Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"Now. Let's go, take them to your archery range now."

Xiao Ce spoke with certainty, and before Qin Qi could think further, he stepped forward to signal them to proceed.

"Great! Uncle Rui is going to teach us archery!"

Ling Yu could no longer contain himself. Holding his wooden bow high, he ran ahead and jumped for joy.

"Hey Yizhi, you're still injured! You can't move around too much..."

Qin Qi rushed out to catch up, his voice full of concern.

"Ling Yu is bolder and stronger, so he'll be better off training freely with you. Ling Yue is more observant. I'm injured and can't move as freely, so I'll keep a closer eye on him. What do you think?"

Xiao Ce spoke calmly, his gaze falling on Ling Yue's small figure beside him. His expression seemed calm, but his fingers tightened almost imperceptibly. Qin Qi, who was usually not very perceptive, could not see the strangeness hidden in his eyes.

"This arrangement is perfect, but you should try not to make any changes. I can teach them both myself."

"It's nothing, just a minor injury."

As Ling Yue walked, she listened clearly to the conversation between the two. Her small hand gently supported the bow, and she would occasionally turn her head to look at Xiao Ce beside her with a puzzled expression. Although there was still a hint of inexplicable displeasure between her brows, a faint expectation quietly rose in her heart, and even her steps became a little lighter.

The archery range in the Qin residence was spacious and well-ventilated. Qin Qi had already practiced a few moves with Ling Yu, whose cheerful laughter rang out intermittently.

But on this side, it was unusually quiet.

Xiao Ce knelt down beside Ling Yue, looking him in the eye.

"Look, your left hand should be placed here."

His voice was soft, gentle, and steady as he raised his hand and gently covered Ling Yue's small hand that was holding the wooden bow.

Ling Yue's fingertips stiffened slightly, gripping the bow handle tightly, clearly showing some discomfort and restraint. Xiao Ce patiently adjusted his knuckles, straightening each finger so that his palm rested firmly on the most stable point of the sandalwood bow.

"Don't grip the bow too tightly, or you'll lose your aim. Don't grip it too loosely either, or you'll lose power. Keep your elbows slightly bent and your wrists level."

His palms were warm, gently cupping Ling Yue's hand and helping him steady his bent posture, straightening his arm angle and making his posture proper and correct.

After adjusting his grip, Xiao Ce raised his hand and grasped his other hand, guiding him to slowly extend his arm backward.

"Raise your arms, relax your shoulders, and straighten your back."

He whispered a suggestion, his palm steadying Ling Yue's forearm, gently pulling him back on the string with very light force, afraid that Ling Yue might not be able to control the tension.

Ling Yue froze, but his cheeks were getting hot. He would occasionally turn his head to look at him, clearly somewhat absent-minded.

Xiao Ce naturally took in Ling Yue's distracted appearance. He maintained his half-squatting posture, enduring the dull pain in his back, and gently tapped Ling Yue's hand that was clenched, his fingertips lightly and indulgently.

"Focus."

Ling Yue hurriedly snapped back to his senses, no longer daring to glance around, and quickly fixed his gaze on the distant target.

"Draw your bow steadily, keep your eyes level with the bullseye, and your mind will be focused, and your arrow will hit the target."

Xiao Ce's voice remained gentle and calm, without the slightest fluctuation. Ling Yue nodded slightly but remained silent.

"Then let's try it out with one arrow."

Xiao Ce took a short arrow from the quiver beside him and handed it to him. He then covered his own hand with the arrow and helped him nock it on the bowstring. He leaned his chest against Xiao Ce's back and used his strength to steadily support Xiao Ce's still unsteady posture.

"Follow my lead and exert your strength."

He pulled the bowstring back with Ling Yue, and as soon as he exerted force, a dull pain suddenly struck his back. The prolonged half-squatting posture had already aggravated the injury, and now, with the slightest exertion, the faint pain spread along his shoulder blade. His shoulder trembled slightly, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

Ling Yue's small hand was firmly held in his palm, his arm remained as steady as a rock, without the slightest sway, the sandalwood bow gradually curved, the taut bowstring full of power.

"Aim, release."

Xiao Ce loosened his grip slightly, and with a soft "whoosh," the short arrow pierced the air and landed steadily in the bullseye.

Ling Yue's eyes lit up slightly, and a surge of joy welled up in his heart. He subconsciously turned his head to look at him, wanting to thank him. Just as he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of Xiao Ce's slightly lowered eyebrows and his face, which was even paler than before. Fine beads of sweat clung to his temples, yet he still smiled at him.

"Uncle Rui, are you feeling unwell?"

Although Ling Yue was young, he was insightful and sensitive. He stared blankly at the pale and uncomfortable face, and the doubts and awkwardness in his heart just now suddenly turned into bitterness and unease.

"Oh, I'm fine. You did a great job."

Xiao Ce's voice remained gentle, showing no sign of distress. He tried his best to steady his breathing and maintain a composed demeanor.

Looking into his gentle gaze, Ling Yue felt a pang in her heart and immediately became flustered.

"Thank you, Uncle Rui."

He gripped the small wooden bow in his hand, his fingertips tightening slightly. After a long pause, he finally managed to squeeze out these words in a low voice.

A respectful "Uncle Rui" gently reached his ears. Those three words, though spoken softly, pierced Xiao Ce's heart like a fine needle, causing the emotions he had been suppressing to surge up again.

The pain in his back was bearable, but the bitterness in his heart was all-pervasive, making him feel suffocated and uncomfortable.

He subconsciously raised his right hand, which was resting on his knee, his fingertips trembling slightly, and slowly reached towards Ling Yue, his eyes surging with an overwhelming and irrepressible longing. The intelligent and composed child before him was his own flesh and blood, the child that Ling Xi had given birth to for him.

Ling Yue looked at the outstretched hand, then at his reddened eyes, and his small brows furrowed slightly.

"Uncle Rui?"

Xiao Ce snapped back to his senses, hurriedly withdrew his hand that was hanging in mid-air, and forced a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

"Yue'er did very well. If you practice diligently every day, you will definitely do even better in the future."

Ling Yue pursed her lips slightly, her small face showing a hint of stubbornness.

"My aunt said that you shouldn't force yourself to do things you're not good at. I've never liked archery."

"Your aunt..."

Xiao Ce's eyes flickered slightly, and a pang of sadness welled up in his heart. His own child was so close, yet he could only call him Uncle Rui, and he could only call his own mother Aunt.

"Are you talking about Auntie?"

Ling Yu rushed over excitedly, holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other.

"Uncle Rui, do you know my aunt?"

Ling Yue immediately looked up at Xiao Ce, his gaze fixed on his face, as if quietly waiting for his answer.

"know."

Xiao Ce lowered his eyes, his voice low. Hearing him say he knew him, Ling Yue's tense expression relaxed slightly. But Ling Yu, standing to the side, suddenly had a sudden inspiration, tilting his head back and asking:

"Does Uncle Na Rui think my aunt is pretty?"

This abrupt question startled Xiao Ce for a moment. Before he could respond, Ling Yu continued loudly to himself:

"If Uncle Rui thinks my aunt is beautiful, why don't you marry her?"