Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

After Xiao Chen followed Steward Mu out of the bedroom in a huff, Xiao Ce slowly straightened up and looked at his mother with a helpless expression.

"Mother, it's been so many years, you should try to let go. Besides, your child hasn't done anything wrong."

Princess Rui sighed softly, a hint of melancholy appearing in her eyes.

"I understand the reasoning, but my mother's heart..."

"If Mother does not wish to see them, then please return to Zhengyang Courtyard to rest."

"Alright, go ahead."

After Xiao Ce left, she composed herself, walked out of her bedroom, and prepared to leave Chuixing Courtyard directly along the west corridor. As soon as she passed through the moon gate and stepped into the outer courtyard, she heard bursts of clear children's laughter coming from the courtyard.

She turned her head and saw Xiao Chen'an holding his exquisite sandalwood bow and arrow in the open space of the courtyard. He shot an arrow that pierced the bullseye steadily, and then, with his eyebrows raised and eyes wide open, he jumped up and down, clutching the bow.

"How about that? I told you I'd hit the bullseye every time! My archery skills were personally taught by my father; you definitely can't beat me!"

The Empress Dowager's lips curved slightly involuntarily, and the coldness in her eyes dissipated. She was about to turn and leave when she caught a glimpse of a thin, small figure slowly rising from the side steps.

"Let me try."

He had been sitting quietly on the stone steps, and she had barely noticed him. Now, he stood up and turned around. Consort Rui suddenly stopped, staring blankly at Ling Yue's small face, her heart clenching, her eyes filled with shock.

She blinked in disbelief, straining her eyes to see more clearly. Her gaze was fixed on Ling Yue's face, and the more she looked, the more shocked she became. In a daze, she forgot her original intention to leave, and her feet lifted uncontrollably as she hurriedly walked towards the center of the courtyard.

"Your Highness! Where are you going?"

Upon seeing this, Granny Li, who was following closely behind, quickly caught up with them.

Ling Yue's face was tense as he gripped the small sandalwood bow tightly. His arms trembled slightly as he mustered all his strength to draw the bowstring taut and focused his mind on the distant target.

With a soft "whoosh," the arrow left the bowstring, but he lacked the strength. The arrow wobbled in the air and fell straight to the ground without touching the target.

Ling Yue slowly lowered his hand, staring blankly at the target in the distance, his eyebrows drooping, and the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

"You and Ling Yu are still young. You might not be able to hit the target until you're older. But I have my father personally teaching me. By then, I'll definitely be better than you two!"

Xiao Chen'an's childish voice carried a hint of smugness. He probably meant no harm, but Ling Yue felt extremely uncomfortable listening to it.

Ling Yu, standing to the side, felt a little anxious. He had just test-shot an arrow, which had only barely grazed the edge of the target, hardly a success. Seeing Ling Yue's head bowed and silent, he assumed Ling Yue was upset about missing the target and quickly went to comfort him:

"Little brother, don't be sad. When we get back to Jicheng, we'll have Father teach us archery!"

Ling Yue slowly raised his head, his eyes clear and deep, showing no trace of grievance or sadness, but rather a thin layer of coldness.

"I'm not sad."

He glanced at Xiao Chen'an, his tone indifferent, yet concealing a subtle stubbornness.

"grandmother!"

Just then, Xiao Chen'an caught sight of Consort Rui hurrying towards them, and his heart grew even happier. Ling Yu and Ling Yue turned around at the sound of her voice.

Consort Rui responded softly to Xiao Chen'an, but her gaze remained fixed on Ling Yue. She scrutinized him inch by inch, not wanting to miss a single detail of his features.

"Grandmother, these are Ling Yu and Ling Yue, whom I told you about. They are Qin Xing's cousins."

Xiao Chen'an stood beside her, affectionately pointing to them and introducing them, then turned to look at the two of them.

"Ling Yu, Ling Yue, this is my grandmother."

"Grandmother is well."

Ling Yu, who was always obedient, immediately bowed and greeted them, speaking in a soft and pleasing voice.

"Okay, sure."

Consort Rui responded softly to Ling Yu, but her eyes were fixed on Ling Yue beside him. Ling Yue's lips were tightly pursed, and he did not say a word, showing no intention of greeting her. He exuded aloofness and stubbornness.

"You... are you Ling Yue?"

Consort Rui's gaze was fixed on him intently, her voice trembling slightly.

Without the slightest hesitation, she recognized at first glance that the awkward and aloof child before her was the same child that Ce'er had risked everything to protect yesterday.

Her gaze traced his features again and again, her heart churning with emotion. The contours of his eyebrows and eyes, the shape of his nose and lips, even the stubborn and aloof air between his brows, were exactly the same as Xiao Ce's when he was a child, as if they were carved from the same mold.

Following her gaze, Granny Li looked closely and, upon seeing Ling Yue's features clearly, couldn't help but gasp softly:

"Your Highness, this, this child..."

"You think it looks alike too? It's so similar..."

Consort Rui gazed at the silent Ling Yue before her, and after a long while, she murmured softly.

"Grandma, what do you mean by 'too similar'?"

Seeing that his grandmother was staring intently at Ling Yue, Xiao Chen'an couldn't help but ask a question out of curiosity. Ling Yue, however, turned away blankly, pouted, and lowered his head.

"Mother?"

Xiao Ce and Qin Qi had just come out of the hall side by side when they saw their mother and several children in the courtyard, and Xiao Ce immediately frowned.

"Didn't you say you were going back to Zhengyang Courtyard to rest? Why are you here?"

Consort Rui concealed the complex emotions in her eyes, slowly turned to the side, and her expression returned to normal.

"Oh... I've never seen twins before, and I was just curious, so I thought I'd come and take a look."

Xiao Ce's eyes darkened, and doubts arose in his heart. Knowing his mother as he did, she wouldn't come to see him casually, especially not to see Ling Heng's child.

"Your Highness, you may not know this, but my sister's twins are quite different from ordinary twins. Ordinary twins look almost identical, but Yu'er and Yue'er not only look very different, but their personalities are also worlds apart."

Qin Qi smiled gently, his gaze frequently falling on Ling Yu and Ling Yue as he spoke.

Consort Rui raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of inquiry appearing in her eyes.

"I see. How old are those two children this year? And what were their birthdays?"

Before Qin Qi could answer, the lively Ling Yu spoke first:

"Replying to the Dowager Grandmother, we are four years old this year, and our birthday is in August."

"August...it's August..."

Consort Rui murmured to herself, her eyes deep and thoughtful, as if she were trying hard to recall the past.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Xiao Ce was truly puzzled as to why his mother was paying extra attention to Ling Heng's two children today.

Consort Rui snapped back to her senses and managed a faint smile.

"It's nothing, just a casual question. Happy August, happy August... You guys have fun, I'll head back now."

Her voice was weak and her eyes were still somewhat dazed as she slowly turned and left.

Seeing her dazed expression, Xiao Ce's suspicion deepened.