Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Hey, this isn't a compliment, is it? I have to say, you really are..."

Qin Qi pursed his lips and rolled his eyes at him.

"He's just like Yi Zhi."

He deliberately lowered his voice and muttered, the resentment in his tone gradually fading.

"But...why do you seem to have known I was coming beforehand?"

As Qin Qi spoke, he picked up the teacup in front of him and drank half of it with a puzzled expression.

"Brother Qin is too kind. How would I know?"

Ling Heng's lips twitched slightly as he picked up the teapot and slowly refilled the cup in front of him, his eyes lowered in a composed manner. He not only guessed that he would come, but also worried that there wouldn't be enough time, so he insisted on giving him an extra ten days or so.

"Your Highness, Qingyun said the hot water for the bath is ready. Are you finished with your work yet?"

Just then, Wushuang's voice suddenly came from outside the door. Caught off guard, Qin Qi hurriedly swallowed the tea he had just drunk, looked up at the figure at the door, and then turned back to look at Ling Heng in shock.

"This, this is... my sister?"

Qin Qi lowered his voice and exclaimed in surprise, then turned to look at the commotion outside the door.

"Um."

Ling Heng calmly put down the teapot and raised his voice slightly towards the door to give an order:

"Go and wait there for a moment, I'll be right back."

"Yes."

As the footsteps outside the door gradually faded away, Qin Qi pouted, and the anger that had just been extinguished suddenly surged up again.

"You bastard Ling Heng! I thought you were doing this for my sister's sake! So this is how you've always treated her, like a servant!"

"Of course not."

Ling Heng glanced at him indifferently, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"It's best if you don't. If you only treat Yue'er as a maid, how dare you dream of marrying her..."

"Before, she was the bodyguard who would rush in front of me and shield me from swords and blades."

Before Qin Qi could finish speaking, Ling Heng spoke first. He then slowly put down his teacup, straightened his clothes slightly, and stood up with a calm expression.

Qin Qi stood frozen in place, stunned for a long time before he could react.

"Young Master Qin, please return home today. Wushuang is waiting for me. Oh, by the way, she said she would give me an answer in a couple of days."

After Ling Heng finished speaking, he walked straight towards the door. Qin Qi finally realized what was happening and hurriedly followed behind him.

"Ling Heng! I'm telling you this right now, I don't agree to this marriage!"

……

The following morning, in Qingyuyuan's bedroom.

Ling Heng stood quietly in front of the bed, casually stretching out his arms, letting Wushuang help him change his clothes. Wushuang carefully slipped the sleeves onto his arms; she was already quite adept at the work of a personal maid.

His narrow eyes lowered, his gaze lingering on her brows and eyes. Wushuang had already felt that burning gaze, but kept her head down and dared not look up. After adjusting his clothes, she picked up the jade belt beside her. She inadvertently looked up and suddenly met his deep and fixed gaze.

Her mind wavered slightly, and she immediately lowered her head. However, her fingertips inexplicably stiffened when she tried to fasten the jade clasp, and she was unable to do so after several attempts.

Wu Shuang's brows furrowed involuntarily, and her hand on his waist became increasingly flustered. Her cold face tightened, and just as she was about to give up, Ling Heng suddenly raised his hand and firmly grasped her wrist.

She pursed her lips and looked up, seeing a faint smile on his lips and a gentle gaze.

"Stop moving around."

"oh oh……"

Ling Heng slowly released his grip on her hand, his well-defined fingers deftly fastening the jade belt around his waist. His deep gaze remained fixed on her, never wavering for a moment.

"Your Highness, the Prince and Princess request your presence in the main hall of the outer courtyard."

A servant suddenly announced something from outside the door. Ling Heng glanced up briefly and responded towards the door:

"Okay, I'll be right there."

He casually tugged at his sleeve, turned to look at Wushuang, and his expression softened.

"Come with me."

"Yes."

Wushuang followed behind him, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

In the main hall of the outer courtyard, Prince Huan and Princess Huan sat solemnly in the main seats with cold faces. Wu Shuang followed Ling Heng inside, and upon seeing this, her brows furrowed unconsciously. The young master was the most outstanding young master from a prominent family in Ji City, and the prince and princess had almost never been cold to him, but today they seemed somewhat different.

"I have met my father and mother."

Ling Heng bowed respectfully, his expression calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.

King Huan frowned and gave him a cold look.

"You rejected the marriage proposal from Miss Yang?"

Although King Huan's tone wasn't exactly angry, it still carried a strong sense of rage.

"Yes."

Ling Heng straightened up and calmly sat down to the side. Wu Shuang stood beside him, feeling surprised and suspicious.

"When did this happen?"

"Just a few days ago."

"You bastard! Don't think I don't know you never even considered a marriage alliance with the Yang family from beginning to end!"

Although King Huan tried his best to maintain the dignity of a prince and suppressed his anger to keep a semblance of composure, his tone of voice suddenly rose, and his usual calm and gentle demeanor was nowhere to be found.

"Heng'er, what are you really planning? You've been so reluctant to settle down all these years, and your mother is truly worried. Why don't you tell your father and mother the truth? Could it be... that you are really as the rumors say..."

Princess Huan looked anxious, paused in her speech, and left the rest of her words unsaid.

Wushuang's heart jolted, and she opened her eyes wide in shock.

Rumors circulated that the Crown Prince of Huan was exceptionally talented in both literature and martial arts, possessed outstanding looks, and came from a distinguished family. He was flawless among the scions of prominent families in Jicheng, in terms of lineage, ability, future prospects, and reputation. However, he was unusually averse to women; among all the young men of his age in Jicheng, not one was unmarried or had a concubine. Therefore, in the past two years, rumors began to circulate that the Crown Prince of Huan had homosexual tendencies.

Wushuang had followed Ling Heng for many years and had never believed in such things. Although she had never seen the prince be intimate with any woman, she had never seen him be intimate with any man either.

"Hmph, he's not a homosexual at all! I only found out yesterday when my brother accidentally let it slip in the palace that he secretly asked for permission to marry the daughter of the Minister of Liang. It was even Emperor Liang who personally issued the imperial decree for the marriage! He must have gone to Liang at that time and been bewitched by that woman from Jinling."

Wu Shuang stood to the side, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Which daughter of a high-ranking official in Jinling had the young master married? She quickly considered the daughters of several high-ranking officials in Jinling, but for a moment she had no clue.

"Heng'er, is what your father said truly true?"

Princess Huan was restless, her gaze fixed on Ling Heng as she anxiously pressed for answers.

"Yes."

Ling Heng remained seated, his expression calm and composed. His unperturbed demeanor was nothing like the anger of the Prince of Huan or the anxiety of the Princess Consort.