Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Xiao Ce watched her fleeing figure in silence, a pang of sadness rising in his heart. He slowly closed his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, his eyes filled with loneliness and helplessness.

He gritted his teeth and tried to lift his heavy body, but his whole body was weak and sore, and he had almost no strength left to lift his hand. His body did not move at all, and he could only sink into the bed in vain.

Her footsteps had long since disappeared outside the door, and the empty room was filled only with the flickering candlelight, which illuminated his pale and lonely face.

A moment later, hurried footsteps came from outside the door again.

Xiao Ce subconsciously looked up and saw Qin Qi and Lu Baixu hurriedly enter the room. He looked anxiously over their shoulders and behind them, but ultimately did not see that familiar figure.

The faint glimmer of hope that had just remained in Xiao Ce's eyes was instantly extinguished, leaving only endless desolation weighing heavily on his pale brows. His fingertips curled limply, revealing the utter disappointment in his heart.

Qin Qi took in all his expressions and sighed silently.

"Um... Ling Xi stayed up all night watching over you, so I just let her go back to rest."

Xiao Ce did not respond, but lay quietly, his disappointment and loneliness evident in his eyes.

After entering the room, Lu Baixu immediately began to examine Xiao Ce's pulse and check his injuries without saying a word.

Qin Qi, feeling guilty, quickly looked away, avoiding Xiao Ce's gaze. The truth was, Ling Xi had sent someone to summon them, and then left alone.

Soon, the night gradually faded, and the autumn morning light streamed into the room, dispelling the gloom that had lingered all night.

Not long after, Consort Rui arrived, looking worried. She had fainted from grief the night before and still looked haggard today.

Upon entering the room and seeing Xiao Ce's frail and sickly appearance, she still couldn't stop crying.

Shortly after she arrived, the Qin family elders also hurried over.

Only when Lu Baixu finally concluded that Xiao Ce was out of danger did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiao Ce, lying on the bed, listened quietly to their conversation, his expression remaining calm. He glanced at the bright sky outside the window, his gaze unfocused, and he already had a general idea in his mind: she would not come again.

Despite this, he still held onto a sliver of hope, and from dawn till dusk, he finally managed to exhaust that last bit of hope in his heart.

Consort Rui returned to Prince Rui's residence in the afternoon, while Xiao Ce, whose body was not yet ready to move, stayed at the Qin residence to recuperate.

Xiao Ce slept a lot during the day, but when the night was deep and quiet, he was wide awake and felt desolate. As soon as he closed his eyes, he could immediately recall her hurried figure as she fled in the morning.

I thought I would spend the night in endless emptiness and loneliness, but the door was pushed open very gently and slowly. There were no servants or maids, and not a sound. A small, thin figure tiptoed in.

"Yue'er?"

Ling Yue was alone again, taking advantage of everyone being fast asleep. He had originally thought that by this time, everyone would be sound asleep, which was why he dared to come alone in the dead of night.

To his surprise, as soon as he entered, he was met with a pair of clear and calm eyes. A hint of panic flashed in his eyes, and he nervously clenched his sleeves.

"Uncle Rui."

Xiao Ce watched the small figure approach step by step, and a very faint tremor suddenly appeared in his cloudy and lonely eyes.

The child before me resembles Ling Xi by three parts, but the remaining seven parts are clearly a replica of my own features.

This was his flesh and blood, the child Ling Xi had given birth to for him. Perhaps it was the invisible bond of blood that lingered, causing a faint ripple to stir in his heart.

Xiao Ce, supporting himself with his weak and powerless arms, endured the aches and pains that were spreading throughout his body and slowly and laboriously sat up from the bed.

His gaze remained fixed on Ling Yue before him, his dark eyes surging with a tenderness that no one else had ever seen before.

Why did you come alone?

His voice was still hoarse and weak, but he tried his best to change his tone, afraid of frightening him.

Ling Yue lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.

"My uncle said you won't die. I just... wanted to come and see you."

He gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, his voice soft and gentle, with a hint of barely concealed sobs.

Seeing the guilt in his eyes, Xiao Ce's heart softened, and all the loneliness in his heart was instantly soothed. He slowly raised his weak right hand, and gently placed his fingertips on his head, the movement full of tenderness and affection.

"Yue'er, don't be afraid, I won't die."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Rui, you got so badly injured because you saved me."

Ling Yue's eyes were red-rimmed, with a thin layer of tears welling up in them, and his voice was full of guilt.

Seeing his self-reproachful expression, Xiao Ce's throat tightened, and his heart ached even more.

"It's not your fault, it's not Yue'er's fault, it's Uncle Rui who didn't listen to the doctor and ran around everywhere."

The candlelight cast a dim yellow glow, illuminating Ling Yue's anxious eyes. After hesitating for a long time, he finally couldn't help but speak softly:

"Uncle Rui, are you going to Night City to find my aunt?"

Xiao Ce's hand, which was resting on his head, paused slightly, and a trace of melancholy appeared in his eyes.

"Yes."

"Your aunt... she won't forgive you."

Xiao Ce's eyes widened in surprise, and his slowly descending hand gently grasped the boy's small hand.

"You know about what happened between her and me?"

His tone was heavy and tense as he stared intently at Ling Yue in front of him, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

Ling Yue looked up to meet his gaze and nodded seriously.

Xiao Ce's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and his gaze, fixed on Ling Yue's face, held a mixture of trepidation and a hint of unspoken anticipation.

"Yue'er...do you know anything else?"

Ling Yue pursed his lips tightly, hesitated for a moment, and then gently shook his head.

The unease that had been surging in Xiao Ce's heart slowly subsided, and he gently stroked Ling Yue's hand with his fingertips.

"Does Yue'er know why your aunt won't forgive me?"

Ling Yue lowered his eyes, concealing a trace of loneliness in them.

"Did you once try to kill my... father?"

Xiao Ce was shocked, and his eyes suddenly surged with astonishment. He never expected that Yue'er, who was so young, would know so much.

Ling Yue's face was tense as she looked up and stared directly at him.

"So what Grandma said was true?"

"No! I just... I just thought about it once, but I never did it."

Xiao Ce's fingertips trembled uncontrollably, his eyes quickly reddened, and his tone was filled with urgent explanation.

"You haven't done it before?"

Ling Yue's brows furrowed tightly, but he clearly heard it.

Seeing the deep doubt in his eyes, Xiao Ce's heart slowly tightened.

"Yue'er doesn't believe me?"

Ling Yue tilted her head back, her eyes fixed on him with unwavering determination.

"But I overheard my aunt and grandmother saying that if you didn't do it, why won't my aunt forgive you?"

"I……"

Xiao Ce paused abruptly, as if suddenly realizing something; Ling Yue's question had stumped him. He had indeed harbored murderous intent towards Ling Heng back then, but he hadn't actually laid a hand on him. Why was Ling Xi so resolute towards him?