Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

Wushuang has woken up, but he is too badly injured to get out of bed for a while.

Looking at Wushuang lying on the bed, her face pale, Ling Xi felt a pang of sorrow.

Wushuang stayed by her brother's side for six years. Her brother took her with him wherever he went. She was always the one who beat others to a pulp. She never had to be submissive or wait to be punished.

"Wushuang...we can't avenge you right now..."

"Princess, this injury is nothing to me. Since the Crown Prince sent me to Daliang to protect you, I, Wushuang, will protect you even if it means my own death."

Wushuang never expected that even though she obediently accepted the punishment and took the beating, Prince Xiao would ultimately not send Physician Du to treat the princess. This Prince of Liang was truly cold and heartless.

"Princess...that concubine...is pregnant."

After much hesitation, Wushuang finally told Lingxi about it.

"Pregnant?!"

Ling Xi and Pei Lan shouted together, their voices so loud that Wu Shuang's head was buzzing.

Ling Xi felt a sudden panic, unable to describe her feelings, only a sense of bewilderment remained.

She had only been in the household for a few days, and although she was the principal wife, she and Xiao Ce were practically strangers. Neither Xiao Ce nor she were involved in this marriage for the sake of peace between the two countries; neither had any intention of becoming a true husband and wife.

In that case, from now on, there will be more and more pregnant women in Prince Rui's mansion, whether they are his concubines or maids. Her position as the principal wife will only be a facade of respectability.

Thinking about it this way, the shock and helplessness that had inexplicably arisen in my heart earlier instantly vanished.

"Princess..."

Seeing that she was stunned and silent for a long time, Perrin assumed that she was secretly grieving and gently called out to her.

Ling Xi snapped out of her daze and saw that Wu Shuang and Pei Lan both looked worried, instantly understanding what they were thinking.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. So what if Consort Mu is pregnant? It has nothing to do with me anyway."

"If Consort Ke Mu were to give birth to the eldest son for the Crown Prince, the Princess's situation in the household would likely become even more difficult..."

"Yes, Princess! What are we going to do now?"

What to do? It seems that Pei Lan may still have some hope for the Prince Rui's mansion. Ling Xi looked at the two of them helplessly.

"You two aren't expecting me to give birth to Xiao Ce's eldest son, are you? My marriage to Xiao Ce is purely for political reasons; I have no feelings for him whatsoever."

"But……"

"No buts, let's try to minimize contact with the people in the manor from now on. Let's just treat this Prince Rui's manor as an inn in Daliang, shall we?"

Ling Xi's lips were slightly flat, showing neither smile nor sorrow, only a calm and indifferent demeanor.

Pei Lan was still very frustrated. The princess had traveled a long way to marry into another country, but Xiao Shizi hated the people of Chu. Not only did he abandon the princess on their wedding night, but now that concubine was pregnant, what would become of the princess?

However, Wushuang is much more insightful than Peilan. Lingxi sometimes feels that her brother was making a painful sacrifice by assigning Wushuang to her.

……

It was ten days later when Ling Xi stepped into the Prince's Garden again.

For the past ten days or so, no one has visited or cared for Yuehua Courtyard. It's as if her little courtyard has been completely forgotten by the entire royal palace.

After being bedridden for more than ten days, a bout of acclimatization had almost drained her of all her energy. Her face had lost its roundness, her complexion remained pale, and she walked with unsteady steps.

In less than half a month, the garden in the mansion had already changed its appearance. The flowers that were once blooming in full glory had now mostly withered, with the petals falling to the ground, leaving a desolate scene.

Following her memory, she slowly made her way towards the artificial hill. When she first came to this garden, she liked the pavilion next to the artificial hill the most. It was the highest point and had the best view, offering a panoramic view of half of the palace.

Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who liked that pavilion.

As she climbed the steps, halfway up, she discovered a woman already seated in the courtyard. Her face was like a lotus blossom, her complexion like the dawn of spring, radiating a gentle and tender charm.

Her delicate hand gently caressed her slightly protruding belly, her eyes filled with tenderness, and her calm and gentle demeanor possessed a captivating beauty that surpassed that of ordinary young girls.

Ling Xi recognized her at a glance; she was Xiao Ce's concubine, Consort Mu. After all, she was probably the only one in the entire Prince Rui's mansion who was pregnant.

Ling Xi stopped in her tracks, wanting to turn around and leave. Ever since she learned that Wushuang had been beaten fifty times by Xiao Ce because of her, she had made up her mind not to provoke his concubine for the time being.

As luck would have it, she turned her head and met Ling Xi's gaze.

The calm and gentle demeanor she had just displayed vanished instantly, replaced by intense hostility in her eyes, as if she had some deep-seated hatred for her father's murder.

Ling Xi frowned slightly. Could it be because she came to Daliang and took away her position as the Crown Prince's consort?

With these thoughts in mind, Ling Xi unconsciously moved her feet and walked towards the pavilion.

She did not get up, nor did the maid beside her come over to pay her respects. Perhaps out of sympathy for her mistress, the maid also showed no kindness on her face.

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither of them speaking first.

"Please do not come here again, Princess Consort. This pavilion belongs to our master."

Very well! She's clearly favored; even her maid speaks so arrogantly.

"What if I insist on coming?"

Ling Xi also liked this place and didn't intend to compete with her, but she couldn't stand that even a little maid dared to boss her around.

"Do you really think you're the Crown Prince's consort? In the entire Prince Rui's mansion, everyone knows that the Crown Prince has never stepped into your courtyard, and even on his wedding night, he spent it in our Yunqi Courtyard."

The young maidservant stepped forward, her cheeks slightly puffed out with excitement, her eyes filled with disdain.

Ling Xi pursed her lips tightly, her eyes darkening, but in the end she couldn't hold back.

"Snap—"

A loud slap echoed in the pavilion, but Ling Xi was still recovering from a serious illness and her strength had not fully returned, so the force was not very strong.

"you--"

Mu Wanning suddenly stood up, perhaps not expecting her to make a move.

The maid covered the left side of her face, indignant but afraid to move.

"I heard that Consort Mu recently reprimanded my maid for being negligent in her duties. I think your maid also lacks manners."

Ling Xi rubbed her palms. This was the first time she had ever slapped someone. She couldn't get fifty lashes for Wushuang, but one slap was enough.

"I advise the Crown Princess to restrain herself. I think you should understand that the Prince Rui's residence cannot tolerate a person from Chu like you!"

Mu Wanning stared straight at her, his lips slightly parted, trembling uncontrollably.

"Whether this princess restrains herself or not depends entirely on Consort Mu... I had no intention of taking the position of the crown prince's wife. If you don't cause trouble, we can live in peace."

"You're a man from Chu! Why should I let you live in peace with me!"

Mu Wanning's eyes surged with overwhelming hatred, and he raised his hand with a near-tearful roar.

"Princess, be careful!"

Ling Xi quickly raised her hand and firmly grasped Mu Wanning's wrist.

She frowned slightly, a moment of doubt in her eyes. They had never met before, so where did this hostility come from?

Could it be just because of Xiao Ce?