Where is the early stage of the marriage alliance?

"How does the Princess understand the Crown Prince's meaning?"

The old woman calmly treated her wounds while asking questions.

"Granny... what does this mean?"

Ling Xi was surprised that Granny Qi would ask such a question, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer.

"In my opinion, if a man gets angry with you because of another man, it means he cares about you very much..."

"Xiao Ce... cares about me?"

Ling Xi felt that Granny Qi was telling some horrifying ghost story. Not only Ling Xi, but Pei Lan and Wu Shuang beside her also looked at her with disapproval.

"Is Granny still thinking that I should use my good looks to conquer Xiao Ce?"

Granny Qi glanced disdainfully at Ling Xi, who was smiling, and remained silent, feeling both heartache and anger.

"Does the princess not trust the old woman?"

Ling Xi didn't need to think about it carefully. If Xiao Ce cared about her even a little bit, why would he often treat her with a cold face? And since he valued Mu Wanning and her son so much, there was no room for anyone else in his heart.

"It's not that I don't believe you, Granny, you didn't see the way he and Mu Wanning looked at me at the gate just now..."

Ling Xi felt a sharp pain in her hand, glanced at her arm, and continued speaking.

"Xiao Ce was angry because of Lu Baixu, but he was just warning me. He was afraid that I would tarnish his friend's reputation, and he was even more afraid that if I made a mistake, it would damage the reputation of their Prince Rui's Mansion. In short, it was definitely not because he cared about me."

Granny Qi sighed and shook her head, lamenting that she didn't know when her princess would finally understand.

"I don't agree with what you're saying either. The young master clearly only cares about that Consort Mu. The fact that he carried the princess back to Yuehua Courtyard just now shows that he has some conscience. Look at what he did to our princess's arm."

While gently breathing on Ling Xi's arm, Pei Lan complained.

Looking around the room, Granny Qi saw that everyone was clueless, with droopy eyes, but she felt no annoyance whatsoever.

"Wushuang, you tell me, I think you're the most sensible one."

As Granny Qi spoke, she glanced at Wushuang, who had a serious expression on her face. However, she was mistaken. Wushuang was just not fond of smiling and seemed mature and reliable, but she was completely clueless about matters of love and romance.

"Even Wushuang doesn't understand."

Wushuang's answer still failed to satisfy Granny Qi, and instead made her sigh even more heavily.

"Sigh! When you're older, you'll understand without me having to tell you. But... the Crown Prince is in a bad mood, probably because today is the anniversary of the late Crown Prince's death."

"Xiao Ce's older brother?"

Ling Xi frowned slightly and looked at Granny Qi. Granny Qi nodded, rewrapped the gauze, and didn't say anything more.

Ling Xi withdrew her hand and gently rotated it a couple of times. She felt that Granny Qi's wrapping was not as comfortable as Lu Baixu's, and her beautiful eyes began to ponder seriously.

No wonder Xiao Ce took Mu Wanning out early this morning; they must have gone to pay respects to his brother.

His mood was so unpredictable today, probably because seeing her reminded him of her brother.

Oh well, never mind! She's a magnanimous person and, considering his bad mood, she'll let bygones be bygones today.

She could always quickly change her mindset. She didn't hold grudges and could forget unpleasant things in the blink of an eye. Because of this, her mother always said that she was a lucky person since she was a child.

Ling Xi injured her foot, so she stayed obediently in Yuehua Courtyard and did not leave the manor for three consecutive days. Only when the pain in her foot subsided did she finally leave the courtyard.

The autumn wind carries the rich fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, which is refreshing and delightful. Fallen leaves rustle and continuously land on the waterside bench.

Ling Xi leaned back lazily, idly feeding the koi.

This was the first scene that Lu Baixu saw when he entered the garden of Prince Rui's mansion. He and Xiao Ce were walking side by side, slowly making their way to Yunqi Courtyard.

The sunlight was just right, warmly enveloping Ling Xi. Her face was obscured by the light and shadow, making her appear less clear. Only her soft, pale yellow dress made her look like a painting bathed in warm light—gentle, serene, and captivating.

Lu Baixu paused involuntarily, and after only a moment of hesitation, he noticed that her right foot was slightly raised and did not touch the ground. It was clear that she was deliberately taking care of her injury, and it seemed that she had not yet recovered.

"Bai Xu?"

Xiao Ce realized that the person behind him had not followed. He turned around and saw him standing still. Following his stammering gaze, he also saw the painting of a beautiful woman in the warm sunlight under the pavilion.

Lu Baixu quickly withdrew his gaze, his face remaining calm, as if that glance just now was nothing more than an ordinary look.

A strange glint flashed across Xiao Ce's eyes, and as he turned around, his brows furrowed slightly.

Xiao Ce knew that her appearance had a fatal attraction for any man, regardless of his status or nationality; even he himself found it difficult to resist.

"A couple of days ago, I ran into the Crown Princess on the street. She had been hit by a carriage, and I bandaged her wounds."

Lu Baixu spoke first, his steps were unhurried, and his voice was soft.

"Yes, I heard it from her."

Xiao Ce did not turn around; his tone was calm, yet his answer was earnest.

He heard what she said? It seems their relationship isn't as cold and distant as the rumors suggest. Lu Baixu's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind.

"Did the Crown Princess say that it was Miss Zhuang's carriage that hit her?"

Xiao Ce suddenly stopped, turned around to look at him, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"The bookmaker?"

He pondered for a moment, but clearly couldn't recall which bookmaker it was.

"Judging from what the Crown Princess said, it seems that she prevented you from taking a concubine, which displeased Miss Zhuang."

"So that's how it is," Xiao Ce's brows furrowed even more deeply, and he continued walking forward without saying a word.

"Princess, look! Isn't that the Crown Prince and Imperial Physician Lu?"

Ling Xi looked back and saw two tall figures, one in black and one in white, walking quickly towards the northeast.

That direction leads to Mu Wanning's Yunqi Academy.

"I heard that Consort Mu has fallen ill again these past two days and has been bedridden. I suppose the young master specially invited Imperial Physician Lu to examine her."

Perrin watched the departing figure and explained softly.

Ling Xi narrowed her eyes slightly. After Mu Wanning was poisoned, his body was indeed worn down, and news of his physical discomfort came from time to time.

"I've also heard that Consort Mu's postpartum poisoning is difficult to clear, and she will never be able to serve the emperor again. No wonder the princess is so eager to find a concubine for the prince."

Ling Xi felt a pang of sadness, her fingers clenching tightly. Yet, Xiao Ce, for her sake, stubbornly refused to take a concubine. He protected her so much, cared for her so much, and even summoned the imperial physicians from the palace for her time and time again.

For someone willing to do all this for the one he loves, it has to be admitted that Xiao Ce is a good man; it's just that he's not good to her.

Ling Xi rubbed her slightly itchy arm and pulled open her long sleeve. The gauze on her forearm had been re-bandaged by Pei Lan yesterday. Like Granny Qi, it wasn't as well-bandaged as Lu Baixu's. Sure enough, this matter still needed a doctor's help.

She lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her previously stagnant gaze suddenly sharpened, a spark of clarity exploding in her eyes.