Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Your Highness...why do you want to marry me?"

Wushuang raised her eyes, her bright gaze still cool and aloof.

What do you think?

Ling Heng squeezed her hand slightly tighter, then lowered his eyes to meet her clear yet cool gaze.

"Your Highness...does he love me?"

Wushuang frowned slightly, her eyes filled with genuine confusion, showing no sign of emotion.

Ling Heng's gaze softened as he looked at her furrowed brows, his eyes filled with open affection.

"Yes, from the moment you first came into my life, I knew I treated you differently from others. Later, this feeling became increasingly difficult to suppress; I couldn't control my desire to win your heart. But at that time, our social statuses were vastly different, and I couldn't marry you. I could only suppress my feelings. Until I finally hardened my heart and sent you and Xi'er to Jinling, thinking that this would sever my lingering thoughts. But I lost. I simply... couldn't sever them..."

A glimmer of light rippled in her peerless eyes as she gazed at him intently for a long while before finally lowering her gaze.

"You don't believe me?"

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Ling Heng frowned deeply.

"Wushuang has never doubted what the young master has said."

"So, what are your true feelings for me?"

Wushuang turned her head away, her heart stirred slightly. In her heart, she had always regarded the prince as her master. She had never been close to any other man since she was a child, and she had no idea what it felt like to love someone.

"I have no idea."

She answered completely truthfully, but suddenly dared not look up.

"Wushuang, do you even have a heart?"

Ling Heng's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes, and he suddenly pulled her in front of him.

His eyes were slightly lowered, his dark pupils locking onto her, filled with a long-suppressed longing, as if trying to see into her heart through her indifferent brows and eyes.

"I……"

As Wu Shuang choked with emotion, Ling Heng's restraint finally crumbled. He disregarded everything and lowered his head to kiss her, his warm lips covering hers, forcefully possessing her without giving her a moment to breathe. He then wrapped the hand that was holding hers around his waist, firmly holding her hand behind his back.

Wushuang had never experienced such intimate touch before. She was suddenly stunned by the kiss and, in a moment of surprise, instinctively raised her hand and swiftly struck out with a palm.

Ling Heng knew all her moves well. In an instant, he raised his hand, precisely grabbed her wrist, and easily dissipated the force of her moves.

He used his strength to firmly restrain her wrists behind her back, using this force to push her towards him, greedily and unscrupulously seizing her essence.

Wushuang was already quite strong, but he still held her down firmly. No matter how she struggled, it was to no avail, so she gradually gave up.

After an unknown amount of time, Ling Heng slowly retreated, their lips both flushed with a warm red, their breaths mingling and disordered.

"Do you know now?"

Ling Heng's breathing fluctuated, his gaze fixed on her without blinking.

"Know...what?"

Wushuang remained bewildered, his scent lingering around her nose, both familiar and strange, causing her usually indifferent heart to beat uncontrollably, disrupting her usual cool demeanor.

Ling Heng didn't retreat far. His gaze was fixed on her, and he gently stroked her lips, which he had kissed until they were warm and red.

"When I was so close to you just now, did you feel any disgust or rejection towards me?"

Ling Heng calmed down, his anxiety subsided, and he became more gentle and patient.

Wu Shuang's breathing gradually calmed, but her heart was still pounding wildly. Her earlier resistance was merely an instinctive act of self-defense; she had never felt the slightest repulsion towards Ling Heng's closeness. She stared at him steadily and shook her head truthfully.

Ling Heng smiled faintly and leaned down to gently embrace her.

"Wushuang, stay here, stay by my side."

He whispered softly in her ear, his tenderness and affection barely concealed.

Suddenly, Wushuang thought of something, her heart stirred slightly, and she reached out and gently pushed him away a little.

"I……"

Before she could speak, Ling Heng's expression suddenly lost its gentleness and immediately became serious.

"Don't reject me, Wushuang."

He suddenly tightened his arms again, pressing her firmly against his chest, his tone carrying a possessiveness that was both forceful and vulnerable, making it impossible for her to refuse.

Wushuang was pinned down and unable to move. She stretched out her slightly trembling hands, which froze in mid-air for a moment before she finally tentatively wrapped her arms around his waist.

She originally wanted to say that her brother's wedding was approaching, and she had to rush back to Jinling as soon as possible. Moreover, since it was such an important matter as marriage, she had to inform her parents in person.

But as she pressed her face against his warm clothes, she could clearly feel the unease revealed in the slight trembling of his body. The words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down. She suppressed her thoughts and decided to bring it up again tomorrow.

The next morning, Qin Qi stood outside Xiao Ce's guest room. After hesitating for a long time, he raised his hand to knock on the door, but the door opened slowly from the inside first.

Xiao Ce had clearly tidied his clothes and hair; his clothes were neat and his hair was tidy, unlike the decadent state he had been in the previous two days. However, the deep weariness and melancholy in his eyes could not be concealed at all. His aura was low and oppressive, completely lacking his usual composed and noble demeanor.

"Yizhi?"

Qin Qi was taken aback and carefully looked him up and down.

"Are you going out? Where are you going?"

"Prince Huan's Mansion".

Xiao Ce's face was cold and indifferent, his voice flat and hoarse, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Qin Qi quickly stepped forward, looking hesitant. He had heard some of the reasons from Wushuang that day.

"Yizhi, in my opinion, the Crown Princess is currently very angry. Your frequent appearances in front of her will only increase her annoyance. It would be better to let her stay at her parents' home for a while, until her anger subsides and she calms down. Then you can go and try to win her back. That way, there will still be room for reconciliation."

Xiao Ce lowered his eyes and remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slightly.

Seeing that he listened to the advice, Qin Qi breathed a slight sigh of relief and quickly changed the subject:

"Today, Yue'er is taking me around Jicheng. You should come along too, don't stay cooped up inside all day. We'll also buy some gifts to take back to Jinling. You can pick out some novel little things for An'er, things she's never seen before in Jinling, kids love those..."

Qin Qi's words came to an abrupt halt, his pupils contracted sharply, his eyes suddenly widened, and the relaxed expression he had just maintained vanished instantly, his mind reeling.

"Wait...wait! A child?!"

He gasped softly, his expression suddenly turning grave. Xiao Ce raised his eyes and gazed at him intently, his gaze deep and unfathomable, silently awaiting his unfinished words.

Qin Qi composed himself, and with a cautious and tentative tone, slowly began to speak:

"Yizhi, the Crown Princess...didn't she tell you that she's pregnant?"

This matter is of great importance. Regardless of whether Ling Xi intends to hide it from Xiao Ce, he must tell him the truth.