Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Xiao Ce's upright back straightened for a moment, then slowly slumped down a bit, and a tear slid down the corner of his eye.

"I...I won't bother you again."

His voice was no longer as intense as before, but instead carried a deep chill. He then slowly straightened up, resolutely turned around, and walked out of the courtyard.

Ling Xi kept her head down until the familiar footsteps finally disappeared and the surroundings became completely silent. The tears that she had suppressed for so long finally burst forth, dripping onto her clothes and silently spreading a damp, cool liquid.

……

Wushuang had planned to tell Lingheng about his departure to return to Jinling early the next morning after he finished his shift, but she waited until dusk filled the courtyard and still did not see that familiar figure appear.

It wasn't until after Shenshi (3-5 PM) that Qingyun hurriedly appeared and told her that the young master had once again gone to a public banquet, just like yesterday, and that she didn't need to wait for him.

Qingyun was puzzled. It was just a trivial matter of returning late from a banquet. Why would the prince send him back to inform Wushuang? The only reason he could think of was that the prince had secretly given Wushuang some kind of secret mission.

Wu Shuang herself was equally puzzled. Ling Heng often came home late, but he never once informed her.

Since no one came, Wushuang simply returned to her side room. She first packed her few belongings, then took a bath and washed up, killing time for most of the hour, but there was still no movement in the courtyard.

She had spent the whole day running around the city with her brother and was already quite tired. She tried to stay awake until past midnight, but eventually succumbed to sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

When Ling Heng returned, the courtyard was silent. There was no one there to greet and wait for his return. A sense of surprise crossed his mind, but he quickly remembered that he had already sent Qingyun back to inform her. So he went to the bath room alone, reeking of alcohol.

After bathing and returning to his bedroom, the excessive quietness of the room stirred his heart, and his feet moved uncontrollably toward the side door, where he gently pushed open the door to the annex room.

The candlelight burned dimly in the room, filling it with a faint fragrance. He immediately spotted Wushuang on the bed. She was curled up on her side, her bare feet peeking out from under her nightgown, while the brocade quilt was neatly folded inside the bed.

Ling Heng frowned slightly, walked over quietly, sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and pulled the blanket over her carefully.

He lowered his eyes and gazed quietly at her sleeping face. He unconsciously reached out and gently brushed his fingertips against her slightly cool cheek. A tenderness spread across his eyes. After a moment, he reluctantly stood up.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, his peripheral vision inadvertently swept over the neatly arranged luggage on the table, and the gentle expression on his face suddenly froze.

He paused slightly, then walked straight to the wardrobe against the wall. He yanked the door open, only to find it empty, without a single piece of her clothing in sight. He turned to look at the dressing table beside him, but the mirror was also empty. He then returned to the table, quickly opened his bag, and found her dresses and jewelry neatly arranged inside.

Ling Heng's heart instantly turned cold, and he was caught off guard and panicked. The tenderness in his eyes just now vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of intense anger.

A surge of anger suddenly took control of his mind, overpowering the remaining effects of the alcohol. He strode back to the bedside, leaned over and braced himself against the bed, glanced at Wushuang who was still fast asleep and completely unaware, and then lowered his head to fiercely cover her lips with his own. There was none of the gentleness he had shown when he was caressing her earlier. The heavy force was filled with a sudden burst of anger, fierce and domineering, as he tightly encircled her beneath him.

The sudden heavy pressure on her lips quickly woke Wushuang. Still half-asleep, she first caught a faint smell of alcohol on Ling Heng's body.

Her eyelashes trembled in panic, and she subconsciously raised her hand to push him away from her chest, but he firmly held her wrist with one hand and pressed it over her head.

Wushuang finally felt his suppressed anger seeping between her lips and teeth. The force was so strong that her lips ached slightly. He felt so brutally ruthless, as if he was plundering everything from her without any regard for her feelings.

Her breathing became rapid and erratic, and her eyes quickly filled with tears. Her drowsy state completely dissipated, leaving only a sudden sense of panic. The slight fear in her body made her instinctively want to turn her head away and try to avoid it, and soft sobs kept escaping her throat.

Sensing her rejection, Ling Heng stepped back slightly, his nose still touching hers, his eyes filled with turbulent gloom, the gentle warmth in his eyes long gone.

His chest heaved, his hot, heavy breath spraying onto her face. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at her, like he was watching prey trying to break free of his control.

"Your Highness...you...are drunk."

Wushuang lowered her eyelashes, too afraid to meet his sharp gaze. The crisp pine scent and faint smell of alcohol lingered around her nose.

"I'm drunk? Ha..."

Ling Heng scoffed, his anger unabated, and his eyes instantly filled with dark clouds.

"Wushuang, I'm perfectly lucid. Tell me, when do you plan to leave quietly? Tomorrow morning?"

His body pressed down again, so close that there was nowhere to hide, and his warm breath, mixed with a murderous aura, rushed towards them.

"leave?"

Wushuang suddenly realized something, turned her head to look at the luggage on the table, and instantly understood.

"I was thinking of telling you this when the young master returns. I'll be leaving Jicheng early tomorrow morning... um..."

Before she could finish speaking, her lips were once again fiercely sealed by him.

Hearing her say the words "leave" with his own ears, Ling Heng's last shred of restrained rationality vanished completely. The anger and panic in his eyes completely devoured all tenderness. He kissed her roughly and obsessively, with a strong sense of possessiveness.

He tightened his grip on her wrists, holding her firmly and leaving her no room to break free.

It wasn't until a cool sensation spread across her waist that Wushuang realized he had removed her nightgown without her noticing. His warm palms gently caressed her skin, startling her so much that her whole body tensed and her limbs felt numb.

She struggled to turn her head away from his entangled lips and teeth, her chest heaving violently. Ling Heng had already lost his composure, his warm lips tracing down her cheek, across her fair neck, and her delicate collarbone, burning with intense possessiveness.

"Your Highness, no..."

Wushuang broke free of his hand and pressed her lips against his, her voice trembling slightly.

Ling Heng was stunned for a moment, his movements suddenly stopped, and he regained some of his rationality. He propped himself up slightly, his deep eyes dark and gloomy, a trace of loss and regret mixed with a heavy desire rising up.

"sorry……"

His hoarse voice trembled slightly as he leaned down gently, resting wearily and forlornly against her chest.