Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

She gently covered his hand that was wrapped around her waist, and softly comforted him, her tone revealing a tenderness she herself was unaware of.

"Pour water..."

"Um."

Xiao Ce gradually loosened his grip, and Ling Xi took the opportunity to pull his hand away. The moment she turned around, she was suddenly stunned. The dim candlelight illuminated his pale and haggard profile, and a tear slid down his reddened eye without warning.

"you……"

A sudden pang of sadness welled up in her heart. The man who used to be aloof, cold, and ruthless was now standing before her, tears streaming down his face. As if possessed, she raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from his cheek. Xiao Ce watched her silently, his eyes swirling with the fear of losing her.

"Xiao Ce..."

As soon as she finished speaking, he suddenly leaned down and gently and tenderly embraced her in his arms again, but the force was no longer obsessive and restrictive, only a cautious and greedy affection remained.

"I don't want water... I just want you."

His voice was weak and feeble, carrying a humble plea yet concealing an unyielding stubbornness. Ling Xi slowly raised her hand and gently stroked his back, but soon noticed his suppressed cough.

"Xiao Ce, sit down first. If you don't let go, I'm really leaving."

This time, Xiao Ce finally obediently let go. He lowered his eyes and stared at her blankly, his eyes still misty with tears, only a faint sense of bewilderment remaining.

Ling Xi gently pushed him back by the shoulder, pressing him down onto the edge of the couch before turning to pour water at the table. From the moment she moved, Xiao Ce's gaze remained fixed on her, as if afraid she would try to escape.

"Drink the water."

She returned with the teacup, gently handing it to him, her seemingly calm tone concealing obvious concern. He took the teacup with trembling hands and brought it to his lips, his gaze remaining fixed on her face, refusing to look away for even a moment.

Looking at him like this, Ling Xi suddenly felt a surge of resentment, resenting herself for not being able to be ruthless towards him, even though he could be so cruel to her back then.

"Qin Qi has sent his daughter back to the Qin residence and asked me to look after you here."

Ling Xi looked out the window at the deep night, unable to tell the time, but she knew in her heart that Qin Qi would not be coming back tonight.

Xiao Ce's expression changed drastically. He immediately threw the teacup in his hand onto the low table beside him and grabbed her hand.

"So, you didn't come here voluntarily?"

Seeing the sudden wave of disappointment in his eyes, Ling Xi hurriedly looked away. Her reason was in complete disarray, and escape was the only option she could choose.

"You're still very weak, you should go back to bed and rest."

She avoided answering and hastily changed the subject.

"Xi'er, it was my fault that Wan Ning poisoned your brother back then; I shouldn't have kept it from you. But I truly didn't assassinate your brother!"

He tightened his grip on her hand, his eyes filled with anxious earnestness.

"You...didn't assassinate my brother?"

Ling Xi stared intently into his eyes, her gaze swirling with chaotic thoughts as she tried to discern the truth in his words. After a moment, she slowly shook her head.

"Back then, I clearly heard Mu Wanning say what you said with my own ears..."

"Me, and Wan Ning?"

"That day, Mu Wanning was in your study, and I heard every word of your conversation. Otherwise, how do you think I would know all this?"

Ling Xi abruptly broke free from his hand, her eyes already misty with tears.

"You don't trust me, so you've been monitoring my correspondence with home. And as soon as you learned that my brother was coming to Jinling, you sent assassins to Night City. I heard you say that, and you don't deny it..."

Ling Xi's accusations choked in her throat, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.

He silently stood up and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

"So, that's all you heard?"

"Isn't hearing all this enough?"

She took a half step back, widening the distance between them, as if getting any closer would only make her fall for him again.

"Xiao Ce, you spyed on me, you deceived me, and I couldn't control my heart to forgive you, but you wanted to kill my brother! I can't convince myself to forgive you..."

Her voice was low and choked with sobs, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her eyes held years of pent-up grievances as she looked at him.

Xiao Ce's eyes were filled with deep sorrow. He silently took two steps forward and carefully embraced her, who was trembling with sobs.

"No wonder, no wonder Yue'er said you would never forgive me. Xi'er... why didn't you continue listening that day in the study?"

Ling Xi looked up through her teary eyes, her gaze blank and unfocused.

"Back then, Wan Ning asked me if I dared to deny that I had never intended to kill your brother. I said I did not deny it. Indeed, as soon as I heard that your brother was coming to Liang Kingdom, I sent people to ambush in Ye City. But if you had continued listening that day, you would have known that I had already ordered Lu Ming to withdraw all those assassins when you moved into Chuixing Courtyard."

"They withdrew?"

Ling Xi's mind went blank, her tear-filled eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

"Yes, from the moment I realized my feelings for you, I would never do anything to hurt you or your family again. Xi'er, believe me! If I really wanted to do that, why would I have gone to such lengths to save your brother after he was poisoned?"

"But my brother was clearly attacked and injured in Night City back then."

Ling Xi frowned, her doubts still lingering.

"At that time, the Liang and Jin kingdoms were at war, while the Liang and Chu kingdoms had stable relations and had established a border market in Yecheng. It is highly likely that the Jin kingdom sent someone to assassinate your brother in order to provoke a conflict between the Liang and Chu kingdoms."

Xiao Ce cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands, his eyes filled with urgency and anxiety.

"Xi'er, this time, I have uttered not a single falsehood. If you still don't believe me, I'll call Lu Ming over right now... cough cough cough cough..."

Xiao Ce's emotions were in turmoil, and before he could finish speaking, he turned his head away and began to cough violently.

Seeing him cough so badly, Ling Xi's heart tightened, and she subconsciously raised her hand to pat his back in a panic.

"How are you?"

Xiao Ce managed to stop the violent coughing fit, slowly turned around, and locked his scarlet eyes on her.

"Xi'er, you have to believe me... cough cough... every word I said today is the truth, cough cough..."

"Okay, stop talking. I believe you, I believe you."

Upon hearing this resolute response, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Xiao Ce's eyes. He could no longer suppress the fear in his heart, and he reached out and pulled her into his arms tightly, as if he wanted to meld her into his own body.

"Xi'er, don't leave me, never leave me again..."

Ling Xi was held tightly in his arms, and as she listened to his weak and humble pleas, her nose tingled slightly.

"Xiao Ce, stop wasting your energy talking. Don't you value your own life?"