Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

As Qin Qi spoke, he glanced at Ling Yue, who was sitting quietly on the stone steps, and then looked at Lu Baixu, who was sitting quietly beside him.

"Bai Xu, you've been married for two years now, it's about time you had a child. Let me tell you, it would be best to have a daughter, she's well-behaved, quiet and doesn't make a fuss. However, having a son like Yue'er, who isn't noisy, would also be nice."

Lu Baixu took a sip of tea, a faint smile playing on his lips, but did not respond.

Qin Qi then looked at Xiao Ce beside him, his expression becoming more serious.

"And Yizhi, it's been more than three years since the late Prince Rui passed away. You should seriously consider getting married. In the future, the Prince Rui's mansion will eventually need a mistress to manage it. And An'er..."

Qin Qi's gaze drifted to Xiao Chen'an, who was playing not far away, and his expression became somewhat uneasy.

"An'er is still young, and he should have a mother to take care of and accompany him."

"I'm destined to be a lone star, why should I burden others?"

Xiao Ce smiled faintly, raised his hand and drank the cold tea in his cup in one gulp, his tone calm and indifferent.

Qin Qi opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back. A deep sense of helplessness rose in his eyes, and he ultimately did not utter another word.

After they returned from Jinling that year, Xiao Ce became even more taciturn than before. Less than half a year later, Mu Wanning fell ill and, despite medical treatment, passed away, leaving behind the young Xiao Chen'an. The following year, the old Prince Rui went to Jinzhou to provide disaster relief, but unfortunately contracted the plague and died far from home.

Since then, Xiao Ce seemed to have completely changed; only in front of them could he show a slightly relaxed smile.

But from some unknown time, rumors began to circulate in Jinling City. Everyone said that Xiao Ce was born a cursed star, his fate was cursed, and he had killed his elder brother, his father, and his concubine one after another. Even the princess of Chu, with whom he was betrothed, left him after their divorce.

"Yizhi... don't take those people's nonsense to heart."

"Don't worry, I'm not so easily influenced by what these people say."

Xiao Ce's expression remained calm, but a fleeting, undisguised pain flashed deep in his eyes. They didn't know that he had also killed the child in Ling Xi's womb, the child who had vanished before it even formed.

"Father! Father! My brothers are fighting!"

The group of people in the pavilion were all lost in their own thoughts and remained silent. Qin Xing, with her short legs, stumbled and ran towards the pavilion, shouting as she ran. Her little face looked like she was about to cry.

Xiao Ce, Qin Qi, and Lu Baixu stood up almost simultaneously and looked towards the garden. They saw Xiao Chen'an, Ling Yu, and Ling Yue wrestling together. The group was stunned for a moment before rushing forward. Qin Xing, panting heavily, followed behind them.

In the center of the garden, Ling Yu and Ling Yue were fighting Xiao Chen'an, but Xiao Chen'an was nearly two years older than them, so the two sides were barely evenly matched. The three adults rushed forward, each grabbing one of them, and it took some effort to separate the three who were entangled in the fight.

Qin Qi reached out and firmly restrained the still restless Ling Yu. Little Ling Yu wouldn't calm down, waving his arms and legs and struggling, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Come on, I'm not afraid of you Liang people!"

"Yu'er! How dare you be so rude!"

Qin Qi frowned and reprimanded him sharply. Ling Yu hadn't spent much time with Qin Qi and had never been yelled at by his uncle before. Just that one shout made Ling Yu suddenly pout, his eyes instantly reddening, and he fell silent, feeling wronged.

"An'er! Why are you fighting?"

Xiao Ce gripped Xiao Chen'an's wrist, his face cold and menacing. Xiao Chen'an lowered his head, not daring to speak for a moment.

Qin Xing, who had just caught up, waved his hands frantically and hurriedly stepped forward to help explain:

"Brother An said he wants to be a great general when he grows up, and Brother Yu also said he wants to be a great general. One is the great general of Liang, and the other is the great general of Chu. They even said that whoever loses the battle will have to make the other surrender and pay tribute!"

"I see. However, the Liang and Chu kingdoms have long since ceased fighting. If you wish to test your skills, you should wait until you are older and have acquired martial arts prowess before engaging in a duel."

Seeing that Xiao Ce and Qin Qi both had cold and stern expressions, Lu Baixu was afraid that they might frighten the children, so he smiled and spoke up to ease the situation.

"Yue'er, why did you get involved and help them, since they were arguing and fighting over who should be the general? I remember you said before that you didn't want to be the general."

Qin Qi released Ling Yu, who had calmed down, and turned to scold Ling Yue, who was standing quietly to the side.

Ling Yue showed no trace of the hostility that Ling Yu and Xiao Chen'an had displayed earlier. She raised her small hand to straighten her disheveled clothes before slowly speaking:

"My aunt said that when we're out in the world, Lingyu and I will side with our relatives, not with what's right or wrong."

"Your aunt?"

It took Lu Baixu a moment to react.

"Your aunt is... a princess of the Chu Kingdom?"

"Yes, my aunt is Ling Xi, the princess of the Huan King's Mansion in the Chu Kingdom."

Upon hearing the name "Ling Xi," a ripple flashed across Xiao Ce's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Only the hand he was holding Xiao Chen'an tightened unconsciously.

"My aunt is the most beautiful person in the entire city of Ji—no, in the entire kingdom of Chu! She's even more beautiful than a fairy from heaven!"

Ling Yu took the opportunity to become smug, raising his little face, his tone full of undisguised pride.

"Xingxing really wants to meet Yu-gege and Yue-gege's aunt."

Qin Xing's almond-shaped eyes sparkled with longing.

"I don't believe it. Could she possibly be more beautiful than the empresses in the palace?"

Xiao Chen'an, still holding back her anger and resentment, pouted and retorted.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask my uncle; he's met my aunt!"

Ling Yu grew anxious, his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels, while the three men fell silent. Which of them hadn't seen that stunningly beautiful woman before?

Qin Qi raised his eyes and quickly glanced at Xiao Ce beside him. Seeing that Xiao Ce's expression remained unchanged, he was momentarily embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

"Uncle Rui and Uncle Lu, have you ever met my aunt? Do you think she's beautiful?"

Ling Yue, who had been standing silently beside Lu Baixu, suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence between them.

Xiao Ce turned his head and met Ling Yue's clear and bright phoenix eyes. A strange feeling suddenly flashed through his heart.

The two had almost identical eye shapes, but Ling Yue's eyes were clear and open, while Xiao Ce's eyes held a hint of evasion. He quickly looked away, not daring to meet Ling Yue's direct gaze for long.

"Qin Qi, I'm going back now."

Xiao Ce did not answer Ling Yue's question, but pulled Xiao Chen'an and turned to leave.

"Hey, Yizhi, stay for dinner..."