will forever remember the kindness the young master has shown to his subordinates over the years, and I will never forget it..."

Ling Heng's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on Wushuang's eyes, his deep eyes seemingly searching for something within them, perhaps trying to see if she was lying.

"This prince has no need for you to remember him."

He lowered his eyes, a deep melancholy spreading along his brow bone, the slight lingering annoyance now condensed deep within his pupils.

"Then, Your Highness... what do you want Wushuang to do?"

"I want you... to stay in Prince Huan's residence."

"Stay?" Wu Shuang stared blankly at Ling Heng, her brows furrowed in confusion. Today, the young master's face held a stubbornness she had never seen before. But why did he insist on keeping her here?

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, this... I'm afraid Wushuang cannot do it."

She lowered her eyelashes, looking troubled. Her brother's wedding was less than two months away, and she not only couldn't stay, but also had to rush back to Jinling as soon as possible.

"Are you still determined to leave?"

Wushuang looked up at him directly, deliberately ignoring the disappointment on his face, and nodded seriously.

After a moment of silence, Ling Heng slowly loosened his grip on her hand, a lonely self-mockery tugging at the corner of his lips, and slowly turned away.