Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Xiao Ce, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed, which only piqued her curiosity further.

Ling Xi's emotions were almost entirely written on her face, her staring gaze undisguised.

"I have already requested His Majesty's decree to officially designate An'er as the heir apparent of the Prince Rui's Mansion. The decree will be issued soon."

His clear voice rang out slowly, casually, as if he were not announcing a major event in the Prince's mansion, but rather exchanging pleasantries with his family.

Upon hearing this, the servants around her all changed their expressions. They were so startled that they secretly raised their eyes, but then hurriedly lowered their heads again. Of course, when they raised their eyes, most of them were looking at her.

Ling Xi naturally knew why they were looking at her; aside from a little sympathy, they were mostly just there to watch the show.

Xiao Ce turned his gaze and gently landed on Mu Wanning's face, his eyes full of concern and certainty, as if conveying a reassuring power to her.

It turned out that he wanted to vindicate his and Mu Wanning's son in front of her, and present the position of grandson to them in a dignified manner.

If she continues to occupy the position of the principal wife, then it will be impossible for Xiao Ce to have a legitimate son in the Rui Prince's Mansion. It will only be a matter of time before Mu Wanning's son takes over.

Ling Xi picked up the bamboo shoot that had just been put down in her bowl, chewed it slowly, and began to ponder.

If the Liang and Chu states were to clash again in the future, what would her situation be? No one in the Prince Rui's mansion would protect her; her father and brother were thousands of miles away, unable to reach her.

It seems she needs to plan ahead and find a way out for herself in the future.

Perhaps Ling Xi was thinking too seriously, and with her head down, the servants around her would occasionally glance at her, all assuming that she must be feeling sad.

Pei Lan gritted her teeth in anger, her face already flushed red. Even Granny Qi, who had previously said that Mu Wanning would never be able to give birth to a legitimate son, finally lowered her eyes.

The courtyard fell eerily quiet; everyone fell silent, and even the people of Yuehua Courtyard dared not speak out in their anger.

When Ling Xi looked up again, she realized that everyone at the table was staring at her. She blinked, the chopsticks she had been holding still hovering near her lips. She moved her mouth slightly and quietly swallowed the bamboo shoot in her mouth.

"Why are you all looking at me?"

Prince Rui and Princess Rui remained as calm and composed as before.

However, a hint of unfathomable inquiry appeared in Xiao Ce's deep eyes.

What Ling Xi didn't expect was that Mu Wanning didn't seem particularly happy or proud of Xiao Ce's announcement. She just glanced at her blankly and then looked away.

Ling Xi was holding the chopsticks, unsure whether to move them or not. After hesitating for a moment, she finally put them down.

"It's nothing."

Xiao Ce turned his head and picked up his wine glass again, without looking at her once more.

Why are they all staring at her if there's nothing wrong with her? Ling Xi found it really funny, and she curled her lips in a sarcastic smile. Did they think she would be upset, unable to accept it, or go crazy?

She glanced up casually and happened to see the bright moon on the horizon, as clear as a mirror, casting a gentle, watery light, just like the one she had seen during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Chu Kingdom.

I wonder if my father, mother, and brother are also admiring the moon.

She picked up the wine glass beside her. She hadn't taken a sip before, but now she suddenly wanted to drink it all in one go, and she did just that.

"It's getting late, everyone should head home now."

Princess Rui spoke, and whether it was Ling Xi's imagination or not, she felt that there was a hint of powerlessness in her tone, and the helplessness on her face became more and more obvious.

Today's event is not a family banquet; it's just an announcement of this news in front of everyone. Now that the announcement is over, it's time to disperse.

Ling Xi was the first to stand up, and perhaps because she stood up too quickly, the wine immediately took effect.

She wasn't a strong drinker to begin with, but she hadn't expected the wine at Prince Rui's residence to be so potent. She shook her head, which suddenly felt heavy, to steady herself.

Ignoring the gazes of those behind her, Ling Xi took Wushuang's hand and left without looking back.

A few days later, the imperial edict appointing him was indeed issued.

At that time, Ling Xi was lying on a recliner in the courtyard sunbathing when Granny Qi ripped off the handkerchief covering her face.

Ling Xi was resting with her eyes closed when she was suddenly blinded by a gaze and quickly reached out to shield her eyes.

"Granny Qi? What's wrong?"

Ling Xi sat up with her eyes half-closed, only to see that Granny Qi looked serious and hesitant to speak.

"The imperial decree bestowing the title of Crown Prince has arrived; how can the Princess remain calm?"

Ling Xi frowned slightly and lay back down.

"Oh dear, Granny, didn't we already know about this on Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"Has the Princess seriously considered how she will establish herself in the Prince Rui's residence in the future?"

"Granny, you must be confused. Given the attitude of everyone in Prince Rui's mansion towards me, I have no chance of staying here."

Ling Xi gazed at the locust tree leaves swaying in the wind above her head, her eyes filled with contemplation.

"Now that the peace talks between Chu and Liang have just been concluded, the princess is already facing such difficulties. If relations between the two countries were to break down in the future, how would the princess protect herself?"

How could Ling Xi not know? She sighed heavily, a faint cloud of sorrow on her face.

"Granny's concerns are the same issues I've been pondering these past few days. But now I'm all alone in Jinling, unfamiliar with the place and the people. Finding a secure future in such a short time is probably..."

"Why must Your Highness seek something so far away when it's so close?"

Ling Xi frowned, her beautiful brows furrowed, and sat up, her eyes full of confusion.

"What do you mean by that, Granny? Granny... do you already have a solution?"

"Now that the Princess and the Heir Apparent are married, they are husband and wife in name and in fact. Since ancient times, the husband has been the head of the household. Even if you are a princess of noble birth, how can you abandon your husband and seek someone else as your backer after entering the Prince Rui's mansion? Moreover, looking at the entire Great Liang, where is there a more stable and greater backer than the Prince Rui's mansion?"

Ling Xi relaxed and sat back down, the lines between her brows deepening slightly.

"I know perfectly well that there is no more reliable and powerful backer than the Prince Rui's Mansion, but as you can see, no matter how big the Prince Rui's Mansion is, I can't rely on it."

"How will the princess know she can't be relied upon at all if she doesn't try?"

You mean...?

"Even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. With the princess's beauty, it's not difficult for the prince to fall for you..."

"Granny!"

Ling Xi quickly interrupted, realizing that after all this time, Granny Qi wanted her to seduce Xiao Ce. She immediately pictured Xiao Ce's deadly cold face and couldn't help but shudder.

Moreover, even if Mu Wanning could no longer serve the emperor due to health reasons, he would refuse to take a concubine for her sake. And to put her at ease, he requested the emperor to grant the child the status of the future heir of the Prince Rui's mansion when the child was only two months old.

Such deep affection was something she could not shake.