Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

The room was filled with warmth and tenderness, and a romantic feeling spread freely between the two. Just as their love was at its peak, a series of light and quick footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Mother! Father!"

A clear, soft child's voice suddenly rang out, and the door creaked open. Ling Yu, carrying his soft pillow that he couldn't live without every night, bounced in.

Wu Shuang froze, hurriedly raised her hand to gently press against Ling Heng's chest, and quickly turned her head away from his lips.

Caught off guard by the sudden interruption of their tender moment, Ling Heng stiffened slightly, and the intense emotions surging in his eyes instantly subsided, replaced by a faint sense of helplessness and stagnation.

Ling Yu stared intently at the two people who were still tightly embracing each other before they could separate, his eyes filled with innocent naivety.

"Mother, Father! Yu'er wants to sleep with you tonight."

Wushuang quickly and gently pushed Ling Heng away, composed herself, turned around and knelt down to greet him.

"Did Yu'er come alone? Where's Yue'er?"

"My younger brother said he was too lazy to walk and refused to come with me."

Ling Yu looked up with his little face upturned, his tone filled with excitement.

"But Yu'er isn't afraid of trouble. It's been a long time since Yu'er slept with Father and Mother."

Ling Heng slowly withdrew his hand from mid-air, pursed his thin lips, and stood to the side, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

You can't sleep here tonight.

His words were gentle, yet they conveyed an undeniable certainty.

"Why not? Doesn't Father want Yu'er?"

Ling Yu's face immediately fell, full of confusion.

Before Wushuang could react, Ling Heng took two steps forward, squatted down, and lifted Ling Yu up.

"This bed is too small; it can't fit the three of us. Besides..."

As he carried him out, he spoke softly:

"You're a man now, and you should learn to sleep alone like Yue'er."

"But……"

"Granny Wu!"

Before he could retort, Ling Heng called out loudly towards the door. Upon hearing this, Granny Wu, who was waiting outside, immediately entered and curtsied.

"Your Highness."

"Take the eldest young master back to his room to rest."

"Yes."

Having worked at Prince Huan's residence for many years, Granny Wu still had a keen eye for such matters. She quickly and carefully took Ling Yu in her arms and hurriedly turned to leave.

"Oh, Mother! Mother..."

Ling Heng raised his hand and closed the door, completely blocking out the gradually fading shouts.

"Ling Heng..."

Wu Shuang frowned, staring at the door he had closed, a hint of reluctance hidden in her eyes. Ling Heng strode closer, stretched out his long arm, and firmly embraced her slender waist, gently pulling her into his arms.

"What's wrong?"

He looked down at her slightly furrowed brows, his voice low and gentle.

"Yu'er is still young..."

Ling Heng's eyes darkened, but his resolute expression remained unwavering.

"He is the future heir of the Huan Prince's mansion. He should have established his mind early on and learned to be independent and composed."

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned down slightly, his warm breath slowly covering her. Wushuang immediately raised her hand and gently pressed it against his lips, stopping his movement.

"But if you just send Yu'er away without any explanation, others might start to speculate..."

Ling Heng lowered his head and slowly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

"What are you overthinking?"

His voice was extremely low, carrying a hint of languid ambiguity. Wushuang felt a tingling and itchy sensation in her ears and subconsciously turned her head away.

"People will misunderstand..."

He watched her evasive movements, a faint smile spreading across his eyes.

"No one has misunderstood."

He whispered in her ear, and before she could react, he bent down and steadily picked her up, slowly walking towards the bed.

……

The next day, the weather was fine and sunny. Wushuang and Yang Luoying took Lingxi and the three children on a day-long tour of Jinling City.

The most bustling place was still Fengyang Street, just as Ling Xi remembered it. The shops that Ling Xi had long since shopped around to the point of being tired of them were exactly the same as before, and even the shopkeepers were still the same.

The aroma of pastry shops on the street, the dazzling array of pearls and jade at Ruyi Pavilion, and the exquisite designs of sugar painting stalls are all just like the ones I remember.

As Ke Lingxi walked through the bustling crowd, looking at everything familiar before her, a feeling of utter unfamiliarity washed over her.

Although the scenery was exactly the same, her heart was different from before. No matter how familiar the streets and alleys were, to her, they were still distant and estranged from the past, separated by the long years.

Fortunately, the children's skipping and laughing along the way helped to dispel the gloom in Ling Xi's heart.

"Xi'er."

Ling Xi was smiling as she watched Ling Yue select sugar paintings when Wu Shuang suddenly reached out and gently pulled her arm.

"What's wrong?"

Ling Xi turned her head upon hearing the sound, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

Wushuang's gaze fell on Ling Yue, who stood calmly not far away.

"In the two days since you arrived, Yue'er has been noticeably different from before. Lately, I've had a feeling that he might know something."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xi immediately frowned and followed her gaze. She saw Ling Yue standing in front of the sugar painting stall, cold and silent, completely out of place with Ling Yu and Qin Xing laughing and joking beside him. He exuded a composure beyond his years.

Ling Xi's heart sank suddenly, and a sense of panic washed over her. Wu Shuang raised her hand and gently covered the back of her trembling hand.

"Perhaps keeping this from him isn't really for his own good." Ling Xi's mind was in turmoil. She turned to look at Wushuang, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Xiao Ce went to Ye City to find you. That day, he was seriously injured while protecting Yue'er. My brother said he must have ridden a fast horse there. He's risking his life to find you."

Ling Xi stared blankly into the air, her fingertips trembling slightly uncontrollably.

"Actually, in these past five years, you've never truly let go of him, have you?"

"I have no idea."

Ling Xi shook her head, her voice soft and dazed.

"Your brother said to follow your heart and stop torturing yourself."

"I……"

Even if you ultimately can't forgive him, you might as well have a calm and rational talk with him. Otherwise, are you planning to stay stuck in the same place forever?

Ling Xi stood there, lost in thought. Wu Shuang gently patted the back of her hand and said nothing more.

"Aunt Lingxi! Look at my rabbit candy!"

"Mine is a candy arrow, much prettier than yours!"

Ling Yu and Qin Xing excitedly gathered around, holding their sugar paintings and comparing them with each other, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Not far behind, Ling Yue walked slowly towards them, holding his sugar painting in his hand.

Ling Xi watched as the small figure, increasingly resembling Xiao Ce, approached step by step, a lump forming in her throat. He was still so young, completely unaware of the path ahead, yet her own choices had determined his entire life.

"Auntie, this is for you."

In her daze, Ling Yue had already walked up to her, holding the sugar painting high in his hand, his bright, clear eyes sparkling. Ling Xi stared blankly at the sugar painting, hesitant to raise her hand.